The Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection.com
   Security Alert News Reporter   

     July 2005               LANGHORNE, PENNSYLVANIA, USA   Volume 2, Issue 2   (No 14)    
Help! I think we have a Virus.

Here's your "Security Alert News Reporter" for July, 2005
This Newsletter is sent out periodically to everyone who has registered for the Security Alert
 and Report Alert Services from one or more of the websites published and maintained by
 www.RichardPresents.com. If you are no longer interested in up-to-date Security Alerts -
please use the link at  the end of this letter to un-register.

Thanks for being a
 Loyal Subscriber

    The "NewsReporter" is published to keep you up-to-date on the latest information we gather for avoiding and surviving the hectic hacker attacks on your computer security and personal identity that take place constantly on the internet. Many of our comments are based on personal experiences. Protecting your safety, security, sanity, and privacy is not a simple task. We are trying to make it a bit easier for you to accomplish.
   
 ________________________________________________

   Latest Virus Threats  reported thru July 3, 2005 by McAfee ,
US-CERT, Panda
™ and other advisory services. (US-CERT is the operational arm
of the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) at the Department of Homeland Security)


Full descriptions including virus characteristics, symptoms, aliases and removal instructions are available by clicking on the links. This virus alert is in addition to those posted in previous month's
News Reporter issues. You can review previous Virus Alerts in the Archive files.
 
      CLICK on Red Virus Name for descriptions and Removal Advice
 
McAfee Advisory W32/Sober.p@MM is a Low-Profiled virus.
McAfeeAdvisory W32/Bagle.dldr is a Low-Profiled trojan.
US-CERT and Sophos Advisory W32/Mytob is a Medium profile worm
Top Ten viruses and spyware most frequently detected by Panda ActiveScan in June, 2005
symantec Advisory TrojanWebus.H is a medium profiled trojan


Security companies have been talking for a number of months about the change in viruses from fast-acting, such as the Slammer worm,
to slow-burning worms where the focus is on avoiding detection.

 
Viruses are often used to steal money, so avoiding detection is very important to virus writers to increase the chance of picking up your financial, and other personal information.

The following report is one example of what's happening.
 

                               Virus authors continue to use extortion
PandaLabs
™
reports that it has detected a Trojan designed to blackmail users by encrypting the files in their computers and then asking these users to buy an application to restore the encrypted files to their original status.

This is a new variant of the Trojan PGPCoder.B. It's more powerful than its predecessor and can encrypt more file types. The files that it attacks include those belonging to the most widely-used applications in the Microsoft Office suite (ie, Word or Outlook). It'll also go after the most common compressed file formats, like zip, rar or arj.

If a user runs the file carrying PGPCoder.B, the Trojan encrypts all the files with certain extensions it finds on the computer. In exchange, it leaves a text file in the folder in which the encrypted file was stored. That message contains the following text:
                      
  with subject: PGPcoder md56
                    Some files are coded.
                    To buy decoder mail:<md56@mail.ru>
 
               

Then it inserts several entries in the Windows Registry indicating the number of files it has encrypted on the system. Finally the Trojan self-destructs deleting PGPCoder.B from the user's system
.
 

To prevent infection from PGPCoder.B or other malicious code, Panda Software, and everyone else, advise all users to keep their antivirus software up-to-date.

                                  

Here's our usual reminder that you can download a FREE virus checking and removal tool at the Firewalls and Virus Protection site. STINGER checks and removes viruses already in your computer. (compliments of McAfee's Anti-virus and Vulnerability Emergency Response Team - AVERT)
 
The program still fits neatly on a floppy disc - a perfect way to clean up your computer if a worm or other 'rogueware' has disabled your ability to  get back on the Internet and update your security ware.

 

Download this FREE scanning and removal tool from the Firewalls and Virus Protection website at STINGER. It finds
and removes about 45 other active viruses and worms.
                     

