tagged w/ Computer Virus
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“Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly”
This is weird with a capital W. According to the article at the link the FBI needs everyone in America to log into the FBI website to evaluate if our computers are infected with some kind of virus. If we don’t, we might lose our internet service.
According to the article: “Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.”
Hmm, whatever could be so important that the FBI needs us to log into THEIR website to fix it? From the article:
“They took advantage of vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system to install malicious software on the victim computers. This turned off antivirus updates and changed the way the computers reconcile website addresses behind the scenes on the Internet's domain name system.”
Ok, and why did they do that? “The hackers earned profits from advertisements that appeared on websites that victims were tricked into visiting. The scam netted the hackers at least $14 million, according to the FBI. It also made thousands of computers reliant on the rogue servers for their Internet browsing.
Ok, let me get this straight. The FBI needs you to go to THEIR website to see if your computer has been infected with an advertising hack that netted the evildoers 14 million dollars.
First off, that’s chump change to the FBI. If the hackers had fleeced us for 14 Billion, I could understand their concern, but 14 million??? Second, this is a common place hack that is NOT unprecedented. In fact it sounds like a common “spoofing attack” i.e. “A spoofing attack involves one program, system, or website successfully masquerading as another by falsifying data and thereby being treated as a trusted system by a user or another program. The purpose of this is usually to fool programs, systems, or users into revealing confidential information, such as user names and passwords, to the attacker.”
This type of hack is managed by your over the counter anti-virus software. If the FBI knows about the virus, they know how to get rid of it (hence their request to go to their website). Why then weren’t the details of the virus simply handed over to folks at Norton Antivirus, Bit Defender, AVG, MacAffe, Kapersky etc. so they could write a patch that would be downloaded as an upgrade? That’s how all computer viruses are managed. So WTF is so special about this one??
I suspect it’s a ruse to grab certain information from your computer. Or maybe they developed a program that can tie all your web surfing, blogging activities etc together to make them available with one quick click.
This FBI “request” is so wrong on so many levels I don’t know what to think.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133134/Hundreds-thousands-lose-access-internet-July-result-hackers-advertising-scam.html“Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly”
This is weird with a... more
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Does it feel like you can make a pot of coffee and clean the kitchen all in the time it takes for your computer system to boot up? Do you find yourself daydreaming of dropping it off the top of your office building while you’re waiting for web pages to load? If it seems like your computer is running slower every day, here are some things to do to get your “old reliable” running in tip-top shape. Of course, budget-savvy Nerd Chicks are always looking for ways to save some dough, so we’ve made sure they are all free.
1. Get Rid of the Nasties
Viruses and spyware don’t always break your computer, but they do always slow it down. They’re more common than you may think, and can hang out in your system, gumming up the works, without you even knowing it. Microsoft Security Essentials is a great, easy, all-in-one solution to keep your computer healthy and running in top form. Download it here.
Continue reading by clicking the yahoo link below:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/workingit/10-free-ways-to-speed-up-your-pc-2484823/Does it feel like you can make a pot of coffee and clean the kitchen all in the time... more
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Sammy2
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added this
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1 year ago
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With the biggest news in a decade dominating the Internet, it didn't take long for rogue viruses, Trojans and other malware to mess with computers given the chance.
Web searches and links to a variety of stories — real and fake — about the death of Osama bin Laden are sprouting with all kinds of malicious software as cybercriminals look for a big payday tied to the appetite for news about the Al-Qaida leader's demise.
(more at link)With the biggest news in a decade dominating the Internet, it didn't take long... more
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The Hackers News is an online Hacker News Organisation. We propagate news specifically related to information security threats, Hacking threads and issues from all over the world. Our research teams search and compile news from tens of thousands of sites to bring you the most relevant Cyber Hacking titles in one location. In addition to news, we host blogs and discussions, education videos, and Articles.
Official Website : http://www.thehackernews.com/
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Our Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/TheHackersNews
Email Updates : http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=TheHackersNews
Sms Alert Service: http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels/subscribe/HackersNews
hack, hacking, security breach, hacker, hackers, computer security, encryption, confidentiality, protected, breach, codebreakers, random number, PRN, transmitting sensitive data, banking records, personal information, unbreakable encryption, security of the data, code-breaking, hacking warnings, criminals, terrorists, encryption program, steganography, payload files, hidden data, quantum encryption, erasing magnetic storage, protecting sensitive data, fail-safe destruction, protect sensitive information, complete erasure, secret key, computer virus, viruses, worms, computer wormThe Hackers News is an online Hacker News Organisation. We propagate news specifically... more
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Latest Complete News Updates Today reported rather conclusively on Saturday that the super-advanced computer virus that has at least partially crippled Iran’s nuclear program was developed and tested by Israel, with American involvement.Latest Complete News Updates Today reported rather conclusively on Saturday that the... more
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Computers have become the lifeblood of our society. Computers are responsible for so much, from making sure that you get your money when you want it, to handling long-distance calls to providing hours of entertainment.
link :http://www.mastersincomputerscience.net/21-infographics-every-computer-nerd-must-see.htmlComputers have become the lifeblood of our society. Computers are responsible for so... more
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suzane
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added this
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1 year ago
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This piece of shit will piss you off to no end . . . (enough said?)
