Tweaks.com Forum / Windows & System Security / Security News and Software Updates & Definitions

Windows XP SP3 'reboot' fix now online

RichieUK — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:25:08 GMT

[quote][b]Former Microsoft exec publishes unofficial patch[/b]
A former Microsoft security manager has published a tool designed to detect and fix PCs that may be susceptible to 'endless reboots' if updated to Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13080[/url]

Download removeIntelPPMonAMD.vbs using the link in the above topic,its also attached below.

Bogus Grand Theft Auto IV contains Trojan

RichieUK — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:51:38 GMT

[quote][b]Hackers release files on P2P networks[/b]
Hundreds of Grand Theft Auto IV fans eager to get their hands on a free copy of the game have been targeted by a Trojan virus, according to DriveDentry.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13045[/url]

NATO to build cyber warfare centre

RichieUK — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:50:49 GMT

[quote][b]Seven countries sponsor new seccurity effort[/b]
NATO plans to set up a cyber defence centre in Estonia to research and help fight cyber warfare. The Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence will operate out of Tallinn, Estonia, with a staff of 30.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13057[/url]

New Tests Show Rootkits Still Evade AV

RichieUK — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:38:22 GMT

[quote]Rootkits are still a security scanner’s worst nightmare: New rootkit detection tests recently conducted by AV-Test.org found that security suites and online Web scanners detected overall only a little more than half of rootkits.

AV-Test.org, an indie security test organization based in Germany, ran two rootkit tests last month, one on Microsoft’s XP Home Edition and another on Microsoft Vista Ultimate Edition, the results of which have been published in a paper now available on the group’s Website.[/quote]
[url]http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=153760&WT.svl=news1_2[/url]

Srizbi grows into world's largest botnet

RichieUK — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:07:30 GMT

[quote]The prodigious Srizbi botnet has continued to grow and now accounts for up to 50 percent of the spam being filtered by one security company.

If the latest figures from security company Marshal can be taken at face value -- their engines scan much the same traffic as do others in the industry -- then Srizbi is now the biggest single menace on the Internet, dwarfing even the feared and mysterious Storm. [/quote]
[url]http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=security&articleId=9085082&taxonomyId=17&intsrc=kc_top[/url]

Phishing Scam Related to Economic Stimulus Check

quietman7 — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:11:45 GMT

[quote]The Federal Bureau of Investigation warns consumers of recently reported spam e-mail purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which is actually an attempt to steal consumer information. The e-mail advises the recipient that direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive their economic stimulus tax rebate. The message contains a hyperlink to a fraudulent form which requests the recipient's personally identifiable information, including bank account information. To convince consumers to reply, the e-mail warns that a failure to complete the form in a timely manner will delay the issuance of the rebate check...If you have received an e-mail similar to this, please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov...[/quote]
fbi.gov

Researchers create undetectable rootkit

RichieUK — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:05:37 GMT

[quote][b]SMM rootkit runs in protected system memory[/b]
Security researchers have developed a new type of malicious rootkit software that hides itself in an obscure part of a computer's chip, undetected by today's antivirus products.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13016[/url]

Malware hits 500,000 computers in seven days

RichieUK — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:56:16 GMT

[quote]McAfee is warning users to be wary of a new piece of "malware" which has affected around half a million computers in just seven days.

The software pretends to be an ordinary media download, such as the recent St Trinian's remake, or a Girls Aloud song, however, once activated the software asks the user to download a codec to play the supposed media file. Once run, a bundle of adware is installed bombarding the user with pop-ups.

McAfee claims the malware is principally being distributed across the eDonkey and LimeWire file-sharing networks, and is the largest outbreak it has witnessed in three years.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/195501/malware-hits-500000-computers-in-seven-days.html[/url]

XP SP3 May not work well with AMD processor in a HP computer

exTI — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:15:31 GMT

I found this in Toms Hardware

[url]http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Windows-XP-SP3,5334.html[/url]

Vista 'more open to online threats than Windows 2000'

RichieUK — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:28:22 GMT

[quote]Windows Vista has some way to go before Microsoft can consider it immune from online threats, according to security software manufacturer PC Tools. According to PC Tools, Vista is more susceptible to malware than even Windows 2000.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13003[/url]

Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification

RichieUK — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:41:42 GMT

This is an advance notification of security bulletins that Microsoft is intending to release on May 13, 2008.

[b]Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for May 2008[/b]:
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-may.mspx[/url]

Mozilla shipped Firefox plugin with malware attached

quietman7 — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:41:03 GMT

[quote]Mozilla has admitted shipping a Firefox plugin that had virus-infected code in it.

Mozilla security chief Window Snyder said in a blog posting last night that because of a virus infection, the Vietnamese language pack for Firefox 2.0 was polluted with adware.

Mozilla said that a malicious program inserted adware code into a Firefox plugin that has been downloaded thousands of times over the past three months...[/quote]
pcadvisor.co.uk
blog.mozilla.com

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Available via Windows Update

RichieUK — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:46:38 GMT

[b]Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)[/b] is an update to Windows XP that addresses key feedback from our customers and is a cumulative update that includes all previously released updates for Windows XP, including security updates. Windows XP SP3 contains a small number of new updates and should not significantly change the Windows XP experience. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.
Typical download size: [b]66.9 MB[/b]

[b]Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 3[/b]:
[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929[/url]

I suggest before installing [b]SP3[/b] you create a new System Restore point first.
[b]Create a new 'System Restore' point:[/b]
Click on Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore.
In the 'System Restore' window,click 'Create a Restore Point' button,then click 'Next'.
In the window that appears,enter a description,then click on 'Create',then click 'Close'.
The date and time is created automatically.

360,000 users infected by Trojan adware MP3

RichieUK — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:59:01 GMT

[quote][b]McAfee: Beware Trojan adware in 'MP3s'[/b]
Hundreds of thousands of McAfee users have recently reported fake MP3 files containing adware.
It seems that adware pushers have found a new way to trick you into downloading their annoying products: fake MP3 files.

Yesterday, security vendor McAfee reported that it's seen a huge spike in fake MP3 files spreading on peer-to-peer networks. Although the files have names that make them look like audio recordings, they're really Trojan horse programs that try to install a shoddy media player and adware on your computer, said Craig Schmugar, a researcher with McAfee. [/quote]
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=12960[/url]

Yahoo search results warn of malware

RichieUK — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:52:22 GMT

[quote]Yahoo has penned a deal with McAfee to use its SiteAdvisor software to warn users about potentially dangerous websites.
The new security feature will place a red exclamation mark next to search links McAfee believes are involved with spam, phishing or the spread of malicious software.[/quote]
[url]http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/194490/yahoo-search-results-warn-of-malware.html[/url]