Firefox 3.5 final available

Probably not a secret to most, but the latest version of Firefox is out. A big update, since the version went from 3.0 to 3.5. Most of the changes are underneath, so they aren't readily apparent. I've run it for a few hours and haven't had any issues. Tried doing just about everything you can with a browser and it all went well.

Speed is one thing that Firefox 3.5 is touted as having over the older version. It seems like everyone is touting their new, even faster browser. I do notice that Firefox doesn't compare itself to other browsers like Safari and IE but the earlier 3.0 and 2 versions. Safari is still faster for me going loading new pages, but clicking back to ones in your history, it's still Firefox.

One thing you'll see that is new is the private browsing feature. Safari has had it for quite awhile. Google Chrome launched with it and spread awareness, even getting the nickname "porn mode". Nothing groundbreaking, but handy to have. You can always just clear your private data manually.

Firefox 3.5 does have one thing that no other browser has. It supports some video types natively, without the need for a plug-in or 3rd party add-on. However, it's only the open source Ogg file types. Most things people watch online aren't using this. you can see a demo of a video that also showcases the new features. If web developers make more use of Ogg files, then this could be good. My guess is that it won't mean much until more file types are supported. Wikipedia might be an exception.

Missing is a top sites feature, like Safari and Opera have. You can get it with add-ons for Firefox, but this is becoming a standard feature of these days. I didn't think it was a big deal when Opera had it and then when Safari 4 added it. Once i started using it, it was like tabbed browsing. How did I get by without it before?

Other features include geolocation, the ability to drag tabs to be their own window, and adding a window as a new tab in a different browser window.

Of course there is security. there's a whole list of features listed at the Mozilla Firefox security page. Private browsing and Forget This Site are the new ones listed. Many of the others, like antimalware and antiphising are listed as improved. I haven't tested those two filters, but they are likely to be weak as they have been in all browsers.

You can download Firefox 3.5 at www.getfirefox.com now. The internal updater for Firefox 3.0 doesn't offer it, as of yet.

AVProtection2009 Rogue

Saw an alert today about AVProtection2009. Like all rogue antispyware programs, it warns users about threats on their computer, which are usually false. It runs a somewhat real looking scan. After the scan, the program will offer to remove the threats if you purchase it.

Not too many details yet except what's at the Panda link above.

SecretService is the latest Rogue antispyware

SecretService is the latest rouge antispyware product acording to S!
ri. Away from home, so check out his page for more info.

http://siri-urz.blogspot.com/2009/06/secret-service-rogue.html

Airport and Time Capsule Update 7.4.2

Well, here we go. First update and it's an Apple router one.

Apple released firmware update 7.4.2 for their Airport Base Station and Time Capsule today. Nothing particular for security mentioned, but there are several fixes which are listed as:

• Fixes some problems with extending and maintaining connectivity with extended networks
• Fixes an issue with clients that enable 802.11 "Power Save"
• Fixes connectivity issues with some third-party devices
• Fixes an issue when the base station is configured for PPPoE
• Fixes some Back To My Mac issues with connectivity and support for third-party routers

You don't have to use an Airport router for a Mac to get online and a Windows computer can use an Airport router. I got a Time Capsule for a good cheap price recently and i like it. It's an 802.11n router, has an internal hard drive for sharing files and has a USB port that you can connect more hard drives and printers to so all my Macs and PC's can easily share files and print.

The wireless range is pretty good. I can turn down the transmit power to 25% and still connect through two outside walls and on the other side of the yard from where the router is.

How to Tell If That Pop-Up Window Is Offering You a Rogue Anti-Malware Product

One thing I run into often, is how to know if that program that is
saying it can fix your spyware and malware woes is actually any good.
As many have found out, even programs that remove malware can be
malware themselves. The infamous SpyAxe (which started me blogging)
was the first mainstream one. That was 2006. Since then, there have
been many, many that have followed. They usually get onto your system
by tricking you into installing a video codec to watch something.
There's even been some for the Mac. It can be quite confusing figuring
out what is a legit antispyware program and what is a rogue.

Sunbelt has a good piece on how to find out. I'll link to the blog
post since the it's a pdf file. http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/beginners-guide-is-that-real-anti.html

I command you to rise from the dead

Since using OS X, it's been no fun to to mess with all the updates for Windows. You don't have to deal with 90% or more of the garbage that affects Windows. This isn't to say Windows is no good. I still use it, but nowhere near as much as I used to. Also add the time it takes to filter out all the spam comments that try to get through when comments are enabled, it became tiresome to update this blog.

While looking for up to date info on the election crisis in Iran, I finally started using Twitter. It really is the way to find out information as it happens. Anyways, it has invigorated me to get back to this blog. Tried a few times, so let's see what happens and where it goes.

Oh, Windows 7 certainly has renewed interest in Windows. Running the release candidate and it's looking good.

Antivirus 360 Replaces Antivirus 2009 As New Rogue

The Vundo trojan is now using Antivirus 360 in it's effort to scam money out of victims. The name is play off of Norton 360 it appears. Like all rogue antispyware products, the malware that found it's way on your computer is from the same group that is trying to sell you the solution.