Look for the STINGER Icon

 

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  Privacy Theft  - Watch out for the latest spyware
   

The Panda Software™ activity report of the most widespread spyware over the  month June, 2005 ranks as follows:

Spyware

    % of infections

        Panda Software Comments
As in the previous edition of this Panda Software™ ranking, the spyware program that has been most frequently detected is ISTbar. This spyware program acts as an entry-point for other malware, as it is installed on victims’ computers camouflaged as an ActiveX control and, in turn, installs other similar types of malware: spyware, adware and dialers. It also displays pornographic pop-ups, installs a toolbar, and changes the browser home page. The entries in this ranking have remained stable since last month, except for MarketScore, a new spyware program that monitors users’ Internet activity to send it online to advertising companies for online media
Spyware/ISTbar 3.48
Spyware/Cydoor 3.1
Spyware/New.net 2.9
Spyware/XXXToolbar 2.5
Spyware/Dyfuca 0.95
Spyware/BetterInet 0.82
Spyware/Petro-Line 0.77
Spyware/Altnet 0.67
Spyware/BargainBuddy 0.67
Spyware/MarketScore 0.51

     IMPORTANT UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS ! 
 

How to detect and get rid of malware and  Zombie (hijacking) programs
 

Usually, it's very difficult to repair the damage they cause, however, there are some really fine and very effective Programs available to Home and Small Business computer users to improve online security and minimize adware, Trojan horse/Zombie and general malware threats. You'll need three.
 
Eric Howes, an independent tester at the University of Illinois recently compared and tested more than 20 of the most popular and best respected anti-malware applications against hundreds of these threats, and the results surprised a lot of the experts.
 
           The new recommendations, based on Howes' research are
Microsoft AntiSpyware* with a detection score of 63% and Webroot Spy Sweeper (
CLICK for Free trial) - next best with 48%. Combined, they had a rate of 70%, by far the best of any possible combination of two packages.               
 
The third recommended program, SpywareBlaster (
Download) is a little bit different. It doesn't scan for and clean SpyWare, it prevents it from ever being installed by
 
    ● obstructing the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser
       hijackers, dialers and other potentially unsafe pests, locking spyware/tracking
       cookies in the Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox web browsers; and
 
    ● restricting the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.

* Microsoft AntiSpyware  was acquired from Giant Software  in December 2004 --
    it's currently available as a
FREE Download

 
There are other programs, of course. Among them are HijackThis and
cwsshredder which can help identify and remove many variants of the
insidious CoolWebSearch browser hijackers. (Check out Free Resources)
                                                                         
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Family Security and Caring
 
Family Caring -Reminder that the FREE Care Giving/Care Receiving manual is still available from the Senior2Senior.org website.
 
At some time in our lives, family members and friends may need caring support and special understanding.  Don't miss getting this valuable document, even if you aren't a Senior or aren't now involved in providing care for a loved one. All of my friends that I've shared it with agree that it's a great Resource and Guide.
 
You'll want to share it, too. The download is Free (and could be worth its weight in gold to you, someday).                                     ......... Richard

We post Kid Safe Sites, because like you, we care about the safety and security of our children and grandchildren
...and to help parents, grandparents and guardians guide today's young internet surfers to safe sites. There are many other website creators who feel the same concerns and responsibility. These are just a few of their sites that we have personally reviewed and tested as safe for our Grandchildren. Check them out and share them with the young people you care about.
  Please note the 'AMBER ALERT" scrolling at the bottom of this table
  If you would like to help support the Code Amber project, please click here.

Reviews of Family Safe Sites


CRAYOLA
 

The Crayola website goes beyond being just for Kids with its sections for Parents and Educators, too. We wouldn't hesitate to send our children and grandchildren here for entertainment and education. Here's the LINK


PBS Kids is a respected and trusted site. We would not hesitate to send our children and grandchildren there for entertainment and education, either. Their Privacy Policy is very assuring. Families visiting the site can feel safe regarding potential threats to family privacy and their children's welfare. Jump to it from HERE http://pbskids.org/

Our Firewalls-and-virus-protection.com website has been Certified 'Family Safe' by the Institute of Family Safe Businesses.

