Google Search Results Poisoned Again
Yesterday I mentioned that some Google search results contained many malicious sites trying to, among other things, install Spy-shredder, a rogue antispyware program. Google removed many of those sites, but according to the Sunbelt Blog, the same group and a new group are now re-poisoning the search results again with fresh .cn domain sites. The new group appears to be trying to get traffic to make money with, using affiliate programs, etc.
Google has removed the sites responsible for the recent massive Google poisoning attack.
However, we’re seeing indications that another attack may be on the way. We have seen another spate of websites freshly registered, using the similar .cn domains. There seem to be two different groups here. Source: HEADS UP: More Google poisoning on the way?
My advice is still good from yesterday, watch for the gibberish domain names, if it doesn’t make sense when you look at it, don’t click on it. They noted that they are not serving any exploits, but this could change very quickly at any time.
Categories: Malicious Websites, Malware, Security Tags:
Be Careful Searching This Holiday Season
Sunbelt Software, one of the leading developers of security software and hardware, has found large amounts of websites that are there only to stuff malware onto your computer, and these websites are listed high on search terms for search engines like Google, Yahoo and Live. A user whose patches are not up to date that clicks on one of these websites, will be force fed a diet of malware that could cause their machine to just die, or worse, monitor and track everything they do online.
The good news is, if you are fully patched, you shouldn’t have much to worry about, also, if you actually look at the websites you are going to visit before you click them, you can tell if they are good results or not. All of the websites I have seen listed are nonsense name, .cn domain names, etc. Check out this image that I grabbed from the Sunbelt site.
See all of the domain names that are in the highlighted red boxes? Those are the types of domains they are using, as an example, lkasjdfkjt.com, so don’t click on any of those links, also be careful of the .cn domain names, as they are using many of those. Google has been notified of the problem and have already removed some, but I can still find some of the sites right now, so there is more work to be done.
As the guy from Hill Street Blues used to say, “Hey, lets be careful out there.”
Here are some mentions about this problem on the Sunbelt and other sites.
BREAKING: Massive amounts of malware redirects in searches The original post about this problem from Sunbelt Software, here is a follow up post from them, Malware redirects: The aftermath.
Update: Subverted search sites lead to massive malware attack in progress Trojans, rootkits, password stealers hit users who click on a bad link after a search.
Malware Poisoning Results for Innocent Searches Tens of thousands of malware-serving pages, crafted to reach a high search engine ranking, are showing up in the first page of returns from Google, Yahoo and Live.
Categories: Adware, Malicious Websites, Malware, Security Tags:
Windows Vista News for November 19, 2007
Vista SP1 a Performance Dud With the initial performance characteristics of Windows Vista leaving much to be desired (see our previous post on the subject), many IT organizations have put off deploying the new OS until the first service pack (SP1) is released by Microsoft early next year. The thinking goes that SP1 will address all of these early performance issues and somehow bring Windows Vista on par with – or at least closer to – Windows XP in terms of runtime performance. more
Windows Vista: The ‘Eh’ Starts Now Good thing Microsoft’s bottom line is largely unaffected by the poor reception given its new Windows Vista operating system. Because according to two new surveys, Vista uptake isn’t likely to improve much in 2008. more
Microsoft bottom line unaffected by Vista For most companies, launching a significant new product to a widespread lack of interest – and, in some cases, hostility – would count as a business disaster of considerable magnitude.
But most companies are not Microsoft and most products are not Windows Vista. more
Businesses continue to avoid Vista Businesses are continuing to avoid Vista, the latest research from Forrester Research reveals.
The researcher says that continued loyalty to Windows XP remains a bigger hindrance to Windows Vista sales than Mac OS X and Linux. more
Microsoft struggling to convince about Vista The majority of IT professionals worry that migrating to Windows Vista will make their networks less stable and more complex, according to a new survey.
Ninety percent of 961 IT professionals surveyed said they have concerns about migrating to Vista and more than half said they have no plans to deploy Vista. more
A poor SP1 comparison As I read up on the latest TechMeme news this morning I saw a headline that didn’t seem quite right, “Vista SP1 a Performance Dud” it said. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and discovered an entire blog devoted to rather poor performance testing and entirely unhelpful rants. more
Note to Microsoft: 90% of IT executives have concerns with Vista King Research has issued the results of a survey of IT executives that finds that 90% of IT workers have concerns with Vista, which piles on similar results from a Forrester study which found that more than 50% of IT executives have concerns with rolling out Vista (and that only 32% will do so in 2008). more
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Dell Inspiron Notebook and Desktop Deals
Save $350 on all Dell Inspiron Desktop purchases over $999 (before tax, fees, shipping & handling) Use Coupon Code: 4J1M7748R2RRV6 Limited time and quantity offer: Beginning 11/15/2007 6:00 AM through 11/29/2007 5:59 AM CT or after 4,000 coupon redemptions (whichever occurs first).
