MetaFilter posts tagged with virus and malware

Thanks for two hours of your time

the man of twists and turns — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 03:34:40 -0800

"I am calling you from Windows": A tech support scammer dials Ars Technica Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission

launched a major international crackdown on tech support scams in which telemarketers masquerade as major computer companies, con consumers into believing that their computers are riddled with viruses, spyware and other malware, and then charge hundreds of dollars to remotely access and “fix” the consumers’ computers. At the request of the FTC, a U.S. District Court Judge has ordered a halt to six alleged tech support scams pending further hearings, and has frozen their assets.

More Ars: How To Troll A Tech Support Scammer

A good troll is a prepared troll, and Ted was ready. He dragged out the call by pretending to connect his Windows 95 and Windows Vista computers to CompuServe via dial-up Internet, by providing an expired credit card number, and by providing absurd answers to basic questions.

After FTC crackdown, users chronicle tech support scam calls: Recording of Scam Telemarketers (Video) Trolling The Windows Indian Phone Call Scam (Youtube) Scamming the scammers -- catching the virus call centre scammers red-handed (Youtube)

An unauthorized certificate could be used to spoof content, perform phishing attacks, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks. This issue affects all supported releases of Microsoft Windows.

mek — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:13:00 -0800

"Flame" is the name of a newly-identified malware program which utilizes a previously unknown MD5 collision attack to successfully spoof Microsoft Terminal Services, and install itself as a trusted program using Windows Update, Microsoft has confirmed. The program appears to have targeted computers in the Middle East, and specifically Iran; analysts have alleged it is likely created by the same entity that designed Stuxnet. Flame has been live and actively spying since 2010, but went undetected until recently, due to sophisticated anti-detection measures. While anonymous US officials have claimed responsibility for the program, officially both the USA and Israel have denied any involvement.

ANY KEY TO PLAY

griphus — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:48:10 -0800

Your Data depends on a game of JACKPOT and other classic vir(ii/uses). Brought to you by danooct1 and a Compaq Portable.

Microsoft's newest version of Windows....

bkdelong — Thu, 20 Dec 2001 10:30:40 -0800

Microsoft's newest version of Windows.... billed as the most secure ever, contains several serious flaws that allow hackers to steal or destroy a victim's data files across the Internet or implant rogue computer software. The company released a free fix Thursday.

A Microsoft official acknowledged that the risk to consumers was unprecedented because the glitches allow hackers to seize control of all Windows XP operating system software without requiring a computer user to do anything except connect to the Internet.