 

Ask Jeeves for Kids

Enter your question here:
Ask Jeeves is a trademark of Ask Jeeves, Inc., Copyright 1996-2000 Ask Jeeves, Inc. Ask Jeeves for Kids has great Study Tools, Fun and Games and News Resources, all Safe. Visit Ask Jeeves for Kids Home page Here
Kid Safe Site from
Yahooligans! A really cool Index to the Web for net Surfers ages 8 - 14. Parents will love this one, too.

Check out the Kid Friendly pages HERE and the Parent Friendly Links
 HERE

Click to visit Site
Your Site Support
Supporting your Play Time with Kids
for Kid approved activities that grownups love
  We receive no compensation for displaying these links and you will be under No Obligation when you visit them. They are here because we care about the safety of everyone who uses the internet, especially our Kids.


Predator Guard protects our children


Predator Guard
provides real-time protection for children in chat rooms, instant messaging, and e-mail exchanges.

The Home Edition Features:
  • Real-time protection in Instant Messaging, Chat Rooms, E-mail and Attachments
  • E-mail notification to parents
  • Reviews both outgoing and incoming data
  • User defined library to prevent distribution of personal information
  • Detects, captures, logs and reports violations
  • Works as a stand-alone application or with existing site blocking programs (AOL Parental Controls, Cyber Patrol,
    Net Nanny, and more.)
 Predator Guard is an Advanced Internet Management (AIM) solution that provides real-time protection for children in chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail and attachments from online predators and pedophiles. In addition, Predator Guard can prevent all outgoing personal information, such as a child's home address, phone number and school information, or other information that is essential for a predator to make contact with a child. Purchase this Inexpensive Protection Now
                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 As you may have noticed, this issue of the News Reporter has a lot of information. If you Bookmark it, you can return to re-read it at your convenience. I hope you do. Richard

                                                    To Top

Publications - Use these Free Reports to help your family and friends:

    Many people using the internet sometimes wonder if their firewalls and virus protection are good enough to keep them safe. For those of you who have visited our Firewalls website and Security Alert Blog, you know that the information there is directed toward keeping you safe from hacker and cracker attacks. Additions to our bookshelf are selected with the same purpose - and we encourage you to share our reports freely.
    
Because it isn't always convenient to share your computer with family and friends, we have created small downloadable reports that can easily be printed and distributed to the people you'd like to help avoid 'virus grief'.

Bookshelf and Special Report Alerts

23 Critical Alerts free to subscribers


"23 CRITICAL ALERTS

You Should Consider when Maintaining
Your Computer Security and Protecting
 Your Personal Safety"

FREE Downloadable eReport for ALL Subscribers
 to the
Security Alert News Reporter
  
Already a Subscriber?
CLICK HERE to get your Free copy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Read how to Protect young children and family from chat room predators
Protect Yourself and Family from Dangerous Chat Rooms and Instant Messages.
If you use them, you and yours are the Hacker's newest targets.
 
Hackers are already taking advantage of problems with today's IM systems. People not familiar with these new threats could easily open a new, harmless looking IM message that pops up on their screen. With one well intentioned click of their mouse on a Hacker’s phony message, could get infected. It's no longer just the teen age Chat Room users that are in danger. Whole families are threatened
 
In case you missed this FREE report on the Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection website, you can read it here.  Please print the report and share it with your family, friends and associates. Help them avoid the hidden dangers and threats often buried in IM messages and of predators lurking in Chat Rooms.
                                           
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 

Imorive you Online Security when traveling

If you take your laptop computer with you on your travels, this interview with the Author of "Travel Cheap-Travel Well" contains tips and advice to help maintain your
 Online Security while Traveling in the United States and Abroad.

