Fake security software is proving to be big business for some cyber criminals.
A gang that made more than $72m (£45m) peddling fake security software has been shut down in a series of raids.
Co-ordinated by the FBI, the raids were carried out in the US, UK and six other countries.
The money was made by selling software that claimed to find security risks on PCs and then asked for cash to fix the non-existent problems.
The raids seized 40 computers used to do fake scans and host webpages that tricked people into using the software.
Account closed
About one million people are thought to have installed the fake security software, also known as scareware, and handed over up to $129 for their copy. Anyone who did not pay but had downloaded the code was bombarded with pop-ups warning them about the supposed security issues.
This ruse is believed to have generated a return of about $2m.
“Scareware is just another tactic that cyber criminals are using to take money from citizens and businesses around the world,” said assistant director Gordon Snow of the FBI’s Cyber Division in a statement.
