Internet News
September 8, 2010
Internet Service Provider TalkTalk has got into trouble with the ICO for failing to inform both the office and its own customer base that it was conducting anti-malware trials.
The ISP was scanning the URLs its customers were visiting to hone a service which is designed to alert TalkTalk users of when they're about to surf to a dodgy ...
ICO slaps TalkTalk’s wrist for malware URL scanning
by Darren Allan
August 17, 2010
Virgin Media is intending to take a more pro-active approach in defending its customers from malware infections. The company says that despite providing a free “class-leading security package” along with its broadband service, recent research it has conducted showed that almost one in four customers had been infected by viruses, trojans or spyware. Many customers hadn't installed any protection, or if ...
Virgin Media adopts malware warning scheme
by Darren AllanVirgin Media is intending to take a more pro-active approach in defending its customers from malware infections. The company says that despite providing a free “class-leading security package” along with its broadband service, recent research it has conducted showed that almost one in four customers had been infected by viruses, trojans or spyware. Many customers hadn't installed any protection, or if ...
August 11, 2010
A new variant of the Zeus trojan has been hard at work in the UK, in an online banking scam which has cost the customers of one unnamed UK bank £675,000 in unauthorised withdrawals over the last month.
The malware infects customers' computers from a website (sometimes an unaware legitimate site, or via an advert link) and siphons off ...
Zeus pilfers £675,000 from UK bank
by Darren Allan
August 10, 2010
The BBC has put together a report showing how easy it is to create a piece of malware to infect a smartphone with. Mark Ward, a technology reporter, managed to create a piece of malware hidden by the front of a game of noughts and crosses. The app went through the smartphone owner's data, pilfering contact details and text messages, and also ...
BBC investigation highlights smartphone malware issues
by Darren AllanThe BBC has put together a report showing how easy it is to create a piece of malware to infect a smartphone with. Mark Ward, a technology reporter, managed to create a piece of malware hidden by the front of a game of noughts and crosses. The app went through the smartphone owner's data, pilfering contact details and text messages, and also ...
August 2, 2010
All versions of Windows have recently been hit by one of those critical vulnerabilities all PC users have come to know and love over the years, this one a particularly nasty affair.
So much so that Microsoft has decided to break stride with its usual security schedule and roll out an emergency patch to tackle the issue today.
The flaw ...
Microsoft to release emergency patch for shortcut exploit
by Darren Allan
July 29, 2010
Barracuda Networks Inc today released its Barracuda Labs 2010 Midyear Security Report, revealing data from two key areas: search engine malware and Twitter use and crime rate. The company is presenting this data at Security BSides Las Vegas and DefCON 18 this week in Las Vegas. The full report is available at the company’s security research portal at http://barracudalabs.com. ...
Google dubbed “King of Malware”
by Janet HarrisBarracuda Networks Inc today released its Barracuda Labs 2010 Midyear Security Report, revealing data from two key areas: search engine malware and Twitter use and crime rate. The company is presenting this data at Security BSides Las Vegas and DefCON 18 this week in Las Vegas. The full report is available at the company’s security research portal at http://barracudalabs.com. ...
June 21, 2010
Apple has apparently stealth-released a patch for a Mac OS X malware threat.
Security experts Sophos spotted this, and Graham Cluley wrote about it on his blog. The malware in question was the HellRTS trojan, and protection from it was added to Apple's latest OS X update without a whisper of a mention.
As Cluley points out, the Mac is ...
Apple’s secret malware patching tinkers
by Darren Allan
June 7, 2010
Criminals are taking advantage of the FIFA World Cup to attempt to takeover computers or steal personal data through a series of email attacks.
Companies and individuals on mailing lists have already been targeted and what makes it more credible is the fact that these emails appear to come from legitimate addresses, which can fool the user into thinking ...
World Cup email threat doing the rounds
by David Allen
June 3, 2010
The new and highly recommended game from RockStar, Red Dead Redemption has been unwittingly fallen into the clutches of cybercriminals.
According to Christopher Boyd of security experts Sunbelt, part of the game is for the gamers to take part in a treasure hunt and collect gold bars.
However, as with many games there are clues posted online and this ...
Red Dead Redemption caught by malware
by David Allen
May 20, 2010
How do you get people to fall into malware traps? Baiting them with lures of stinking great wedges of cash is one option, and potential pornography is another.
The latest Facebook scam appeals to the latter camp, promising users of the social networking site the “sexiest video ever”.
Should you click through and attempt to watch said steamy footage, you ...
