virus posts

'Twilight' Content Leaves Scammers Thirsting for Your (Digital) Blood

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Nov 20th 2009 at 1:17PM

Malware Makers Cash-In on 'Twilight' Craze

As per usual, malware purveyors are hopping on the latest fad in order to lure unsuspecting Web surfers into their dens of digital evil. And what are the kids talking about right now? Well, 'Twilight,' of course.

With the new installment of the teen vampire saga set to hit theaters Friday, Web searches for interviews with cast members, for bootleg copies of the film, and for other content related to 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' have sky-rocketed. Using this buzz to their advantage, makers of viruses, trojans, and spyware are embedding malicious code in fake movie files and video streams, and posting the nefarious results.

Tags: malware, security, top, twilight, twilight new moon, TwilightNewMoon, virus

Web

Viruses Secretly Downloading Child Pornography

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Nov 9th 2009 at 1:21PM

Malware and viruses have a lot of tricks up their sleeves -- from stealing passwords and harvesting credit card information, to simply destroying data and crashing PCs. But of all those nasty abilities, the worst and most confounding is the ability to secretly load a PC with child pornography.

It's difficult to understand the motives for dumping boatloads of child pornography on the hard drives of unsuspecting Web users. It is possible, though, for pedophiles to secretly store their highly illegal collections on other people's PCs, view them remotely, and thus avoid incriminating themselves. Another possibility is that the programs are designed simply to wreak havoc on the reputations of others, framing them as collectors of underage filth. The first publicly recognized case of such an infection, in 2003, involved a British man who was arrested on child pornography charges, only to be cleared later when it was determined that a virus loaded the illegal content on his PC.

Tags: child pornography, ChildPornography, crime, malwarre, porn, pornography, security, top, virus

Computers, Advice, Editor's Picks, Windows Software, Mac Software, Laptops, desktops, Web

5 Essential Tips to Keep Your PC Safe

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Oct 5th 2009 at 12:30PM

One of the most important things everyone -- even Mac users -- needs to do with a computer is to make sure it is as secure from viruses, phishing scams, and other 'net threats as possible. No matter how often you practice safe browsing habits or think twice before clicking on a random link in your e-mail, you'd be surprised how often even the most cautious of folks can be caught off guard, which is why you need to have some basic security measures in place to protect you (and your computer), should something slip past. We've boiled it down to five basic steps that everyone -- even the computer and 'Net-threat-savvy -- should take to make sure that their PC and personal data are safe.

Tags: features, safety, security, spyware, top, virus

Computers

Man Builds Biological Virus Sculptures From Salvaged PCs

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Sep 24th 2009 at 2:18PM

As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Well, that's certainly true for sculptor Forrest McCluer, who salvaged 30 computers from a garbage pile outside an office building and made it his personal mission to turn that junk into art. Now, one series in his 'The 30 Computers Project' brings a whole new meaning to term computer virus. McCluer used some of the discarded computer parts to build sculptures of biological viruses.

Judging by the pictures McCluer posts alongside his models, these sculptures are pretty accurate. There's the 'Transformer 'Virus,' which looks like the common cold and uses yellow PC transformers. Then, there's the 'Capacitor Virus,' which represents the rhinovirus and uses, of course, assorted PC capacitors. With all the talk about swine flu lately, it's nice to know that these viruses can't harm you. [From: The 30 Computers Project, via Neatorama]

Tags: art, biology, computer, design, health, sculpture, top, virus

Computers, Web

Clampi Virus Targets Users at Banks and Credit Card Sites

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Sep 22nd 2009 at 9:30AM

Keeping up with the latest Web security threats is a daunting task, because viruses and trojans emerge, evolve, and spread at an alarming rate. While some infections like Nine Ball, Conficker, and Gumblar have hit the scene and immediately become the scourge of the cyber security world, others take their time -- quietly infiltrating more and more computers before revealing the true depth of the danger they pose.

One such slow grower is Clampi, a trojan that made its debut as early as 2007 (depending on who you ask) but is only now raising hairs outside professional security circles. Clampi primarily spreads via malicious sites designed to dispense malware, but it's also been spotted on legitimate sites that have been hacked to host malicious links and ads. Using these methods, Clampi has infected as many as half a million computers, Joe Stewart, of SecureWorks, told a crowd at the Black Hat Security Conference in July, USA Today reports.

Tags: clampi, malware, security, top, trojan, virus

Celebrities, Web

Searching for 'Jessica Biel' Is Bad for Your Computer

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Aug 25th 2009 at 10:00AM

Entering "Jessica Biel" into a search engine might not be the best idea these days. Instead of a list of the actress's credentials, or even some sexy photographs, you'll most likely end up with spam, spyware, a virus or a busted computer.

