Antispyware Protection – Is It Really Possible?
The last few days came with an impressive avalanche of threats, obviously targeting your computer and aiming to steal or harm the data stored inside the system.
microsoft -
comments -
19.11.2007 Virus Disguised as IE 7 Download
Watch out for e-mails with a new virus disguised as a test version of Microsoft's current Web browser.
microsoft -
comments -
31.3.2007 Allchin says to use anti-virus with Vista after all
Ever since Microsoft Vista chief Jim Allchin talked about his son not using anti-virus in a recent teleconference with journalists, the world has been abuzz with claims Vista won’t need AV software. Now Jim Allchin has clarified his statements on the official Windows Vista Blog.
windows -
comments -
12.11.2006 Windows Vista and protection from malware
On November 30, Sophos issued its monthly report on the top ten threats reported to them in November of 2006.
windows -
comments -
20.12.2006 Super Bowl Virus Spreads
The game's over and patches are available, but many sites are infected with malicious code.
common -
comments -
8.2.2007 Google Adds Virus Scanning to Gmail
Google on Wednesday silently added a new feature to its Gmail service: virus scanning. The company will now check all incoming and outgoing e-mail attachments to keep users' inboxes safe. By scanning outbound attachments, Google can also keep viruses from proliferating by way of Gmail.
common -
comments -
1.12.2005 New virus threatens Linux and Windows PCs
Hackers have released code for a cross-platform virus that could infect Linux and Windows computers.
The virus, which has been given the names Virus.Linux.Bi.a/ Virus.Win32.Bi.a, was reported at the end of last week by security firm Kaspersky Lab. Researchers worry that the malicious code may be part of a disturbing new trend of viruses that can run on Windows, as well as other operating systems that have been largely ignored by hackers.
windows -
comments -
10.4.2006 Vista's User Account Protection: one click and it's gone
Vista's biggest security enhancement is "User Account Protection" (or "User Account Control" ) which pops up and asks for user authentication before software can make any administrative changes to the system.
windows -
comments -
9.9.2006 Microsoft OneCare fails virus test
Independent security certification body Virus Bulletin tested 15 security suites on Windows Vista against a set of malware from the WildList database.
microsoft -
comments -
6.2.2007 Microsoft Previews New Malware Protection Center
Microsoft may be a desktop software powerhouse, but when it comes to security tools it is still bulking up.
microsoft -
comments -
27.4.2007 Vista attacked by 13-year-old virus
A batch of laptops pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium was found to have been infected with a 13-year-old boot sector virus. Thanks to odeeee for this news.
windows -
comments -
17.9.2007 Antivirus protection worse than a year ago
The effectiveness of antivirus software has fallen off, and more and more pests can now slip past these barriers. This is the sobering conclusion the german computer magazine c't comes to in issue 1/08 with a test on 17 antivirus solutions.
common -
comments -
23.12.2007 Windows Vista Copy Protection Cracked
More than a year after Windows Vista was introduced, hackers have finally developed a clean crack of Windows Vista.
windows -
comments -
5.3.2008 Data Protection Manager 2010 Beta
On September 29, 2009, Microsoft released the beta version of the third generation of System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM), previously called “DPM v3” or “Zinger”.
download -
comments -
30.9.2009 Bizarre Virus Threatens to Kill File-Sharers
A strange virus which taunts file-sharers and threatens to report them to the police and even kill them, is being distributed on the Winny network.
common -
comments -
2.3.2007 AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5.463a1000d
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool.
download -
comments -
22.4.2007 Best 64-bit Windows Vista Anti-Virus
Windows Vista comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. Unlike Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn, which is the last server operating system from the Redmond company, the 32-bit client platform will live long after Windows Vista.
windows -
comments -
2.8.2007 Blu-ray BD+ Copy Protection Cracked!
It would seem that there's absolutely nothing out there, no type of copy protection system that can resist the hard efforts of ingenious "security researchers", especially when the respective system is designed to protect valuable multimedia content (namely, movies).
common -
comments -
31.10.2007 Windows Vista Content Protection - Twenty Questions (and Answers)
A conversation has cropped up since the recent publication of a paper scrutinizing how Windows handles digital rights management, especially for HD video. I've since looped back with Dave Marsh, a Lead Program Manager responsible for Windows' handling of video, to learn from him the implications involved and to learn to what extent the paper's assertions are accurate.
windows -
comments -
23.1.2007 Microsoft & Samsung's Patent Deal Includes Linux Protection
Microsoft Corporation and Samsung Electronics have agreed to a broad, cross-licensing patent agreement covering Samsung's existing and future product lines.
microsoft -
comments -
20.4.2007 Microsoft to offer code protection, validation to other software developers
Microsoft is planning to deliver on October 1 to third-party software developers a set of technologies that will allow them to add code protection and activation mechanisms to their own software.
