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August 4th, 2009

Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware

Posted by Ryan Naraine @ 1:56 pm

Categories: Adobe, Arbitrary Code Execution, Browsers, Data theft, Flash, Malware, Passwords, Phishing, Rootkits, Spam and Phishing, Spyware and Adware, Viruses and Worms

Tags: BSOD, Blue Screen, Microsoft Windows, Security, Operating Systems, Software, Ryan Naraine

Hackers are using the infamous Windows Blue Screen of Death to trick computer users into downloading fake security software (scareware).

According to a discovery by Sunbelt Software, a Windows users are being shown the recognizable blue screen that signifies an operating system crash with a bright red “Security Alert” notice. (click image below for full version)

The rogue security software used in this scam is called SystemSecurity. It infects Windows machines via fake codec and fake Flash Player update packages planted on malicious Web sites.

Ryan NaraineRyan Naraine is a journalist and security evangelist at Kaspersky Lab. He manages Threatpost.com, a security news portal. Here is Ryan's full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.


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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 43 Talkback(s)
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware
If you want to prank a friend, try this flash app which lets you put up a fake BSOD:
http://andrewgarrison.com/games/ultimategoat... (Read the rest)
Posted by: avgarrison Posted on: 01/09/10 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Find the people behind this  Lerianis10 | 08/04/09
Yeah, beacuse...  The 'G-Man.' | 08/05/09
Saves money...  sframberger@... | 08/05/09
Oops!  Tim.M | 08/06/09
Those sound like the words of  unclefixer@... | 08/05/09
Wrong? what is this word?  Hate Malware | 08/06/09
Bring them where?  tom@... | 08/05/09
Death penalty for hackers?  keithparks | 08/05/09
Yeah maybe, but  Zpaceman | 08/05/09
Charges? My suggestion would be  unclefixer@... | 08/05/09
WT?  Hate Malware | 08/06/09
Extradite  Zpaceman | 08/06/09
err 'scuse me  paul_bruford@... | 08/06/09
"alt F4" defeats most malware for the "average user"  ~doolittle~ | 08/04/09
You forgot part 2  D2 Ultima | 08/06/09
Is that the actual screenshot?  gtvr | 08/05/09
LOL I was thinking the same thing...the grammar alone should ...  USTechHead | 08/05/09
Does the "average user" actually read error messages?  stephenlposey@... | 08/06/09
Nope =)  D2 Ultima | 08/06/09
Ah, but spelling and grammar are pass?  stephenkca | 08/10/09
That's "passe"  stephenkca | 08/11/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  seymouralexander@... | 08/05/09
Shhh,  tealcat | 08/05/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  Bilmekanikeren | 08/05/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  Robuntu | 08/05/09
More dumb people out there than you think...  jerry@... | 08/05/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  Dragoon212 | 08/05/09
Poor grammar  ccfman2004 | 08/05/09
lol  Hate Malware | 08/06/09
Fake "System Security 2009" experience  Jim.Callahan | 08/05/09
This can't happen in Windows, esp. Vista!  joe.smetona@... | 08/06/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  RAMChYLD | 08/05/09
It will probably fool most of my customers (nt)  eric_s@... | 08/05/09
It would fool most of my users also.  dank953@... | 08/06/09
you ought to read my post too...  D2 Ultima | 08/06/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  Hate Malware | 08/06/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  ImaGremlin | 08/06/09
Who is dumb enough...  D2 Ultima | 08/06/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  ranels | 08/07/09
The first thing I'd do...  JCitizen | 08/10/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  volksware@... | 08/10/09
Pretty Creative if You Ask Us  thebackupguru | 12/30/09
RE: Fake 'Blue Screen of Death' pushing scareware  avgarrison | 01/09/10

What do you think?

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