Third buy's a charm for Microsoft?
Spending spree could position the company as a player in the enterprise security market.
Posted on 02/10/2005 11:39:09 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Microsoft is investigating a piece of malicious code that targets the recently released beta version of its AntiSpyware product.
On Wednesday, antivirus company Sophos reported a new Trojan horse, dubbed "Bankash-A," which suppresses warning messages displayed by Microsoft AntiSpyware and deletes all of the files in the program's folder. The Trojan also steals passwords and online-banking details from Windows users.
"Microsoft is actively investigating new public reports of a criminal attack, known as the 'Bankash-A Trojan'," the company wrote in an e-mail statement. "Microsoft is not aware of any significant customer impact resulting from the Trojan. Microsoft continues to recommend customers evaluate the Microsoft AntiSpyware beta and encourage customers to follow the three steps to help keep your PC protected (at) www.microsoft.com/protect."
The software giant is also offering free support to victims of the Trojan.
"Customers who believe they may have been affected should contact Product Support Services," the company wrote. "Product Support Services in North America can be contacted for help with security update issues or viruses at no charge by using the PC Safety line (1-866-PCSAFETY). International customers can receive the same level of support by using any method found at this location: http://support.microsoft.com/."
Microsoft added that people should consult their local law enforcement agencies if they have been infected by the Trojan.
"Customers who believe they have been attacked should contact their local FBI office or post their complaint on www.ifccfbi.gov. Customers outside the U.S. should contact the national law enforcement agency in their country."
The Trojan targets users of U.K. online banks such as Barclays, Cahoot, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, NatWest and Smile.
On Wednesday, Sophos said the Trojan was the first piece of malicious ware to target the anti-spyware product, which is still only available in a test version.
"As Microsoft's product creeps out of beta and is adopted more by the home user market, we can expect to see more attempts by Trojan horses, viruses and worms to undermine its effectiveness," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.
Dan Ilett of ZDNet UK reported from London.
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Product isn't even out and they are attacking it.
Spybot Search & Destroy
AVG Anti-Virus
BHODemon.
All are free and offer better protection than Microsoft and the other 'big name' products.
The problem isn't with Microsoft, for once. Whatever this thing does, it's doing to the former Giant Anti-Spyware. It took MS less than a month to release their Anti-Spyware beta1 after buying Giant--that's not enough time to change much in the way of code.
Though I will say I'm glad I'm getting a PowerBook soon.
ping
I am running Linux, Xandros.
Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft. That's all I've heard all week. I thought this was Black History Month.
Let me drop out of Lurk & Link mode for a couple of things...
First, crosslinked to here:
Browser Wars, take two
various FR links | 12-22-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1306815/posts?page=1
Second- my personal opinion?
These writers and propagators of garbage code need to be hit so heavily they don't know what whacked them-- triple fines, jail time, and public whipping in the town square.
No, I'm not kidding.
It's not funny anymore-- they are wrecking the web experience for everybody- not to mention the actual damage some of this junk does to data and equipment.
Fine 'em, lock 'em up, and frog march 'em to the town square where they live.
Strip 'em, whip 'em, and chain them to the whipping post for a week with a pair of manicure scissors so they can trim the grass one blade at a time.
Make 'em wear a shirt with "I was a CyberVandal" on it.
I am so deadly serious about this. These vermin are ruining the web for everybody besides them-- it is time to stop it, dead.
I never could get into Linux. I tried Mandrake a few years back--I think it was 8.0--and had a terrible time. Couldn't install my DSL modem's drivers, and couldn't deal with the file system.
I'm hoping OS X will be a bit more user-friendly.
Terpfen, this is the thing some of us have to deal with- not everyone has the option of moving from Windows. I'll cheerfully admit to agreeing with the theory that "Windows is a virus"-- but as long as the wife gives me resistance to trying another OS, I'm stuck with it.
I tried Mandrake 9 last summer when hijackers took over both home PC's-- and had to go back to Windows. Wife problems, hardware problems, couldn't see the dam' tiny icons... it was just a little too much of everything.
When Linux gets to a stage where you pop it in a drive and install it without having to join forums, get new hardware, etc., it will be ready for Prime Time. But not before that.
If you have Norton or McAfee you are probably OK.
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