2010 was a busy year for scareware, and 2011 is prepped for similar growth. According to Panda Security, over 5 percent of computers worldwide are affected by rogue antivirus programs. How do you know if yours is one of them? Rogue programs like Palladium Pro have distinctive calling cards which they leave all over your computer. Learning what these are can help you avoid them in the future, and avoid spending money on ineffectual scareware.
The Rogue Palladium Pro
Palladium Pro may be a new name to the 2011 scareware roster, but it is from the same family as the Fake Microsoft Security Essentials rogue antivirus programs. The goal is to convince you that your computer has been invaded by "Unknown Win32/Trojan" and "Trojan.Horse.Win32.PAV.64," and your private data is at risk. To do this, the rogue creates a multifaceted ad campaign, which makes liberal use of pop-up ads and false scan results warnings. Like all rogues, however, this newcomer is unable to scan your computer and offers little to no protection. It is scareware, which tries to profit on your need to keep your machine and data save. It is very likely that the only issue that your computer is facing is the presence of this rogue.
Introduction to Palladium Pro
Rogue antivirus programs typically depend on trojans to enter your system, and trojans typically rely on the same inroads into your system. It isn't just sites with "adult" content that are affected; it is possible to allow a trojan to access your machine if you visit sites with content such as:
? Freeware or P2P material. These are often bundled with various forms of malware.
? Free ad-ons, such as screen savers, desktop backgrounds, toolbars, or torrents.
? Applications or games from third-parties on social networking sites.
? Instant messenger or chat programs (even legitimate ones).
? Sites with "questionable" content, which can include illegal advertising and pirated content.
? Gaming sites.
It is also possible to run into malicious websites when conducting searches for trending topics, such as the latest current event. Malware designers create the pages solely to display ads and spread scareware. Palladium Pro can be bundled with other malware, such as browser hijackers.
Owners sometimes install the program directly because they believe it to be a reputable and effective antivirus program. The paid version, however, is no different from the pop-up producing trial version.
What to Look For
This rogue antivirus program can download itself without your knowledge, so it is doubly important to know what to look for. Palladium Pro depends on the trusted Microsoft name for its appearance of legitimacy, and warnings appear to come directly from this reputable source. These are typically in the form of pop-up ads designed to look like security program alerts and false scan results.
This rogue is a little more insidious than some because it may not allow you to start your Windows desktop or task manager, or even close the messages, unless you purchase the software. This is known as "ransomware."
To ensure optimal performance and security, remove Palladium Pro as soon as you can.
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