“Are we really protecting users and companies?” That’s the question McAfee recently asked the security industry in its second-quarter threat report—and it’s a fair and relevant question given the flood of malware, hacking incidents, and spam that has hit everyone from major corporations to small developer shops to individuals. READ MORE
Malware for mobile devices is striking more frequently, and Android devices are the prime targets, according to a report released by Internet security company McAfee. READ MORE
You might want to think twice the next time you pull up to one of those airport kiosks to charge your smart phone. That’s because you could be the victim of juice jacking. Never heard of it? You’re not alone, says TG Daily’s Trent Nouveau. And it’s worse than a drive-by fruiting. READ MORE
You may know that many companies track your online behavior so as to better target advertising that meshes with your interests and desires. What you might not realize is how pervasive, and sneaky, the practice has become. According to a comprehensive study conducted by the Wall Street Journal, the nation’s 50 top Web sites on average installed 64 pieces of tracking technology onto the computers of visitors, usually with no warning. READ MORE
If you’ve got an Android device you are 2.5 times more likely to encounter malware on it today compared to six months ago, while mobile users have a 30 percent chance of clicking on a malicious link, writes Elinor Mills for CNET, referring to a report released this week from mobile security firm Lookout at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. READ MORE
Ludovic Fauvet is mad as hell—and he’s not taking it anymore. The VideoLAN developer is calling out companies that bundle adware and spyware with the open-source VLC media player, says ZDNet’s Ryan Naraine. These companies, Fauvet says, have been distributing tools that “trick” consumers into downloading malware. Fauvet has outed 25 companies that he says bundle “crapware” with the VLC media player. READ MORE
Security researchers have spotted more malware threats targeting Android phones and devices. iPhone users have received some warnings about malware, but the bulk of threats has been to Android devices. READ MORE
Germany is issuing another warning. This time, though, it has nothing to do with a debt crisis. This recent Achtung, released by Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) says that Apple’s iPhone, iPads, and iPod Touch devices are vulnerable to malware delivered via PDF. Devices running versions up to iOS 4.3.3. could be at risk if users click on the infected file, giving a hacker administrator privileges and thus access to data such as passwords, banking information, and even the built-in camera. READ MORE
If you get a computer virus it’s your own fault–you shouldn’t have been fishing around on sketchy sites looking at porn or downloading pirated music, videos or software, right? Wrong. As ZDNet’s Ed Bott point out, even an innocent-looking ad on a legit site can cause a person problems. READ MORE
The Faceniff app, released this month, makes it easy to hack Facebook accounts. The app works on Android devices that have been “rooted,” and like every good app it’s extremely easy to use–”one-touch hacking” is how one security expert described it. And before you non-Facebook users get too smug, the app works on Twitter, YouTube, Amazon, and a Polish networking site as well. It even works on encrypted networks. READ MORE
