Downloading computer security software comes with its own set of risks. Known as “scareware,” some programs that claim to identify and eliminate viruses actually contribute their own threats to system security. This has become such a major concern that the FBI has started to investigate scareware distributors.

How Scareware Works

There are several ways to contract scareware. For instance, a website might tell you that it has detected a certain number of viruses on your computer. In order to eliminate these viruses, the site suggests, you must download a piece of security software that knows how to identify the threats.

When you download the supposed security software, though, you’ve actually installed a viruses, keylogger, or other type of malware that was masquerading as beneficial software.

What the FBI Can Do

The FBI hopes to eliminate scareware threats through a program called Operation Trident Tribunal. It’s an international action that pulls resources from countries all over the world to identify scareware distributors.

The FBI has already stopped at least two organizations from distributing scareware. Both of the organizations were based in the US. Investigations in other countries, including Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, have lead to at least two arrests and numerous computer seizures.

Reporting Scareware

If you think that you are a victim of a scareware scam, then you can report your concerns to the FBI. This will assist them in identifying some of the most problematic distributors and help them develop cases against people making fake antivirus software.

Have you ever been a victim of shareware? What were some symptoms that lead you to believe that you had been conned?