Of late, scammers have grown smarter when it comes to conning people on the Internet. Several scammers have begun to use Word documents as attachments while sending out scam emails. However, they haven’t stopped there and are now using Antivirus companies to scam PayPal users.

A flurry of emails are being sent out by scammers with subject lines like “Receipt for your payment to AVG” or “Receipt for your payment to Symantec” or “Receipt for your payment to Norton“accompanied by a PayPal receipt which looks very genuine (see image below).

The email in question looks very genuine and the scammer asks you to confirm the payment and also includes a “Cancel Transaction” link. This would definitely make many people click on the link because they might not have made the purchase in the first place. Clicking on the link will take the users to a website which is similar to that of PayPal.

The website in question will ask you for your username and password. However, DO NOT enter it. For testing purposes, I entered a fake username and password and it allowed me to access my false account. It then went on to tell me that my account is limited and that I need to enter my credit card, social security, banking and billing information.

This scam looks to be pretty widespread because not only is it farming your PayPal username and password but it is also stealing your credit card information, social security and banking information.

There are several ways in which you can protect yourself from such scammers like turning on the Anti-phishing feature in Gmail to know when emails from PayPal are genuine. You should also always have a good Antivirus and Anti-spyware or Anti-malware running on your system. You can find tons of free Antivirus software which you can download and use immediately. You can also read our earlier guide to Protect Yourself from Internet Threats.

AVG has launched a new product called AVG Premium Security, which boasts of an unique Identity Alert component. Over the past few months we have witnessed numerous large scale data thefts of varying severity. Although the Sony PSN hacking incident grabbed the limelight, there were numerous other small, but perhaps more damaging, incidents. A helpful netizen even created a service that can automatically alert you if your online identity is compromised.

AVG’s Identity Alert component also performs a similar function, but probably more thoroughly. AVG claims that it scours the web, including chatrooms, forums, and criminal webpages to check if your identity has been compromised by monitoring your e-mail address and debit and credit card numbers.

When you combine the shocking security lapses we have seen out of very high profile and respected brands such as Sony, Epsilon and Citigroup in the past few months with the liability shift toward consumers, it is clear that identity theft protection tools are no longer a nice to have,said J.R Smith, CEO, AVG Technologies. Banks and corporations are at an important tipping point, showing strong indications that they will no longer simply cover losses,- expecting the online users to share equal responsibility in taking appropriate security measures that ultimately protect each other from malicious attacks.

Besides the Identity Alert component, AVG Premium Security includes AVG Internet Security and AVG Quick Tune. Internet Security features anti-virus, anti-spyware, AVG Protective Cloud Technology, and the AVG Community Protection Network. Quick Tune is basically a stripped down version of AVG PC Tuneup. It offers disk defragmenter, junk file removal, registry cleaner, and broken shortcut remover.

With its new offering, AVG is hoping to compete with Kaspersky Pure, Norton 360 and other similar products. The Identity Alert module helps AVG differentiate itself from its competitors, and the suite itself is competitively priced at $69.99. However, it might also be an overkill for most users. In my humble opinion, as long as you take the basic precautions like not reusing passwords, a simple firewall and antivirus is likely to suffice.

Kaspersky Lab has released the 2012 editions of its reputed anti-malware products – Kaspersky Antivirus and Kaspersky Internet Security. Kaspersky Antivirus is the base offering which offers file antivirus, web antivirus, cloud scanning and proactive defense. Kaspersky Internet Security offers a more complete protection and has several additional features like firewall, sandboxing, and parental control.

To be honest the biggest change in the new version is the new user interface, which is nothing short of stunning. There isn’t a lot of new stuff, mostly because Kaspersky products are already packed to the brim with features. However, there are several improvements.

The focus of this release is on offering hybrid protection that harnesses the power of the cloud along with the local database and heuristics based security technologies to reduce the average protection delivery time. Kaspersky’s cloud protection relies on the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), which has been a part of Kaspersky’s offerings for quite some time now. However, in the latest editions of its products, Kaspersky has done a better job at highlighting the cloud integration. KSN currently has more than 30 million voluntary members from 213 countries, and is capable of tackling advanced threats like zero-day exploits, phishing and spam. It also includes a File Advisor and a URL Advisor, which provides ratings on the trustworthiness of files and websites respectively.

The proactive defense module has also been improved. System Watcher module should be more efficient than before at analyzing activities performed by various processes and detecting malicious intent. Kaspersky is also promising better performance and improved compatibility with its latest release.

