By now most savvy Internet users have seen popups and other advertising warning that their computer is infected with a worm or a virus, but for a small fee and a quick download, that problem can be cleared right up! Unsurprisingly, these “scareware” offers are scams, hoping to dupe unwitting users into turning over money for what’s (at best) useless software. At worst, users may be literally paying to install software that compromises the security of their computer or even lets remote attackers take over the machine.
Tag Archive: Symantec
Symantec Buys PC Tools
Symantec has a great reputation in computer security, and now it’ll have a bigger impact in the consumer market, as well as the emerging market, with the acquisition of consumer PC security company PC Tools. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2008, but Symantec would not release financial details.
PC Tools will operate under its own name as part of Symantec’s consumer business unit.
Symantec group president of consumer products Janice Chaffin said:
"We are excited to welcome PC Tools into the Symantec consumer family and believe the combination of our two companies will provide additional value and choice for consumers worldwide to better enable and protect their digital life."
Symnantec: Malware Tops 1 Million
In its bi-annual Internet Security Threat Report (PDF), antivirus vendor Symantec says that it had identified over 1.1 million malicious code threats by the end of the 2007—and that almost two thirds of them were created during 2007. Symantec attributes the rapid rise in the number of malware programs to attackers’ explosive introductions of new Trojan programs, which pretend to be something useful or interesting while secretively installing spyware, key loggers, or taking over a user’s computer.
Symantec, Microsoft Resolve Storage Dispute
Microsoft and Symantec have asked a Federal court to dismiss a two year-old lawsuit storage technologies incorporated into Windows.
Symantec sued Microsoft back in 2006, accusing the Redmond software giant of misappropriating the company’s VolumeManager server management and storage technology from Veritas, which Symantec acquired in 2004. The suit sought damages and an injunction against the release of Windows Vista until all Symantec intellectual property could be removed from Vista; Symantec also claimed Microsoft didn’t have a license to use the technology in Windows Server 2003. Microsoft said it had acquired a license to the technology in in 2004, prior to Symantec’s acquisition of Veritas; Microsoft had previously licensed VolumeManager from Veritas in 1996 for use in Windows Server 2000.
Going Price for a New Identity: $14 to $18
A new Security Threat Report (PDF) from software developer Symantec has for the first time attempted to monitor the clandestine online trade in stolen confidential and personal information. The findings show that even cybercriminals face competition, as online organize crime syndicates compete with each other to sell your personal data, driving prices down. Symantec found that the price for stolen U.S.-based credit card data (with verification number) ranged from $1 to $6 each, while the information needed to take over a complete identify (social security number, U.S. bank account, credit card, date of birth, government ID number, etc.) was for sale at prices ranging from $14 to $18.
Symantec: Cyber Criminals Target Home Users
The latest edition of Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report finds that phishing attacks are becoming ever-more sophisticated sophisticated and increasingly targeting home users, while the number of vulnerabilities found in everyday Web browsing software saw a significant increase from January to June of 2006.
Symantec Sues Microsoft Over Vista Tech
Software developer Symantec, known for its security and utility software as well as swallowing up worthy businesses and software products, has filed suit against Microsoft in an effort to stop development and eventual sale of Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Vista operating system.
According to Symantec, Microsoft has misappropriated intellectual property which became Symantec’s when it bought security developer Veritas in 2004. The suit seeks financial damages and an injunction against the further development and eventual sale of Windows Vista until all Symantec intellectual property is removed from the operating system.
Symantec Confirms Serious AV Security Flaw
Symantec Corporation has publicly acknowledged a serious security vulnerability in its AntiVirus Library which could lead to execution of arbitrary code when scanning RAR archive files. The issue impacts a dozens of Symantec’s enterprise and consumer products for Windows, as well as recent antivirus products for Macintosh, Linux, Solaris, AIX and handheld devices.
Symantec rates the vulnerability as “high” risk, and says it is “currently working to create and distribute product updates for all affected products.”
Symantec’s statement comes a day after security researcher Alex Wheeler published an public advisory about the problem (PDF).
Symantec Identifies Sony PSP Trojan
Utility and security firm Symantec says it has uncovered what it believes to be the first Trojan application for a gaming device, a program which claims to enable users to run their own programs on a Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), but actually wipes out the machine.
