Rogue software support from Software-HQ certified by Trustwave

In a recent podcast with Mitchell, he and I were bemoaning the fact that it is just so hard for non-technical users to not get gamed or scammed on line. One of the type of scams I hate the most is the rogue AV and rogue security software scam. What a kick in the butt. Using fake security software to infect a computer.

Tonight I came across another type of rogue software I want to call out. What made this one worse is that Trustwave is certifying these folks. What these people are doing is wrong, Trustwave giving them a seal of approval is worse though. Did anyone at Trustwave even check this out? Come on now, I would expect more from Trustwave!

It all started when I realized that my Windows 7 install did not have Windows Media Player. I did a search for Windows Media Player in Bing (BTW, Google didn’t have this link, I checked later). The first link in Bing, which is I guess a paid link was for a site that advertises Windows Media Player 11. The blurb says download Windows Media Player 11 – 100% guaranteed. I clicked the link and went to a domain at http://mediaplayer.11-now.com/. It had a very Microsoft look and feel, though it did have a disclaimer down at the bottom. There are two big click to download buttons and I did. Instead of download though I was taken to a page for an order sign up.

Turns out they want me to pay 19.95 for the year or 12.95 a year for 3 years. For this they are going to give me:

Technical Support When You Need It

Awesome "Up to date" Flash Tutorials

Unlimited Software Downloads

Complete Downloads

Never Pay a Download Fee

Instant Access After You Sign-up

Access to the Hottest Software

This service is run by a company called Software-HQ and their domain is http://www.software-hq.net.  They claim to have all of the hottest software for you to download. Programs like Winzip, Paintshop Pro, Ifran and more. All shareware programs that you can download anywhere on the net. If you buy these programs and register them, the makers of the program offer you support. So what exactly is software-hq giving? Ice cubes in winter that’s what! They are going to let me have unlimted software downloads, that are complete and the latest versions? Right after I pay them they will give me instant access to these hard to find programs? Stop! Stop! Stop! This is ridiculous.

Think of some of your relatives who might be duped by this and turn over the 20 bucks. Do you think they are getting value? I don’t think so, I think it is just another rat hole on the Internet that needs the light of day shined on it.

Trustwave what are you doing certifying this? Would you certify a ham sandwich? Where is the quality control here? You are a security company supposedly, you should know better!