Virus
Alert: Another Fake Email install Rogue Software (From Panda Labs Blog)
Mar 6th
One of the biggest reasons why TechGeekandMore started came from how many customers I had (and still have) to visit every week to either clean Viruses of PC or (even worse) recover as many files as possible and then reinstall Windows. I wanted a way a to try and alert and educate my customers about how …..
- No African Prince was going give you millions
- Emails that say that they are from a friend or family with that weird looking attachment could actually be fake
- Hot College Girl……well this one just really doesn’t have much beyond “Don’t do it”.
ETC ETC ETC…….
In those lines a new email starting this week, that has only 1 goal, to trick you into downloading and installing some really nasty software (more of the fake antivirus software). This new email says that “You have received a postcard”……
The following information comes from PANDALABS blog ( http://pandalabs.pandasecurity.com/the-thousand-faced-rogue/ (http://pandalabs NULL.pandasecurity NULL.com/the-thousand-faced-rogue/))
******************************************************************************************************************
The Thousand-Faced Rogue
Mar 5
- Posted on 03/5/10 by Olaiz (http://pandalabs NULL.pandasecurity NULL.com/author/olaiz/)
We want to inform you of a new flood of email messages that seem to contain a postcard but are actually distributing malware. Concretely, we’ve seen several thousands in a few hours.
It’s not the first time we see emails like this in circulation, as subjects like “You’ve received a postcard” are very recurrent.
The message is like the following:
The message seems to have been sent by a member of your family through a legal website to download and send postcards, so that users don’t suspect. In order to view the postcard, you have to open the attached file. It’s a file compressed with zip and if you run it, a rogueware program will be installed in your computer, which is different depending on the message and the operating system you have.
The following are some of the names of the fake antivirus that can be installed in your computer if you run this file:
% Antispyware 2010
Antivirus % 2010
% Guardian 2010
% Guardian
% Defender 2010
% Antivirus
% Antivirus 2010
% Antivirus Pro
% Antivirus Pro 2010
% Internet Security
% Internet Security 2010
where % stands for the operating system of the computer in which it is going to be installed. Some examples: XPAntispyware2010, Vista Guardian, Win 7 Antivirus Pro.
Let’s take as an example Antivirus XP 2010 and see the actions it carries out once it has been installed in the computer.
As every rogueware, it starts scanning the system to check if the computer is infected.
Once finished, it displays a list with the malware that has detected in your computer to make you believe that you’ve got a problem and that this program will offer you the solution:
However, all the malware it has detected makes reference to unexisting files, so the only threat you have is the own rogue.
Additionally, it prevents the execution of programs whose window title makes reference to the following programs:
Internet Explorer
Firefox
Several security suites.
When you try to run any of these, a message is displayed informing you that these programs are infected and recommending you to install the fake antivirus to solve the problem.
The following image belongs to the message that is displayed when Firefox is run:
It also contains code to uninstall different security solutions. This way, the computer would be unprotected and the real antivirus programs could not detect it.
Alert: Criminals using Haiti Tragedy for new online scams
Jan 16th
Unfortunately, the bad guys seem to try and use anything that is current in an effort to take advantage of the situation and unsuspecting people, many of which may have their guard down because of the circumstances. The tragedy in Haiti is the latest way for the bad guys to attack.
The FBI released the following warning this week after the earthquake (LINK: http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm (http://www NULL.fbi NULL.gov/cyberinvest/escams NULL.htm))
HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FRAUD ALERT
01/13/10—The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.
Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
- Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
- Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
- Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
- Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
- Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
MSNBC has released a list of charitable organizations that are active in Haiti, to help you know that your donation is going to the right place. The list can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478 (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/34835478)
——————– o ——————–
In addition to the the financial scams, there are now also web scams which will cause your pc to get infected with Rogueware (Things like fake anti-virus messages), while visiting sites that appear to be legit Haiti Support or Information sites.
In the latest attempt to use a news making event, into a way to spread Rogueware, those running what are called SEO (SEO = Search Engine Optimization) are targeting keywords related to the earthquake in Haiti. Running searches on terms such as ‘Haiti’, ‘RT (re-Tweet)’, ‘Wyclef Jean’ and his charity, ‘Port-au-Prince’, Haiti donations, just to name a few are bringing up sites on major search engines pointing users to what they believe to be legitimate news and images related to the tragedy. When in fact, these sites, because the criminals were able to manipulate results of the search engines, are showing fake sites mixed in with real sites.
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/haiti_20fraud_201_thumb NULL.jpg)
(Picture from http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/dangerous-web-search-haiti-earthquake.html (http://sunbeltblog NULL.blogspot NULL.com/2010/01/dangerous-web-search-haiti-earthquake NULL.html))
If you encounter one of these fake site, 1st thing that you should NOT DO is click on any pop up or link that says you need to install something to see the site. 1st thing you SHOULD DO is attempt to close your browser by selecting either the X on the top right or by selecting CNTR-ALT-DEL on your keyboard, going into Task Manager, highlighting your browser, and selecting END TASK (Never attempt to use any of the actual “Close” or “exit” buttons that will appear with the pop up as most of the time the “yes” and “no” button will both do the same thing which is install the Rogue program on your machine).
