Talk:Scareware/Archives/2015

Scareware?
Is there a source for the term scareware being applied to spyware that tries to trick a user into buying a fake anti-spyware program? I've seen those called scamware but not scareware.
 * Not sure. I suppose it's arbitrary. Likely, the trick used to persuade the user to buy the (fake) anti-spyware program is making him/her believe his PC is infected, i.e. scaring them. The Seventh Taylor (talk) 22:27, 23 November 2008 (UTC)

I just came upon this page from searching on the term 'scareware' after I saw it used in a document from Sophos, their 2008 year in review and outlook for 2009: [|link] (free sign-up required).

I think the term makes sense.

By the way I also forgot to sign in before editing the middle part of this article just now to remove a reference to MacAfee SiteAdvisor as scareware. This is a legitimate and useful security product that in fact helps reveal compromised websites. See the original creator's blog on www.siteadvisor.com for detailed accounts of his journey of discovery of web-push malware, much of which tries to use fear to induce web users to download a paid "solution" to a "problem" the intrusive content has merely trumped up.Birdbrainscan (talk) 18:54, 5 March 2009 (UTC)


 * I went back to google where there are 155,000 hits on 'scareware' and I'll add a link to a BBC article noting the term from this past October.Birdbrainscan (talk) 18:56, 5 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Never mind - that BBC article was already linked as a footnote for the Microsoft case.Birdbrainscan (talk) 19:00, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

Isn't this the same principle as the old traveling salesman who would sell you "Snake oil" to cure your ailments? To me, that would be a scam. Therefore, my vote is for the term "scamware".