While being upgraded on Thursday, the computer system of the Waikato District Health Board was attacked by a malicious virus, which led to the entire system's shut down.
It has been reported that hospital staff across the Waikato DHB area immediately shut down about 3000 computers when they were attacked by the Conficker virus, and parts of the system were able to be put back into use last night.
Calling the attack "random" and a part of the ongoing appearance of Malware", Health Ministry's Deputy Director General of Health Information Directorate, Alan Hesketh, shared that the board has previously managed to defend itself against such attacks on numerous occasions.
"When they were going through this upgrade, clearly some vulnerability was exposed, and taken advantage of. The particular worm they've got is out there all the time. We see attempts to get into our (IT) environment at least five or six times a week. We're concerned about it, and that's why all the DHBs have controls in place", Mr. Hesketh.
Despite the fact that all the board's systems were connected, there have been no reports of the virus attacking any other IT system, which has led the organization to heave a sigh of relief.
Showing posts with label computer viruses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computer viruses. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Making the first computer virus
If you've ever had to spend a lot of money on antivirus software, you'd be forgiven for wanting to take Dr Fred Cohen aside for, to put it politely, a few choice words.
But although Dr Cohen is responsible for creating the first ever computer virus some 26 years ago, his pioneering research has in fact led the way in protecting computers from the threats that surfaced in the years to come.
He told BBC World Service's Witness programme about the day he made the discovery while studying at the University of Southern California.
After a neighbouring university created a Trojan horse - which allowed hackers to gain access to a machine - Dr Cohen realised that the Trojan could be programmed to duplicate itself.
This is the proverbial lightbulb going off.
"I was sitting there in the class and all of a sudden it dawned on me that if that Trojan horse copied itself into other programs, then all those programs would be infected, and then everybody that ran any of those programs would get infected and so forth.
"It was at that point immediately obvious that it was game over."
He discussed the idea with Dr Len Adleman, another computer security expert at the university.
"Fred approached me and said he had this new type of computer security threat, and he began to describe what we now call viruses," recalled Dr Adleman.
"He wanted to run some actual experiments, in particular on the computer that I used.
"There was no point in running an experiment, since it was so obvious that it was going to work."
However, Dr Cohen insisted they make sure - and the first computer virus was born.
"In that moment, I pretty much understood the bad news.
"I spent the next five or six years of my life trying to find ways to protect against it and understanding the limits of what could ever be done."
Ethical dilemma
Armed with their new discovery, the pair faced a problem.
It had the potential to have a massive negative impact on the computing world. As academics, did they have an obligation to share their findings or should the vulnerability be kept secret?
They decided to publish the paper.
"If we told people about computer viruses, they could potentially protect themselves," said Dr Adleman.
"It was also at least my impression that computer viruses were inevitable, and were going to arrive whether Fred published or not.
"In the end we decided to publish, but to not make the code that Fred put in his paper so explicit that an amateur could take it and produce computer viruses."
Dr Cohen agreed.
"This was going to happen one way or another. The real question was is it going to happen after somebody's done the research, and figured out what to do about it, or is it going to happen before the research is done - and then we're really in trouble."
Dr Cohen believes that genuine research into possible threats has not happened for quite some time.
"As far as I can tell, somewhere around the late eighties or early nineties was the end of the real research related to computer viruses.
"There are businesses that want to make sure they keep making money by having cures that fix the last one, but not the next one."
But although Dr Cohen is responsible for creating the first ever computer virus some 26 years ago, his pioneering research has in fact led the way in protecting computers from the threats that surfaced in the years to come.
He told BBC World Service's Witness programme about the day he made the discovery while studying at the University of Southern California.
After a neighbouring university created a Trojan horse - which allowed hackers to gain access to a machine - Dr Cohen realised that the Trojan could be programmed to duplicate itself.
This is the proverbial lightbulb going off.
"I was sitting there in the class and all of a sudden it dawned on me that if that Trojan horse copied itself into other programs, then all those programs would be infected, and then everybody that ran any of those programs would get infected and so forth.
"It was at that point immediately obvious that it was game over."
He discussed the idea with Dr Len Adleman, another computer security expert at the university.
"Fred approached me and said he had this new type of computer security threat, and he began to describe what we now call viruses," recalled Dr Adleman.