Facebook “sexiest video” malware
by Darren Allan
May 19, 2010
Computer users who use Amazon should be aware that emails which look like they come from the book seller could be fakes and contain a Trojan too!
The email appears to be confirming an order, which for someone who has not ordered anything is going to start alarm bells ringing as they may think that their account has been ...
Amazon email contains Trojan
by David Allen
April 27, 2010
A virus designed to infect home computers has somehow found its way into the NHS system.
An estimated 1,100 computers have been infected, giving anyone with any contact with the NHS cause for concern.
The alert has been raised by the security software company Symantec, which is now warning all computer users to make sure that their virus software ...
NHS hit by Malware
by David Allen
April 26, 2010
Users of Twitter may be slightly confused over emails apparently sent from the social networking site, claiming that there are unread, delayed or unsent messages on their account.
The email, which apparently comes from support@twitter.com, naturally provides a link for the user to quickly get to the Twitter page and log in to their account.
Of course this is not ...
Twitter ’support email’ is phishing
by David Allen
November 19, 2009
As 'Twilight: New Moon' gains interest from a huge amount of fans, it seems like the ideal time for cybercriminals to attempt to fool some of these fans into spreading malware for them.
No matter what the story is, if it is popular cybercriminals will use it to advertise an exclusive interview or film clip.
This comes in the ...
Twilight fans caught out by worm
by David Allen
November 4, 2009
Symantec has flagged up a Space Invaders style game available for the Mac as a security threat.
When you play the game, for every poorly rendered alien you blast, a file is deleted from your hard drive, beginning with the documents folder and moving on elsewhere.
However, the game makes it clear with a big flashing pre-start warning – complete ...
Space Invaders blast Mac files
by Darren AllanWindows 7 is attractive to viruses
by David Allen
November 3, 2009
A report from security specialist McAfee reckons that the number of illegal file sharing sites has shot up since The Pirate Bay was shut down.
Pirate Bay, a notorious source of illegal downloads, was closed down by Swedish authorities in August.
Since then, fairly predictably, there has been a 300% increase in the creation of file sharing sites taking up ...
Pirate Bay closure fails to make an impact
by Darren Allan
October 27, 2009
Popular technology blog Gizmodo has admitted that it ran adverts containing malware on its site for a period of time last week.
The site issued an apology to its large user base (Gizmodo has some three million visitors per day): “Guys, I'm really sorry but we had some malware running on our site in ad boxes for a little ...
Gizmodo falls victim to malware sting
by Darren Allan
October 19, 2009
Symantec has issued a report on scareware – fake anti-virus software – the makers of which can earn some £850,000 a year from plying their malicious trade.
The scareware scam involves making a user believe his or her computer has been infected by a virus, and then charging them to download bogus anti-virus software to solve the non-existent problem.
Not ...
Symantec reports scareware cons amount to millions
by Darren Allan
September 1, 2009
Cyber criminals hoping to catch out Apple users are posting sites that they hope will be able to cash in on the release of the Apple Snow Leopard operating system.
These sites are offering Snow Leopard OS upgrades but, as internet users should know, all these sites are offering is a dose of malware that will install an Apple ...
Fake Snow Leopard sites warning
by David Allen
August 25, 2009
Those who use Kapersky’s security software were warned last week, needlessly, that the HSBC Personal Internet banking site had malware. The security suite warned users upon logging into the banking website that there was a HTLM-Agent_CE Trojan on the website that had been transferred to their systems. However, Kapersky quickly caught the mistake and announced their error to users. The company issued a ...
Kapersky makes HSBC malware error
by Alan HartenThose who use Kapersky’s security software were warned last week, needlessly, that the HSBC Personal Internet banking site had malware. The security suite warned users upon logging into the banking website that there was a HTLM-Agent_CE Trojan on the website that had been transferred to their systems. However, Kapersky quickly caught the mistake and announced their error to users. The company issued a ...
August 19, 2009
The US Department of Justice has announced that Albert Gonzalez, along with two others, is responsible for hacking into data from five corporations and stealing over 170 million credit and debit card numbers. The companies whose security was breached are all large conglomerates, including 7-Eleven, Heartland Payment Systems, Hannaford Brothers Company and two more corporations that have not been identified. Gonzalez is ...
Credit card hackers face jail
by Alan HartenThe US Department of Justice has announced that Albert Gonzalez, along with two others, is responsible for hacking into data from five corporations and stealing over 170 million credit and debit card numbers. The companies whose security was breached are all large conglomerates, including 7-Eleven, Heartland Payment Systems, Hannaford Brothers Company and two more corporations that have not been identified. Gonzalez is ...
