List of Rogue Security Software

The following is a partial list of rogue security software, most of which can be grouped into families. These are functionally-identical versions of the same program repackaged as successive new products by the same vendor.

Rogue security software, also known as "scareware," is software that appears to be beneficial from a security perspective but provides limited or no security, generates erroneous or misleading alerts, or attempts to lure users into participating in fraudulent transactions.

Rogue security software designers create legitimate looking pop-up windows that advertise security update software. These windows might appear on your screen while you surf the Web.

The "updates" or "alerts" in the pop-up windows call for you to take some sort of action, such as clicking to install the software, accept recommended updates, or remove unwanted viruses or spyware. When you click, the rogue security software downloads to your computer.

Rogue security software might also appear in the list of search results when you are searching for trustworthy antispyware software, so it is important to protect your computer.

Rogue security software might report a virus, even though your computer is actually clean. The software might also fail to report viruses when your computer is infected. Inversely, sometimes, when you download rogue security software, it will install a virus or other malicious software on your computer so that the software has something to detect.

Some rogue security software might also:

Lure you into a fraudulent transaction (for example, upgrading to a non-existent paid version of a program).
Use social engineering to steal your personal information.
Install malware that can go undetected as it steals your data.
Launch pop-up windows with false or misleading alerts.
Slow your computer or corrupt files.
Disable Windows updates or disable updates to legitimate antivirus software.
Prevent you from visiting antivirus vendor Web sites.

Rogue security software might also attempt to spoof the Microsoft security update process.

If you have any of the Malware, Spyware or Virus below, we can remove it for you. We are the experts in the removal of all types of malware, trojans, viruses, rogue and unwanted software.

