Shocking Numbers: 450 Million Spyware Files, 22 Million Infected Computers, 1 Million Euro Fine

Do you remember DollarRevenue? If not, let me refresh your memory. DollarRevenue is an adware application created by some Dutch businessmen, who attempted to infect users' computers without their approval. Their main goal was to display adverts on their screen every time they used the system. Nothing unusual, just like any other piece of adware. The only problem was that the affected consumers were not able to remove the infection, many of them asking for experts' support. Now, it seems like the developers of DollarRevenue will have to build something smarter than that and I think a so-called "PleasePayMy1MillionEuroFine" application would be a great idea.

Yesterday, OPTA, the Independent Postal and Telecommunications Authority in Netherlands, fined three Dutch companies and two businessmen a total of 1 million euro for deploying and installing adware on consumers' computers. According to the reports, they have compromised approximately 22 million computers, in Netherlands and abroad, receiving more than 1 million euro. From this point of view, the fine seems to be pretty low as their scam revenues have been that big.

I must admit DollarRevenue was one of the most annoying adware infections I have ever seen. Not only that it displayed adverts straight on the desktop without allowing you to close them, but it also dropped a search browser toolbar that could easily affect the browsing experience.

Obviously, the adware didn't provide an uninstall option, so most users had to require expert assistance in order to remove the infection. Million of consumers affected and most of them were unable to clean their computers. How did the spyware creators manage to infect so many people? It's simple: they paid an impressive sum of money for every installation, so numerous malicious people were involved into the scam. It's not sure yet, but it seems that the DollarRevenue creators even contacted hackers that would help them distribute the infection, The Register added.