Save $400 on all Dell Inspiron notebook purchases over $1299 (before tax, fees, shipping & handling) Use Coupon Code: 8XGG8GL7Q$019B Limited time and quantity offer: Beginning 11/15/2007 6:00 AM through 11/21/2007 6:00 AM CT or after 10,000 coupon redemptions (whichever occurs first)
Save $225 on all Dell Inspiron notebook purchases over $949 (before tax, fees, shipping & handling)- Use Coupon Code: ZD6CDQC3$?QQ3$ Limited time and quantity offer: Beginning 11/15/2007 6:00 AM through 11/21/2007 6:00 AM CT or after 10,000 coupon redemptions (whichever occurs first)
Categories: Computer Deals, Dell Tags:
Save 10% on all Sony Rear Projection HDTVs
Save 10% on all Sony Rear Projection HDTVs. No shipping fees. Use coupon code: SONYTV10. Offer expires Nov. 26, 2007.
Buy Rear projection HDTV’s (37″ to 46″) Starting at $999.99.
Buy Rear Projection (50″ to 70″) Starting at $1,499.99.
Categories: Sony Tags:
Save $200 on all Sony VAIO SZ, TZ & FZ Series Notebooks
Save $200 on all VAIO SZ, TZ & FZ Series Notebooks. Use coupon code: VAIO200 at checkout. No shipping fees through end of year. Valid until 11/26/2007. When you click the link, a new window will open to the Sony VAIO section, you will see the Sony VAIO SZ, TZ, and FZ listed on that page, simply click the one you want and configure away.
Sony VAIO TZ Series Starting at $2,099.99 – Lay your eyes on the elegant black VAIO TZ notebook-an ultra-portable powerhouse at 2.7 lbs with 4 to 7.5 hours of standard battery life and durable carbon-fiber casing. And with an Intel Core2 Duo processor, Bluetooth technology and 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless LAN technology, you’ll be able to stay connected and productive when on the go. An 11.1” display with XBRITE-HiColor LCD technology delivers stunning clarity and true-to-life color, which is great for viewing movies on long flights. You can also create and record up to 8.5GB of data with the DVD+R Double Layer/DVD±RW drive.
Sony VAIO SZ Series Starting at $1,638.98 – Let your imagination run wild. Customize your SZ Series notebook to handle both serious multitasking and graphic-intensive programs by choosing the features you need most. You can also opt for Sprint Mobile Broadband Wireless WAN and enjoy and browse the web at blazing speeds. The included Hybrid Graphics System lets you toggle between two graphics chips, optimizing power consumption while delivering robust performance.
Sony VAIO FZ Series Starting at $898.98 – Configure this thin-and-light entertainment notebook to your liking. Featuring a 15.4″ widescreen LCD with XBRITE-ECO or XBRITE-HiColor technology and embedded A/V controls for one touch access to your music, movies and pictures, the FZ series offers what you need for endless multimedia enjoyment. And with a built-in camera and microphone for video messaging and a CD/DVD burner, this lightning-fast, super-powerful PC will keep you connected to the world and entertained for hours.
Categories: Computer Deals, Sony Tags:
Dell Vostro 200 Slim Tower Only $449
Save $360! Get the Dell Vostro 200 ST for only $449! Valid until 11/20/2007.
Intel Core2 Duo Proc E4500 (2.20GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB), Genuine Windows XP Home Edition, Dell 19 inch Widescreen E198WFP Analog Flat Panel Monitor, 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz – 2DIMMs, 80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache, Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100, No Floppy Drive
No Modem Option, Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio, No speakers, Dell USB Keyboard, Dell Scroll Mouse, Microsoft Works 8, Adobe Acrobat Reader, 1 Year Ltd Warranty with Next Business Day On-Site Service, 10GB for 1 Year Online Data Backup by Dell DataSafe, 1 Year Dell Automated PC Tuneup, Dell Network Assistant, Integrated 10/100 Ethernet.
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Dell Inspiron 1520 Notebook Only $749
Dell Inspiron Notebook One Day Sale- Get the Dell Inspiron 1520 only $749 (before tax, fees, shipping & handling) after $200 off. Exp. 11/17
Applicable E-value code: 6VAFF-DNDWKO1. Limited time and quantity offer: Beginning 11/16/2007 12:00 AM through 11/17/2007 5:59 AM CT.
Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 (1.46GHz/533Mhz FSB/1MB cache), Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic Edition, Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch display (1280×800), 128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS, 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz, Enhance your Windows Vista experience Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM), CD writer / DVD player (Combo Drive), Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card, Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam which Includes Creative EP-630 earbuds, 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell), High Definition Audio 2.0, 1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service, Free 3 GB Online Backup for 1Yr, 6 Months America Online Internet Access Included.
Hurry, get yours today!
