This issue of SunbeltSecurityNews contains:

Kiss Your Antivirus Bloatware Goodbye We asked users of antivirus products what they didn't like about their AV software. They told us they are resource hogs and slowed their computer down. They told us that scan times took way too long, and that the AV software nagged them. In short, old-style AV software takes too much Memory and CPU. Time to switch to VIPRE! It gives you malware protection that combines antivirus, antispyware, anti-rootkit and other technologies into a seamless, tightly-integrated product. Even if you run "free" antivirus software, it hijacks 20% of your PC, so it's really not free at all! Find out how fast your PC can be: http://www.sunbeltsecuriftynews.com/090722-VIPRE

Editor's Dossier

Greeting SSNers,

Privacy is a most interesting issue these days. We definitely seem to suffer from a lack of it and the future looks even more risky with recent proposals regarding medical records, etc. We live in a very open society it seems. Reality programs televise themes that would make Ripley blush. We live in a cyber fish bowl.

Nevertheless, there are things we can do to protect ourselves especially from one of the most invasive forms called adware. You may wonder why adware is considered so malicious. I wondered this myself, after you are getting something for free whether it is software, games or music, etc. What's the harm? You can read why in our Dirty Tricks section.

Amazingly, we are celebrating a couple of historic events this month - the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and astronauts walking on the moon.

Don't forget our new user forums so you can speak your mind.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Forum-Discussion

You can also follow our tweets:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Twitter

Enjoy the latest issue of SunbeltSecurityNews. And remember stay safe out there!

Best,

Larry Jaffe.
Editor SunbeltSecurityNews

P.S. You can write to me at any time, I want to know how you feel about Internet security and if you have any ideas for articles or subjects you would like us to cover. Email me feedback@SunbeltSecurityNews.com

Important Note

Some VIPRE users have notified us that they are getting warnings from the Microsoft Security Center that VIPRE is incompatible with Microsoft's Vista SP1. It's a false alarm. The text of the note from Microsoft's Windows Security Center team to Sunbelt about this issue is:

Subject: RE: Windows Security Center Showing "Incompatible" Notification for AV on Vista SP1

"We have an update: We have determined that for full installs of Windows Vista SP1 (not updates) the grace period is actually starting at the time the build was staged for release, not when Windows was actually installed on the end user's computer. In these cases, the grace period is ending on July 14, 2009.

"We have developed a tool to fix this issue on affected machines and are currently testing it. The tool extends the grace period through September. Our plan is to have it available by the end of next week. We thank you for your continued patience....

Thanks,
Windows Security Center Team"

---

Own a Single-user VIPRE? Upgrade Now To Home Site License For Just $19.95 You run VIPRE and love it. But what about the other PC's at the house? We have a special, limited time upgrade offer. You can upgrade now and just pay the difference (20 bucks) between the Single License and the Unlimited Home Site License (UHSL). But wait, it gets better. Your UHSL starts fresh and you get a new 12 month subscription! Do the math. Wait and pay 30 bucks later, or buy the upgrade now and get a whole year for 20 bucks. A no-brainer! Remember this is for a limited time only, get that upgrade now! Click here to learn more and order: http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-UHSL-Upgrade *Offer not valid in the UK

Cool Tools

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Eyes Only Your Viewpoint on Security Issues

All too often, I find myself the bearer of bad news. "Sorry, all of your data is gone." Usually that is followed by the question, "Do you have a backup?" Most of the time it is a resounding NO for personal home computers or laptops. Fortunately, for many businesses, their IT staff or provider has some sort of backup strategy in place (hopefully). Sometimes though I have gone into a business that has little or no backup that occurs regularly. Some do but it is never monitored or maintained. Others keep switching the same tapes day after day and have been using the same tapes for years only to find out that after disaster has struck they have no backups. They just assumed that the backup was running and basically have been switching tapes for months for nothing. Just about every home I go into there is no backup of anything.

Whether a large corporation with a bank of servers or your home family PC, one thing is imminent and that is a failure. Whether a hardware failure, act of God, or you fall victim to a malicious virus or hacker attack. Computers are man-made devices and are prone to failure. Although there are technologies for redundancy of your data to circumvent the disaster of data loss, these are usually only found in servers or higher end workstations. Typically, you will not find any of these features in your home PC or laptop.

For business owners or managers I recommend discussing with your IT staff or provider the backup strategies that are being employed. I also recommend evaluating disaster recovery plans in the event of some catastrophic event.

For home user's personal PC's and laptops, I recommend creating a backup of your important information if you already aren't. This can be easier said than done however. There so many ways to go about it and so many options regarding backup media and also off-site backup locations. Many are lost before they begin with the question of how? -- Tim Gardner When I saw the blip regarding passwords, I just have to pass along this story. We were on vacation we stayed at a campground with Wi-Fi. It was not a very strong signal so getting out in cyberspace was trying at best. Parked next to us a couple on their way home from Palm Springs to Canada. They too were having the same problem with connections.

To make a long story fairly short, there was another camper who was a computer guru of some sort. The gentleman parked next to us mentioned the getting /staying connected to the guru gentleman. You are going to be astounded when I tell you our next door neighbor gave this guy complete access to his computer because the guy told him he could fix it. Apparently thinking it was the computer not the poor signal. Now keep in mind these two people did not know each other, had never met and probably would not ever see one other again. The computer gentleman doing whatever computer people do to make these things operate better and made program and system changes that prevented our neighbor from gaining access to his stuff (financial records, stock portfolio, etc.). He wasn't very happy.

