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

Some Highlights from TODAY'S TOPICS

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 ► Latest Virus Threats  reported April 06, 2006 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.
 

Usually, it's very difficult to repair the damage phishing scams cause, however, there are some really fine and 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 at least two or three.
 

The following recommended anti-spyware programs appeared most often during February and March, 2006, on the top rated research and anti-spyware reporting websites, including Spyware Warrior:

 Ad-aware -  Pest Patrol - Webroot Spy Sweeper (CLICK for Free trial), -
Spyware Doctor Spybot Search and Destroy - XoftSpy and MacScan for MAC users
 
 Microsoft AntiSpyware  - Windows Defender is currently available as a FREE Download, but you can't use it with Windows 95 or 98. I use it on my windows 2000 and Windows XP PC's, have it set for automatic updates and daily scans. Like SpywareBlaster (Download) it's designed to  monitor in Real Time.

Keep in mind that you must also have up-to-date anti-virus software(*) and a
strong firewall, plus the latest updates for your browser (Internet Explorer,
Firefox, Netscape, Opera... whichever one you use).
 

[Free Spyware Scan - Click Here] Click here Xoftspy v3.2                          Xoftspy is the latest in spyware detection and removal. Xoftspy will hunt down and remove from your machine all known spyware/adware that is on the market today. 91% of PC's are infected with spyware. Try Xoftspy right now for FREE and see for yourself if your PC is infected! Spyware & Adware are files that are installed on your computer without your knowledge. They allow companies to monitor your Internet browsing patterns and even allow companies to inundate you with those annoying "pop up" ads! Most people are familiar with freeware, shareware, cookies, media players, interactive content, and file sharing. What they may not realize is that some of the aforementioned may contain code or components that allow the developers of these applications and tools to actually collect and disseminate information about those using them. They can track your surfing habits, abuse your Internet connection by sending this data to a third party, profile your shopping preferences, hijack your browser start page or pages, alter important system files, and can do this without your knowledge or permission. The security and privacy implications of these exploits should be quite obvious and undesirable on any system or network! Works with: Microsoft Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP Free File Scan Now

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► alert about Stinger You can get the April 5, Free updated virus checking and removal STINGER tool at the  Firewalls and Virus Protection site . STINGER,  (compliments of McAfee's Anti-virus and Vulnerability Emergency Response Team - AVERT) was updated on February 2, 2006 to detect and remove more than 50 current viruses including Sober.   It's a great little program that 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 to update your security ware.   Whenever updated versions become available, I'll post a notice here, on the Firewalls and Virus Protection website and in the Security Alert Blog.

Some recent additions to our reviews of Family Safe sites                                                                                      At the top of the list of results at a recent Google search for Child Safe web sites was "FirstGov for Kids", the U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. It's a great site. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has many great publications, too. I put a download link for their "Personal Safety for Children - A guide for Parents" in the Features Supplement.   Check them out in the new Features Supplement   CLICK HERE

We post these 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. 

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► Publications - Use these Reports to help your family and friends:
 
    . 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. Don't miss the NEWest Free report

Copy or Download these reports from the Publications Page in the new Features Supplement. CLICK HERE
eBooklet	"23 CRITICAL ALERTS You Should Consider when Maintaining Your Computer Security and Protecting  Your Personal Safety"
eReport	Protect Yourself and Family from Dangerous Chat Rooms and  Instant Messages.
eBooklet	Online Security while Traveling in the United States and Abroad.
eBook	"Travel Cheap - Travel Well!"- Confessions of A Traveling Pauper
eReport	Don't get trapped by Rogue Anti-Spyware software
eBooklet	Is Your Firewalls and Virus Protection Safe Enough?
eBooklet	Is a Keystroke Logger Being Used To Spy On You?
eReport	How Much Money would it cost you to regain the use of your computer  after a serious virus infection?
eReport	Internet Glossary - alphabetical list of terms used in many of the articles and news reports that relate to the Internet
eReport	Free Identity Theft Guide  A Breach in your personal privacy protection could easily lead to online and offline Hackers and thieves stealing your identity.
►Copy or Download these full reports from the Publications Page in the new  Features Supplement. CLICK HERE
NEW!  Home Security, and How to Protect your Family and Your property.   It's no secret that crime is increasing every year and is invading our communities. Burglary is a crime of opportunity where entry is gained due to the carelessness of homeowners. There are many things an average person can do to make their home less of a target. Download this free eBook from this month's Regular Features Supplement HERE.
There are a lot more Articles and Reports at the Firewalls and Virus Protection website. Look them over for the helpful 'keeping safe' info they contain. Our most recent library additions include                 Keep Internet Junk Mail and Spam out of your email inbox                The Microsoft Vista Operating System                Identity Thieves - Internet Outlaws               Choosing Anti-Virus, anti-adware and anti-spyware                  programs                               and visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website with its many publications relating to protecting the security of your family, both on the internet and off. They are FREE. You can go to their pages covering                    Consumer (family) Protection HERE. or take a look at  "Take Charge - Fighting Back Against Identity Theft" Free report HERE.

