Home Business Resources » Spyware http://cybersprout.com Thu, 14 May 2009 06:15:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 2007 Cyber Crime Predictions http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-malware http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-malware#comments Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:43:28 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-malware Malware writers continue to blur the line between trojans, worms and viruses while Spyware distributors have adopted the stealth techniques of virus and worm authors, and can now adapt quickly to uncover and exploit the slightest vulnerabilities. PC users must therefore be aware that they can get into a lot of trouble by simply visiting a website and that the bad guys no longer need to entice them to open an email attachment to wreak havoc on their machines.

Some Spyware and Malware Predictions for 2007 are:

1. Blended threats will continue to evolve: In addition to using spam to distribute trojans and other malware, attackers will increasingly use multi-phased exploits to take control of unsuspecting users’ computers, steal private information, and perpetrate other attacks.

In 2006, trojans accounted for 62 percent of all malware; worms accounted for 24 percent; and viruses and other types of malware accounted for the remaining 13 percent. With the advent of the WMF exploit for “drive-by” downloads, 2006 also marked the first year that a spyware variant used a zero-day exploit to take advantage of a vulnerability that was previously unknown to the general public.

2. Phishers will get smarter: Users should expect social engineering tactics to become more convincing and more effectively targeted at the knowledgeable user. Fake phishing emails with subjects such as “to verify your account” will be replaced by more clever attempts, such as worms disguised as “mail failure” notices.

3. Spam will increase: The last quarter of 2006 saw a huge increase in spam, largely because of image-based spam which can evade most anti-spam filters. Due to the low cost of sending mass spam, especially through botnets, cyber criminals will increasingly use this medium to distribute trojans.

4. Targeted attacks will increase. Criminals or disgruntled employees can use malware for corporate espionage or to steal intellectual property. For example, an employee’s home or office computer can be infected by visiting a pornography or gambling site where criminals have planted a keylogger or spyware to transmit saleable information. Criminals also can use ransomware to “kidnap” a user’s data until the user is willing to pay for its release.

5. The rise of kernel rootkits. A rootkit is a cloaking technology that allows an intruder to hide malicious activity on a previously compromised machine. Using a rootkit, an attacker can hide malware such as backdoors, sniffers and keyloggers. Kernel rootkits are especially dangerous because they can be difficult to detect without appropriate software. Kernel rootkits add code or replace a portion of kernel code with modified code to hide a backdoor.

6. Increased exploitation of browser and application vulnerabilities. As cyber criminals find it harder to break through security defenses with traditional attacks, they will increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in Web browsers and applications. The release of new software versions will provide fertile ground for discovering new vulnerabilities.

7. Typo-squatting on search engines: Hackers will increasingly seek to poison search engine rankings and to perpetrate click-fraud on ad networks. Typo-squatting — linking easily mistyped domains to malicious sites — will become more prevalent.

The increase in rogue anti-spyware programs is another alarming trend for 2007. Criminals are preying on consumers and small businesses via these “free” anti-spyware programs that actually contain the malware they purport to address. Instead of cleaning users’ computers, these attackers try to get money from users through deception.
While these predictions may seem grim, many security companies are moving quickly to provide the tools and information that individuals and companies need to help protect themselves from harm.

