Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Shadow Brokers Release Windows Malware that can Steal Keystrokes and Record Audio to its Paid Subscriber

Paid subscribers of Shadow Brokers’ monthly subscription can now gain complete access to your PC/laptop and steal your passwords and chats



The hacking group named SHADOW BROKERS, which was responsible for the NSA leaks earlier. is back with another NSA hacker kit. This time however, the leak is only available for the users with its “monthly subscription”.

In their latest release, SHADOW BROKERS have released a malware dubbed UNITEDRAKE. It is a remote access and control tool with “plug-ins” that can target WINDOWS based systems enabling the hacker with full control over their victim's system.

UNITEDRAKE is compatible with systems running on Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 up to Windows Server 2012. It first came to light in 2014 as a part of NSA's classified documents leaked by its former contractor Edward Snowden.

The Snowden documents suggested the agency used the tool alongside other pieces of malware, including GUMFISH, FOGGYBOTTOM, GROK, and SALVAGERABBIT

The malware's modules including FOGGYBOTTOM and GROK can perform tasks including listening in and monitoring communication, capturing keystrokes and both webcam and microphone usage, impersonating users, stealing diagnostics information and self-destructing once tasks are completed.

These tools were allegedly developed and used by the US National Security Agency (NSA) to perform mass surveillance and bulk hacking worldwide.

Ankush Johar, director at HumanFirewall.io, said: "Remote Administration and surveillance tools are not a new thing in the global cyberspace. These have existed since the beginning of the internet. Although, criminal grade pro malware like these are extremely dangerous as, even the inexperienced chaps now can use them to carry out nation-wide cyber crimes.

"It’s not too difficult to avoid the basic malware. Being aware and staying cautious is the key to your security. Consumers are suggested to make sure that the following points are always kept in mind before hovering around the tech."

* Keep a genuine anti-virus installed and updated.
* Do not click on click on unknown links. Verify the links completely before opening them.
* Never download attachments from untrusted sources.
* Never download pirated software/cracks as they contain malware or backdoors that can give complete access of your system to the hacker.
* Install all software and OS updates available on your device whenever prompted to do so.
* Avoid plugging in unknown USB devices, whether at home or office.

via BusinessWorld

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Google just made it waaaay easier to backup any PC



It's time to back up your PC. Here are 6 things to consider
Google just launched a new way to back up your PC data.



6 things you should know about backing up your PC

Is it time to rethink the old ways of archiving your data? Maybe all but one of them...
Last week, Google announced the new desktop version of its Backup and Sync app, and it got me thinking: What does desktop backup even mean in 2017?
Not so long ago, there was one and only way to protect the precious data riding around in your laptop: Connect an external drive (or, if you were really fancy, a network drive), then perform a complete system backup.
But is that really necessary anymore? It's time to inject some modern thinking into the old notions of PC backups. Here's what you should know:

It's all about the data

Think about what you're really trying to preserve in a backup. It's the data, right? Family photos, financial records, school papers, work documents -- stuff like that.
OK, but what about software? What about the operating system? A full-system backup lets you preserve these items in addition to your data, the idea being to let you restore everything in one fell swoop should disaster strike.
But, remember: What you really care about is the data.

Not all software needs to be backed up...

In the old days, when you bought software on CDs or even floppy disks, a full-system backup was logical, if only to avoid having to manually reinstall all those programs. Thanks to slow-loading media and comparatively slow PCs, that could be a long, torturous process.
But think about the software you use today. Some of it is probably web-based, meaning there's nothing to reinstall -- you just sign back into your, say, Google Docs account. As for local apps like CCleaner, Evernote, iTunes, Steam (and Steam games) and your antivirus software, you can quickly and easily re-download and reinstall them. (Even certain data is easily replaceable, like the PDF instruction manual you downloaded for your printer. Why bother backing that up?)
So make a little inventory list of the software you're using and see if there's anything that actually needs to be backed up. There might be exceptions, like commercial programs that give you only a one-time download option (video editor CyberLink PowerDirector comes to mind). Those downloads, if you have any, should definitely get backed up along with your other data.

...and neither does Windows (sort of)

Assuming you're running Windows 10 ($139.95 at Amazon.com), it's definitely a good idea to make a one-time backup of the OS in case you need it later. You can do this by running Microsoft's media-creation tool, which will put a copy of the OS onto a flash drive (5GB or larger).
Ah, but will you need it later? If you're having software-related issues with your PC (malwareinfestation, everyday Windows wonkiness), you can use Windows' Recovery tool to get a factory-fresh reset -- no external media required. But if you have to, say, replace a defunct hard drive, now you'll want that flash drive so you can reinstall Windows.

