Topic / Antivirus

Microsoft Security Essentials tops anti-virus list

By on June 13, 2011

Credits: Robert S. Donovan/Flickr (Creative Commons) Microsoft’s Security Essentials has officially become the most-used anti-virus program for this quarter and appears to be growing at an exponential rate than its competitors, according to a new report by security analysts OPSWAT. Microsoft’s free security program – launched in 2009 as a replacement for Windows Live OneCare and an additional layer of protection from Windows Defender – topped the free alternatives from […]

Father and Son to pay $8 million for rouge security products

By on January 31, 2011

Fathers and sons usually go fishing or watch a football game, but deceiving unsuspecting people with rouge security applications? Well, one father-and-son duo will now pay over $8 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission – with that money to be used to reimburse victims of their scam. Marc D’Souza, the son, and Maurice D’Souza, the father, are among seven people connected to two companies that operated under […]

Ever wondered where computer viruses get their names from?

By on July 7, 2010

This article is part of Security Month, a month-long techgeek.com.au initiative to have a look at the security industry and the entire subject as a whole. This guest post was written by Catalin Cosoi, BitDefender senior antispam researcher. Anyone who has ever created something new is granted the right to name it. However, given that computer viruses are born with the purpose of underhand destruction and disruption, they are perhaps […]

Snow Leopard’s malware protection scans only for two trojan infections

By on August 29, 2009

Remember when Apple confirmed the much-hyped malware protection in Snow Leopard; well, it turns out that its nothing more than a XProtect.plist file that contains five file signatures for only two, and the most popular, trojans out there infecting Macs – OSX.RSPlug and OSX.Iservice. Both threats, described as very low threats by Symantec, are usually attached as payloads on shady installs of the latest iWork and Adobe CS4 software found […]

Apple confirms Snow Leopard malware protection feature

By on August 27, 2009

Apple has now confirmed the rumours of the existence of some malware protection software in the new operating system. According to The Loop, it scans and checks all files downloaded via Safari, iChat and Mail. As seen in the above image, it will indicate which file contains what type of malware and will note the time and date when you downloaded the file, which application downloaded it, and where from. […]

AVG claims iTunes infected with Trojan horse

By on July 25, 2009

The most popular anti-virus program AVG has been causing confusion throughout the day by listing all of the iTunes files, including necessary DLL files, as being infected with a trojan horse known as “Trojan horse Small.BOG”. This is a false detection from AVG, and there is no trojan, or risk of trojans, in iTunes. If you have quarantined the files, make sure your restore the files immediately or go to […]

Conficker brings up fake antivirus software

By on April 11, 2009

Researchers from both Trend Micro and Kaspersky Lab have found another feature in the Conficker worm that could, finally, give us another clue on what the hell are they’re planning – the worm installs malware that is disguised to look like antivirus software. The program, known as “Spyware Protect 2009”, starts showing that you have your computer infected for every couple of minutes, “detects” the viruses, network attacks and browser […]

Vietnamese security firm claims Conficker might have come from China

By on March 30, 2009

Vietnamese security firm BKIS, which makes the BKAV anti-virus software, has said that they have found clues that tell them that the Conficker worm may have originated from China, as opposed to countries like Russia and in Europe, according to a report by CNET News.com. It’s conclusion is based on the coding of the virus, saying it is closely related to the notorious Nimda virus, which wrecked havoc across the […]

Antivirus app comes to the iPhone

Antivirus app comes to the iPhone

By on July 21, 2008

Paris-based security firm Intego has released the very first antivirus software for the iPhone. However, it does not run on the phone itself, but on a user’s Mac. The software, Virus Barrier X5 10.5.3, would be able to scan the iPhone for viruses by copying the files to the Mac for a security check, once the user has plugged in the cable and is connected to the Mac itself. The […]

CA’s Virus ‘Zoo’ reaches melting point

CA’s Virus ‘Zoo’ reaches melting point

By on June 26, 2007

Software vendor CA plans to move their Melbourne-based antivirus labs to a new location. This is because their current building had no more space to use, and consuming power at an average of a metal-welding factory. As well, air conditioning have been most of the problems, with more air conditioning to cope with the machines; with 70’s era piping on top. The new building, according to CA, has been secured […]