The author, Victor K Pryles, discusses computer security and offers first hand advice on maintaining personal safety while on the road, high seas and in the air.

Click to read it here or Down Load it from this link and share this 10 page report with the travelers you care about. (It's in eBook format and takes less than a minute to download and zip open) DOWNLOAD HERE
                                            
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

      Can you afford the cost of getting the viruses out of your cmputer?                             
    Don't get trapped by Rogue Anti-Spyware software
   
Trying a new anti-spyware program? Avoid being duped
    or robbed by false positives.
   
 
    "Rogue/Suspect" means that these products are of unknown,
     questionable, or dubious value if used for anti-spyware
     protection.

     In case you missed this FREE report on the Firewalls-and- Virus-Protection website, you can read it here.  Please print the report and share it with your family, friends and associates. Help them avoid the hidden dangers and threats often buried in software programs that are supposed to clean up, not infect your computer.
                                            
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Is your Firewalls and Virus protection Safe Enough?

 
 Is Your Firewalls and Virus Protection Safe Enough?

This FREE report will help you identify viruses, prepare for attacks and infections and guide you in their removal. It's a
 9 page, easy reading guide that covers the threats we all face in our daily use of the internet. It's a basic education in understanding and Avoiding Virus Grief

Down load it from this link (it's in PDF format):                         
http://www.RichardPresents.com/safefirewall.zip

The download includes a ReadMe page with instructions for unzipping and using your Acrobat Reader, and even a link to the Adobe website where you can get your own free Acrobat Reader if you don't already have one
                                            
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Is a keystroke logger spying on you?
  Is a Keystroke Logger Being Used To Spy On You?
Many of the tools and tricks in use today to spy on your internet activities are exposed in this 7 page report. This look into spyware will alert you to the ease in which your identity could be compromised, or stolen.

Open the FREE report in a new webpage by clicking
Are Keystroke Loggers Spying On You?
(No downloading necessary, and you can print it right from
your browser window.)
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you afford the cost of getting the viruses out of your cmputer?

        
  How Much Money would it cost you to regain the use of your computer after a serious virus infection?
It cost one of our friends a whole lot of money, much aggravation and lost time, lost records, and a major inconvenience to recover from the havoc caused by the worms and viruses that had infiltrated their computer over a period of many months.

In case you missed this FREE report on the Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection website, you can read it here. Our friends have recovered full use of their computer and now encourage everyone to learn from their experiences. Please print the report and share it with your family, friends and associates.
    
                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

 There are a lot more Articles and Reports at the Firewalls and Virus Protection website. Two of the most recent cover these topics

           
 How to Avoid Spam Robots by Jim Edwards. Despite the
               fact that Federal legislation (the CANSPAM act) made it illegal,
               harvesting email addresses from the web using automated
               robots remains alive and well.

               A few Basic "Being Safe Online Tips" by Guest Author
                   Bea Kunz.
Opening e-mail and surfing the web is like going to
               the mall late at night alone. Keep Surfing Safe and Fun.         
 
 

                                     To Top            

 Free Resources  You can easily install the latest Firewall, anti-virus(*), spam blocking, and spyware removal software on your computers. Download all of these programs, and more, mostly for FREE, from our Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection website pages.
 
   
They're there for the taking. If you need to block Spam, check the links on the 'Spam and Spyware' page. Same thing for Cookie Crumbling tools, Spyware protection, etc.

     Most of them have a purchasable Upgrade option, and by trying the free versions, you can upgrade the ones that work best for you. 

    (*) Here's the link to Grisoft's AVG  Free anti virus software, in case you
         missed it in a recent issue of the
News Reporter)                           
 
          Browser Hijacking hasn't gone away. One of the outstanding sources for information about browser hijackers and tools to remove these predators is still available on the SpywareInfo.com website.

      It's loaded with powerful information and helpful advice that zeros in on the hijacking problem. If you are experiencing any similar problems, be sure to follow the link to their forum. There are literally thousands of postings from which you will learn and possibly find the advice that will help you resolve your own issues.

