AV8: New Name, Old Rogue

The first rogue antivirus programs appeared in 2006, and 2010 proved to be their busiest year yet. Over five percent of the computers in the world are affected by a fake antivirus program; this makes internet security more important than ever. If you are confronted by pop-ups and scan results warning you of infections, you understandably want to take action. This is what scareware thrives on; rash reactions and quick decision. They hope that users won't take the time to scrutinize their messages, but this is the best way to avoid rogues and keep your computer running optimally.

What is AV8?

AV8 is from the same family as Antivir 2010, and is an update of Antivirus 7. You may see it presented as Antivirus8 or Antivirus 8 as well. Whatever the name, this rogue antivirus program behaves like others in this class. It is scareware, which means it seeks to convince the user of severe security threats so they will purchase the software. This provides little to no actual security. AV8 depends primarily on false scan results and pop-up ads.

How Does AV8 Enter the System?

There are three main methods that AV8 uses to gain access to your machine.

• Trojans. Trojans are often associated with websites with adult content, as well as those with gaming or pirated content. It is becoming more common for sites offering freeware, especially videos, P2P, and social networking content.

• Fake online malware scanners. When searching for legitimate security programs, there are often malicious sites in the search results. You will see ads when you are online, and there may be banners advertising online scanners, such as AV8. If a user opt to scan their computer this this tool, they inadvertently download the rogue program.

• Social engineering methods. An example of social engineering is when emails are disguised as breaking news alerts, e-cards, or lottery winnings. If a user opens these, it can allow the malware to enter their machines.

What Does AV8 Do to Your System?

There are millions of different scareware programs, but they tend to behave in very similar ways. AV8 is no exception. Here are some signs and signals to watch out for:

• False warnings scans. Every time you start a Windows session, the rogue program launches into a fake search and generates a list of "infections" it claims to have found. These are, in fact, harmless files, and all warnings are ads created by the scareware.

• Pop-ups. These appear as balloon-style alerts that pop up from your taskbar or while you are online. Again, they warn of infections and urge you to purchase the software.

• Slow performance. AV8 diverts your system resources for its own use, so you may notice more sluggish boot up times and loading times.

• New icons on your taskbar or desktop. These will lead to ads or rogue websites that urge users to "upgrade" their security.

By itself, this particular rogue antivirus program is fairly harmless. The risk, though, is that it is often bundled with other forms of malware that could negatively affect your computer. This is why it is so important to remove AV8 as soon as possible.