SmitFraud

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SmitFraud variants often change a computer's background to a fake error message to trick users into buying fake anti-spyware programs.

SmitFraud is a type of spyware that installs itself into a computer via adware, without any notice from the user. It can affect all Windows platforms made between 1995 and 2003.^{[citation needed]} Most of the time, it installs itself after the computer user installs a fake codec, such as BrainCodec, PCodec or VideoKeyCodec.^{[citation needed]} It infects a Windows DLL with a computer virus.^{[citation needed]} SmitFraud changes the infected computer's desktop background either into a Blue Screen of Death, or any background displaying a fake error message. Infected users also receive notifications asking users to install a fake anti-spyware program such as SpySheriff, SpyAxe or Spyware Quake, on the infected computer to remove the spyware. After a fake scan, the program asks users to pay for the full version before removing the spyware it's found. When users pay, the notifications disappear and the background turns normal, but the infection is still present.