Super Bowl 2010: and the winner is

Cybercriminals continue to rely on their victims’
curiosity in order to trick them into imperiling their data. In the Super Bowl
2010 scheme, the malware spreading mechanism is simple and classic: when the
credulous user clicks the link to an apparently legitimate Web site displayed
in the search results page, the browser is automatically redirected to a Web
page that infects the computer with a fake antivirus.

The behavior of the malicious program starring in
this case is comparable to that of other rogue antivirus: when the user is
redirected to the malware
distribution Web page, the browser window automatically minimizes and a warning
message is simultaneously displayed. This message notifies the user about several
alleged computer infections and it points out the necessity of installing a
security solution.

By clicking either the OK or the Cancel buttons of
the various pop-up windows appearing on the screen, the user activates a false
demonstration that unfolds in the restored browser window. This demonstration
imitates an on-going scanning process that detects oodles of malware in the
system, while other fake pop-up windows attempt to trick the user into
downloading the malicious program posing as the antivirus.

With each so-called scan, more and more
notices of false detections place
the user under the pressure of registering the rogue antivirus.
Once installed, it modifies or irremediably damages the content of several
system files and it conveys numerous pop-ups on sham system problems and fake
infections, while also persistently asking the user to buy or renew a license.

To protect and avoid compromising your system and
data , follow the five security tips below:

• install and
  activate a reliable antimalware, firewall solution and spam filter, such
  as those provided by BitDefender.
• update your
  antimalware, firewall and spam
  filter as frequently as possible, with the latest virus
  definitions and suspicious application/file signatures.
• scan your
  system frequently.
• regularly –
  download and install the latest security updates and malicious removal
  tools as well as other patches or fixes released by your operating system
  provider.
• do not
  download or save files from sources you don’t know; run a complete
  antimalware scan before opening or copying any file to your system, even
  if the file comes from a trusted source.