Malicious Anti-Virus Companies!

I just got an interesting voicemail from good friend... whose laptop I had installed Ubuntu Linux on about 9 months ago. I explained that there's no such thing as a virus for Ubuntu Linux, and thus, there's no such thing as Anti-Virus software for Ubuntu.

Her voicemail said...

"There was a Microsoft Security Warning on my Ubuntu that popped up... stating that, 'The Antivirus 2009 Web Scanner detected DANGEROUS SPYWARE on your system. Spyware IE Monster. CRITICAL.'"

She went on to say,

"This is from Microsoft. I found it kind of strange..."

Yes, Mimi. It IS kind of strange...

Especially considering that there is NO Microsoft software on your computer. There is NO "IE" (Internet Explorer) on your computer. There is NO anti-virus software on your computer. And there is NO virus or spyware on your computer.

You just happened to visit a web site with an ADVERTISEMENT that IMPERSONATES a system warning message.

These advertisements that impersonate system warning messages are designed 100% with the intention of DECEIVING the novice users... and TRICKING them by FRAUDULENT MEANS into buying something... usually, their own crappy anti-virus software, which the user does not need or want.

This practice is, obviously, unethical.

Web sites should never allow advertisements which intentionally trick the user by appearing like a system warning message.

THIS PRACTICE SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED.

If this ever happens to you:

(1) Copy down the URL (web address) of the web site you are on, when the pop-up advertisement appears.

(2) Click on the ad, and visit the company that is advertising. (This costs them money too, by the way.) Then, go as far as to get the name of the company or the product that they are selling.

(3) Come back here and post that information as a reply to this blog item. Let's expose these unscrupulous scammers, and let the world know that they need to be avoided. Then, when people Google the name of their company, or product, they will find this item, and avoid those fraudulent scammer companies and the web sites who support them.

(4) Write about them on your own blog as well. And be sure to name names!

This is the only way to fight back against these malicious advertisers who try to intentionally trick the public out of their money.

Unfortunately, I think it may be the ONLY way to fight back..... by posting and spreading the truth about them.