As I mentioned earlier, the changelog is pretty short and mostly unimpressive. However, Kaspersky is continuing its tradition of offering free upgrades to existing license holders. Just key in your existing activation code into the trial version, and your license will be automatically upgraded. You can download the free 30 day trial versions of Kaspersky Antivirus and Kapsersky Internet Security from here.

Remember the Mac Defender malware which disguised itself as an anti-virus, and tricked users into paying for removing viruses from the Macs? The virus has been on the loose for quite some time now and has managed to infect quite a number of Macs out there.

Here are the steps to remove the Mac Defender malware from your Mac -:

Step 1 – Open up Activity Monitor, and select the option to view ‘All process’ from the drop down list.

Step 2 – Find the ‘MacDefender’ process from the list of running processes, and then click on the ‘Quit Process’ option and finally select the ‘Force Quit’ option.

Step 3 – Now, head over to the Applications folder in your Mac and find the ‘MacDefender’ folder. Right click on the folder, and select the ‘Move To Trash’ option. Empty the Trash folder of your Mac after this.

Step 4 – Fire up Safari on your Mac, and click on the ‘Safari’ option at the top of the screen and select the Reset Safari option.

There might be a possibility that users might not be able to delete the files related to Mac Defender. If so, reboot your Mac into Safe Mode and repeat all the steps stated above.

Alternatively, Mac users can also download and install anti-virus software like Sophos etc. However, some of these anti-viruses might make your Mac unstable or give kernel panics. So I would recommend readers to follow the steps stated above.

Over the past couple of years or so, I have used Microsoft Security Essentials as my only virus and malware protection tool. The Free Antivirus tool from Microsoft is definitely worth installing on your PC.

If you are someone who does not like to install Antivirus on your PC or just want to check whether your current Antivirus is really working well, a new tool from Microsoft will come in handy.

Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free security software from Microsoft which provides users with on-demand scanning while allowing users to remove viruses, spywares, Trojans and another malicious software from their PC. Safety Scanner works along with your current Antivirus software, so you don’t have to uninstall your current AV protection to use it.

One of the bad things about Microsoft Safety Scanner is that it expires every 10 days. Users will have to download a new version to scan your system every ten days which could be annoying considering that it is around 70MB in size. A simple definition update should be added so that users don’t have to download new versions every 10 days.

Users must also note that unlike traditional Antivirus systems the Safety Scanner does not provide continuous protection and should not be used as a replacement for traditional Antivirus software. Microsoft Security Scanner should only be used to additionally scan your PC. If you intend to replace your current Antivirus you might check out our Free Antivirus section to find a suitable alternative.

Additionally, you may also want to read the following articles related to Online Security:

• Tips to Keep Your Computer Safe and Secure
• Protect Yourself from Internet Threats [Detailed Instructions]
• Things To Do Before Throwing Away Your Old PC

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner

Although I normally recommend Avira Antivir and Microsoft Security Essentials to anyone looking for a free antivirus, Avast is another option worth considering. In fact, it is one of the most popular free antivirus utilities available in the market, and with good reason. Avast performed quite well in all of Av-comparative’s on-demand and performance tests carried out over the past year.

A couple of days back, Avast Software released the first beta of Avast 6. The biggest draws of the new version are:

• AutoSandbox: Avast Pro already features a sandboxing option that enables users to surf the web and run applications in an isolated environment that can’t affect the rest of the system. In the new version, Avast has gone a step further and added auto-sandboxing, which can automatically run suspicious programs in a sandbox.
• WebRep: WebRep’ is a browser toolbar, which is largely similar to WOT (Web of Trust). It is plugin for Internet Explorer and Firefox that displays the reputation score of the website you are currently browsing based on the feedback collected from the community as well as the expertise of Avast’s researchers.

Avast 6 also adds a SafeZone’ to the premium version, which offers a special virtualized area for sensitive transactions. Script Shield’ and Site Blocking’, which were previously available only in the Pro version, are now included even in Avast Free.

Head over to the forums to download the beta version. However, don’t forget to uninstall any previous version or other antivirus products before installing it. Also keep in mind that unexpected stability and performance issues might be present, since this is the first public beta build.

via DownloadSquad

The start of a new year has prompted numerous predictions of what the mobile and technology sector can expect from 2011. We are promised exciting new apps and faster connectivity, but these innovations come at the cost of new dangers presented by malicious coding and cyber-delinquency.

The advent of the Smartphone, with its sophisticated operating systems, is nothing new. But their proliferation and rapidly growing popularity there are well over 40 million users in the US alone is increasingly drawing the unwanted attention of virus programmers who, like hungry wolves contemplating the arrival of fresh lambs to the herd, celebrate the adoption of Smartphones by the technologically ignorant as an opportunity for renewed mischief.

