Protecting Your Whole Computer? Not if Antivirus 360 Is Installed

By: Wayne Davis
Submitted: 2009-06-05 14:37:25
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Computer security is essential in today’s world, and there are a lot of programs out there that may make it seem like it’s easy to keep your computer safe. Unfortunately, though, that’s not always the case, and programs like Antivirus 360 aren’t much help. If this difficult program has already become part of your system, removing it at your earliest convenience is the only thing to do.

Antivirus 360: Understanding the Program and How You Got It

This program is a rogue security application. More specifically, it is rogue antivirus software. The goal of a program like this is to get you to purchase the full version of the software, and they use some pretty convincing tactics to do so. In most cases, they’ll use frightening warning messages to help convince you that you need this program, but with Antivirus 360, you’re always going to be better off removing it and choosing a reputable security program instead.

The program usually enters your system with the help of the Vundo Trojan. In many cases, it is disguised as a video codec, and when you’re trying to look at a particular site or part of a website, the Trojan can enter your system, giving programs like Antivirus 360 access.

Antivirus 360: Warning and Indications

If Antivirus 360 is installed on your computer, the chances are quite good that you’ll know about it immediately. For many computer users, one of the first things they notice is virus scans of their computers. It is essential to remember, however, that these are not actual scans of your computer. In most cases, they’re designed to do the same thing on every single computer, and they’re even built to show the exact same results. Even if you don’t have any of the pests Antivirus 360 shows on screen, the program will “find” them to further encourage you to buy the whole version. Moreover, though, Antivirus 360 displays some results that are actual files on your computer. These files are necessary for the day to day operations of your machine, and deleting them could be disastrous, so don’t act on any of the files this scanner finds.

The scan window itself is designed to look a bit like Norton’s popular 360 application. At the top of the screen, in the right corner, you may see the Antivirus 360 Heading and a small logo that looks like a shield. Usually, it uses the typical Windows colors to help assure you it is a legitimate program.  In the other corner of the program, you may see a heading that says “System in Danger.” The scan window also has buttons for System Scan, Security, Privacy, Update, Settings, System Status, Help, and Registration. You may also see a button to activate what they call real time protection at the bottom of the program’s window. Clicking on anything within the window leads you to the home page for Antivirus 360, and once you’re there, you’ll be asked to buy the complete version of the program.

Scanning your computer for a variety of file types, though, isn’t the only aspect of this program you may notice. You will probably also see lots of security warnings if this program is installed on your machine. Most of the warnings take one of two different forms. The first type is a traditional pop up advertisement, like you might see while you’re browsing online. This advertisement, though, can appear on your screen even if you aren’t currently running your browser. It usually says something like “Security Warning,” or another troublesome message. Clicking, of course, leads you back to the home page so you can buy the full version of the program and install it. The other type of advertisement you’ll see looks like a Windows Balloon. Those are the notification alerts you typically see next to your computer’s clock, also called the system tray. Usually these messages display a security warning or a message like “Spyware Infection Found.”

In addition to these two signs, you may also notice that your computer is running a bit slower than it normally does. Antivirus 360 is designed to run as soon as the computer boots up, so it can eat many of the resources typically reserved for your other programs. From starting an application to trying to run several at once, you may see how much slower each application responds to your commands.

One final thing you might see if Antivirus 360 is installed on your computer is different browser settings. Your start page may be a bit different than it was when you originally set your computer up, and you may also see new favorites or icons on your desktop. Almost all of these will lead you back to the home page for the program.

Removing Antivirus 360 at your earliest convenience is a good idea. Choose a good antispyware solution to automatically delete it for best results.

Article source: Expert Articles