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Stories about: malware


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Metropolitan Police: Beware of Law Enforcement Viruses

The UK Metropolitan Police’s Central e-crime Unit (PCeU) is warning Internet users about the massive malware campaign that locks computers allegedly in the name of the law enforcement agency. Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center informed us a while back that the campaign is targeting users from all acro...

14 February 2012
07:02 GMT

VIPRE Report Reveals Wide Range of Cybercrime Targets

GFI’s VIPRE Report for January 2012 reveals that cybercriminals took advantage of every single hot topic to launch their malicious campaigns, targeting gamers, small businesses and even government organizations. Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 and the Halo video game series represented great opportuni...

9 February 2012
07:26 GMT

IE9 Still Most Effective at Blocking Social-Engineered Malware, NSS Labs Finds

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 browser is the most effective when it comes to blocking traditional malware downloads, a recent report from NSS Labs notes. Testing conducted between November 21, 2011 and January 5, 2012, showed that Internet Explorer 9 was able to block the most malware when compared to riva...

7 February 2012
09:00 GMT

Microsoft Gives 20 Free Windows Phones to Android Users

Microsoft has been seizing each opportunity to hit Google’s Android operating system, and a new one emerged only recently. Earlier this week, the company announced that it chose to deliver no less than 20 free Windows Phones to Android users who have been affected by malware that slipped in the Android Marke...

3 February 2012
08:33 GMT

Google Improves Android Market Security with Bouncer

Today, Google announced the release of a new service for its Android Market. Dubbed Bounce, it has been designed to scan the Market for any applications that might pose threats to Android users. The number of applications in the storefront has increased significantly in the past few years, the same as the amount o...

3 February 2012
03:44 GMT

Lookout: Android.Counterclank Found by Symantec Not Malware

Security solutions provider Symantec alerted Android users a few days ago on the existence of an Android Trojan called Android.Counterclank, which they catalogued as an information-stealing piece of malware. However, Lookout, a mobile security firm, questions those claims, reporting that Counterclank is just an aggre...

31 January 2012
05:57 GMT

Drive-by Spam Emails Infect Computers Without Links or Attachments

Up until now, most malicious emails that were designed to spread a virus or a Trojan required some user interaction, but new variants discovered by German security experts automatically infect a device when the email is opened in the email client. Many security savvy users know that, as long as you don’t click...

30 January 2012
10:12 GMT

Chuck Norris Dies, but Only in Malicious Scam

Facebook members may be offered a link to a video that shows how Chuck Norris died, but instead of a video, they’re either served with a survey scam or a malicious browser component. Graham Cluley provided a variant of the scam that urges users to click on a link that redirects them to a survey scam which offe...

25 January 2012
11:11 GMT

Fake Traffic Ticket Emails Targets Seattle, Tomorrow the World

Security researchers have come across a series of malicious emails that notify the recipient that he is charged with a traffic offense, urging him to fill a form linked from the message. The malicious messages allegedly come from the Seattle Police Department or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Experts from M...

20 January 2012
10:27 GMT

Ransomware Poses as Law Enforcement Agency and Fines Users

Panda Labs researchers came across another wave of ransomware attacks that pose as official warnings from law enforcement agencies, threatening users that their systems are held hostage until a fine is paid. The experts believe that a single cybercriminal gang may be behind the malicious operations that target citiz...

19 January 2012
06:44 GMT

Compromised Veterinary Supplier Spreads Malware and Leaks Data

Researchers came across an Argentinian veterinary supplier website that had been compromised and exploited to the maximum by cybercriminals. Kaspersky Lab experts found that not only was it redesigned to spread malicious Brazilian Trojans that targeted bank accounts, but it may also have been probed by a Russian hac...

18 January 2012
09:50 GMT

14 Million Unique Malware Samples Identified Worldwide in 2011

AegisLabs released a report that sums up the distribution of malware types in 2011 and the numbers are worryingly high. Most of the 14 million unique pieces of malware detected on a global level were Trojans, their numbers representing close to 65% of all threats. Around 11% were packed malware, totaling 1.5 mill...

11 January 2012
15:31 GMT

Businesses Warned of FDIC Malware-Spreading Emails

Experts warn that a new wave of malicious emails has been discovered, targeting companies and infecting the computers of those who open their attachments. Graham Cluley informs us that SophosLabs intercepted a large number of emails that pretend to originate from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Be...

