spyhunter 4 rogue antivirus?

[Train]

Looks like it.

[Crystal Sharrd]

Maybe. Googling it brought up Enigma Software's Website and a Website that's probably a fake trying to trick people.

[Azza ☠]

"Spyhunter 4" is a fake anti-virus, using scareware tactics. It shows false positives of virus infections, in order to get you to paid for rather useless software (I believe it still cleans real infections too). However, suggest avoiding it.

Consider using "Spybot (Free edition)" instead. Or if you are happy to pay for quality, then "Kaspersky Internet Security" or "MalwareBytes", for all round protection (great detection / great performance).

[Train]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

"Spyhunter 4" is a fake anti-virus, using scareware tactics. It shows false positives of virus infections, in order to get you to paid for useless software. Avoid it.

Consider using "Spybot (Free edition)" instead. Or if you are happy to pay for quality, then "Kaspersky Internet Security" or "MalwareBytes", for all round protection (great detection / great performance).

Isn't spybot another rogue? I saw that somewhere.

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by Train:

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

"Spyhunter 4" is a fake anti-virus, using scareware tactics. It shows false positives of virus infections, in order to get you to paid for useless software. Avoid it.

Consider using "Spybot (Free edition)" instead. Or if you are happy to pay for quality, then "Kaspersky Internet Security" or "MalwareBytes", for all round protection (great detection / great performance).

Isn't spybot another rogue? I saw that somewhere.

Spybot is trusted and safe. It will detect a lot of privacy issues, including minor cookies, etc. Just check the risk level however before cleaning (or clean all). It won't hurt, nor does it force you into buying it (you can use the free one to manually run for a lifetime, paid will just make it realtime protection). It specializes in anti-webbrowser hi-jacking and privacy concerns. Even offers a tool called "SpyBot Anti-Beacon" which blocks Windows privacy issues.

Just make sure you get it from the offical website: https://www.safer-networking.org/
(Not a third party, rather the "Ad-free download at Safer-Networking Ltd")

ps: I'm a security expert (it's my job), I've even worked along side some of these companies.

Some rogue security software (to avoid) includes:
- ANG Anti-virus (knock-off of AVG Anti-virus)
- AntiVermins
- AV Security Suite
- ByteDefender (knock-off of BitDefender)
- CleanThis
- Dr Guard
- EasySpywareCleaner
- Flu Shot
- HDD Fix (or Plus or Rescue)
- SUPERAntiSpyware 2011, also known as Win 7 Anti-Spyware 2011 (knock-off of SuperAntiSpyware)
- SpyHunter
- Spyware B1aster
- SpywareBot
- Super AV
- SpywareQuake
- SpywareSheriff
- TheSpyBot (knock-off of Spybot Search & Destroy)
- VirusLocker
- Win Antispyware
- WinFixer
- Your PC Protector

99% of all cracked security software will also contain a backdoor. It's one of the most common ways to be infected or scammed, as people looking for free security software.

You are best off with free trusted / well known or paying for a subscription. Application control (such as Kaspersky and MalwareByte) work a lot better than standard virus definition detection without the performance and resource hog.

Free ones have their pros/cons/annoyances, but would suggest trusted/popular ones, such as Avast Free, Avira Free, AVG, Bitdefender. Then have a manual run, such as Spybot, Malwarebytes Free, or Windows Defender (Win 10 Creators Fall edition with exploit protection) on the side. Only run one realtime scanner however + a firewall.