Aladdin Security Alert - VBS.Timofonica the First Vandal to Include Cellular Phones in Its Attack.Business Editors/Technolgy Writers CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000 New method of vandal attack opens door for new era of security threats. Aladdin Knowledge Systems Aladdin Knowledge Systems NASDAQ: ALDN is a company that provides solutions for software digital rights management and Internet security since 1985. Its corporate headquarters are located in Tel Aviv, Israel. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : ALDN) THE SECURITY RISK Discovered yesterday, the new VBS See VBScript. .Timofonica vandal is similar to the many other recent worms that have been labeled as a "medium" security risk. However, in addition to its dangerous ability to destroy a hard drive, this new vandal proves to be a potential trendsetter trend·set·ter n. One that initiates or popularizes a trend: "The Golden State, ever the trendsetter, reformed its property tax" New York. , paving the way for vandal authors to start including cellular phones in their attacks. With this added annoyance, VBS.Timofonica could be the first of a new wave of vandals affecting the lives of victims more than their predecessors. Timofonica is a VBScript vandal that arrives as an email attachment See e-mail attachment. and propagates using Microsoft Outlook For the e-mail and news client bundled with certain versions of Microsoft Windows, see . Microsoft Outlook or Outlook (full name Microsoft Office Outlook . Unique to this worm is the capability to send SMS messages to mobile phone users. Upon execution of the attached VBScript, the vandal attempts to randomly send email messages to a Spanish cellular-phone service provider's SMS (1) (Storage Management System) Software used to routinely back up and archive files. See HSM. (2) (Systems Management Server) Systems management software from Microsoft that runs on Windows NT Server. gateway. The email messages apparently transmit one SMS message on each infection to a random mobile phone belonging to the Spanish telecom provider. The message, containing propaganda against this telecom company, is solely in Spanish. With most of its victims located in Spain, that is also thought to be the origin of the vandal. PROTECTING AGAINST THE THREAT Aladdin's eSafe security solutions completely protect users from VBS.Timofonica. eSafe is the only product that can provide GENERIC protection against VBScript vandals arriving as e-mail attachments. Even when an update is not available, eSafe continues to block malicious content. Recent examples are: LoveLetter, NewLove, CoolNotepad, Tune and Fireburn. Existing eSafe users should visit Aladdin's website at http://www.ealaddin.com/home/csrt/valerts.asp for information on properly configuring the eSafe products to proactively protect against this threat. New users can download a free copy of eSafe Desktop 2.2 at www.eAladdin.com and get protected today. ABOUT eSAFE Aladdin's eSafe product suite, which includes eSafe Desktop, eSafe Enterprise and eSafe Gateway, provides the most comprehensive protection available against hostile elements on the Internet and gives users confidence in their ability to navigate the Internet safely. eSafe is the only comprehensive suite of content security solutions on the market to provide proactive protection from the gateway to the desktop. It also is the only one to provide Total Sandbox Quarantine protection against all forms of malicious content including viruses, vandals and worms. A unique feature found only in Aladdin's eSafe solutions, the sandbox erects a protective wall around vital system files and isolates all potentially dangerous viruses, vandals and worms in a sterile environment, preventing them from damaging, infecting or stealing from system resources (1) In a computer system, system resources are the components that provide its inherent capabilities and contribute to its overall performance. System memory, cache memory, hard disk space, IRQs and DMA channels are examples. . Much more than anti-virus protection, the eSafe suite of products enables businesses to: -- Block user's ability to alter vital system files, thereby reducing IT maintenance and repair costs. -- Stop access to web sites with inappropriate or malicious content, such as hate literature or pornography, or those sites known to propagate viruses. -- Restrict outgoing emails from sending classified or prohibited content. ABOUT ALADDIN Aladdin is a global leader in securing digital content, from applications software to Internet use and access. Aladdin's products include HASP (Houston Automatic Spooling Program) A mainframe spooling program that provides task, job and data management functions. HASP - Houston Automatic Spooling Program and Hardlock, software security systems that protect the revenues of developers and publishers; Privilege, a software licensing platform for the Internet; the eSafe line of anti-vandal, anti-virus and content filtering software for PCs and networks connected to the Internet; and eToken for Internet security and authentication. Aladdin serves its customers through eight offices located in the world's major software markets as well as a network of 50 distributors serving more than 100 countries. For more information visit our website at www.eAladdin.com. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. This release and prior releases are available on the KCSA KCSA Krannert Center Student Association KCSA Kentucky Crushed Stone Association (Frankfort, KY) KCSA Kyiv City State Administration KCSA Kalamazoo Christian School Association KCSA Kentucky-Canadian Studies Association Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Worldwide website at www.kcsa.com. |
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