11 January 2012
07:40 GMT

Kim Jong-il YouTube Video Used to Spread Malware

The North Korean dictator’s death is still a good story which cybercriminals rely on to spread their malicious schemes. The latest, promises a video of his death for anyone that clicks on an apparently innocent link. ESET researchers from Latin America found a piece of malware being spread with the help of a Y...

5 January 2012
14:51 GMT

Your Smartphone from Amazon Has Shipped, Malware-Spreading Spam

Did you order a Sprint HTC Evo Android cell phone, or any other similar gadget from Amazon.com? If not, then you’re being targeted by the latest malware-spreading campaign that comes as an email allegedly sent by Amazon to confirm that the device is already paid for with your credit card. “We thought you...

30 December 2011
04:47 GMT

Password-Protected Documents Used in Targeted Attacks

Cybercriminals came up with a new way to avoid email filters. They are relying on password-protected document files they attach to email messages with the purpose of encrypting them in order to make them more legitimate looking. Symantec researchers found this latest technique utilized in a limited number of targete...

29 December 2011
10:35 GMT

Malwarebytes Google Search Reveals Rogue Product Site

Internet users who perform a simple Google search for the Windows anti-malware software Malwarebytes may be redirected to a phony website that relies on the product’s reputation to advertise other not-so-friendly applications. Malwarebytes’ CEO Marcin Kleczynski learned of these fake sites after instruct...

28 December 2011
04:32 GMT

Retailer Sells ‘New’ Hard Drive Full of Malware and Pirated Movies

While making a movie about the hard rock band called The Angels, a filmmaker from Sydney was shocked after he discovered that his newly purchased Seagate 1.5 terabyte hard drive contained pieces of malware and tons of pirated movies. According to The Sidney Morning Herald, Darryl Manson purchased an allegedly new ha...

23 December 2011
06:49 GMT

Amnesty International Hacked to Serve Malware and Spy on Activists

Researchers from Barracuda Labs discovered that the official website of Amnesty International UK, the human rights non-governmental organization, was compromised and set up to serve drive-by downloads to its visitors. The experts say that the attack on the human rights group may be an attempt to spy on activists. ...

23 December 2011
03:47 GMT

‘I Need Help Identifying the Person Who Drove My Car’, Malware Scam

Are you the type of person that wants to do a good deed on Christmas day? If you are, then you should be on the lookout for the latest malware spreading campaign that’s been seen dropping in inboxes. Baring the subject line Need your help!! this malicious scheme has two known variants. The first, a simpler one...

23 December 2011
02:57 GMT

Ransomware Operations Adapted to the Targeted Country

Ransomware, a piece of malware that makes a computer useless until the victim pays a certain amount of money allegedly needed to make it useable again, has been seen targeting the citizens of many countries, and to make everything seem more realistic, crooks involve the name of the local law enforcement authorities. ...

19 December 2011
09:11 GMT

James Cameron Spent Tons of ‘Malware’ on His Latest Movie

Internet users who are curios on how much money James Cameron spent on his latest movie may find an answer, but not exactly the one they are looking for. “Have you seen how much money James Cameron spent on his new movie?” is the question featured in the latest malware-spreading spam campaign. A link t...

14 December 2011
07:07 GMT

Microsoft Offers Free Windows Phones to Malware-Affected Android Users

Google’s Android operating system is not as safe as the Internet giant would have us believe, at least this is what the latest reports around the web suggest. The story is simple: more applications that contain malware have been discovered in the Android Market, and Google was forced to remove them, so that ...

13 December 2011
10:41 GMT

iPhone 5 Won’t Be Immune to Malware, Security Buff Suggests

Bruce Schneier, an American cryptographer, computer security specialist, and writer, has made a blog entry about smartphone security lately. In it, he stresses that Apple’s iPhones won’t be more secure (than Android) because of the rules imposed by Apple on the iTunes App Store.His blog post covers smartp...

25 November 2011
10:18 GMT

Antivirus Company Slashes 40% off Mac Offerings

Intego is announcing a special Black Friday blowout sale on all of its X6 security software. The offer is 40% off all apps and it’s valid on day only - Friday, November 25, 2011.Intego is an exclusive developer and seller of Internet security and privacy software Apple computers and portable devices, including ...

