Currently browsing posts under the tag: malware.

Watch out for the Energizer Bunny he might be carrying a trojan

Written by: StevenHodson on March 8, 2010

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Okay so it’s not the batteries themselves that are in danger of infecting your machines but rather the software that comes with USB battery chargers.

According to the folks over at Sunbelt Software there is a warning out today from CERT that the Energizer DUO USB battery chargers have been found to be infected with a trojan that loads up backdoor malware when you install the battery monitoring software.

The U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) is warning that Energizer DUO USB battery chargers have been found infected with a Trojan that loads backdoor malware on a victim PC along with its battery monitoring software.

The charger copies a .dll file named UsbCharger.dll in the application’s directory and another named Arucer.dll in the Windows system32 directory. USBCharger sets a registry entry to autoexecute Arucer.dll when Windows starts.

Arucer.dll is a backdoor that communicates through TCP port 7777.

The charger has been sold worldwide for three years.

CERT notes that the Trojan contains Chinese language text.

Sunbelt detects it as Trojan.Arugizer.

CERT Vulnerability Note VU#154421 here.

I always knew I hated that drum beating rabbit.

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Category: Security

Avast gets a facelift

Written by: StevenHodson on January 19, 2010

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avast_5_free

Download.com at CNET has all the juicy details but anyone who has used Avast in the past will notice right away the user interface overhaul that the security program has been given.

The old MP3 player looking interface that prior versions sported was one of the things about Avast that I never liked so it is good to seen that they have gotten serious about creating a usable UI this time around.

The free version appears to contain all the needed components to tackle anyone’s security needs.

The basic free version, formerly known as the Home Edition, includes an attractive and obviously affordable set of features. The antivirus, antispyware, and heuristics engines form a security core that also includes multiple real-time shields. Mail and file system shields join the preexisting behavior, network, instant messaging, peer-to-peer, and Web shields. Other new features include a silent-gaming mode and an "intelligent scanner" that only looks at changed files after establishing a baseline.

Source: CNET

Additionally in a move that will only add to the popularity of the software Google has made Avast the default AV software in their Google Pack replacing Spyware Doctor Antivirus.

CNET Download page for Avast Free Edition

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Category: Security

Well color me pink – Microsoft Security Essential considered one of the best

Written by: StevenHodson on December 24, 2009

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Microsoft-Security-Essentials I’ve been using Microsoft Security Essentials since I could first get a hold of the beta release and this is even after paying for Avira Anti-Virus.

It turns out that after being run through the gauntlet by AV-Comparatives.org Microsoft’s malware program is getting some pretty high marks. Not only has it been given top ratings for malware removal but it has also been given AV-Comparatives.org best ranking in their performance test as well.

AV-Comparatives.org ran a series of real-world tests running through common scenarios like downloading, extracting, copying, and encoding files, installing and launching applications, and they also ran through an automated testing suite as well. Once the dust had settled, it became clear that not only is MSE one of only three products that both blocks and removes malware well, but it’s also very light on system resources.

Out of all the products tested, Microsoft Security Essentials was the best-performing free antivirus solution, and one of only two that received “very fast” on each of the real-world tests, earning it their top award: an “advanced+” ranking.

courtesy: Lifehacker

It’s nice to see some praise being sent Microsoft’s way for a change and in this case it is well deserved.

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Category: Software

Just how fast do those rogue security products mutate

Written by: StevenHodson on December 11, 2009

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savekeep Tom Kelcher over at the Sunbelt Software blog has a great post up that shows how quickly some of these malware delivering rogue security programs clone themselves into new products.

Leading the charge is the third generation of WiniGuard that apparently is seeing new clones of it launching every 48 hours.

A new rogue security product called IGuardPC, that we added to detections today, is the 50th clone of the WiniGuard family of rogue security products. That makes WiniGuard the largest rogue family ever detected by Sunbelt researchers.
The WiniGuard family began in September of 2008. Operators behind it have added variants that our researcher Patrick has sorted into three generations. The latest generation gets a new clone about every 48 hours to stay ahead of public awareness and anti-malware detections. Most of them are being caught by existing VIPRE detections.

Continue reading Just how fast do those rogue security products mutate »

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Category: Security

Black Friday special on one of the best security packages around

Written by: StevenHodson on November 25, 2009

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vipre Now just to be clear here – I am not a Sunbelt Software customer but I have been in the past and I think very highly of their software. That said if you are in the market for a great anti-virus and anti-spyware security package then these guys have got a great Black Friday special for you to grab a hold of.

On November 27, 2009 get over to their site and pick up VIPRE for a phenomenal price of $9.95. Until that date the link will just direct to the main VIPRE page.

If that’s not enough Sunbelt also has a fantastic family special sitting in the wings for Cyber Monday. If you head over to their site using this link you’ll be able to pick up one-year unlimited home site license subscription that will apply to all the computers in your home. Normally this would set you back by $49.95 but on Monday you can get it for $19.95.

Mark those calendars folks and get some security for you computers.

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Category: Deals

Anti-virus from the cloud

Written by: StevenHodson on November 18, 2009

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cloudcomp12 Anti-virus software is a requirement for anyone running a Windows machine (don’t worry that day will come as well the Mac world) with it often being one of the first things installed on a new machine. This often involves downloading and installing a large program as just about any anti-virus program these days also cover the complete gamut of anti-malware programs.

Then on top of that you always have to make sure that the malware definition files used by the software are always up-to-date. In most cases though these definition files come after the fact as new virus definitions can only be created, and distributed, once the company behind your software choice has had a chance to examine any new malware.
Continue reading Anti-virus from the cloud »

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Category: Security

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