Like they say, you only get what you pay for. And on the internet, there are so many programs, whether for sale, freeware or shareware, that you really can’t be sure if you will benefit from what you are downloading. These are fake programs that don’t do what they promise to do. That includes Fake Anti-spyware programs.

There are today a sizeable number of dubious anti-spyware programs distributed on the net with banner ads that purport to claim your PC is infected and needs to be cleaned by their products. When you click on these banner ads you will be directed to their website where you can purchase anti-spyware programs that are essentially useless.

They even have rudimentary scanning utility software that you can click on to detect and show that your PC is infected, even if it is not. What is worst is that they may in fact be spyware themselves, masquerading as legitimate anti-spyware for you to download for a fee or for free trial. Once downloaded and launched, you could have a real spyware on your PC.

From registry cleaners, to Anti-virus and Anti-spyware products, these new breed of fake utility programs belong to a class of software called rogue software. They don’t perform what they promise to do and may even harm your PC. Some of the more notorious useless Anti-spyware products are the following:

  • Pest Trap
  • SpywareStrike
  • Spylocked
  • SpyAxe
  • Spyware Quake
  • Spy Wiper
  • Malware
  • PAL Spyware Remover
  • Spy Sheriff
  • SysProtect
  • SpyShredder
  • Spyware Cleaner
  • Spy Dawn
  • Pest Trap
  • WorldAntiSpy
  • ErrorSafe
  • WinFixer
  • CotraVirus
  • Ultimate Cleaner
  • AV Systen Care
  • PC Security System
  • Magic AntiSpy

Legal suits have been filed on a few of the makers behind these fraudulent anti-spyware programs with some still pending. Microsoft, for instance, together with the Washington state, sued Secure Cleaner in 2006, for its fake Spyware Cleaner program. The case is still pending. Such litigations serve to deter the proliferation of fake programs, but there’s still a long way to go. The best consumers can hope for are the pertinent laws protecting their rights against fraudulent claims on consumer products, but not specifically against fake programs on the net.

Stay away from these fake tools and choose from the good antispyware programs.