Are Anti-Spyware Vendors Selling Out? - Questions surround Lavasoft and WhenU
Are Anti-Spyware Vendors Selling Out?
Questions surround Lavasoft and WhenU
As mentioned yesterday, both Lavasoft and PestPatrol have stopped detecting WhenU Adware, without any public announcement concerning the changes. The decision immediately led many to believe both companies had followed the path of Aluria - an anti-spyware firm that weakened detection criteria after striking a marketing agreement with WhenU. After considerable pressure was applied to the company in their forums, they announced last night their detection criteria had been changed, but not because of any deal with WhenU.
Full story here! (Written by Karl Bode)
Undetectable spyware?
Microsoft on 'rootkits': Be afraid, be very afraid: Rootkits are a new generation of powerful system-monitoring programs.
Microsoft Corp. security researchers are warning about a new generation of powerful system-monitoring programs, or "rootkits," that are almost impossible to detect using current security products and could pose a serious risk to corporations and individuals.
The researchers discussed the growing threat posed by kernel rootkits at a session at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco this week. The malicious snooping programs are becoming more common and could soon be used to create a new generation of mass-distributed spyware and worms.
With names like "Hacker Defender," "FU" and "Vanquish," the programs are the latest generation of remote system-monitoring software that has been around for years, according to Mike Danseglio and Kurt Dillard, both of Microsoft's Security Solutions Group.
The programs are used by malicious hackers to control, attack or ferret information from systems on which the software has been installed, typically without the owner's knowledge, either by a virus or after a successful hack of the computer's defenses, they said. Once installed, many rootkits run quietly in the background but can easily be spotted by looking for memory processes that are running on the infected system, monitoring outbound communications from the machine, or checking for newly installed programs.
However, kernel rootkits that modify the kernel component of an operating system are becoming more common. Rootkit authors are also making huge strides in their ability to hide their creations, said Danseglio. Full Story here computerwould
Spyware charge levelled at Lexmark
Spyware charge levelled at Lexmark:
Printer company accused of installing software that tracks usage:
Allegations have been swirling around an online newsgroup this week that printer manufacturer Lexmark has been installing spyware on its customers' computers.
Reports on the comp.periphs.printers Usenet newsgroup claim that Lexmark has been planting spyware on its customers' PCs in the form of undocumented software that monitors the use of its printers and silently reports back to a Lexmark-owned company website. Full story here: silicon.com
FTC Files First 'Spyware' Case in U.S.
FTC Files First 'Spyware' Case in U.S.: The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday filed the first case in the country against software companies accused of infecting computers with intrusive "spyware" and then trying to sell people the solution.
The commission accused the companies of infecting computers with unsolicited software, showering computer screens with pop-up ads and then trying to get consumers to pay $30 to fix it. It is seeking an injunction to get the companies, owned by the same person, to stop, and to offer restitution to consumers.
The FTC requested a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire against Seismic Entertainment Productions Inc., Smartbot.Net, Inc., and Sanford Wallace.
The FTC said the companies secretly installed the software on computers, causing systems to be overwhelmed by pop-up advertisements, and then sending them alarming messages saying they needed to buy "Spy Wiper" or "Spy Deleter" for $30.
The FTC alleges the defendants have unfairly: changed consumers' Web browsers, installed advertising and other software programs, and compelled purchase of anti-spyware software.
Seismic is based in Rochester, N.H.; SmartBot in Richboro, Pa., with its principal place of business in Barrington, N.H. Wallace is officer and director of both Seismic and SmartBot.
The FTC is asking the court, among other things, to temporarily:
_Restrain defendants from publishing, disseminating or distributing software code, script or any other content on or through the Internet, Web and other places.
_Require defendants to remove the software script that exploits Web browser vulnerabilities from any Web site, Web page, and other places.
_Require defendants to produce documents relating to their Internet marketing.
The FTC lawsuit demonstrates that the commission believes it has adequate power under consumer protection laws to prosecute such cases and doesn't need new laws to broaden its authority in this area.
This week, the House passed two bills that would outlaw spyware. The Internet Spyware Prevention Act would give the Justice Department $10 million to crack down on companies and others that secretly install spyware and those who attempt to dupe victims into releasing personal details and financial information in e-mail scams.
Anyone caught installing spyware to change a computer's security settings or steal a victim's personal information could be sentenced up to two years in prison. The other bill would add hefty civil penalties over the use of spyware. (AP)
How to: Uninstall Brilliant software:
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It's surprising how many people don't scan their computers for spyware. If your Pc is running sloooow, you probably have spyware on your computer. I know people who didn't know they have spyware on their computer till it crashes (stops working) on them. I always tell them you need to scan your computer for spyware using one of the many spyware/adware programs here or off the Internet.