23 November 2011
07:03 GMT

How the iPhone 5 Hype Can Get a PC Infected with Malware

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, is sounding the alarm over a piece of malware that comes by way of a fake iPhone 5 email. Luckily for Mac users, the virus only targets unwary Windows PC owners.Coming off a bit of ironic - as the Apple-centric email leads to Windows PC malware - the scam is almo...

4 October 2011
07:27 GMT

Induc Virus Returns and It's More Dangerous Than Ever

A more aggressive version of the 2009 Win32.Induc.A has been seen in the wild and, unlike its predecessor, this one's set out to take over all your executable files, spreading malware and opening gateways on the computers it infects. The new virus is called Win32.Induc.P and Malware City calls it “the m...

17 September 2011
03:45 GMT

Bing and Yahoo Advertise Malware

Search engines should improve their advertisement techniques as it seems that malware spreading websites might appear to users who were looking to download things like Skype, Firefox or Adobe Player. The GFI Labs blog revealed their discovery after noticing that something was fishy after the websites behind the link...

16 September 2011
07:57 GMT

Malware Hidden in Windows Help Files

Viruses and other malicious software contained in simple help files are not news to internet security specialists, but the fact that these pieces of malware are sent using email messages is part of a more recent scheme deployed by cybercriminals to fool unsuspecting victims. Symantec's blog informs us about t...

14 September 2011
04:54 GMT

Government Powered Hackers Collaborate With Cybercriminals

Governments around the world make use of the malware planted by cybercriminals in the computers of corporations that might hold sensitive information, highly valued by their adversaries but at the same time useless to the small-time gangs.Recent discoveries revealed that hackers sponsored by states give out attack co...

13 September 2011
11:12 GMT

Windows Phone Gets AVG Security Suite (Update)

A new application is now available for download for the users of Windows Phone devices, one that was meant to protect users from malware, namely the AVG Security Suite. Coming from a security company, the application was made available for free, and was meant to protect users from threats both on their devices and w...

8 September 2011
02:44 GMT

Volume of Malware Increases According to McAfee's Second Quarter 2011 Report

McAfee recently released a second quarter report for 2011 in which they highlight the challenges posed by hacktivist groups such as LulzSec and Anonymous. One of the most important changes that occurred in the malware security field was that mobile platforms became more targeted. In the first quarter of 2011, Andro...

5 September 2011
05:40 GMT

New Wave of Fake Traffic Ticket Email Notifications Spammed Out

A new wave of fake emails that pose as uniform traffic ticket notifications from New York State's Department of Motor Vehicles is carrying malicious attachments.The rogue messages started hitting people's email inboxes back in July, this being a second and more aggressive campaign.It seems the spammers didn...

17 August 2011
14:07 GMT

News of the World Investigation Expands into Computer Hacking

According to victims notified by the police, the criminal investigation targeting former News of the World (NotW) employees has been expanded to include computer hacking.The new investigation, called Operation Tuleta, will focus on suspicions that News of the World reporters paid a hacker to infect the computer of fo...

1 August 2011
12:22 GMT

Fake Carrefour E-Card Emails Lead to Malware

A new spam campaign generates fake emails claiming to contain e-cards from French hypermarket chain Carrefour that in reality direct users to malware.According to security researchers from Belgian email security vendor MX Lab, even though the spam emails have a subject of "You’ve received A Carrefour Bank E-Car...

14 July 2011
10:29 GMT

Bitcoin Mining Malware in the Wild

After Bitcoin-stealing malware, security researchers have identified a trojan that piggybacks on infected systems to mine the virtual currency.Bitcoin is a new peer-to-peer cash-like virtual currency that can be exchanged directly by users without the need of a central bank or payment processing service.Because of th...

29 June 2011
03:17 GMT

ThePirateBay Deletes LulzSec's Last Torrent over Malware

The last torrent published by LulzSec before it disbanded this weekend has been removed from ThePirateBay because it contained a piece of malware.Under the name "50 Days of Lulz," the release contained information stolen by the hacker group from AT&T, AOL, FBI affiliates, gaming forums, NATO's e-Bookshop site an...

27 June 2011
12:37 GMT

Free McDonald's Meal Promises Lead to Malware

Security researchers warn about new spam emails purporting to offer a free meal at McDonald's, but in reality contain malware.The rogue emails bear different subjects such as "Your favourite dishes are given for free" or "We invite everyone to the day of free food" and purport to come from @mcdonalds.com email a...

