Ramblings of an old Doc

 

Kaspersky has notified that it’s found fake Kaspersky apps in these online stores. Kaspersky Mobile is fake, although it uses Kaspersky’s logo. It costs $4, and claims to protect your phone/tablet. It does nothing. Actually? Be grateful. It could have been ransomware in disguise. Kaspersky has NEVER made an app called Kaspersky Mobile nor any mobile app for the Windows Phone platform.

Kaspersky Virus Shield and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2014 are also bogus. ‘Virus Shield’ (another fake app) is supposed to protect Android devices. Another $4 down the drain. Guess how many downloads it has had: 10,000. People really. Research what you’re thinking to purchase or install. Just because it comes from a genuine App Store, it doesn’t mean the app works or is from who it says it is. There is a genuine Kaspersky antivirus program for Android (appropriately named Kaspersky Internet Security for Android). The phony apps are simply made to sound real.

One thing is for sure, folks: The phony apps will increase, simply because of the popularity of mobile devices. So put on your ‘do the homework’ glasses. One thing you ALWAYS want to check is the app’s official website (like http://usa.kaspersky.com/). There will be a list of all the company’s products there. Also, after checking there, look for reviews. If there are none, you don’t want to buy it. Also, if you find a review and it’s not listed by the company, report that review site. It’s likely to be malicious.

In an ideal world, the App Stores would filter the dangerous and phony apps out before they got sold. Well, is any part of this world ideal?

Source:

http://www.infopackets.com/news/9035/beware-fake-kaspersky-antivirus-apps


Comments
on May 20, 2014

So why aren't Google Play and the Windows Phone App stores responsible for the apps allowed on their sites? They don't verify apps placed on their stores for download by millions of people first? Sounds to me like they and any other app store with these kind of allowed business practices shouldn't even exist if they cannot protect the consumer. 

on May 20, 2014

Well Tom, I agree that they have a certain obligation. They aren't perfect, though.

The buyer has the ultimate responsibility, though...after all, whose money and device is it?

Perfection is not for this world...I'm just trying to help protect the folks here.

on May 20, 2014

LightStar
So why aren't Google Play and the Windows Phone App stores responsible for the apps allowed on their sites?

 They probably are, but hey, fake or not, they get a cut of the profits. The fact that MS dropped sidebar gadget support due to "Security" concerns over a few thousand gadgets in favor of an "anything goes as long as it makes us money' app store with tens of thousands of apps that apparently don't get checked out at all is hilarious.

Who did they think they were fooling? Oh, that's right, the gullible consumer.

on May 20, 2014

It's a free economy.  Think like a capatilst capitalist.  Buyer beware. 

Sellers are allowed to claim most anything and given the global economy and internet its a wide open field for misleading the consumer.

Kaspersky under our system has to sue the offending proprietor's for the fraudulent misuse of their name - that isn't always easy given the International nature of the Internet.

Given our system ... Buyer Always Beware.

on May 20, 2014

I remember what the Doc said some time ago...always go to the website. Like IObit...I get notifications when a new version of ASC is available in a little pop up on my screen when I open ASC. Never click on that little pop up as it takes you to c/net. I close that and go direct to IObit's website.

on May 20, 2014


I remember what the Doc said some time ago...always go to the website. Like IObit...I get notifications when a new version of ASC is available in a little pop up on my screen when I open ASC. Never click on that little pop up as it takes you to c/net. I close that and go direct to IObit's website.

I just updated my paid version of ASC Pro from IObit and did it from the notification that I got when I checked to see if there was an update.  It didn't take me to c/net Uvah.  As we all know though, one persons computer experience does not mean it will be the same for the next person.  

I'm sorry for taking the thread off subject. 

on May 20, 2014

This is true.