Advanced Cleaner
AKM Antivirus 2010 Pro
AlfaCleaner
Alpha AntiVirus
ANG Antivirus (knock-off of AVG Anti-virus)
Antimalware Doctor
AntiMalware
AntiMalware GO
AntiMalware Go
AntiSpyCheck 2.1
AntiSpyStorm
AntiSpyware 2008
AntiSpyware 2009
Antispyware 2010
AntiSpyware 2011
AntiSpyware Bot from 2Squared Software
AntiSpywareExpert
AntiSpywareMaster
AntiSpyware Shield
AntiSpyware Soft
AntiSpywareSuite
Antivermins
Antivir Solution Pro (not to be confused with Avira AntiVir)
Antivira AV
Antivirus Action
Antivirus Monitor
Antivirus 7 or Antivirus5
Antivirus 8
Antivirus 8
Antivirus 360
Antivirus 2008
Antivirus 2009
Antivirus 2010 (also known as Anti-virus-1),
AntiVirus Gold or AntivirusGT
Antivirus IS
Antivirus Live,
Antivirus Master
Antivirus .NET
Antivirus Pro 2009
Antivirus Pro 2010
Antivirus Scan
Antivirus Soft
Antivirus Studio 2010
Antivirus Suite
Antivirus System PRO
Antivirus XP 2008
Antivirus XP 2010
AV Antivirus Suite
Avatod Antispyware 8.0
AVG Antivirus 2011
AV Security Suite
Awola
Best Malware Protection
BestsellerAntivirus, Browser Defender
ByteDefender also known as ByteDefender Security 2010 (Knock-off of the legitimate BitDefender Antivirus software)
Cleanator
CleanThis
ContraVirus
Control Center
Cyber Security, Core Security
Data Protection
Defense Center
Desktop Security 2010
Digital Security
Disk Defrag
Disk Doctor
Doctor Antivirus
Doctor Antivirus 2008
Dr Guard
DriveCleaner
EasySpywareCleaner, EasyFix Tools
eco AntiVirus
Errorsafe, Error Expert
ErrorSmart, ErrorFix
Essential Cleaner
Fast Windows Antivirus 2011
Flu Shot 4 (probably the earliest well-known instance of rogue security software)
Green Antivirus 2009
Hard Drive Diagnostic
HDD Fix
HDD Plus
HDD Rescue
HDD Scan
IE Antivirus (aka IE Antivirus 3.2)
IEDefender
InfeStop
Internet Antivirus, InstallShield (aka Internet Antivirus Pro, distributed by plus4scan.com)
Internet Antivirus 2011
Internet Defender 2011
Internet Security 2010]],
Internet Security Essentials
KVMSecure
Live PC Care
Live Security Suite
Mac Defender
Mac Protector
MacSweeper
MalwareAlarm
Malware Bell (a.k.a. Malware Bell 3.2)
MalwareCore
MalwareCrush
Malware Defender (not to be confused with the HIPS firewall of the same name)
Malware Defense
MaxAntiSpy
Memory Fixer
MS AntiSpyware 2009 (not to be confused with Microsoft AntiSpyware, now Windows Defender)
MS Antivirus Microsoft Anti Malware (not to be confused with Microsoft Antivirus or Microsoft Security Essentials)
MS Removal Tool
MS Removal Tool
My Security Engine
My Security Shield
My Security Wall
MxOne Antivirus
Navashield
Netcom3 Cleaner
Paladin Antivirus
Palladium Pro
PAL Spyware Remover
PC Antispy
PC AntiSpyWare 2010
PC Clean Pro, PC-Doctor, PC Scan and Sweep
PC Privacy Cleaner
PCPrivacy Tools
PCSecureSystem
PerfectCleaner
Perfect Defender 2009, Perfect Optimizer
PersonalAntiSpy Free
Personal Antivirus
Personal Internet Security 2011
Personal Security
Personal Shield Pro
PC Antispyware
PC Defender Antivirus
Privacy Center
Protection Center
PSGuard
Quick Defragmenter
Rapid AntiVirus
Real AntiVirus, RegAlilve
Reggenie Antivirus
Registry Great
Registry Patrol
Registry Defender
Registry Winner
Reg tool
RegWork
Safety Alerter 2006
Safety Center or Security Center
SafetyKeeper
SaliarAR
ScanAngryAgainAntivirus
SecureFighter
SecurePCCleaner
SecureVeteran
Security Master AV
Security Scan 2009
Security Shield
Security Suite Platinum
Security Tool
Security Tool
Security Toolbar 7.1
Security Essentials 2010 (not to be confused with Microsoft Security Essentials)
SiteAdware
Smart Antivirus 2009
Smart Engine
Smart HDD
Spy Away
SpyAxe
SpyCrush
Spydawn
SpyEraser (Video demonstration)
SpyGuarder
SpyHeal (a.k.a SpyHeals & VirusHeal)
Spylocked
SpyMarshal
SpyRid
SpySheriff (a.k.a PestTrap, BraveSentry, SpyTrooper)
SpySpotter
Spy Tool
SpywareBot (Spybot - Search & Destroy knockoff, Now known as SpywareSTOP).
Spyware Cleaner or Spyware Blaster
SpywareGuard 2008 (not to be confused with SpywareGuard by Javacool Software)
Spyware Protect 2009
Spyware Protect 2009
SpywareQuake
SpywareSheriff (often confused with SpySheriff)
Spyware Stormer, Spyware X-terminator
SpywareStrike
Spyware Striker Pro
SpyWiper
SysGuard
Sysinternals Antivirus
System Antivirus 2008
SystemArmor
System Defender
System Defragmenter
SystemDoctor or Spyware Doctor
System Live Protect
System Security (Rogue Antivirus)
System Tool 2011
System Tool 2011
System Tools
TheSpyBot (Spybot - Search & Destroy knockoff)
ThinkPoint
Total Secure 2009
Total Win 7 Security
Total Win Vista Security
Total Win XP Security
TrustedAntivirus
UltimateCleaner
Ultra Defragger
VirusHeat
VirusIsolator
Virus Locker
VirusMelt
VirusProtectPro (a.k.a AntiVirGear)
VirusRanger
VirusRemover2008
VirusRemover2009
Virus Response Lab 2009
VirusTrigger
Vista Antimalware 2011
Vista Antispyware 2010
Vista Antispyware 2011
Vista Antivirus 2008
Vista Home Security 2011
Vista Internet Security 2010
Vista Security 2011
Vista Security 2012
Vista Smart Security 2010
Volcano Security Suite
Win7 Antispyware 2011
Win 7 Antivirus 2010
Win Antispyware Center
Win 7 Home Security 2011
WinAntiVirus Pro 2006
WinDefender (not to be confused with the legitimate Windows Defender)
Win Defrag
Windows 7 Recovery
Windows Anticrashes Utility
Windows Antidanger Center
Windows Attention Utility
Windows Cleaning Tool
Windows Efficiency Magnifier
Windows Emergency System
Windows Passport Utility
Windows Police Pro
Windows Power Expansion
Windows Privacy Agent
Windows Processes Organizer
Windows Protection Suite
Windows Recovery
Windows Remedy
Windows Repair
Windows Restore
Windows Scan
Windows Shield Center
Windows Stability Center
Windows Steady Work
Windows Support System
Windows Tasks Optimizer
Windows Threats Removing
Windows Tool
Windows Tweaking Utility
Windows Utility Tool
Windows Vista Recovery
Windows Wise Protection
Windows XP Recovery
WinFixer
Win HDD
WinHound
Winpc Antivirus
Winpc Defender
WinSpywareProtect
WinWeb Security 2008
Wireshark Antivirus
WorldAntiSpy
XP AntiMalware
XP AntiSpyware 2009
XP AntiSpyware 2010
XP AntiSpyware 2012
XP Antivirus 2010
XP Antivirus 2012
XP Antivirus Pro 2010
XP Defender Pro
XP Guardian
XP Home Security 2011
XP Internet Security 2010
XP Security 2012
XP Security Tool (not to be confused with Security Tool.)
XP-Shield
XJR Antivirus
Your Protection
Your PC Protector
Zinaps AntiSpyware 2008