microsoft -
comments -
13.7.2007 Free Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Internet Security RC1
Kaspersky is making headway with the development of its latest iteration of antivirus products. Both Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Kaspersky Internet Security have reached Release Candidate stage, which means that the RTM is on the horizon.
download -
comments -
31.3.2008 Network Access Protection for XP SP3 and Vista SP1
Network Access Protection is designed to permit a high degree of control over client computers across a network.
windows -
comments -
13.10.2008 Enable Vista-Native Network Access Protection on XP SP3
Network Access Protection (NAP) is one of the few features that were actually added to Windows XP SP3.
windows -
comments -
13.5.2008 Microsofts XP SP3 Patch Fixes Anti-Virus Glitch
Microsoft issued a hotfix for Windows XP Service Pack 3 last week that it says "could resolve" a Windows registry corruption problem associated with third-party security software.
windows -
comments -
2.7.2008 Free Avira AntiVir Rescue System CD to Clean Unremovable Virus
Previously I’ve written about Kaspersky offering free Rescue Disk to clean virus without booting in to Windows.
download -
comments -
28.6.2008 Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2006 Service Pack 1 Released!
Microsoft® System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2006 Service Pack 1 (SP1) enables you to protect more types of file servers..
download -
comments -
24.10.2006 Microsoft Anti-Spyware Deleting Norton Anti-Virus
Microsoft's Anti-Spyware program is causing troubles for people who also use Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus software; apparently, a recent update to Microsoft's anti-spyware application flags Norton as a password-stealing program and prompts users to remove it.
microsoft -
comments -
12.2.2006Microsoft Security Essentials Beta released
Microsoft is offering it's free anti-virus product, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) to 75,000 lucky people today. The company is offering the
product via a beta program and will likely extend the cap of 75,000 downloads depending on demand. MSE is Microsoft's free anti-virus and
anti-spyware product that is set to replace Microsoft's paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service which is being withdrawn a week today.
Earlier this month Neowin exclusively revealed MSE (codenamed Morro) and we believe that the final product will be available shortly before the
Windows 7 launch in October. MSE is being distributed on Microsoft's Connect site as a beta program.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
23.06.2009Microsoft Patents Proactive Virus Protection
Microsoft has just snared a U.S. patent for proactive virus protection, which is how security software helps secure your PC when it encounters
shape-shifting malware not already in its antivirus definition file. What I want to know is, what does this mean for all the other vendors -- like
McAfee,Symantec, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro -- that have been selling proactive protection software for years? Do they now have to pay Microsoft
protection; I mean, royalties?
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
22.05.2008Microsoft set to beta Microsoft Security Essentials June 23
Microsoft confirmed today that they plan to release a public beta of Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly codenamed Morro) on June 23. The free
anti-virus product will begin with a beta program next week and an updated beta version over the summer period. Company officials also confirmed that
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) will be launching in fall this year. We have learned that Microsoft is targeting September or at the latest to
have the anti-virus software available for the October 22 Windows 7 launch. Formerly known as Morro, the software giant plans to replace its Windows
Live OneCare offerings with MSE later in the year.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
19.06.2009Microsoft: Security Essentials final edition in coming weeks
Microsoft's security essentials team has confirmed the final version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) will be made available in the coming
weeks. MSE is Microsoft's free anti-virus and anti-spyware product that is set to replace Microsoft's paid Windows Live OneCare subscription
service which was withdrawn earlier this year. In an email to beta testers the team thanked testers for their participation and encouraged them to
upgrade to version 1.0.1500.0 of the beta to ensure a "smooth experience". Neowin exclusively revealed Security Essentials in June when it was
codenamed "morro". Morro was renamed Security Essentials and appeared in beta form in late June.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
21.09.2009Microsoft Security Essentials: What wannabe testers need to know
Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft finally broke its silence about its Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) a k a "Morro" June 18, after refusing for months
to provide any real details on i
ts planned free consumer security replacement to Windows Live
OneCare.
Alan Packer, General Manager of Microsoft’s Anti-Malware team chatted with me today about MSE. Based on our
conversation, here’s what wannabe MSE testers and customers need to know...
winbeta.org -
19.06.2009Bogus FTC e-mail has virus
The Federal Trade Commission, which has declared war on Internet scams, warned consumers on Monday not to open a bogus e-mail that appears to come
from its fraud department because it carries an attachment that can download a virus.
The e-mail says it is from
"frauddep@ftc.gov" and has the FTC's government seal.
But it was not issued by the agency and has attachments and links that
will download a virus that could steal passwords and account numbers, the agency said.
"It's a treasure trove for identity
theft," said David Torok of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "We're concerned. The virus that's attached to the e-mail is particularly
virulent."
winbeta.org -
30.10.2007Microsoft Security Essentials (aka. "Morro") Leaked; Put under the scope
Yesterday, the first screenshots of Microsoft's "Morro" Anti-Virus software leaked to the web, and today, the whole
application followed suit.
