http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/spyware/ en-us Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:01:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2409893/posts Users wrote to us this morning that anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware programs were reporting to them that our site contained malicious code. These security programs protected many of our readers' computers after our advertising server was hacked early this morning. Thanks to your help, we were able to detect and clear the problems from our servers shortly after 10 a.m. This incident reinforces the value of keeping your anti-virus programs and security patches up-to-date. Please e-mail us at journal@abqjournal.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call our customer support at... The Albuquerque Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2409893/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:01:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364438/posts This appears to be something brand new, and it gets past AVG antivirus. I have antivirus and am pretty careful, and can't remember the last time I picked up anything that messed up my computer like this nasty thing. It takes over when you boot up, and won't let you go into task manager or anything. I got rid of it by going into safe mode (press f8 during boot) and looking at the properties of the shortcut on the desktop. It pointed to the executable file C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\24180116\24180116.exe. I deleted this executable file and removed the... Info on "Security Tool" but don't trust the software download. Delete manually. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2364438/posts#comment Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:47:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2286736/posts If the new Location-Aware Browsing (a.k.a. Geolocation) feature in Firefox 3.5 makes you worried about your privacy, you can turn the feature off with a simple about:config tweak. A Quick Look at Location-Aware BrowsingFor those who are curious about this new feature, here is a quick look at what happens when you encounter a website that triggers the function in Firefox.  You can also visit a website that has been set up as a Geolocation demo (link at the bottom of the article). Note: The Location-Aware Browsing feature uses Google Location Services to determine your location with the following: your... How-Tp Geek http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2286736/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 20:16:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2279859/posts Real Networks, makers of the RealPlayer music and media management application, have launched a new version of their software. RealPlayer SP for Windows is available immediately as a beta download, with a Mac version expected by the year end. PC advisor UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2279859/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:08:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271059/posts Experts Say Chinese Filter Would Make PCs Vulnerable By ANDREW JACOBS BEIJING — Filtering software that the government has mandated for all new computers in China is so technically flawed that outsiders can easily infiltrate a user’s machine to monitor Internet activity, steal personal data or plant destructive viruses, experts who have studied the program say. “It contains serious vulnerabilities, which is especially worrisome given how widely the software will be adopted,” said J. Alex Halderman, a computer science professor at the University of Michigan who examined the program. “What we found was only the tip of the iceberg.” Known... NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271059/posts#comment Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:35:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2267392/posts There comes a time when despite the allure of the market, Western industry should band together and turn its back on China. A time when the computer and Internet industry realizes that the censorship-and-repression tax the government is intent on levying is too high a price to pay.Is this, at long last, that moment? Well, it’s doubtful. But it should be.Starting July 1, computers sold in China must include government-provided spyware that blocks pornography and political dissent from Chinese citizens’ view, The New York Times reports, following up a Wall Street Journal report. Called “Green Dam” — green being a... ZDNet http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2267392/posts#comment Mon, 8 Jun 2009 19:13:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2234935/posts he FBI has used a secret form of spyware in a series of investigations designed to apprehend extortionists, database-deleting hackers, child molesters and hitmen, according to documents obtained by ZDNet Asia's sister site CNET News.com. One suspect used Microsoft's Hotmail to send bomb and anthrax threats to an undercover government investigator; another demanded a payment of US$10,000 a month to stop cutting cables; a third was an alleged European hitman who was soliciting for business from a Hushmail.com account. CNET News.com obtained the documents--totalling hundreds of pages, although nearly all of them were heavily redacted--this week through a Freedom of... zdnetasia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2234935/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:39:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2205209/posts Federal agencies are facing emerging cybersecurity threats that are the result of increasingly sophisticated methods of attack and the blending of once distinct types of attack into more complex and damaging forms. Examples of these threats include spam (unsolicited commercial e-mail), phishing (fraudulent messages to obtain personal or sensitive data), and spyware(software that monitors user activity