From SECNAP Alerts:
Malware writers are continuing to exploit a high-profile zero-day flaw in Adobe Acrobat and Reader, using a spam attack to spread the remote code execution vulnerability in the wild. The attack arrives as an unsolicited financial report claiming to be from Barclay’s Capital. The attached PDF file launches the Reader and Acrobat attack, [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Malware'
Adobe Apps Riddled with Malware Vulnerabilities
December 15th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
New Malware Spreads as Browser Update, Seizes DNS and DHCP Servers
September 29th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
A worm has been discovered that, when unleashed, takes over DHCP and DNS servers and sends undesired requests to more malware-containing locations. Identified by the name of Worm(dot)Ropian.E, it immediately seizes the DNS and DHCP servers.
Because these are some of the most important services that control Internet connections, the malware can make sure users are [...]
User Passwords Hacked to Point Go Daddy Websites to Malware
September 22nd, 2011 · No Comments · Security
From SECNAP Alerts:
Hundreds of Go Daddy websites were compromised to point toward a site hosting malware over the weekend of September 17 and 18. The mass hack of around 445 sites involved the injection of hostile code into the .htaccess files. Go Daddy quickly removed the hostile code, and began working with its customers to [...]
Facebook “If I Die” App Will Bury Your Computer
September 20th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
The premise of a new Facebook app called “If I Die” is sweet if a little morbid: You record a video message that will be played for your loved ones after your death. As the app advertisement says: “Death can catch you anywhere, anytime. Leave your If I Die message before it’s too late.”
There’s just [...]
Watch for Malware Disguised as Windows Help Files (.hlp)
September 19th, 2011 · No Comments · Microsoft, Security
Viruses and other malicious software contained in simple help files are not news to Internet security specialists. However, the fact that these pieces of malware are sent using email messages is part of a more recent scheme by cybercriminals to fool unsuspecting victims, infect computers with malicious applications, and take over users’ virtual lives, according [...]
New Malware Hides in Master Boot Record, Fools Cleaning Attempts
July 1st, 2011 · No Comments · Microsoft, Security
Microsoft is telling Windows users that they’ll have to reinstall the operating system if they get infected with a new rootkit that hides in the machine’s boot sector.
A new variant of a Trojan Microsoft calls “Popureb” digs so deeply into the system that the only way to eradicate it is to return Windows to its [...]
Malware Scam Artist’s Swiss Bank Account Seized by Feds
June 21st, 2011 · No Comments · Security
From SECNAP Alerts:
Federal authorities have seized all the cash in a Swiss bank account held by a scareware mogul and scam artist who is charged with selling phony Symantec security software. The U.S. attorney’s office in New York filed for the forfeiture of $14.8 million stashed in the account by the man, who fled the [...]
PDF exploit Spreads Scareware Through Rogue SourceForge Pages
June 20th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
From SECNAP Alerts:
Security researchers warn that scareware distributors are abusing SourceForge to host malicious pages that direct visitors to PDF exploits.
The campaign is the work of people behind the FakeRean family of malicious applications that pose as security products and trick users into buying useless licenses. “This malware also alters the infected system’s registry quite [...]
Fake ‘Microsoft Update’ Malware Affecting Firefox
June 16th, 2011 · No Comments · Microsoft, Security
From SECNAP Alerts:
A ‘phony antivirus’ scam is presenting itself as a near-perfect Microsoft Update popup with one notable exception—it appears only on machines using Firefox browsers.
According to the Naked Security blog, machines infected in drive-by downloads from compromised sites receive the scareware, which appears as an urgent Microsoft Update notification.
The clue that the updates are [...]
Amazon Cloud Hosts Malware That Can Steal Financial Data
June 8th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
From SECNAP Network Security’s latest security alert:
Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud is host to malware that is used to steal financial data, security researchers have discovered.
According to Kaspersky Lab Expert Dmitry Bestuzhev, Amazon’s cloud features numerous pieces of malware that can pilfer financial data. The uncovering of cloud-based malware comes as cloud security remains a [...]
Tags: Amazon·cybercrime·Hackers·Malware·Security
Fake Osama Bin Laden Death Photos May Contain Malware
May 2nd, 2011 · No Comments · Security
Last night’s news of Osama bin Laden’s death has taken the world by storm. However, scammers are taking advantage of this event with a wave of malware attacks.
