Virus Blackmail Trojans Attack

A harmful virus is currently in circulation that disconnects computers from the Internet and only releases the connection again after a code has been entered that can only be obtained from an expensive premium SMS service. Avira has been aware of the malware for some time and protects its users accordingly.

The blackmail Trojan currently being reported by the media is disguised as an installation program for a download manager. If a user runs the program, however, all he will see is a message in Russian claiming he has violated the conditions for use. The malware then blocks the computer’s Internet connection and requires the user to obtain a release code using a costly premium SMS service.

Virus Blackmail Trojans Attack

A harmful virus is currently in circulation that disconnects computers from the Internet and only releases the connection again after a code has been entered that can only be obtained from an expensive premium SMS service. Avira has been aware of the malware for some time and protects its users accordingly.

The blackmail Trojan currently being reported by the media is disguised as an installation program for a download manager. If a user runs the program, however, all he will see is a message in Russian claiming he has violated the conditions for use. The malware then blocks the computer’s Internet connection and requires the user to obtain a release code using a costly premium SMS service.

Identification A Phishing Email or a Real Email

One of the problems about trying to teach people to avoid Phishing attacks is that the banks often use the exact same tactics that the phishers use. It is mind-numbingly stupid of them to do so, but still we see emails from banks that contain links in them. As a rule I tell people not to click on the links in these emails, but rather to log into their account by typing in the address of their bank by hand.

I had a question for my credit union about one of my accounts with them. The response came back and contained a link that I had to follow in order to reply. The email specifically said not to reply to the email because it wouldn’t be read. So, how do I know this isn’t a phishing attack? First of all I looked at exactly who the email came from. Believe me, this is far from foolproof. Email addresses can be spoofed. The more important sign was that when I followed the link I was not asked for any information at all. I did not have to login, I did not have to verify anything. In addition to this, the email came in response to an inquiry that I initiated and not out of the blue. The reply was relevant to the question I had asked.

Tips How to Virus Recovery

Why is a computer virus harmful? For the same basic reason that biological viruses are: they damage components that keep systems healthy. Some are relatively benign - they generate annoying, juvenile messages or crash the system once, then go away. But many are specifically designed to do substantial harm - by deleting files needed to run word processing programs or perform essential operating system tasks. Some prepare the way for further attacks by opening up access to administrative functions.

Combating them is simple - install antivirus software, keep it up-to-date and running in the background and don't open email attachments from unknown sources. Nonetheless, odds are high that someday the system will be infected. Important data will be lost, essential program and operating system files will be zapped. Now what?
First thing: Don't panic. You may not even be infected. Before implementing a cure you have to diagnose properly.

How to keep your inbox spam free

Spam is anonymous, unsolicited bulk email – it is effectively the email equivalent of physical junk mail delivered through the post. It is sent out in mass quantities by spammers who make money from the small percentage of recipients that actually respond. Spam is also used for phishing and to spread malicious code.

Over the last decade, the use of and delivery of spam has evolved. While spam was initially sent directly to computer users and easily blocked, in the coming years, high-speed Internet connections allowed spammers to send out mass mailings inexpensively and quickly, as did the discovery that individual users' modems could be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world since they had no protection at all. In other words, unsuspecting internet users' connections could be used to send their spam in much higher volume.

How can I protect myself from crimeware?

Crimeware is malicious software that is covertly installed on computers. Most crimeware progams are in fact Trojans. There are many types of Trojans designed to do different things. For example, some are used to log every key you type (keyloggers), some capture screenshots when you are using banking websites, some download other malicious code, and others let a remote hacker access your system. What they each have in common is the ability to ‘steal’ your confidential information – such as passwords and PINs – and send it back to the criminal. Armed with this information, the cybercriminal is then able to steal your money.

What is Email spoofing?

Email spoofing and what can be done about it. Examining solutions such as the Sender
Policy Framework (SPF) and Microsoft’s Sender ID, which is based on it are some of the solutions to this problem.

E-mail spoofing is forgery of an email header.(Header is the part of a message that
describes the originator, the addressee and other recipients, message priority level,
etc.) The message appears to have originated from someone or somewhere other than the
actual source. While spoofing can be used legitimately., using by anyone other than yourself is illegal in some jurisdictions.

Ten Commandments for Your Computer Sanity

1. Dont assume anything. Make some time to learn about securing your system.

2. Acquire and use a reliable antivirus program. Select an antivirus that has a consistent track record. Checkmark, AV-Test.org and TuV are among the most respected independent testers of antivirus software.

