Crawler, LLC recently announced the release of their Spyware Terminator version 1.9, which is claimed to have widely been assessed by partaking users at Spyware Terminator Forums. The major updates of Spyware Terminator 1.9 are: (1) Setup assistant redesign (2) User interface improvements (3) Improved scanner speed (4) Firefox cookies scan Spyware Terminator system has considerably been made simple. Numerous alternatives to pre-fix the program have been abridged, making Spyware Terminator easy to use. In contradiction of parallel softwares, this latest upgrading lets users fast setup Spyware Terminator in just a few minutes. Robert Oesterlund, CEO, was quoted as saying, Releasing version 1.9 was driven by our efforts to enhance Spyware Terminator’s functionality and ease of use for all our users. We value the input of our users who greatly contributed to these enhancements. delivering a reliable, highly protective security product designed with the user in mind is our number one priority and version 1.9 exemplifies our efforts in achieving this goal.
-
Dell and Google stealthily installing spyware to mint money off your typos
New Dell machines that consist of the Google toolbar as part of a marketing deal also is included with surreptitious software that redirects non-url info typed into a browser window to a Dell-branded page full of ads. For instance if you key in dogfood.cim, rather than obtaining a browser error message, the surreptitious Google Address Redirector redirects the question to an ad-filled page of search results. David Ulevitch, the founder of OpenDNS, reported in company’s blog that Google and Dell have put in ‘spyware’ on Dell machines. The claim was made on the base Ulevitch study of the activities of the Google Toolbar and homepage that gets in preinstalled on IE in new-fangled Dell machines. David Ulevitch also claims that a browser redirector relays users who go into fictional URLs to a Dell-branded page laden with Google ads. David Ulevitch also reported in the blog that since the software meddle with his company’s ingenious, free DNS service, an opt-in DNS service which makes a small number of intelligent typo corrections, keeps tabs on identified phishing sites, and makes available search result pages for browser bar questions as hot sauce. If you were to put a heatmap on the Dell-branded page… well, users can only look at ads. Dell and Google’s behavior here isn’t okay. Users never asked for this experience and they can’t get rid of it! Moreover, this new ‘functionality’ breaks things. Instead of making DNS requests, the address bar now sends single word queries to Google. This application breaks a lot of OpenDNS functionality our users love. Typo correction? Broken. Shortcuts? Broken. Google’s application breaks just about every user-benefiting feature we provide with client software that no user ever asked for. We enjoy challenging problems at OpenDNS. But we’d rather spend our time making the Internet better rather than solving problems that shouldn’t have been created in the first place. We know that Google is capable of launching great products and services, but this isn’t one of them.
-
Symantec takes U-turn on mobile security product
Last week, Symantec pre-launched its Norton Mobile Security suite for Windows Mobile Smartphones, now csoonline.com reports that the security specialist is delaying it until as late as December of this year. Perhaps Symantec was somewhat annoyed of the reactions in the blogsphere without having made out a single encouraging posting. Symantec spokesperson stated Tuesday in an E-Mail: After some review, we’ve decided to integrate this product into the cycle of our 2008 Norton product line launching in the fall timeframe. Symantec further maintained that nonetheless, the corresponding enterprise product, known as Symantec Mobile Security Suite 5.0, is even now planned to be rolled in June. Symantec reveals that the Windows Mobile software will be integrated with anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall and data encryption capabilities, to carry on data secure, even if the smartphone is mislaid. Symantec is also said to put up for sale an optional VPN module for users who desire to securely hook up with their corporate servers.
-
PDF files may put your PC at risk
Be careful PC users while you are coming across PDF files appearing to be your credit card report, personal financial statement or balance report. The security firm, F-Secure has found out the PDF files containing virus that poses security threat to your computer. The security firm claimed that an anonymous has already sent tens of thousands of the contaminated files via email. These emails have no texts, only PDF attachments. Once you open them, the attachment uploads a malicious programme from a Malaysian server. The security firm have received some of the attachments like report.pdf, debt.207.pdf and overdraft.2007.10.26 etc. Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at F-Secure said, We are worried about this case, as PDF attachments are typically not filtered at e-mail gateways.
-
Firefox tops Internet Explorer for more frequent security updates
Security vendor Secunia has reported that users of Mozilla Firefox are more likely to have deployed the latest security updates than the Web surfers who are operating Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or Opera. This could be made clear with the truth that users have got to opt to utilize Firefox, maybe for the reason that they think the browser more secure, and the integrated updater within the open-source browser. The analysis of Secunia is founded on over 350,000 software checks, carried out over the last five months by its free Secunia Software Inspector service. Secunia said 5.19 per cent of all Firefox 2 users had winked at security updates. Whereas for IE6, which is utilized by almost half of all Web surfers, that number was 9.61 per cent. Microsoft’s newest IE7 browser had a number a lot closer to Firefox’s findings: 5.40 per cent. Opera had been the least feasible to be patched: 11.96 per cent of all Opera 9.x browsers were missing updates. Secunia also claimed to have detected that 28 per cent of all softwares on PCs that were scanned by Opera were not completely updated, which means browsers are much more possible to be patched than other types of software.
-
Microsoft invites hackers to Blue Hat
Recently, members of the hacking community, willing to help Microsoft, descended at Redmond, Washington, to depict the software giant where it has wronged. This time the company’s newest Blue Hat conference, which is generally held twice a year, aimed at mobile security, hardware hacking, Microsoft’s security tools, as well as the secretive vulnerability economy. Microsoft started hosting these events two years back as a way to promote talk between the company’s security team and external security researchers, lots of of whom have been criticizing the company’s move to security. The name Blue Hat emanates from the Black Hat security conferences – the “Blue” part originates from the color of badges that are worn by Microsoft staffers its campus. This is the 5th series of Blue Hat briefings and usually Microsoft is tight-lipped about the list of attendees and presenters. IDG’s Robert McMillan could get the names of some hackers on the speaker list – Robert Hansen (RSnake), David Maynor, John Hering and Rob Thomas – however information are very inadequate.
