Posted on 03/11/2005 10:56:57 AM PST by ShadowAce
Some useful citizen has created an installer that will nail IE with spyware, even if a surfer is using Firefox (or another alternative browser) or has blocked access to the malicious site in IE beforehand. The technique allows a raft of spyware to be served up to Windows users in spite of any security measures that might be in place.
Christopher Boyd, a security researchers at Vitalsecurity.org, said the malware installer was capable of working on a range of browsers with native Java support. "The spyware installer is a Java applet powered by the Sun Java Runtime Environment, which allows them to whack most browsers out there, including Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape and others. In the original test, only Opera and Netcaptor didn't fall for the install but Daniel Veditz, who is the head of Mozilla security, has since confirmed to me that this will also work in Opera and Netcaptor," he explained.
In the example Boyd highlights surfers looking for Neil Diamond lyrics (of all things) are served with a variety of adware and spyware packages including Internet Optimizer, sais (180 Solutions) and Avenue Media. Thereafter, if victims allow the packages to install, victims will be bombarded with pop-up ads and their computer will be reduced to a crawl. The malware doesn't install automatically but managed web security firm ScanSafe reckons the pop-up dialogue it generates is obscure enough to fool most home users.
ScanSafe reports an increase in spyware of 15 per cent over the last three months of 2004 compared to the previous quarter. Adware accounted for three of the top 10 most prolific threats recorded by ScanSafe over Q4 2004. Spyware authors have thus far restricted themselves to targeting vulnerabilities in IE but ScanSafe reckons it’s only a matter of time before they turn their attention towards alternative browsers.
John Edwards, CTO of ScanSafe, said that some users migrated away from IE to alternative browsers such as Firefox after various security scares last year. He cited figures from Secunia that Firefox and IE were both subject to five advisories in the first two months of this year to support his argument that Firefox was not "bullet-proof".
"Just switching away from IE does not give adequate projection. Now that Firefox and other alternative browsers have a toehold in the market the hacking community will get busy exploiting the vulnerabilities that exist in any complex browser," he said. ®
Well, duh. That's why I have always surfed with Java off. It is not and has never been safe to use. You turn it on only at the time you need it and turn it off immediately afterwards, if you want to remain protected.
Warning : Neil Diamond lyrics can be hazardous
Agreed. This is also why I don't have any semblance of IE on my home computer.
If you have Windows, IE is on your computer whether you like it or not. Bring up the Start Menu, choose Run, and type "iexplore". It's there, and you can't get rid of it without changing the OS.
Exactly.
I have always hated Java...
Oh no, a poster here the other day told me it could be removed..... / s
Check ShadowAce's tagline.
Sure you can remove it... format c:
How do you turn Java off and on?
I installed Solaris 10 with JDS (their GUI) and have a full OpenOffice suite, decent Web browser (Mozilla), and Outlook-like email and PIM program (Evolution). No security problems either.
Yeah I noticed.
In your security settings... under Options of Preferences depending on your browser.
bookmark
So Java isn't the problem. If you choose to install anything on your machine, no one can protect you.
This whole thing is shaping up just like an Arms Race....and MS$ is running far behind as I see it.
Yeah, I always go to unknown web sites, get programs that try to automatically install, and say "Okay." Still, the base problem is IE, the malware you can't get rid of on XP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.