RealPlayer 10.5 is badware
February 8th, 2008 by Shanmuga
"We find that RealPlayer 10.5 is badware because it fails to accurately and completely disclose the fact that it installs advertising software on the user’s computer. We additionally find that RealPlayer 11 is badware because it does not disclose the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software, and fails to remove this software when RealPlayer is uninstalled.
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Category: Malware | No Comments »
"The very first computer virus did not happen on a Windows machine, or a Mac or an Apple II. The first virus did not travel via the Internet or in an email or in a floppy disk. The first virus was not on a minicomputer, nor was it on a mainframe. That’s because the first computer virus didn’t exist on any computer hardware or software of any kind. It was in a work of fiction.
"Experts are warning of a new worm spreading across mobile networks via Symbian phones. The worm is similar to the CommWarrior mobile virus, and initially fooled researchers into believing that it was not new. However, it is actually a new class of mobile virus which spreads via file extensions named ‘beauty.jpg’, ’sex.mp3′ and ‘love.rm’.
"Security experts have warned users to focus on securing their whole online lifestyle in 2008. Care should be taken in all aspects of online services, including bill payments, shopping and stock trading, and not just in the use of social networking and gaming sites.
"The malware threat landscape is changing rapidly and it spells tremendous opportunities for McAfee Inc, the leading antivirus and computer security firm. India is likely to play a great role to help the company meet its challenges, McAfee president and CEO David DeWalt on his first visit to India after assuming office at the Santa Clara-headquartered firm last year.
"The scale and sophistication of this emerging banking Trojan is worrying, even for someone who sees banking Trojans on a daily basis. This Trojan downloads a configuration file that contains the domain names of over 400 banks. Not only are the usual large American banks targeted but banks in many other countries are also targeted, including France, Spain, Ireland, the UK, Finland, Turkey—the list goes on.
"One of the best ways to fight the criminal malware networks that now populate the Internet might actually be the simplest - publicize their existence. That is one conclusion that to be drawn from a white paper published by a volunteer group, the Shadowserver Foundation, which assesses the activities of the Russian Business Network (RBN), a major crimeware hub which abruptly disappeared from the Internet in November, after its existence received worldwide publicity.
"Viruses, malware and online crime are evolving from the realm of geeks into a major shadow economy that closely mimics the real world. Maksym Schipka, a senior architect at security firm MessageLabs, claims to have identified a sophisticated online black market with tens of thousands of participants. This underground internet economy is worth over $105bn, making it bigger than the global drugs trade.
"A new white paper published by the nonprofit botnet-tracker Shadowserver Foundation sheds some light on one segment of activity on the Russian Business Network (RBN). Shadowserver released its findings on malware associated with the so-called AS40989 group of interconnected IP networks on the RBN.
"Security experts are warning about a stealthy Windows virus that steals login details for online bank accounts. In the last month, the malicious program has racked up about 5,000 victims - most of whom are in Europe. Many are falling victim via booby-trapped websites that use vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s browser to install the attack code.