If your computer just happens to get infected with this asshat trojan, here's a way to fix it.
Just posting this so you won't have to spend a bunch of money, or search the internet all day trying out different "fixes" that usually don't work.
You'll probably need a second computer to read the instructions, here's where you go:
http://www.myantispyware.com/2010/06/29/how-to-remove-av-antivirus-suite-removal-instructions/
You'll want to start in "safe mode-networking" to get started. Keep tapping F8 while your booting up.This piece of shit will piss you off to no end . . . (enough said?)
If your... more
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It is a bold step forward in what is a world wide phenomenon and, often, a faceless crime. While the bulk of the issues will revolve around what constitutes 'terrorism', this law will make computer hackers and faceless data thieves think twice about their actions...especially in Pakistan. Cyber crimes erode the very fabric of trust that makes e-commerce vibrant and useful. It makes smaller operations less appear trustworthy even as 'small business' is the backbone of business. It needs to be cleaned up, some how. Pakistan is doing something. Any thoughts?It is a bold step forward in what is a world wide phenomenon and, often, a faceless... more
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TDubs
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added this
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2 years ago
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Law enforcement computers were struck by a Mystery computer virus Thursday, forcing the FBI and the U.S. Marshals to shut down part of their networks as a precaution.
The U.S. Marshals confirmed it disconnected from the Justice Department's computers as a protective measure after being hit by the virus; an FBI official said only that that agency was experiencing similar issues and was working on the problem.
"We too are evaluating a network issue on our external, unclassified network that's affecting several government agencies," said FBI spokesman Mike Kortan. He did not elaborate or identify the other agencies.
Marshals spokeswoman Nikki Credic said the agency's computer problem began Thursday morning. The FBI began experiencing similar problems earlier.
"At no time was data compromised," said Credic. The type of virus and its origin were not determined.
In addition to their external networks, most federal law enforcement agencies have an internal-only network to prevent cyber-snoopers from sensitive data.
In Thursday's incident, the Marshals Service shut down its Internet access and some e-mail while staff worked on the problem. The FBI made similar moves to protect its system.Law enforcement computers were struck by a Mystery computer virus Thursday, forcing... more
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A virus can spell doom for your computer. .
Strange as it may sound, the computer virus is something of an Information Age marvel. On one hand, viruses show us how vulnerable we are -- a properly engineered virus can have a devastating effect, disrupting productivity and doing billions of dollars in damages. On the other hand, they show us how sophisticated and interconnected human beings have become.A virus can spell doom for your computer. .
Strange as it may sound, the computer... more
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April 1 has come and gone and in the minds of many people the Conficker worm turned out to be a joke instead of the major Internet security event that might have been envisioned. Was the hype good, or bad, and who is to blame?April 1 has come and gone and in the minds of many people the Conficker worm turned... more
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ac
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added this
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3 years ago
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Considering the source of this story, I wonder how much of it is spin, but none-the-less interesting.
"The recent cyber attack on the U.S. military's classified computer network has been traced to a front company run by several former Russian KGB or Federal Security Service spies, FOX News has learned."Considering the source of this story, I wonder how much of it is spin, but... more
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Finland-based anti-virus software company, F-Secure (www.f-secure.com) says that a virus (probably from Ukraine) is spreading to nearly 9 million cooperate windows users (in Asia, Europe and America) that is vulnerable to digital hijacking.
But don't stress out yet as they say that it may be a dud, saying that it doesn't appear to be working as the designers intended, however it may still pose a threat.Finland-based anti-virus software company, F-Secure (www.f-secure.com) says that a... more
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- Tech and gadgets - MSNBC.com
"zero-day" vulnerability ie browser attack
Microsoft Corp. is taking the unusual step of issuing an emergency fix for a security hole in its Internet Explorer software that has exposed millions of users to having their computers taken over by hackers.
The "zero-day" vulnerability, which came to light last week, allows criminals to take over victims' machines simply by steering them to infected Web sites; users don't have to download anything for their computers to get infected, which makes the flaw in Internet Explorer's programming code so dangerous. Internet Explorer is the world's most widely used Web browser.
Microsoft said it plans to ship a security update, rated "critical," for the browser on Wednesday. People with the Windows Update feature activated on their computers will get the patch automatically.
Thousands of Web sites already have been compromised by criminals looking to exploit the flaw. The bad guys have loaded malicious code onto those sites that automatically infect visitors' machines if they're using Internet Explorer and haven't employed a complicated series of workarounds that Microsoft has suggested.
Microsoft said it has seen attacks targeting the flaw only in Internet Explorer 7, the most widely used version, but has cautioned that all other current editions of the browser are vulnerable.