"He wanted to run some actual experiments, in particular on the computer that I used.
"There was no point in running an experiment, since it was so obvious that it was going to work."
However, Dr Cohen insisted they make sure - and the first computer virus was born.
"In that moment, I pretty much understood the bad news.
"I spent the next five or six years of my life trying to find ways to protect against it and understanding the limits of what could ever be done."
Ethical dilemma
Armed with their new discovery, the pair faced a problem.
It had the potential to have a massive negative impact on the computing world. As academics, did they have an obligation to share their findings or should the vulnerability be kept secret?
They decided to publish the paper.
"If we told people about computer viruses, they could potentially protect themselves," said Dr Adleman.
"It was also at least my impression that computer viruses were inevitable, and were going to arrive whether Fred published or not.
"In the end we decided to publish, but to not make the code that Fred put in his paper so explicit that an amateur could take it and produce computer viruses."
Dr Cohen agreed.
"This was going to happen one way or another. The real question was is it going to happen after somebody's done the research, and figured out what to do about it, or is it going to happen before the research is done - and then we're really in trouble."
Dr Cohen believes that genuine research into possible threats has not happened for quite some time.
"As far as I can tell, somewhere around the late eighties or early nineties was the end of the real research related to computer viruses.
"There are businesses that want to make sure they keep making money by having cures that fix the last one, but not the next one."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
BlackBag Technologies Announces SoftBlock Write-Blocking Solution for Mac
BlackBag Technologies, Inc. today announced the release and general availability of SoftBlock, the Company's much anticipated write-blocking software application that Mac forensic examiners can easily use to mount and manage devices containing suspect data in a forensically sound manner...
With a uniquely light footprint, the kernel-based utility allows for constant use on shared or single-user systems. SoftBlock identifies devices upon connection and mounts them, based on user selection as read-only or as read-write. BlackBag's new application offers unmatched features, including:
-- Mobility: Once installed on a computer, SoftBlock is always readily
available for use, which means one less piece of equipment to manage while
on the go.
-- Speed: SoftBlock enables device mounting and management directly from
the user's computer. This allows a quick preview before further analysis,
expediting investigation time.
-- Affordability: With no capacity constraints and seamless integration
into the examiner's workflow, SoftBlock costs significantly less than the
multiple hardware blockers required to manage the same load.
-- Security: Safeguards such as "Always On" protection and double
confirmation in mounting new devices read-write ensure evidence is
preserved intact.
"BlackBag's release of SoftBlock stands as yet another example of our commitment to innovation within the Mac forensic field," said Derrick Donnelly, chief technology officer at BlackBag Technologies. "Driven directly by the needs of today's Mac examiners, SoftBlock focuses on providing consistent protection for mounted devices, as well as unparalleled convenience and simplicity for the examiner. BlackBag is pleased to unveil SoftBlock as an affordable, easy tool for use by both corporate and law enforcement Mac forensic examiners."
SoftBlock is available for $239. For more information on BlackBag's SoftBlock write-blocking software application, visit www.blackbagtech.com.
About BlackBag Technologies
BlackBag Technologies, Inc. provides Mac-based data forensic and eDiscovery solutions to law enforcement and private sector clients. Based in Silicon Valley, BlackBag offers clients a comprehensive and secure suite of services, software and training solutions. The Company acknowledges the growing challenges faced by forensic examiners and legal professionals in the field and is dedicated to creating flexible, open environment solutions. BlackBag serves a wide range of clients including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as leading private sector security, legal and human resource professionals. Visit www.blackbagtech.com.
With a uniquely light footprint, the kernel-based utility allows for constant use on shared or single-user systems. SoftBlock identifies devices upon connection and mounts them, based on user selection as read-only or as read-write. BlackBag's new application offers unmatched features, including:
-- Mobility: Once installed on a computer, SoftBlock is always readily
available for use, which means one less piece of equipment to manage while
on the go.
-- Speed: SoftBlock enables device mounting and management directly from
the user's computer. This allows a quick preview before further analysis,
expediting investigation time.
-- Affordability: With no capacity constraints and seamless integration
into the examiner's workflow, SoftBlock costs significantly less than the
multiple hardware blockers required to manage the same load.
-- Security: Safeguards such as "Always On" protection and double
confirmation in mounting new devices read-write ensure evidence is
preserved intact.
