“Everybody Get Together and Protect One Another Right Now…”

We recently shared our Immunet Protection Map to demonstrate how effective Immunet Protect is in blocking threats all over the world. Microsoft recently reported that Internet Explorer 8 has blocked one billion attempts to download malware. Of course, there are far more than 1 billion attempts to download malware worldwide. But Microsoft’s news reinforces the importance of everyone doing their part to combat malware.

And we’re all doing what we can. Microsoft is combating malware by building a stronger browser, the Immunet team has built an effective antivirus product that specializes in data mining. There are over 400,000 plus Immunet users who together, through the power of Collective Immunity, help block more than 14 million threats as a community. Think about that number – 14 million threats that might otherwise harm many people and many PCs. To all those in the Immunet community, thank you for making the online world safer for everyone. 

In the spirit of doing our part, think about someone you know who could use Immunet Protect or Immunet Protect Plus – a relative, a friend, a coworker, or social network contact?

It takes seconds to protect someone online through Immunet’s Community feature. Watch our new video to find out how. And remember, for July,get 10% off your Immunet order by entering the coupon code "JULY" at checkout.



Need Another Reason For Layered Protection? Here’s One.

It’s not just you and me that have to worry about malware. This week, tech giant Dell discovered malware in its delivery of motherboards. The company is now in the process of overhauling its testing process to resolve issues before dispatching hardware to customers.

The culprit seems to be motherboards for PowerEdge servers that might  contain the W32.Spybot worm in flash storage. As reported in PC World:

Flash on motherboards are susceptible to the same kind of malware infections that USB flash devices are prone to, said Simha Sethumadhavan, assistant professor of computer science at Columbia University. This incident shows how hardware, either flash or a processor, if hacked, can be used as a way to transmit malware.

"All software runs on hardware. If the processor is hacked then it can subvert all software countermeasures. Since hardware is the root of trust, attacks on hardware are potentially more dangerous," Sethumadhavan said.

As you might recall, earlier this week wrote about the USB malware issue. This motherboard attack reinforces the need for layered of protection, as you never know if the problem will come from a tainted delivery batch or from your best friend’s infected PC.  Do you have layered protection?



New Virus Alert: Malware Spreading Through USB Storage Devices

There’s a new crop of malware spreading through USB storage devices, reports security reporter Brian Krebs. The rootkit-style attack worms its way in through a security flaw in the way Microsoft Windows handles shortcut files.

Microsoft released an advisory about this vulnerability. The tech giant explains, “the vulnerability exists because Windows incorrectly parses shortcuts in such a way that malicious code may be executed when the icon of a specially crafted shortcut is displayed. This vulnerability is most likely to be exploited through removable drives.” The advisory also includes guidance for those already infected, as well as some preventative measures.   

Malware stemming from external drives, like USBs, is becoming increasingly common. We commend Microsoft for steering its users towards remedies, but prevention is still the best approach.  As Krebs points out:

If this truly is a new vulnerability in Windows, it could soon become a popular method for spreading malware. But for now, this threat seems fairly targeted: Independent security researcher Frank Boldewin said he had an opportunity to dissect the malware samples, and observed that they appeared to be looking for Siemens WinCC SCADA systems, or machines responsible for controlling the operations of large, distributed systems, such as manufacturing and power plants.

“Looks like this malware was made for espionage,” Boldewin said.

Are you and your network protected? In order to be fully protected from viruses spreading from USB keys to your computer, you need advanced offline protection like Immunet Protect Plus.

For July, get 10% off your Immunet order by entering the coupon code "JULY" at checkout.

New Threats Call for Layered Security Approach

Cyber attacks are reaching pandemic levels, according to a recent report by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. As the threat mushrooms, protecting against it has become ever more complex. According to the report: 

"Security is always a cat-and-mouse game between hackers and security vendors," says Kartik Hosanagar, a professor of operations and information management at Wharton. "What has changed is that both companies and hackers have grown sophisticated. So the good news is that most security software will protect us from the most basic threats, which was not the case in the past. But the bad news is that malware and viruses have become more sophisticated, so even advanced users can fall prey to them."