without user knowledge or consent). Click to read more ... American Daily Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2205209/posts#comment Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:43:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2171614/posts (beginning of article snipped) Obama's team may not be so lucky. It got off to a bad start by breaking loads of existing links, and by using WebTrends tracking code without making this clear to users. Also, while everybody loves YouTube, it may not be the best idea to serve WhiteHouse.gov videos from there. YouTube is owned by Google, which was one of Obama's contributors. (snip) The Guardian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2171614/posts#comment Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:59:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2143491/posts If there's a poster child for the dangers of spyware, it's Julie Amero. The 41-year-old former substitute teacher was convicted of four felony counts of endangering minors last year, stemming from an Oct. 19, 2004, classroom incident where students were exposed to inappropriate images. Prosecutors had argued that Amero put her students at risk by exposing them to pornography and failing to shield them from the pop-up images after they appeared on her classroom computer. Amero was an unlikely porn surfer. Four months pregnant at the time, she said she had only just learned to use e-mail. She says she... IT World http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2143491/posts#comment Fri, 5 Dec 2008 17:07:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135637/posts <p>Thursday, November 20, 2008 The Pentagon has suffered from a cyber attack so alarming that it has taken the unprecedented step of banning the use of external hardware devices, such as flash drives and DVD's, FOX News has learned.</p> <p>The attack came in the form of a global virus or worm that is spreading rapidly throughout a number of military networks.</p> FoxNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2135637/posts#comment Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:43:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2073377/posts Army Colonel Gets Spyware From N.Korea Amid lingering controversy over the arrest of a North Korean Mata Hari, a malicious North Korean e-mail has been sent to a colonel at a field army command. Military authorities have reportedly provided the entire army with updated anti-hacking software. A military intelligence source on Monday said the e-mail was sent early last month to the colonel via China. The source added that the e-mail was programmed to automatically steal stored files if the recipient opened it. But whether military secrets were actually stolen by way of this e-mail was not known. Military authorities... Chosun Ilbo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2073377/posts#comment Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:14:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063391/posts Antivirus XP 2008 By: webmaster | Under: Unwanted Programs 26 Jun Updated: July 30, 2008 Antivirus XP 2008 is a bogus antivirus application for Windows that was promoted and downloaded automatically by redirecting users internet browser to its predefined website. Aliases: Adware.AntivirusXP2008 Risk Level: Medium File Size: Varies Affected System: Windows Common Symptoms: 1. Redirects web broswser and pop-up scan results. It will then prompt the user to buy the licensed software. Threat Center- Spyware and Virus Removal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063391/posts#comment Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:24:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044586/posts A software update for the Windows operating system has left hundreds and thousands of computer users unable to access the internet. The update, known as a "patch", conflicts with another piece of software, the Zone Alarms firewall, that many people use to protect their computers from hackers and viruses. The patch, codenamed MS08-037, was designed to fix a security loophole in the way Windows handles website addresses. It was discovered that there was a weakness with the operating system that could allow hackers to re-route legitimate web pages to malicious websites instead, and leave internet users open to fraud... telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044586/posts#comment Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:16:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2044081/posts In my little house we have an HP desktop and an ARCHOS 605 wifi (amongh other things) and for the longest time they worked perfectly together. Then one day they were no longer on speaking terms. Though each by itself worked out-- and checked out-- AOK. So, after some very careful investigation -- and a $$ an hour computer guy -- the problem almost certainly is a virus, or what have you. So, can anyone recommand a good de-bugging program? We just have the plain-vanilla AOL virus protection (quit snickering) and so...well...any recommandations? Thanks http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2044081/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:05:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2021656/posts Is anyone else using Avast Free Virus Scan getting a Trojan alert on Super Anti Syyware.exe command? I'm getting it on the boot up scan and Avast has no way of marking it a false positive. Warning shows Win32: Trogan-Gen with no anme associated except the Spyware program. none http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2021656/posts#comment Tue, 27 May 2008 00:03:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2012015/posts Yahoo search to 'battle spyware' SearchScan is a free tool embedded into search Yahoo is introducing new technology to its search engine which will warn users if they are about to click on a website that hosts viruses, spyware and spam. SearchScan uses security firm McAfee's SiteAdvisor technology to warn users about "potentially risky sites". The service, which is switched on by default, produces an on-screen alert. "Our goal is to protect users by allowing them to make a more informed decision about the sites they visit," said Yahoo's Priyank Garg. Rival firm Google introduced similar technology in 2006.... