malware

Wed
04
Sep
John Lister's picture

Use Chrome? Update Now to Fix Major Security Bug

Google has released a security update fixing a major flaw in the Chrome browser. While Chrome normally updates automatically, it's a serious enough problem that it's worth manually checking for updates to the browser in order to be certain. The bug ... was highlighted by the Center for Internet Security, a non-profit organization that crowd sources security problems and fixes. It says the flaw could be exploited simply by the user visiting a compromised web page. It says that: "Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the ... (view more)

Tue
13
Aug
Dennis Faas's picture

Scammed by Quick PC Experts? Here's What to Do

Infopackets Reader Jeanie G. writes: " Dear Dennis, I believe I have been scammed by Quick PC Experts ( quickpcexpert.com ). I was using my web browser and suddenly a virus warning appeared on my screen, stating that I needed to call Microsoft ... certified support at 1-855-724-2570 . There was no way for me to close the virus alert window. I was very frightened and so I called the 1-800 number. The person I spoke to had a very thick Indian accent . Quick PC Expert then confirmed that my computer was infected, and that's when I let them remotely connect to my PC. They installed a firewall and ... (view more)

Fri
12
Jul
Dennis Faas's picture

Explained: Does Microsoft Send Virus Alerts?

Infopackets Reader Jamil S. writes: " Dear Dennis, Lately I have been inundated with Microsoft virus alerts in my web browser claiming that my PC is infected and to call a 1-800 number to fix the problem. There is no way to dismiss the window. The ... Microsoft virus alerts appear suddenly and without warning, even if I'm on Amazon.com (for example). Sometimes the alerts have a very loud verbal pronouncement of a virus and insist that I call the number on the screen. Does Microsoft send virus alerts? Or is this fake? I have scanned my PC and it says no viruses. What gives? " My response: Does ... (view more)

Thu
11
Jul
John Lister's picture

New Super Stealth Astaroth Malware Records Keystrokes

Microsoft has warned users about a complicated but cunning malware attack that might not be caught by all security tools. The "Astaroth" malware doesn't actually exist as a file in its own right. The main risk to users from Astaroth is that it ... includes a keylogger. This means it can access everything victims type, including passwords and other sensitive data. That's one of the reasons sites such as online banks often ask users to type specific characters (such as third and eighth) rather than an entire password. Malware Hides Within Windows What makes Astaroth so hard to detect is ... (view more)

Mon
17
Jun
John Lister's picture

Samsung Raises Malware Alert for Smart TVs

Samsung has warned owners of its Smart TV ranges to run virus checks. It then quickly deleted the warning after a negative response online. The company posted on Twitter with a 19 second video showing how to access a sub-menu that would start a ... virus scan. The post read: "Scanning your computer for malware viruses is important to keep it running smoothly. This also is true for your QLED TV if it's connected to WiFi! Prevent malicious software attacks on your TV by scanning for viruses on your TV every few weeks. Here's how." The video showed that users needed to go through no fewer than 11 ... (view more)

Tue
28
May
John Lister's picture

Ransomware Attack Linked to NSA Breach

The National Security Agency (NSA) is refusing to comment on claims a tool it developed has been used in a ransomware attack on the Baltimore city government. The New York Times says the attackers used a tool called "EternalBlue." The attackers have ... encrypted Baltimore government systems and demanded between $76,000 and $114,440 (depending on the account) to restore access. Officials have refused to pay and used workarounds including some manual processing of files and switching to Gmail for internal communications. It seems the attack was carried out using EternalBlue, which is ... (view more)

Wed
22
May
John Lister's picture

Malware-Laden Laptop Sold as Artwork May Fetch $1M

A laptop riddled with six of the most devastating computer viruses of recent years looks set to sell for more than a million dollars. It's part of a bizarre auction that positions the computer as "a work of art." The laptop, dubbed "The Persistence ... of Chaos" is an ordinary Samsung netbook running Windows XP. What makes it unusual is that it is currently running six pieces of malware that are installed on the machine have caused an estimated $95 billion of damage worldwide. It's a collaboration between cyber security company Deep Instinct and artists Guo O Dong, who says his work " ... (view more)

Wed
15
May
John Lister's picture

Researchers: Android Bloatware a Security Risk

Unwanted pre-installed software on Android devices often poses privacy and security risks according to a new study. That's because the so-called "bloatware" often by-passes Google's vetting process. One of the key selling points, or big drawbacks - ... depending on your perspective - of the Android operating system is that phone and tablet makers can customize their own devices, through the user interface and the apps that appear when a new device is first powered on. That's different from systems such as Apple, where both the hardware and software are controlled by the same company . The study ... (view more)

Wed
17
Apr
John Lister's picture

Ad Blockers Could Be Hijacked

A feature used in several ad blocker tools could be used to "booby trap" websites according to a security researchers. It appears to be a low but credible risk. The problem is all to do with the way many ad blockers work. In simple terms, they ... maintain a blacklist of URLs that host ads and other unwanted material. Whenever a website tries to load an ad from an URL on the list, it's blocked from doing so. Since last summer some ad blockers, including Adblock Plus, added support for a feature called "$rewrite." With this feature, the ad blocker won't just block the unwanted URL from ... (view more)

Thu
11
Apr
John Lister's picture

Website Sign-Ups Hijacked by Email Spammers

Scammers have found a creative way to bypass spam filters, effectively tricking legitimate sites into sending the message on their behalf. It's a reminder that human skepticism is always a key part of cyber security. The new scam was spotted by Sam ... Cook of Comparitech who spotted something amiss in an email from the British Newspaper "Archive," - a perfectly legitimate organization. The scam email asked him to confirm his email address for registering an account with the site. The problem there was that Cook hadn't attempted to register. In fact, this was the first time he ever ... (view more)

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