With a UI similar to that of Windows Defender, Microsoft Security Essentials (aka. "Morro") is Microsoft's
upcoming free Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware solution, based on the core of Microsoft's current paid solution, OneCare. Windows Live OneCare
subscribers will find their subscriptions expiring on June 30th this year, with MSE's final release anticipated shortly after.
I decided
to take the opportunity today to gather some basic performance statistics on Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) including what kind of impact it has
on system performance. I installed MSE on my own system with the following specifications:
- Intel Xeon E3110 overclocked from
3.0Ghz to 3.6Ghz
- 8GB DDR2-1066Mhz RAM
- Nvidia GeForce 9600GT
- 64GB Solid State Drive
- Windows 7 build
7229 x64 (Completely fresh installation)
I analyzed the total boot time, from the moment the boot screen appears to the moment
the desktop finishes loading, shut down time, total system memory usage and total disk usage. Here are the results:
Before
Installation:
- Boot time: 18.084 seconds
- Shut down time: 5.316 seconds
- Memory usage: 11% (929 MB)
- Disk usage: 21.507 GB
After Installation:
- Boot time: 18.342 seconds
- Shut down time:
5.714 seconds
- Memory usage: 12% (983 MB)
- Disk usage: 21.673 GB
If that wasn't enough to impress, MSE
took only a mere 25 seconds to install. It is quite clear from these results that MSE has very little impact on system performance and only takes up
roughly 170MB of disk space once fully updated, which is more than reasonable compared to other security software.
A few notes about these
results however. First and foremost, this is still pre-release software. MSE's impact on system performance may differ in the final release, and
these results should not be used to judge the final product. Second, the memory usage results are based on a system with 8GB of RAM. Applications are
designed to allocate more memory on systems with more RAM, therefore it is more important to look at the percentage of RAM used and not the total
amount, as the results will vary on systems with less RAM. Finally, all of these tests were performed on a system with a Solid State Drive, which are
still fairly uncommon in most systems today, and the timing may differ on systems with Hard Disk Drives.
All in all though, so far, MSE is
showing the signs of a true competitor. Of course, nothing can really be said until the scanning engine is put to the test.
jcxp.net - 18.06.2009
Kama Sutra Virus a Dud So Far
Reports indicate that damage
from the Kama Sutra virus
appears to be minimal thus
far, however at least one
security firm warned that the
real results from the worm may
not be known until later in
the weekend. The virus will
attempt to stop antivirus
software and delete files...
betanews.com - 03.02.2006
Avast Anti-Virus for Windows Home Server - Beta Now Available
The worlds first anti-virus product for Windows Home Server is now in beta and available to download!
avast! WHS Edition is a
product designed specifically for antivirus protection of the upcoming Microsoft Windows Home Server platform. Besides providing the protection of the
WHS machine, it also supports simple management of other avast! products on the home network. This is performed directly through the WHS console, by
means of a new configuration page.
Note: This is a very short beta; the product is scheduled to be released in the first half
of November 2007, i.e. by the time the first WHS-based systems ship.
More Information and Download:
Avast.com winbeta.org -
11.10.2007Spanish police arrest creator of mobile phone virus
Spanish police have arrested a
28-year-old man on suspicion
of creating and spreading a
virus that affected more than
115,000 high-end mobile
phones. According to a police
statement, the man was
detained in the eastern
coastal city of Valencia
following an investigation
that lasted over seven months
- the first time that the
creator of a virus that
targets mobile phones was
arrested in Spain. The virus
struck Bluetooth-enabled
phones that run on the Symbian
operating system and it was
disguised as messages claiming
to contain erotic images,
sports information or virus
protection software. It caused
millions of euros (dollars) in
damage to both the owners of
the mobile phones as well as
to mobile services
providors.
neowin.net -
24.06.2007First Mac OS X Virus? Apple
Says No
Loyalists on both sides of the
Mac versus Windows debate shot
into action Thursday following
news that the first virus had
been spotted for Apple's
operating system. The malware,
dubbed Leap.A, spreads through
iChat and infects local
applications. But Apple
downplayed the threat, saying
malicious software is
different from a virus...
betanews.com -
17.02.2006Facebook gets hit with a virus
Facebook has been hit with a virus that could spread to its 120 million users. The virus has been dubbed "knobface", which tries to gather
personal information from users computers such as credit card numbers. The virus dubbed "knobface" sends a message to all the friends of the
infected titled "You look just awesome in this new movie". Users who opened the messaged where asked to download a fake update for Adobe flash
player, which was actually the virus itself being downloaded and installed onto victims computers. If users attempted to use any of the major three
search engines such as Yahoo, Google, or Live search, users would be taken to contaminated sites.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
06.12.2008First StarOffice, OpenOffice
Virus Found
Security researchers may have
found the first known virus
for StarOffice and
OpenOffice.org. According to a
Kaspersky Lab researcher, the
exploit is known as a
"macro virus,"
previously only known to
infect Microsoft Office
applications...
