Rent-a-botnet makes cyber crime a breeze

Online fraudsters that aren't highly skilled in the arts of cyber crime can now rent a service that offers an all-in-one hosting server with a built-in Zeus trojan administration panel and infecting tools, allowing them to create their own botnet. ...continue reading 'Rent-a-botnet makes cyber crime a breeze'

Hacker writes rootkit for Cisco's routers

A security researcher has developed malicious rootkit software for Cisco Systems' routers, a development that has placed increasing scrutiny on the routers that carry the majority of the Internet's traffic. ...continue reading 'Hacker writes rootkit for Cisco's routers'

Hackers find a new place to hide rootkits

Security researchers have developed a new type of malicious rootkit software that hides itself in an obscure part of a computer's microprocessor, hidden from current antivirus products. ...continue reading 'Hackers find a new place to hide rootkits'

Trojan adware hiding in MP3s, McAfee says

Security vendor McAfee reported Tuesday 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. ...continue reading 'Trojan adware hiding in MP3s, McAfee says'

CEO subpoena scam fires up anew

After tricking several thousand executives into downloading malicious software earlier this week, online scammers started up their subpoena phishing scam again Wednesday, but on a much smaller scale. ...continue reading 'CEO subpoena scam fires up anew'

Sophos warns of Mac Trojan malware

Security consultant Sophos is warning of the appearance of money-grabbing Trojan Horse malware aimed at Macs. ...continue reading 'Sophos warns of Mac Trojan malware'

Hackers seize on Excel vulnerability

Researchers at Symantec said late Tuesday they've spotted a Web site that tries to exploit computers lacking one of the recently issued patches for versions of Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet program. ...continue reading 'Hackers seize on Excel vulnerability'

Microsoft warns of new Word attack

Microsoft on Friday warned that cyber criminals may be taking advantage of an unpatched flaw in the Windows operating system to install malicious software on a victim's PC. ...continue reading 'Microsoft warns of new Word attack'

Hacker pleads guilty to computer fraud for adware

A 21-year-old could face up to 10 years in prison in the U.S. after pleading guilty to installing advertising software on PCs located around Europe without permission. ...continue reading 'Hacker pleads guilty to computer fraud for adware'

Trend Micro hit by massive Web hack

Security vendor Trend Micro has fallen victim to a widespread Web attack that splashed malicious software onto hundreds of legitimate Web sites in recent days. ...continue reading 'Trend Micro hit by massive Web hack'

Rigged Excel documents making the rounds

Security experts have warned that malicious Microsoft Excel documents are making the rounds via email, exploiting an unpatched Excel vulnerability that has been known publicly since January. ...continue reading 'Rigged Excel documents making the rounds'

'Mebroot' proves to be a tough rootkit to crack

A rootkit uncovered in the wild in December is proving to be a real headache to detect, according to Finnish security company F-Secure. ...continue reading ''Mebroot' proves to be a tough rootkit to crack'

Teen masterminded mega-botnet

The world has been reminded that the era of the teen hacker is far from dead, with the arrest of a fresh-faced 18 year-old for allegedly masterminding a botnetting operation. ...continue reading 'Teen masterminded mega-botnet'

Yesterday's SQL worms, today's problem

Brent Huston, MicroSolved, Inc.

For the last few weeks I have been watching old versions of SQL attacks, worms and probes continue to circulate around the Internet. According to popular sources like ATLAS, these SQL worms represent nearly 70% of all malicious traffic on the Internet today. 70% is a large number, especially for vulnerabilities that date back to 2002. ...continue reading 'Yesterday's SQL worms, today's problem'

Welcome to the age of localized malware

Over the past two years virus writers have increasingly targeted their malicious programs to users in different regions of the globe, creating programs that are specially designed to infect users in countries like Japan, Brazil, China or Germany. ...continue reading 'Welcome to the age of localized malware'

Attack code posted for Microsoft Works bug

Just one day after Microsoft issued a massive set of security patches for its software, hackers have begun posting code showing how to exploit one of the flaws. ...continue reading 'Attack code posted for Microsoft Works bug'

Attack code posted for Microsoft Works bug

Just one day after Microsoft issued a massive set of security patches for its software, hackers have begun posting code showing how to exploit one of the flaws. ...continue reading 'Attack code posted for Microsoft Works bug'

Valentine's Day-themed Storm worm attacks

A Valentine's themed outbreak of the Storm worm has been detected. Malicious emails are being received across the globe - they contain a weblink, which directs users to a website where they can supposedly download a Valentine's card, but in fact are infected with the Storm bug. The virus mirrors the fake Christmas and New Year messages seen in previous months. ...continue reading 'Valentine's Day-themed Storm worm attacks'

Attacks aimed at Adobe Reader, Acrobat flaws intensify

The flaws disclosed last week in Adobe System's Reader and Acrobat programs have been used to exploit computers since at least January via malicious banner advertisements, security analysts are reporting. ...continue reading 'Attacks aimed at Adobe Reader, Acrobat flaws intensify'

Antivirus company's Web site serves up malware

The Web site for Indian antivirus vendor AvSoft Technologies has been hacked and is being used to install malicious software on visitors' computers, security researchers said Thursday. ...continue reading 'Antivirus company's Web site serves up malware'