According to the FTC, most scams aim to collect personal information that can later be used to steal that person’s identity. Other scams try to entice users to visit phony “government” web sites that upload spyware and other malware to the user’s computer. Of particular concern to the FTC are emails and Web sites that promise to deposit stimulus funds into the victim’s bank account. After providing the requested bank information, the victim’s accounts are drained instead.
Still other scams include those that offer “business kits” or “grant kits” that are sent to the applicant for a nominal processing fee. In the fine print, however, these sites indicate that the user is signing up for recurring monthly charges of $50-$100 for access to an “online resource center.” According to the FTC, a consumer could be on the hook for more than $1,000 each year as the result of signing up for one of these fraudulent schemes.
If you’ve been taken advantage of by schemes like this, your first recourse is through your credit card issuer. If the charges are being made violate the merchant agreement made between your credit card company and the scammer, you can get your funds returned. Follow the procedure the issuer provides to dispute the bogus charges.
If your computer gets infected with spyware or other malware, your first recourse should be Spyware Doctor. Spyware Doctor can be installed on your computer in just minutes, and is the most well-recognized and respected spyware removal tool available today. Spyware Doctor has won a large number of awards and has been downloaded by millions of users who swear by the protection it offers.
Spyware Doctor doesn’t just clean up the mess that these nasty spyware packages leave behind. It offers real-time protection from spyware infections to prevent your computer from being infected in the first place. Web surfing can be fun and entertaining. It can also allow you to take advantage of services offered by vendors all over the world, but it can also put you at risk. Eliminate your risk of being infected with some of today’s nastiest malware by making sure Spyware Doctor protects your computer.
Photo Credit: Kenneth Lu
There are major differences in spyware removers, and not all anti-spyware programs are the same. In fact, many of the major names in spyware removal can miss – yes, miss – some of the latest, nastiest spyware, malware and adware making the rounds today. If you’re going to rely on a single adware, spyware and malware remover, make sure your choice is XoftSpy SE from SpywareBlockers.org.
Ideally, you rely on multiple protections to prevent malware infections, and clean up those that do get through. XoftSpy SE installs neatly next to your existing anti-spyware protection and works seamlessly to detect and remove adware, Trojans, pop-up generators, keyloggers, worms, rootkits, viruses and more. Better yet, XoftSpy SE finds and removes the malware that other detectors miss.
Using an extremely comprehensive database of nearly a quarter of a million known malware applications, variants and vulnerabilities. XoftSpy SE digs deep into your system to remove the worst of the worst, and prevents you from getting infected again.
One of the nasty tricks that many viruses and spyware programs pull is modifying your computer’s registry. If your malware detection software doesn’t also clean up your computer’s registry, your computer will be impaired, even after the malware itself is gone. Many malware programs also use the registry as a way to re-infect the computer, even after the original malware is gone.
Don’t think that your computer won’t get infected because you don’t visit pornography sites or click on banner ads. There are so many routes to malware infection that you can’t possibly avoid it. Malware programmers are clever. They’re not hobbyists. They’re paid to do what they do. And what they do, they do very well. Unfortunately for you, what they do isn’t helpful. It’s dangerous.
Keyloggers can record your account information and passwords. Malware can forward this information to third parties, who then use your information to gain access to your credit cards, bank accounts and investments. Trojans continue to be one of the top sources of malware infections. People can’t resist free software. Download free software and you risk a serious malware infection.
Not all free software is bad. Reputable companies give away free copies of their software all the time. Malware authors modify these software programs from reputable companies and contaminate them their malware. XoftSpy SE can tell the difference between legitimate software and corrupted copies of legitimate software. Can you?
Photo Credit: AK37