security

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)

Microsoft says that approximately one in four computers around the world are completely vulnerable to cyber attack. That finding is one part of Microsoft's newest Security Intelligence Report. According to the fourteenth volume of Microsoft's ... Security Intelligence Report, 24 per cent of all computers worldwide are not protected by up-to-date antivirus or anti-malware software. The problem with that, Microsoft says: "Computers without antivirus software are 5.5 times more likely to be infected." (Source: digitaltrends.com ) Microsoft's report also highlights the dangers posed to computers ... (view more)

Do you use a Linksys, Netgear, Verizon, D-Link, or Belkin router for your home network? Then your network could be vulnerable to attack. Baltimore, Maryland-based security consultancy firm Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) says that in a test of ... popular home routers most were vulnerable to attack by hackers. ISE put routers from Linksys, Netgear, Verizon, D-Link, and Belkin to the test after having installed each firm's latest firmware updates. ISE also left each router's default configurations in place when carrying out their tests. Hackers Intercept Sensitive Information ISE found that ... (view more)

Last week a security researcher based in Europe revealed that, using some hardware and software available on eBay, he was able to develop an application that could be used to remotely control a commercial plane , mid-flight. That researcher was ... Germany's Hugo Teso, who demonstrated his trick by producing a special Android app that automated the process of taking control of a plane and then re-directing it. The app, which is called 'PlaneSploit,' takes advantage of security vulnerabilities in the aviation industry's communications systems. (Source: gawker.com ) Teso said he was working closely ... (view more)

A security researcher is warning that vulnerabilities in the aviation industry's communications systems could allow a hacker to take control of an airplane mid-flight. German security consultant Hugo Teso recently presented his research on the ... aviation industry's security vulnerabilities at the 'Hack in the Box' conference in Amsterdam. (Source: cnn.com ) Teso, who held a commercial pilot license for more than a decade, spent three years examining the aviation industry's security systems. He found a staggering number of vulnerabilities, particularly in a system known as ADS-B, or automatic ... (view more)

Big fixes are now available for virtually every Microsoft operating system (OS), including the new Windows 8 and Windows RT. April's Patch Tuesday release addresses 'critical' vulnerabilities found in most versions of Windows. The first critical ... flaw focuses on Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser and applies to versions 6 through 10. The fix will address a flaw that could allow for a drive-by hack, meaning hackers could use the hole to attack machines by leading victims to websites laced with malware. Windows XP Through Windows 8 Systems Affected This means that virtually every ... (view more)

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)

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)

In one of the most spectacular research projects ever carried out online, an anonymous security researcher has scanned the entire Internet for security holes. They found that millions of devices have no password protection whatsoever. The project ... was simple in concept: the researcher tried to contact and then access devices by trying every possible IP (Internet Protocol) address using IPv4, a system by which every device connected to the Internet uses 12 digits as identification. This means that IPv4 allows for a maximum of around 4.2 billion IP addresses. The researcher tried to contact ... (view more)

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has had his credit information exposed by hackers. It's only the latest in a string of similar attacks launched against celebrities in recent weeks. According to reports, Gates' personal financial information was ... acquired by hackers and then shared online. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently trying to figure out how the data was accessed and who was responsible for the attack. Somewhat ironically, the attack occurred on the same day that Bill Gates discussed pressing cyber security threats with the Washington Post newspaper. Security Answers Found ... (view more)