AVG and Netlog Partner to Help More Than 24 Million Social Networking Users Stay Safe

February 1, 2011 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

AVG Technologies announced that it has teamed up with Netlog to launch a co-branded Security Center within the popular European social network now available at http://www.netlog.com/go/helpdesk/security/.

The Security Center powered by AVG, will inform and educate users about Internet security, provide tips and help users protect themselves from malware, spyware and other attacks by cybercriminals while they surf online. Additionally, all links within Netlog will be automatically scanned by AVG LinkScanner, warning users to refrain from opening a link when a threat is detected.

With more than 72 million members and over 150 million visitors per month, Netlog is one of the fastest-growing and most popular social networking sites amongst European youth between the ages of 18 and 25. The Security Center will be initially rolled out to 24 million Netlog users in the top six countries of the Netlog user base, which are Belgium, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Romania and Turkey. As part of the educational initiative, Netlog users will also be able to download AVG Free and Paid products at a discounted price while receiving bonus Netlog credits at http://en.netlog.com/go/downloads/. Users can also visit a dedicated AVG page to learn more about the company and apply exclusive AVG monster ‘brand skins’ to their own page at http://www.netlog.com/internetsecurity/.

“AVG is delighted to work with Netlog on this strategic initiative. Social media has become the heartbeat of our society and as such, it is particularly vulnerable to the criminal elements,” said Rocco Donnino, senior vice president of Global Strategic Alliances, AVG Technologies. “Netlog is taking incredible measures to create a safe and secure environment for their members, thus it’s imperative that Netlog users have the most up-to-date security software and information available so that they stay protected while surfing online.”

“A significant amount of Netlog users are aged 13 to 20. This age group tends to be relatively more vulnerable to online threats, which is why we attach a great deal of importance to online security. Other than guaranteeing the safest possible experience on our own site, we can now offer our users a way to protect themselves wherever they go on the web, thanks to our partnership with AVG,” said Lorenz Bogaert, CEO of Massive Media.

The agreement is part of the AVG’s Global Strategic Alliances (GSA) group and “Trust Alliance” program focused on development, licensing initiatives and strategic partnerships in security, social media and the online community.

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WatchGuard Lists Most Risky Web Apps

January 26, 2011 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

According to WatchGuard security researchers, the fastest growing threat to corporate networks is web-based social media applications.  These applications can seriously compromise network security, expose sensitive data, and create productivity drains on employees.

There are many reasons why social media applications can pose risk to any size business. Here are a few:

  • Productivity Loss: Various research organizations have reported that the United States loses billions of dollars a year due to lowered productivity, as a result of time sinks such as social media sites.  Although social media sites can be used for collaboration and rich communications, IT administrators often lack the ability to manage and control business productivity web applications vis-a-vis gaming web applications.
  • Data loss: With most US states enacting mandatory data breach disclosure laws, businesses are increasingly concerned about data leakage, whether accidental or malicious. Unfortunately, the attributes that make social media sites a fantastic communication medium also make them a potential risk for information and privacy leakage.  By having application control capabilities, administrators reduce risks associated with accidental as well as malicious data loss. Read more

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CA report: Fake security software, search engines and social networks 2009′s Top Internet Threats

December 10, 2009 · Filed Under Software News · Comment 

CA “State of the Internet 2009″ Report Analyzes Top Internet Threats; Researchers Predict Online Threats for 2010

The latest State of the Internet 2009 report issued today by CA, Inc. states that the most notable 2009 online threats were rogue/fake security software, major search engines, social networks and Web 2.0 threats. The report, based on data compiled by CA’s Global Security Advisor researchers, compiles trends from the first half of 2009. CA security researchers also offer predictions for the top Internet threats for 2010, including an increase in “malvertising” and the potential for another big computer worm outbreak like Conficker.

“Cybercriminals have made a business out of conducting attacks on the most popular online destinations because they promise the highest payoff,” said Don DeBolt, director of threat research for CA’s Internet Security Business Unit. “Cybercriminals keep up with trends, major events, holidays, and the like, and focus on where they’ll get the biggest returns. Search engines, like Google and Yahoo, or social networking sites, like Twitter or Facebook, have the mass appeal to attract these criminals. In addition to Internet security software, the best weapon against today’s threats is education, so that consumers know what to look for when they are conducting activities online.”

