AVG Research Discovers 1.2 Million Computers Infected by Cybercriminals Using Eleonore Exploits Toolkit

July 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sun JVM and Adobe Acrobat Reader Vulnerabilities Top List with Infection Rates
of 36 Percent
AMSTERDAM–(Business Wire)–
AVG Technologies, makers of the world`s most popular free anti-virus software,
today announced that AVG`s Web security research team has discovered a network
of 1.2 million malware-infected computers controlled by cybercriminals who were
using the Eleonore exploit toolkit – a commercial attack software enabling
cybercriminals to infect and monitor compromised PCs.

The two-month-long study by AVG Research researched 165 Eleonore toolkits in use
by cybercriminals and concluded that those using the Eleonore exploit toolkit
were experiencing a 10 percent success rate in infecting the more than 12
million users visiting their compromised web pages. All 165 domains experienced
high volumes of traffic which the cybercriminals managed to compromise. The
research was built using AVG LinkScanner product data, identifying URLs that the
product blocked when it identified a threat. The full research report can be
found on AVG`s blog post at: http://blogs.avg.com.

“The accessibility and sophistication of easy-to-use cybercriminal toolkits
proves that cyber gangs are raising the bar to monetize their criminal
activities,” said Yuval Ben-Itzhak, senior vice president, AVG Technologies.
“That is why it`s more important than ever for families, corporations and other
computer users to protect their computers from being targeted by this kind of
increasingly popular cyber attacks by using AVG anti-virus and web security
tools like LinkScanner that AVG offers for free.”

AVG`s free award winning anti-virus software, in addition to its innovative
LinkScanner product, protects users against the ever increasing online
web-threats by dynamically scanning the web pages in real-time before users open
them in their browser. AVG Free or LinkScanner can be downloaded at the AVG
Download web page free of charge, or at www.download.com.

Keep in touch with AVG

* For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at www.twitter.com/officialAVGnews
* For security trends analysis, follow AVG blogs at http://blogs.avg.com
* Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/AVGfree

About AVG Technologies

www.avg.com

AVG is a global security software maker protecting more than 110 million
consumers and small businesses in 170 countries from the ever-growing incidence
of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. AVG has
nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most
advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats
from around the world. Its free, downloadable software allows novice users to
have basic anti-virus protection and then easily upgrade to greater levels of
safety and defense when they are ready. AVG has nearly 6,000 resellers, partners
and distributors globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro,
Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!.

Source: http://www.avg.com/press-releases-news

AVG Technologies – Investor Relations
Siobhan MacDermott, +420 725 695 132 (CZ Mobile)
+1 415-299-2945 (US Mobile)
siobhan.macdermott@avg.com
or
AVG Technologies – North America
Aimee Schoaf, +1 623-308-5017 (Mobile)
aimee.schoaf@avg.com
or
AVG Technologies – EMEA
Alica Domanicka, +420 725 097 437
alica.domanicka@avg.com
or
MS&L, for AVG
Stephen Gilmore, +1 212-468-4056
stephen.gilmore@mslworldwide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

AVG Technologies Nets Key Industry Accolades

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Internet Security Leader Named Ventura 2009 Award Winner by Enterprise Investors
and Receives VB100, ICSA Certifications
AMSTERDAM–(Business Wire)–
AVG Technologies, developers of the world`s most popular free anti-virus
software, today announced continued positive results, awards, certifications and
accolades across the global security industry. AVG received two accolades in the
Ventura 2009 Awards and achieved the VB100 Award in June 2010 for AVG Internet
Security Network Edition on Windows Server 2008 R2.

The Ventura Awards, now in their ninth year, are a prestigious annual awards
program that recognizes the achievements of companies represented by Enterprise
Investors (EI), the oldest and one of the largest private equity and venture
capital management firms in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. The awards
identify EI`s leading portfolio companies and of the managers committed to those
companies` growth the best portfolio companies and its 2009 winners had AVG on
top in two categories: Most Dynamic Enterprise and Manager of the Year, won by
J.R. Smith, CEO of AVG Technologies.