Previously, producers of Trojans and worms largely concentrated their efforts on traditional PCs, the sheer volume of global Smartphone activity has suddenly rendered mobiles a worthy target. This is reinforced by the capability of the devices that has allowed users to conveniently conduct their finances on their mobiles, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing. There is a clear monetary incentive and opportunity for data theft, which characters from the murkier side of programming are taking advantage of.

Although attacks on mobile security date back to around 2004 (remember Cabir?), previous viruses were on the whole merely irritating rather than genuinely threatening. So far, the security risk to mobiles has been held in check by factors such as the existence of the iPhone App Store (which cuts out external app providers) and its various equivalents, the lack of compatibility across different models (which meant that viruses could be isolated and limited to specific makes of phone), and the fact that the vast majority of users were technologically aware and therefore harder to dupe.

However, with the increasing tendency to transmit sensitive information via a Smartphone, cyber-attacks on mobiles will become more common. Data will be stolen, destructive files downloaded and information illicitly transmitted. It is therefore important that users take precautions to reduce the chances of a successful attack: switch off Bluetooth when not in use; never download files you are sent without asking for; and beware that a device can catch a mobile-specific virus from an infected personal computer. No one wants to be a victim of a mobile WinCE/InfoJack; check out some anti-virus software – but don’t be frightened into making an unnecessary purchase.

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About the author: Jude Harrison is a freelance technology writer.

Until recently, smartphones and mobile devices have seemed all but immune to viruses and malware. All of that changed in the summer of 2010, when the first round of viruses hit Androids and iPhones, two devices that were thought to be completely resistant to attacks. Even before the first attacks, companies had been busy making antivirus software for mobile devices. Is it something you should be thinking about too?

Why You Need Smartphone Antivirus Software

IT experts overwhelmingly agree that every mobile user needs some form of protection. We’ve been doing fine with just the default settings for a long time, but there are some serious reasons why this isn’t enough.

First of all, you’d never even think about using your personal computer without some form of protection. Why not consider it for your mobile? On our PCs, we keep sensitive information, including financial records and passwords. Increasingly, we’re using our mobile devices for the same thing.

In the last year, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people using iPhones, Androids and other smartphones. There’s been an increase in not only personal use, but business use as well. Cyber criminals are going to target the systems that are used by the most people. This makes it inevitable that, as smartphone use increases, they’ll be working hard to create malware to attack these devices.

We’ve all been lulled into a false sense of security with our smartphones. For example, many people believe that Androids are immune to viruses because they use the Linux system. This leads people to believe that it’s enough to simply use the default settings. However, Android has already had its first major virus, and the virus had no problem getting past the Linux security features.

This is definitely the most compelling reason There have already been attacks. Computer security companies like Norton and Kaspersky started developing their anti-virus software long before the first attacks, in anticipation of them. Now that it’s become a reality, it’s essential for all smartphone users to make sure they’re covered.

Let’s look at the three major mobile systems and see how they’ve fared so far in fighting off viruses.

iPhones

iPhone has its own built-in security system that’s pretty effective. It limits what other computers, applications and networks you interact with. Although there have been many attacks, they’ve usually been against iPhones that had their security settings unlocked (also called jailbroken), which means that if you use the default settings and let it do its thing, you have little to worry about. However, in the dreaded summer of 2010, iPhone got its first serious virus. Hackers developed a code that could get around its security settings, which means that even ones that weren’t jailbroken were open to attack.

Blackberry Systems

Blackberry phones can do nearly everything your computer can do. People use applications, store sensitive data and surf the web with them. Because they function like little computers, Blackberry smartphones are used by lots of businesses. Unfortunately, like personal computers, they can get spam, malware and viruses too. A number of malware programs have already attacked Blackberry smartphones, using scams like automatic dialers that call sex chat lines and rack up phone bills.

Androids

Androids were thought of as invincible. Users were convinced that no virus could penetrate their Linux security systems. However, this presumption was blown away in the summer of 2010 when the first Android-specific virus swept through. It attacked media applications and called pay phone numbers. This surprised users everywhere and sent them scrambling for anti-virus protection.

As you can see, there is a definite need for protection. Long before the first attacks, Internet security companies began introducing their software packages. Here’s a review of some of the best in the business.

The best known Phone Security software

Norton Smartphone Security

Norton is one of the most well-known anti-virus protection software companies. They make this package for smartphones and, like the version for the PC, it does a great job of warding off evil malware. It also has a spam protection program to get rid of annoying messages and pop-ups.