Reuters reports that Jessica Biel topped a list of the riskiest A-list celebrity names to search on the Web. The list, compiled by Internet security company McAfee Inc., found that users have a one-in-five chance of being directed to a malicious site when searching for Biel's name. It should come as no surprise that hackers use popular trends to infect computers and steal personal information. Last year, Brad Pitt topped McAfee's list, and he ranked only tenth in 2009.

Tags: computer, expire-images:2010-8-25, jessicabiel, megan fox, search, security, spam, top, virus, web

Cell Phones

Don't Panic Over Cell Phone Viruses, Says N.Y. Times

by Warren Riddle (RSS feed) — Aug 14th 2009 at 1:20PM

Cell phones, long considered to be immune from malicious viruses due to the variety of different operating systems and the strict policies of providers, have recently demonstrated a vulnerability to viral infection (specifically smartphones with downloading capabilities). Despite the growing risk of handset botnets, the New York Times assures us there is no immediate need for panic or concern.

Verizon is currently the only cell manufacturer promoting anti-virus software for mobiles, even though (so far), the only smartphones affected by hackers and botnets have been Symbian-based Nokia phones and the iPhone. The so-called 'Sexy Space' botnet involves a text message containing a malicious link, which, once opened by a Nokia smart phone, could disseminate spam and even spread to, and attack, computer networks.

Tags: cell phone virus, CellPhoneVirus, hack, safety, security, top, virus

Web, Social Networking

'CoooooL Video' Facebook Spam Message Totally UncoooooL

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Aug 14th 2009 at 10:24AM

If you get a Facebook message bearing the subject line 'CoooooL Video,' delete it immediately. According to Mashable, the spam message has recently started showing up in many a member's inbox, claiming to have been sent by one of a user's friends. From one case to another, the messages' included links seem to vary, but their final destinations are one and the same: Malware City. If you do open the link, and thusly download the malware, you'll unwittingly be deluging your own friends with the 'CoooooL Video' messages.

If your profile is already sending the messages, Mashable suggests you do the following: clear all cookies from your browser's settings, change your Facebook password, and -- as always -- update your anti-virus software and run a full scan. Follow those steps, and you should be safe from 'CoooooL Video.' We, ourselves, aren't worried about it. If one of our Facebook friends spelled 'cool' that way, they'd be de-friended immediately, anyway. [From: Mashable]

Tags: facebook, malware, security, spam, top, virus

Web

Links to Nude Erin Andrews Video Lead to Virus Instead

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Jul 21st 2009 at 1:19PM

When nude footage of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews hit the Web last week, you could hear keyboards clicking and clacking around the world. The video, which was taken through some sort of peephole in a hotel room without Andrews' knowledge, instantly became Google's most searched item. Now, some of these virtual voyeurs are paying a heavy price.

According to ABC News, hackers have begun embedding viruses into links that supposedly lead to the video. Hundreds of computers have already been infected by the malware, which can allow hackers to steal personal information or render a hard drive useless. Gary Warner, the head of computer forensics at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, told ABC News that Twitter is spreading the links like wildfire, largely via shortened URLs. Many places took down the video after Andrews's lawyers stepped in and promised to take civil and criminal action against those involved. However, there still are some cached versions out there.

Tags: crime, erin andrews, ErinAndrews, espn, expire-images:2010-7-21, football, naked, nudity, spam, sports, top, virus

Cell Phones

'Sexy Space' Botnet Could Make Your Phone a Zombie

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jul 20th 2009 at 2:43PM

Botnets, networks of infected devices that work together to send spam and steal data, are already quite commonplace on PCs. But now, security firm Symantec reports that it has discovered the world's first cell phone botnet.

It was only a couple of months ago that we got our first warning that botnets might be making their way to handsets, but now the first one, called 'Sexy Space,' has been spotted in the wild. The virus is passed along via a text message that includes a link and text about "A very sexy girl. Try it now!" Classy.

It may be difficult for the virus to spread, however. Users need to click the link (and download software) to become infected, and, due to the number of different cell phone operating systems, the botnet is contained to one type of handset. (In this case, it appears to be Symbian-based Nokia phones.) So, even in a worst case scenario, a mobile botnet would never be as widespread as a Windows PC-based infection.

Tags: botnet, cell phone, CellPhone, mobile, mobile virus, MobileVirus, security, texting, top, virus

Celebrities, Web

'Smooth Criminal' Spammers Capitalizing on Michael Jackson's Death

by Warren Riddle (RSS feed) — Jun 26th 2009 at 4:25PM

It certainly didn't take spammers long to capitalize on the death of the King of Pop. Appearing almost as quickly as the tasteless jokes, spam messages claiming to have information surrounding Michael Jackson's mysterious death have been sweeping the Net.