The dirty little secret of full-system backups

OK, but if that's the case, doesn't a full-system backup make more sense so you can do a full-system restoration? I'll argue no, for these reasons:
  • Full-system backups take time, even if you're just making incremental ones.
  • Full-system backups require large-capacity external drives, which cost money. You also need backup software. There are freeware options, but do you really want to trust your entire hard drive to a free program?
  • A full-system restore doesn't afford the benefits of a fresh Windows install; instead, you end up with all the same stray Registry keys and fragmented files that were dragging down the system before.
  • Full-system restores are notoriously inconsistent. In my experience, they just flat-out don't work sometimes. Contrast that with a fresh install of Windows, reinstalling your software and then restoring your data: Not much can go wrong with that.

Solution: Back up just your data

We've come full circle. These days, a full-system backup is of questionable value. That's because the only thing that really matters is your data -- and think about where that data lives.
On your hard drive, yes, but also in the cloud? All you need is a service like Amazon Drive, iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive -- anything that automatically syncs your files to online storage.
Meanwhile, are there even photos on your PC anymore? If you're like many users, you take pictures with your phone, and that phone copies everything to the cloud. Likewise, are you still using your PC to manage a music collection? If you subscribe to the likes of Apple Music or Spotify, there's nothing you need to back up; all your songs and playlists live on those services.
Obviously there are exceptions, like if you have a large video library. Those files consume a lot of space, meaning cloud backup may not be practical. But I suspect many users just want to preserve office documents, tax records and the like, in which case a small amount of cloud storage easily gets the job done.

The big caveat

Many cloud services suffer from one considerable flaw: They won't protect you against ransomware and other forms of malware. The problem is that files corrupted on your PC will quickly get corrupted in the cloud as well, as part of the automated syncing process.
You can overcome that problem by keeping malware off your PC in the first place. But many security experts note that the best way to protect yourself is to make regular local backups of your data. (Just your data, mind you.) And here's the key: Make sure your backup includes older versions of your files. Because as with online backups, it's all too easy for infected files to overwrite clean ones, leaving your backup in the same condition as your hard drive.
Some backup services (including Carbonite, Dropbox and Google Drive) support versioning as well, though Google's implementation allows you to access only one file at a time -- just about useless if you have hundreds or even thousands of files to restore. And OneDrive keeps older versions only of Office files.
What are your thoughts on modern-day PC backups? Do you think archiving data alone is enough? Share your thoughts in the comments!
via cnet

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Sophos Home for Macs and PCs

Simple. Effective. Free.

Sophos Home protects every Mac and PC in your home from malware, viruses, ransomware, and inappropriate websites. It uses the same award-winning technology that IT professionals trust to protect their businesses. Best of all, you can manage security settings for the whole family—whether they’re down the hall or across the world.

“Sophos Home includes some sophisticated management features not typically found in consumer-side free antivirus products.” 

-Neil J Rubenking 


Reprinted from www.pcmag.com with permission. © 2016 Ziff Davis, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Advanced Computer Security

Sophos Home will remove malware, viruses, ransomware, and malicious apps and programs. It goes far beyond simply preventing known malware. Sophos Home analyzes suspicious behaviors and activities from files and programs, using real-time threat intelligence from SophosLabs. This delivers proactive protection from new and developing malware.

Easy to Install and Manage

Quickly register and begin adding computers in no time. Installation is fast and you can start a virus scan or add new web filters immediately. Secure computers located anywhere in the world. Enjoy no ads, pop-ups, or prompts to enter credit card information.

Block Unwanted Content

Sophos Home will automatically block phishing attacks, websites that contain malware and viruses, and bad websites pretending to be legitimate. You can also control the content your family can view with web filtering. Easily decide what to allow, warn, or block for each computer.

Go Ahead. Make the Comparisons.

Sophos HomeAVG Antivirus Protection FREEAvast Free AntivirusMicrosoft Security Essentials or Windows Defender
ANTIVIRUS AND ANTI-MALWARE
FREE FOR HOME USE
PC MAGAZINE EDITOR RATING OF “EXCELLENT”
PROTECTS BOTH MAC AND PC
BLOCK INAPPROPRIATE OR UNWANTED WEBSITES
MANAGE UP TO 10 COMPUTERS FROM A WEB BROWSER

Home is Where the Hype is.

"Our test was flawless…"

“The very clean and simple design of the program interface, both in the program window and the management console, makes it very easy to use...Protection against Mac malware in our test was flawless.” -AV-Comparatives

"Exceeds the standards of its competitors..."

“Sophos Home is not only able to meet, but exceed the standards of its competitors. Its simplicity, reliability, and versatility are more than able to meet the needs of the modern online user." -Softonic

"Best-in-class protection…"

“Sophos offers best-in-class protection and parental controls for free while leaving a small performance impact.” –Henry T. Casey

System Requirements

Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, or Windows 10
Mac OS X 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 or 10.12
Minimum 1 GB of free disk space
Minimum 1 GB of RAM

Supported Browsers for Home

Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 or later
Apple Safari
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Please note that this free version of Sophos Home is for private and non-commercial use, letting you protect up to ten 
computers per account. If you would like to use Sophos Home in a business, commercial, or government
organization, we invite you to try Sophos Central for free at Sophos.com.

 
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