CA researchers tracked the following trends in 2009:
– Rogue or Fake Security Software: Software that poses as legitimate Internet security software but is actually malware has experienced a significant surge in popularity. In the first half of 2009, CA added detection for 1,186 new variants of Rogue security software, which is a 40% increase compared to the last half of 2008.
– Search Index Poisoning: Google is a frequent target of online threats. Attackers employ sophisticated search engine optimizations to manipulate search engine rankings and poison users’ search results, which direct them to compromised Web sites that can cause malware infections.
– Social Networks/Web 2.0: Popular online communities, blogs and social media sites, such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, are highly targeted. Financially motivated organized groups are among the aggressive attackers, creating hundreds of bogus profiles to perform various tasks, including distributing malware, spamming and stealing users’ online identities to perpetrate further cybercrime. Win32/Koobface is an example of a worm propagating through social networking sites. It uses the affected user’s login credentials to send messages to the user’s list of connected friends and family. In 2009, CA ISBU discovered more than 100 components and mutated strains belonging to the Win32/Koobface family.
– Identity Theft: Attacks targeting online credentials allowed attackers to distribute further cybercriminal activities, such as email address harvesting for Spam bots, sweeping FTP accounts for web infection and attributing to social network worm propagation, like Win32/Koobface. Stealing Trojans accounted for 23% of the most prevalent malware infections in 2009.
– Cybersquatting and typosquatting: Malicious Web sites that masquerade as legitimate, reputable sites deceive users into undertaking transactions or activities in which they divulge sensitive data.
– Mac OS X Threats: Security threats have come to the Mac. In 2009, CA ISBU has added 15 intelligent signatures detecting Mac OS X threats. The most prevalent being OSX/Jahlav.

“Malware doubled in 2009 and the ability to purchase bots and other malicious programs online is becoming more prevalent,” DeBolt continued. “It is a cat and mouse game. Cybercriminals are evolving along with the malware community and are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit, from online banking to search index poisoning.”

While spam and phishing scams are still on the rise, the breakdown for how malware was distributed in 2009 was dominated by the Internet at 78 percent, followed by email (via attachments or phishing) at 17 percent, and finally removable media (such as USB drives, digital photo frames, etc.) with 5 percent.

CA forward looking online security predictions for 2010:

1. Search engine optimization exploits and malicious advertising (Malvertising) will increase as a means to distribute Malware.
2. Another big computer worm like Conficker is likely. The increasing popularity of web-based applications and discovery of critical zero-day vulnerabilities, especially for new operating systems such as Windows 7 and Google Chrome, present good opportunities for a new worm outbreak.
3. Threats to Web 2.0 technologies such as social networks will continue to grow.
4. Denial-of-Service attacks will increase in popularity as a means to make a political statement. Popular websites like Twitter and Facebook are likely to fall victim once again.
5. Banking Trojans: These Trojans manifest as banking-related threats orchestrated to steal users’ identities for financial gain.
6. Malware actors will focus on the 64 bit and Apple platform.

The CA 2009 State of Internet Security report is intended to inform consumers and businesses of the newest and most dangerous Internet threats, forecast trends and provide practical advice for protection. The analysis provided is based on incident information from the CA Global Security Advisor team, submitted by CA customers and consumers from January to June 2009, as well as publicly available information. For the full CA 2009 State of Internet Security report, please visit www.ca.com/securityadvisor.

The CA Global Security Advisor Team delivers the around-the-clock, dependable security expertise, offering trusted security advice to the world for more than 16 years. Providing a complete threat management resource, CA’s Security Advisor Team is staffed by industry-leading researchers and skilled support professionals. CA Global Security Advisor is available at www.ca.com/securityadvisor. It offers free security alerts, RSS feeds, PC scans and a regular blog updated by the worldwide team of researchers. CA’s entire portfolio of threat-related products for home, small and medium businesses, and enterprises are updated and protected by the CA Global Security Advisor team.