Microsoft rarely issues security fixes for its software outside of its regular monthly updates. The company last did it in October, and a year and half before that.- Tech and gadgets - MSNBC.com
"zero-day" vulnerability ie browser... more
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Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer have been warned of a flaw that could let hackers gain access to their computers and steal personal data, and told them to swap to a rival browser.
The flaw was spotted last week when hackers started attacking users of IE 7. The flaw, however, has also been found in earlier versions of Microsoft's browser, IE 5 and IE 6.
Because IE is used by seven out of every ten computers in the world, the flaw is potentially very serious. So far, however, it only seems to have been used to steal computer game code from rival gamers.
Microsoft is trying to put together a patch, but in the meantime computer users have been advised to update their security settings or switch to unaffected browsers such as Firefox or Opera.
The flaw in IE allows criminals to gain control of computers that have visited a website infected with malicious code designed to exploit it. While restricting web surfing to trusted sites should reduce the risk of infection, the malicious code can be injected into any website. Users do not have to click or download anything to become infected, merely visiting an infected website is sufficient.
It is known as a "zero-day" attack because it exploits a security vulnerability on the same day that the vulnerability became generally known.
Please follow link on suggestions for IE users: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/dec/16/internetUsers of Microsoft's Internet Explorer have been warned of a flaw that could let... more
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Yes, we know we've covered the biggest e-mail scams before, but criminals never stop coming up with new ways to mess you up via the Internet, so we've decided it's time for an update -- this time focusing on specific e-mails to watch out for (that is, if you want to avoid everything from garden variety financial scams and computer viruses to flat-out ID theft). As always, remember there are variations on each of these cons, so be wary of anything even resembling what you read in the following pages....Yes, we know we've covered the biggest e-mail scams before, but criminals never... more
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Looking for information about Brad Pitt or Beyonce on the Web? It could be risky.
An internet security firm has dubbed the actor and singer the most dangerous celebrities to search for on the Internet because cybercriminals use their names to lure victims.
California-based McAfee Inc. said fans searching for information and pictures of Pitt, or downloads, wallpaper and screen savers, have an 18 percent chance of having their PCs infected with a virus, spyware, spam, phishing and adware.
"Cybercriminals employ numerous methods, yet one of the simplest but most effective ways is to trick consumers into infecting themselves by capitalizing on Americans' interest in celebrity gossip," explained Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee's Product Development & Avert Labs.
"Tapping into current events, pop culture or commonly browsed sites is an easy way to achieve this," he added in a statement.
Web surfers looking for celebrity gossip, screen savers and ringtones are often directed to fake Internet sites that look legitimate but pose a risk to the security of their computers, according to the company.
Pitt and singer Justin Timberlake are the most dangerous men to search for on the Internet, while Beyonce and Heidi Montag, the star of the reality television show "The Hills", top the list for women.
Other celebrities on McAfee's most dangerous list include singers Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Fergie and film stars Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz and George Clooney. Continued...NEW YORK (Reuters) - Looking for information about Brad Pitt or Beyonce on the Web? It... more
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The link provided from Microsoft to fix the problem did not fix the problem, it did however
show me what the problem was and how I might fix it with other solutions, hence the reason for the link. This is a long, long, story, however I will do my best to reduce the pain
as much as possible. The microsoft solution is a 30 day free trial. I just don't recommend it
because it takes forever to load and it doesn't fix the problem.
Had a friend get this virus on her computer so I said I would attempt to fix it however
my recommendation was to buy another computer and keep the old infected one off line
so she could make sure she did not give it to someone else.
How did she get this infection in the first place?
My guess is it is a small prompt pop up which means she did not have pop up blocker on,
which is very important. Anyway, the pop up comes on the screen and tells you that you may have a problem and the Win Antivirus is the solution. They make the virus look like it is
the solution to something you already have and then when you click on the pop up to get the help, guess what, you just infected your computer.
8 hours later I found a few working solutions as the virus fights you for control of the CPU
thus restricting your efforts to fix the problem. Then it becomes who do you trust to tell you
the true. Microsoft wants you to load something that takes up a ton of space and takes forever to download. Then they show you a security patch that costs money.
Most other sites show a fix that will cost money and the question becomes how many do you pay before you solve the problem. For me it is always none.
Yes the free downloads do gain access to the computer but if they fix the problem, I say,
who cares. You could pay to fix this deceptive nightmare and still not fix the problem.
You do need to ask yourself what is your time worth.
I have $450 to $500 for a like new laptop or PC these days so at some point my advise is get a new computer and keep the old one. I will do my best to clean it up after the new one is up and running. My feeling is everyone could use another desktop, or at least a laptop.
Whatever you do, don't save your profile names and passwords on anything. That is what these deceptive weasels are after.
Keeep your security high and keep your pop up blocker on.
If you need help, just write me, I am going to write down every move I made to fix the problem. Happy to share that info. with any friend.
The link provided from Microsoft to fix the problem did not fix the problem, it did... more
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