computer virus news stories on Newser

Syria Uses Skype Malware to Spy on Activists: Tech Firm

Dustin Lushing — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:54:00 CDT

The Syrian government is hacking into the computers of activists and secretly surveilling them by spreading malicious software through Skype, reports TechWeek Europe . Recently, an activist thought she was Skype-chatting with an ally, but she suddenly realized her friend was in jail and could not possibly be online. She received...

Latest Threat to Hit Macs: 'Sabpab' Trojan

Rob Quinn — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:25:34 CDT

With popularity comes some nasty bugs for the unwary: A Trojan known as "Sabpab" is the latest piece of malware infesting Macs, according to security firm Sophos. The malware is spreading through a weakness in Java and through an infected Word document purporting to be a statement from the Dalai...

Federal Agency Lives in Dark Ages After Hacker Hit

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:36:32 CDT

At the Economic Development Administration, employees are actually picking up the phone to talk to congressional staffers, meeting with clients face to face, and using— gasp —fax machines. The small Commerce Department bureau was forced to return to the pre-Internet days after a virus struck, via email, nearly three months...

Trojan Virus Has Infected 600K Macs, Firm Claims

Kevin Spak — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:59:15 CDT

Are you a smug Mac user who assumes you can't possibly get a virus? Well, think again. A Russian anti-virus firm believes that about 600,000 Macs around the world have been infected with the Flashback Trojan virus—and about half of those are expected to be in the US....

Facebook Virus Gang Living in Luxury

Kevin Spak — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:40:10 CST

You might think a cabal of cyber criminals who'd ripped off 400,000 to 800,000 Facebook users would be on the run and living deep underground. You'd be wrong. The so-called "Koobface Gang," makers of a Facebook worm that's done just that, is living large in St. Petersburg, Russia,...

Facebook Closes 45K Accounts to Stop 'Worm'

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:34:05 CST

Facebook has temporarily shut down about 45,000 accounts to protect users from a worm that steals login information and spreads malicious links, the Telegraph reports. Called Ramnit, the worm has been proliferating since April 2010 but only recently adapted to Facebook accounts. Most of the victims are in Britain...

New Virus Hacks Your Bank Account, Covers Tracks

Kevin Spak — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:42:01 CST

For years, checking your bank account balance regularly online has been a pretty good way to guard against fraud—until now. An Israeli security firm has identified a new virus that not only steals the info fraudsters need to drain your bank account, it ensures you don't see those transactions...

Millions of Printers in Danger of Being Hacked

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:55:05 CST

Even if your computer is as secure as you can make it, you may still be offering hackers entry to your network—through your printer. Columbia University researchers warn that millions of printers belonging to consumers, businesses, and government agencies could be vulnerable to attack. Among other dangers, hackers may...

'Son of Stuxnet' Worm Found in Europe

Rob Quinn — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:44:10 CDT

A new computer virus found in Europe and the Middle East bears a strong resemblance to the Stuxnet worm that attacked Iran's nuclear facilities, security experts say, but the Duqu malware's target is still unclear. Security firm Symantec says Duqu appears to be designed to gather information on industrial control...