21 June 2011
14:00 GMT

Third-Party Update Leads to Skype Malware Scare

Skype users thought they were being targeted by a worm this weekend when a piece of software suddenly installed itself on their computers through the VoIP client.The application, called EasyBits GO, was delivered as a Skype Extras update and left a lot of users baffled over its purpose or origin."I know that I w...

30 May 2011
09:04 GMT

Korean Governmental Websites Targeted in DDoS Attacks

Almost thirty governmental and private South Korean websites were hit this weekend in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks launched with the help of a small botnet.The Presidential, Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry websites were targeted, along with those of many financial institutions, but the impact wa...

7 March 2011
04:22 GMT

Mac App Store Hack Draws Malware Fears

A recently disclosed method which allows people to pirate paid apps from the Mac App Store has security researchers worried about the prospect of using it to distribue malware.The new Mac App Store was launched yesterday at the same time as Mac OS X 10.6.6. It allows people to download and buy desktop applications th...

7 January 2011
09:05 GMT

Infected Laptop Leads to Data Breach at Pentagon Federal Credit Union

The Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is dealing with a data security breach involving personal and credit card information exposed after a laptop was infected with malware.In a letter [pdf] sent to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the credit union's lawyers reveal that the laptop infection...

6 January 2011
11:57 GMT

New Android Trojan Discovered, Called Geinimi

A new malicious program targeted at devices running under Google Android operating system was discovered in China recently. Dubbed “Geinimi,” the Trojan is reportedly one of the most sophisticated Android malware to date. The solution was designed so as to compromise personal data on an affected device t...

30 December 2010
06:25 GMT

Chinese Hackers Stole Korean Defense Secrets

Korean officials claim that hackers from China stole classified documents from the country's defense and foreign affairs ministries earlier this year by infecting computers with malware.AFP cites a National Intelligence Service (NIS) spokesperson, according to whom, attackers sent targeted emails in which they i...

15 October 2010
10:36 GMT

Old iTunes 9 Targeted by Intego VirusBarrier X6 10.6.8 Update [Updated]

Those who are aware that Mac OS X is not at all immune to malware may surely have some form of antivirus installed on their machine, whether it’s a free solution like ClamXav, or a paid one, such as Intego’s VirusBarrier.The latter has just been updated to version 10.6.8, Intego recently announced.As stra...

16 September 2010
07:10 GMT

Mac Security Firm Intego Beats Kasperski, Norton in Windows Malware Detection

Tests carried out on four security programs have reportedly nabbed Intego a crown, with its VirusBarrier X6 antivirus software detecting 633 pieces of malware, or 99.69% of the total 635 samples.On its blog, Intego touts VirusBarrier X6 as “a tool to protect Macs from the dangers of the Internet,” althoug...

6 September 2010
09:50 GMT

Pirated Inception Copies Used to Spread Malware

Pirated copies of the biggest blockbuster of the summer, Christopher Nolan’s Inception, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, are being used by attackers to spread malware. According to BitDefender, the Wimad Trojan horse has been packaged into multiple bootlegged movies offered for download free of charge through variou...

23 July 2010
06:13 GMT

Sophos Disgruntled at Apple’s Policy on Security

According to Graham Cluley writing for Sophos, “Apple's 10.6.4 operating system upgrade earlier this week silently updated the malware protection built into Mac OS X to protect against a backdoor Trojan horse that can allow hackers to gain remote control over your treasured iMac or MacBook.” Apple, h...

18 June 2010
09:01 GMT

BitDefender Issues 'Warning on Early iPad Virus'

Security firm BitDefender has identified a virus targeting early iPad adopters. The threat comes in the form of an email promising “…best performance, newer features and security,” which instructs users to download the latest version of iTunes onto their PC, and perform an update for their tablet d...

26 April 2010
10:01 GMT

Intego Finds New Mac OS X Malware - HellRTS

Mac security firm Intego has discovered what it identifies as “OSX/HellRTS.D,” the brainchild of a piece of Mac malware first spotted in 2004. Dubbed HellRTS, the malware opens a backdoor that allows remote users to take control of infected systems and perform actions on them, right after it is installed ...

21 April 2010
10:36 GMT


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