Spyware, Adware, Virus, Etc
Selected News


Below is just a small sample of recent articles discussing the threats of malicious software that now threatens your computer. I've included a couple of excerpts that I found particularly alarming. We've also included a Live news feed to keep you current on Spyware, Adware, Identity Theft, Virus, Phishing and other security issues.

Zombie PCs: Silent, Growing Threat
PC World, Friday, July 09, 2004

  • The seemingly endless spate of worm infestations over the last year has left something even more troubling in its wake: armies of zombie PCs that can be used to send spam, attack Web sites, and generally wreak havoc over the Internet.
  • Besides relaying spam and launching DOS attacks, a zombie machine can be used to send phisher scams, spread viruses, download pornography, and steal personal information, says Carole Theriault, a Sophos security consultant.
  • "Basically, it is a complete invasion of privacy that can leave you penniless, can have your computer send out all kinds of nasties to innocent computers, and as part of the collective--sorry for Star Trek terminology--contribute to the cyberhavoc going around," Theriault says.
  • Sophos estimates half a million zombie PCs are operating worldwide; other sources put the figure as high as two million. A recent Earthlink study hinted of widespread malware installations. Those numbers are likely to climb even further, says Steve Gibson, president of Gibson Research Corporation and well-known PC security guru.

If Spyware's Watching You, Help Is A Click Away
Investors Business Daily, Thursday, July 22, 2004

  • According to Dell, McAfee and others, spyware is now a bigger problem than computer viruses in terms of customer complaints.
  • And some spyware programs seek to steal your personal data for identity fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission in a survey last year, 27 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the last five years, including 10 million in the last year alone.

Broadband Customers Not Playing It Safe
PCWorld, Friday, June 06, 2003

  • 91 percent of users have spyware on their home computers, often placed surreptitiously by file-sharing programs.
  • 97 percent of parents with broadband connections failed to use controls to keep their children safe from inappropriate contact or people.
  • Although three-quarters of respondents have antivirus software, only half of them updated it in the past month

Experts See Sharp Rise in Malware Attack Probability www.TechNewsWorld.com, 06/04/04

  • "Spyware is the perfect way to steal data the computer user thinks is protected and encrypted," said Jaffe. "Nothing is really secure anymore."
  • The British mi2g Intelligence Unit claimed this week that the malware risk has risen from 1 in 40 last year to about 3 in 10 for 2004. This reflects a jump from 2.5 percent to 30 percent risk.
  • "It is so easy for companies, tricksters and deviants to get spyware planted on a PC. Just post it on a download site and call it 'freeware.' People will download and install it. There are millions of naive users out there installing 'free' spyware daily," English said, calling spyware a national security concern.
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