Information Protection and Security

Most of today’s cyber-crime is all about one thing—money. Nowhere is that more evident than in the case of online banking Trojans. Malware targeting banking information is not new, but as recent research into the URLZone Trojan has shown, attackers are not slowing down when it comes to innovation. Security pros at Finjan tied URLZone to the theft of 300,000 euros—about $439,000 at the time—from German bank accounts during a 22-day period.

Microsoft on Wednesday said it is fixing a bug in Bing that allowed spammers to bypass spam filters and distribute malicious links.

The website of one of the most important news outlets in the United States, the New York Times, became the latest high-profile site to inadvertently serve malware. 
Article link

As Apple computers grow increasingly popular and enjoy increased market share, the Mac world offers the next great frontier for cybercriminals. Exploits targeting Apple computers were definitely on the uptick in 2009.
Article link

Mac is the next mountain to scale and cybercriminals are rapidly scrambling to the top.
Article link

Because they're mobile, they're easy to lose or have stolen.  It may be that your information on the equipment is even more valuable than the equipment itself (not a smart idea on mobile equipment).  Lock mobile equipment with complex passwords and encryption if possible.  Smart phones, and netbooks need maintenance and security, just as your laptop and desktop computers.  Though they have less powerful processors they are still vulnerable to viruses and worms from visiting websites infected with malware, downloading infected applications, and insecure wireless networks.  Thumb drives are a problem because they’re easier to lose, or have stolen. When you copy infected information into the drive it's easily spread to other machines. Protect your mobile information with encryption, and complex passwords, work on a secure network, and beware of  cyber cafes. Stop. Think. Secure IT!
 

PandaLabs is reporting that new variants of rogue anti-malware programs, often known as scareware and called rogueware by Panda, has gone a step further in ripping users off: It locks you out of access to your programs and demands $79.95 for a key to unlock them. PandaLabs is the research arm of Panda Software, makers of Panda Antivirus.
Article link

That isn't surprising. Spam traffic has hovered in the 83 to 86 percent range for about a year. What is alarming is that spam-based malware traffic -- i.e., malware that "piggybacks" on top of (or is otherwise linked to via) spam messages -- increased dramatically last month, surging by 900 percent between August and September. At one point in September, Symantec reports, malware accounted for almost 5 percent of all spam traffic.

Remember the Conficker worm? It uses flaws (yes, it's still around) in Windows software to remotely take over computers and link them into a virtual computer that can be commanded remotely by its authors. In August, 2009, Conficker had more than five million computers under its control — government, business and home computers in more than 200 countries.  Compromises like this can be avoided by regular patching (updating software). You can protect yourself from malware like conficker which can ultimately lead to identity theft, financial loss, and/or cyber crime.  Make sure your machine is patched up to date.  It’s easy and takes no time if you do it automatically.  The same with Rutgers Antivirus Delivery Service…it’s free (for Rutgers faculty, staff and students), automatic and covers spyware, too. Do yourself a favor and consider maintenance a priority.  Stop. Think. Secure IT!