Security

Spanish police have arrested three individuals for what is believed to be one of the biggest computer crimes in history. At a news conference delivered this past Wednesday, police revealed that malicious programs created by the accused were used to ... steal bank details from computers all over the world, and that these programs had the potential to cripple the computer systems of an entire country. The accused men are said to be between the ages of 25 and 31, each from a small town in Spain. 13 Million Infected PCs in Control Their transition into hacking came after the acquisition of a virus ... (view more)

A recently filed 17-page lawsuit (PDF) alleges that laptops issued to high-school students in a Pennsylvania suburb feature webcams used by school administrators to invade the privacy of almost 1,800 students and their families. (Source: zdnet.com ) ... According to the parents in Blake J Robbins v. Lower Merion School District (LMSD), the issue was discovered last November when the Robbins' child was disciplined for 'improper behavior at his home' and a photo taken by the webcam was used by the Assistant Principal as evidence. The activity the student was engaged in is not specified in the ... (view more)

Microsoft is cautioning users not to download fake versions of Microsoft Security Essentials, which are similarly named to the original, but are in fact rogue. The original Microsoft Security Essentials is fully functional and free from Microsoft ... and without charge for all legitimately registered users of MS Windows. Fake Antivirus Storms Internet, Duping Users Rogue antivirus products are notorious for having similar names, appearances and functions of legitimate antivirus software in an attempt to coax unsuspecting users into doling out hundreds of dollars towards unnecessary, and often ... (view more)

According to a report by Microsoft, a new security hole has emerged in older versions of Windows systems running Internet Explorer. Hackers could use the vulnerability to take control of a user's system. The flaw has been found in systems running ... Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. Microsoft says the issue is tied to the way that Visual Basic Scripting, or VBScript -- which is used for executing functions found in web pages -- is linked with Windows Help files. Fake Dialog Box Requests Users Hit F1 In the case of an attack, a victim using Windows 2000, XP, or Server 2003 would ... (view more)

A new botnet that carries the namesake of perhaps the most famous American-born martial arts actor of all time is causing quite a stir across the Internet. The botnet received its name from a comment (written in Italian) in its source code: "in nome ... di Chuck Norris" which translates: "in the name of Chuck Norris". So, how does one get infected with the infamous Chuck Norris botnet? Those who have yet to change the default password on their home router are the most susceptible to an attack. Norris Infects DSL Modems and Routers The Chuck Norris botnet is also unusual because it infects DSL ... (view more)

It appears as if Google was telling the truth when they announced that several other US companies had been targeted alongside their China-based attack last month. At the time, Google declined to name the other American companies. Computer chip giant ... Intel Corp. has now come forward in the wake of the Google fiasco to announce that it too was the victim of a cyberattack last month. More specifically, the Intel attack was performed around the same time as the Google hack. Hacking is the "Norm" at Intel According to a corporate spokesperson, "We regularly face attempts by others to gain ... (view more)

Google was one of several companies attacked over the Christmas period in an exploit of an Internet Explorer zero-day flaw that has since been dubbed ' Operation Aurora '. And now, it seems that the hunt for the individuals responsible for hacking ... into Google's network in China is heating up. Two educational establishments have denied any connection, but investigators believe they've tracked down the man who wrote the code used in the attack. Computer Security Schools Under Suspicion Last week the New York Times quoted sources saying the attacks had been linked to the Lanxiang Vocational ... (view more)

A recent security threat has already infected about 74,000 computers owned by 2,500 companies and government organizations around the world. That's not a huge number, but the way in which the new "Kneber" botnet works should have most folks ... concerned. The Kneber botnet was discovered in late January by security firm NetWitness. The malicious botnet employs the infamous ZeuS Trojan to swipe login and password data once a system has become compromised. Botnet 'Most Dangerous' on the Web Today At this time, the Kneber botnet has yet to be put out of service. Although it was traced to Germany, ... (view more)

With thousands of computer security companies spending millions of dollars in research and product development each year, some might question how the influence of hackers continues to be a growing problem. One company has apparently found success in ... reducing the spread of viruses and malware by doing things the "hard" way. Hardware-Based Antivirus Best for Rootkits Kaspersky Lab announced the acquisition of a U.S. patent for a hardware-based antivirus solution. The success of this form of antivirus will limit the amount of damage done by the stealthiest of malware because the ... (view more)

Simply saying that rogue antivirus software is becoming more sophisticated is one thing, but a new fake antivirus program called "Live PC Care" has made one necessary change to dupe innocent users: offering live technical support for bogus software. ... According to Symantec researchers, once users have installed the program, they are met with a screen that informs them of numerous computer infections, several kinds of malware, and the like. This tactic of duping users is nothing new; what is new, however, is the fact that the free trial version of Live PC Care comes with a large yellow "online ... (view more)