12/26/01 - Sheer Automation
Worm promises good fortune in exchange for forwarding - which it does for you.
12/24/01 - 2001: Year of the Virus
It may have been the Year of the Snake to the Chinese, but to those charged with computer security it was the Year of the Virus.
12/21/01 - Monkey for brains
If you were infected by the BadTrans.b virus, you might sleep better knowing every keystroke you typed is in the hands of bedroom-based ISP owner Rudy Rucker, Jr. Or maybe it will give you nightmares.
12/19/01 - Christmas.exe disguised as Flash file
Really a malicious VBScript virus.
12/13/01 - Gokar worm spreads via email, IRC, and infected web servers
Infection routine targets popular antivirus software, shutting down realtime protection.
12/04/01 - Goner worm threatens email, ICQ users
Mass-mailer shuts down popular antivirus programs and firewalls.
12/02/01 - Sega Saga One of Infection
Atelier Marie, a Sega Dreamcast game developed by Kool Kizz, infected with Kriz Virus
11/28/01 - AV-Testing Done Right
Is your antivirus up to par? Check out the top 5 guide picks for antivirus software for Windows home users.
11/28/01 - Before you Buy Antivirus Software
If you're a home user running Windows, you'll want to find out what goes into making a good antivirus product and which ones meet the criteria.
11/28/01 - Essential Add-ons
Antivirus software is just one layer of defense needed. Check out the products you should be running on your Windows PC for optimum protection.
11/24/01 - BadTrans.B Virus
New variant of password-stealing BadTrans virus emerges.
11/21/01 - Aliz Worm
Sleeper worm wakes up for holiday
11/12/01 - W32.Nimda.enc(dr). Maybe not.
Norton AntiVirus falsely alerts on InstallShield's ikernel.exe script engine file.
11/10/01 - MSN Hotmail cleanup?
A savvy reader passes on his tips for debunking the latest hoax.
11/01/01 - Powerpuff Girls gone bad?
New Powerpuff DVD infected with FunLove virus.
10/29/01 - Nimda.E
New variant of the Nimda worm emerges.
10/17/01 - Yo Mama, Osama
Osama shooting gallery cleverly disguised adware Trojan.
10/17/01 - Oxy-Morons
Pakistani hackers deface a NOAA web server, leaving behind ironic messages that can best be described as confused.
10/16/01 - Anthrax Virus
A routine report of an impotent virus turns into a media circus when PR gets involved.
10/11/01 - Chain of Fools
Stay away from malls, sign this petition, beware blue envelopes... Why do chain letters and hoaxes gain far more attention than legitimate virus warnings?
Discussion: Mall Terror - Is it real or a hoax?
10/11/01 - KaZaA Loves You
File-sharing security is an oxymoron and KaZaA is doing a Lovely job of pointing it out. Instead of MP3's of favorite artists, users are being dished up the LoveLetter virus.
09/24/01 - Trojan Makes Travesty of Tragedy
Mass-mailing email worm exploits the World Trade Center tragedy to entice users to open its attachment.
09/19/01 - Nimda for Dummies
A very basic description of the Nimda virus, designed for the intrepid computer user.
09/18/01 - Nimda Worm Disrupts the Internet
Auto-executing email and Internet worm launches widespread Internet attack.
09/14/01 - Small Acts of Kindness
In the face of tragedy, antivirus vendors display compassion and grace.
09/14/01 - Scam scum and other Atrocities
Bottom scrapers exploit tragedy for gain.
09/11/01 - How strong is the Web?
Can Internet communications be crippled?
09/04/01 - Lara Croft: Computer Raider
The Lara Croft virus is the first to spread using Windows Desktop Themes.
09/04/01 - Magistr Variant Surfaces
A new, improved - and as yet undetectable - Magistr virus has been discovered.
09/03/01 - Don't Read This Readme
The APost virus disguises itself as Readme.exe.
08/31/01 - Hoax Marketing
Intelliquis stoops to new low using a virus hoax to scare people into buying their product.