August 13, 2009
A warning has been issued to all Mac users, of a Trojan horse that is aimed specifically at the Mac and can change the DNS registry of an infected machine.
Initially the malware is seen as a MacCinema Installer and, as with many of these programs, the user is prompted to install an update in order to be able ...
DNS changing Trojan found attacking Macs
by David Allen
August 10, 2009
It seems that ransonware is a popular way of extorting cash from computer users.
The infected machine will keep receiving a pop up message that can only be removed if the user pays up.
It was thought that the issue was mainly with Internet Explorer, but it seems that both Firefox and Opera are being affected too.
One such example ...
Browsers attacked by ransomware
by David Allen
July 29, 2009
Symantec MessageLabs Intelligence’s latest report looks bright at first glance as it appears malware writers are laying low on the internet. Spammers, on the other hand, have increased their efforts by venturing into multi-lingual messages that seem to work out disastrously, or well, depending on whose side you are on. Symantec reported that spam levels are higher than they have been in ...
Malware down but SPAM on the up
by Alan HartenSymantec MessageLabs Intelligence’s latest report looks bright at first glance as it appears malware writers are laying low on the internet. Spammers, on the other hand, have increased their efforts by venturing into multi-lingual messages that seem to work out disastrously, or well, depending on whose side you are on. Symantec reported that spam levels are higher than they have been in ...
July 28, 2009
Security researchers at BitDefender, an antivirus firm, have warned that a new malware attack is infecting email via spam that appears to relate to the latest Harry Potter movie, the Half-Blood Prince. The malware attack is launched with the simple click of a link that is located inside the email, which promises users that they can access exclusive downloads of the ...
Harry Potter malware email
by Alan HartenSecurity researchers at BitDefender, an antivirus firm, have warned that a new malware attack is infecting email via spam that appears to relate to the latest Harry Potter movie, the Half-Blood Prince. The malware attack is launched with the simple click of a link that is located inside the email, which promises users that they can access exclusive downloads of the ...
July 22, 2009
Microsoft has taken action in a lawsuit against a company that it thinks infiltrated the privacy of Windows Live Messenger users to conduct a spam campaign among contacts on users’ lists. (In terms of instant messaging spamming is often referred to as spimming.) FunMobile, which is based in Hong Kong, and its US subsidiary were named as defendants in the lawsuit that ...
Microsoft gets tough with spammers
by Alan HartenMicrosoft has taken action in a lawsuit against a company that it thinks infiltrated the privacy of Windows Live Messenger users to conduct a spam campaign among contacts on users’ lists. (In terms of instant messaging spamming is often referred to as spimming.) FunMobile, which is based in Hong Kong, and its US subsidiary were named as defendants in the lawsuit that ...
Malware spread as Swine alert
by David Allen
July 21, 2009
SmoothWall, an internet security provider, announced the release of a new software filtering client yesterday, that should help laptop users who change locations frequently, avoid malware online while browsing. The new software, titled Mobile Guardian, includes a new technology from SmoothWall known as the Dynamic Content Analysis technology that is able to use algorithms to detect threats on the web instead ...
Mobile Guardian anti mobile maleware
by Alan HartenSmoothWall, an internet security provider, announced the release of a new software filtering client yesterday, that should help laptop users who change locations frequently, avoid malware online while browsing. The new software, titled Mobile Guardian, includes a new technology from SmoothWall known as the Dynamic Content Analysis technology that is able to use algorithms to detect threats on the web instead ...
June 30, 2009
It seems that not even death is sacred on the internet. Security researchers' expectations came true when infections began spreading via email messages sent to users’ inboxes claiming to hold breaking news about Michael Jackson’s death from authoritative websites. Security companies Symantec, Trend Micro, and Sophos said that the emails are infected with viruses and other malware and deceitfully claim to be ...
Jackson’s death fuels malware attacks
by Alan HartenIt seems that not even death is sacred on the internet. Security researchers' expectations came true when infections began spreading via email messages sent to users’ inboxes claiming to hold breaking news about Michael Jackson’s death from authoritative websites. Security companies Symantec, Trend Micro, and Sophos said that the emails are infected with viruses and other malware and deceitfully claim to be ...
June 25, 2009
Microsoft Corp made the live beta version of the Microsoft Security Essentials available on Tuesday for free, to help customers address malware and virus threats. The software is the free open source security software that has been referred to throughout its creation as the “Morro” and will be available throughout the US, Israel, China, and Brazil to all who use Windows ...
