Fake antivirus attack driven by Web ads

An Internet security firm has identified a new variant of a fake anti-virus attack that uses Web advertisements to relay users into the Shnakule network, a large malware delivery network on the Internet.

The Shnakule network has averaged around 2,000 unique host names per day with as many as 4,357 in a single day. It has been very active with fake anti-virus attacks typically conducted via search engine poisoning, according to Blue Coat Systems.

With this latest attack, Shnakule is now using malvertising to conduct its attacks. To date, the Blue Coat said it has identified more than 15,000 user requests related to the latest form of the attack.

The latest Shnakule attack is a three-staged attack that utilizes malicious Web advertisements. In the first stage, malicious ad servers were set up as independent entities, not directly associated with each other or any existing Shnakule sub-networks, to route users to malware.

In the second stage, a new Shnakule subnetwork relays users to the malware. The final stage is the malware payload, which changes frequently in an attempt to avoid detection from anti-virus software.

“Though this attack initially launched in late June, it is still continuing, and in a recent check of the payload by Blue Coat Security Labs against 43 anti-virus engines only two of those engines identified the payload as malicious or suspicious," said Chris Larsen, senior malware researcher for Blue Coat Systems.

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Remove a Virus Without Antivirus

Virus attack is a universal problem faced by millions of PC users around the world. If you find your system infected with virus, it is highly recommended to call in antivirus support experts to delete it as trying to do it on your own can prove harmful to your pc. Usually, people use antivirus software programs available in the market to control and remove virus from their computers, but most of them may not be safe.

Is it possible to remove virus without antivirus ?

Did you know that it is possible to remove virus without using any antivirus software? If you want to know how to remove virus from your computer without using an antivirus, here are a few simple steps to follow:

Steps to remove virus from computer -

1. Go to the "Start" menu and to the "Run" command.

2. In the text box, input the "cmd" command.

3. In the DOS window, you will see a command prompt. Input the Command Prompt to shift it to the infected drive. This can be done by typing the drive letter and a colon. After typing in "attrib-s=h*_*/s/d", wait for the prompt to read the right drive before pressing "Enter".

4. Input "dir" command to make the content directory of the drive appear. Here, you can identify suspicious looking.exe files. Files that are accompanied by.dll or.inf are dangerous files.

5. Go to files that activate virus and are attached to the.exe file and rename them. This can be done by typing "Rename" followed by the name of the file and any other name you choose. This way, without activating the virus, you can access the drive anytime you want to.

6. The next step is to find the drive folder that contains all files infected with the virus. You can find this folder in the "Program Files". After deleting the infected files, it is now time to completely eliminate them from the Recycle Bin.

7. Input "regedit" in the Run Window to open the registry editor. Folders that are named "HKEY" are the registry keys of the virus. You can find them within the folders and must delete all keys associated with the virus. After removing all the virus and related registry keys, you must reboot your computer.

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Compare Anti-virus and Anti-phishing Software

Computer users should be aware of potential security threats when using the Internet. Viruses infect a computer and create unwanted changes, such as pop-ups, while anti-phishing scams aim to learn a user's sensitive private information by impersonating legitimate contacts or websites.


Function

Anti-virus, anti-phishing and other anti-malware software protects the user's computer by detecting attempted infections and/or removing existing infections when the user performs a scan with the program.
Significance

There are many program options for protection against viruses or phishing scams. Some are free while consumers must purchase others. These programs may not all offer the same level of protection or support. Although the user may not wish to pay for software, he may be forfeiting superior features such as real-time protection, malware definition updates or tech support if he chooses free software.
Considerations

Anti-virus solutions such as Norton, AVG of Avast! Free offer protection at all times, unless the user disables this feature. Other anti-malware software, however, may operate on a standalone basis and only provide protection after infections. One anti-malware program that offers real-time protection is Spybot - Search & Destroy.
Misconceptions


Anti-virus programs do not automatically have anti-phishing protection and the opposite is also true. Some software suites may offer both anti-virus and anti-phishing tools, while others offer specific programs for dealing with each type of threat. The user should compare the solutions that each company provides before choosing one that may not fit her needs.


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