08/31/01 - Invalid worm
Invalid worm pretends to patch invalid SSL certificates.
08/29/01 - Stopping the Email-borne Virus
Filtering software remains the best defense against the email-borne threats. However, there are also steps users can take to manually defend against such viruses.
08/28/01 - !0000 Trick
A misguided attempt to be helpful could lead to compromise of personal - and corporate - email.
08/21/01 - Click Here To Flush
Is Tomorrow's Dream Home a Nightmare?
08/20/01 - Don't Play the Blame Game
Don't persecute infected users; help them to avoid infection. Ken Dunham reports.
08/05/01 - Code Red II
New version of Code Red compromises systems by dropping Remote Access Trojan.
07/31/01 - Code Red: Round Two
Wily worm gears up for second round of infections. U.S. Government calls for action.
07/23/01 - Virus Alert: SirCam
New worm floods inboxes everywhere. The SirCam worm, discovered just days ago, has quickly become a top infector. Effects range from confidentiality breaches to unuseable systems.
07/20/01 - Code Red Goes Splat
Whitehouse squishes wily worm with graceful sidestep.
07/19/01 - Internet Armageddon
Wily worm threatens hostile Internet takeover.
07/19/01 - The Joke's on Symantec
Prankster alleges copyright violation and asks for one million in small bills.
07/18/01 - SirCam Sure Can Compromise
Confidentiality breaches an unpleasant side affect of SirCam worm
07/17/01 - Leave This Bulletin Alone
Bogus MS Security Bulletin tempts users into infection - tricking them into downloading a patch that really contains a virus.
07/11/01 - Safety 101
Before you tread to deeply into murky Internet waters, check out these tips for safety to protect yourself from viruses and hackers.
07/10/01 - Viruses Have Gone to Pot
A virus urging the legalization of marijuana has gotten pot fans smoking mad, prompting angry posts from not so mellow victims.
06/28/01 - Internet & Computer Ethics
Winn Schwartau's book is more than just "how-things-work", focusing attention on questions designed to develop ethical computing practices.
06/19/01 - RTF Files: No protection against macro viruses
RTF files are often touted by antivirus vendors as a safe means of sharing documents created in Microsoft® Word. But are they really that safe? Kaspersky Labs thinks not, and history has proven them right.
06/19/01 - Microsoft Web Server Flaw
In a strongly worded security bulletin issued June 18, 2001, Microsoft® warned of a flaw in their Microsoft Index Server 2.0 and Indexing Service in Windows 2000 which could "give the attacker the ability to take any desired action on the server."
06/19/01 - Don't Get UnZipped Over Choke Worm
A warning circulating about the MSN Messenger worm Choke erroneously urges users to delete all the ZIP files on their system to rid themselves of the virus. This is neither necessary nor prudent.
06/12/01 - IRCsome McVeigh Video a R.A.T.
SubSeven, a remote access Trojan, was discovered on IRC masqerading as a video of the McVeigh execution.
06/11/01 - Mac.Simpson Virus
A mass mailing email worm targeting Macintosh computers directs the infected user's browser to an online archive of the popular U.S. television show, "The Simpsons".
06/09/01 - AOL.EXE Virus Hoax
One man's idea of a joke spawns more trouble for novice users.
06/07/01 - Jenn Lo is no Miss World
With an estimated 200 new viruses discovered monthly, it is always interesting to see which one will gain attention. As with most things in life, a good name seems to help. Though not scoring many points in the infection circle, where both the Jennifer Lopez and Miss World viruses seem to have petered out, readers are responding to media and antivirus vendor reports on these newest entrants.
06/07/01 - SULFNBK.EXE: Hoax, Helpfulness, or Magistr virus? A bit of history and trivia surrounding the SULFNBK.EXE saga, as well as pitfalls to watch out for to achieve optimum protection.