     You can download HijackThis from the Software link on the SpywareInfo website. Be sure to read and follow their instructions to the letter if you want good results.

                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We learned about this program from the extraordinary website and forums built and maintained by James Healan, webmaster of SpywareInfo.com.
 
DOWNLOAD latest cws shredder from Softpedia. It'll find and remove those nasty Cool Web Search trojan horses.


Here are A few more helpful resources
 
"Keep Your Private Information PRIVATE"
 

Lock away all of your Passwords, Images, Documents, Video and Audio into one Encrypted database for your eyes only.

Enigma enables you to Encrypt and store almost anything so that only you can access the files through a master password chosen by you. Of course, all or any of your Encrypted files can be restored to their original state any time you choose.

You can even backup and restore the entire database to and from CDs to ensure that you lose nothing even if your hard disk dies.

                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Hackers, virus and spyware writers and other unethical persons are becoming more and more sophisticated every day. Their attacks and the undesirable and often dangerous stuff they sneak into our computers slow them down, and threaten our personal lives with increasing severity.
 
For example: Everyone who owns a computer — at home or in the office —
is exposed to more security risks than they can possibly imagine. Deadbeats, criminals and swindlers prey on unsuspecting victims every second of every day. In your own defense you must discover how to...
 
  ● root out malware that has already taken up residence in your PC
  ● protect against future attacks
  ● recognize the tricks of the spammers, scammers and eavesdroppers
  ● keep your sensitive documents & data away from prying eyes

Then you can enjoy the computing pleasures and watch your computer miraculously perform once again like the day you brought it home.

Fact: 99% of the time it is some form of malware (virus, trojan, spyware, etc.) that is the cause of diminished performance (slowing down) in a PC over a period of time. But there are much more serious implications than just reduced performance, because malware can be designed to do incredibly invasive and destructive things.
  
Ever since I found the eBook, "The Hacker's Nightmare"
that tells how to really Keep Hackers, Worms and Germs out of my PCs, it has received my highest recommendation to family and friends.
 
It's my Computer Security Bible.
 
  
This eBook is by the 20 plus year veteran of internet security consulting ...Mr Bill Hely. There's so much valuable information and just plain common sense contained in it, that we could fill this and future issues of our News Reporter for the next few months just talking about it.
    
    Bill has designed a webpage that describes many of the security tricks and tools that will help keep that nasty stuff out of your computer. Review The Hacker's Nightmare Story HERE. Some sample (Free) chapters are available to early visitors.
 
Here's a testimonial Bill received recently-
  "Bill, there is no way I can thank you enough for creating this wonderful program. I have done little else since I got it downloaded than print, read, experiment and learn. You are truly a genius and a very kind person for helping me 1-on-1 with my problem. The information in that book is so all encompassing that it is far more than a book on how to protect a computer. It also gives all the basic information on different concepts from Computer 101 to Advanced. My biggest question is why you are not charging more?  
   All of that information would cost a fortune if it were sold separately. At any rate, thank you again and again!! I would love to be an affiliate as soon as I learn a little more. It would be the only thing I ever sold that I truly believed in. You are incredible!"
                                     - Barbara Dingman (USA)

As you can see from Barbara Dingman's letter, The Hacker's Nightmare eBook isn't just for Professionals and Small Business Operators. Much of Bill Hely's information can easily be applied to keeping even the less experienced internet user out of the deep and murky depths of despair resulting from Hacker attacks, virus grief and spyware intrusions.
 
Visit now and Learn the Truths About Computer & Internet Security.
(Bill expects to increase the price sometime in the near future. Visiting now could avoid that price increase). I feel it's really worth it, even at a bit
higher price. ... Richard
 

i-Cop is a resource I'm proud to be a part of. You have probably noticed the various references to it throughout this newsletter, the Firewalls and Virus Protection website and my Blog.
 