Soft release for Morro
by Alan HartenMicrosoft Corp made the live beta version of the Microsoft Security Essentials available on Tuesday for free, to help customers address malware and virus threats. The software is the free open source security software that has been referred to throughout its creation as the “Morro” and will be available throughout the US, Israel, China, and Brazil to all who use Windows ...
May 24, 2009
There is a warning going around that owners of Mac’s should ensure that Java is disabled on the Safari and Firefox web browser, to make sure that the user’s computer is protected from a malicious attack.
The warning comes from Intego a security firm who say that there is a problem within the Mac operating system, this could make ...
Mac owners warned of Java attack
by David Allen
April 23, 2009
Finjan Inc., a leader in secure web gateway products and the provider of unified web security solutions for the enterprise market, announced that Finjan’s Malicious Code Research Center (MCRC) has discovered a network of 1.9 million malware-infected computers. Corporate, government and consumer computers around the world were infected by the malware. This discovery is part of a research conducted by MCRC when ...
Finjan Discovers 1.9 Million Malware-Infected Computers
by FinjanFinjan Inc., a leader in secure web gateway products and the provider of unified web security solutions for the enterprise market, announced that Finjan’s Malicious Code Research Center (MCRC) has discovered a network of 1.9 million malware-infected computers. Corporate, government and consumer computers around the world were infected by the malware. This discovery is part of a research conducted by MCRC when ...
April 21, 2009
The free security software company AVG is offering a new tool that scans links in order to find some of the estimated two million web pages that are infected with malware before its customers get infected.
It has been estimated that around sixty per cent of infected pages are closed down on a daily basis, but these are quickly ...
Free AVG link scanner launched
by David Allen
April 2, 2009
Security software firm K7 Computing today released a new free tool to neutralise the latest version of the Conficker Worm. Conficker, also known as Downadup or Kido, has already infected over 200 million PCs around the world. A new manifestation of the worm is expected to launch today, illicitly hosting itself on weak-security websites. Conficker seriously compromises the security of infected PCs by ...
K7 releases updated Conficker neutraliser
by David MastersSecurity software firm K7 Computing today released a new free tool to neutralise the latest version of the Conficker Worm. Conficker, also known as Downadup or Kido, has already infected over 200 million PCs around the world. A new manifestation of the worm is expected to launch today, illicitly hosting itself on weak-security websites. Conficker seriously compromises the security of infected PCs by ...
March 26, 2009
Owners of Apple Macs are being warned about a new Trojan that is capable of attacking Macs as well as Windows powered PCs, according to research by the Sophos security organisation.
It has been found that there is an OSX/RSPlug Trojan Horse currently being transferred though websites, which is offering users fake HDTV software.
When it comes to computer users ...
Mac malware warning
by David Allen
March 18, 2009
The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, is no stranger to technical issues as he was the person who complained about the alien battle in Manchester Cathedral on the 'Resistance' game for the playstation.
Now it seems that he has a problem with email, caused by a suspected malware infection.
It is estimated that the diocese's email ...
Church email sunk by worm
by David Allen
March 9, 2009
The social networking site, Facebook, must have really come of age, as once again the site has come under attack from the infamous Koobface virus, which tries to steal information from users through their profile pages.
This attack first came to light during December of last year when users were targeted with a video that appeared to have been ...
Facebook suffers another Koobface attack
by David Allen
February 27, 2009
The safest country in the world as far as computer virus infections are concerned is Australia, according to the February Intelligence report from Symantec’s MessageLabs. Only 1 in 573.8 emails contained a virus in the land down under, compared to the UK’s 1 in 213.3, Canada’s 1 in 217.1, 1 in 203.6 in Germany, 1 in 424.5 for the USA, and ...
Cybercriminals Make The Most Of The Recession
by Alan HartenThe safest country in the world as far as computer virus infections are concerned is Australia, according to the February Intelligence report from Symantec’s MessageLabs. Only 1 in 573.8 emails contained a virus in the land down under, compared to the UK’s 1 in 213.3, Canada’s 1 in 217.1, 1 in 203.6 in Germany, 1 in 424.5 for the USA, and ...
January 27, 2009
Cloud Computing could turn into a 'malware-fest' according to security consultants at Global Secure Systems. Cloud computing allows software developers to access, compile and test software on a dynamic basis, without having to install the resources locally. Researcher and developer Brett O'Connor has discovered that a BitTorrent client TorrentFlux can be installed on the Cloud - turning a user's Cloud account into ...
