Malware, Internet | featured news

The attacks over the past month by sophisticated malware seemed to be similar to those recently directed at Twitter and other companies.

Kidnappers used to make ransom notes with letters cut out of magazines. Now, notes simply pop up on your computer screen, except the hostage is your PC.

Microsoft has rushed to issue a patch for a previously unseen bug affecting IE 9 and previous versions of its browser. The problem, which affects hundreds of millions of IE browser users, is being used by attackers to install the Poison Ivy trojan. This piece of malware is used to steal data or take remote control of PCs.

The FBI issued a warning Thursday about a new malware scheme that is meant to deceive and frighten computer users into thinking it's from the law enforcement agency itself. Worse, the malware also tries to immediately extort users into paying a fine online and it can lock your computer

Hours after "Internet doomsday" kicked in, major service providers say almost all customers have avoided the shut-off of their Internet service, although there are some who will not be able to read this story online, unless it's on their smartphones. "Less than 1 percent of Cox customers are infected with the virus," Todd C. Smith, Cox Communications director of media relations told msnbc.com. "Since midnight last night, when the FBI (via the Internet Services Coalition) disconnected the servers associated with this botnet, we've only received a miniscule number of calls, but our customer care and security assurance teams are standing by and are ready to help," Charlie Douglas, Comcast senior director of corporate communications, told msnbc.com.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was one of many law enforcement agencies nationwide warning Internet users about malware that threatened to knock about 64,000 Americans offline Monday.

Despite repeated alerts, tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago.

Internet Explorer takes the crown when it comes to protection from socially engineering malware.

It's not unusual for a new malware attack to pop up on the Internet every other moment, but the latest vicious bit of software floating around is particularly fascinating because it specifically targets Mac users.