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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: malware

malware stories: 31 news summaries

1 - 20 of 31 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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 Twitter Overflows With Malware 

One in 500 tweets links to malicious software, experts say

Oct 30, 09 3:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Twitter is the perfect malware delivery system, enabling cybercriminals to lure users with a quick tweet on a hot topic and a shortened URL that hides a shady website’s identity. One in 500 URLs posted on Twitter links to live malware, says Kaspersky international, which make a program that... More »

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social networking • computer virus • malware • Twitter • tweet • social media • Kaspersky International

Hackers Are After Your Smartphone

Mobile devices, stuffed with personal data, become juicy targets

Oct 2, 09 1:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Cyber criminals are beginning to devise ways to break into smartphones, an increasingly juicy source of personal information. Until recently, phones weren’t seen as worth hacking because they contained so little data, but as more and more people carry pocket-size PCs like the iPhone, the likelihood increases that hackers... More »

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cyberattack • hackers • smartphones • malware • mobile devices

Tech Review

Microsoft's Free Antivirus Software Actually Works!

Program performs well in stress test

Oct 1, 09 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Want a great, free antivirus program from a big software brand? OK, it’s from Microsoft, and … wait! Come back! Believe it or not, Microsoft’s new Security Essentials software is pretty darn good. AV-Test.org ran it through a bevy of tests and found the freebie performed admirably.... More »

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Microsoft • Windows • computer virus • spyware • computer security • malware • antivirus • Security Essentials

ANALYSIS

 The 10 Riskiest Web Searches 

Hackers target popular search terms

Jun 2, 09 4:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Internet hackers are like pickpockets: They target crowds, and the best place to find them on the web is through search engines, ABC News reports, so thieves tie malware programs to popular word searches. After analyzing more than 2,600 terms, security firm McAfee found these to be the 10... More »

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identity theft • data theft • search • malware • web services

 US Amps Up Planning for Cyber Arms Race  
  

Obama set to announce big steps in digital defense program

Apr 28, 09 9:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - With daily attacks on both public and private computer systems in the US mounting into the thousands, President Obama is expected to announce an overhaul of US strategy to defend against cyberwarfare—building on a $17 billion program Congress approved last year—and name a White House cyberwarfare boss, the... More »

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Internet • cyberwarfare • malware • weapons • Obama administration • President Obama

Experts: Apple's First Worm Nothing to Fret About

'Groundbreaking' Mac virus only affects a few thousand users

Apr 23, 09 7:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Malware that hijacks Macs has shown up for the first time, but it shouldn't be cause for panic, an expert tells the Globe & Mail. The malware, nicknamed iBotNet, only affects a few thousand users who downloaded a pirated copy of iWork and it's not spreading from computer to computer,... More »

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Apple • Macintosh • Symantec • Trojan viruses • malware • botnet • iBotNet

 McCartney's Web Site Hacked 

Malware allowed hacker access to fans' computer data

Apr 10, 09 2:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - Paul McCartney's official web site was infected with malware that allowed hackers to access computer data of fans who logged on, reports the Telegraph. An internet security surveillance firm spotted the LuckySpoilt invasion early this week and purged the site. It's unclear how many users may have been affected. Hits... More »

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Paul McCartney • Internet • Beatles • hackers • Ringo Starr • cybercrime • malware • computer • Internet crime

 Conficker 
 Worm Springs 
 Into Action 

Mysterious update begins to spread; millions vulnerable

Apr 9, 09 7:04 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Conficker worm is showing signs of life a week later than expected, but experts aren’t quite sure what it’s doing, the BBC reports. The program, believed to be on millions of PCs worldwide, began updating itself last night, downloading encrypted software, researchers at Trend Micro found. The... More »

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computer virus • malware • computer • Conficker

(Newser) - Fear of computer viruses is now one of the major reasons people are getting them in the first place, Reuters reports. According to Microsoft, seven of the 25 top threats come in the form of fake security programs, which users terrified of malware like Conficker are installing indiscriminately. Losing market... More »

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Microsoft • computer virus • Symantec • Internet security • malware • McAfee • Conficker • bogus

Conficker Worm Date Passes Quietly—So Far

Experts warn megavirus could still pose a
serious threat

Apr 1, 09 1:57 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Conficker worm came to life on its April 1 trigger date but failed to cause any major incidents—so far, Infoworld reports. Fears that the internet itself might be affected have yet to materialize, though experts warn that the malware—estimated to be lying in wait in 10 million... More »

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computer virus • virus protection • malware • botnet • Conficker