Categories: Computer Deals, Dell Tags:
November 2007 Computer Deals
HP Computers – These are valid: 11/4-11/17
Save up to $375 on an HP Pavilion dv9500t Notebook PC
Save up to $325 on an HP Pavilion tx1000z Notebook PC – Featuring Any Angle Diagonal Twist Display
Save up to $300 on the NEW Compaq Presario C700T Notebook PC
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Save up to $275 on the NEW Compaq Pesario V6500Z Notebook PC
Save up to $200 on an HP Pavilion a6250 series Notebook PC’s
Save $200 instantly on HP Pavilion s3200 Series Desktop PC
Save $300 instantly on the HP z560 Digital Entertainment Center
Save $50 on an HP Pavilion Slimline s3120n Desktop PC with a price drop
Computer Deals from Tigerdirect
Dell Computers
$450 off Sony Bravia 46″ 46V3000 LCD TV- Coupon Code: 1FWT2LW0JC3LBZ
Save $45 on Canon PowerShot A720 IS 8.0 MP 6X Zoom Digital Camera- Coupon Code: 6K2Z72MQH1470W
Save $60 on Canon PowerShot S3 IS Digital Camera- Coupon Code: Q0NWP$VCN0JB9Q
Office Depot
Save $20 to $60 Instantly on Select Seagate and Maxtor Hard Drives!
Buy 2 Epson Inks (Same Item) & Get A Free Pack of Epson Photo Paper!
$16.99 Value!
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router! $49.99 After $20 Instant Savings
Office Depot’s Yearly Coupon – Save $30 off $150
Toshiba Computers
J&R Computers
Canon Digital Rebel XTi EOS 10 Megapixel SLR Digital Camera Kit – Black – $659.88
Audio Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-cancelling Headphones – $139.99 and FREE Shipping
Harman Kardon 3485 120-Watt 2-Channel Stereo Receiver – $249.99
Power 2000 XP4AA-29 2900 mAh AA Nickel Metal Hydride Rechargeable Batteries – $12.99
Brother MFC-465CN Photo Color All in one Printer with Networking – $99.99
Coby DP151 1.5″ Digital Photo Frame Keychain – $24.99
Coby DP768 7″ Digital Photo Frame and MP3 WMA Player – $79.99
Westinghouse DPF-1021 10.2″ LCD Digital Photo Frame – $179.99
Categories: Computer Deals Tags:
Technology News for November 10, 2007
Modern-day tech startups tread carefully There are a few hurdles between Landy Ung and her dream of growing her startup into a household name. One is the fact that her only outside funding comes from her mom’s fried chicken restaurant, another is that her only full-time programmer is her boyfriend, who has a day job.
IndiaTimes website ‘attacks visitors’ Visitors to the IndiaTimes website are being bombarded by malware, some of which appear to target previously unknown vulnerabilities in Windows, a security researcher warns.
In all, the English-language Indian news site is directly or indirectly serving up at least 434 malicious files, many of which are not detected by antivirus software, according to Mary Landesman, a senior security researcher at ScanSafe. She said at least 18 different IP addresses are involved in the attack.
“The end result of the compromise is that the user, going through their normal course of activities, is subject to a really massive installation of malicious files,” she told us. “Coupled with the low detection by antivirus vendors, it does put the end user in a very vulnerable position.”
Survey: Intel Ahead of AMD on Server Customer Loyalty Intel brand server processors enjoy higher levels of loyalty among enterprise x86 customers than rival AMD, although system purchases are largely influenced by vendor brand and other non-processor factors, according to a survey conducted by Gabriel Consulting Group (GCG).
Botmaster owns up to 250,000 zombie PCs An American computer security consultant on Friday admitted using massive botnets to illegally install software on at least 250,000 machines and steal online banking identities of Windows users by evesdropping on them while they made financial transactions.
John Kenneth Schiefer, 26, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to four felonies, including accessing protected computers to conduct fraud, disclosing illegally intercepted electronic communications, wire fraud and bank fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in federal prison and a fine of $1.75m, according to documents filed Friday in federal court.
Infamous Russian malware gang vanishes A Russian gang allegedly hosting malicious software abruptly disappeared this week, according to Trend Micro.
The Russian Business Network, which allegedly was heavily involved in hosting packing kits–development suites for malicious software–suddenly dropped off the Internet on Tuesday, the Tokyo-based security company said.
CrunchRumor: Sony launching 16GB Memory Stick at CES? The word is that at CES in January, Sony is going to be dropping 16GB Memory Stick Pros, doubling the current top-end of 8GB. If true, then Memory Stick might not be a back-seat format anymore, and might get a chair at the grown-up’s table.
Trend Micro Offers Free Security Service For Sony PS3 Trend Micro today launched a new Web security service for Sony’s Playstation 3 (PS3) game console.
Trend Micro claims that as game consoles with Web browsers proliferate, so too will security problems. To date, however, such risks remain largely theoretical.
Hacker Pleads Guilty to Spreading Botnets A hacker has pleaded guilty to infecting hundreds of thousands of computers with malware in order to steal money from Paypal accounts. He could spend 60 years in prison and face a US$1.75 million fine.
Need mobile spyware? Look on eBay Think your wife may be cheating on you? Wondering who your boss might be talking to? “Learn the truth. Spy today.”
So reads an ad for “Bluetooth Spy Pro-Edition,” one of nearly 200 mobile phone spyware products currently listed for sale on eBay.
Categories: Tech News Tags:
