Class Claims Symantec Uses 'Scareware'
Class Claims Symantec Uses 'Scareware'
SAN JOSE (CN) - Security software giant Symantec uses "scareware" to trick customers into buying its anti-virus programs, a class action claims in Federal Court.
Lead plaintiff James Gross claims: "Through a common deceptive scheme, Symantec uniformly defrauds consumers into purchasing the three products at issue in this lawsuit - PC Tools Registry Mechanic, PC Tools Performance Toolkit, and Norton Utilities (hereafter collectively referred to as the 'Scareware').
"First, Symantec represents to the consumer that the Scareware is capable of identifying and fixing a wide range of PC errors, privacy threats, and other computer problems. Next, to demonstrate the Scareware's value to the consumer, Symantec allows the user to download the software and perform a 'free diagnostic' scan, which purportedly detects whether any such problems exist on the individual's PC. Then, the Scareware reports, in alarmist fashion, that harmful errors and other threats exist on the user's PC. Finally, Symantec informs the consumer that a handful of these issues may be fixed for free, but the individual must purchase the product to fully remove the remaining so-called errors."
But, Gross says, "the Scareware does not conduct any actual diagnostic testing on the computer. Instead, Symantec intentionally designed its Scareware to invariably report, in an extremely ominous manner, that harmful errors, privacy risks, and other computer problems exist on the user's PC, regardless of the real condition of the consumer's computer. Furthermore, the Scareware does not, and cannot, provide the benefits promised by Symantec. Accordingly, consumers are duped into purchasing software that does not function as advertised, and in fact, has very little (if any) utility."
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/12/42979.htm
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