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-malware/feed 0 2006 Year of the Cyber Crims http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware#comments Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:24:15 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware 2006 was the year cyber-criminals targeted everything from MySpace to Wikipedia.
Computer security experts said 2006 was also the year hacking stopped being just a hobby and became a lucrative profession for computer developers and software sellers.
Like true business people, hackers not only broadened their reach by attacking popular social networking sites, they also diversified their product line by launching attacks through popular software applications like PowerPoint and Adobe Reader and expanded their activities overseas. Software makers trying to stop online crooks claim they’re bracing for a new level of nastiness in 2007, including websites booby-trapped with software that automatically loads itself on the machines of users.
“Hackers realise they have a limited time before their attacks are blocked, so they are opening up their arsenal and trying everything possible,” says Yuval Ben-Itzhak, of internet security company Finjan Software.
Alex Eckelberry, president of Sunbelt Software, expects attackers to target Windows Vista, Microsoft’s new operating system.
“The problem is Microsoft has thrown down the gauntlet and said, ‘We have a secure operating system’,” he said.
Eckelberry, whose company is developing software for Vista, says his developers have already found bugs – an indication that the software could be vulnerable.
Microsoft has already acknowledged one Vista flaw.
Meanwhile, the criminal underground has begun peddling information about Vista’s vulnerabilities – one of the many ways that unscrupulous programmers have found to profit from their expertise.
Other scams include combining a traditional pump-and-dump stock scam with the takeover of online brokerage accounts and renting out vast networks of zombie computers, known as botnets, to other digital desperados.
“The first viruses were nothing but mischief,” says David Moll, chief executive of Webroot Software.
“Now that there is money to be made, it has changed the game entirely.”
“Cybercriminals are now more creative, organised and business-savvy,” according to a recent report from Websense, a San Diego computer-security company.
“True ‘companies’ have emerged, producing and selling toolkits and developing business-partner programs that enable less-technical, ‘traditional’ criminals to steal data and make money – lots of it.”
It used to be that the biggest cyberthreats came from e-mails infected with pernicious worms and viruses. No longer.
According to Ben-Itzhak of Finjan Software, the web itself is spreading infections, thanks to tens of thousands of sites carrying code that is designed to let an outsider steal information from someone’s computer.
Some of the code is designed so that it automatically downloads itself the minute a user accesses a web page.
Other sites prompt a user to accept what seems to be legitimate software but is actually a malicious program.
In 2006, some MySpace users who had forgotten to patch their computers were infected by a banner ad that silently installed spyware on their computers, according to iDefense Labs, a division of VeriSign.
According to websense, during the first half of 2006 there was a 100 per cent increase in sites designed to install forms of “crimeware” that could log keystrokes or record information entered into online forms.
Altogether, Websense counted 16,663 sites that carried code for stealing passwords, including banking passwords, during that period.
Microsoft’s security team, which has one of the most comprehensive sets of data on security risks, says it removed 10 million pieces of malicious software from nearly 4 million computers during the first half of 2006.
The technique of creating deceptive web sites is known as phishing. According to the AntiPhishing Working Group, the number of phishing sites reported to the coalition increased 70 per cent to 26,877 in October, compared with 15,820 in October 2005.
Booby-trapped sites turn up in search results. A recent study by McAfee, a California security-software maker, found that 1 in about 1,000 web sites appearing in popular search results carried code designed to attack someone’s computer.
McAfee provides a free Site Advisor software plug-in that alerts users about potentially dangerous sites. In addition, in early November, Google started warning users who clicked on search results that Google believed could be dangerous. In an explanatory note posted in its web-search help centre, Google said the sites it flagged could carry software that could “delete data on your computer, steal personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers, or alter your search results.”
Other companies, like Exploit Prevention Labs, sell software that is designed to prevent malicious code from hurting people’s computers as they wander the web.
Security experts say the most important thing that ordinary internet users can do is to make sure all the software they use is up to date, and that they run anti-virus software, a firewall and a spyware scanner.
“The rules for happy living on the internet are to patch your machine religiously and don’t install or view attachments unless you are sure of what you are getting,” said Eckelberry of Sunbelt Software.
This information is provided by courtesy of “My Spyware Story” http://spyware.cybersprout.com

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware/feed 0 The Best Just Got Better http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-antispyware-adware-malware-keyloggers-trojans http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-antispyware-adware-malware-keyloggers-trojans#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:38:24 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-antispyware-adware-malware-keyloggers-trojans Sunbelt Software Announces Major Upgrade Release of CounterSpy

New Version 2 offers the industry’s first “hybrid” anti-spyware engine for revolutionary threat detection and remediation

San Francisco, CA, USA (RSA Conference) — February 5, 2007 — Sunbelt Software, a leading provider of Windows security software, today announced the release of Version 2 of CounterSpy, its award-winning anti-spyware program. The new version offers the industry’s first “hybrid” anti-spyware scanning engine that provides unparalleled malware detection, remediation, and real-time protection for today’s evolving blended threat landscape. CounterSpy V2 delivers several new features, including VIPREâ„¢ anti-malware technology, FirstScanâ„¢ boot-level scanning, kernel-level Active Protection, a reduced memory footprint, and support for Windows Vista.

“Here at Sunbelt, we have created new technologies that are more efficient and powerful in protecting our customers against complex threats,” said Alex Eckelberry, president of Sunbelt Software. “CounterSpy V2 is a major evolution in anti-spyware detection and remediation and lays the foundation for future integrated product offerings that will deliver all-inclusive protection for both our consumer and enterprise customers.”

