How To Protect Your PC

[digulla]

Sorry for the spam, but ...

As you probably have noticed (if only by the new layout), our old forum has been cracked. The attackers tried to install malicious software on your computers. Such software usually tries to steal software keys (like the Windows activation key), passwords (as you type them into your browser) or credit card details (when you buy something on the net).

The software uses so called "vulnerabilities" in applications that you already have installed. Software companies try to close these security holes but it's often hard to know whether you are vulnerable and what to do about it.

Secunia has developed a software product for exactly this purpose: It knows many popular software products (which are likely to be attacked by criminals), which versions are vulnerable and how to fix this. The product is called Secunia Personal Software Inspector and it's free for personal use. There is also an online version. The difference between the personal and the online version is that the former can do more checks.

Please consider to use this software. Criminals are getting better and more aggressive attacking personal computers by adding malicious code to legitimate web sites. In 2009, an ad placed on the New York Times web site contained a virus. So even if you stay away from dubious sites, you can become a victim.

Regards,

[Mayhem]

Yeah, adverts are a popular compromise target in general. That's one reason I use AdBlock on Firefox, aside from just removing them entirely out of the equation so I don't have to look at them. It also prevents this sort of attack. Another plugin that's quite popular with friends is NoScript, which essentially disables JS or similar from being executed when loaded into a browser, unless you allow it.

If you do find yourself potentially infected, then MalwareBytes is probably the best scanner/disinfecter you can use to assist. Before having to think about starting down the route of HijackThis et al.