According to The New York Times, security firm Sophos originally discovered the first set of spam messages, which offer details of the gloved one's death if the reader replies to the message. A second form, identified by Websense, offers a phony link to a YouTube video supposedly containing news of the passing. Instead, clickers are directed to a site that installs information-stealing Trojan horse software.

Tags: expire-images:2010-6-26, malware, michaeljackson, scammers, top, virus

Computers, Web

Ads Used to Spread Malware on Reputable Sites

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jun 22nd 2009 at 6:45AM

Advertisements Used to Spread Malware on Reputable Sites

Most Web sites don't sell ad space directly to marketers. Instead, major sites like FoxNews.com, IGN.com, and MLB.com sell their ad space to ad networks, which then independently sell to other companies. But if an ad network fails to find an advertiser, it will often resell the spot on the Web site to another ad network, which may then turn around and place the ad space for sale on an ad exchange site, where it will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

With so many links in the chain, it has become harder and harder for Web sites to police the advertisements being hosted. As a result, vulnerabilities are more and more likely. All it takes for hell to break loose is one careless party to let through an ad that leads to an infected site.

Tags: ads, advertising, malware, security, virus

Cell Phones, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 101

Major Security Flaw Found in BlackBerry Software

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jun 5th 2009 at 2:38PM

Warning, BlackBerry owners: the popular smartphone's manufacturer, Research in Motion (RIM), has found a major security flaw that could let a hacker take over a BlackBerry server (like the one you use for your work e-mail account) by simply sending someone an e-mail. The vulnerability could allow attackers to hijack a server running BlackBerry software by simply sending e-mails with infected PDF files. If a customer were to open the file, the virus would install its payload of malicious software on the server side, from which hackers could send spam and collect personal data.

No hackers have yet taken advantage of the vulnerability, but RIM is urging all of its customers to install an issued security patch to avoid future exploitation. Of course, many businesses wait to thoroughly test patches like this before deploying them to employees. For those who insist on holding off, RIM is suggesting that e-mail attachments be temporarily disabled, just to be safe. They've posted details about the patch and the suggested work-around here.

Let's hope the White House gets on this patch soon. It'd be pretty embarrassing if the one person to fall victim to the flaw was our president. [From: Reuters]

Tags: blackberry, e-mail, mobileviruses, researchinmotion, rim, security, smartphone, smartphones, top, virus

Computers, Web

40,000 Hacked Web Sites Could Infect Your Computer

by Chad Mumm (RSS feed) — Jun 3rd 2009 at 7:31PM

"Warning: Your Computer Is Infected With Malware." If you've seen this warning, you may have already been hit by a new wave of malicious attacks that's sweeping the Web. According to Websense, up to 40,000 sites have been hacked and loaded with software that invisibly try to infect your PC.

If you visit one of these hacked sites, it will redirect you to a site called Beladen that is, fittingly, laden with malicious software designed to target up to 20 different vulnerabilities your computer might have. If you don't have one of these vulnerabilities, the site will pop up a warning that says you have been infected and ask you to download a security suite. Let's just say that if you weren't vulnerable before, you definitely will be if you download the program.

The Beladen attack is notable, not just for its size and scope, but because Web sites that serve malicious code usually only attack one specific vulnerability. According to Websense's threat research manager Carl Leonard, the Beladen site is loaded with "almost every single exploit you can find publicly available right now."

Researchers have been unable to pinpoint the exact source of the attacks, but Websense seems to think they could be coming from the supposedly disbanded cybergang called Russian Business Network (RBN).

Tags: hack, security, top, virus

Computers, Web

Thought the Conficker Virus Was Bad? Gumblar Is Even Worse.

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jun 2nd 2009 at 7:19AM

If you thought Conficker was bad, meet Gumblar. If malware programs were comic book villains, Conficker would be Kingpin -- evil for sure, but really just a big bully. Gumblar on the other hand would be Galactus -- massive, all-powerful, evil, and extremely difficult to defeat.

ScanSafe, a computer security firm, has been tracking the progress of the worm since its arrival on the scene in March, according to CNET. Originally, the attack spread through infectious code that was planted in hacked Web sites and then downloaded malware from the gumblar.cn domain on to victims' computers. But that was just the opening salvo. As Web site operators cleaned their pages of the code, Gumblar replaced the original material with dynamically generated Javascript (Web site code that is created on the spot instead of being completely determined beforehand -- a key element of Web apps like Gmail) that is much harder for security software to detect and remove.

The evolved version also went about adding new domains to the list of sources for downloading its malware payload, including liteautotop.cn and autobestwestern.cn, and began exploiting security holes in Flash and Adobe Reader. The worm also searches out credentials for FTP servers (a method for uploading files to a Web site) on a victim's computer, using them to infect additional Web sites.

Tags: conficker, gumblar, malware, scansafe, security, top, virus, worms

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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