Worms associated with interactive media and malware affecting social networking sites are         particularly dangerous, he notes, because "for example, you are less likely to be suspicious of a message from a friend on Facebook asking you to click on a video link. And yet, this kind of attack is on the rise" even as Facebook, Twitter, and other such sites are increasingly being used by businesses.

This is why Immunet Protect advocates taking a layered approach to antivirus security. Today’s threat landscape is far more sophisticated than the security industry has ever seen and using just one antivirus product isn’t enough. Running two antivirus programs at once was previously frowned upon, but as the threat landscape – and antivirus solutions evolved – the layered strategy has become the advised approach.

Immunet Protect is 100% compatible with most major antivirus products. View our complete list of compatible products. No matter how protected you are, there is no absolute guarantee that your PC will be free from viruses. But you can ensure that you have real-time protection against malware (like Immunet Protect) and share Immunet Protect for free with your network.



Atlanta Named the Most Infected City in the US

Atlanta is enjoying a major sports summer, with basketball superstar Joe Johnson re-signing with the Hawks and legend Shaq O’Neal considering joining the team. But one competition that Atlanta is making news on this summer doesn’t call for celebration.  

According to PC World, Atlanta has earned the dubious honor of having the highest malware infection rate per capita, based on population. The Enigma Software Group pulled a 30-day history of infection in the 100 largest cities in the US to come up with its rankings. New York City and  Los Angeles ranked highest in the sheer number of attacks, not surprising considering the cities bear the largest populations in the country. But the twist is, when it comes to attacks per capita, New York ranked near the bottom while Atlanta buoyed to the top.   

Birmingham, Alabama; Denver; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Madison, Wisconsin were among the most infected cities per capita. The lowest per capita infection rates were enjoyed by Jersey City, New Jersey; Santa Ana, California; Detroit; Boise, Idaho; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Living in a highly-infected metro area doesn't necessarily mean that you're more likely to catch viruses, but it may mean that friends and connections in those areas may not have updated antivirus software, and are therefore more likely to pass infection on to their (local) closest contacts as well.

Do you live in one of these areas, or know any friends who do? Please pass this on to them. No matter where you live,  keep in mind that who you are connected to does make a difference when it comes to keeping your PC free from viruses -- make sure you and your connections have real-time protection against malware and share Immunet Protect for free today.



Don't Get Infected by Twilight Malware - Make Sure You're Protected

It’s no surprise that hackers have piggybacked on the pop culture hoopla surrounding yesterday’s release of the new Twilight installment, “Eclipse.” Fans are eagerly scouring the web for information on the movie, but more than half of the links they’re getting are tainted with malware, according to news reports.

Consider what this means for malware infiltration. If hackers can contaminate more than 50% of links on a particularly hot topic, our vulnerability to viruses is higher than we think. We take for granted that our Internet searches are safe -- after all this is information we’re seeking. It’s not as though we’re clicking on fishy links sent to us via spam. Well, that’s the old way of thinking. In the new world of malware, gaming search engines is a clever way to get savvy web surfers to stumble upon malware. And even if you’re not searching the web for Twilight content, there’s probably someone in your life who is. Are you protected?



What Do Reviewers Think of Immunet Protect 2.0? Find Out in This Week's Review Summary

Over 318,000 people are now protected by Immunet Protect. Here’s a roundup of what reviewers are saying about Immunet Protect 2.0. To share your own review online, please post to our Facebook Fan Page, we'd love to hear from you!

“When I first reviewed Immunet Protect in May of this year (while it was still in Beta), I was impressed with its light use of system resources and bandwidth. Now, with the official release of Version 2, (June 17, 2010), I’m even more impressed…Immunet Protect is a highly responsible company which listens to its community of users.”

-          Bill Mullins, Tech Thoughts

“The refreshing interface is exactly the opposite of what antivirus screens used to be: windows with highly complicated sets of options an average user would have trouble understanding. Immunet Protect presents all the features clearly and in an easy-to-understand manner.”

-          Softpedia 

“And the biggest advantage of Immunet is that you can use it along with your existing security software. It will not hinder or create any interference with its working. Thus it adds a lightweight layer of extra protection to your PC Security plan. What more can you ask from a freeware product.”

