Barracuda Networks Warns Against Rogue Antivirus Program
Campbell, Calif., June 10, 2009 – In light of reports of increasing incidents of
scareware and rogue antivirus programs recently appearing on the Internet,
Barracuda Networks Inc., today announced it is aware of a Web site promoting a
rogue spyware program called “Barracuda Antivirus.” If downloaded, reports
indicate that the program performs a fake scan of the user’s computer, when in
actuality it is installing spyware that will subsequently display pop-up ads and
other unwanted applications.
“This rogue ‘Barracuda Antivirus’ program is in no way affiliated with Barracuda
Networks and is just one of a string of recent examples of hackers attempting to
spread malicious programs using an established and trusted Internet security
brand,” said Stephen Pao, vice president of product management for Barracuda
Networks. “Our threat databases have been updated to protect all Barracuda
Networks customers from visiting or downloading content from this rogue site and
we advise all businesses and consumers to work directly with their trusted
Internet security product vendors when deciding which solutions will best suit
the needs of their networks.”
In addition, Barracuda Networks is reaching out to fellow Internet security
vendors to ensure that their databases are also updated to protect customers
from inadvertently accessing the Web sites that are hosting the fake executable
program.
News and statements