It's the International Council of Online Professionals, i-Cop for short. I believe anyone  actively using the internet to provide information, services or sell products would benefit by subscribing to i-Cop's publication - The Internet Marketing Trade Journal. It truly sets the standard for Honesty and Integrity Online. I'm proud to be a member.
 
This FREE ezine is vitally important to online business owners and anyone even considering making money online! We keep folks
informed about all online issues and programs to participate
in, or avoid. Subscribe to
The Internet Marketing Trade Journal here:: http://www.i-Cop.org/trade-journal.htm                  ...Richard

                        

                                     To Top

Reviews of the News (some encouraging news about controlling SPAM,  pornography, and protecting Personal Consumer  Information)
 

Spam suppression efforts and results

 
The
Supreme Court  has handed movie studios and record labels a sweeping victory against file swapping, ruling that peer-to-peer companies such as Grokster could be held responsible for the copyright piracy of their networks.               

No doubt, this will lead to further litigation, but hopefully the long term end result will be a reduction in spyware propagation as Kazaa, Grokster and other file sharing services are monitored and encouraged to clean up their acts.
                               
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Intermix to pay $7.5 Million to Settle Spyware Case
 
As reported in last month's News Reporter, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's case against Intermix had been closely watched because it represented the first effort by law enforcement to crack down on spyware and because Intermix was seen as exhibiting much of the same behavior as hosts of other online marketing companies.
 
Intermix Media said it has struck a tentative agreement with New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to settle charges that the company used its network of Web sites and freeware downloads to distribute adware and spyware programs to unknowing consumers.
 
Intermix said it agreed to pay US$7.5 million to the state of New York over the next three years. It also agreed to permanently stop distributing its adware, redirect and toolbar programs, freeware that Intermix had stopped offering on its own recently. The Los Angeles-based company said the agreement does not include an admission of wrongdoing or liability.
 
      Other Recent News of efforts to improve our personal Security
 
Senators propose sweeping data-security bill
(Read ZDNet full report HERE)
An avalanche of new rules for corporate data security and stiff penalties for information burglars are included in a far-reaching bill introduced during June
in the U.S. Senate.
 
The bill represents the most aggressive--and at 91 pages, the most regulation-oriented--legislative proposal crafted so far in response to a slew of high-profile security breaches in the last few months. "Reforms like these are long overdue," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said in a floor speech.

                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Business leaders who fail to tell consumers when they may be at risk of identity theft could face jail under a bipartisan bill expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate in late June
.
(Read ZDNet full report HERE)

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter and Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee's top Democrat, would also restrict a freewheeling trade in Social Security numbers that are prized by identity thieves.

The bill, the first to draw Republican sponsorship, comes on the heels of the largest security breach announced to date after an outsider gained access to 40 million credit card accounts held by CardSystems Solutions, a payment processor.

Dozens of similar breaches have been disclosed this year after a California state law required businesses to make such incidents public.
                            
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                 
The Supreme Court and US Senate each get June's 'Good Guys' credits.
√ √
Here are our  'Good Guy Check Marks' to date )
√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ (See Archives)
     
                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"User Education" is the focus of our Firewalls and Virus Protection website and the "Security Alert News Reporter".  
 
Are your IM and Chat Room Buddies alert to the growing Instant Messaging threats?  In case you missed this FREE report on the Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection website, you can read it here.  Please print the report and share it with your family, friends and associates.
        
  As a P.S. to the above comment, encourage your friends to check out our  "Security Alert Blog". The most recent Blog entries include these helpful and timely posts:
 
              
  Beginner's Guide - Browser Hijacking and How to Stop It.
                      
This is probably one of the easiest to understand beginners' guides on
                       the Internet -- and it's Free!
 
                
Add this excellent  information blog to your list of Must Read spyware
                       avoidance resources.
The more useful information you have about the scourge
                       of malicious spyware, the better chance you'll have of avoiding the grief it will
                       bring.