 Chinese Cyber Spies Hit 
 Dalai Lama, Foreign Offices 

Some blame China
for attacks on
1,300 computers

Mar 28, 09 4:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - A  massive cyber spying effort launched from China has infiltrated the computers of hundreds of government agencies and private offices around the globe, including four connected to the Dalai Lama, the New York Times reports. Asked by the spiritual leader's office to investigate evidence of a breach, Canadian researchers discovered... More »

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China • Dalai Lama • spying • whaling • malware • Howard Stern Grid

Worm Set to Unleash Massive April Fool's Prank

Malware experts race against time to limit the program's damage

Mar 24, 09 2:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - Malware experts are racing to find the authors of the Conficker C worm and limit the damage it seems poised to do beginning April Fool’s Day, CNN reports. Conficker C, the bug’s third iteration since late 2008, has infected between 5 and 10 million computers but so far... More »

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Microsoft • software • computer virus • computer security • malware • botnet • botnets • Conficker

Visa, Mastercard Warn
of New Data Breach

Alerts issued after malware infects another payment processor

Feb 24, 09 5:36 AM CST
(Newser) - Mastercard and Visa have alerted financial institutions about another serious data breach at a payment processor, Wired reports. The breach, like the massive fraud unveiled at Heartland Payment Systems last month, is believed to have occurred through malicious software. The credit card issuers are refusing to name the processor involved... More »

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hacker • credit card • data theft • cybercrime • Visa • malware • MasterCard

Google Flags Entire
Internet as Malware

Oops.

Jan 31, 09 12:25 PM CST
(Newser) - Anyone searching on Google for a short stretch early this morning got a rude awakening. Every result on the search giant turned up the warning, "This site may harm your computer,” ZDNet reports, and firewalls on personal PCs blocked them accordingly. Google blames the glitch—from 6:30am... More »

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Google • Internet • Firefox • search engine • malware • computer glitch

(Newser) - The devious worm that has infected up to 9 million personal computers worldwide may be just the first stage of a malicious attack, the New York Times reports. The so-called Conficker or Downadup virus, which exploits a Microsoft Windows vulnerability, pulls infected computers into systems called botnets that can be... More »

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Microsoft • computer virus • PCs • computer security • malware • portable media players • botnets

Credit Card Processor Bares Massive Hacker Breach

Sophisticated hackers nab vast amounts credit card data

Jan 21, 09 3:06 AM CST
(Newser) - A credit card payment processor has disclosed a data breach that experts believe could be the biggest ever and may be putting millions of consumers at risk of ripoffs, the Washington Post reports. Heartland Payment Systems, which handles 100 million transactions from 250,000 businesses every month, believes malicious software... More »

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Internet • online fraud • fraud • identity theft • credit card • malware • online payments • security breach

 Computer Experts: 
 The Bad Guys Are Winning 

Security researchers outflanked by well-funded cybercriminals

Dec 6, 08 11:57 AM CST
(Newser) - There's a war on for your computer and the bad guys are winning, the New York Times reports. Malware that stealthily hijacks a computer to send more malware is spreading like wildfire, and efforts to battle the constantly evolving threat often amount to little more than a game of online... More »

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Internet • hacker • computer security • cybercrime • malware • botnet

 Spammers Bounce Back
 After Host Shutdown 

Zombie spam-sending computers reactivated from foreign ISPs

Nov 27, 08 8:57 AM CST
(Newser) - Spammers are surging back onto the Internet again, 2 weeks after being dealt a body blow by a server shutdown, CNET News reports. Spam volumes dived 80% after the California-based McColo hosting firm was pulled offline. They remained flat until a few days ago but have now risen to around... More »

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Internet • spam • ISP • computer security • malware • botnet

 Malware Hijacks Obama Emails 

Spammers launch massive 'Obama Trojan' malware campaign to capitalize on victory

Nov 6, 08 7:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Malicious hijackers have hitched a ride on the Barack Obama bandwagon, ChannelWeb reports. "Obama Trojan" emails offer a link to an amazing Obama speech or election results, but when the link is opened, it infects computers with malware that sends the user's personal data to a command center and... More »

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Barack Obama • email • spam • hackers • Trojan viruses • cybercrime • malware • Election 2008

Virus Helps Violate 500K
Bank, Credit Accounts

Infects computers through 'drive-by downloads"

Oct 31, 08 4:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - A computer virus has stolen log-in information for over 500,000 bank accounts and credit and debit cards. The Sinowal Trojan virus has infected computers around the world through “drive-by downloads” that install it without users' knowledge when they visit Web sites running the virus code. Individuals can best... More »

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identity theft • computer virus • Internet security • phishing • Trojan viruses • malware • banks • Sinowal

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