05/26/01 - SULFNBK.EXE: Restoring from CD
A bogus warning has caused many to delete the legitimate SULFNBK.EXE file. Here are the steps to take to restore the file from the operating system CD.
05/17/01 - Virus Alert: Mawanella
A new politically motivated virus is being conveyed via email. Despite the lackluster email message and non-disguised .vbs attachment, enough people are opening it to propell the worm into the Medium Risk category within half a day of its discovery.
05/16/01 - Sulfnbk.exe: The first malicious hoax?
Originating in Brazil, a new hoax alleges the file SULFNBK.EXE is in fact a virus and urges users to search their system for the presence of the file. The hoax warns, even "Norton did not discover it". Perhaps this is because the file is not infected.
05/14/01 - McAfee: Viruses are everywhere
One vendor turns the problem of false positives into a supposed feature, and then claims other antivirus vendors are just jealous. Of what? Misreporting?
05/09/01 - Homepage: Not such a cool site
Another script kiddie plays with the Anna Kournikova virus generator, this time creating a VBS worm that masquerades as a really cool homepage. Apparently, this bit of social engineering is working. MessageLabs reports the virus is spreading at about the same rate as the Anna Kournikova virus did.
05/01/01 - BadTrans: AutoReply with a twist
Imagine a virus that lies in wait for incoming emails, then replies to each one, paraphrasing the original text and adding a malicious attachment before sending it out in your name. BadTrans is just that type of virus and according to MessageLabs, should be considered a high risk.
04/18/01 - A Match Made In...
A worm masquerading as a compatibility test for possible soulmates has been unmasked by antivirus vendors. The only match this worm makes is with virus scanners.
04/05/01 - Are We Under Attack?
It almost sounds like something straight out of a Warner Brothers' movie called The Conspiracy Theory except this time there's more than just Mel Gibson proclaiming subversive intent. Many experts feel targeted Internet attacks, via malicious viruses and illicit access, are on the horizon - and in some cases, already a reality.
04/02/01 - Email + IE = Flaw
A new vulnerability has been discovered in the interplay between Internet Explorer and mail clients that support HTML rendered email. This flaw allows attachments to be automatically executed on the user's system.
03/28/01 - Winux: Two in One Virus
Virus researchers have discovered a new breed of virus that infects both Windows and Linux files on Intel-based Pentium PC's. Considered a proof-of-concept virus, it has not been found in-the-wild.
03/23/01 - Linux Users Beware the Lion
The SANS Institute's Global Incident Analysis Center has issued an alert warning of a Linux worm similar to the Ramen virus but significantly more dangerous. The Lion worm affects Linux machines running the BIND DNS server, versions 8.2, 8.2-P1, 8.2.1, 8.2.2-Px, and all 8.2.3-betas.
03/22/01 - A Breach of Trust
VeriSign, the foremost authority for digitally signed certificates, erroneously awarded two certificates to an unknown person masquerading as a Microsoft employee. These certificates could be used to digitally sign programs such as ActiveX controls and Word macros and both of these are capable of launching malicious code.
03/19/01 - A virus with a (political) conscience
A new virus emerges that spreads its infection with a political message detailing the plight of Palestinian children reportedly being killed by Israeli soldiers. The virus author, apparently disturbed by the lack of media attention, provides graphic details of one such assault and makes a plea to stop the blood shed.
03/14/01 - Magistr virus
A new virus was found in the wild on March 13, and within 24 hours was being assigned a medium risk rating by antivirus vendors. The virus has a malicious payload that can erase information found in the system BIOS and destroy sectors on the hard drive as well.
03/14/01 - Who's Got My Email?
Norton Antivirus has come under fire recently from users and media concerned with their use of a proxy server to scan incoming mail. Allegations of angry ISP's and unretrievable mail have grown to allegations of the mail actually being routed to Symantec's own servers.
03/10/01 - False Positives
I see viruses. What to do when your scanner insists there's a virus and your program vendor insists there is not.
