Solved fake Microsoft Security Essentials, MSE ?

I have read about that someone got taken into by a fake MSE.

Is there any tell-tale sign to spot a fake one ?

Clarification :
I mean what is the tell-tale sign to spot a fake one BEFORE on gets suckered into installing it.
I know how to remove it after the fact.

AFAIK, it first mildly infects you and send fake warning messages that you have been infected and need to do a download or run a scan to fix the problem. The download/scan is what really infects you thoroughly. So if you get infection messages that include an option to scan or download anything and don't have MSE, that's a BIG warning sign right there. If you get the messages and do have MSE, you need to open MSE to update it and run a full MSE scan (and MBAM as well) to check your system and NOT download/scan anything suggested by or using the option provided by the message. Real MSE alerts (or others AFAIK) don't include a scan option in the message itself. Here's an article on how it all starts: Microsoft Security Essentials Alert Malware Removal Report.

As far as downloading a fake MSE product, you can avoid that by downloading it directly from the Microsoft site rather than from some third-party vendor site. Then you'll be sure you're getting the real McCoy.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

djch129 said:

I have read about that someone got taken into by a fake MSE.

Is there any tell-tale sign to spot a fake one ?

Clarification :
I mean what is the tell-tale sign to spot a fake one BEFORE on gets suckered into installing it.
I know how to remove it after the fact.

Click to expand...

There may be a slight difference between a Real and fake version of MSE

But make sure you have another Ant-Virus ready to install SO if it does say you are infected check with another Anti-Virus if it says you are.

You will find that most FAKE Anti-Viruses are very good at getting the UI The same as a legitimate copy

Hope This Helps,
Josh

Wonder why they pick on MSE ?
Why not other AV programs ?
Must be Apple doing this...... ha ha ha
I am closing this thread.

djch129 said:

Wonder why they pick on MSE ?
Why not other AV programs ?
Must be Apple doing this...... ha ha ha
I am closing this thread.

Click to expand...

It is not just MSE. There have been hundreds of these, and then they go under different names of the same code. Here is a NON-comprehensive list, which is constantly going out of date, just to give you a scale of the issue THEN: Spyware Warrior: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites

Oh ok our OP is no longer with us but i will post this anyway for reference.

Posted today by z3r010 at Eight Forums;

Fake Microsoft Security Essentials software on the loose. Don’t be fooled by it!

Also posted here in our Vista News section by SGT Oddball;

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/...y-essentials-software-loose-don-t-fooled.html