Source: CA

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WatchGuard announces Top Threats to education

November 4, 2009 · Filed Under Software News · Comment 

Education-related Threats Expected to Rise – According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 25 percent of all cyber-security breaches involve schools, and although a majority of educators believe that their campus networks are more secure now than last year, WatchGuard predicts that significant breaches, vulnerabilities and threats will continue to plague schools and universities. WatchGuard deems the following to be the leading network, application and data threats to education:

– Malware & Spyware - As students and faculty utilize the Web for education as well as entertainment purposes, many unwittingly expose themselves to drive-by downloads, or corrupted websites, which injects malicious forms of software on their computers. Once infected, they risk becoming victims of identity theft or loss of personal information via spyware and keyloggers.
– Viruses – Today, e-mail remains to be one of the primary vectors for delivering viruses. Unfortunately, a recent survey showed that 27 percent of users fail to keep their antivirus signatures up to date.  With viruses taking on innovative polymorphic properties, antivirus signatures alone may not be enough to stop the next wave of new viruses to come.
– Botnets – It has been estimated that 15 to 20 percent of all school and university computers connected to the Internet may be part of a botnet. As part of a botnet, school and university systems may be used in a variety of unknown exploits, including spam delivery, denial of service attacks, click-fraud, identity theft and more.
– Phishing – Phishing scams continue to get more sophisticated and selective, with students being specifically targeted. A recent report states that phishing attacks via social networks achieve a success rate of over 70 percent, which indicates that a majority of students are vulnerable to phishing scams.
– Hacking - In a recent survey of education IT professionals, 23 percent ranked student hackers as one of their greatest threats to their network security. Whether the hacks are designed to alter grades or for more sinister purposes, student hackers continue to push the envelope for network and data protection.
– Access Control – Usage of mobile devices and wireless access continues to plague network administrators. Concerns of thwarting unauthorized user access to education IT resources is top of mind with many administrators. As use of mobile devices escalates, schools will face
increasing challenges in managing authorized network access.
– Social Networks – The number one threat to school and university networks is social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace.  Unfortunately, social networks act as an ideal platform to launch a myriad of attacks against students and faculty, including spam, viruses, malware, phishing and more. Adding to this, socially engineered attacks are often extremely successful due to the “trusted” environment that social networks create.

– Because of the sensitive nature of student and faculty information, such as social security numbers, credit card information, and other personal identifying data at risk, WatchGuard recommends that schools and universities review their security controls and IT policies regularly to ensure they have the most effective, up-to-date security solutions in place.

Source: WatchGuard Technologies

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U.S. ranks 9th in Global PC Infection Report, according to PandaLabs

September 29, 2009 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

Average number of worldwide infections grew 15 percent over last month – Global infection ratio hits all time high this year at nearly 60 percent

PandaLabs, Panda Security’s malware analysis and detection laboratory, announced that it has detected a 15 percent increase in the total number of malware-infected computers in September in comparison to the previous month of August. According to data gathered from users that scanned and disinfected their computers with the free Panda ActiveScan online antivirus, the average infection ratio rose to 59 percent, the highest rate this year.

In comparison to the infection rates of 29 countries, the U.S. ranks ninth with an infection ratio of 58.25 percent, just below the worldwide average. Taiwan has the most infected PCs, with a 69.10 percent corruption, followed by Russia and China at 67.99 percent and 61.97 percent, respectively. The country with the least infections is Norway at 39.60 percent. To view a table that outlines the percentage of infected computers by country, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/3963144168/.

According to Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs, “There is a false sense of security, as users perceive there to be no real danger at the moment. When their computers get infected, they rarely notice any symptoms.”

Panda’s study revealed that U.S. computers are infected by the most dangerous malware strains: Trojans, followed by adware, worms and viruses. To see the number and types of malware on infected computers in the U.S., please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lithium-/3963437003/sizes/o/.

“This is a clear sign that hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated,” explains Corrons. “Cybercriminals have found news ways to spread their creations, frequently exploiting the latest news stories to launch attacks through social networks, videos, and email. The huge amount of Trojans in circulation is due to the spectacular increase in the number of banker Trojans aimed at stealing user data.”

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