Microsoft is warning users about one of the new fake antivirus products named "Security Essentials 2010," which is nearly identical to the naming of the company's flagship free anti-malware product.

Here is what this new antivirus rogue looks like:


The fake program uses a trojan (commonly known as Trojan.FakeAlert or Trojan.FakeAV) to display fake alerts to the user, and occasionally pop up and say legitimate programs are infected.

The core file that runs the GUI can be found here: %ProgramFiles%\Securityessentials2010\SE2010.exe

%ProgramFiles% is an environment variable, that points to the Program Files directory of the root drive.

The program displays fake warnings, and results of fake viruses or other malware, then tells the user to pay for the program, in order to remove the threats. This is a scam.

As in Internet Security 2010 does, this one also does. It installs Trojan.Alureon. Alureon is a data stealing trojan, and modifies DNS settings so it can transmit its own data without being detected, over the internet.

To remove this threat, it is recommended to use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Afterward, Register for this site, read this topic, then post the log(s) in this forum! Title the subject "Security Essentials 2010 removal help."