rootkit

When it originally debuted, Panda Cloud Antivirus was notable as a free security solution for two reasons: Panda traded on its reputation as a solid security suite vendor making its first foray into the realm of freeware, and the program attained its goal of freeing up system resources by putting much of the program's heavy lifting in the cloud. Now we can add a third reason to the list: it's now known as an effective alternative to the security powerhouses.

When you open Cloud Antivirus, the main window lets you know whether you're safe or not with … Read more

One of the first applications built to find and remove malware and spyware, Ad-Aware's reputation is well-justified. The latest version continues the publisher's tradition of adroitly addressing user concerns, but flaws remain.

Building on the improvements made in version 8, former Ad-Aware users should be glad to hear that the program installs faster than before. This version of Ad-Aware offers two new features to users of the free version that had previously been restricted to the paid upgrades: antivirus protection, and a long-awaited scheduler. The AV protection comes courtesy Sunbelt, makers of Vipre. Ad-Aware 8.3 loads faster … Read more

Sophisticated malicious software that infects critical infrastructure systems is spreading in the wild, according to security companies.

Finnish security company F-Secure, which is in the process of analyzing the malware, told ZDNet UK that critical infrastructure in India and Iran had been affected.

The malware takes advantage of a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft .lnk shortcut files, and infects Siemens WinCC Scada software running on Windows 7 Enterprise Edition x86 systems. It spreads via USB drives and runs automatically when a shortcut icon is displayed on a user's screen.

Read more of "Spy rootkit goes after key Indian, Iranian systems" … Read more

When it originally debuted, Panda Cloud Antivirus was notable as a free security solution for two reasons: Panda traded on its reputation as a solid security suite vendor making its first foray into the realm of freeware, and the program attained its goal of freeing up system resources by putting much of the program's heavy lifting in the cloud. Now we can add a third reason to the list: it's now known as an effective alternative to the security powerhouses.

When you open Cloud Antivirus, the main window lets you know whether you're safe or not with … Read more

Security researchers plan to demonstrate a rootkit running on an Android-based smartphone that could give an intruder full access to all the functions of the device.

Nicholas Percoco and Christian Papathanasiou are scheduled to make the demonstration at the Defcon security conference in Las Vegas in July. The researchers, from security firm Trustwave, will show that the kernel-level rootkit is capable of reading the text messages on an Android phone, making unauthorized long-distance calls, and pinpointing the device's location via GPS, according to the conference program.

The malware is activated by an incoming call from a "trigger number,&… Read more

The popular antivirus suite Avira AntiVir Free updated to version 10, but there's surprisingly little new here. Users will get a faster, simpler installation and a refreshed skin, but feature-wise the latest from Avira merely holds its own rather than pushing ahead.

That's not to say that Avira isn't one of the best free antivirus apps out there, because it is. It remains easy to use, with a robust selection of preset scans, and it continues to fare well in efficacy tests. Don't take our word for it, though: watch this First Look video and tell … Read more

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CNET Downloads teamed up with Lavasoft to bring you an exclusive special offer: Today only, you can upgrade your free version of Ad-Aware to Ad-Aware Plus for $9.95 (usually $26.95). That's 63 percent off the regular price, so take advantage of this special offer now, only at CNET Downloads. Click here to grab your copy.

Lavasoft Ad-aware … Read more

Avira's AntiVir has been a player in the security world for some time; however, in 2008 its status boomed because of its remarkably strong detection rates. It still remains near the top of independent antivirus efficacy tests, but while the 2009 version more or less kept pace with the competition, the 2010 edition isn't quite as good as it could be.

Both longtime and new users alike will note the pop-up ad that appears whenever a program update is downloading; it has been the unaddressed focus of critical and user dislike for several years. While the occasional ad … Read more

E-mail scanning and a tiered level of rootkit removal come to Ad-Aware in Monday's update to version 8.2. Ad-Aware Free, Ad-Aware Plus, and Ad-Aware Pro now come with e-mail scanning for Microsoft Outlook users, as well as expand the Ad-Aware Live system to block malicious files from downloading, and introduce a tiered rootkit removal system that increases in efficacy as you upgrade Ad-Aware.

The new features are part of the recent expansive approach that Lavasoft has been pushing in Ad-Aware, looking beyond antispyware as the company tries to keep the program relevant. The tiered rootkit removal is the … Read more