Welcome | Sign In
LinuxInsider.com
Malware
Energizer Jolts PCs With Malware
March 08, 2010
If you're using Energizer's Duo USB battery charger software to monitor your battery charging status, it's probably a good idea to shut it down and uninstall it pronto. The software designed to work with the Duo contains a backdoor Trojan that lets unauthorized users access a PC remotely, among other things.
Microsoft and the Incredible 'Internet Usage Tax'
March 08, 2010
It's not often that Linux Girl is struck speechless by some tidbit of news in the tech world, but every once in a while it happens. Last week, it happened. Amid all the high-level discussion of Internet security at the RSA Conference 2010 in San Francisco, Microsoft's Scott Charney actually suggested a government tax to help the company improve Windows security.

Say It Ain't So, Microsoft
March 06, 2010
Although its operating system and apps are so buggy that new vulnerabilities are discovered with frightening regularity, Microsoft now wants Internet users to pony up to cover the cost of cybersecurity. The idea was put forth by Scott Charney, Redmond's vice president for trustworthy computing, during a speech at the RSA Conference 2010 security convention earlier this week.
Massive Botnet Foiled but Thousands Roam Free
March 04, 2010
The three men accused of unleashing a vicious cyberassault that infected millions of computers worldwide may now be in jail, but the damage they left behind should serve as a warning for computer users to stay vigilant. The Mariposa botnet, a massive network of infected computers designed to steal account information, infiltrated an estimated 12.7 million computers.

Microsoft vs. the Zombie Hordes
February 26, 2010
Microsoft did its best Woody Harrelson impression this week and set out to bag some zombies. The zombies we're talking about here are PCs infected with malware. The bad guys spread the malware around and then remotely control victims' computers as part of a botnet that can do stuff like send out spam email or carry out DDoS attacks.
Microsoft Gets Court Nod to Cripple Spam-Spewing Botnet
February 25, 2010
Microsoft has brought a major botnet to its knees using a combined technical and legal strategy that it expects to deploy again. Earlier this week, a federal judge granted Microsoft a temporary restraining order that cut off 277 Internet domains believed to be run by criminals as the Waledac bot.

Look Who's Not Talking About Chinese Schools and Google Hack
February 19, 2010
News that students in two Chinese schools could be behind recent well-publicized online attacks on Google and other major U.S. corporations doing business in China has security experts running for cover. McAfee, which has dubbed the hacks "Operation Aurora," described the series of attacks as highly sophisticated and a watershed event in cybercrime.
Evil Kneber Botnet Packs Mighty Malware Punch
February 18, 2010
As botnets go, the Kneber botnet, which has hit about 75,000 PCs in roughly 2,500 companies worldwide, is fairly minuscule. However, it's disproportionately dangerous because it's aimed at very specific targets -- corporations and government departments -- whose PCs store critically important information, such as Social Security numbers and corporate login credentials.

US Cybersecurity Hypothetically Pathetic
February 17, 2010
Earlier this week, Cyber ShockWave, a simulated cyberattack on America, once again showed that the U.S.'s cybersecurity is not up to the task of protecting the country's infrastructure. Under the hypothetical scenario cooked up by Cyber ShockWave's planners, the attack was launched through smartphones, which are becoming increasingly plausible as a potential threat.
How to Have a Cybersafe Olympics Experience
February 12, 2010
As the 2010 Winter Olympics kick off, the games are on everyone's radar, including the cybercriminals who are looking to capitalize on this world event. This year, cybercriminals are sending sinister emails using the Olympics as a guise to distribute malicious content in highly specialized, targeted attacks.

China Plays Up Hacker Crackdown
February 08, 2010
Two Monday technology stories, both involving China: Call them the yin and yang of that country's attempts to repair its image following Google's recent hacking allegations and the search giant's subsequent threats to end its business dealings in the country. Chinese police are trumpeting their shutdown of a major hacker training Web site and three related arrests.
US Intel Chief Paints Dark Picture of Cyberattack Defense
February 04, 2010
As the United States' private and public sectors increasingly leverage the Internet, the U.S. intelligence community fears that they are severely endangering the country's critical infrastructure. On its own, neither the public nor private sectors can combat this threat, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told Congress this week during an annual threat assessment briefing on national security.

Facebook: A Tempting Danger Zone for Businesses
February 02, 2010
Social networking sites are a threat to online security, and Facebook is the worst offender, a report from Sophos states. The number of businesses hit by malware and spam attacks through social networks rose by 70 percent in 2009, the report found. More than 72 percent of businesses believe employees' behavior on social networking sites could endanger security.
Are We Risking Our Digital Lives?
January 20, 2010
Consumers are growing increasingly comfortable storing sensitive information on their computers, USB flash drives, and external hard drives, as well as using Web-based solutions to automate regular tasks such as shopping for holiday gifts, paying bills and tracking financial portfolios. At the same time, cybercriminals are developing increasingly savvy techniques.

Does Google Have an Enemy Within?
January 18, 2010
Google is reportedly looking into the possibility that one or more staff members at its office in China helped enable the attack on its infrastructure in mid-December. After the attack was discovered, some Google China employees were denied access to internal networks, while others were put on leave, and still others were sent off to offices elsewhere, according to Reuters.
IE's Role in the Google-China War
January 15, 2010
Computer security companies are scurrying to cope with the fallout from the Internet Explorer flaw that led to cyberattacks on Google and its corporate and individual customers. The zero-day attack that exploited IE is part of a lethal cocktail of malware that is keeping researchers very busy.

See More Articles in Malware Section >>
Shortcuts
ECT News Network Information
Reader Services
Corporate
ECT News Network