XP Antivirus 2008 Morphs into XP Antivirus 2009 - Still Lies!

Rogue security software developers are not unlike legitimate software developers; they are both fond of updating their products.

The cyber criminals behind the development of XP Antivirus 2008 have just morphed this parasitic rogue security software application into XP Antivirus 2009.

So now we have one more software parasite to add to the epidemic of rogue security software infesting the Internet.

A rogue security application like XP Antivirus 2009 is an application that uses malware, or malicious tools, to advertise or install itself. Unless you have had the bad experience of installing this type of malicious software, you may not be aware that such a class of software even exists. But it does; and regrettably it is becoming more widespread.

Just like its predecessor, this particular rogue security software’s installer (ZLOB/MediaAccess Codec) is usually found on adult websites, or it can be installed manually from rogue security software websites like antivirus-scanner.com or antivirus2009.com.

After the installation of XP Antivirus 2009 be prepared for false positives; fake or false malware detection warnings. As with all rogue security applications, XP Antivirus 2009 was developed to mislead uninformed computer users’ into downloading and paying for the “full” version of this bogus software, based on the false malware positives generated by the application.

If the full program fee is not paid, XP Antivirus 2009 continues to run as a background process incessantly reporting those fake or false malware detection warnings. To really try your patience, this rogue security software cannot be uninstalled using the Windows Add/Remove Programs tool.

Generally, reputable anti-spyware software is capable of detecting rogue software if it attempts to install, or on a malware scan. But this is not always the case. Anti-malware programs that rely on a definition database can be behind the curve in recognizing the newest threats. Nevertheless, it is critically important that your Anti-malware programs definition database is always kept current.

An additional safeguard is, ensure you have installed, and are running, an anti-malware application such as ThreatFire 3, free from PC Tools. This type of program operates using heuristics, or behavioral analysis, to identify newer threats.

As well, Malwarebytes, a reliable anti-malware company has created a free application to help keep you safe and secure. RogueRemover (latest version released May 30/08), will safely remove a number of rogue security applications.

SmitFraudFix available for download at Geekstogo is a free tool that is continuously updated to assist victims of rogue security applications.

A further resource worth noting is the Bleeping Computer web site where help is available for many computer related problems, including the removal of rogue software.

An absolute necessity is to make sure that any security application you are considering installing is recognized as legitimate by industry experts. An excellent web site that will keep you in the loop, and advise you what products work and have a deserved reputation for quality performance is Spyware Warrior.

What you can do to reduce the chances of infecting your system with rogue security software.

• Be careful in downloading freeware or shareware programs. Spyware is occasionally concealed in these programs. Download this type of program only through reputable web sites such as Download.com, or sites that you know to be safe.
• Consider carefully the inherent risks attached to peer-to-peer (P2P), or file sharing applications where exposure to rogue security applications is widespread.
• Install an Internet Browser add-on that provides protection against questionable or unsafe websites. My personal favorite is Web of Trust, an Internet Explorer/FireFox add-on that offers substantial protection against questionable or unsafe websites.
• Do not click on unsolicited invitations to download software of any kind.