Virus Alerts

IT security continues to be a concern for Australian businesses. There are numerous new threats appearing each month, which could potentially impact people and organisations in Australia. Companies need to keep up-to-date with the latest threats, to help them protect their infrastructure from potential hacks, viruses and vulnerabilities.

iTnews helps keep Australian businesses informed about what is happening in the IT security space, with a range of stories about both the threats, and articles about research into their impact on companies around the world.

New virus 'the work of a bored Romanian student'

A new virus that pretends to be an update from anti-virus company Bitdefender was dismissed as “amateurish” by the company's CTO.

René Millman Jan 21 2005 5:02PM Security

Virus poses as CNN newsletter

A cunning new worm has been discovered that hides itself as a fake CNN newsletter.

René Millman Jan 21 2005 11:40AM Security

Anti-spyware opens new gates for virus writers

Virus writers have created a cunning new virus that combines a trojan horse and phishing techniques to cash in on Microsoft’s mooted anti-spyware product.

David Quainton Jan 20 2005 12:36PM Security

Mobile virus hits Britain

Mobile phone viruses have finally hit the UK. Cabir, first reported in June last year, has finally wormed its way onto British shores after six months of trying.

David Quainton Jan 18 2005 4:51PM Security

Second tsunami worm reveals gang rivalry

The second tsunami worm in a week heralds a new low in virus writing, experts say. VBSun-A appears in emails that appeal for donations to help victims of last month’s Asian tsunami.

David Quainton Jan 18 2005 3:01PM Security

Vendors blamed for exaggerating threat of spam

Staff Writers Jan 14 2005 5:03PM Security

A virus to suit all of your tastes

Staff Writers Jan 14 2005 5:01PM Security

Virus worms its way around mobiles

The first mobile phone virus to infect multiple files could point the way to the future of mobile viruses, experts claim. Lasco.A, discovered this week, inserts itself into any Symbian Installation System (SIS) file.

David Quainton Jan 12 2005 10:58AM Security

Spam study shows spam hits study

Educational institutions are under threat because they can’t deal with the amount of spam being sent their way. New methods of attack are hitting establishments with up to 11 million emails a day, and the poorer funded can’t afford the technology to stave off the attack.

David Quainton Jan 10 2005 2:30PM Security

Virus surprise hidden inside Christmas gifts

Staff exhibiting their Christmas presents at work may find they give their company an unwanted New Year surprise. Reports today show MP3 players can shut down Windows by passing on the VBS/Soraci virus.

David Quainton Jan 4 2005 12:38PM Security

Spam proliferates despite year-old CAN-SPAM Act

It's been a year since the CAN-SPAM Act went into effect but the law has yet to stem the tide of junk email, according to MX Logic, an email security supplier.

Marcia Savage Jan 3 2005 9:38PM Security

Drugs, phishing top 2004 spam list

Terms related to pharmaceutical drugs and phishing scams topped the list of the most widely sent junk e-mail subject lines used by spammers this year, AOL said.

Staff Writers Dec 30 2004 2:48PM Security

Phone worm code goes public

Source code for the most prevalent worm targeting mobile phones has been made public -- potentially encouraging worse attacks.

Gregg Keizer , Gregg Keizer Dec 30 2004 8:41AM Telco/ISP

US is world spam gorilla

The United States was the world's 800-pound spam-spewing gorilla for 2004, a spot it held fthroughout the year, a UK anti-virus firm has said.

Staff Writers Dec 29 2004 1:44PM Software

Google kicks worm into touch

Google has finally stopped the Santy worm dead in its tracks, thanks to lobbying from anti-virus vendors. The worm, which trawls Google for vulnerable versions of bulletin board software known as phpBB, had reached epidemic proportions by Tuesday night.

David Quainton Dec 22 2004 10:32AM Security

UK spam law - "completely ineffective"

As reported here on December 3 Britain’s first anti-spam law is one year old today, and not a single conviction has been made. Under the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulation the Government has failed to bring spammers to task, and the situation looks unlikely to change soon.

David Quainton Dec 14 2004 12:04PM Security