Antivirus 360 removal guide found Bleeping Computer. Hijackthis log symptoms and files:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [13376694984709702142491016734454] C:\Program Files\A360\av360.exe

c:\Program Files\A360
c:\Program Files\A360\av360.exe
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Antivirus 360.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Antivirus 360.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Antivirus 360
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Antivirus 360\Antivirus 360.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Antivirus 360\Help.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Antivirus 360\Registration.lnk

Spywareinfo Domain Now Linking Rogues

The domain spywareinfo.com once was one of the main sites to help with stopping spyware and helping people remove spyware. Once a good source of information and news, it began a slow decline in 2006 when the owner Mike Healan disappeared from the net for personal reasons. The domain was bought recently and is now hosting links to undesirable removal programs, including Antivirus 2009.

Spywareinfo's legacy still lives on. The forums were moved to their own domain and can be found at spywareinfoforum.com . An archive of the old spywareinfo site can be found at spywareinfoforum.info. While archive of spywareinfo is mostly old and out of date, the forums are current , up to date and a good place to go if you need help.

More on the change of ownership of spywareinfo:

Warning at the spywareinfoforum site.

DSLreports security forums discuss the change.

Analysis of the new links.

Need An Update

My poor blog is almost dead. Silly work and real life keeping me from updating it.

Is your Computer running slowly?

Whoops, three months went by without a post. Oh well, no time like now to get back to it.

Malware Removal just put up a page to help with keeping your Windows computer from slowing down and what you can do to keep it from slowing down.

We get a lot of people coming here complaining of slow running computers, and posting HijackThis logs for us to look at. They suspect that an infection is causing their problem. In a great many cases, Malware is not the cause of the problem, and a few simple procedures are all that it takes to resolve things.

Is your Computer running slowly

AntiSpyCheck Rogue Program

AntiSpycheck is a new rogue spyware program. It's installed by the zlob trojan, giving fake alerts that try to get you to purchase it. The zlob trojan disguises itself as a video codec that is supposedly needed to view a video. It really installs spyware to make fake alerts and installs AntiSpyCheck to trick you into buying it.

Here are some lines from Hijackthis that you may find if you are infected:

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://internetsearchservice.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://internetsearchservice.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://internetsearchservice.com/ie6.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://internetsearchservice.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://internetsearchservice.com
O2 - BHO: WarningBHO Class - {56FA7933-DC3E-403b-8D47-BB5E3F345A21} - C:\Program Files\AntiSpyCheck\IEWarning.dll
O2 - BHO: 514852 helper - {9420D9C5-E151-4D83-B9A6-27DE1A7A0E5F} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\514852\514852.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {99BA268B-4021-4739-9945-3C774217FE75} - C:\Program Files\NetProject\sbmdl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AntiSpyCheck 2.1.0] "C:\Program Files\AntiSpyCheck\AntiSpyCheck.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Policies\Explorer\Run: [some] C:\Program Files\NetProject\scit.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Policies\Explorer\Run: [start] C:\Program Files\NetProject\sbmntr.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {9034A523-D068-4BE8-A284-9DF278BE776E} - http://www.ietoolpro.com/redirect.php (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: IE Anti-Spyware - {9034A523-D068-4BE8-A284-9DF278BE776E} - http://www.ietoolpro.com/redirect.php (file missing)
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: campaniform - {5c7b71bb-6d49-4bdc-b60d-f9fe0481eb5f} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\kfcpnd.dll

Here are some files that you my have if you are infected with this trojan:

c:\Program Files\AntiSpyCheck
c:\Program Files\AntiSpyCheck\AntiSpyCheck.exe
c:\Program Files\AntiSpyCheck\IEWarning.dll
c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\sotfone-tracker@sotfone.ru
c:\Program Files\NetProject
c:\Program Files\NetProject\sbmdl.dll
c:\Program Files\NetProject\sbmntr.exe
c:\Program Files\NetProject\sbsm.exe
c:\Program Files\NetProject\sbun.exe
c:\Program Files\NetProject\scit.exe
c:\Program Files\NetProject\scm.exe
c:\Program Files\NetProject\scu.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\kfcpnd.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\514852\514852.dll

For full details and a free removal guide, take a look at Bleeping Computer's AntiSpyCheck Removal Guide.

Internet Explorer Flaw Plus Safari Equals Trouble

An undisclosed vulnerability in Internet Explorer, combined with exploiting Safari for Windows' ability to download files without being prompted, apparently allows the bad guys to take over Windows. This affects XP, Vista and IE versions 6 and 7. The unnamed Internet Explorer bug has been around for awhile. Combined with the Windows version of Safari, where files can be downloaded without an option to prompt before doing so, the flaw can be used to take over Windows, reports Aviv Raff.

The flaw in Internet Explorer uses the calculator program in conjunction with Safari for Windows to make two moderate vulnerabilities into a critical one. Microsoft has issued a bulletin, but it doesn't really say too much. Even if Microsoft patches IE, there's still Safari's "carpet bomb" issue that can allow unwanted downloads. Right now, Apple doesn't appear to want to fix this. Simply adding the option to prompt for all downloads before doing the download would help prevent this. Stopbadware wrote on their blog to urge Apple to do so.

You have to visit a specially crafted web page for this exploit to work. So it is not an all out fiasco. So far, there is not a known use of this problem. Right now, the only guaranteed fix to prevent this is to uninstall Safari for Windows. This may not be a bad idea, since there could be more bugs like this that can be exploited in Safari for Windows, said Raff in an interview with Macworld.