Computer Protection News

Security Software: Protection or Extortion? - IDG NEWS

sysadmin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:10:03 +0000

As the Conficker worm sprang to life on April 1 , talk here at the PC World offices turned to some interesting debates about how best to protect PCs from malware threats. In recent weeks we’ve run several helpful articles offering tips, tricks, and

Hackers‘ discount - stolen card details for 8 cents - Age
The theft of personal information by hackers is so prevalent - and efficient - that stolen credit card details now sell for as little as eight cents a card, a report by one of the world’s biggest computer security companies says. The global report

Social networking linked to spam attacks - ninemsn
The amount of spam sent over the internet increased by 192 per cent in 2008, and social networking sites are contributing to more sophisticated spam attacks, says a computer security company. Symantec’s annual Internet Security Report found 349.6

Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Finds Online Crime Continues - Computerworld Australia
SYDNEY, Australia April 15, 2009 Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq; SYMC) today announced that online crime, in the form of malicious code activity, continued to grow at a record pace throughout 2008, primarily targeting confidential information of

False Security: ‘Scareware’ Spreads - Wall Street Journal
While surfing the Web in December, Keren Brophy got a message on her computer screen telling her to update her antivirus software. The pop-up message looked similar to Windows security warnings she’d routinely received. She paid $49.99 for a program

PIN Crackers Nab Holy Grail of Bank Card Security - Wired
Hackers have crossed into new frontiers by devising sophisticated ways to steal large amounts of personal identification numbers, or PINs, protecting credit and debit cards, says an investigator. The attacks involve both unencrypted PINs and

Loyola: Laptops for all - Mankato Free Press
Kate Breiter already has ideas. Breiter s classroom is no stranger to technology. The social-studies teacher builds Web sites with her eighth-graders (causes of the Civil War) and creates podcasts with her seventh-graders (evidence the Inca

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Conficker gotcha? Here’s what you can do - Indianapolis Star

sysadmin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:10:04 +0000

It’s the sleeping computer worm that was widely expected to wake up April 1 and mount some sort of an attack on the world — or at the very least, an attack on the Internet that we all hold so dear. Well, it didn’t wake up that day, and people around

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Malicious Software Is Revised - Star News Online

sysadmin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:10:03 +0000

The riddle of a malicious software program that has spread throughout the Internet deepened Thursday as security researchers examined a new version of the software that they said made it more difficult to eradicate the program. The program, known as

Virus alert: Conficker starts stealthy updates - Times of India
The riddle of the malicious software programme, Conficker, that has spread throughout the internet deepened as security researchers examined a new version of the software that they said made it more difficult to eradicate the programme. Several of

Security Firms Begin Poking New Conficker Variant - PC Magazine
Reports are all over that a new and interesting version of the Conficker worm is around, and that it is pushing rogue anti-malware to its users. Thus a purpose to the whole endeavor begins to emerge: Money. But the vendor analyses of this new variant

on Spam YouTube messages contain malware - Securecomputing.net.au
YouTube’s message sending system has been partly compromised by cybercriminals who are using it to spread malware. YouTube’s message sending system has been partly compromised by cybercriminals who are using it to spread malware. PandaLabs has

Conficker Launches Money-Making Scam - Top Tech News
A new variant of the Conficker/Downadup worm has been found that seeks to con Windows PC users into providing credit-card info for a fake $49.99 antivirus program called Spyware Protect 2009. Richard Wang of Sophos said Conficker is spreading and

Two rogue security software families are on millions of computers - DailyTech
When it comes to computer security, most users are aware that there are dangers, but are woefully unaware of what these dangers are. They rely blindly on security software to protect them against these unseen evils. Unfortunately, malware makers have

Report Warns of More Cybercrime - InternetNews.com
Next year could be a very good year for online crime if the economy gets any worse, security vendor McAfee warned. Governments will be too busy grappling with economic issues, while desperate job seekers will become easy targets for cybercriminals

Conficker Shows Its Colors, Installs Rogue Anti-virus - PC World
We knew it would try to make a buck somehow, but until now Conficker hasn’t done much beyond spread and update. That changed yesterday, when the worm began installing a rogue antivirus app called SpywareProtect2009 on infected machines. A Kaspersky

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Microsoft chart shows the spread of malware geographically - Geek.Com

sysadmin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:10:05 +0000

Your comment is awaiting moderation. Exactly where does malware come from? The festering colon of the Internet s rampaging id, sure. But where geographically? And how much of the volume of daily email get accounted for by spam? Tackling the problem

Malware Causes Users To Download Infected Software - Redorbit.com
A Microsoft Corp report published on Wednesday showed that computer users’ growing fear of worms and viruses could be behind a recent spike in attacks on PCs via bogus security software, Reuters reported. With malware such as the Conficker worm and