Industry’s first “hybrid” anti-spyware scanning engine with VIPRE technology
CounterSpy is powered by a hybrid engine that merges spyware detection and remediation with Sunbelt’s all-new VIPREâ„¢ technology (Virus Intrusion Protection Remediation Engine). VIPRE incorporates both traditional anti-virus and cutting-edge anti-malware techniques. This marriage of technologies enables CounterSpy to respond more effectively than other products to today’s increasingly complex and blended threats.

FirstScan
FirstScan is CounterSpy’s new scan and remove on-boot technology designed specifically to detect and remove the most deeply embedded malware. Triggered through a CounterSpy system scan, FirstScan will run at the system’s boot time, bypassing the Windows operating system, to directly scan certain locations of the hard drive for malware, removing infections where found.

Kernel-level active protection
CounterSpy’s Active Protectionâ„¢ now works inside the Windows kernel (the core of the operating system), watching for malware and stopping it before it has a chance to execute on a user’s system. As in the previous version of CounterSpy, Active Protection will also alert users for potentially harmful changes to their system, based on behavioral characteristics.

Smaller memory footprint requires fewer system resources
The core of CounterSpy has been re-engineered to deliver a smaller CPU and memory footprint. With this new design, CounterSpy provides unobtrusive real-time protection and faster spyware scans without significantly impairing system performance.

Incremental definition updates
With the program’s new incremental update feature, definition updates are smaller, greatly reducing download times from the previous version.

Support for Windows Vista 32-bit
CounterSpy provides full support for 32-bit versions of Windows Vista and integrates seamlessly with the Vista Windows Security Center. Vista 64-bit support will be forthcoming in the near future, and will be available as a free upgrade to all current Counterspy subscribers at no charge.

Pricing, availability and system requirements
A 15-day trial version of CounterSpy V2 is available on Sunbelt Software’s website at www.sunbeltsoftware.com . Purchase price is $19.95 and includes one year of threat definition updates, software upgrades, and live US-based technical support. Renewals for subsequent annual subscriptions are available for $14.95.

The upgrade to CounterSpy V2 is free to all existing customers of CounterSpy who have a current subscription plan.

CounterSpy V2 works with Windows 2000 SP3, XP, and Vista (32-bit only) and requires a minimum Internet connection speed of 56 Kbps. Minimum hardware requirements: IBM-compatible 400 MHZ computer with 128MB of RAM and 150MB of free hard disk space. Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher also required. Installation of CounterSpy V2 is not supported on Windows 95, 98, or Me, Macintosh or Linux computers.

Courtesy of “My Spyware Story” http://spyware.cybersprout.com

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/spyware-antispyware-adware-malware-keyloggers-trojans/feed 0 My Spyware Story http://cybersprout.com/blogging/remove-adware-spyware http://cybersprout.com/blogging/remove-adware-spyware#comments Sat, 06 Jan 2007 01:33:23 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/remove-adware-spyware Did you know that 80% of Computers connected to the Internet are Infected by Spyware.
Think about it. Someone could be spying on your every movement on the internet, recording your credit card transactions or going through all the files on your computer.
While it is true that most spyware only seeks to monitor your internet activity with a view to targeting you with pop-ups and advertisements, the real risk is someone taking control of your computer, downloading your files then committing bank account or credit card fraud or worst case scenario, stealing your identity.
Symptoms of Spyware on your Computer
• Slow performance – your system loads and operates more slowly than usual.
• Settings – your homepage, browser or security settings suddenly change.
• Increased number of pop-ups or unsolicited advertisements.
• System crash.
While I let all of that sink in, let me tell you my spyware story, how my computer became infected and what I did to remove the spyware and protect my system.
I always thought that I was well protected from intrusions – running active anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software on my computer. Nothing however was further from the truth. The other day without warning my whole system crashed!
My screen went blue, I kept getting a flashing message telling me that my computer had been infected with spyware and prompting me to go to a download site to obtain the latest anti-spyware software. Naturally I didn’t do that. The first thing that I did was pull the plug on my internet connection, then run my anti-spyware software.
What happened next was really surprising. My software detected some 75 instances of spyware, adware, malware, trojans and keyloggers but it could not remove them. This happened in spite of me running a full spyware scan of my computer the day before. HELP!!!
What to do? I rang my local technician who had built my system:
“Restart your computer in ’safe mode’ and run your anti-spyware software again”.
Still no good.
“What software are you using”, I told him the name of a free anti-spyware program that I had downloaded from the internet, “Well that’s your problem, you need to be using much better software” – what do you recommend, I asked, CounterSpy he replied, “I consider it to be the best and most powerful software available
and it’s what I would use to clean up your system if you bring it in”.
You Get What You Pay For. Or in my case what I didn’t pay for. I now know the downside of running free software, it just does not work as well. The other risk in using free software is that some unscrupulous operators have actually conned people into believing that they are downloading legitimate software when in fact what they are really getting is more spyware.
Don’t make the same mistake that I did, thinking that the free software that you download from the internet will protect you, it won’t. Sooner or later you will suffer, or maybe your system is already infected but you just don’t know it.
So if you have a spyware problem, or more to the point, if you never want to have a spyware problem, spend a little money and get the best internet security software, it is very inexpensive insurance. I recommend you do it right away.

