Avast, Avira, Norton Antivirus and ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode are Applications Created to Mimic Real Anti-virus Apps

July 29, 2011 (PRLEAP.COM) Technology News
Computer cybercrooks have rolled out 4 new cloned applications that have been discovered by various PC security research firms as fake anti-virus applications. Each of these programs, Avast Enhanced Protection Mode, Avira Enhanced Protection Mode, Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode and ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode are virtually identical programs that attempt to mimic legitimate anti-virus programs currently available on the PC software market.

The creators of these new rogue anti-virus programs will commonly produce newer variants, or clones, of previous fake security software renditions. One security firm website, EnigmaSoftware.com, has identified each of these applications as utilizing the naming of trusted security programs. For instance, Avast Enhanced Protection Mode attempts to mimic the legitimate Avast Antivirus program. Avira Enhanced Protection Mode may appear to be associated with the genuine Avira AntiVirus program. Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode thrives on copying Symantec's Norton Antivirus line of programs. Finally, ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode is a poor attempt at copying the anti-virus and security software from the legitimate company ESET.

This is not the first time hackers have used the tactics of impersonating the name, and in some cases the graphical interface, of trusted security programs. EnigmaSoftware.com highlights each of these fake antivirus program's warning notification image. This image notification may be clicked upon by unsuspecting computer users rendering further execution of the deceptive applications actions.

The EnigmaSoftware.com removal reports reveal that malware researchers have suspected Avast Enhanced Protection Mode, Avira Enhanced Protection Mode, Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode or ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode may replace a copy of a legitimate security program on your PC with the fake one. After installation takes place, the PC user may be continually redirected to payment sites asking that a copy of the fake anti-virus program be purchased.

Avast Enhanced Protection Mode, Avira Enhanced Protection Mode, Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode and ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode are all part of a scam in attempting to gain PC users' trust. Not only that, but once the trust is gained by these fake antivirus programs, a computer user may purchase it in hopes that the application would somehow alleviate issues that were previously detected and relayed through a fabricated alert message.

Several security resource sites, including EnigmaSoftware.com, have released new removal reports to assist computer users with ridding their system of Avast Enhanced Protection Mode, Avira Enhanced Protection Mode, Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode or ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode. The EnigmaSoftware.com updated removal reports for each of these bogus antivirus applications can be found as follows:

Avast Enhanced Protection Mode Removal Report - http://www.enigmasoftware.com/avastenhancedprotectionmode-removal/
Avira Enhanced Protection Mode - http://www.enigmasoftware.com/aviraenhancedprotectionmode-removal/
Norton AntiVirus Enhanced Protection Mode - http://www.enigmasoftware.com/nortonantivirusenhancedprotectionmode-removal/
ESET Smart Security Enhanced Protection Mode - http://www.enigmasoftware.com/esetsmartsecurityenhancedprotectionmode-removal/