Spyware Blog

While it is not possible to eliminate the risk of identity theft completely, measures can be taken to reduce the chances of your personal information falling into wrong hands. Here are some simple, but highly effective tips to protect yourself from identity theft:

# Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.

# Never provide your Social Security number to anyone unless required by law.

# Share personal information only if you initiated contact.

# Always confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization.

# Beware of mail or telephone solicitations that offer prizes or awards.

# Avoid “phishing” scams, in which criminals send email, text, or pop-up messages that appear to come from a government agency, or organization with which you do business.

# Select intricate passwords. Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts.

# Change your passwords regularly, at a minimum, every 90 days.

# Keep your security software active and current.

# Keep your operating system and Web browser up-to-date.

# Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.

# Teach your child not to give out personal information to strangers or online.

If you have any problem, always contact the authorities for help.

Following the latest update to its Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) on 11th November, in just 10 days Microsoft has cleared almost 1 million PCs of “scareware”. Scareware programs and websites produce phony warnings saving that the user’s PC has been scanned and is infected; they are aimed at inducing users to purchase fake anti-spyware and anti-virus products.

Such programs usually do not actually do any scanning or removal at all; on installation, they just report successful disinfection of the PC – even if it is actually riddled with malware. The software is cheap to develop, as it doesn’t actually do anything apart from display a few pre-programmed messages. Worse still, several of these dummy programs actually carry a payload of real malware to infect the gullible users’ computers, meaning that they earn money for their promoters. This dishonest but lucrative “business model” has led to a large wave of such schemes.

According to Microsoft’s figures, Americans are particularly susceptible to such scare tactics. 550,000 of the deleted scareware installations were on US computers. This was followed by the United Kingdom with 74,343, France with 47,581 and Germany with 43,347.

The most recent MSRT update for the first time included signatures for the scareware family FakeSecScan, which markets itself to users under such enticing names as Vista Antivirus 2008, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, Windows Antivirus 2008 and XPert Antivirus. Microsoft has launched legal actions in the US against scareware producers.

VIA: HEISE.DE

More information on MSRT

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed.

Microsoft releases an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month, and as needed to respond to security incidents. The tool is available from Microsoft Update, Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center.

Note The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection is found. If you would like to run this tool more than once a month, use the version on this Web page or install the version that is available in the Download Center.

Because computers can appear to function normally when infected, Microsoft advises you to run this tool even if your computer seems to be fine. You should also use up-to-date antivirus software to help protect your computer from other malicious software.

To download the latest version of this tool, please visit the Microsoft Download Center.