3. Acquire and use a reliable firewall solution. Again, independent reviewers are your best bet for reasonable choices. Some operating systems come with a firewall which only filters incoming traffic. Use a firewall that can control both incoming and outgoing Internet traffic.

4. Do not open e-mails coming from unknown or distrusted sources. Many viruses spread via e-mail messages so please ask for a confirmation from the sender if you are in any doubt.

How To Safe from Phishing

Your brave anti-spam software works hard to defend your inbox from all those messages about enlarging… um… various things. Even more important, your spam buster also helps protect you from less-embarrassing --but more dangerous-- phishing scam emails. But not entirely safe. Just in case a big bad phishing scam does get through to your inbox, it’s important to know how to spot it.

1. Do they handle your money? Then they won’t ask for your info.

The companies that deal with your money can be counted on for a lot of things. Making mistakes on your monthly statement. Talking robotically on the telephone (even if they’re human). Sending you advertisements you don’t want. But one thing they can’t be counted on to do --because they never do it-- is ask for your account information in an email. No company that deals in your finances will ask for your info via email. Ever. Not the bank, not the IRS, and not Paypal.

Why Are Websites Being Targeted for Malware Attacks?

The simple answer is that malware attacks on websites are the best way for hackers to distribute viruses. In the past, viruses used to spread via email attachments, or by coaxing users to download and install a malicious file. These have all become less effective and/or too cumbersome for the hackers over time. The preferred
method of distributing viruses these days is by drive-by-downloads from legitimate websites. A drive-by-download occurs when a user visits a web page and malicious
code is automatically and silently downloaded and installed on the user's computer, without any interaction with the user required.

Once the virus is on the user's PC, the hackers have remote access to the computer and can steal sensitive information such as banking passwords, send out spam or install more malicious executables over time.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR LAPTOP FREE FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES, SPYWARE AND MALWARE

The fact of the matter is that the internet is not safe for your computer. It can be, and with some education, you can have a spyware and virus free computer like I do and many other people do. Most people don't apply common sense to computing
because they assume that anything out there is safe, and that's bad. By not thinking, you can do real damage to your machine, and it can be both costly and time-consuming to repair it. And unless you're someone like me or one of the other computer junkies on the NotebookReview.com forums, messing with things you don't understand is a bad idea.

I'm not totally trying to instill fear into you as a reader and as a user. Your computer is a wonderful tool and for most users is perfectly safe. I'm also not telling you to go out and spend money on expensive subscription-based software to keep your computer safe. I AM going to tell you how to save potentially hundreds of dollars in service. There are some very simple things you can do to protect yourself.

How do I keep myself safe from viruses?

Sometimes, typically via email, viruses (or virii) are able to cross the wall and end up on your computer anyway. A virus scanner will locate and remove them from your hard disk. A real time virus scanner will notice them as they arrive, even before they hit the disk, but at the cost of slowing down your machine a little.

Important: because new virii are arriving every day, it's important to keep your virus definitions up-to-date. Be sure to enable the scanning software's automatic-update feature and have it do so every day.

VIRUS - I LOVE YOU (2000)

Travelling via email attachments, "Love Bug" exploited human nature and tricked recipients into opening it by disguising itself as a love letter. The virus stunned security experts by its speed and wide reach. Within hours, the pervasive little computer programme tied up systems around the world. 

The virus which was similar to the earlier Melissa worm, spread via an email with the tantalising subject line, "I Love You." When a recipient opened the attachment, the virus sent copies of itself to his entire address book. It then looked for files with .jpeg, .mp3, .mp2, .css and .hta extensions and overwrote them with itself, changing the extensions to .vbs or .vbe. These files then could not be retrieved in searches. 

The bug affected companies in Taiwan and Hong Kong -- including Dow Jones Newswires and the Asian Wall Street Journal. Companies in Australia had to close down their email systems to keep the virus from spreading (80 per cent of the companies in Australia reportedly got hit). 

The victims also included Parliaments of Britain and Denmark. In Italy, the outbreak hit almost the entire country. In the United States too, the e-mail systems were shut down at several companies. 

Virus - Melissa (1999)

'Melissa' was one of the first viruses to spread over email. When users opened an attachment, the virus sent copies of itself to the first 50 people in the user's address book, covering the globe within hours. 

The virus known as Melissa -- believed to have been named after a Florida stripper its creator knew -- caused more than $80m in damage after it was launched in March 1999. Computers became infected when users received a particular e-mail and opened a Word document attached to it. 

First found on March 26, 1999, Melissa shut down Internet mail systems at several enterprises across the world after being they got clogged with infected e-mails carrying the worm. The worm was first distributed in the Usenet discussion group alt.sex. The creator of the virus, David Smith, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment by a United States court.