"BlackBag's release of SoftBlock stands as yet another example of our commitment to innovation within the Mac forensic field," said Derrick Donnelly, chief technology officer at BlackBag Technologies. "Driven directly by the needs of today's Mac examiners, SoftBlock focuses on providing consistent protection for mounted devices, as well as unparalleled convenience and simplicity for the examiner. BlackBag is pleased to unveil SoftBlock as an affordable, easy tool for use by both corporate and law enforcement Mac forensic examiners."
SoftBlock is available for $239. For more information on BlackBag's SoftBlock write-blocking software application, visit www.blackbagtech.com.
About BlackBag Technologies
BlackBag Technologies, Inc. provides Mac-based data forensic and eDiscovery solutions to law enforcement and private sector clients. Based in Silicon Valley, BlackBag offers clients a comprehensive and secure suite of services, software and training solutions. The Company acknowledges the growing challenges faced by forensic examiners and legal professionals in the field and is dedicated to creating flexible, open environment solutions. BlackBag serves a wide range of clients including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as leading private sector security, legal and human resource professionals. Visit www.blackbagtech.com.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Oct. 23, 1995: First Computer-Network Wiretap
1995: A federal judge for the first time authorizes a wiretap of a computer network. It leads to hacking charges against a young Argentine for breaking into sensitive U.S. government sites.
reno_f
Attorney General Janet Reno worried in 1995 about hacking turning the internet into the "Wild West of the 21st Century.
Dennis Cook/AP Photo
Arrested and later extradited to the United States was Julio Cesar Ardita, who was 21 at the time. His online name was “griton” — Spanish for “screamer.” The hacks, using a dial-up modem, were traced to his parents’ Buenos Aires apartment, located near the university where Ardita was studying computer science.
U.S. authorities said he first accessed a system at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Using a sniffer, he obtained passwords as users accessed other systems.
He then used this information to breach those systems, and continued the process to obtain access to computers at the Defense Department, Caltech, Northeastern University, the University of Massachusetts, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Ames Research Center, the Naval Research Laboratory and the Naval Command Control and Ocean Surveillance Center — as well as systems in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Mexico and Taiwan.
Although he was accused of accessing sensitive information, he did not steal any data. His motive appeared to be a hacking addiction. At the time of his 1998 extradition, Janet Reno acknowledged that a failure to combat hacking could create online chaos.
“If we aren’t vigilant, cybercrime will turn the internet into the Wild West of the 21st Century,” she said. “The Justice Department is determined to pursue cybercriminals at home and abroad.”
After detecting intrusions at Harvard, the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service applied for a search warrant and began to monitor activity using a program called I-Watch, run on a government computer installed at Harvard. It searched relentlessly through the goings-on of approximately 16,000 legitimate users of Harvard’s network in its attempt to pinpoint the hacker.
Matt Parsons, an FBI agent at the time, said the government went to great lengths to protect the privacy of Harvard’s network users. He said that the government isolated certain words the authorities believed the hacker was using, but did not immediately read those communications connected to those phrases.
“If a telltale word or phrase was intercepted, the monitoring computer initially would display up to 80 characters surrounding the target word or phrase,” he said. “If it remained ambiguous after these 80 characters were examined whether what had been intercepted was the activity of the intruder or a legitimate user, investigators used a computer utility program to look for further indicia of the intruder before actually examining the computer session.”
After more than two years battling and then waiving extradition, Ardita pleaded guilty in May 1998 in a Boston federal court to two counts of unlawfully intercepting and damaging government files.
One count concerned intercepting communications on the government computer orac.wes.army.mil, and one for transmitting a program named “zap” to mindy.nosc.mil — another government computer — in an attempt to damage its log files.
Ardita was fined $5,000 and sentenced to three years’ probation. A 2001 thesis at Argentina’s National Technical University footnoted Ardita as director of a firm called Cybersec S.A. Security System.
reno_f
Attorney General Janet Reno worried in 1995 about hacking turning the internet into the "Wild West of the 21st Century.
Dennis Cook/AP Photo
Arrested and later extradited to the United States was Julio Cesar Ardita, who was 21 at the time. His online name was “griton” — Spanish for “screamer.” The hacks, using a dial-up modem, were traced to his parents’ Buenos Aires apartment, located near the university where Ardita was studying computer science.