Please visit my website: http://spyware.cybersprout.com for more information on how you can remove adware and spyware from your computer and enhance your internet security.

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/remove-adware-spyware/feed 0 Protecting Your Computer http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-2 http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-2#comments Thu, 14 Dec 2006 09:07:32 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-2 The internet is without doubt the most useful tool ever invented. It allows people to communicate quickly and inexpensively and to find information and data on almost any topic.

The internet also allows new ways to do business. Not only are businesses today able to provide better services to their clients, but they can now reach out and introduce their products or services to a world wide audience.

With the internet, you can do almost anything in the comfort of your own home. You can purchase your groceries online, you can shop for clothing, make travel arrangements even play online multiplayer games with your friends.

The accessibility of the internet provides many advantages. It literally connects people wherever they are in the world. However, the internet also has its disadvantages. If you do any kind of business or financial transactions online, you leave a trail which includes your personal and financial information. You may think that your information is kept safe on your computer hard disk but you should think again.

There are people who develop programs to access your computer illegally. These people are called hackers. They develop viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious programs just to steal from people who use the internet. Once these programs enter your computer, all your files can be accessed by these hackers and they could conceivably steal your identity.

It is a fact that many people have lost a lot of money because of hackers. They had no idea how these people accessed their personal and financial information. Your computer is a good source, especially if it is always connected to the internet and definitely if you have no proper internet security software to protect it from these malicious programs.

You can easily compare it to leaving your house open with all your credit cards, financial information, and personal information inside. These people can easily enter your house and obtain all the information and use it for illegal means.

Because of this, you need the best security especially if you use the internet on a regular basis. What you absolutely must have are internet security programs installed in your computer.

These programs include: anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software. In addition, all of these programs should be of the highest calibre and be active in nature. This means that all incoming data from the internet is constantly monitored and scanned. If anything suspicious is detected, you will be immediately alerted whilst the software places the offending item into quarantine for subsequent checking or deletion.

Please visit my website “My Spyware Story” and read what happened to me, how I removed the spyware from my computer and what I recommend that you do to enhance your internet security. http://spyware.cybersprout.com

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-2/feed 0 Computer and Internet Security Issues http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-issues http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-issues#comments Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:53:54 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-issues Using your computer and a reliable Internet connection can be the best combination for an online business or home based business venture. You don’t need to raise too much capital and you will be able to start your business in a very short space of time.
However, you must be aware of the traps that can befall you, especially when you forget to prioritize the protection of your computer system from unauthorized use and data theft.
Contrary to the popular belief that a small-size Internet business will make you safe from data hackers and online intruders, there is a very real risk once you neglect to protect your computer system.
According to a research conducted by AMI-Partners, almost 50 percent of small and medium-sized online businesses failed to execute even the most basic security protection, which includes the installation of anti-spyware and anti-virus programs to protect their computer systems.
This is one of the main reasons why the Mydoom worm triumphed, affecting one out of three small and medium-sized online businesses compared to one out of

six large Internet companies. This was also discovered by the ISA or the Internet Security Alliance, a non-profit organization that handles information security issues. In other words, we can conclude that small online businesses are more vulnerable to online threats of data theft and electronic sabotage.
In fact, every small online business owner must give data and network protection more attention due to the sophistication of data thieves. These thieves have very advanced software programs and the hardware necessary to break into the security measures implemented by data managers. It would be a great waste of time and financial resources if your computer is left unguarded against these cyber criminals. You could conceivably lose everything, including your computer, if you are not adequately protected.
There are hundreds of software providers that come up with latest solutions to guarantee the safety of your computer system. In addition, there are also Internet security services to guarantee protection of your online data against Internet hackers. By incorporating high level of encryption technology, hackers will have a hard time intercepting the data being stored in your computer system or while it is transmitted to a certain network of computer systems.
Always explore your options. Prioritize what is important and avoid getting caught by a catastrophic incident that will shut down your small business in an instant.
Go to my website: http://spyware.cybersprout.com to read My Spyware Story and get more information about internet security issues.

