web-based malware

Overheard - Confliker / Downadup worm alert

Security vendors from across the spectrum have warned that a stingy worm has been successfully exploiting a hole in Microsoft Windows server service. Known as Confliker or Downadup, the worm spreads by exploiting a remote procedure call (RPC) vulnerability. Robert Westerfelt, Confliker, Downadup worm hype? Get the facts

There’s a new variant of the Conficker worm. It’s known as ‘Downadup.’ Microsoft issued a patch for the worm last October but it’s still spreading and mutating.

The worm, which some authorities say has been able to build the largest botnet on record,  works by exploiting a vulnerability in remote procedure calls that allows remote code to be executed once a vulnerable machine receives a specially crafted RPC request.  In plain English, this means that if an end user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer, his computer will request malicious code to be executed. Like many of its malicious predecessors, this worm denies infected machines Internet access to security vendor websites.

Microsoft added routines to clean up Conficker infections to the January edition of its Malicious Software Removal Tool.  Customers in the U.S. and Canada can receive technical support from Microsoft Product Support Services at 1-866-PCSAFETY. There is no charge for support calls that are associated with security updates. The National Cyber Alert System recommends that to prevent further infections by infected USB devices, users should disable the Windows auto-play feature.

Overheard: Google says you’ll find web-based malware in 1% of all search results

It has been over a year and a half since we started to identify web pages that infect vulnerable hosts via drive-by downloads, i.e. web pages that attempt to exploit their visitors by installing and running malware automatically. During that time we have investigated billions of URLs and found more than three million unique URLs on over 180,000 web sites automatically installing malware. Niels Provos, Google Anti-Malware Team

In the past few months, more than 1% of all search results contained at least one result that we believe to point to malicious content and the trend seems to be increasing.

Ordinary web pages are contributors to web exploitation. Therefore, even if someone was to avoid adult web pages, she would still be exposed to risk.