What does it mean to be a rogue?

[Comprev]

I believe that there are certain conditions that are markings of a fake security program. A rogue must meet at least one of these criterion to be a rogue:

1. It generates pre-determined scan results to mislead a user (without this the program is not a rogue)

2. It is spread via malware

3. It hijacks your browser

4. It locks or ransoms your computer until paid for

5. Does any of the above while not detecting a real threat

6. Intentionally blocks legitimate programs from running

7. Takes over the computer booting up

8. Does any of the above and requires money to remove fake infections

9. "Company" website has a fake online scanner

10. Generates popups with misleading alerts or other unwanted information

11. It also can download malware on the computer

12. It displays a fake Windows Security Center and pretends to be "Microsoft Certified"

13. It can mess with the results of legit security programs

Sources:

Spyware Warrior

2-viruses

Bleeping computer

[IDKWatMNShouldBe]

wrong section

[nosirrah]

I will add some traits shared by virtually all of them.

1. even on a fresh install there are "problems" detected

2. no ability to "jump to" problems found

3. no ability to save a scan log

4. after install scan starts automatically with no option to just install

5. no online forum

6. application has multiple clones where other than name and graphics everything under the hood is identical

7. if hosted on a download site there are many clearly fake glowing reviews

[Comprev]

I will add some traits shared by virtually all of them.

1. even on a fresh install there are "problems" detected

2. no ability to "jump to" problems found

3. no ability to save a scan log

4. after install scan starts automatically with no option to just install

5. no online forum

6. application has multiple clones where other than name and graphics everything under the hood is identical

7. if hosted on a download site there are many clearly fake glowing reviews

Thanks for that. Not everything comes to mind: I have figured these traits out based on research and have never actually "experimented" with what I learned about malware.

Also, thanks for putting everything into one post. It can be a pain if you remember something after the post.

To IDKWatMNShouldBe: where should I post it?

[noknojon]

This almost falls under General Chat area , as it is not a Malwarebytes related item - Just general statements -

Thank You -

[DarkSnakeKobra]

Don't forget "False Claims". Many share this, but does not indicate it is a rogue. Just poor customer attraction.

[Comprev]

Don't forget "False Claims". Many share this, but does not indicate it is a rogue. Just poor customer attraction.

Do you mean fake awards? I would be wary of places who advertise with fake awards. STOPzilla's awards might be fake...

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=1416STOPzilla Forum

PC Tools has no links to the awards it won... Maybe it's pretending. PC Tools

It said we had to pay to remove said infections... Maybe

[Comprev]

EDIT (sorry about all of this-no need to merge them)

Do you mean fake awards? I would be wary of places who advertise with fake awards. STOPzilla's awards might be fake and they are known to provide a useless antispyware program... I wouldn't trust the program as far as I could throw it.

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=1416STOPzilla Forum

PC Tools has no links to the awards it won... Maybe it's pretending. PC Tools

It said we had to pay to remove said infections... Maybe

Xoftspy might have faked results.

It is hard to tell who to trust

Luckily Malwarebytes can be trusted 100% and is the best spyware remover on the market.