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"A pop-up said I was infected, so I downloaded a program to remove it." The warnings look real, mimicking Microsoft or well known AntiVirus products. The names sound legitimate.

Once you click the link, you've been scammed. The link will direct you to buy a product, bilking you of your hard earned cash. Then it scans your computer looking to find more credit and banking information, and you know it will find it.

Can it get any worse? Why sure it can.

After you've been scammed by false pop-ups, after you've paid good money to the very people who gave you the crapware, and after they receive and sell your personal information, they can then connect your system to botnets.

Botnets which leave your computer vulnerable to a whole world of scammers and thieves. An automated thief that never tires of passing along your personal information for a profit.

When I tell people what has happened they immediately ask, " How am I supposed to know what's real and what's not?"

HOW TO IDENTIFY ROGUE MALWARE

1. Check questionable files. There are several places that offer lists of known malware. Not as many have libraries of thousands of files, malicious or not. PC Pitstop has one of the best. It gives you complete information on malware and safe files. Search for the file in the PC Pitstop Processes Library. Use it to identify files that you suspect are malicious. The legend helps determine whether the file is safe, spyware, or virus. There are thousands of files in this list and all have been identified and labeled.

2. Use Google search. This is the quickest and easiest way to check whether a program or process is legitimate. It also requires that you make a judgment on the results you find. You'll quickly learn to spot key words and phrases like Remove, How To Uninstall, Free Removal Tool. It's always best to NOT INSTALL a program you can't identify.

3. Use a good AntiVirus software to protect your system against infections. Be aware that all antivirus software are not created equal. I have compiled a list of reputable and effective software companies that I use and that we suggest through our help desk. Be sure to update the definitions regularly and use realtime protection. These programs work when others don't. When every minute counts you can't waste time with products that don't find and remove the threat.

Safe Antivirus Software

Avast from ALWIL
AVG
Comodo
F-Secure
Kapersky
Malwarebytes
Norman
Superantispyware

Knowing that you're infected can initially be tough to figure out, but once it takes hold this crapware prevents you from accessing sites on the Internet, particularly sites that could help remove it. Then, as if that weren't enough, you'll find you're unable to download anything. You especially can't download antivirus software, and if you can download it, you won't be able to open or run it. CAN'T ACCESS INTERNET, CAN'T DOWNLOAD PROGRAMS, CAN'T INSTALL PROGRAMS, just perfect. Now what do I do? Here are instructions to remove malware