Microsoft Warns ‘Scareware’ on the Rise - InternetNews.com
Purveyors of malware have progressed from exploiting feelings of love to manipulating fear. Microsoft has released volume 6 of its biannual Security Intelligence Report and one finding stands out: a new category of threat, known as rogue security

The Malware that Murders Windows - PC Magazine
Malware usually makes Windows run badly, but it usually wants to keep it alive. Not always. The S21sec Labs blog details a few examples of malware that deliberately kills Windows . The three examples are InfoStealer, Zeus/Zbot and Nethell/Ambler. All

Internet Flooded With Spam Much Of It Dangerous - Redorbit.com
According to a recent report issued by Microsoft s security wing, more than 97% of the e-mails sent daily over the internet are spam. The overwhelming majority of spam-mail consists of product advertisements, many of which contain hidden computer

Paul McCartney Got A Shot Of Malware - News Tortalit
The David Lynch fundraiser concert in New York got the two former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on stage. Hackers were ready for the event and infested McCartney s website with malware. The event was bound to bring a lot of extra traffic

Paul McCartney’s official site serving malware - ZDNet Blogs
All you (don t) need is malware on Paul McCartney s official web site. According to Mary Landesman at ScanSafe , the official web site of Paul McCartney ( paulmccartney.com ) has been compromised, and is serving live exploits to its visitors

Fear of viruses could be causing PC attacks: report - Reuters
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Computer users’ growing fear of worms and viruses could be behind a recent spike in attacks on PCs via bogus security software, according to a Microsoft Corp report published on Wednesday. As the Conficker worm and other malicious

Microsoft Security Report Tracks Rogue Software - PC Magazine
The really big story in Internet security in the last year was the rise of rogue security software. We’ve had plenty of coverage of it in this blog. In Microsoft ’s new volume 6 of their SIR (Security Intelligence Report) they detail this and a

The Top 10 Computer Viruses - Popular Science
Whether you clicked on a misleading banner ad, opened a file sent by a Nigerian prince or simply downloaded the wrong porn, everyone s dealt with a computer virus at some point. While bad programming or virus checking software contains most

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Conficker Malware to Return April 1 - Datamation

sysadmin — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:10:03 +0000

As the code also known as Conficker, Downadup, Kido, Confick and the April Fool’s Day worm starts its countdown, security vendors are cautioning users that if they’ve implemented basic security on your home computer or network, they’ll be fine

New Malware Specifically Targets Firefox - PC Magazine
Webroot has uncovered adware that targets the Firefox platform . The malware resembles DNSChanger, a common DNS hijacking threat, but operates differently. Instead of hacking the registry to change DNS, the new variant throws a DLL into the C

Internet update: 225 million websites, more malware and spam - TG Daily
Chicago (IL) Netcraft and Symantec s Message Labs released several new interesting numbers about the Internet today. Apparently, the internet is still growing at a record pace, spam is on the rise again and more than 2700 websites hosting

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IE8 Pre-RTW Blocked 1 in Every 200 Downloads as Malicious - Softpedia

sysadmin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:10:04 +0000

Microsoft’s claims that it has invested heavily in bulletproofing Internet Explorer 8 as much as possible are by no means a simple marketing strategy to pass the browser as offering a high level of security for end users. In fact, a recent study

Mysterious virus quiet, but attack may be in works - Reuters UK
BOSTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Malicious software installed on millions of computers has yet to wreak havoc on technology systems worldwide as some fear, but researchers warned that the “Conficker worm” could still strike in the future. Also known as

Conficker worm digs in around the world - MSN Indonesia News
Computer security top guns around the world watched warily as the dreaded Conficker worm squirmed deeper into infected machines with the arrival of an April 1st trigger date. The malicious software evolved, as expected, from East to West, beginning

UPDATE 1-Malicious virus quiet, but attack may be in works - Reuters
BOSTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Malicious software that has infected millions of computers across the globe failed to wreak havoc on Wednesday as some feared, but researchers warned the powerful Conficker worm could still strike. Also known as Downadup

Internet virus disguises itself as anti-virus software - KFVS12
The threat of a malicious Internet worm called Conficker had many people updating their anti-virus software. While the potentially dangerous Conficker worm hasn’t caused the damage as predicted, another virus could be causing you more problems. It’s

Mysterious Computer Virus Quiet, But Attack May Be In The Works - Free Internet Press
Malicious software installed on millions of computers has yet to wreak havoc on technology systems worldwide as some fear, but researchers warned that the “Conficker worm” could still strike in the future. Also known as Downadup or Kido, Conficker

Malicious virus quiet, but attack may be in works - Reuters India
BOSTON (Reuters) - Malicious software that has infected millions of computers across the globe failed to wreak havoc on Wednesday as some feared, but researchers warned the powerful Conficker worm could still strike. Also known as Downadup or Kido

