http://www.castlecops.com CastleCops News Copyright © 2002-2005 2008-05-12T02:41:40-05:00 http://www.castlecops.com/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
Microsoft has released its latest July - December 2007 volume of the Security Intelligence Report.

Among the findings are :

• There was a 300% increase in the number of trojan downloaders and droppers.
• Adware remained the most prevalent category of potentially unwanted sotware.
• The top potentially unwanted sotware family detected in the second half of 2007 was Win32/Hotbar.
• The most prevalent rogue security sotware detected in the second half of 2007 was Win32/Winixer.
• During 2H07 the MSRT proportionally cleaned malware from 60% less Windows Vista-based computers, compared to computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• Phishing is still predominantly an English-language phenomenon.

Details: WinVistaClub
]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6901-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6901-nested-0-0.html Cyber Security 2008-04-23T18:43:38-05:00
With its attractive web page emblazoned with the logo of the Better Business Bureau, and a four-star testimonial by Softpedia, it is little wonder that when I was searching for a stray DLL the other night, and I happened upon a web discussion forum that had a direct link that would allow me to get it automatically, as well as update all my decrepit Intel i865-based drivers and so much more, that I, being rather hazy minded from lack of sleep after recovering from a brick-wall blue-screen crash evidently resulting from the installation of a beta version of XP SP3, would jump at the chance to purchase a noble piece of software craftsmanship that would AUTOMATICALLY find the correct updated drivers for me, freeing me from the often exhaustive efforts to track down whatever might be out there to get my ancient (single P4, 3.0 GHz) system running with quarter horse efficiency.

Softpedia testifies to the malware-free status of this product, but fails to mention that the weird junk that it ends up finding for you is often hazardous malware-ridden garbage. Curious that Softpedia gives Driver Detective -- a PC Drivers Headquarters, Inc brain (brain-dead?) child -- a four-star rating, when one can so easily click on the link for the customer ratings (four in all) that gave no higher that two stars to any aspect of the product, and all expressed disgust with their experiences with Sure Crock Holmes. Oh yeah, and don't forget to click on the link to find out the other software produced by this leading-edge firm. You'll certainly be surprised to find a listing for Driver Detective, as well as......... All I can say is, DON'T DO IT TO YOURSELF. The thirty dollar price tag will surely lend insult to your injury.

On the positive side of all this (you weren't expecting that in a rant like this were you?), I have started to learn what a hostile, dishonest, and mean-spirited environment exists in the software domain on the Web, and I will ramp up my efforts to protect myself from the welter of evils rushing at me through my cable hookup.]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6900-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6900-nested-0-0.html Anti-Virus 2008-04-23T18:38:56-05:00
In support of mother Earths day today, I thought I would pass on some links I have found interesting in "Green Computing". Tips, hints and information on what you can do to make this a greener computing world.]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6899-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6899-nested-0-0.html CyberLife 2008-04-22T14:49:32-05:00 INDIANAPOLIS -- A computer server containing Social Security numbers and other personal information of 700,000 people was stolen last month from a Southside debt-collection bureau in what appears to be the largest computer security breach ever in Indiana.

The information includes customer-billing records for about 100 Indiana businesses, including Citizens Gas & Coke Utility, St. Vincent Health and Methodist Medical Group. ]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6898-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6898-nested-0-0.html Cyber Security 2008-04-21T00:57:18-05:00 Malwarebytes has opened an official support forum for their excellent new anti-malware product here at CastleCops. This forum will be moderated by Malwarebytes\' Staff and will provide support for their Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software, otherwise known as MBAM. Several CastleCops Staff members have used this product, and have been quite impressed with it as a tool to fight malware.

MBAM comes in two versions: a free one, and a paid one. Both are identical, with the exception that the paid version includes real-time protection. The paid version provides a lifetime license for use, updates, upgrades and definition updates without any yearly renewal.

According to the Staff at Malwarebytes, MBAM includes the following features:

• Updates are frequent, at least twice a day and often much more frequent.
• Response time to new threats is very fast, generally within an hour of when they are discovered.
• Scanner is very fast and even in quick scan mode can often detect all malware.
• Works on 2K , XP and Vista.
• Free version has full removal functionality, not a trial or crippleware .
• Works well with antivirus software, with only minimal conflicts; and, the free version provides a test to determine if loading the real-time protection will cause conflicts with other software.
• Pro version is very light on system resources.
• Detects and removes many rootkits.
• MBAM scan and removal app improvements come once a week.

You may download the free/paid MBAM version from the Malwarebytes site here:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

The support forum at CastleCops is located here:

http://www.castlecops.com/f293-Malwarebytes_Anti_Malware.html
]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6897-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6897-nested-0-0.html CastleCops 2008-04-12T18:57:59-05:00
For the last 5 months, COX has been printing our \"private\" PINs on our bills. If you picked your PIN, and it is not unique to COX, your PIN for other things (garage, credit cards, etc.) is now compromised, unless you still have (or did not shred) all the printed bills going back to Nov 07. ]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6896-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6896-nested-0-0.html Privacy 2008-04-11T01:44:04-05:00
One thing I greatly appreciate is that I can go almost anywhere in my town with my laptop and get wireless Internet access – free and unsecured. It also upsets me. That's like leaving your keys in your car that’s running and then going on vacation – you're just asking someone to jump in and take off. ]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6895-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6895-nested-0-0.html Wireless 2008-04-07T22:14:10-05:00
After Mac was hacked in 2 minutes at the CanSecWest Conference, it was now the time for Vista to get hacked on the 3rd day. Windows Vista security was compromised through the popular 3rd party Adobe Flash Software.

The MacBook Air went first; a Fujitsu laptop running Vista was hacked on the last day of the contest; but it was Linux, running on a Sony Vaio, that remained undefeated as conference organizers ended a three-way computer hacking challenge Friday at the CanSecWest conference.

Source : WinVistaClub
]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6894-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6894-nested-0-0.html Security Hole 2008-03-31T13:14:25-05:00
Microsoft announced its acquisition of Komoku, a company that offers advanced root kit detection capabilities. Founded in 2004, Komoku is a startup backed by the U.S. governments Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Navy and the Department of Homeland Security.

Microsoft, has said that it will build Komuku's technology into future versions of both its Windows OneCare consumer security products, Forefront, its line of security software for businesses, as well as Stirling, its next generation of Forefront.

Via WinVistaClub



]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6893-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6893-nested-0-0.html CastleCops 2008-03-23T06:14:47-05:00
Members of Castlecops PIRT Squad have been attempting to get a phish site shut down that is continually setting up new phish. This site has been running for weeks and has been reported several times but is still running. Moike, a PIRT Handler, decided to try and get help by phone, with no success. Moike, clever as he is and true to Castlecops beliefs, decided to try something new – live chat. Here is that “service” at its best;

]]> http://www.castlecops.com/article-6892-nested-0-0.html http://www.castlecops.com/article-6892-nested-0-0.html CyberLife 2008-03-23T06:12:55-05:00