SCars has been a long project for awhile now and it’s at that stage where we feel comfortable that it can be released to the general public.

What is SCars? To quote the SCars home page:

“SCars is a program designed to aid users in performing the regular computer maintenance tasks that should be undertaken to keep their computer working efficiently. Tasks such as updating Windows and security software, and cleaning temporary files are important to a computer’s health. In addition, SCars can be used to remind users of whatever they choose as it has the capability for users to create ‘custom’ reminders for any purpose.”

For a long time now, we have been developing this application which started from a small idea from some of our staff behind the scenes. At the time we were discussing overhauling our support forums. And from somewhere, it sparked a conversation about creating a tool. So that we can assist computer users not only via our website, but on their actual computer when they’re offline or online after we have assisted them. That was the start of a project which we then dubbed, Project X.

Overview

• Built-in computer Security and Maintenance reminders – all customizable
• Custom reminders for any purpose
• Automatic or manual updating available
• Multiple languages supported
• Full help and support available (more info)

For a run-down of the above visit the Features page.

We don’t expect at this stage to have a Pro version for which you pay for. As it stands it is a freeware application to recommend to anyone which will assist in maintaining a computer. All those who contribute, are volunteers. They have either been in a position themselves where they got infected and seeked help on similar websites like our own. So they know where most users come from. That is vital to the development of SCars to maintain it’s functions as it’s designed for.

Although this release is stable, we have not yet fully implemented all features. So for the first public version, it will be a Beta. We do want to remind anyone using it in the Beta version that testing will be at your own risk.

At this stage we’d like to thank everyone who has worked hard on SCars. You can see who has contributed on the SCars pages (more here). And should you have an opinion, chat about it in our forum.

Links of Interest:

SCars Home Pages

SCars Support Forum

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Also, on a side point away from our weekly round-up, our application (formally codename ProjectX) SCars, is in full swing and several components are finished. There is no predicted release date, but we will hopefully provide a run down of what we’re actually programming soon. We are after a few graphic designers to help us with graphics on the application. Please contact me, AndyAtHull, via my forum account for details. Let us crack on.

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The beta version of Microsoft Relevant Products/Services’s security Relevant Products/Services software is a hit. The software giant announced Wednesday on its Web site that it had reached the U.S. limit on downloads for Microsoft Security Essentials — which was only made available Tuesday.

The general release of the free software is expected this fall.

“Alert!” said a posting on the Web page for the security software. “Thank you for your interest in joining the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta. We are not accepting additional participants at this time. Please check back at a later date for possible additional availability.”

Limit Reached Within 24 Hours

The beta became available Tuesday morning and reached the limit for the U.S. and Israel within twenty-four hours. Microsoft had said it would allow 75,000 downloads for users in the U.S., Israel and Brazil.

According to news reports Relevant Products/Services, the limit for the U.S. and Israel was reached at about 5 a.m. PDT Wednesday. The limit of 20,000 downloads for Brazilian users hadn’t been reached, meaning 55,000 downloads were reserved for U.S. and Israel. – Source: Data Storage Today

Yikes! Let’s wait and see if Microsoft can specialize in this area. For me, decidated companies and organisations will always remain in a better position to deal with security as it’s their bread and butter. Chat about it here in full.

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A day later and Symantec respond:

I wanted to let you know that we’ve been in touch with Bill Pytlovany and have reached out to the original customer who called support.

Symantec does not classify WinPatrol as a threat, and we’re actively investigating this customer’s experience to learn more about why the support agent provided incorrect information and to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Best,

Noah Edwardsen
Symantec

The comment was left over at Security Garden. I welcome this response. Let’s lay this to rest and work with each other so situations like this can be prevented rather than caused. Chat about the situation in our forum.

Indeed strong words to use, but sometimes that is required to express a point. Our expert and Microsoft MVP Corrine blogged in February about the good, the bad and the ugly regarding Symantec. This included the partnership with IAC/Ask. One partnership which appears to be infectious to many legit companies in the web today.

Today I sit here and to inform you about another twist in the Symantec saga.

Symantec Support says Winpatrol is a virus. Yes, you read that correctly.

Bits from Bill – “This week I was surprised to hear that a Symantec support rep actually told a customer that WinPatrol was a virus and during a remote assistance phone call they deleted WinPatrol from their system.”

And for all of that they charged the victim $99. To put it into context. WinPatrol PLUS costs less than that and the standard version is free. To add, WinPatrol is probably, if not already, the best utility to have on a computer to assist with many problems we face. We even have an un-official support forum for it. And we’re not the only one with such a forum.

I know we’re in a tough economic times and perhaps the partnership with companies is understandable to balance the books. What isn’t acceptable is insisting WinPatrol is a virus, removing it and then charging for a simple task that should not have been done in the first place.

How are support staff at Symantec regulated and chosen? Because providing support like this staff member did shows to be poor and reflects on the company overall.

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The guys a Wilderssecurity.com reported this in the last few days.

I am sad to hear this. Sad to hear that more legit and decent vendors are following the money trail instead of providing a standard they have that made them the way they are today.

Calender of Updates has a growing list of products with the toolbar.

I can only see this increasing as months go by. In tough economic times, drastic measures will be taken by vendors like BitDefender. However, it is a clear indication that the community like ours, does not support moves like this. Have an opinion? Share it here.

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However, StopBadware.Org appear to disagree:

“After several months of ongoing communication, CyberDefender has released a version of its flagship suite, CyberDefender Early Detection Center, that appears to address all of the issues that led us to labeling it badware. We have therefore archived the alert. Thanks to the company for keeping the lines of communication open.” – StopBadware.Org

Not even a month ago and CyberDefender were still upto some old tricks by using Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware to clean infections. Make your own mind up, but for me I wouldn’t recommend CyberDefender even two years on from our initial research.

Hat Tip – Donna’s SecurityFlash

Forum Mirror – Is CyberDefender still bad? Well StopBadware doesn’t seem to think so!

… Well, they all imitate legit removal tools for malware. And probably created to gain financial advantages from the traffic the original tools get.

This time they have released another version called ComboFixTool which imitates the legit tool ComboFix.

Make no bone about it. SmitFraudFixTool, VundoFixTool and now ComboFixTool are the fake applications here. Not SmitFraudFix, VundoFix or ComboFix.

What is funny at the time of me writing this is that the offending domain has not been updated. Nor has it’s download. Example below:

(Click to Enlarge)

Another twist on this story are the comments we’ve been getting from the last product this gang released. A victim has claimed to even get a refund on the amount of money they had spent before realising it’s practices from our articles. They’re also receiving help in our support forums.

A discussion has started about ComboFixTool over at BleepingComputer.com. And it’s safe to say that exploiting ComboFix is a dangerous prospect. You should never use the legit tool without supervision due to the nature of it. So when this fake application comes along, the impression it has could well affect this area of ComboFix and possibly push users into confusion.

We have procedures to help you with this kind of problem. Our forums have experts in place to assist you and will provide step-by-step help freely in removing it:

• Malware Removal Assistance with an Expert

Update (29/03/2009 – 17:41 PM – BST) – Offending URL’s are combofixtool.org and combofixtool.com. Both sites still not updated with graphics and download.

Update (31/03/2009 – 20:40 PM – BST ) – Both offending URL’s are now down – Result

Selective Linkbacks;

• Dell Forums – ComboFixTool – What’s that all about?
• Forum Linkback- ComboFixTool – What’s that all about?