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Interac Association Supports Proposed Legislation to Help Combat - CNW Group

sysadmin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:10:04 +0000

OTTAWA, March 31 /CNW/ - Interac Association joined federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson today as he announced legislation to help combat identity theft and applauds the federal government’s action. Identity theft, the theft of personal information

Former Branson man accused of identity theft, fraud - News-Leader.com
A former Branson man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for identity theft and fraud, a news release from Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said. Edward Lee Raifsnider, 49, who used a

Weldon Police Department reports identity theft scam - Roanoke Daily Herald
WELDON Fraudulent lottery schemes continue to be one of several ways scam artists are trying to steal the identities of the elderly. The latest occurred Friday in Weldon when an elderly woman was informed she won $850,000 in a contest she never

Mass. Woman Sentenced For Identity Theft - WMTW
PORTLAND, Maine — A federal judge in Maine has sentenced a Massachusetts woman to two years in prison for using a false identity and another person’s Social Security number that enabled her to obtain a driver’s license in her home state. Deniz Novo

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A strange case of identity theft - San Francisco Gate

sysadmin — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:10:04 +0000

Sunday, March 22, 2009 Somerville, 64, was a retired Wells Fargo Bank vice president. Her youngest son, Todd Harris, was a nationally known Republican strategist. The entryway of her expensive Walnut Creek home was decorated with pictures of her with

Identity Theft 911 Provides Identity Theft Resolution Services to - Businesswire.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Customers of American Family Insurance ( www.amfam.com ), one of the largest property-casualty insurers in the nation, who have purchased American Family s optional Identity Fraud Expense Coverage endorsement

Identity theft a growing problem in Genesee County - Grand Rapids Press
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan — Eager to move out on her own and take on adulthood, just months after her 18th birthday Dominique Key applied for a credit card and tried to rent an apartment. After being denied for both, Key tried opening a checking

Affinion Security Center Survey Finds Taxpayers are Vulnerable to Tax - Newsblaze.com
NORWALK, Conn., March 24 /PRNewswire/ — Tax time will unfortunately bring more than a refund check to many taxpayers this year. Affinion Security Center, a leading provider of identity theft protection, detection and resolution services, recently

Cost of identity theft services not generally worth it, report says - Beaumont Enterprise
A national consumer group on Wednesday released an identity theft report that showed most consumers would be better off taking their own precautions rather than spending hundreds of dollars a year to have a company protect their identities. The

Ridgewood man arrested for allegedly impersonating his father-in-law - Newark Star-Ledger
Bergen County Prosecuter’s Office Jerome Singer, 68, was arrested on charges of identity theft and criminal impersonation. He faked the identity of his father-in-law to open up credit cards and apply for a mortgage. A 68-year-old Ridgewood car

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Cyber crime cost Vietnam - Straits Times

sysadmin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:10:03 +0000

HANOI - COMPUTER crime cost Vietnam US$1.76 billion (S$2.66 billion) last year while many businesses do not even have security systems, state media reported late on Tuesday. The lack of protection against cyber criminals led to almost 60 million

Computer Guardians Trying To Curb Malware Worm - Data Storage Today
Researchers who have been painstakingly disassembling the Conficker code have not been able to determine the location of the author, or authors, or whether the program is being maintained by one person or a group of hackers. The growing suspicion is

China Becoming the World’s Malware Factory - PC World
With China’s economy cooling down, some of the country’s IT professionals are turning to cybercrime, according to a Beijing-based security expert. Speaking at the CanSecWest security conference last week, Wei Zhao, CEO of Knownsec, a Beijing security

Hacker becomes security specialist - Channel 4 News
A teenage hacker in New Zealand who helped a criminal network to infiltrate more than one million computers worldwide and skim millions of dollars from bank accounts has been hired as a cyber-security consultant. TelstraClear spokesman Chris Mirams

Absolute Launches New Global Customer Center With Enhanced Security - BC Technology
Vancouver, BC, March 24, 2009–(T-Net)–Absolute Software, a leading provider of firmware-based, patented, computer theft recovery, data protection and secure IT asset management solutions announced today that to better support its global expansion

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Mobile working needs a security rethink - Silicon.com

sysadmin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:10:03 +0000

With employees working away from the office, at home, at client sites or simply on the road, Anthony Plewes wonders if they should rethink the problem of data on the move. According to the most recent annual survey from the Computer Security

Is Your Computer Spying On You? - BayInsider
SAN FRANCISCO — Getting hacked is like having your computer turn traitor on you, spying on everything you do and shipping your secrets to identity thieves. Victims don’t see where their stolen data end up. But sometimes security researchers do

‘Scareware’ scams trick searchers - BBC News
Makers of fake anti-virus software are exploiting search engines to drive people to sites peddling ’scareware’. Using popular and mis-spelled search terms, the criminals divert people to sites that are seeded with fake warnings about virus infections

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