Cybersecurity blog posts
Ransomware attacks appear to be getting worse
Published January 22, 2013
For those of you not familiar with exactly what Ransomware is/does, here’s the current Wikipedia definition: “Ransomware comprises a class of malware which restricts access to the computer system that it infects, and demands a ransom paid to the creator of the malware in order for the restriction to be removed. Some forms of Ransomware encrypt files on the system’s hard drive, while some may simply lock the system and display messages intended to coax the user into paying.” Over the past…Read more
Internet Explorer 8 Zero-Day Vulnerability
Published January 07, 2013
**ATTENTION**: If you are a current New River Computing client covered under our RMM Service Plan, you need not worry about this vulnerability. We have automatically deployed the fix to your computers. Recently, there has been an Internet Explorer (zero-day) remote code execution vulnerability found being exploited in the wild which affects IE 8, as well as IE 6 & 7. Current exploitation is limited but it’s almost certain that a reliable exploit will soon find its way into at least one (if…Read more
Can you tell the difference between real vs. rogue security software?
Published January 07, 2013
Rogue security software, also known as fake antivirus software or “scareware”, has been one of the most popular methods used by online criminals in recent years to fool computer users into installing malware and/or divulge confidential information. Rogue AV software typically mimics the general look and feel of legitimate security software programs. Once installed on a person’s machine, it will claim to detect a large number of nonexistent threats while advising users to pay for the…Read more
Nationwide Insurance breach puts over 1 million customers at risk
Published December 18, 2012
Over 1 million customers are at risk of identity theft after online-criminals broke into servers belonging to Nationwide and Allied insurance companies. Victims include current policyholders and those who sought insurance quotes. The breach took place Oct. 3 and was discovered the same day. Nationwide immediately contacted authorities, but waited to inform their customers directly. “Although we are not aware of any misuse of consumers’ information at this time, we have sent letters to…Read more
How cyber-criminals steal money from bank accounts.
Published December 17, 2012
Here’s a great info-graphic from the security researchers at F-Secure that explains how cyber-criminals steal money from bank accounts. The original post can be found here.Read more