malware

Mon
17
Jun
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft Security Action Arouses Major Controversy

Security experts say they're upset with Microsoft after the Redmond, Washington-based firm recently took actions to disable botnets associated with the 'Citadel' malware. The problem: Microsoft also disrupted important research being carried out by ... security experts. Citadel is a form of keylogging malware used by hackers to steal login information and passwords, thereby giving cybercriminals access to banking accounts and other web services. It's estimated that more than one thousand botnets were using the Citadel malware to carry out cybercriminals' attacks. At the time Microsoft acted on ... (view more)

Tue
28
May
Dennis Faas's picture

Zeus Malware Making a Resurgence, Experts Warn

The feared Zeus Trojan is expected to make a comeback in the next six months. According to security research firm Trend Micro, many cybercriminals are returning to this form of malware as a tool for compromising website security. Zeus is by no means ... new. Its source code was originally spread across the world wide web more than two years ago, and since that time has been customized by cybercriminals. Popular variants of Zeus included 'Citadel' and 'GameOver'. Overall, Zeus (sometimes called Zbot) is one of the oldest forms of financial malware still being used by cybercriminals today. Zeus a ... (view more)

Thu
16
May
Dennis Faas's picture

New Malware Automatically Posts Facebook Comments

Microsoft has issued a warning about a new type of malware that assumes the form of a Google Chrome extension and Firefox add-on. The Trojan horse is reportedly designed to target the Facebook accounts of its victims and, once a machine is ... compromised, performs a number of automated social media tasks, including "liking" certain pages and posting comments. The malware, which was first detected in Brazil, is named 'Trojan:JS/Febipos' and operates by checking to see if the current user is logged into Facebook. If this is the case, the bug attempts to download a configuration file that contains ... (view more)

Thu
25
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

New Trojan Downloader Covers Tracks, Hard to Detect

Security researchers have discovered a new type of Trojan downloader capable of covering its tracks by deleting the files it downloads. That makes it harder for security experts to find and remove the downloader. The downloader, which is called ... Win32 / Nemim.gen!A, shows how malware writers are producing progressively more sophisticated tools. By deleting all of the files it downloads and uses, this Trojan makes it almost impossible to recover, isolate, and analyze component files. Sophisticated Malware Difficult to Confront According to Microsoft Malware Protection Center researcher Jonathan ... (view more)

Thu
11
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

Advanced Malware Takes Unique Steps to Hide Itself

Researchers have discovered a new type of malware that uses several advanced strategies to prevent you from detecting it. Those strategies include tracking user mouse usage and hiding malicious files. The malware, which is being called ... Trojan.APT.BaneChant, was recently discovered by researchers at security firm FireEye. The malware reportedly spreads through an infected Microsoft Word document attached to emails. So far, BaneChant has mostly been seen overseas. "We suspect that this weaponized document was used to target the governments of Middle East and Central Asia," noted FireEye ... (view more)

Tue
02
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

Evernote Used to Deliver Malware: Report

Security firm Trend Micro says it has discovered a malicious software program that employs online notepad service Evernote as a communications tool. Evernote is a cloud-based note-taking software utility that allows users to place "notes, web clips, ... files and images ... on every device and computer." (Source: evernote.com ) That means you can make a note about a recently-discovered favorite wine on your smartphone and have that note instantly show up on your home computer. Unfortunately, it seems this handy little program has been exploited by cyber-crooks. Evernote Used to Communicate with ... (view more)

Mon
01
Apr
Dennis Faas's picture

Malware Targets Credit Card Data on Checkout PCs

Security firm McAfee says it has discovered a new type of malware designed to steal credit card data from point-of-sale (POS) computer systems. The malware is of the Trojan horse variety and is being called 'vSkimmer'. Point-of-sale systems, or ... checkout systems, are the computers used in retail environments. Malware Communicates Credit Card Data to Hackers McAfee security researcher Chintan Shah reported on the vSkimmer threat in a recent blog post. According to Shah, the malware was discovered in mid-February 2013 and is currently being discussed on cybercriminal forums. (Source: pcworld.com ... (view more)

Thu
28
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Most Counterfeit Software Includes Malware: Study

A new study commissioned by Microsoft and carried out by researchers at IDC has found that most counterfeit software includes some kind of malware. The researchers also estimate that the total value of the counterfeit software market now exceeds ... $100 billion. IDC recently published its findings in a report titled "The Dangerous World of Counterfeit and Pirated Software: How Pirated Software Can Compromise the Cybersecurity of Consumers, Enterprises, and Nations ... and the Resultant Costs in Time and Money." Most Counterfeit Software Laced with Malware In that report (which can be viewed in ... (view more)

Mon
04
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

MiniDuke Malware Exploits Adobe Flaw, Uses Twitter

A newly-discovered form of malware can reportedly spread via malicious PDF documents. An infected system can then be controlled via Twitter. Called 'MiniDuke' by security experts, it appears the malware is still very active. Russian security company ... Kaspersky Lab, who recently discovered MiniDuke, said that recovered fragments of the malware had been created as recently as February 20, 2013. That has led Kaspersky researchers to suggest that MiniDuke is still being used to attack computer systems. Hackers Capitalize on Adobe Flaw The malware is reportedly being spread in the form of malicious ... (view more)

Fri
21
Dec
Dennis Faas's picture

New Android Malware Lures Victims with Free Stuff

If you're an Android user, make sure you avoid clicking on any message that says you've just won a free video game or a $1,000 Target gift card. Failing to heed this advice could lead to your device becoming infected with a nasty Trojan virus. This ... new Trojan virus is spreading so rapidly, according to one report, that it has already been offered to Android users roughly 500,000 times. Problem Starts with Malicious SMS Texts Here's how the scam works: Owners of mobile devices running Google's Android operating system (OS) receive a Short Message Service (SMS) text inviting them to download a ... (view more)

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