Google Hardens Chrome To Block Malicious Extensions
Google says it has taken extra steps to counter the threat posed by malicious extensions to its Chrome Web browser, after incidents in which malicious extensions were used to power online scams.
Malware
Blackshades RAT Pops Up in Attacks on Syrian Activists
They just do not stop having targeted malware attacks in Syria. Just a few days after the author of the Dark Comet RAT announced he was shutting down development and sales of the tool, partly because it was used in attacks by the Syrian government, experts have found that pro-government attackers are using the Blackshades RAT for similar attacks on anti-government activists.
Targeted Attacks on Small Businesses Increase in 2012
In the first six months of 2012, 36 percent of targeted attacks focused on small businesses of fewer than 250 employees, and there were an average of 58 attacks per day, according to a new research report. At the end of 2011, small businesses were on the receiving end of only 18 percent of such attacks.
Researchers analyzing the Dark Comet remote access Trojan (RAT) program say that data from more than 400 campaigns suggests the malicious program is being used for a wide range of jobs, from attacks on online gamers, to potential hacks of air force bases and government Web sites.
A new downloader uncovered by researchers at the Finnish security firm F-Secure is capable of sniffing out which operating system a user is running and infecting them with a custom malicious payload.
Symantec is warning of new malware masquerading as two apps on Google Play that claimed up to 100,000 victims before the Trojan was removed.Both “Super Mario Bros.” and “GTA 3 Moscow City” racked up 50,000 to 100,000 downloads after being posted June 24 on Google Play.
A new family of malware has infected some 100,000 Android devices via malicious application downloads on nine separate third-party markets in China, according to researchers at the mobile security provider TrustGo.
The security firm Trusteer reports that new Web-based attacks are targeting Android smartphone users in a campaign to circumvent two-factor sign-on features used by many banks to protect account holders.
You know things have gone sideways when NPR and local TV news are talking about the “Internet doomsday” or “Black Monday”. We have DNSChanger to thank for this latest bout of Internet paranoia, and there’s a ton of misinformation and craziness circulating about the malware. We’re here to provide some actual information, luckily for you.
The author of DarkComet, one of the more notorious remote administration tools in use today, has said that he is ending development and sales of the tool after finding out that DarkComet was used by the Syrian government in attacks against anti-government activists.
