Malware keeps getting worse

[jlreich]

Budfred and all the others that battle malware, how do you keep up with it all?

A year or so ago there was specialized tools like HJT, CWSSchredder, LSP fix, and a few others. But now as I try to keep up on the threads in the Security and Applications forum, there a so many specialized tools it makes my head spin.

Seems like every time Budfred takes on a new HJT log it requires a new specialized tool, and not just one but several new specialized tools that have to be executed in an exact sequence. :eek:

I know things are bad, but what the hell is going on out there? Makes you want to pack up and move to another internet. :mad:

I guess this is all the more reason to push even more for people to make backups of a clean system, and often. Just pop in a backup and be done with it. The unfortunate thing is many will not make backups. So I am thankful to those that spend countless hours making the programs to fix these problems and those that help do the cleaning.

:mad: :(

[Budfred]

Most users are not even aware of the risks, so the idea of a system of backups is well beyond their comprehension... I don't do extensive backups, but I manage to stay clean with some armoring and careful use of the web... If you view porn or download music from a P2P, you are fairly certain to eventually get infected... If you don't and you have enough armor, you can be pretty safe...

As for why it is getting so bad... Organized crime... they are are hiring hackers from all over the world and they can afford to pay them quite generously for trying to steal from everyone with a computer... They are collecting infections and finding ways to bundle them so that they can break into almost any computer that isn't thoroughly armored... Once the little infestation gets in, it invites its friends to come along... One of them now downloads an entire server setup so that it can use the computer it infests to attack other computers, send SPAM and launch DDoS attacks against businesses.... If the governments of the world don't get on this soon, the whole system may collapse and that could result in a major economic collapse... I don't think the people in government really understand the stakes....

[Whyzman]

As for why it is getting so bad... Organized crime...Makes a body wanna puke! :(

[tommy]

Wouldn't stoping the internet anonymity(sp?) help a lot? I am of the opinion that if a person cannot identify themselves, then I am not interested in what they have to say.

[jlreich]

I don't do extensive backups, but I manage to stay clean with some armoring and careful use of the web... If you view porn or download music from a P2P, you are fairly certain to eventually get infected... If you don't and you have enough armor, you can be pretty safe...
Yes if you practice safe surfing and have adequate protection you can stay pretty safe. I haven't had any problems for a long time either. The only exception being my kids picking up some spyware occasionally on their machine. Which is why they generally are not allowed on my machine. ;)

But still it can happen. Even the cautious surfer can type in a wrong letter in an address by accident and end up at a bad site that has a way of getting by any protection.

Safe surfing, protection, infection... Sounds like W-STD. Web-Surfing Transmitted Disease. :rolleyes: And it has reached epidemic proportions. :(

Another sign that things are getting very bad. Spywareblaster used to release updates by the tens, but lately they have been releasing them by the hundreds. Scary.

[Budfred]

Another sign that things are getting very bad. Spywareblaster used to release updates by the tens, but lately they have been releasing them by the hundreds. Scary.
That is actually a good thing... The system for tracking these things down and entering them into the database has improved so that there are more malware fighters looking for them and identifying them... Hopefully we will eventually have most of them identified and the updates will return to lower levels...

[rond36]

Has anyone here tried the new Microsoft Windows Antispyware (Beta) (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx).

I installed it and ran it and found 3 high risk items that Ad-Aware missed.

It has an option to send the results of what spyware it finds to MS to be entered into a database... isn't that spyware tracking spyware :D

The beta is free but it is a trial version that expires on 12-31 2005 after that who knows.

[jlreich]

That is actually a good thing... The system for tracking these things down and entering them into the database has improved so that there are more malware fighters looking for them and identifying them... Hopefully we will eventually have most of them identified and the updates will return to lower levels...
If the increase of updates is because of an increase of people looking for and identifying them, this is indeed a good thing. :)

It's great to hear some good news from the front line. ;)

[Budfred]

rond36,

The biggest problem with MS Antispyware is that they have begun delisting programs that many in the malware fighting community consider to be malware... By the time they get done, it may only work for the most blatant malware... It was originally pretty strong, but it is getting diluted...