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2012015/posts#comment Tue, 6 May 2008 17:26:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2010315/posts How can I remove system integrity scan wizard from my system? Since yesterday, this keeps popping up. I have run my Professional AVG AV software as well as Adaware and this is the one thing that I am unable to get rid of. Is there a free online program that will remove this? Thanks!! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2010315/posts#comment Fri, 2 May 2008 17:32:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988278/posts The sheer volume and complexity of computer viruses being released on the Internet today has the anti-virus industry on the defensive, experts say, underscoring the need for consumers to avoid relying on anti-virus software alone to keep their home computers safe and secure. washingtonpost.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988278/posts#comment Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:30:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985403/posts From iPods to navigation systems, some of today's hottest gadgets are landing on store shelves with some unwanted extras from the factory -- pre-installed viruses that steal passwords, open doors for hackers and make computers spew spam. ADVERTISEMENT Computer users have been warned for years about virus threats from downloading Internet porn and opening suspicious e-mail attachments. Now they run the risk of picking up a digital infection just by plugging a new gizmo into their PCs. Recent cases reviewed by The Associated Press include some of the most widely used tech devices: Apple iPods, digital picture frames sold by... ap http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985403/posts#comment Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:09:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985262/posts Hackers launch massive IFrame attack Gregg Keizer March 13, 2008 (Computerworld) Hackers using a new scam continue to subvert hundreds of thousands of Web pages with IFrame redirects that send unwary users to malware-spewing sites, researchers said today. The attacks, which began about a week ago, show no signs of slowing, said Dancho Danchev in a posting to his blog yesterday. "The group is continuing to expand the campaign," said the Bulgarian researcher. "These are the high-profile sites targeted by the same group within the past 48 hours, with the number of locally cached and IFrame-injected pages within their search... ComputerWorld.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985262/posts#comment Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:45:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979394/posts My computer is infested with this crap and I can't get rid of it. None of the free services can solve the problem, and I might even pay for such a service, except that all of them seem to be just folks willingly to take advantage of you and charge you more money, and possibly infect you more. Has anyone here seen this? How should I and anyone else deal with this? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979394/posts#comment Mon, 3 Mar 2008 03:15:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1957195/posts A small minority of users - as few as one in 20 - is running fully-patched Windows PCs. Just five per cent of newly-registered users of an online security inspection service Secunia came out with a clean bill of health, while more than 40 per cent have at least 11 insecure applications installed. The data is based on scans of 20,009 computers whose users recently installed Secunia's freely available software inspection tool. Secunia claims a total user base of more than 200,000 users for its free Secunia PSI tool. A survey of a different sample set of Secunia PSI recently... theregister.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1957195/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:25:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949935/posts If you've signed up to receive e-mails from Sears, and then clicked on to join the retailer's "My SHC Community," it's likely you've been providing more information to more people than you thought. Even more troubling, it turns out that you're not just sharing information with Sears, but also with a company called comScore, which tracks and aggregates Internet browsing habits. Installing the software from Sears results in the installation of software called VoiceFive, which provides data to comScore. It's essentially spyware. comScore is the company behind the (disputed) numbers that indicated more people were stealing Radiohead's latest album than... switched/Aol news http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949935/posts#comment Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:28:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1947463/posts Sears and Kmart are places you might go when you need a new air conditioner filter or a lawnmower; they're not generally thought of as havens for spyware. But that's what the two stores have become, at least online, where their websites were found to be installing software to track users' every online move—all without their knowledge. Security researchers are now hammering Sears (the owner of both Sears.com and Kmart.com) for the move, despite Sears' claims that users were notified adequately beforehand. The story goes like this: late last year, Sears.com and Kmart.com began asking users if they wanted to... ars technica http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1947463/posts#comment Thu, 3 Jan 2008 01:52:58 GMT