Fake software top cyber threat

Security firm Symantec has said fake security software was the biggest threat facing computer users during 2009, with a new report suggesting fraudulent anti-virus programs are becoming increasingly popular.

The report states Brazil has rocketed to third place in a list of countries with “malicious activity” present, accounting for 6%, with the United States in first place with 19% of malicious activity along with China at 8%.

Symantec vice president Vincent Weafer told Reuters the biggest growing threat is fake anti-virus software, which usually makes users pay for installation, or installs malicious software on a computer to steal confidential data.

“Virtually everything we see today is fake AV,” he said. “It’s such a money-making racket.”