The final Demise of Backdoor.Graybird

News breaking recently for those will enable huge numbers to breath a sigh of relief One of the most prolific malware targeting the Windows platform has been decommissioned. Windows users can breathe more relaxed with the knowledge that the makers of Backdoor.Graybird have announced they abandoned the development of the Trojan horse as of March 2007. According to the data provided by Symantec, Backdoor.Graybird, Backdoor.GrayBird [KAV], BackDoor-ARR [McAfee] is a Trojan horse impacting Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Graybird can be run without the user's knowledge and enables an attacker to capture screenshots, control the Webcam, log keystrokes, steal passwords and have access to files stored locally. Symantec also explained that the backdoor can be injected into running processed and even passed for other applications. Graybird also features rootkit capabilities, making it less of a tool for remote administration and more of a backdoor.

Of course where one falls often another arises somewhat like a Phoenix so lets not all celebrate too soon.

Information received from www.softpedia.com

When is a Virus Not a Virus

When its a hoax!

Having said this a hoax can become a simply by individuals, in the belief they are doing there duty, forwarding the hoax across the Internet to other unsuspecting individuals, these individuals read the warning and forward it on to still more people. Thus the "virus" spreads throughout the Internet. The next time you receive an email warning of potential hazard to your computer it would be best to report this to your IT manager, if you have one, or perhaps do a search in Google as often these hoaxes have fairly high publicity and it may appear there. Type in a sentence from your mail and see what comes up.

but whatever you do please check out verify its authenticity before forwarding it on to someone. As much damage can be caused by good intention as by those who actually do send viruses on.

Zone Alarm - Firewall

Zone Alarm

High on the list of "must haves" is a good firewall. Now XP made some good steps in improving this aspect of their OS but it was still a VERY long way from being perfect. I had a slight tearing of loyalties on this one as I am quite an AVG fan but as far as the firewall aspect goes I think that Zone Alarm will take a lot of beating. Once again, you may note a theme here, Zone Alarm offers a FREE version for you to upgrade later or simply stay with the free. I love these companies that do this they have real confidence in their products and I am sure you will agree if you give them a try.

AVG Anti Virus Software

AVG

Why should we use AVG Anti Virus software? Well to the many thousands of people who have had their Pc's or Data destroyed my the malicious connivings of those with little better to do with their live the answer is obvious. I have, however come across a few lucky people who have said " I have never had a virus so see no reason to go to the expense of buying software to prevent it". Once it has been pointed out to them that their PC does not necessarily have to show signs of a virus to actually have one but that they could be happily spreading a virus to many others that they pause to think. There are many and varied Virus checkers out there on the market but there are few that will actually give you there product free AVG is one of these. They are very confident that you will like there product so much so they will let you have it free and trust that you will return to buy the professional version. I use the Pro version and am very happy with it, I think you would be too. You can visit their web site to see what they have to offer by clicking on the image or any of the links in this blog.