Ten most significant emerging spyware and adware threats.Webroot Software Webroot Software is a company that creates computer security software. Webroot's corporate headquarters is located in Boulder, Colorado, and the company was founded in 1997. They currently employ about 300 people worldwide. has issued the results of its latest quarterly review of the top ten most significant spyware and adware threats. Their most recent research shows that spyware writers are continuing to innovate and find new, more deviant ways to infiltrate systems. The increased presence of hijackers, dialers and keyloggers in the findings demonstrates that the new trend for these threats is to go straight for the jugular jugular /jug·u·lar/ (jug´u-lar) 1. cervical. 2. pertaining to a jugular vein. 3. a jugular vein. jug·u·lar adj. . In fact, CoolWebSearch, a particularly nasty hijacking hijacking Crime of seizing possession or control of a vehicle from another by force or threat of force. Although by the late 20th century hijacking most frequently involved the seizure of an airplane and its forcible diversion to destinations chosen by the air pirates, when program with dozens of iterations was found on nearly ten percent of all audited systems. The ten most significant emerging spyware and adware threats based on detection as well as potential impact are: * CoolWebSearch (CWS CWS Chicago White Sox CWS College World Series CWS Church World Service CWS Child Welfare Services CWS Canadian Wildlife Service CWS Community Water System (EPA) CWS Canada-Wide Standard CWS Compressed Work Schedule ) CoolWebSearch may hijack any of the following: Web searches, home page and other Internet Explorer settings. Recent variants of CoolWebSearch install using malicious HTML applications or security flaws, such as exploits in the HTML HTML in full HyperText Markup Language Markup language derived from SGML that is used to prepare hypertext documents. Relatively easy for nonprogrammers to master, HTML is the language used for documents on the World Wide Web. , E Help format and Microsoft Java Virtual machines This article provides non-exhaustive lists of J2SE Java virtual machines (JVMs). It does not include a large number of Java Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) vendors. Note that J2EE runs on the standard J2SE JVM but that some vendors specialize in providing a modified JVM optimized . * Gator (GAIN) is an adware program that may display banner advertisements based on user Web surfing habits. Gator is usually bundled with numerous free software programs, including the popular file-sharing program Kazaa. * 180 search Assistant 180 search Assistant is an adware program that delivers targeted pop-up advertisements to a user's computer. Whenever a key word is entered into a search engine or a targeted Web site is visited, 180 search Assistant opens a separate browser window displaying an advertiser's Web page that is related to the key word or site. * ISTbar/AUpdate ISTbar is a toolbar A row or column of on-screen buttons used to activate functions in the application. Many toolbars are customizable, letting you add and delete buttons as required. Toolbars may be fixed in position or may float, which means they can be dragged to a more convenient location in the used for searching pornographic web sites that may display pornographic pop-ups and hijack user homepages and Internet searches. * Transponder (vx2) Transponder is an IE Browser Helper Object A Browser Helper Object (BHO) is a DLL module designed as a plugin for Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser to provide added functionality. BHOs were introduced in October 1997 with the release of version 4 of Internet Explorer. that monitors requested web pages and data entered into online forms, then delivers targeted advertisements. * Internet Optimizer Internet Optimizer hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own controlling server at www.internet-optimizer.com. * BlazeFind BlazeFind may hijack any of the following: Web searches, home page and other Internet Explorer settings. BlazeFind may redirect Web searches though its own search engine and change default home pages to www.blazefind.com. This hijacker may also change other Internet Explorer settings. * Hot as Hell Hot as Hell is a dialer program, which dials toll numbers in order to access paid pornographic Web sites. Hot as Hell may disconnect a user's computer from a local Internet provider and reconnect the user to the Internet using an expensive toll or international phone number. It does not spy on the user, but it may accrue significant long distance phone charges. It may run in the background, hiding its presence. * Advanced Keylogger Advanced Keylogger has the ability to monitor keystrokes and take screenshots. * TIBS TIBS Tactical Information Broadcast Service TIBS Trends in Biochemical Sciences TIBS Trans-Island Bus Service TIBS Telephone Information Briefing Service TIBS Tactical Information Broadcast System TIBS The Idiot Bastard's Son (Frank Zappa song) Dialer TIBS Dialer is a dialer that may hijack a user's modem and dial toll numbers that access paid, pornographic Web sites. www.webroot.com |
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