Computer Security Rogue Live PC Care Tricks Users Even Further with Live...

Rogue Live PC Care Tricks Users Even Further with Live Technical Support

The rogue anti-spyware program known as Live PC Care among other fake anti-spyware programs were found to offer it's victims live technical support as an effort to increase sales.

Live PC Care is a fake security application that uses several misleading methods to entice computer users into purchasing a full version of the Live PC Care program. In a new discovery, it was found that Live PC Care and other similar rogues make an attempt to offer computer users live technical support. The online support or "live tech support" that Live PC Care offers is actually an open line to a live person but they are only there to push computer users into spending an additional USD$30 to USD$100 on a bogus service.

The live technical support offered through Live PC Care directs computer users to an instant messenger connection with a real person after clicking on an Online Support button as shown in Figure 1 below. Through the instant messenger service, the support tech attempts to convince users to spend their money on the Live PC Care program costing upwards of USD$100 for the "full service" in addition to declaring that Live PC Care is a legitimate security application.

LivePCCare rogue anti-spyware program screen shot onlin support button
Figure 1. Live PC Care rogue anti-spyware program screen shot with "Online Support" button.

Hackers that create rogue applications have attempted to offer such services in other fake security programs such as WinFixer which offered tech support via a call center. In this case an actual call center was made available to users of WinFixer. The call center members were instructed to reassure victims that they were buying a legitimate security program.

In another incident, a scarware defendant agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle charges with the FTC for a scheme that tricked users into purchasing fake security programs. This Cincinnati man had set up a call center using ByteHosting Internet Services for technical support questions from computer users tricked into purchasing fake security applications. Users were even promised refunds which they never received.

The creators of rogue applications have caused massive headaches for thousands of computer users by coming up with new a creative ways of marketing their malicious programs. By offering technical support for their products is just one effective way that they can aggressively flood the market and essentially make more money with their rogue anti-spyware programs.

Computer users are urged to be cautious when they encounter a rogue application that seems to offer all of the typical features of a legitimate security program. Because Live PC Care offers live tech support via instant messenger does not mean it is a safe program no matter what the "support technician" has to say.

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