Latest articles on Conficker worm

W32 Stuxnet-B rootkit can install itself automatically from a USB memory stick onto a fully-patched PC

(23/08/2010)

Sophos has detected a rootkit that can install itself automatically from a USB memory stick onto a fully-patched PC, even if the user has disabled the Windows AutoRun and AutoPlay feature. The W32/Stuxnet-B rootkit exploits a vulnerability in the way Windows handles .LNK shortcut files, that allows them to execute automatically if the USB stick is accessed by Windows Explorer. Once the rootkit is in place it effectively enters "stealth-mode", cloaking its presence on the infected PC. Curi... [more]

SMEs most at risk from new methods of infection

(14/07/2009)

Malware-spreading vectors are being used to infect small and medium-sized businesses, allowing dangerous malware to enter a business’ network and compromise its security. According to Viorel Canja, head of BitDefender Labs, Bucharest, many small and medium-sized business are potentially at risk because many don’t have the level of security necessary to prevent these vectors from being used to infect their networks. “Businesses need to be aware of these new and dangerous methods of infection a... [more]

New data security threats for April Fools

(31/03/2009)

April Fool's day is known to be a time when new data security threats arise and old ones are reactivated. This year a much discussed topic has been the expected update of the Conficker network worm which is said to be the worst in the virus history, but it is yet to be seen what sort of surprises the update might bring along. On April 1st two years ago, the ANI worm spread around the globe using an exploit found in Windows. On April 1st last year, the Storm worm spread in email messages tha... [more]

Truth and misconception about the Conficker worm

(31/03/2009)

While Conficker is not a threat to take lightly, much of the information being circulated about the worm has been sensationalized and is riddled with inaccuracies. Mary Landesman, senior security researcher at ScanSafe, sets the record straight: Misconception: The Conficker worm is a ticking time bomb that will detonate on April 1st. Truth: There are multiple variants of Conficker. Each variant checks in with the command and control servers at regular intervals. A few of the less common va... [more]

Internet users have a false sense of security with antivirus software that has not been updated

(25/02/2009)

According to F-Secure's annual Online Wellbeing Survey of Internet users aged 20-40 in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and India, although 90 per cent of respondents across all countries understood the ease of infections from malicious websites, a quarter thought their PCs were under attack from Spartans – a virus term that does not exist. Despite 92 per cent of respondents having security software installed on their PC, a mere 21 per cent were aware that their antiv... [more]

USD 250,000 reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the authors of the Conficker worm

(14/02/2009)

Microsoft's reputation is always badly shaken whenever a computer virus causes widespread problems for its users, and there have been many other occasions in the past of malware designed to exploit weaknesses in the software giant's software, or that pretended to be messages from Microsoft technical support. Microsoft is offering a USD 250,000 reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the authors of the Conficker worm which wreaked havoc for many computer users last mont... [more]

 

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