Kaspersky Mobile Security

Kaspersky is another popular brand known for its high quality system. This is one of the oldest smartphone anti-virus systems. It fights viruses and all sorts of malware, including Trojans, worms, adware and pop-ups. It also offers spam blocking and anti-theft features. Kaspersky uses a removable SIM card to back up your data in case your smartphone disappears.

McAfee Mobile Security for Enterprise

McAfee also makes its own smartphone anti-virus software. It’s known as one of the easiest to use, and comes with anti-spam as well as anti-malware protection. In addition to your mobile device, McAfee’s software also protects any system that your smartphone is connected to. While the other programs listed here are made for both Windows and Symbian operating systems, a Symbian version of McAfee Mobile Security hasn’t been released yet.

F-Secure Mobile Security for Business

With more people using smartphones for their businesses, F-Secure made this program to focus on business applications specifically. It protects data stored on the device and keeps away malware. This program is an all-in-one business package with anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-theft settings.

ESET Mobile Antivirus

ESET’s anti-virus software does a little of everything, including fighting viruses, spyware, spam, Trojans, worms and adware. They’re known for their PC software for Windows, and this product has many of the same advantages. Another bonus is that it’s very easy to use.

BullGuard Mobile Antivirus

BullGuard is another system that’s designed to be user-friendly. Once it’s downloaded and installed, it should run without any kind of user interaction. Like many of the programs listed here, it has its own firewall to protect your smartphone from questionable sites. It also protects integrated memory and memory cards.

SMobile Systems

SMobile protects your smartphone against viruses, malware, Trojans and more. It also has a unique anti-theft feature. If you lose your smartphone, SMobile helps you find it again using GPS tracking.

Trend Micro Mobile Security

Trend Micro Mobile Security is also a great program for businesses. It offers all the usual anti-virus protection, but has special features to protect PDF’s, which are especially prone to attack.

There are lots of programs to choose from. The key is to find one that you like and that offers the features you need. You can usually download free trial versions of these programs to give them a test drive and see how you like them.

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Guest post by Steven Papas, the owner of the VeryBestSoftware.net. In his blog you can find Internet Security and Parental Control software reviews, as well as Acronis coupons and Norton 360 coupons.

Kaspersky is one the best Anti Virus I have used. It has some really good protection and is also pretty lightweight and does not hog on CPU resources as many other AV do.

If you want to get your hands on a Kaspersky Antivirus 2011, now is the right time. Buy.com is selling Kaspersky 2011 3 user license or only $13.99, that is a $46 markdown from the original $60 price. The deal is limited for today only so go ahead and get a really cool Antivirus protection for your PC this Cyber Monday.

Purchase Kaspersky 2011 for $13.99

No! Microsoft is not offering fake antivirus tools. However, a new warning from Microsoft’s Windows Security Blog tells the frightening story of a new threat that disguises itself as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). As many of you know, MSE is Microsoft’s free antivirus suite. I recommend it, and even Fred Langa recommends it.

How Does it Work?

1. You unintentionally visit a website that places a drive-by download known as FakePAV, onto your computer.

2. Once it runs, you’ll get this bogus warning in your web browser. (images from WindowsTeamBlog)

3. Clicking on Clean computeror Apply actionswill initiate a fake attempt to clean your PC. It will report that it failed and then ask you to Scan Online.

4. After it performs a simulated scan, you’ll be offered this list of Antivirus and Antimalware tools.

5. Clicking on any of the Free Installbuttons starts another install for persistent and more intrusive fake antivirus software.

The final look of this fake antivirus software can take many forms, such as Red Cross Antivirus, Peak Protection 2010, AntiSpy Safeguard, Major Defense Kit or Pest Detector. These apps give you even more false warnings and try to scare you into buying more protection. Applications like these are also known as ScareWare.

What should you do to protect yourself?

My recommendation is to use good, up-to-date antivirus software. Enable any anti-phishing options in your web browser. I also recommend the free URL filtering service offered by OpenDNS.

What should you do if you are already infected?

The first tool I use on infected computers is MalwareBytes. If that doesn’t do the trick, Keith Dsousa wrote about an application which will Remove Fake Antivirus from Your System. If all else fails and the PC is really trashed, I’ve got an article describing how to Run Antivirus on a PC That Will Not Boot.

If you need good free advice on what to do, there are several malware removal forums that will take you step by step through a recovery process. Bleeping Computer, Major Geeks and especially Temerc Countermeasures are three good ones.