Security

Avira TechBlog: Well, actually we expect some more updates as some security vulnerabilities have been revealed at the Pwn2Own contest during the CanSecWest security conference. Google is the first and pushes out version 10.0.648.133 – which fixes one security vulnerability within WebKit (the base of the Blackberry, Chrome and Safari webbrowsers). As usual, the update is spread via the built-in automatic update mechanism. Users can make sure to use the latest version by clicking on the tool symbol and choosing the “About Chrome” menu entry. ...

Safari just got served. At this year’s Pwn2Own conference, security firms and enthusiasts are doing their very best to discover and deploy exploits to some of the world’s most popular browsers. Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, they’re all on the menu for conference attendees and some have definitely faired better than others. Google issued a challenge, promising $20,000 to any person or team that could crack Chrome on the conferences opening day, but the two teams scheduled to take a swing backed down. Firefox is, for the time being, still standing, and, per usual, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was taken down without much fuss. But which browser faired the worst? That would be Apple’s Safari. A French security research firm named Vulpen managed to break into Safari running on a MacBook Air in a cool five seconds. The company noted that the Safari update issued by Apple yesterday — version 5.0.4 — fixes some of the vulnerabilities, but not all. The takedown of Safari 5.0.3 used exploits that are still available in the updated code base. Go ahead Apple detractors, have a little fun in the comments section. ...

Avira’s Anti-Virus Technology Used by ZeoBIT in New System Utility – MacKeeper Avira provides anti-malware scanning engine to MacKeeper App Tettnang / Silicon Valley, March 11, 2011 – IT security expert Avira announced today that it licensed its industry-leading antivirus product to Silicon Valley-based ZeoBIT to be used in ZeoBIT’s MacKeeper product. MacKeeper is an all-in-one app that includes 16+ unique features for security, cleaning, data control and optimization for Macintosh computers. ...

Google Chrome Security Team wrote: We’re always working hard to enhance the Chrome browser with bug fixes, new defenses and new features. The release of Chrome 10 is no different, and there are some items worth highlighting: Chrome 10: Flash sandboxing With Chrome 10, our first cut of the previously announced Flash sandboxing initiative is now enabled by default for the Windows platform on Vista and newer. Additionally, because we automatically update Flash to the latest and most secure version, this should provide useful defense in depth. ...

BetaNews.com: Android handsets infected with malware are getting a cleaning job from Google. On March 2nd, Google removed 21 apps from the Android Marketplace that contained malicious code (the number of infected apps is now 58). Now Google is “remotely removing the malicious applications from affected devices” and “pushing an Android Market security update to all affected devices that undoes the exploits to prevent the attacker(s) from accessing any more information from affected devices,” according to a blog post by Rich Cannings, Android security lead. ...

Internet giant buys into security. Internet giant Google has acquired software analytics firm Zynamics, it was announced yesterday. The German company, which was founded in 2004 by CEO Thomas Dullien (aka Halvar Flake) to research the automation of reverse engineering and code analysis, now produces four reverse-engineering tools:BinDiff, VxClass, BinNavi and BinCrowd, which are widely used by researchers in the security community. Google has not provided any clues as to how it plans to make use of the Zynamics technology, other than to bolster the protection offered to Google users. Details of the acquisition were not revealed. ...

Over the past few decades, computer security has become an important concern among users. Security vendors have faced tremendous challenges dealing with complex security threats with IT experts placing more effort on educating people. Nevertheless, there are many computer security myths that exist today and surprisingly, many people still believe them. In this blog post, we’ll reveal a few of the most common malware myths and the misconceptions that can put you at risk. ...

To help secure your computer against malware: If your computer is already infected or you are in doubt, first look at the Malware Removal Guide. Build up your malware defenses Install antivirus and antispyware programs from a trusted source Never download anything in response to a warning from a program you didn’t install or don’t recognize that claims to protect your PC or offers to remove viruses. It is highly likely to do the opposite. Get reputable anti-malware programs from a vendor you trust. I recommend Avira. It’s highly recommended that you create another layer of protection beyond Avira. This second layer could be composed with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, Hitman Pro or any other on-demand antimalware software. Use a safe browser with good extensions I recommend Google Chrome with uBlock and WOT. Update software regularly Cybercriminals are endlessly inventive in their efforts to exploit vulnerabilities in software, and many software companies work tirelessly to combat these threats. That is why you should: ...

If after following this guide you failed disinfecting your computer, or you cannot follow this guide yourself, I will be available to help you. The most important thing in fighting malwares is: Do NOT Panic. Do NOT Hurry. Do NOT ignore any step in removal guide unless I tell you. This manual for removing malwares can be used for either minor or major malware infection. Download and Burn Avira Rescue System to a blank Disc, Boot your computer using that and let it scan and remove malwares detected. Restart your computer into safe-mode with networking. (How to use Safe Mode?) Clean temporary files using TFC. [Let it reboot your computer, come back to Safe Mode With Networking] Download HitmanPro to your desktop, run it in force breach mode and click next to scan your computer, let it remove the malwares it find, if it ask you for license active the 30 Days trial version. after removal, restart your computer. [Try it in Safe Mode With Networking] Download, install and update Malwarebytes Antimalware, let it scan your computer and remove everything it find [Try in Safe Mode With Networking]. Download and run avast! Browser Cleanup to cleanup and reset your browsers. Download and install HostsMan. after install run it, click on “update Hosts”, choose “MVPS Hosts” (and you may choose “Peter Lowe’s AdServers List” for blocking Ads) and in below options choose “Overwrite Current” hosts. this step would immunize your Hosts File and would prevent any internet traffic to malware sites/domains and also would fix Windows Hosts File if it has been HiJacked by malwares. Disable System Restore and then re-enable it again. If you have windows installation disc, insert it into drive, open Run command from start menu (In windows vista/7, open start menu and type ‘Run’ and then press enter) and type ‘sfc /scannow’. this will check windows for mission or corrupted files and will restore them from disc. sometimes during getting infection or malware removal some files might get corrupted or being deleted which this action will solve it. Make sure your windows and all installed programs are fully updated and there are no insecure program: Check for Update. also you may do some additional scans too, here is some of them: ...

Thousands of Facebook users have been hit by a scam which claims to give them early access to a facebook.com email address. Messages, appearing in the news feed of users who have fallen for the scam, read: Just got my own email @facebook.com! Quickly get one before someone takes your name [LINK] However, clicking on the links leads you to a webpage which tricks you into giving a third party application permission to post to your Facebook wall. ...