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Did you Check out the new Regular Features Supplement  to Issue 22?
 

ChoicePoint Settles Data Security Breach Charges; to Pay $10 Million in Civil Penalties, $5 Million for Consumer Redress

At Least 800 Cases of Identity Theft Arose From Company’s Data Breach

Consumer data broker ChoicePoint, Inc., which last year acknowledged that the personal financial records of more than 163,000 consumers in its database had been compromised, will pay $10 million in civil penalties and $5 million in consumer redress to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its security and record-handling procedures violated consumers’ privacy rights and federal laws.

The stipulated final judgment and order for settlement requires ChoicePoint to implement new procedures to ensure that it provides consumer reports only to legitimate businesses for lawful purposes, to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security program, and to obtain audits by an independent third-party security professional every other year until 2026.

“The message to ChoicePoint and others should be clear: Consumers’ private data must be protected from thieves,” said Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman of the FTC. “Data security is critical to consumers, and protecting it is a priority for the FTC, as it should be to every business in America.”

NOTE: A stipulated final judgment and order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.

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New York AG Eliot Spitzer brings suit against another spyware installer

The Sans Institute reported on April 7, 06 that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a lawsuit against Direct Revenue LLC, alleging the software distributor "surreptitiously installed millions of pop-up ad programs on consumers' computers."

Spitzer's lawsuit asks that Direct Revenue be enjoined from installing spyware without users' permission and from sending advertisements through software that is already on computers. It also asks that the court make the company disclose its revenues and "impose monetary penalties."

Direct Revenue has posted a rebuttal to the allegations on its web site, saying the case is founded on activity in which they no longer engage. A lengthy investigation indicated that Direct Revenue had installed the spyware on people's computers when they installed free applications and neglected to mention the bundled spyware.

The suspect software was downloaded to consumers' computers by Direct Revenue's own servers once the free application had been installed. Results of an investigation also indicate that the software was designed to be difficult to detect and uninstall and in some cases, reinstalled itself after users removed it.

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Congratulations to  the FTC for progress-to-date and aggressiveness in enforcing the consumer protection laws, and to NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer who  has been pursuing companies involved in alleged Internet fraud and other misconduct..

They get another of our 'Good Guys' check marks  √                             
 Good Guy Check Marks to date  √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √  √ √ √ √ √  √ √
(See Archives)
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► Resources - many Free.  It's easy to 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.       Check them out. If you need to block Spam, find 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.      Browser Hijacking is still a major problem. 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 "Privacy and Protection" 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., and whenever we can, we send a small donation to help keep them online.   DOWNLOAD latest cws shredder    (Version 2.19, Nov 05) Free from Trend Micro http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html  It'll find and remove those nasty Cool Web Search trojan horses.

To Top  Here's a powerful, inexpensive, and helpful resource to help you maintain your Internet Security and Personal Identity In The Hacker's Nightmare™ a retired FBI Special Agent tells you exactly how to really Keep Hackers, Worms and Germs out of your PCs. Here's what Bill Hely has to say about his eBook:   "When I was researching and writing The Hacker's Nightmare™ I was determined that there would be chapters that alone would be worth the cost of the whole book. Different chapters to different people that is... depending on individual needs and interests. Based on feedback from my readers I am confident that I have achieved that aim. I mean, read the testimonials for yourself!" Bill Hely, 20 plus year veteran of internet security consulting. has loaded it with valuable information and  plain common sense. We could fill this and future issues of our News Reporter for the next few months just talking about them. I've included some of Bill's outstanding, informative, and helpful articles in the Articles and Reports pages of the Firewalls and Virus Protection website. Please visit and check them out.      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.   and here's My Favorite Resource                   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 will 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

► "User Education" is the focus of our Firewalls and Virus Protection website and the "Security Alert News Reporter".  
 
Do your IM and Chat Room Buddies know  How to Find the Best Anti-spyware Software? In case they missed this FREE report on the Firewalls-and-Virus-Protection website, you can read it here and print the report to share with your family, friends and Buddies.
        
                        
As a P.S. to the above comment, encourage your friends to check out these timely posts in our  "Security Alert Blog". Recent Blog entries for March and early April included comments on these current issues.