Additionally, AVG Internet Security Network Edition also was awarded the VB100
certification from UK-based Virus Bulletin (www.virusbtn.com) for June 2010.
This is the 15th award in a row AVG Technologies has received from Virus
Bulletin. The VB100 (virus) award is granted to any product that passes the test
criteria under test conditions in the VB lab as part of the formal VB
comparative review process. In addition, AVG also received ICSA certification on
AVG Internet Security on Windows 7 32-bit and AVG File Server Edition on Windows
2008 Server 64-bit.

“We`re delighted to receive these awards and certifications, which are further
evidence that we are doing something right at AVG,” said J.R. Smith, chief
executive officer, AVG Technologies. “AVG prides itself on being innovative,
agile, and responsive to changing customer demands, while delivering high
quality products, and these accolades are confirmation of our ability to do
exactly that.”

About AVG Technologies:

www.avg.com

AVG is a global security software maker protecting more than 110 million
consumers and small businesses in 170 countries from the ever-growing incidence
of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. AVG has
nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most
advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats
from around the world. Its free, downloadable software allows novice users to
have basic anti-virus protection and then easily upgrade to greater levels of
safety and defense when they are ready. AVG has nearly 6,000 resellers, partners
and distributors globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro,
Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!.

Links

* For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at www.twitter.com/officialAVGnews
* For security trends analysis, follow AVG blogs at http://blogs.avg.com
* Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/AVGfree

AVG Technologies
Siobhan MacDermott
CZ Mobile: +420 725 695 132
US Mobile: +1-415-299-2945
Investor Relations
siobhan.macdermott@avg.com
Aimee Schoaf
Mobile: +1-623-308-5017 (North America)
aimee.schoaf@avg.com
Alica Domanicka, +420 725 097 437 (EMEA)
alica.domanicka@avg.com
or
MS&L, for AVG
Stephen Gilmore, +1-212-468-4056
stephen.gilmore@mslworldwide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

iPass Partners With Telenor to Expand Mobile Network Coverage

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LONDON, Jun 15 (MARKET WIRE) —
iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leading provider of enterprise mobility
services, today announced a partnership with Telenor Norway that will
expand the iPass Mobile Network through the addition of 200 hotspots in
Norway. Telenor’s Norway’s network will become available to mobile
employees at iPass’ 3,500 enterprise customers.

iPass customers benefit from widely available and reliable wired and
wireless connectivity, without having to pay international roaming
charges, and this partnership will extend these benefits to business
travellers in Norway. Included among Telenor Norway’s 200 hotspots are
leading business hotel groups including Choice Hotel Group, Thon and
Radisson Blu.

Before being integrated into the iPass Mobile Network, the Telenor
hotspots completed rigorous certification, which includes testing the
hotspots against availability and interoperability with policy and
security tools, including a comprehensive range of virtual private
networks, personal firewalls and anti-virus software used by business
travellers.

“At Telenor Norway we see the co-operation with iPass as a means of
providing even better mobile connectivity services for an important
segment of international business customers. iPass clearly delivers a
solution which caters to the needs of business travellers and enterprises
looking to keep their mobile employees connected, and this co-operation
will enable iPass’ customers easy access to Telenor’s hotspots across
Norway,” said Bjorn Martin Worsoe, marketing director, Telenor Norway.

“Norway is an important business destination in its own right, as well as
an important hub for companies looking to do business in the wider Nordic
region,” said Marcio Avillez, vice president, network products, iPass.
“As a result, demand for business grade connectivity in the region
continues to grow and this partnership extends the benefits of our iPass
network to mobile workers doing business in Norway, giving them a simple
and smart connectivity option.”

