RSS Reader for Computer Security Articles
We’ve seen how ransomware managed to become a threat category that sends consumers and enterprise reeling when it hits them. It has become a high-commodity malware that is used as payload to spam email, macro malware, and exploit kit campaigns. It also digs onto victims’ pockets in exchange for recovering files from their encrypted form. …
Read MoreEarly this month, we saw a new ransomware family that launches a three-prong attempt to get you to hand over your hard-earned cash. Called “Cerber” (it replaces file extensions with .cerber), we like to think of this three-prong approach as a nod to the mythical multiple-headed hound, Cerberus. The attack starts with a text-to-speech (TTS) synthesized…
Read MoreAs part of our ongoing effort to provide better malware protection, the March release of the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) will include detections for Vonteera – a family of browser modifiers, and Fynloski – a family of backdoor trojans. In this blog, we’ll focus on the Vonteera family of browser modifiers. BrowserModifier:Win32/Vonteera We…
Read MoreYou may have seen reports of the Locky malware circulating the web; we think this is a good time to discuss its distribution methods, and reiterate some best-practice methods that will help prevent infection. We’ve seen Locky being distributed by spam email, not in itself a unique distribution method, but this means that spreading is…
Read MoreThere are many programs that purport to clean up and optimize system performance. While Microsoft does not endorse the use of these tools with Windows, we do not view them as unwanted or malicious. Many programs in this category have a practice of providing a free version of their software that scans your system, presents the…
Read MoreThe February release of the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) includes updated detections for the following malware families: Bladabindi Gamarue Sality Kelihos Diplugem The updates include detections for the latest variants from these malware families. There were no new malware families added to the MSRT this month. The MSRT works in tandem with real-time…
Read MoreIn April last year we announced some changes to our criteria around Adware designed to ensure that users maintain control of their experience. These changes are described in our blog, Adware: a New Approach. Since then, we’ve taken policy and enforcement measures to address unwanted behaviors exhibited by advertising programs that take choice and control away from…
Read MoreAt Microsoft, we are continuously working to deliver on our commitment to the security of our customers and their ecosystems. A core component of our strategy to inform Windows users about the safety of the websites, apps and software they’re accessing online is built into the Microsoft Trusted Root Certificate Program. This program takes root…
Read More