|
New Virus Adopting Stealth Strategy - Adware and Trojans |
|
|
|
|
Written by Sleepy Egg
|
|
Friday, 22 July 2005 |
|
Symantec Corp. has seen a dramatic decrease in network-damaging viruses over the last year and an increase in less destructive Trojans or Adware that quietly embed themselves into a PC.
Such viruses typically scour computers for personal data, such as social security numbers emails, and passwords, and then send the information to a clandestine server, Dave Cole, director of product management for the Symantec Security Response Center, said. The data is usually sold on the black market to criminals looking to use the information to obtain credit cards or raid bank accounts. The quiet Trojans are also used to host web sites in the infected machines, send spam or take part in denial of service attacks.
In the past, Adware was distributed primarily by luring PC users to a website, which downloaded the software. Virus writers, however, are now getting more creative in distributing the malicious software in order to make more money, experts say. A word of advice, do not visit websites or download anything from the websites you do not trust, specially the one with popups. Download and install Alexa and Google toolbars which come will popup blocker. Installing the Norton Antivirus is a must. With the combination toolbars and Norton Antivirus, you will be protected for the most of the time. But remember for one to avoid getting burn is not to start a fire.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed