Editing Spyware (section)

==Rogue anti-spyware programs==
{{see also|List of rogue security software|Rogue security software}}

Malicious programmers have released a large number of [[rogue software|rogue]] (fake) anti-spyware programs, and widely distributed Web [[banner ad]]s can warn users that their computers have been infected with spyware, directing them to purchase programs which do not actually remove spyware—or else, may add more spyware of their own.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul F. |url=http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1821127,00.asp |title=Spyware-Removal Program Tagged as a Trap |date=May 26, 2005 |work=[[eWeek]] |access-date=September 4, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>Howes, Eric L. "[http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm The Spyware Warrior List of Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922003408/http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm |date=September 22, 2018 }}". Retrieved July 10, 2005.</ref>

The {{As of|2005|alt=recent}} proliferation of fake or spoofed antivirus products that bill themselves as antispyware can be troublesome.  Users may receive popups prompting them to install them to protect their computer, when it will in fact add spyware. It is recommended that users do not install any freeware claiming to be anti-spyware unless it is verified to be legitimate. Some known offenders include:

 {{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[AntiVirus 360]] & [[Antivirus 2009]]
* [[MacSweeper]]
* [[Pest Trap]]
* [[PSGuard]]
* [[Spy Wiper]]
* [[Spydawn]]
* [[Spylocked]]
* [[Spysheriff]]
* [[SpyShredder]]
* [[Spyware Quake]]
* [[SpywareStrike]]
* [[WinAntiVirus Pro 2006]]
* [[Windows Police Pro]]
* [[WinFixer]]<ref name="somanynames">Also known as WinAntiVirusPro, ErrorSafe, SystemDoctor, WinAntiSpyware, AVSystemCare, WinAntiSpy, Windows Police Pro, Performance Optimizer, StorageProtector, PrivacyProtector, WinReanimator, DriveCleaner, WinspywareProtect, PCTurboPro, FreePCSecure, ErrorProtector, SysProtect, WinSoftware, XPAntivirus, Personal Antivirus, Home Antivirus 20xx, VirusDoctor, and ECsecure</ref>
* [[WorldAntiSpy]]
 {{div col end}}

Fake antivirus products constitute 15 percent of all malware.<ref>{{cite web|author=Elinor Mills|title=Google: Fake antivirus is 15 percent of all malware|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20003340-245.html|website=[[CNET]]|date=April 27, 2010|access-date=2011-11-05|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510085732/http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20003340-245.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 26, 2006, Microsoft and the Washington state attorney general filed suit against Secure Computer for its Spyware Cleaner product.<ref>McMillan, Robert. [http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124508,00.asp Antispyware Company Sued Under Spyware Law] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706160314/http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124508,00.asp |date=July 6, 2008 }}. ''PC World,'' January 26, 2006.</ref>