-
Microsoft selects F-Secure for content security on Windows Home Server
At the recently held Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in Los Angeles, Microsoft was reported to have said that it has selected F-Secure as the 1st data security purveyor for Windows Home Server. Redmond-based giant said that F-Secure software would interoperate with Windows Home Server to shield consumers against PC viruses and other threats from the Internet and mobile networks. Windows Home Server is an approaching Microsoft solution to help families without difficulty unify, share and defend their digital assets, like photos, music and videos. F-Secure offers security against virus and spyware attacks, guards against riskware and also is included with scanning of unseen nasty software (rootkit protection). Steven VanRoekel, director of Windows Server Solutions at Microsoft said, F-Secure has a strong track record of providing easy-to-use security technology that reliably protects consumers against rapidly evolving threats. We are pleased to work with F-Secure to help customers secure their digital memories and experiences. Kimmo Alkio, CEO at F-Secure Corporation was quoted as saying, This collaboration fits well in our product portfolio and we are proud to work with Microsoft to offer customers a solution to support Windows Home Server. We look forward to a continued strong cooperation with Microsoft.
-
If I Give You My Email, Will You Spam Me?
Online games have gained popularity since the internet has become available to almost everyone around the world. You can play at home, in your jammies, if you want, and challenge people across the globe. Some of the most popular online games are poker, slots and online bingo. Many sites offer tournaments where you can win cash, trips and prizes. These sites often require that you become a member. To become a member of an online gaming community, you have to give them your email address. Once you do this you will receive newsletters, gaming updates and unfortunately sometimes you get spammed. Have you ever opened your inbox and found that it is full of unwanted emails? Then you know the frustration of being spammed. How can you tell if your online gaming site will spam you? There are a few clues you can look for to be sure you don’t fall victim to an email inbox full of junk. • The site requests personal information beyond your name and address. Information that might include your income, hobbies, interests, health issues and any other information that does not pertain to the gaming site. • There are several affiliate website ads on the gaming site. If you see a lot of ads on the site you can be sure that they have an agreement with those sites to obtain your email address. • Prizes and other perks require you to fill out forms. They already have your information, why would they need you to keep re-entering it? While there are several legitimate gaming sites that will not spam you, be careful how much information you give any one site. Some sites sell your email address just like a physical address list is sold in the marketplace. Be careful and be aware. That way your email box doesn’t become a junk box. If you aren’t interested in online games, you can always stick to watching the players of WSOP put on their poker faces.
-
How Does Spyware Gets into Your Computer and What Damage Doest it Do?
Spyware may, probably, be the most intrusive computer virus that has ever been invented. When our computer gets infected with spyware, it can totally invade our privacy. I am much concerned about someone finding and using my passwords and accessing my accounts. If it leads to that, I don’t think I could ever trust using the internet again. Without knowing it a spyware can get into our computer system easily when we download some software, games and other stuffs from the internet. This sometimes happens when we download a spyware product unknowingly without reading the EULA or End User License Agreement. The fine print may reveal indirectly, of course, that a spyware program is included in the software and by accepting the agreement you also consent to installing the spyware in your computer system. Once the spyware is in your computer it can do as it pleases. It can monitor your activities on the internet, record and use personal information like passwords, use your identity, bring unwanted ads to your computer, and change your browser homepage setting. Sometimes a spyware can do much more damage than just annoy us with pop-up ads. One type of spyware has the ability to use our resources and make us pay for its own damage. Called the “dialer”, this type of spyware can actually dial phone numbers anywhere in the world and make us pay for the long distance charges. Before any of these things happen to you, it would be wiser to have some protection for your computer. For instance, does your computer already have the Norton Internet Security? If you have it, make sure it is updated so it can block even the latest computer viruses. But this is not enough; you must also have a couple of spyware scanners installed in your system. Just one spyware scanner is not enough because it may not be able to spot or detect all the spywares already available. Installing all this protection is a small price to pay for the damage that spywares can do to our computer system and even to our personal lives. Some cash loans may be availed of to help you finance the installations of the spyware scanners on your computer system. Remember the saying that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
-
Symantec warns Windows Vista users of modified Trojan.Kardphisher version
Researchers at Symantec recently warned of a on the loose Trojan horse that masquerade as a Windows activation program to swindle users into entering credit card info in order to reanimate their systems. Takashi Katsuki, a Symantec researcher was reported to have said that the Trojan, known as Kardphisher, is nothing much technically, but its author seemed have obviously taken much pains to make it look like legitimate. Rated as very low risk by Symantec, Kardphisher, through self-installation, camouflages itself as a legitimate Windows activation dialog box, making it look like an authentic system message, which in turn, spits out the following message: Your copy of Windows has been activated by another user. To help reduce software piracy, please re-activate your copy of Windows now. We will ask for your billing details, but your credit card will NOT be charged. You must activate Windows before you can continue to use it. Microsoft is committed to your Privacy. For more information, www.microsoft.com/piracy. Do you want to activate Windows now? Takashi Katsuki said that selecting "No," would close down the computer. While "Yes," in the meantime, leads the user to a second screen where he or she is told to enter his/her name and credit card info, which is after that relayed to the hacker’s server. Advising PC users Katsuki said that this Trojan provides us all a good lesson.