The iPass hotspot footprint includes key business venues including 89 of
the world’s top 100 busiest airports and a total of 643 airports
worldwide as well as over 31,000 hotels and conference venues and over
110,000 retail venues worldwide.

iPass customers can access the iPass Mobile Network service from a broad
range of devices including Windows and Apple PCs as well as Blackberry,
iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile smartphones.

About iPass Inc.
Founded in 1996, iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS) is a leading
provider of enterprise mobility services with over 3,500 customers,
including more than 370 of the Forbes Global 2000. The company’s mission
is to be the voice of the enterprise in the market for mobility services
by providing solutions that simply, smartly and openly facilitate access
from any device on any network, while providing the visibility and
control necessary to contain spiraling mobility costs, maximize mobile
user productivity and maintain security in a world where consumers drive
enterprise IT. For more information, visit www.iPass.com or follow iPass
on Twitter at www.twitter.com/iPass.

About Telenor
Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Telenor is an international
provider of high quality telecommunications, data and media communication
services. Telenor is one of Norway’s largest companies with revenues in
2008 of approx. NOK 110 billion (including Kyivstar) and a work force of
more than 40,000 domestically and abroad. Telenor is listed at the Oslo
Stock Exchange (TEL). For more information about the Telenor Group,
please visit www.telenor.com.

iPass(R) is a registered trademark of iPass Inc. iPassConnect(TM) and
iPass Mobile Office(TM) are trademarks of iPass Inc. Wi-Fi(R) is a
registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Editorial Contacts:
Sarah Porter
AxiCom
Tel: +44 (0) 208 392 4066
Email: sarah.porter@axicom.com

Kate Blatt
iPass Director, Public Relations
Tel. +1 650-232-4205
Email: kblatt@iPass.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

AVG Technologies Acquires Leading US Distributor, Walling Data

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

AVG Adds US Volume Leader and Exclusive Outlet for Unlimited US Based Support to
Its Family
AMSTERDAM–(Business Wire)–
AVG Technologies, developers of the world`s most popular free anti-virus
software, today announced the acquisition of North Carolina-based Walling Data,
North America’s leader in security software distribution. Initially, AVG will
work to integrate Walling Data into the AVG US and global team, and establish
AVG pre and after sales support within the Walling Data structure.

Since 2001, Walling Data has distributed AVG offerings across the United States
specializing in serving resellers, education, government and non-profit
organizations. Walling Data was founded in 1994 by Luke Walling and has been
widely recognized for providing unlimited, expert, US-based technical support
services at no additional charge for its base of more than 100,000 reseller and
end user customers.

“The decision to purchase Walling Data to further our distribution channels in
the US was a logical one, given the presence that Walling Data had already
established in the US market, a key market for AVG,” said J.R. Smith, CEO, AVG
Technologies. “By acquiring Walling Data, AVG is bringing into the family one of
our strongest performers and re-affirming our commitment to the US market, and
this will allow us to improve on the technical support service quality that we
provide to our US customers.”

“I am excited about joining the AVG Technologies team,” said Luke Walling,
founder and President of Walling Data. “Since founding Walling Data 16 years
ago, I have concentrated on providing unique solutions to common problems,
wrapped in the best possible customer service and support. We have been strongly
committed to the success of AVG since we first began working together, and I am
excited to reaffirm that commitment by becoming part of the AVG family.”

AVG, the world’s fourth largest supplier of antivirus solutions in terms of
installed user base, expects that in 2010 it will continue to evaluate and
respond to global market needs by expanding its technologies and ensuring an
ever-growing consideration of user languages and an ever-expanding compatibility
with host operating systems. More than 110 million users worldwide protect their
computers and networks with free or paid products from AVG.

