ThinkPoint is the name of a rogue anti-spyware application that masks itself under the vise of being a computer security check. Like your regular malware check or antivirus scanner software, a box with the name of ThinkPoint will suddenly appear on your desktop claiming to check thousands of files and report hundreds infected. Moreover, it claims to be the world’s leading security solution, and offers to install your missing modules at the low cost of $90 or higher. Then, if you actually believe it, purchase and install it, you will go on to encounter deep PC troubles such as system degrading, serious slow down, connection loss, and computer vulnerability.
Originating in the Russian Federation, this rogue anti-spyware is no simple design created in Visual Basics. It is promoted by a fake pop up that reads, “Microsoft Security Essentials Alert.” It takes on the look of a hotfix.exe or a mstsc.exe file, imitating Microsoft’s Security threat reports on a normal user’s computer. It lists Trojan infections—all fabricated—and prompts the user to purchase ThinkPoint to clean them. What’s more, it displays what looks like a very thorough scan it has just performed. 30 of the anti-malware tools it claims to use are actually legitimate. This is where it gets very misleading. It claims Trend Micro and Symantec among the list of legitimate software. But, it mixes in the bad with the good. Other rogue software perhaps recognizable to a former victim are listed, such as AntiSpy Safeguard, Peak Protection 2010, and others.
ThinkPoint can enter a computer through fake online scanners, illicit websites and online portals. Be wary of email attachments whose sender you do not know. Some ads that look like a normal Classmates.com advertisement are portals to rogue anti-spywares. But even more subtle and unknown is when computer users download ThinkPoint from a bogus browser extension, or even a fake video codec. Free virus scans offered on websites can host the ThinkPoint bug. A link on a search engine can redirect from a simple website to the infected host for ThinkPoint. And once it pops up, it looks legitimate. Windows logos are cunningly placed in the design, as well as Windows styling and fonts. Its detailed and realistic looking graphic layout is similar to commercial anti-spyware programs.
Once the rogue software becomes installed, things get serious. It now claims your computer is running all these problems—while it is the cause of those problems! Through the now installed ThinkPoint, the rogue makers now have a backdoor entry to the system of their vulnerable host. Through a large amount of convincing popups and listed infections (all fake), they promote buying their full version of the scam software. Even further, ThinkPoint deteriorates the performance of the host computer and even blocks the PC’s access to legitimate security software.
Prevent yourself from becoming this victim! If you have been a victim of the ThinkPoint software scam, and already purchased the rogue software, it is important to contact your credit card company immediately asking for a refund, or chargeback, of the purchase just made. Let them be aware of the scam you were drawn into, and they should have no problems sending the charge back. Use a reliable, automatic detection tool to detect ThinkPoint from your computer. If worse comes to worse, get an expert to help, and delete its malicious files manually.
-Author Julia Spence is a professional freelance writer holding several part time positions in writing as well as a student in the medical field.
*This article was issued by an individual software company and received payment in return.