betanews.com -
01.06.2006Cross-platform Proof-of-concept virus for OpenOffice.org
A group of malware developers
have produced a
proof-of-concept virus called
BadBunny that uses OpenOffice
macros. The code was sent
directly to SophosLabs, which
has already issued virus
protection updates. Sophos
technology consultant Graham
Cluley describes BadBunny as
" old-school malware
seemingly written to show off
a proof of concept rather than
a serious attempt to spy on
and steal from computer
users ." The virus, which
is embedded in a specially
crafted OpenOffice Draw
document, can execute scripts
with user-level permissions
and attempts to propagate
itself across the Internet via
mIRC and XChat.
The
BadBunny virus provides
insight into the security
failings of OpenOffice. The
most notable aspect of the
BadBunny virus is its
cross-platform nature; it can
successfully infect Windows,
Mac OS X, and Linux systems
and is capable of propagating
itself on both Windows and
Linux. Although it uses
OpenOffice's generic macro
language as the delivery
mechanism, the BadBunny virus
payload contains an assortment
of scripts specialized for
each target platform. On
Windows, BadBunny uses
JavaScript, on Mac OS X it
uses Ruby, and on Linux it
uses Perl and Python.
neowin.net -
23.05.2007McAfee Updates Anti-Virus for Mac OS
McAfee on Wednesday announced that its Virex anti-virus software would now support Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger." The program is aimed at the business community to help prevent the spread of Windows worms and viruses. Although there still is no known virus that can infect a Mac OS X system, it can still act as a "carrier."..
betanews.com -
24.08.2005Exclusive: Microsoft's new Anti-Virus, 'Morro', revealed
Ever since Microsoft discontinued its "OneCare" Anti-Virus suite, gossip has been flying that Microsoft would be releasing a free
Anti-Virus\Anti-Spyware tool codenamed "Morro". The software product, codenamed "Morro" after a beach in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is already being
tested by Microsoft employees and a trial version will be made available "soon". Microsoft has stated that Morro would be available by the end of
2009 at the latest. "Morro" is likely to be targeted to compete with the low end of anti-virus products from other providers, and it will not have
much of an impact on sales of full-blown security suites.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
16.06.2009First Trojan-SMS virus for S60 Smartphones
The first Trojan SMS
virus, designed for
smartphones running Series 60
OS, has been spotted by
Russian antivirus maker
“Kaspersky Labs”. The
virus is called
Trojan-SMS.Symb.OS.Viver.
Viver is not a
harmless concept study like
recent Podloso Linux virus for
iPod. If you get infected with
this one, it can cost you some
pretty money - after
installation on your phone,
Viver starts sending SMS
messages to the premium SMS
numbers, thus accruing charges
to your mobile account and
generating income for the
virus author.
While
quite a few similar viruses
were spotted for all JAVA
running mobile phones, Viver
is the first to be
specifically designed for S60
based smartphones...
winbeta.org -
22.05.2007Old Is New Department: Microsoft Patents Proactive Virus Protection
Alexander Wolfe: <...> Here's the quick low-down on the new Microsoft patent. Issued on May 20, patent number
7,376,970 is entitled "System and method for proactive computer virus protection." The inventor is Adrian
Marinescu, who was at one point (maybe he still is) a lead developer on the Windows kernel team, heavily involved in the heap manager. He previously
worked on Windows NT's object manager, which is a key software traffic-cop managing the interaction among all the executive kernel subsystems. All
this is by way of saying that Mr. Marinescu clearly knows his operating-system internals.
winbeta.org -
22.05.2008Critical bug found in
anti-virus software
[b]A critical software bug has
been discovered in several of
the most widely used
anti-virus programs. It could
be exploited to take control
of a computer or to steal
information, according to an
analysis produced by the
independent security analyst
who made the
discovery.[/b]
The
glitch affects 39 different
Symantec products - including
both home and enterprise
versions of its anti-virus
software. It resides within
the Symantec anti-virus
library, which is used by all
of the
packages.[img]images/news/icon
s/source.gif[/img] [b]News
source[/b]:
http://www.newscientist.com/ar
ticle.ns?id=dn8505]NewScientis
t..
winbeta.org -
22.12.2005MS to Ship Malware Protection
Utility
Microsoft introduced on
Thursday a new program that
will help to combat viruses,
maiware and spyware in the
corporate environment, as well
as provide stronger protection
for current and emerging
threats. Called Microsoft
Client Protection, the new
service could be seen as new
competition for McAfee and
Symantec...
betanews.com -
06.10.2005
