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Posts tagged as “malware”

‘Refer a Friend’ Ransomware Program

By Christine Hall on December 14, 2016 |

Internet, News and Security

‘Refer a Friend’ Ransomware ProgramPopcorn Time lock screen

A new, under development ransomware called Popcorn Time has a “refer a friend” option meant to appeal to the victim’s worst instincts.

Popcorn Time lock screen
All graphics in this article are courtesy Bleeping Computer, LLC. Used with permission.

Security

If you need any proof that malware is a business much like any other — with the big exception that it’s illegal — all you have to do is look at the latest ploy being used by the currently-in-development ransomware called Popcorn Time that was discovered December 7 by MalwareHunterTeam. The folks behind the malware are incorporating a scheme to drum up business that’s directly from a Marketing 101 textbook.

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Malware Found on New Windows Computers (Not What You Think)computer doctor

Malware Found on New Windows Computers (Not What You Think)

By Christine Hall on November 23, 2016 |

Business, News and Security

An investigative team for a Seattle television station discovered that finding malware on clean computers to be an everyday practice at Office Depot.

computer doctor

It appears that the office supply giant, Office Depot, isn’t adverse to tarnishing its reputation if there’s a buck or two to be made in the process.

KIRO TV in Seattle reported on November 15 that it had taken brand new out-of-the-box computers that had never been connected to the Internet to Office Depot stores, both in Washington state and Portland, Oregon, and told the repair desk staff that “it’s running a little slow.” In four out of six cases they were told the computer was infected with viruses and would require an up to $180 fix.

After declining the “fix,” they took the “virus laden” machines to a Seattle security outfit, IOActive, which reexamined the machines. “We found no symptoms of malware when we operated them,” an employee with the firm, Will Longman, said. “Nor did we find any actual malware.”

Christine Hall

Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux

FOSSForce.com
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Redesigning Tor, Goodbye OpenOffice & More…Tor logo

Redesigning Tor, Goodbye OpenOffice & More…

By Christine Hall on September 3, 2016 |

Business, Distros, News, Obits, Security and Software

Also included: Remembering Vernon Adams, Red Hat vs. VMware, a new distro release, openSUSE Leap and ransomware that deletes files.

FOSS Week in Review

The summer of ’16 is all but over. Good riddance. Here in my piece of the woods we’ve seen all of the 90 plus days with high humidity I can take. Time to get out the long sleeves and sweaters.

It’s also time to look at this week’s FOSS news.

Christine Hall

Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux

FOSSForce.com
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Top Websites Hit With Malware AdsCyber Security

Top Websites Hit With Malware Ads

By FOSS Force on March 16, 2016 |

Internet, News and Security

Some of the biggest online advertising networks this weekend served malware laden ads to some of the Internet’s highest trafficked websites.

Some of the most visited sites on the Internet began delivering malware laden ads this weekend. The sites affected included The New York Times, the BBC, MSN, and AOL. Those who visited a site delivering the ads are not at risk unless they clicked on an infected ad. After clicking, users are taken to another website which attempts to infect them with either Cryptowall ransomware or a trojan that gives the attackers control of the infected computer. The good news for FOSS Force readers is that the malware seems to only work against Windows, so GNU/Linux users are considered safe.

Cyber Security Malware

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Wetware: The Most Important Trend in Malware

By Don Parris on July 7, 2015 |

Internet and Security

Blaster worm screenshot
Hex dump of 2003’s Blaster worm, that left a message for Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.
On Thursday, Christine Hall looked at the economy of cybercrime. I also took a peek at the Symantec report, and indeed, the statistics are sobering. There is one statistic, however, that Symantec has ommitted from its report. They did not report – at least not numerically – on the trend of growing wetware vulnerabilities that take advantage of users’ bad habits.

Don Parris

Don Parris wears a Facility Services cape by day, and transforms into LibreMan at night. He has written numerous articles about free tech, and hangs out with the Cha-Ha crowd, learning about computer security. He also enjoys making ceviche with his wife, and writing about his travels in Perú.

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