In addition, as soon as you reopen your browser (after closing it for the pop up), you want to make sure that you go in and clear your Temporary Internet Files and your Internet Cookies (In Internet Explorer its Tools –> Internet Options –> then under browsing history –> delete and then delete all. In Firefox its Tools –> options –> privacy –> clear your recent history / clear your recent cookies). That is in addition to making sure that your Anti-Virus software is up to date, that your Updates for your operating system (Windows, MAC, Linux) are up to date.
(Soapbox**) I continue to point out the need to update, and yet I still regularly get called out to clear infected machines, that are missing updates (Had a Windows PC last week on XP service pack 1 and Norton AV 2004 with updates from September 2005). Not that I don’t want to work, and get paid, but if you really want to make sure you don’t suffer thru the down time and expense of waiting for a tech like myself, UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE. Will updates protect you 100%, no, unfortunately in the age of the internet, new and more innovative ways to beat a system come up 100’s of times every day, seven days a week. However, keep in mind, when you leave your house, you lock your door. Why? Will locking your door, protect your house from being robbed? You hope so, and 99% of the time it will. So updating your system is like locking your door, if you don’t lock your door you will eventually get robed. (End Soapbox)
**Lastly – To the people of Haiti and those readers of TGM with family and friends in Haiti. You have our thoughts, during this difficult time.**
Software: Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader – Can be used to infect your pc
Dec 22nd
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/adobelq NULL.jpg) Adobe has sent out an alert (LINK: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07.html (http://www NULL.adobe NULL.com/support/security/advisories/apsa09-07 NULL.html)) concerning all versions of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader (v9.2 and earlier) advising that Acrobat and Acrobat Reader can be used to “Crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system”. "There are reports that this vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild”.
What does this mean to you-
- As of now if you have either Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat installed, you could get your computer infected by clicking on specifically designed pdf document that you receive via email. It’s also likely that the email you receive would appear to be from someone you know, who would have opened the email and clicked on the pdf, infecting themselves and forwarding it to everyone in their email lists.
- As of now, the infection rate for this is still considered to be low but as with any other vulnerability that is known and “in the wild” (meaning that bad guys can go online and find out details on how to use this), it is expected that within time, you will see this vulnerability used in more ways by the bad guys.
- “Adobe plans to make available an update to Adobe Reader and Acrobat by January 12, 2010 to resolve the issue”
- In the mean time you have a couple of options
Option #1) Using the recommended steps by Adobe
disabling JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat using the instructions below:
1. Launch Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
2. Select Edit>Preferences
3. Select the JavaScript Category
4. Uncheck the ‘Enable Acrobat JavaScript’ option
5. Click OK
Option #2) You can go to Add/Remove Programs (Control Panel –> Add/remove programs or Programs and features depending on your version of Windows) and uninstall Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader and then install one of the many PDF alternatives. TechGeekandMore recommends the Foxit Reader (LINK: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/reader-interstitial.html (http://www NULL.foxitsoftware NULL.com/pdf/reader/reader-interstitial NULL.html)) which is not currently affected by this vulnerability.
- Additionally, it is also recommended as always, to make sure your Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware software is current and updated to protect your pc.
ALERT: Fake Antivirus software really adware meant to take your money $$$
Mar 2nd
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/pandalabs_security NULL.jpg) Story (and pictures) from the Panda Labs website (LINK: http://www.pandasecurity.com/emailhtml/oxygen/022809_ENG_in.htm (http://www NULL.pandasecurity NULL.com/emailhtml/oxygen/022809_ENG_in NULL.htm))
Anti-Virus-1: A new fake antivirus
Anti-Virus-1 is adware, specifically a "fake antivirus". As with all such adware, it is designed to simulate a scan of the computer, supposedly detecting thousands of strains of (non-existent) malware. The end aim is to sell users a pay version of the fake antivirus in order to eliminate the threats.
When run, this adware warns the user that the computer is not protected. The main screen displayed (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653378/) is a spoof of the Window Security Center
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/3313653378_e9307e88f8 NULL.jpg)
It then pretends to scan the system for malware (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653384/). If users do not immediately take the bait and buy the pay version of the fake antivirus, the malicious code will sporadically display a message reminding the user that the computer is infected (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653386/)
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/3313653386_d7d2477df1 NULL.jpg)
In warning messages, and after the fake scan, a link is provided from which users can download the fake antivirus. Anyone clicking on the link will be redirected to a page like this (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/panda_security/3313653390/).
(http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/3313653390_a9554b8264 NULL.jpg)
Additionally, when infected users visit certain Web pages with comparative reviews of antivirus products, there will be redirected to a spoof page showing a review of an ‘antivirus’, called Antivirus2010, with functions and characteristics similar to Anti-Virus-1.
"By doing this, cyber-crooks hope that users will download this adware on their own initiative. This makes it far less likely that users will suspect that they have been infected and consequently more likely that they will buy the fake antivirus", explains Luis Corrons, Technical Director of Panda Labs.
(http://www