-          Silki Garg, The PC Security

“Immunet 2.0 is out, public, and fantastic with a new community feature, making fighting [viruses] even more fun.”

-          Salem Hilal, TechnoHeads

“it does offer though is an extra dose of peace of mind …”

-          Seth Rosenblatt, CNET

Have you joined the Immunet Protect 2.0 community yet? If not, download it here or tell your family and friends!



Oliver Friedrichs on Keeping Families Safe

Yesterday, Immunet CEO Oliver Friedrichs was invited to be a guest on Cyberhood Watch Radio to talk about the importance of keeping families safe online. Hosts Dave & Bill tapped into Oliver’s expertise to inform audience about keeping teens safe this summer as they spend more time online connecting with their friends. They also asked for Oliver’s take on the urgency of malware lurking on social networks and how Immunet Protect’s unique social network can help you – and your children -- make good decisions online. Take the time to listen and learn about the looming threats online and why traditional antivirus products aren’t working. Click on the show titled “What Consumers Need to Know About Antivirus Software & How to Stay Protected.”

Listen to internet radio with Dave and Bill on Blog Talk Radio

‘Gaming’ Malware

You are exploring the Wild West – at every turn there are grisly town hangings, gunfire ambushes, and reckless gambling sprees. All of this is just part of a day’s work. What actually stops you in your tracks is, when you’re suddenly warned that you have a dangerous virus – a computer virus, that is.

Hackers recently exploited the popular Wild West-themed computer game Red Dead Redemption with scareware. While scareware seems strangely appropriately for a game that thrives on danger, this malware was not part of the amusement. In fact, this is the latest in a string of video games to become prey for malicious software.  

While games being infected with malware is nothing new, the problem is gamers are sometimes reluctant to install antivirus software on their PCs for fear of slowing down their machines and hampering their gaming experience. But as gaming grows from a niche activity to an all-out national pastime, gaming malware could proliferate rapidly unless we step up and protect ourselves. Already we’ve seen popular social games, like Zynga, have become targets of malware and phishing scams.

And here’s the good news. Being protected doesn’t mean turning your computer into a brick anymore. That’s the outmoded desktop-approach to antivirus. Immunet Protect’s cloud-based protection installs less than 10 megs on your PC --- the lightest in the industry. All detection will happen virtually in the cloud, not on your desktop -- so your gaming experience won’t be weighed down. For those who are already protected, Immunet will give you an added layer of essential protection , still without slowing down your PC.

As we’ve mentioned here before, we’re launching a stellar new product next week that takes cloud AV protection to the next level. Stay tuned for more details. And in the meantime, be a friend to Immunet, and promote our new website (also coming next week) with a free Immunet Badge.



Did I Infect my Friends? Part 3: Clickjacking

This week, Facebook users were struck with a clickjacking worm that deceives users into “liking” sites to spread the virus. Clickjacking, similar to phishing, either tricks users into giving away sensitive information or works by hackers taking control of a computer when a user clicks on what seems like a harmless site. Here’s how the Facebook clickjacking worked, as reported in InformationWeek:

Clickjacking -- also known as likejacking -- works by spamming Facebook users with such content as "LOL this girl gets owned after a police officer reads her status message” and “the prom dress that got this girl suspended from school."

Click on the link, and a user will go to a seemingly blank page that says “click here to continue.” But thanks to “an invisible iFrame,” said [Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, on the company’s blog], clicking anywhere on the page actually republishes the attack content and link on the Facebook user’s status page, “in a similar fashion to the ‘Fbhole’ worm we saw earlier this month.” Fbhole likewise spread via Facebook status messages.

Other recent examples of this type of attack include, the “Distracting Beach Babes.”   If you’re struck, the key is to remove all the "likes and interests" from your profile. Then, delete the page from your newsfeed, most likely to be found in the ‘Recent Activity’ section of the profile but you may have scroll down for a bit. Then, get yourself protected to keep it from happening again. Your best bet is a product, like Immunet Protect, that is designed specifically to target malware on social networks, in particular Facebook. And if you haven’t yet been hit, download AV protection now as a preventative measure.

There’s really no reason not to take this simple step. It’s free to download Immunet Protect, it’s lightweight and won’t slow down your computer, and it provides essential security for your PC.