AVG firmly believes that basic internet protection should be free, and, as such,
continues to offer one of the most robust free offerings on the market. AVG is
focused on continuing to innovate and expand its protection against computer
viruses as well as emerging web threats and malware. AVG offers real-time
protection against all Internet threats thanks to its unique, free AVG
Linkscanner technology, as well as strong protection of personal data with its
IDP module. AVG maintains its constant presence close to its customers with the
offer of free technical support via the web, available 7 days a week with rapid
responses to all enquiries.

Links

* For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at www.twitter.com/officialAVGnews
* For security trends analysis, follow AVG blogs at http://blogs.avg.com
* Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/AVGfree

About AVG Technologies

www.avg.com

AVG is a global security software maker protecting more than 110 million
consumers and small businesses in 170 countries from the ever-growing incidence
of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. AVG has
nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most
advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats
from around the world. Its free, downloadable software allows novice users to
have basic anti-virus protection and then easily upgrade to greater levels of
safety and defense when they are ready. AVG has nearly 6,000 resellers, partners
and distributors globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro,
Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!

Source: http://www.avg.com/press-releases-news

AVG Technologies – Investor Relations
Siobhan MacDermott
CZ Mobile: +420 725 695 132
US Mobile: +1 415 299 2945
siobhan.macdermott@avg.com
or
AVG Technologies – North America
Aimee Schoaf
Mobile: +1 623 308 5017
aimee.schoaf@avg.com
or
AVG Technologies – EMEA
Alica Domanicka
Telephone: +420 725 097 437
alica.domanicka@avg.com
or
MSL Worldwide for AVG
David Chamberlin
Telephone: +1 212 468 3650
Mobile: +1 214 669 7299
avg@mslworldwide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Warning for Facebook users: ‘Sexiest video’ message contains malware

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 19 (ANI): Facebook users are being warned not to click on a message that promises to deliver the ‘sexiest video ever’, as when opened it leads to the download of a programme that fills the computer with junk.

The video link appears in newsfeed together with a picture of a pneumatic model or a woman on an exercise bike wearing a miniskirt.

According to Wired.co.uk, the malware installs ‘adware’ called Hotbar, which makes the creator money and will pop up adverts when Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer are used.

The toolbar’s buttons will change depending on the site, but it will generally open up more unpleasant sites if one clicks the buttons.

It will also install skins for Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook express and start collecting user data.

IT security and data protection company Sophos says thousands of people are falling for the trick.

A video demonstrating the scam has been posted to YouTube by Websense Security Labs.

“You may want to watch a sexy video, but you’re more likely to end up being plagued by pop-up advertising,” Sky News quoted Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, as saying.

“Not only is adware being installed on your computer, but the rogue Facebook application is posting the same message to all of your friends’ accounts,” he added.

Cluley also said that Facebook users hit by the attack are advised not to click on the links or allow the Facebook application to run.

Victims are urged to scan their computer with up-to-date anti-virus software, change passwords, and review all Facebook applications and settings. (ANI)

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Hackers capitalise on Swayze’s death

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Sept 16 (ANI): Hackers are using Patrick Swayze’s death to push off spurious anti-virus software to Internet users and infect their computers with viruses.

The 57-year-old Swayze died of pancreatic cancer on Monday.

Many bogus websites claiming to provide information on the death of the Dirty Dancing star have mushroomed up.

Computer security company Sophos recently showed in a recent video that hackers list these sites on the first page of search engines like Google.

Visitors to these sites are asked for an anti-virus scan and the result shows that the user’s computer is infected by Trojans, which are actually not present. The sites then try to sell fake anti-virus software to the users to clean up their systems.

Many sites also infect the users’ computer with viruses that can crack passwords and credit card numbers and send them to the hackers.

Hackers have also used the deaths of Michael Jackson and Natasha Richardson to lead users to virus infected sites.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley as saying: “Clearly the cybercriminals are no slackers when it comes to jumping on a trending internet topic, and are more professional than ever before in spreading their fake anti-virus scams.” (ANI)

Filed Under: Entertainment News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hackers can’t hack top-secret data of military: Internet scientist

May 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Beijing, May 21 (ANI): An acclaimed Internet scientist has said that there is no way hackers could access top-secret data by penetrating the firewalls of military on government networks.

