Chinese internet users have become the top target for malware, according to a new security report by Microsoft. The company said that about 47 percent of software “exploits” it found, including ones that can record keystrokes and steal passwords, in the first half of 2008 were in Chinese, while only 23 percent were in English.
Our sister site Kotaku posted the NPD’s PC software sales charts for the month of September, and it’s pretty interesting to see how mega-games like Spore measure up to less-exciting products like Microsoft Office. Spore may have nabbed the top spot, but MS Office 2007 grabs two spots, and despite its early troubles, MobileMe sneaks onto the list at number 19. What’s most interesting is that antivirus and anti-spyware software take a whopping 9 out of the top 20 spaces. Looks like digital security is the hot buy of the season. [Kotaku]
Picture this: You’re trying to figure out why your grandmother’s computer is running so slow when she mentions that an error message told her to download a $US39.95 “fixer-upper,” and you realise that some rat bastard out there tricked the poor old dame into installing spyware. Doesn’t that make you angry? It’s certainly pissed off Microsoft, who’s filed a lawsuit with Washington state against “scareware” software makers.
A 23-year-old student named Craig Feigin is facing possible felony charges in Florida for allegedly putting spyware of the worst kind on up to 10 women’s laptop computers. The programs, which he apparently wrote himself, would cause the integrated webcams on the laptops take snapshots at certain times when a person was close and upload them to a server on the Internet, where he would be able to browse them at will. This included several photos of at least one woman in various states of undress. The moral of the story: Make sure you trust your computer repair geek, or at least keep an eye on what they’re doing to your machines. [Ars]
Spam is horrible. Phishing is evil. Computer Viruses are potentially deadly (to your computer). They’re also exsquisitely breathtaking, if you look at the work of Alex Dragulescu.
Security Firm MessageLabs commissioned the digital artist to create 15 interpretations of different viruses, trojans, spam, worms and spyware code. What you’re looking at above is the MyDoom email worm.
The images were created by inserting part of the actual code from the various online threat into a proprietary algorithm which twisted it, turned it, shook it around and turned it into art. We’ve got more pics, plus the artist’s own explanation below.
Oh, this is rich. The MPAA’s “University Toolkit,” which is essentially spyware the MPAA asked schools to install on their servers to make sure their students weren’t pirating License to Wed when they were supposed to be studying, has been taken down for copyright violation. Copyright violation! What a collection of assholes. The Toolkit is based on the GPL-licensed Xubuntu version of Linux. Its public licence requires that any program written with its code have its source code released and licensed under the GPL, which the MPAA repeatedly refused to do. So, after repeatedly being ignored by the MPAA, a heroic Ubuntu developer sent a DMCA notice to the MPAAs ISP telling them to take it down. How’s it feel, MPAA? How does it feel? [Slashdot via BoingBoing]
Who cares? Well we like to throw some love to local kids, and most of you probably didn’t even realise that PC Tools, maker of Spyware Doctor, is actually an Aussie software shop. Earlier this year it had a big win when Spyware Doctor was added to Google Pack, and now, after three years on the market, Spyware Doctor has broken its 100 millionth download.
PC Tools’ background was in registry editing, with its Registry Mechanic still one of the best in show, so it makes sense that it was well placed to deliver a top notch anti-malware package.
So here’s to a grouse Aussie dev done good! -Seamus Byrne
Official Site [PC Tools]
