Apr 23

Avast discovers a new method of producing malicious PDF files

Posted in Antivirus, Avast, Security

Based on the latest Avast blog post, a new method of producing malicious PDF files has been discovered by the avast team. This method allows malicious PDF files to be unrecognized by almost all antivirus scanners.

 

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Mar 15

Spam Could be Replaced by Malware

Posted in Antivirus, malware, Security

Based on a survey conducted by Barracuda Networks, spam level was down by about 50% in the second half of 2010. However the there was a 55% rapid increase in malicious software.

Barracuda Networks chief research officer Dr Paul Judge said that the shift towards search engines and social networking sites means fraudsters are now focusing on those areas of the internet.

“The research community must continue to build innovative defences and the industry must make efforts to increase the deployment rates of those defences,” Dr Judge added.

Source: http://www.ihotdesk.com/article/800461987/Malware-could-be-replacing-spa Ihotdesk.com

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Mar 1

Avast Free Antivirus

Posted in Antivirus, Avast, Security

Avast Free Antivirus 6.0 gets 9.0 editor’s ranking at Cnet.com

Avast made great strides in its previous update. Version 5 set the stage for the modern, massively popular and free security suite with a new interface that ditched a quirky, late-’90s jukebox style for a more polished look. Easier to navigate, it also became easier to add new features.

Make no mistake, Avast 6 adds features both big and small. Some that had previously only been available to paid upgrade users are now free for all versions and newer features have been seamlessly added to the interface experience. If you’re familiar with Avast 5, upgrading to Avast 6 won’t be that big of a leap.

Source: Cnet.com

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Feb 18

5 Simple Ways to Stay Safe in Windows 7

Posted in Security

There  are a few areas in Windows 7 you need to pay attention to.

Action Center, the home base for your PC’s security. The Action Center in Windows 7 gives you a view of all your PC’s security and maintenance features. Inside Action Center, you can make sure your Windows Firewall is on, your antivirus software is up to date and that your PC is set to install updates automatically.

User Account Control, the security feature that prompts you for permission to install or open programs. If you are your computer’s administrator (in most cases you are), you can click Yes to continue. If you are not an administrator, someone with an administrator account on the computer will have to enter their password for you to continue.

Windows Update. You can set Windows to automatically install “important” and “recommended” updates or to install important updates only. Important updates are for more critical security and reliability issues and recommended updates address noncritical problems.

Windows Firewall, an easy feature to turn on or off and can help prevent hackers and worms from slithering into your computer through a network or the Internet. A firewall can also help stop your computer from sending malicious software to other computers.

Windows Defender, an antispyware software that’s included with Windows 7, runs automatically when it is turned on. Spyware is any unwanted or potentially harmful software that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge any time you connect to the Internet. It can also infect your computer when you install programs using a CD or DVD.

Source: Networkworld.com

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