10/04/2011
2011 Security Research Grant/Gift Award Winners
This year's list of recipients from our 2011 Security Research Grant/Gift Fund is impressive. Each of the ten winning recipients this year is so good it could have won our top award. And, while each of the winning projects we're helping fund offers something unique, but they all have one thing in common: making the Internet safer for us all. Read more
09/18/2011
Fake Antivirus Software Showing up on Legit Websites
For a while the fake antivirus software industry--if you can call it that--was growing in leaps and bounds. Then some key law enforcement breakthroughs seemed to put the brakes on things. Now, for whatever reason, it seems the bad guys are turning to putting their software onto legitimate sites in hopes of tricking people into installing their scamware. Read more
09/09/2011
TDSS Botnet Has a Firefox Add-On?!
Too weird and too bold to be true, yet still true. TDSS botnet creators are openly renting use of the botnet for lots of different reasons, including anonymous web surfing. They've even created a Firefox Add-On to make switching connections easier for their customers. There's a reason Kaspersky calls this the most sophisticated threat today. Read more
08/29/2011
Morto: Remote Desktop Connection Worm In the Wild, Spreading Actively
Morto, the first worm known to attack via Microsoft's Remote Desktop Service has been spotted in the wild. It's using the default "Administrator" account and exploiting weak passwords. So far, it's wreaking havoc across the Internet; luckily, it's fairly easy to keep at bay through some fairly easy steps. Read more
08/25/2011
Android Malware, Adobe Exploits, Spam Volume & More in the McAfee Quarterly Threat Report
The always excellent McAfee's Quarterly Threat Report was just released. In it, they give fantastic insight into what's happening with viruses and other threats and clearly shows how antivirus software is more important than ever. Mobile malware, spam, phishing and malicious website attacks, and rootkits are just the beginning. Read more
08/22/2011
Charge Your Cell Phone, Get Malware?
08/17/2011
Firefox 6 Released. Does it Matter?
With Mozilla Firefox now releasing its third full release in its new "rapid release" schedule, there definitely reason to upgrade for most people. The most noticeable improvement is in the address bar, which now puts emphasis on the domain name to help thwart phishing attacks. Regardless of what antivirus software you're running, keeping your web browser updated is a smart thing to do. After all, most virus and malware attacks do come in via the web, so why not give yourself every technological advantage? Read more
08/16/2011
Best Web Browser for Blocking Malicious Content?
08/10/2011
Huge Security Update Batch from Microsoft
Microsoft just rolled out 13 patches to Windows, Office, and Internet Explorer.
The updates to IE alone fix 22 separate bugs, most of them labeled "Critical" or "Important."
One of the updates patches a bug reminiscent of one from 20 years ago called the "Ping of Death." Sure, having antivirus software or an Internet security suite with a built in software firewall does offset the risk of bugs like these, but even with good security software installed, there's still no reason not to update your PC(s). Read more
08/04/2011
Do Macs Need Antivirus Software? More Answers to this Persistent Question
If lots of incredibly sophisticated high-tech companies with huge IT budgets can get hit with a virus, why can't one hit you, too? Even if you run a Mac.
As the iSEC researchers said so well in their pdf, "Bottom Line: Run your Macs as little islands on a hostile network."
Sounds like great advice for PC users, too... Read more