The computer gentleman was supposed to come back and fix whatever he did but we left so don't know if he did but will assume he did. I nearly had a stroke. Who in their right mind would give a complete stranger out in the middle of nowhere access to their computer? I am not talking about a repair shop but basically someone "off the street". Then wonder how on earth people get their information. Just thought you might need an "oh my God" for the day. L. B.

Operations: What You Need To Know

Some of you have asked me recently as to why adware would be considered malicious as it does not appear to be as harmful as Trojans and Rogue Security Programs like number 7 on this week's Roguish Hit Parade - FraudTool.Win32.Antivirus2010 (v). Well it may be true that Trojans, etc. do more damage, do not underestimate the destructive power of adware. Wouldn't you consider annoying popups and the transmission of info on your surfing habits sent to the adware company to be malicious? This week GameVance shows its ugly face on our Top 10. GameVance offers "free" games from its website in exchange for the display of targeted pop-up and pop-under advertising based on information about users' online behavior. You will pay the price.

1. Trojan.ASF.Wimad (v): Trojan
2. Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot.gen: Trojan
3. GameVance: Adware (General)
4. Trojan.Win32.Tdss.aalc (v): Trojan
5. Trojan.1: Trojan
6. Trojan-Downloader.Zlob.Media-Codec: Trojan Downloader
7. Trojan.DNSChanger.Gen: Trojan
8. Exploit.PDF-JS.Gen (v): Exploit
9. FraudTool.Win32.Antivirus2010 (v): Rogue Security Program
10. INF.Autorun (v): Trojan

You should take extra precautions in your computing practices.

Active Threats - Be Aware

1. There is spam circulating that tries to lure Internet users to malicious web sites. The spam promises a "Peep hole" video of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews undressing in a hotel room. The spam then delivers Zbot-like Trojans to both Macs and PCs. The PC version then downloads rogue anti-malware and tells you to buy it.
2. A new vulnerability has been detected in Firefox, but late reports indicate it can only lead to a stack-overflow crash which isn't exploitable. This is not the same as the vulnerability that led to the Firefox update (version 3.5.1) late last week.
3. The two serious vulnerabilities in Microsoft's products that were reported recently remain unpatched. Exploits are in the wild.
4. An ActiveX vulnerability used by Internet Explorer to display Excel spreadsheets can allow remote code execution (Security Advisory 973472).
5. Video ActiveX Control vulnerability allows an attacker to run arbitrary code (Security Advisory 972890).

Stay on top of all the real-time threats:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-SunbeltSecurity

Dirty Tricks

Imagine someone following you around wherever you went. You know they are there, you are not sure who they are but their persistent presence is downright annoying and even threatening. You don't know what they will do or why they are doing it. They are just there - a malignant big brother. This is the wonderful world of adware or in its non-abbreviated form 'advertising-supported software' (although it has expanded from this definition to include any free stuff that you download that installs a little extra).

This little extra is where adware goes beyond its bounds and thoroughly invades your privacy. Certain additional functions are built-in or bundled with your freebie which keep track of what sites you visit and reports back to adware HQ. Of course, this is done without your permission. Oh, and then there are those most annoying popups! Speaking of adware one of the biggest perpetrators of said malware is coming back from the graveyard. Only this time they are said to be legal. Time will tell.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Kazaa
The new-fangled e-passports might not be as secure as the gov would like us to believe. Check out this "official" Elvis Presley passport. It seems that the RFID chips are rather easy to clone and fake.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-e-Passport
A couple of years ago, I wrote a column about the temptation of spam and that I had an itchy trigger finger at times wanting to check out all these amazing offers. Somehow, through great self-discipline and self-preservation I resisted temptation. But guess what? I was not alone in that temptation and truth is thanks to a recent study I am not alone.

"Almost a third of consumers admit responding to messages that might be spam emails. Some acted out of curiosity or by mistake but a puzzling 96 from a sample of 800 (12 per cent) said they clicked because they interested in the product or service advertised in junk mail messages. A survey by the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG), released on Wednesday, also found that four in five consumers thought it unlikely they were at risk from malware capable of turning their PC into a spam-relaying zombie, despite the prevalence of the problem. MAAWG commissioned researchers to interview 800 ordinary computer users in North America.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Junk-Mail-Economy
Like I said earlier, we are facing an open society but the problem is that our openness might be abused. Like what happened with this gentleman. "Mitch Ratcliffe, ZDNet colleague and man who takes pleasure in ranting in a range of technological subcultures, recently asked why a married man of seven years has had his Facebook profile pictures used in ads promoting matchmaking sites for singles."
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Facebook-Privacy

Zone - Cool Products & Other Stuff

I am always looking for some hot stuff to share with our readers maybe you are too. Hit me back at feedback@SunbeltSecurityNews.com.

NASA has superimposed a map of Aldrin and Armstrong's strolls around the Sea of Tranquility onto a standard baseball diamond:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Moonwalk-Map
Chrome messenger bags are made for the urban athlete. The over the shoulder design is all about comfort and style regardless of where your mission leads you. The weatherproof system keeps the weather where it should be, outside your bag:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Messenger-Bags
Now you can own this special edition replica of the AG-7 Space Pen carried on the Apollo 11 mission and every manned space flight since that historic event. To commemorate this great event, Fisher Space Pen Company has issued 1,000 Limited Edition AG -7 Space Pens, each one featuring actual, authenticated material from the Apollo 11 Space Craft.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Space-Pen
These are not your usual headstones:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Grave-Markers
The fastest 57 Chevy pickup truck in the World goes 0-300 mph in 8 seconds:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Chevy
Why E-mail was invented. Short and Very Funny:
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Email
Awesome clip from the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, the second largest aquarium tank in the world.
http://www.sunbeltsecuritynews.com/090722-Aquarium