Hextually transmitted pathogen encrypts files
A ransomware Trojan threat is back – in an even more noxious form – two years after it last appeared.…
Source: The Register – Security
Category: Trojans
BitDefender, the award winning online security software provides great protection against viruses and other threats. ByteDefender on the other hand is a rogue/trojan that exploits BitDefender’s name for malicious purposes.
Read more on BitDefender Guide
Hello Friends,
Have you had of the latest Conficker’s massive infestation?
The damaging and popular downadup worm – Conficker – has been reported to have done its malicious attacks in hospital operations. It’s finally made its way into Hospital medical devices and its wrecking havoc.
The organizer of the Conficker Working Group and Senior Vice President for Neustar, Rodney Joffe, told a Congress that almost 300 medical devices under one manufacturer were infected with the worm, said CBS news.
Most of the infected devices were those that were connected to local area networks (LANs).Hospital operations have been affected and it has become a very serious problem that must be kept a close eye on.
Medical devices have been compromised due to the connection to an un-patched version of Microsoft’s Operating System. The patch which carries the protection from such worms and virus attack was released late last year but because of the 90-day notice regulation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it had not been installed.
It has come to light that not only hospitals have been affected and are vulnerable from Conficker, other industries too have been hit hard, so there’s no complete assurance of safety unless you are well protected with the right antivirus.
Conficker manifests and self copies itself on machines, targeting those that are run in Microsoft Windows and do not have the patch installed.
Conficker-proof your machines and prevent it from being attacked, make sure to install the latest windows updates which can be found on the microsoft website and most important of all update your security solutions.
The top conficker-proof security software for your business in the market today include Bitdefender Enterprise Solution, Counterspy Enterprise and Ad-Aware Enterprise.
Don’t wait until its too late you have been warned!
Until Next Time 
Peter – Your Online Security Guide
Hello Friend,
There’s a new malware on the web that is wrecking havoc in every way possible.
This drive-by-download exploit is called, Gumblar.
The latest manner of attack known from Gumblar is when doing searches on Google, it redirects Google search results to malicious sites where it loads more malware on the PC by means of drive-by-download attack that infects via PDF and Adobe Flash. Not only does it install more malwares in the PC, it also steals login details and FTP credentials thus compromising those sites owned and operated by the victim.
Since Gumblar is quite a pervasive virus its victims fall for it without knowing, Cisco came up with tips for websites and enterprises on dealing with the problem.
Tips on dealing with Gumblar Virus from Cisco
1. Ensure you have Security for your Servers
Make sure security protection is implemented for web servers and web applications. Bitdefender have a very good mail and file server security solution.
2. Be Aware of Pop-ups
Alert users and visitors to pay attention to pop-ups that leads to a questionnaire site.
3. Gateway Security
Organizations should install gateway security that is capable of drilling down into every Internet access request. Bitdefender Total Security 2009 is recommended.
5. Firewalls that can be analyzed
Make sure perimeters are secured with firewalls that can be analyzed.
Gumblar has outruled Conficker this month, either way, we don’t want any viruses for our systems.
We encourage you to do timely software updates and and use up-to-date security solutions not only to be Gumblar free but completely virus-free and Safe!
If your security program is out of date you can read more about the latest and up-to date security software available in the market today.
Until Next Time
Peter – Your Online Security Guide
Watch out people for Ransom-ware is back!
Ransom-ware is a computer malware which sorts of kidnaps or holds a user’s computer files even system, turn it into a hostage and then demands a ransom for a fix.
Just when we thought that the 2005 ransom ware attack against a company (where the hackers were eventually arrested) was dead and gone, this year, it has been again detected as a Trojan called TROJ_FAKEALE.BG. This type of of ransom-ware encrypts files opened by the user therefore making it unusable, it will the prompt the user to purchase a decryption od removal tool which claims to restore the files, which was after all encrypted by the Trojan itself. The purchase alone makes up for he reason on why it’s called a ransom-ware.
Users are required to purchase a $50 application called, “File Fix Professional”. Sad to say, it doesn’t really eliminate the problem, but rather, after the payment made to solve the matter, the Trojan finds those files again and re-encrypts them, problem arises again, user ends up on re-purchasing the same application, now that’s how the heist works.
A removal tool for the File Fix Professional and a file recovery toll have been posted at BleepingComputer forum.
Be careful, because not only does this syndicate victimize companies, they also target specifically those who are not so computer savvy. Taking extra precautions and having the right Antivirus solution installed on your computer will definitely keep you safe and secured from ransom-ware.
Until next time
Peter – Your Online Security Guide
According to safety experts on Symantec Antivirus software company the creators of the superworm Downadup (Conficker.c) failed doing any damage yesterday. I wrote about the Conficker worm about a month ago.
Several online security experts has warned about the built in attack plan the worm carried. A plan that was supposed to start yesterdan, April 1st.
A major reason for the failure is supposed to be the media attention the worm got.
Perhaps our article here at Online Security Guide helped 
Until next time
Peter – Your Online Security Guide
A third version of the worm Downadup has been identified by Security company Symantec.
The worm Downadup started spreading over the internet in high speed in the beginning of January has now been released in an updated version. (Also called Conficker.c)
The worm is now starting to act as a trojan instead of a worm.
The new version is also turning off several different Windows functions such as the included Antivirus software, which makes it more difficult to identify the virus.
Peter Your Online Security Guide
Two of the biggest social media sites, MySpace and Facebook, have recently faced a worm which has offered people a video but underhandedly inserts a Trojan into their vulnerable systems.
This social media phenomenon has been bound to catch the attention of vicious hackers and criminals. Especially because many younger users are may not be as cautious in clicking on flashing links or pop-ups. This has contributed to the most recent malware problem circulating the internet.
