Important
Rogue AV Prevention
Feb 3rd
Do to the alarming number of PCs being infected by Rogue Anti Virus applications I feel the need to talk about the steps required to prevent infection. The common denominator of infected systems that we receive is a complete lack of updates. Updates are your most important defense against the current set of Rogue AV applications. You not only need to do the Windows updates but also all your third party updates. Third party updates include things like Adobe Flash and Reader which have been common vectors of infection. I highly recommend www.filehippo.com and their free update checker at http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/ The update checker scans your system and compares your installed applications against their list of down-loadable programs. The application is very lightweight and will alert you whenever an update is available for download.
Windows releases updates every month on Patch Tuesday which is the 2nd Tuesday of the month. We always post a complete list of the current updates and link to other sites with Patch Tuesday info.
Rogue Antispyware at http://rogueantispyware.blogspot.com/ is an excellent source for info about the latest Rogue applications.
The main thing to keep in mind about these new breed of Rogue AV programs is there ability to download more viruses. I have found Trojan Down-loaders on all the Rogue infected PCs that have come in lately. The best thing to do after infection is to disconnect from the network immediately and use another PC to download virus removal tools. The longer your infected PC stays running and connected to the network, the worse the infection will become.
The following steps will help prevent infection.
Make sure you do all your updates, both Windows and Third Party updates.
Run a current updated Anti Virus/Anti Spy-ware application like Sunbelt Vipre
Use a browser like Firefox instead of Microsoft Internet Explorer. I only use Internet Explorer to access sites that still require it.
If you get infected, unplug the network cable immediately and use another PC to download your removal tools. Keep in mind that if you get in over your head, you should call your local computer repair specialist . Sometimes going it alone and trying to repair your PC can actually make it harder for the repair shop to fix the problem later.
So before you head on over to your favorite website, do your updates.
Don’t be an update slacker… oh yeah and have a great day
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Microsoft Announces an Out-of-Band IE-Patch
Jan 21st
Microsoft plans to release an “out of band” IE patch today to address the Aurora vulnerability.
Microsoft announces Out-of-Band IE-Patch
http://techblog.avira.com/2010/01/21/microsoft-announces-out-of-band-ie-patch/en/
Old MacDonald Bought the Farm IE IE 0-day
http://www.eset.com/threat-center/blog/2010/01/20/old-macdonald-bought-the-farm-ie-ie-0-day
Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for January 2010
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-jan.mspx
Microsoft will patch Internet Explorer today
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/microsoft-will-patch-internet-explorer.html
Operation Aurora: Microsoft knew about Internet Explorer flaw for four months
Make sure you you check your Windows updates later on this afternoon by using Internet Explorer to access the following link http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ or by going to Start-All Programs-Windows Update
Don’t be an update slacker…do your updates and have a nice day
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Security updates available for Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Jan 13th
Problems that are fixed by the latest update.
Critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Adobe Reader 9.2 and Acrobat 9.2 for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX, and Adobe Reader 8.1.7 and Acrobat 8.1.7 for Windows and Macintosh. These vulnerabilities could cause the application to crash and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
Solution from Adobe.
Adobe recommends users of Adobe Reader 9.2 and Acrobat 9.2 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX update to Adobe Reader 9.3 and Acrobat 9.3. Adobe recommends users of Acrobat 8.1.7 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh update to Acrobat 8.2. For Adobe Reader users on Windows and Macintosh who cannot update to Adobe Reader 9.3, Adobe has provided the Adobe Reader 8.2 update. Updates apply to all platforms: Windows, Macintosh and UNIX.
Solution
Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader users on Windows, Macintosh and UNIX can find the appropriate update here:
http://get.adobe.com/reader.
Acrobat
Acrobat Standard and Pro users on Windows can find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows.
Acrobat Pro Extended users on Windows can find the appropriate update here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=158&platform=Windows.
Acrobat 3D users on Windows can find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=112&platform=Windows.
Acrobat Pro users on Macintosh can find the appropriate update here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Macintosh.
Note: Support has ended for Adobe Reader 8.x on the UNIX platform, and Adobe Reader 7.x and Acrobat 7.x on Windows, Macintosh and UNIX platforms.
Critical patches for Adobe Reader and Acrobat
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2010/01/14/critical-patches-adobe-reader-acrobat/
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It’s Patch Tuesday Again
Nov 10th
Don’t forget to do your Windows Updates today when they become available after 1 PM EST.
Experienced users can simply use Internet Explorer and go to the Windows Update page at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download the latest batch of security updates from Microsoft.
The following link is for users new to the Windows update process. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/overview.mspx
Microsoft Tuesday Coverage for November 2009 from VRT
http://vrt-sourcefire.blogspot.com/2009/11/microsoft-tuesday-coverage-for-november.html
Microsoft November Black Tuesday Overview
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=7564
Don’t be an update slacker…do your updates and have a nice day
It’s Patch Tuesday Again
Oct 13th
Don’t forget to do your Windows Updates today when they become available after 1 PM EST.
Experienced users can simply us Internet Explorer and go to the Windows Update page at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and download the latest batch of security updates from Microsoft.
The following links are for users new to the Windows update process.
If you have Windows XP click the following link for the complete update process.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsxp.mspx
If you have Windows Vista click the following link for the complete update process.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsvista.mspx
Adobe and Microsoft Updates http://www.sophos.com/blogs/sophoslabs/v/post/6879
Don’t be an update slacker…do your updates and have a nice day