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security-issues/feed 0 Internet Security: Why It Is So Important http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:05:25 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security In today’s world, the internet is considered to be one of the most popular and useful tools for people to find and exchange information and to buy goods and services.
It is also a great tool to start your own online or home based business. With the fast and relatively inexpensive communication that the internet provides, it makes sense to use it and to try and make some money or just make life easier for you.
However, with all the advantages of the internet, there are also some disadvantages. Because all financial dealings are made over the internet, it is estimated that billions or even trillions of dollars are being exchanged online everyday. This has spawned a new generation of criminals that would do anything to steal your money from you.
These cyber criminals develop programs or software called spyware that invades your personal computer and starts gathering information such as your financial or personal details and sends it back to the person who developed the software.
The thought of letting a stranger look at your personal and financial information without you knowing about it can definitely make you cringe in fear. Armed with this information, the cyber criminals will be able to steal money from you by committing a very serious crime called identity theft or identity fraud.
It is a fact that many people already have been victimized by identity theft which has resulted in their losing money or facing charges for crimes they did not even commit. This is why it is very important for you to secure yourself from these crimes not just in the real world, but also in the cyber world as well.
You can stop these crimes from happening to you by simply installing the best kind of internet security software available. Internet security software are programs that can combat modern day threats, such as computer viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers and hackers. It is software that will protect your computer from being invaded by these malicious programs.
Today, it is an absolute necessity to have this kind of software in your computer.
Good internet security software should include:
• Antivirus – This particular software is an absolute ‘must have’ in your internet security suite to protect you against viruses that are circulating the internet today. It should also have an automatic update feature in order to better protect you from the new viruses that keep on popping out in the internet.
• Anti spyware/adware – Spyware and adware are very dangerous programs that can give the developer access to your files in your computer that may contain financial and personal information. This is why this feature should be included in your internet security software and should be active and automatically updateable.
• Firewall -This particular software prevents unwanted guests be they hackers or viruses from entering your computer.
• Parental control – An optional program which you may want to include in your internet security suite if you have children. It is designed to control their internet activities and prevent them from visiting websites that may contain violence, pornography or other unsuitable material.
These are the main things that you should look for in internet security software. With all these features, you will be able to protect yourself and your family from being victims of serious and malicious crimes which are becoming commonplace on the internet today.
For further information about internet security, please visit my website:
http://spyware.cybersprout.com

]]> http://cybersprout.com/blogging/internet-security/feed 0 My Spyware Story http://cybersprout.com/spyware/best-anti-spyware http://cybersprout.com/spyware/best-anti-spyware#comments Tue, 07 Nov 2006 09:47:04 +0000 Opalex http://cybersprout.com/spyware/best-anti-spyware I spend about an hour or two a day on the internet. I have this website which I am developing, and the rest of the time trying to educate myself in various aspects of internet marketing or just surfing.

I always thought that I was well protected from intrusions – running active anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software on my computer. Nothing however was further from the truth. The other day without warning my whole system crashed!

HELP!!!

My screen went blue, I kept getting a flashing message telling me that my computer had been infected and prompting me to go to a download site to obtain the latest anti-spyware solution. Naturally I didn’t do that. The first thing that I did was pull the plug on my internet connection, then run my anti-spyware software.
What happened next was really suprising. My software detected some 15 different spyware items but it could not delete them.
What to do? I rang my local technician who had built my system: “Restart your system in safe mode and run your spyware software again”. Still no good. “What are you using”, I told him, “Well that’s your problem, you need to be using the best software” – what do you recommend, I asked, “COUNTERSPY” he replied, “it’s the best and what I would use to clean up your system if you brought it in”.

You Get What You Pay For

Or in my case what I didn’t pay for. I now know the downside of running free software. It just is not as good as the ones that you buy. Don’t make the same mistake that I did, thinking that the free software that you download from the net will protect you, it won’t. Sooner or later, or maybe your system is already infected and you just don’t know it.
So if you have a spyware problem, or more to the point, if you never want to have a spyware problem, spend twenty dollars and get CounterSpy , it is very inexpensive insurance. I recommend it to you.

Author: Opalex – see the whole artcile plus more at: http://spyware.cybersprout.com

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