FTC Kills Scareware Scam That Duped Over 1M Users 329
coondoggie writes "The Federal Trade Commission today got a court to at least temporarily halt a massive 'scareware' scheme, which falsely claimed that scans had detected viruses, spyware, and pornography on consumers' computers.
According to the FTC, the scheme has tricked more than one million consumers into buying computer security products such as WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus. The court also froze the assets of Innovative Marketing, Inc. and ByteHosting Internet Services, LLC to preserve the possibility of providing consumers with monetary redress, the FTC stated."
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, it is 127.1.
Have fun with it.
Hey you! (Score:4, Funny)
You've got a virus!
Pay me or I won't tell you what it is!
The sad thing is that people fall for it.
I've actually had the following conversation:
"What antivirus program was that?"
"Oh let me see here... [Horrible Trendy Name]"
"When did you install it?"
"I don't know."
I told him to call his credit card issuer.
Though, as if that's not enough, my neighbor recently couldn't understand how a dialog that, after analyzing basically indicated his computer was "too secure" wasn't a bad thing.
I have them beat (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get a rope! (Score:5, Funny)
Finally! We usually have to get someone sentenced on trumped-up charges to get our weekly execution, because nobody ever responds to the call for volunteers.
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:1, Funny)
Fuck, that's my FTP server! How'd you hack my accnt?
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:3, Funny)
my login is admin. my password is admin
Please fix my computer broadcasting!
Re:A fool and his money... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Old news (Score:5, Funny)
That's because the Linux community has collectively decided that *you* don't deserve to run it, so we put in special code to keep you off the 'net. It's better for everybody this way.
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:2, Funny)
What's with all the gay porn on there? Are you some kind of homo?
Oh, shit...
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:5, Funny)
This was (deservedly) modded funny but this scam really exists [hotbrick.com]! (WARNING link points to the scam site, click at your own risk, you may broadcast your ip address to them...)
Re:Hoard your clicks (Score:1, Funny)
Imagine how much of your life you would get back if you just didn't care?
Alternate title: FTC Identifies Over 1M Morons (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:1, Funny)
Thanks. I did some port scanning, and in just a few minutes I've managed to pwn 10.0.0.1, 127.0.0.1, 172.16.0.1, 192.168.0.1, and even 192.168.1.1. I'll let you kn
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:3, Funny)
The family-portrait photo, of the child riding a dog, on the imaginary software box, that's a clear indication of quality. I could see how someone could be taken in.
Sign me up! (Score:5, Funny)
They can't do that! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Your computer is broadcasting an IP address! (Score:5, Funny)
hahahahahaha they're SOOOOOOO wrong it says my IP address is 64.8.85.43 and its really 192.168.1.101!!!! go to hell h4x0rz!
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