Former National Computer Network Emergency response team’s Director Professor Fang Binxing said there is no scientific basis to blame either China’s military or the government for hacking other nations’ networks because most of them are “out of reach”.

Binxing’s statement came after the foreign media blamed the Chinese authorities of infiltrating military networks and government computers in more than 100 countries.

A specialist on Internet security said that Networks containing sensitive intelligence are impenetrable, because the militaries isolate their networks completely from the public domain to prevent hacking.

“If there have been cases of key intelligence being stolen, I believe there would have been undercover agents within the organizations facilitating the theft you cannot simply do it with computer technology,” he added.

Fang Xingdong, a Beijing-based Internet technology expert, said China has become a staging post for hackers worldwide, who use the country’s network security vulnerability to launch attacks on other countries.

“Hackers often use computers based in China as their ‘springboard’. That makes it confusing even for the US military,” he added.

According to an Internet security report released on April 15 by Symantec, the California-based anti-virus software maker, about 71 percent of the computers hacked in the Asia-Pacific region are based in China, which has a cyber population of 300 million.

At the same time, 38 percent of hacking attempts worldwide originate in the US, compared with 13 percent in China, the report said.

“The US military is picking on China because it wants to make its claims appear more plausible,” Fang Binxing said.

Canadian-based researchers have also claimed that a cyber spy network based mainly in China hacked into classified documents from government and private organizations in 103 countries, including the computers of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles.

The researchers also dubbed the alleged infiltration “GhostNet” but “whether it’s called ‘GhostNet’ or something else, it’s just an expression, not a technical term in any sense,” Fang said.

The academician also rebutted reports by foreign newspapers claiming that China’s indigenously-built security operating system “Kylin” has links to military use. (ANI)

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Cyber criminals target Facebookers

March 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, March 3 (ANI): Social networking giant Facebook has been hit by hackers looking to paw upon users’ valuable information.

According to security experts, the site has faced five different security threats in the past seven days.

Rik Ferguson, senior security advisor at Trend Micro, revealed that Facebook had been besieged with four malicious applications along with a new variant of the Koobface virus.

These rogue applications try to rob saleable data from the profiles of those who open the link, whose malicious nature remained hidden on social network sites.

“This is not just restricted to Facebook. It’s a growing trend. Though I’m surprised it’s taken so long for social sites to be targeted,” The BBC quoted him as saying.

Ferguson further suggested that the free-access website should consider policing applications.

However, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg declined the possibility in preference for an open system.

In a Radio 1 Newsbeat interview, he said: “Our philosophy is that having an open system anyone can participate in is generally better.”

Meanwhile, blogger Graham Cluley, also senior technology consultant at anti-virus software developers Sophos, said: “One of the problems is that Facebook allows anybody to write an application and third party applications are not vetted before they are released to the public.

“Even as Facebook stamps out one malignant application, it can pop up in another place.” (ANI)

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Anti-virus software weak on explanations

November 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Anti-virus software weak on explanations Hanover, Germany – Most current generation anti-virus programs are greatly improved over their earlier counterparts, experts say.

This applies in particular to their ability to use heuristic methods of recognizing and disarming previously unknown viruses, the Hanover-based computer magazine c’t concluded after a test of 10 programs.

Most programs now offer good protection against spyware. Yet, the programs are also increasingly prone to issuing false alarms, such as when they classify newly installed software as malicious.

“It’s often impossible for users to determine why the software is crying foul,” the magazine says. Manufacturers must provide better documentation on the meaning of the warnings.

The tested programs cost between 30 and 65 dollars. The experts recommend against relying on free software. While free versions of Antivir and AVG used to be sufficient, they now lack certain important functions which must be covered by purchasing additional software. (dpa)

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