U.S. authorities said he first accessed a system at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Using a sniffer, he obtained passwords as users accessed other systems.
He then used this information to breach those systems, and continued the process to obtain access to computers at the Defense Department, Caltech, Northeastern University, the University of Massachusetts, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Ames Research Center, the Naval Research Laboratory and the Naval Command Control and Ocean Surveillance Center — as well as systems in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Mexico and Taiwan.
Although he was accused of accessing sensitive information, he did not steal any data. His motive appeared to be a hacking addiction. At the time of his 1998 extradition, Janet Reno acknowledged that a failure to combat hacking could create online chaos.
“If we aren’t vigilant, cybercrime will turn the internet into the Wild West of the 21st Century,” she said. “The Justice Department is determined to pursue cybercriminals at home and abroad.”
After detecting intrusions at Harvard, the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service applied for a search warrant and began to monitor activity using a program called I-Watch, run on a government computer installed at Harvard. It searched relentlessly through the goings-on of approximately 16,000 legitimate users of Harvard’s network in its attempt to pinpoint the hacker.
Matt Parsons, an FBI agent at the time, said the government went to great lengths to protect the privacy of Harvard’s network users. He said that the government isolated certain words the authorities believed the hacker was using, but did not immediately read those communications connected to those phrases.
“If a telltale word or phrase was intercepted, the monitoring computer initially would display up to 80 characters surrounding the target word or phrase,” he said. “If it remained ambiguous after these 80 characters were examined whether what had been intercepted was the activity of the intruder or a legitimate user, investigators used a computer utility program to look for further indicia of the intruder before actually examining the computer session.”
After more than two years battling and then waiving extradition, Ardita pleaded guilty in May 1998 in a Boston federal court to two counts of unlawfully intercepting and damaging government files.
One count concerned intercepting communications on the government computer orac.wes.army.mil, and one for transmitting a program named “zap” to mindy.nosc.mil — another government computer — in an attempt to damage its log files.
Ardita was fined $5,000 and sentenced to three years’ probation. A 2001 thesis at Argentina’s National Technical University footnoted Ardita as director of a firm called Cybersec S.A. Security System.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Computing Your Computer Needs
(CBS) There are more choices than ever if you're in the market for a new computer. Should you get one of those small, lightweight netbooks, or lug around a heavier notebook?
CNET-TV senior editor Natali Del Conte discussed the pros and cons of netbooks and notebooks on "The Early Show", to help you decide which best fits your computing needs.
Netbooks are the rage, but are a little under-powered, Del Conte said. Netbooks, she said, are good for e-mail and surfing the web. They are also good for travel, long battery life and light-duty processing. Storage is minimal.
Notebooks are a little heavier, Del Conte said. Notebooks, she explained, have a screen larger than 11 inches, and use the latest processors, bigger hard drives and shorter battery life.
However, notebooks are now being produced thinner and lighter without losing their computing power. In addition, Del Conte said notebooks are coming down in price to compete.
Other computers include the desktop, which is a full-powered computer. Desktops, Del Conte said usually have a lot of memory, disk space and speed. She said these computers are good for a family's computer needs, but are not portable. Some also have interactive touch screens.
Another computer making a splash in the market is the nettop, Del Conte said. The nettop, she said, has a touch screen monitor that's usually larger than a traditional computer screen. Del Conte said these computers are good for the kitchen or living room. She said they're good for browsing the web, viewing photos, and listening to music.
"It's more of an entertainment and browsing device," she said.
Notebooks:
• A working machine made for portability. 11 inches or bigger.
• Should have enough storage for your documents, music, photos, etc.
• Fast processors for multitasking. They are starting to come with
• Blu-ray players and HDMI ports for high definition video watching.
Sony Viao CW
• 14-inch widescreen display
• Blu-ray drive and HDMI out
• Up to 400 gigs of hard disk space
• 2.8 gigs of RAM
• Start at $800 and go up to $1500
Netbook:
• A small and portable computer that is less than 11 inches.
• Not a lot of storage, not a fast processor. Made for surfing the Web on the go.
• Slightly sluggish. Not made to be a main PC.
