Total Security 2009 is a protection racket of the Internet age. The big difference, though, is that if you pay up, the criminals are going to hurt you worse! If you get Total Security 2009 or its cousins, System Security and Alpha Antivirus, you need to act quickly to remove the infection before the nastier sides of these Trojan programs start to come out. This program won't rearrange your face, but it can destroy your computer.
Never Trust a Trojan Spyware
Total Security 2009 is a Trojan, which means that it sneaks onto your computer by pretending to be something else. The most obvious deception is the name and appearance of the program. It pretends to be an Internet security system, but it's really a nasty piece of malware. Sometimes that is all the deception it uses, and sometimes it can be even more devious. A common method used by this and other Trojans is to present you with a video that you want to see, then claim that you need to download and install a codec to watch it. Instead of a codec, you will get the Trojan, and then your problems will begin.
How the Scam Hooks You
The developers of Total Security 2009 want to make money off of you. To do it, they want to convince you that your system is in trouble. So, once you've unwittingly installed their application, they bombard you with fake security warnings. These warnings will claim that the only way to protect your computer is to buy the full version of the program! In short, they want you to pay them protection money for the damage they are already doing to your system.
But don't fall for the scam. If you give in, you will enrich the criminals by providing them with your credit card number. The full version of the program will not help. In fact, it may speed up the process of destruction. Because, in the end, that's the final goal of this particular program. Whether you pay or not, this program will slowly destroy your system.
The Process: Destroying Your Computer
One of the first things this program will do once it is installed on your computer will be to lock out any legitimate security software. The biggest threat to this scam working is real anti-spyware programs. Therefore, it will attempt to shut down and permanently disable any program that can stop it. It will then take over your Internet browser and direct your searches to ad sites that will enrich the criminals behind this scam. While frustrating and dangerous, those are minor compared to what this malware does next.
After it's been active for a day or so, Total Security 2009 will start to randomly delete files from your computer. Then empty the recycle bin to completely delete the files. Those files may be your latest work project, your family photos, or parts of Windows itself. If Total Security 2009 succeeds in deleting system files, you may not be able to boot up your computer.
Avoid the Scam with Safe Browsing and Anti-Spyware Systems
Getting rid of Total Security 2009 requires an anti-spyware program designed to handle it. If the program has started to delete files, you may have to take your computer to a repair professional to get it fixed. Catching this program in the early stages can save you a lot of later grief. To avoid Trojans like this, practice safe browsing. Do not download files from unfamiliar sites, and always check that you have the spelling of a site correct before you download from it. Get strong anti-spyware software installed on your computer, and remember to never buy from a company that takes over your computer with pop-up ads.
Never Trust a Trojan Spyware
Total Security 2009 is a Trojan, which means that it sneaks onto your computer by pretending to be something else. The most obvious deception is the name and appearance of the program. It pretends to be an Internet security system, but it's really a nasty piece of malware. Sometimes that is all the deception it uses, and sometimes it can be even more devious. A common method used by this and other Trojans is to present you with a video that you want to see, then claim that you need to download and install a codec to watch it. Instead of a codec, you will get the Trojan, and then your problems will begin.
How the Scam Hooks You
The developers of Total Security 2009 want to make money off of you. To do it, they want to convince you that your system is in trouble. So, once you've unwittingly installed their application, they bombard you with fake security warnings. These warnings will claim that the only way to protect your computer is to buy the full version of the program! In short, they want you to pay them protection money for the damage they are already doing to your system.
But don't fall for the scam. If you give in, you will enrich the criminals by providing them with your credit card number. The full version of the program will not help. In fact, it may speed up the process of destruction. Because, in the end, that's the final goal of this particular program. Whether you pay or not, this program will slowly destroy your system.
The Process: Destroying Your Computer
One of the first things this program will do once it is installed on your computer will be to lock out any legitimate security software. The biggest threat to this scam working is real anti-spyware programs. Therefore, it will attempt to shut down and permanently disable any program that can stop it. It will then take over your Internet browser and direct your searches to ad sites that will enrich the criminals behind this scam. While frustrating and dangerous, those are minor compared to what this malware does next.
After it's been active for a day or so, Total Security 2009 will start to randomly delete files from your computer. Then empty the recycle bin to completely delete the files. Those files may be your latest work project, your family photos, or parts of Windows itself. If Total Security 2009 succeeds in deleting system files, you may not be able to boot up your computer.
Avoid the Scam with Safe Browsing and Anti-Spyware Systems
Getting rid of Total Security 2009 requires an anti-spyware program designed to handle it. If the program has started to delete files, you may have to take your computer to a repair professional to get it fixed. Catching this program in the early stages can save you a lot of later grief. To avoid Trojans like this, practice safe browsing. Do not download files from unfamiliar sites, and always check that you have the spelling of a site correct before you download from it. Get strong anti-spyware software installed on your computer, and remember to never buy from a company that takes over your computer with pop-up ads.
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