Could Amazon's Cloud become a 'malware-fest'?
by David MastersCloud Computing could turn into a 'malware-fest' according to security consultants at Global Secure Systems. Cloud computing allows software developers to access, compile and test software on a dynamic basis, without having to install the resources locally. Researcher and developer Brett O'Connor has discovered that a BitTorrent client TorrentFlux can be installed on the Cloud - turning a user's Cloud account into ...
December 15, 2008
Security services provider Finjan has endorsed plans by the Australian government that will see blocks put on websites which contain illegal content. The nationwide web filtration system will force Internet service providers (ISPs) to block thousands of sites on the world-wide web. "The game plan is for Australian ISPs to be mandated to block access to websites containing illegal content such as ...
Oz government told to block malware
by David MastersSecurity services provider Finjan has endorsed plans by the Australian government that will see blocks put on websites which contain illegal content. The nationwide web filtration system will force Internet service providers (ISPs) to block thousands of sites on the world-wide web. "The game plan is for Australian ISPs to be mandated to block access to websites containing illegal content such as ...
November 19, 2008
Internet security experts warn anyone using the internet next Monday, that this day is believed to be the worst day of the year for computer attacks.
These experts have been looking into the data collected from viruses and worms that have been found on nearly half a million computers from all around the world.
This data has been studied ...
Next Monday is virus attack day
by David Allen
October 9, 2008
In a study carried out by the North Carolina State University, it has been found that many users of the internet are being fooled by fake pop ups.
These would normally take the form of saying that the user is the “Millionth Visitor” or “Congratulations You Have Won”, but no matter how silly these Pop Ups sound, people ...
Fake pop ups fool users
by David Allen
September 24, 2008
The list of much publicised hacking and other attacks goes on and the latest high profile victim was the BBC. The Beeb had its mailing list stolen and these addresses were then used for various forms of attack, including scam emails and malicious virus attacks. Security consultant, Global Secure Systems (GSS), says that this is a not so unusual story that highlights ...
Companies Need To Ban Personal Internet Use
by Alan HartenThe list of much publicised hacking and other attacks goes on and the latest high profile victim was the BBC. The Beeb had its mailing list stolen and these addresses were then used for various forms of attack, including scam emails and malicious virus attacks. Security consultant, Global Secure Systems (GSS), says that this is a not so unusual story that highlights ...
September 10, 2008
Social networking is a haven for viruses and other nasties as the very nature of the social networking scene is to share images and files, which also happens to be the best method for delivering malware to unsuspecting computer users.
Some researchers in internet security, from the Foundation for Research and Technology in Heraklion, Greece, recently tested FaceBook by ...
Malware threat on FaceBook
by David Allen
August 13, 2008
If anyone has checked their spam box recently they may have noticed that there have been some messages from CNN.
They carry the listing of CNN.com Top 10 Lists, and at one time there were around eleven million messages per hour.
These started last week and have continued over the weekend.
One concern is that the messages have appeared to ...
CNN spam attacks continue
by David AllenFake Internet Explorer 7 Links
by David Allen
August 5, 2008
With the Olympic Games opening in Beijing within a couple a days, there are concerns that so much information covering the event will cover the tracks of some very well planned malware attacks.
It is well known that when there is a major event happening the amount of malware, phishing and spam increases, and as the Olympics is an ...
Olympics increases malware threat
by David Allen
July 16, 2008
Finjan Inc., manufacturer of secure web gateway products, today announced the latest findings by its Malicious Code Research Centre (MCRC). In its latest trends report for Q2 2008, the MCRC identifies and analyzes the latest Crimeware business operations, and provides an insider’s look at the organizational structure of Cybercrime organizations. The report seems to indicate that cybercrime is mimicking traditional organised crime ...
Finjan says cybercrime now more profitable
by Alan HartenFinjan Inc., manufacturer of secure web gateway products, today announced the latest findings by its Malicious Code Research Centre (MCRC). In its latest trends report for Q2 2008, the MCRC identifies and analyzes the latest Crimeware business operations, and provides an insider’s look at the organizational structure of Cybercrime organizations. The report seems to indicate that cybercrime is mimicking traditional organised crime ...
July 15, 2008
For any fan of the hit TV cartoon The Simpson’s the email address chunkylover53@aol.com was actually used by the donut loving Homer in the episode “The Dad Who Knew Too Little”.
This email address was actually registered by a writer from the show.
The plan was to answer the emails as Homer, but as the show gained in popularity so ...
Simpson’s email address delivers malware
by David Allen