Within hours of the announcement of his death, Osama bin Laden “death photos” were circulating around the web. These photos and links are unverified and likely fake, and [...]
Tags: Malware·Osama bin Laden·scams·Security
If the Internet Had a Superwoman, it would be Dawn Song
April 29th, 2011 · No Comments · Security
With hackers and electronic thieves constantly on the lookout for the latest exploits and security breaches they can take advantage of, it is comforting to know that there are also people behind bold initiatives to make our web experiences much safer.
If you think hackers are the only ones doing their research to release newer and [...]
Microsoft and Feds Raid Hosts, Cripple Rustock Botnet
March 21st, 2011 · No Comments · Security
Microsoft Corp. and federal law enforcement agents seized computer equipment from Internet hosting facilities across the U.S. in a sweeping legal attack designed to cripple the leading source of junk email on the Internet.
Microsoft launched the raids as part of a civil lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle in early February against unnamed operators [...]
Beware of Malware-Infected Websites
February 17th, 2011 · No Comments · Managed Services, Security
Security firm Dasient warns users against the rising number of malware-infected websites.
Dasient, a company specializing in combating malware on websites, has released a new report claiming that over 1.2 million websites were found to be infected by malware in the third quarter of 2009, more than double the number during same period last year.
These infected [...]
Tags: Dallas Data Center·Hackers·Malicious Websites·Malware·Managed IT Services·Managed Services·Security·Viruses·Vulnerabilities
Malware Virus Now Targets USB Devices
February 14th, 2011 · No Comments · Backup, Dallas Data Center, Managed Services, Security, Storage
Plug-in USB devices, such as thumb drives, USB storage hard drives, are a very popular method of transferring digital files. However, they have also lately become a hacker’s favorite way of spreading malware. Find out why your company might be vulnerable to malicious software (malware) brought by infected USB devices.
A USB device is indeed a [...]
Tags: Backup·Flash drives·Hackers·Malware·Security·USB·Viruses
The More Complicated the Password, the Better
December 10th, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Dallas Data Center, Firewalls, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Security, Servers
Your passwords hold the keys to most – if not all – of your online presence, so keeping them secure is paramount.
In the same way that keys are used to open different doors, passwords are used to access many areas of cyberspace. However, those passwords are vulnerable to hacking, stealing, or random guessing – which [...]
Tags: Cyberspace·Hackers·IT Security·Malware·Passwords·Phishing·Security·Vulnerabilities
Protection Racket Against DDoS Attacks Revealed
December 6th, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Firewalls, Managed Services, Security
Security firm Symantec has uncovered a scheme to extort website owners for money or face the possibility of a DDoS attack.
Security firm Symantec recently uncovered a scheme that purportedly attempts to extort money from website owners and operators in order to avoid the possibility of a DDoS attack. The capability of these extortionists to [...]
Tags: Firewalls·Hackers·Malware·Phishing·Security·Vulnerabilities
Beware of Rogue Antivirus Attacks
December 3rd, 2010 · 1 Comment · Dallas Data Center, Firewalls, Managed Services, Security, Uncategorized
One technique scammers use to bully users into downloading malware is to launch repeated popup attacks prompting users to download their “antivirus” solution. It’s important to stay safe and keep a level head so you don’t get victimized.
The modus operandi is this: say you’re browsing a random website, and a message suddenly pops up warning [...]
Tags: Antivirus·Hackers·IT Security·Malware·Phishing·Popup Attacks·Security
Internal Social Networks: Ethics, Policies, and Use
November 26th, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Firewalls, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Uncategorized
Internal social networks help when you need to cascade and disseminate information within the company, but you also need the right policies and management to use these networks right.
One of these purposes is the creation of internal social networks which, in a nutshell, improve communication and information sharing within the organization. While some may worry [...]
Tags: Ethics·Firewalls·Malware·Palo Alto Networks·Policies and Use·Social Networking
New Viruses Infiltrate Systems Through USB Drives
October 13th, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Managed Services, Microsoft, Security, Servers, Uncategorized
Two new viruses have been discovered to infiltrate systems through removable drives.
USB flash drives have become indispensable to almost everyone who uses a computer. It’s a quick and easy way to immediately transfer and share information and other data, especially files that are too large to send through email. Unfortunately, some malware take advantage of [...]