Scammers exploit Apple iPad fever

Filed under: Software, Hacks, Odds and ends, Apple, Security

And now we're at the point in the iPad cycle where there's just enough information out there about it that people are interested, but not enough that they can discern credible information from scammers. That's the report of the BBC, which says that "hi-tech" scammers are using iPad-based searches to prey on users and install various types of "rogue security software." The news here isn't necessarily that scammers are out there scamming people (that happens all of the time), but it's that scammers are cashing in on the iPad frenzy to do so. Then again, that's probably not a huge surprise, either: they probably always latch onto whatever the hottest search topics are, and this past week, of course, it was the iPad.

In my own personal opinion, these fearmongering reports are the biggest scam of all. Even the BBC is only reporting this based on information from Symantec, and that's S.O.P. for the antivirus company: a) release a report that claims everyone is in danger and that viruses are everywhere, b) get some less-than-tech savvy journalist to believe it, and c) sell copies of your antivirus software and profit. In reality, if you click links only on trusted sites and keep an eye on everything coming in to your Mac, you don't need Symantec to tell you how to be safe. If you install "security software" that you happened to pick up while searching for iPad news, of all things, then you can't be surprised when your system gets compromised.

Scammers exploit Apple iPad fever originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Scammers exploit Apple iPad fever originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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