03/06/01 - Naked Wife
Forget the baby pic's, a new worm is spreading disguised as a movie of the sender's naked wife. Received in email as an attachment named "NakedWife.exe", this worm was discovered and labeled high risk on the same day.
03/05/01 - Fw: Fw: Fw: Hoax
Mass-mailing email worms don't have to have a malicious payload to cause trouble. Just the threat of their spread can result in a knee-jerk reaction of shutting down mail-servers until signature updates can be obtained. Wonder why no one shuts down the mail server when a hoax gets going? From a prevalency standpoint, it seems hoaxes win hands down.
02/28/01 - What's Wrong With This Picture?
Hoax warnings urging users to beware of emails received with the subject line "NEW PICTURES OF FAMILY" are increasingly achieving a high rate of spread. Now joining these false alerts are legitimate virus warnings of "My Baby Picture".
02/28/01 - The Gnu Virus Share
Designed to be de-centralized, Gnutella advocates praise its ability to maintain privacy and weather a nuclear storm. In premise, it's a means to share files with complete strangers. In reality, the total anonymity just might evolve into a great way to get infected.
02/28/01 - Critical Update
Outlook Express and Outlook users are advised a critical update has been issued by Microsoft. The patch addresses a vulnerability wherein an attacker could take any action the user himself could take.
02/21/01 - Who's To Blame
Virus writers are blaming users. Companies are blaming users. Who is to blame for viruses like Anna Kournikva, Kak, Loveletter, and Melissa?
02/14/01 - F-Secure Volleys and Wins Match
Virus writers beware. The folks at F-Secure do more than detect viruses - they nab the writers of them. In a press release issued Feb 14, 2001, F-Secure provides details of the manhunt that resulted in the discovery of the virus author just two days after the worm was released in the wild.
02/12/01 - Virus Alert
A mass-mailing virus masquerading as a picture of international tennis star Anna Kournikova is spreading rapidly around the Internet. Within a few hours of discovery, it has already infected thousands of computers in both the U.S. and the U.K., and infection rates were growing exponentially.
02/07/01 - Combination Hoaxes
The newest breed of hoaxes combine legitimate virus information with the bogus. How can you determine what is real and what is hype?
02/05/01 - Email Wiretapping
Imagine a world where your email could be bugged, your every forwarded word spied upon. Welcome to that world. Email can be wiretapped, forwarded text can be retrieved, and it can be used against you.
02/03/01 - Hey You! This Makes No Sense
Is McAfee's warning of the APS_Trojan, an AOL password stealing Trojan, jusified? Read the report then decide by casting your vote for when to sound the alarm.
02/01/01 - A Nod To Nod32
Eset's Nod32 is a thoroughly amazing little scanner packing one heck of a punch in a tiny 2Mb package.
01/24/01 - Certification Results
In this first round of antivirus software reviews, several products were eliminated due to lack of certification. Find out who's still in the review cycle for the upcoming performance testing and whether your antivirus choice made the cut.
01/23/01 - Melissa.W Message Is Clear
Many antivirus vendors aren't equipped to deal with the Mac Office 2001 macro virus format threatening all versions of Windows. Is your antivirus software able to keep up?
01/19/01 - Melissa.W Making Rounds
An outbreak of Melissa.W has antivirus vendors alerting users to update to antivirus software capable of coping with Macintosh Office 2001. This virus affects all Windows platforms as well as Macintosh
01/17/01 - How To Catch A Virus
Did you know that not all antivirus software works the same? Discover the various methods employed and why some may be better than others. Part III of a series entitled "Protection You Can Count On".
01/10/01 - Making The Right Choice
Buying antivirus software is one of the least exciting purchases you'll ever make for your computer. I rate it right up (down?) there with surge supressors. While it may never be fun, this article will help make it easier. Part II of a series entitled "Protection You Can Count On".
01/03/01 - Pre-Installed Trouble
Are computers that come equipped with pre-installed antivirus software a prescription for trouble? Part I of a series entitled "Protection You Can Count On".
