This discussion was subject to a
deletion review on 2014 November 25. For an explanation of the process, see Wikipedia:Deletion review. |
The result was delete. The consensus is to do something with this material other than keeping it as a stand-alone article. If someone wants to merge it somewhere, drop a note on my talk page, and I'll userfy it for him or her. It's already mentioned in List of rogue security software, however, and an extended treatment in Rogue security software would indeed seem to be undue weight, so someone might want just to create a redirect from this title to the list article. Deor ( talk) 16:53, 15 November 2014 (UTC)
Most of the article is a how-to guide (not allowed), does not assert why this malware is notable. ViperSnake151 Talk 04:30, 18 October 2014 (UTC)
The first paragraph of the article is:
Several other paragraphs about the virus follow.Windows Antivirus Pro, also known as Windows Police Pro or ASC Antivirus, is the latest piece of rogue antivirus products that Microsoft has started tackling with its free Malicious Software Removal Tool security solution. Identified as TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeScanti, the malicious code is an example of a fake antivirus, an application masquerading as a security solution. Just as other rogue antivirus programs, FakeScanti turns to a range of social engineering tricks in order to fool victims into paying for a license for a piece of software with no real functionality.
A list of reviews by Marius Oiaga is at http://linux.softpedia.com/editors/browse/marius-nestor WebCite. http://www.softpedia.com/editors/ has a list of editors and contributors. The editorial staff indicates that the source has received the editorial oversight necessary to pass Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources.
The syndicated "Propeller Heads" column notes:
You do have malicious software on your computer, and it's called Windows Police PRO. This putrid little program secretly installs itself on your computer and then tries to trick you into purchasing their virus removal tool by reporting bogus viruses.
Programs like this are classified as malware: a broad category that includes viruses, bots and spyware. Whatever you do, don't fall for the ruse and provide them with your credit card number. If you already have, contact your bank and tell them that you have been scammed. Perhaps they can prevent the charge from going through.
...
Then they will try to trick you into clicking an infected link that will download something like Windows Police PRO on your computer.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/about/ says:Our Rootkits For Dummies Technical Editor, Lawrence Abrams, owns the Bleeping Computer Web site — and he is very hands-on in administering its daily operation. Bleeping Computer boasts an expert staff, and within a very short time it has become one [of] the most active security forums on the Web.
The "expert staff" and the "editors" indicate that the source has received the editorial oversight necessary to pass Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources.When reviewing products, the editors and team members will always provide honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products.
There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow Windows Police Pro to pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject".
David Wood's article provides some history of the virus:
This background information (which could be added to a "History" or "Background" section in this article) would violate Wikipedia:Neutral point of view#Due and undue weight if the article is merged into Rogue security software, so I would recommend against mandating a merge at AfD. Cunard ( talk) 00:04, 13 November 2014 (UTC)We first saw a variant of Win32/FakeScanti back in early March of this year, when it went by the name of ASC Antivirus. There was then very little activity on the FakeScanti front until late July, when we noticed a file, which we detect as TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeScanti, downloading a new version of the scanner going by the name of Windows Antivirus Pro. This version was proactively detected by the signatures added in March. Since then there has been a steady stream of new files, but only one name change, to Windows Police Pro. Apart from the name change, the user interface, and even the list of alleged “malware” detected by this rogue, has remained identical:
AfD is not cleanup. Cunard ( talk) 01:02, 14 November 2014 (UTC)
This discussion was subject to a
deletion review on 2014 November 25. For an explanation of the process, see Wikipedia:Deletion review. |
The result was delete. The consensus is to do something with this material other than keeping it as a stand-alone article. If someone wants to merge it somewhere, drop a note on my talk page, and I'll userfy it for him or her. It's already mentioned in List of rogue security software, however, and an extended treatment in Rogue security software would indeed seem to be undue weight, so someone might want just to create a redirect from this title to the list article. Deor ( talk) 16:53, 15 November 2014 (UTC)
Most of the article is a how-to guide (not allowed), does not assert why this malware is notable. ViperSnake151 Talk 04:30, 18 October 2014 (UTC)
The first paragraph of the article is:
Several other paragraphs about the virus follow.Windows Antivirus Pro, also known as Windows Police Pro or ASC Antivirus, is the latest piece of rogue antivirus products that Microsoft has started tackling with its free Malicious Software Removal Tool security solution. Identified as TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeScanti, the malicious code is an example of a fake antivirus, an application masquerading as a security solution. Just as other rogue antivirus programs, FakeScanti turns to a range of social engineering tricks in order to fool victims into paying for a license for a piece of software with no real functionality.
A list of reviews by Marius Oiaga is at http://linux.softpedia.com/editors/browse/marius-nestor WebCite. http://www.softpedia.com/editors/ has a list of editors and contributors. The editorial staff indicates that the source has received the editorial oversight necessary to pass Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources.
The syndicated "Propeller Heads" column notes:
You do have malicious software on your computer, and it's called Windows Police PRO. This putrid little program secretly installs itself on your computer and then tries to trick you into purchasing their virus removal tool by reporting bogus viruses.
Programs like this are classified as malware: a broad category that includes viruses, bots and spyware. Whatever you do, don't fall for the ruse and provide them with your credit card number. If you already have, contact your bank and tell them that you have been scammed. Perhaps they can prevent the charge from going through.
...
Then they will try to trick you into clicking an infected link that will download something like Windows Police PRO on your computer.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/about/ says:Our Rootkits For Dummies Technical Editor, Lawrence Abrams, owns the Bleeping Computer Web site — and he is very hands-on in administering its daily operation. Bleeping Computer boasts an expert staff, and within a very short time it has become one [of] the most active security forums on the Web.
The "expert staff" and the "editors" indicate that the source has received the editorial oversight necessary to pass Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources.When reviewing products, the editors and team members will always provide honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products.
There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow Windows Police Pro to pass Wikipedia:Notability#General notability guideline, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject".
David Wood's article provides some history of the virus:
This background information (which could be added to a "History" or "Background" section in this article) would violate Wikipedia:Neutral point of view#Due and undue weight if the article is merged into Rogue security software, so I would recommend against mandating a merge at AfD. Cunard ( talk) 00:04, 13 November 2014 (UTC)We first saw a variant of Win32/FakeScanti back in early March of this year, when it went by the name of ASC Antivirus. There was then very little activity on the FakeScanti front until late July, when we noticed a file, which we detect as TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeScanti, downloading a new version of the scanner going by the name of Windows Antivirus Pro. This version was proactively detected by the signatures added in March. Since then there has been a steady stream of new files, but only one name change, to Windows Police Pro. Apart from the name change, the user interface, and even the list of alleged “malware” detected by this rogue, has remained identical:
AfD is not cleanup. Cunard ( talk) 01:02, 14 November 2014 (UTC)