List of fake anti-spyware programs

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Malicious programmers have released a number of fake anti-spyware programs', and widely distributed Web banner ads now spuriously warn users that their computers have been infected with spyware, directing them to purchase programs which do not actually remove spyware — or worse, may add more spyware of their own.^[1]

The recent proliferation of fake or spoofed antivirus products has occasioned some concern. Such products often bill themselves as antispyware, antivirus, or registry cleaners, and sometimes feature popups prompting users to install them. They are called rogue software.

There are now over 300 rogue applications currently listed at Spyware Warrior's site which is updated periodically.

Known offenders include:

On 2006-01-26, Microsoft and the Washington state attorney general filed suit against Secure Computer for its Spyware Cleaner product.^[2]^[3] The case was a success and resulted in a $1 Million Penalty^[4]. Following on from this case, Winfixer, the rogue most often found in suspect situations, now has a class action lawsuit filed against it the Superior Court of California.^[5]