Nokia Booklet 3G
• First computer from Nokia
• Built-in 3G through AT&T
• 12 hours of battery life
• $299 with a two-year contract at $60/month of 3G service; $599 without a contract
For more information on the Nokia Booklet 3G, click here.
Premium Notebooks:
Notebooks are now becoming thinner, lighter without losing the computing power The prices are coming down as well, but high-end ones are still expensive.
HP Envy 13
• 13-inch widescreen display
• Ultra premium category
• Solid aluminum and edge-to-edge glass
• Oversize touchpad with multi-touch controls
• Dual-core Intel ultra-low voltage processor
• Optional Blu-ray player
• Starts at $1700
Desktop:
A family PC that stays in one place. Not portable. We are seeing the newest models come out that are touch screen, but that is certainly not necessary. Big hard drives, lots of RAM, made for all the family¹s computing needs.
Acer All-in-One PC
• Multitouch screen
• 23-inch display
• Intel Pentium Dual Core processor
• 320 gigs of hard disk space
• 4 gigs of RAM
• Starts at $900
For a review of the Acer All-in-One PC, click here.
Nettop:
Family-style computers that are great for the kitchen or living room. Built-in cameras for Web chatting. Touch-navigation for Internet browsing, or playing media like movies, music, or photos.
HP Touchsmart 300
• CNET Editors Choice
• Multitouch screen
• Built-in wireless
• HP TouchSmart Suite of applications for advanced media applications like photo viewing, music playing, movie watching, etc.
• 20-inch widescreen
• Starts at $900
CNET-TV senior editor Natali Del Conte discussed the pros and cons of netbooks and notebooks on "The Early Show", to help you decide which best fits your computing needs.
Netbooks are the rage, but are a little under-powered, Del Conte said. Netbooks, she said, are good for e-mail and surfing the web. They are also good for travel, long battery life and light-duty processing. Storage is minimal.
Notebooks are a little heavier, Del Conte said. Notebooks, she explained, have a screen larger than 11 inches, and use the latest processors, bigger hard drives and shorter battery life.
However, notebooks are now being produced thinner and lighter without losing their computing power. In addition, Del Conte said notebooks are coming down in price to compete.
Other computers include the desktop, which is a full-powered computer. Desktops, Del Conte said usually have a lot of memory, disk space and speed. She said these computers are good for a family's computer needs, but are not portable. Some also have interactive touch screens.
Another computer making a splash in the market is the nettop, Del Conte said. The nettop, she said, has a touch screen monitor that's usually larger than a traditional computer screen. Del Conte said these computers are good for the kitchen or living room. She said they're good for browsing the web, viewing photos, and listening to music.
"It's more of an entertainment and browsing device," she said.
Notebooks:
• A working machine made for portability. 11 inches or bigger.
• Should have enough storage for your documents, music, photos, etc.
• Fast processors for multitasking. They are starting to come with
• Blu-ray players and HDMI ports for high definition video watching.
Sony Viao CW
• 14-inch widescreen display
• Blu-ray drive and HDMI out
• Up to 400 gigs of hard disk space
• 2.8 gigs of RAM
• Start at $800 and go up to $1500
Netbook:
• A small and portable computer that is less than 11 inches.
• Not a lot of storage, not a fast processor. Made for surfing the Web on the go.
• Slightly sluggish. Not made to be a main PC.
Nokia Booklet 3G
• First computer from Nokia
• Built-in 3G through AT&T
• 12 hours of battery life
• $299 with a two-year contract at $60/month of 3G service; $599 without a contract
For more information on the Nokia Booklet 3G, click here.
Premium Notebooks:
Notebooks are now becoming thinner, lighter without losing the computing power The prices are coming down as well, but high-end ones are still expensive.
HP Envy 13
• 13-inch widescreen display
• Ultra premium category
• Solid aluminum and edge-to-edge glass
• Oversize touchpad with multi-touch controls
• Dual-core Intel ultra-low voltage processor
• Optional Blu-ray player
• Starts at $1700
Desktop:
A family PC that stays in one place. Not portable. We are seeing the newest models come out that are touch screen, but that is certainly not necessary. Big hard drives, lots of RAM, made for all the family¹s computing needs.
Acer All-in-One PC
• Multitouch screen
• 23-inch display
• Intel Pentium Dual Core processor
• 320 gigs of hard disk space
• 4 gigs of RAM
• Starts at $900
For a review of the Acer All-in-One PC, click here.