  There are dozens more posts available in the Blog Archives. Read our Blog Posts HERE. I urge you to Comment, Challenge and add your own opinions to ours.

                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                          
                                            
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Are you campaigning with us? (Computer Virus Awareness Campaign)

It appears as if some progress is being made in alerting your friends and family of spyware dangers. A recent report from Webroot Software company covers some of that progress, while emphasizing the importance of increased awareness. Here's my review:
 
 
Every quarter, the Webroot Software company compiles results from a continuous CONSUMER SpyAudit. In their report for the end of the first quarter of 2005, they noted that In Q4 of 2004, the number of machines infected by spyware reached an all-time high of 92 percent. Webroot expressed alarm at the overall growth of the spyware plague, due to the dramatic rise in the most malicious forms of spyware - system monitors and Trojan horses. Some other interesting details included in the report are :
 
1. adware penetration declined. Tracking cookies increased their penetration slightly - up 6 percent from the beginning of 2004 to 76 percent in Q1 2005
 
2. Webroot believes the adware decline since the beginning of 2004 is because computer users are more aware that spyware and adware are threats and
Users are more willing to install “free” spyware protection
 
3. The announcement by Microsoft of their free anti-spyware product contributed to users increased awareness, as did the activity to create anti-spyware laws in 27 states, and the re-introduction of anti-spyware legislation in the US House and Senate.
 
4. Although the overall percentage of spyware infections decreased in Q1 2005 from
Q4 2004, the percent of machines found with Trojans increased almost 30 percent over the already-high Q4 2004 level
 
5. Webroot believes this could indicate increased infection rates of the kinds of Trojan horses used to recruit robots for Zombie armies mustering for Denial of Service attacks
  Please help us help your family, friends, and associates enjoy a safer and less frustrating internet experience. We encourage you to share this information with them or suggest they subscribe to the news letter below.
 
________________
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
_____________
All of us, too, need to act, by educating ourselves and by making sure we obtain the necessary programs to protect our computers.

Those programs include installing a firewall; installing and updating anti-virus software; using anti-spyware software that can identify and delete programs that have migrated to our computers; using spam filters to protect
e-mail; and downloading patches that update software and web browsers.
 
Keep in mind that these programs are only as good as their latest updates! I hope your machines aren't infected with any viruses that send out spam.
 
How can you be sure? Do some 'house-cleaning' on your system. Scan for spyware and viruses and while you're at it, install a diagnostic program so that you can discover any viral ills on your PC.
 
Have you ever checked the health of your computer's Registry? Why not try
errornuker? It's a powerful diagnostic utility that will scan the Windows Registry to identify errors and provide ways to optimize the performance of the Windows Registry.
 
Your Registry could need a clean up if
you have these Registry Problem Symptoms
  • PC keeps crashing at critical times
  • PC needs frequent rebooting
  • unable to remove a program using add/remove dialog
  • 'unable to load ***.DLL' errors
  • 'cannot find ***.exe' errors
  • PC runs noticeably slower than when you first bought it
     

     

    Unlike other similar tools, errornuker is very careful with the registry — it never deletes a registry entry if this could harm your system...

    Download errornuker now, absolutely FREE

    After running errornuker the first time, and seeing how many registry listings needed to be fixed on my computer, and how effectively they were fixed, it is now a part of my booting routine every time I restart.               ... Richard

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 NewsReporter Reader's Questions  ??????????
 
       Send in your questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Some people are bashful about asking, but there are always many others who share the same question, and will benefit from the answers to yours.
 

  With your permission, we'll publish your questions and answers in future issues of the "NewsReporter".
                           
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
 
  Sharing ?
If you have the opportunity to help family members, associates, or friends by sharing any of the information in this "News Reporter", please suggest that they subscribe for their own personal copy.

  They can subscribe here and we'll never share their information with third parties.

  If they are hesitant or uncertain about the benefits of visiting with us,
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