malware

According to a new report from Microsoft, Windows 7 and Windows XP users are now facing more malware threats than ever before. Meanwhile, the number of malware programs designed to infect Vista machines is decreasing. Microsoft released these ... findings in its semi-annual Security Intelligence Report, which provides a review of security threats and infections faced by users of Microsoft products during the first half of 2012. Threats to Windows 7, XP On the Increase In the report, Microsoft says the average number of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) machines infected by malware rose by 23 per ... (view more)

Is your new PC already infected with malware? It's possible, experts say. According to a new report, a number of computers recently built in China are not only shipping with counterfeit software but also come laced with malware. Thanks to ... "bloatware" -- the pre-loaded third-party trial software included with most new computers -- getting a new system to run the way you want can be a real hassle. However, finding your new PC pre-loaded with malware is downright frightening. But that's exactly what Microsoft says it found on some new computers built and distributed in China. Microsoft Files ... (view more)

VirusTotal, a company that produces a free online malware scanner service, says it has been acquired by search giant Google. Google has confirmed the transaction took place, but has not released financial details of the sale. We do know that ... VirusTotal announced the acquisition late last week. The firm's online malware scanner evaluates website addresses (URLs) and also files on your hard drive, to ensure they do not contain viruses, trojan horses, or other forms of malware. VirusTotal says it utilizes more than forty different antivirus strategies to detect potential problems. (Source: pcmag ... (view more)

A newly discovered type of malware is designed to avoid detection by severely damaging a victim's computer once it has harvested sensitive data. The new 'Trojan horse' software is called "Shamoon" by most antivirus companies. It focuses on grabbing ... information housed in the 'Users', 'Documents and Settings', 'System32/Drivers' and 'System32/Config' folders on Windows systems. While this new piece of malware is primarily designed to attack large businesses, some of them specifically by name, it will apparently target home users, as well. Malware Packs Two-Fisted Punch Shamoon is unique in ... (view more)

In a new report released by prominent security firm Symantec, research shows that adult websites are not the most dangerous on the web. Instead, blogs associated with religion or ideologies offer a far greater chance of infecting a visitor's ... computer with some form of malware. Called the Internet Security Threat Report, Symantec's information includes a list of the ten most dangerous types of websites. Surprisingly, adult sites -- which many have long associated with malware and viruses -- are included as number ten. Adult Sites Don't Need Malware Money According to the report, religious and ... (view more)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says that computers infected with a particular type of malware could lose their Internet connections this coming summer. Fortunately, there appears to be relatively simple solution for the problem. According ... to the FBI, computers infected with the malware called "DNSChanger," which first emerged in 2007 and which has since infected millions of computers worldwide, could go offline in July, 2012, until repaired. Cybercriminals Have Re-Routed Internet Traffic Normally, when a computer user enters a web address into their browser, their computer ... (view more)

Google developed a service for scanning the Android Market for potentially malicious apps before they can ever get into the hands of would-be users. Called "Bouncer," the service is set to perform security scans on all new applications in addition ... to apps already featured in the Android Market. Google even plans to run scans on individual developer accounts to keep repeat offenders from coming back. Great Demand for Products Like Bouncer Google's release of Bouncer would appear to be well-timed. Last week, security firm Symantec sent out a warning after stumbling upon what they believed to be ... (view more)

Security software company Symantec has sent out a warning about what it believes to be the largest-ever malware campaign launched against Android smartphone owners. Called "Android.Counterclank," the malware was discovered hidden within 13 different ... apps (smartphone applications) released by three different publishers. Of the enticing titles, "Sexy Girls Puzzle" and "Counter Strike Ground Force" were among the most prolific in duping from one to five million people into downloading the infected software through Google's legitimate app marketplace. (Source: computerworld. ... (view more)

Microsoft has issued a warning about a new form of malware that locks users out of their computers. Dubbed 'ransomware,' the malicious software demands immediate financial compensation from its victims in order to get their machines working again. ... Generally, the scam is presented with a genuine-appearing on-screen message that implies the website they were trying to visit was secretly linked to illicit images of children, and that the user has already been identified as if searching for such material. A different but similar version of the scam suggests that the user has been identified as ... (view more)

Usually the term 'malware' is synonymous with PC infections that result in frustratingly sluggish computer performance. But now, the same term may be associated with mobile devices just as much as PCs, as the number of mobile malware infections ... skyrocket. According to a new report from Juniper Networks, the number of Google Android applications laced with malware has jumped a staggering 472 per cent since July, 2011. Android users now face a constantly growing wave of threats that isn't likely to abate any time soon. (Source: tomsguide.com ) "Tens of Thousands" of Malcious Apps ... (view more)