Nettop:
Family-style computers that are great for the kitchen or living room. Built-in cameras for Web chatting. Touch-navigation for Internet browsing, or playing media like movies, music, or photos.
HP Touchsmart 300
• CNET Editors Choice
• Multitouch screen
• Built-in wireless
• HP TouchSmart Suite of applications for advanced media applications like photo viewing, music playing, movie watching, etc.
• 20-inch widescreen
• Starts at $900
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Evolution Of Technology In Schools
Schools try to keep up with the current technology trends, especially in Silicon Valley, the home of technology innovation. You would think that schools in Silicon Valley would be the most up to date on technology?with the latest computers, projectors, drawing boards?but coming from a first hand perspective, as a student at a local school, it's the complete opposite. I go to a high school where there are no technology classes that even teach students the basics of web development, or video production, or anything of that matter.
Our school just upgraded our computer labs to brand new computers, Windows XP machines, that of course, block Facebook, YouTube, and all those other good "time wasting" sites. Just this year, all the teachers' computers got connected to projectors so that teachers can show presentations, documents, etc. Also this year, our school finally got WiFi, but it is password protected and not open to students.
The restrictions on the use of school computers and the internet, are in my opinion, extreme. Each night all student accessible computers are wiped completely, and restored with all the basic programs ¿ Mozilla Firefox, IE6, Microsoft Office 2003. I understand the need for schools to protect local machines from viruses and spyware, but I feel like school policy is too extreme when it comes to blocking YouTube, Facebook, and other sites. These sites can be "time wasting" sites, but there are occasions when the sites are useful. I was the Technology Editor for my school newspaper last year, where we needed to get pictures and information from fellow students. We used Facebook chat and messages to communicate with other students to get information, to co-ordinate and to find things such as video from events.
ad_icon
In a neighboring high school, they have a full video production studio for daily video announcements ¿ yet at most other schools, such as my own, we are stuck with old PA systems for announcements and old technology along with a restricted web experience. This is not what the rest of the world would imagine for a school in Silicon Valley. A friend's school in Los Angeles has a full Mac computer lab for video and graphic work. My school ? one Mac, and it's not even allowed to be used by students. Given that in most of the developed world most schools, especially public schools, lag with technology ¿ but it seems that even when there is a will and a budget to implement new technology the policies are still outdated.
Our school just upgraded our computer labs to brand new computers, Windows XP machines, that of course, block Facebook, YouTube, and all those other good "time wasting" sites. Just this year, all the teachers' computers got connected to projectors so that teachers can show presentations, documents, etc. Also this year, our school finally got WiFi, but it is password protected and not open to students.
The restrictions on the use of school computers and the internet, are in my opinion, extreme. Each night all student accessible computers are wiped completely, and restored with all the basic programs ¿ Mozilla Firefox, IE6, Microsoft Office 2003. I understand the need for schools to protect local machines from viruses and spyware, but I feel like school policy is too extreme when it comes to blocking YouTube, Facebook, and other sites. These sites can be "time wasting" sites, but there are occasions when the sites are useful. I was the Technology Editor for my school newspaper last year, where we needed to get pictures and information from fellow students. We used Facebook chat and messages to communicate with other students to get information, to co-ordinate and to find things such as video from events.
ad_icon
In a neighboring high school, they have a full video production studio for daily video announcements ¿ yet at most other schools, such as my own, we are stuck with old PA systems for announcements and old technology along with a restricted web experience. This is not what the rest of the world would imagine for a school in Silicon Valley. A friend's school in Los Angeles has a full Mac computer lab for video and graphic work. My school ? one Mac, and it's not even allowed to be used by students. Given that in most of the developed world most schools, especially public schools, lag with technology ¿ but it seems that even when there is a will and a budget to implement new technology the policies are still outdated.
Friday, October 2, 2009
New computer viruses target banks, social networks
Facebook, Twitter increasingly interesting for hackers
* Eight e-mails out of nine were spam in Q3
* Bank fraud software now cover tracks, use money mules
By Tarmo Virki, European technology correspondent
HELSINKI, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Cyber criminals are increasingly focusing their attacks on the hundreds of millions of users of social networks and on loopholes in bank security systems, security software vendors said on Wednesday.
