computer virus

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Man, 27, Destroys Computers With USB Drive at Alma Mater

Video shows him saying, 'It's gone'

(Newser) - A former student has pleaded guilty to destroying 59 computers at his alma mater with a weaponized USB drive. Vishwanath Akuthota, 27, ruined seven monitors and computer-enhanced podiums as well at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, ZDNet reports. Zkuthota bought the device, which fries a computer in seconds,...

Virus Attack Hobbles Major US Newspapers

Tribune Company hit by computer virus, resulting in slimmed-down or canceled newspapers

(Newser) - A computer virus hit newspaper printing plants in Los Angeles and at Tribune Publishing newspapers across the country, disrupting production of the Chicago Tribune and its other newspapers. The print edition of the Chicago Tribune was published Saturday without paid death notices and classified ads, reports the AP , while in...

Hackers Holding College's Computers for Ransom

They want $28,500 to call off the ransomware attack

(Newser) - Hackers attempted to hold computers at one Canadian university hostage for $28,500 on Tuesday, the Register reports. According to the CBC , Carleton University was hit with a ransomware attack from an unknown source. "Any system accessible from the main network, that is Windows based, may have been compromised,...

DHS: Windows Users Better Delete QuickTime

The Apple program appears vulnerable to attacks

(Newser) - Windows users, watch out: The Department of Homeland Security is advising you to delete QuickTime from your system, Network World reports. The problem is that Apple is no longer supporting Windows versions of the program, and antivirus vendor TrendMicro has found vulnerabilities that allow "attackers to execute arbitrary code...

Massive Security Flaw Left Much of Internet Exposed

'Heartbleed' bug has affected OpenSSL protocol for 2 years

(Newser) - A major flaw in one of the Internet's chief security methods has exposed users' confidential information to hackers for the last two years, security researchers revealed Monday night. The "Heartbleed" bug affects the OpenSSL security protocol used by some two-thirds of websites to protect sensitive data as it...

Firm Uncovers Advanced Government-Hunting Virus

Kapersky calls it 'Careto'

(Newser) - A stunningly advanced malware threat has been targeting government institutions, diplomatic offices, energy companies, private equity firms, activists, and more for five years now, infecting at least 380 unique victims across 31 countries, Kaspersky security researchers have revealed. They're calling the virus "Careto" (meaning "mask" or "...

Gov'ts Are Paying Hackers Big Bucks for Software Bugs

Stuxnet created a market for software vulnerabilities

(Newser) - Hackers no longer need to break into online banking sites or steal your credit card info to make money. Over the past few years, a new market has evolved where they can make serious cash without even breaking the law: finding bugs and vulnerabilities in popular software (think Windows, web...

Growing Threat to Medical Gadgets: Malware

FDA calls on manufacturers to devise security plans

(Newser) - What happens when malware attacks the very devices keeping us healthy? The threat has the FDA concerned, the Wall Street Journal reports: "We are aware of hundreds of medical devices that have been infected by malware," says a senior official. Thus far, there haven't been any known...

Nearly 300K Could Lose Internet Access Monday

FBI urging people to see if their computer is infected

(Newser) - Nearly 300,000 computers could be knocked off the Internet Monday, when the FBI shuts down a temporary system that's been running since last year. The problem started when hackers took control of more than 570,000 computers worldwide in an online ad scam, the AP reports. When dealing...

Cybersleuths Link Flame, Stuxnet

Kaspersky finding suggests two viruses originated in US or Israel

(Newser) - Cybersecurity researchers said yesterday that they'd found a link between the infrastructure-wrecking cyberweapon known as Stuxnet and the recently-discovered Flame virus—possibly offering a new clue about the latter's origins. Kaspersky Labs expert Alexander Gostev said in a blog post that his company had identified a similarity between...

Huge Cyber Attack Targets Iran, Middle East

Dubbed Flame, the virus may have struck Iran's oil facilities

(Newser) - A surprisingly complex computer virus has struck Iran's oil facilities and spread across the Middle East, CNET reports. Dubbed Flame by analysts, the malware appears state-sponsored and designed to plunder data from personal computers and major networks alike, according to Russian Internet security giant Kaspersky Labs. "The complexity...

Syria Uses Skype Malware to Spy on Activists: Tech Firm

Impersonators send infected files

(Newser) - The Syrian government is hacking into the computers of activists and secretly surveilling them by spreading malicious software through Skype, reports TechWeek Europe . Recently, an activist thought she was Skype-chatting with an ally, but she suddenly realized her friend was in jail and could not possibly be online. She received...

Latest Threat to Hit Macs: 'Sabpab' Trojan

Malware spreading through dodgy Word document

(Newser) - With popularity comes some nasty bugs for the unwary: A Trojan known as "Sabpab" is the latest piece of malware infesting Macs, according to security firm Sophos. The malware is spreading through a weakness in Java and through an infected Word document purporting to be a statement from the...

Federal Agency Lives in Dark Ages After Hacker Hit

Economic Development Administration employees using ... fax?

(Newser) - At the Economic Development Administration, employees are actually picking up the phone to talk to congressional staffers, meeting with clients face to face, and using—gasp—fax machines. The small Commerce Department bureau was forced to return to the pre-Internet days after a virus struck, via email, nearly three months...

Trojan Virus Has Infected 600K Macs, Firm Claims

Virus may allow hackers to create 'botnet' from infected machines

(Newser) - Are you a smug Mac user who assumes you can't possibly get a virus? Well, think again. A Russian anti-virus firm believes that about 600,000 Macs around the world have been infected with the Flashback Trojan virus—and about half of those are expected to be in the...

Facebook Virus Gang Living in Luxury

Koobface Gang not bothering to hide their identities, location

(Newser) - You might think a cabal of cyber criminals who'd ripped off 400,000 to 800,000 Facebook users would be on the run and living deep underground. You'd be wrong. The so-called "Koobface Gang," makers of a Facebook worm that's done just that, is living...

Facebook Closes 45K Accounts to Stop 'Worm'

Ramnit worm steals login info, spreads nasty links

(Newser) - Facebook has temporarily shut down about 45,000 accounts to protect users from a worm that steals login information and spreads malicious links, the Telegraph reports. Called Ramnit, the worm has been proliferating since April 2010 but only recently adapted to Facebook accounts. Most of the victims are in Britain...

New Virus Hacks Your Bank Account, Covers Tracks

'SpyEye Trojan' helps thieves go undetected

(Newser) - For years, checking your bank account balance regularly online has been a pretty good way to guard against fraud—until now. An Israeli security firm has identified a new virus that not only steals the info fraudsters need to drain your bank account, it ensures you don't see those...

Millions of Printers in Danger of Being Hacked

Researchers call it a major vulnerability: MSNBC

(Newser) - Even if your computer is as secure as you can make it, you may still be offering hackers entry to your network—through your printer. Columbia University researchers warn that millions of printers belonging to consumers, businesses, and government agencies could be vulnerable to attack. Among other dangers, hackers may...

'Son of Stuxnet' Worm Found in Europe

Duqu designed to gather information on industrial systems, Symantec says

(Newser) - A new computer virus found in Europe and the Middle East bears a strong resemblance to the Stuxnet worm that attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, security experts say, but the Duqu malware's target is still unclear. Security firm Symantec says Duqu appears to be designed to gather information on...

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