The end of the fake internet virus scanners

[Seb7]

[news.bbc.co.uk...]

Every scan found a host of security problems and urged visitors to buy software to fix them. Typically the scans found evidence of viruses, spyware and, in some cases, illegal p'graphy.
However," said the FTC, "the scans were entirely false."

The fake security products the firms were peddling were: WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus.
A US District court granted an injunction which stops Innovative Marketing and ByteHosting Internet Services from continuing to advertise their products, and from making false claims about their efficacy.

[youfoundjake]

Good to hear, I got bit by the winxpantivirus 2009 bug about a month ago, removed it as usual, but its a pain in the arse. In about an hour, i'm going to a clients house to remove it off of his system. For whatever reason, the past 2 months have been really busy removing scareware off my clients computers, which is good money for me (heeh) but frustrating as all heck..
I'd actually welcome the FTC shutting down these companies, despite loosing money..

[koan]

A US District court granted an injunction which stops Innovative Marketing and ByteHosting Internet Services from continuing to advertise their products

Just stop lying to the public? Why are the laws so soft? Why not throw them in jail? It's just as bad as fraud or theft.

[weeks]

Glad to see this post on the front page. Who among us has not dealt with friends and neighbors who are suffering this junk? I finally got my elderly neighbor to get rid of his "filter." Sad.

[kamikaze Optimizer]

The FTC really is a barking dog, no bite. To make a major dent the DOJ needs to get involved.

[JS_Harris]

A step in the right direction, it is complete theft. If you tried something like that in any other industry they'd be going over your books and making you pay the money back and then some.

[jeffgroovy]

I'm just glad the one I've been marketing wasn't on that list, I got worried there for a second :)

[Bewenched]

The FTC really is a barking dog, no bite.

I'll second that.