At the same time, spam e-mail messages rose sharply in the third quarter, Symantec Corp (SYMC.O) said.
And as Facebook reached 300 million accounts in September, social networks and social media continued to attract criminals, smaller research firm F-Secure (FSC1V.HE) said in its quarterly virus report.
"As Twitter has grown in popularity, it has been increasingly targeted by worms, spam and account hijacking," F-Secure said.
Cyber criminals choose targets that are widely used, allowing them to go after the largest number of potential victims.
"Cyber criminals continue to follow the money," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, technology chief at a small security software vendor Finjan, who on Wednesday revealed a new method criminals use to steal money from bank accounts and hide their tracks.
Finjan said it expects a growing trend of using new software that forges on-screen bank statements, concealing the true transaction amount to dupe account holders and their banks, and then sends the stolen money to money mules accounts.
"With the combination of using sophisticated Trojans for the theft and money mules to transfer stolen money to their accounts, they minimize their chances of being detected," Ben-Itzhak said.
SPAM, SPAM AND SPAM
The amount of spam in all e-mail traffic rose to 88.1 percent in the third quarter from 81 percent a year ago, said Symantec's MessageLabs in its quarterly report.
MessageLabs said botnets are now responsible for sending 87.9 percent of all spam.
Hackers take advantage of the PC vulnerability by booby- trapping websites with a malicious code that loads onto computers. Infected PCs are commandeered into a botnet, a network of hijacked computers. They are used for identity theft, spamming and other cyber crimes"Over the past year, we have seen a number of ISP's (Internet service providers) taken offline for hosting botnet activity resulting in a case of sink or swim and an ensuing shift in botnet power," MessageLabs analyst Paul Wood said in a statement.
"However, this won't always be the case as botnet technology has also evolved since the end of 2008 and the most recent ISP closures now have less of an impact on resulting activity as downtime now only lasts a few hours rather than weeks or months as before," Wood said. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; editing by Andre Grenon)
* Eight e-mails out of nine were spam in Q3
* Bank fraud software now cover tracks, use money mules
By Tarmo Virki, European technology correspondent
HELSINKI, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Cyber criminals are increasingly focusing their attacks on the hundreds of millions of users of social networks and on loopholes in bank security systems, security software vendors said on Wednesday.
At the same time, spam e-mail messages rose sharply in the third quarter, Symantec Corp (SYMC.O) said.
And as Facebook reached 300 million accounts in September, social networks and social media continued to attract criminals, smaller research firm F-Secure (FSC1V.HE) said in its quarterly virus report.
"As Twitter has grown in popularity, it has been increasingly targeted by worms, spam and account hijacking," F-Secure said.
Cyber criminals choose targets that are widely used, allowing them to go after the largest number of potential victims.
"Cyber criminals continue to follow the money," said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, technology chief at a small security software vendor Finjan, who on Wednesday revealed a new method criminals use to steal money from bank accounts and hide their tracks.
Finjan said it expects a growing trend of using new software that forges on-screen bank statements, concealing the true transaction amount to dupe account holders and their banks, and then sends the stolen money to money mules accounts.
"With the combination of using sophisticated Trojans for the theft and money mules to transfer stolen money to their accounts, they minimize their chances of being detected," Ben-Itzhak said.
SPAM, SPAM AND SPAM
The amount of spam in all e-mail traffic rose to 88.1 percent in the third quarter from 81 percent a year ago, said Symantec's MessageLabs in its quarterly report.
MessageLabs said botnets are now responsible for sending 87.9 percent of all spam.
Hackers take advantage of the PC vulnerability by booby- trapping websites with a malicious code that loads onto computers. Infected PCs are commandeered into a botnet, a network of hijacked computers. They are used for identity theft, spamming and other cyber crimes"Over the past year, we have seen a number of ISP's (Internet service providers) taken offline for hosting botnet activity resulting in a case of sink or swim and an ensuing shift in botnet power," MessageLabs analyst Paul Wood said in a statement.
"However, this won't always be the case as botnet technology has also evolved since the end of 2008 and the most recent ISP closures now have less of an impact on resulting activity as downtime now only lasts a few hours rather than weeks or months as before," Wood said. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; editing by Andre Grenon)
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