News Insights: Rogue affiliates are running fake antivirus expiration scams
Rogue affiliates are running fake antivirus expiration scams
Rogue security software affiliates are sending emails that falsely tell recipients that their antivirus software is expiring and then prompt them to renew their license so that the affiliate can earn a commission from the sale.
Rogue affiliates are running fake antivirus expiration scams
News Insights:
James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, provided the following comment:
“Criminal groups rely on people’s general lack of awareness of the details of their computers and software by providing false information with a sense of urgency to renew their subscription. It could be a phone call stating the owner’s computer is infected or an email stating that the antivirus is expiring. While the emails are convincing, people will want to verify this kind of information when they receive it. It is beneficial if the organizations or even the operating system could provide that kind of information very easily for people to reduce this type of risk for those who are unaware of subscription dates.”
Hugh Taylor
Hugh Taylor is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). In addition to editing Journal of Cyber Policy, he writes about cybersecurity, compliance and enterprise technology for such clients as Microsoft, IBM, SAP, HPE, Oracle, Google and Advanced Micro Devices. Prior to launching his freelance writing career, he served in executive roles at Microsoft, IBM and several venture-backed technology startups.