More Zeus Banking Trojan Attacks

• Earlier this month, AVG's web security reports that the Mumba botnet used the Zeus banking trojan to infect 55,000 more PCs around the world, stealing bank account details and credit card numbers. See: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/02/muamba_botnet_infiltrated/ 

• In February 2010, a Virginia network forensics company, reported Zeus attacks involving 74,00 PC's in 10 federal agencies, 2,500 companies and a number of Fortune 500 firms in the financial, energy and technology industries. See:  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/18/massive_hack_attack/ 

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From: ArsTechnical.com

One would think that Microsoft users would be rushing down to their local computer store looking for the latest and greatest (and certainly a more secure) computer operating system, but that's really not the case. Ars Technica has the numbers and graphs to show just how resistant Microsoft users are to change. In July 2010, 62 percent of Microsoft users are still using Windows XP, but Windows 7 by rising to 14.5 percent has passed Windows Vista at 14.3 percent of computer users. Macintosh users comprise 5.1 percent of the OS market share and Linux (all varients) rolled back to a 0.93 percent share. Check out additional graphs and the full report at: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/08/windows-7-overtakes-windows-vista.ars

If you are one of 62 percent of the Microsoft faithful who are still using Windows XP and for good reasons still don't wish to upgrade your older computer right away, help is available. Fred Langa, senior editor of the Windows Secrets Newsletter, has an extensive checklist of things you can do to extend XP's usefulness on your existing older hardware for a long time. The list doesn't have to be completed all in one sitting. Instead, it's arranged in a logical fashion and with a little TLC and patience you can extend your computer's long-term health even further. If you're really serious about keeping your Windows XP system, see: http://www.windowssecrets.com/2010/08/12/01-Preparing-Windows-XP-for-the-long-haul

No less an authority than PC World stirs the security soup by pointing out that Linux's open source software is inherently more secure than Windows for small business owners and others like schools and local governments who can't affort a large IT security staff. The fact that fewer people use Linux and Linux's inherent diversity makes a less attractive target for the people who write malware is only part of the answer. PC World's Business Center looks at the PC security issue at: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/202452/why_linux_is_more_secure_than_windows.html

Maybe Linux users should just be thankful that Microsoft complacent customers have become a gigantic "honey pot" that keeps the bad guys with the malware focused on the much larger Windows market and less on Macintosh and Linux systems. At the end of the XP's life span, please stay as safe and secure as you can.

Microsoft builds a Fix it Center application to guide fix common computer problems

You can link to Microsoft Fix it Center Online BETA to download the latest offering from Microsoft that promises to make troubleshooting a computer a little easier for beginners. After downloading the executable file, double-click on the FixitCenter_Run.exe file to start the installation process which only takes two or three minutes.

The installation asks the user to create an online account for additional help and support in the event that the Fix it Center cannot resolve a problem automatically using the software installed on the computer. The online account is free and it normally takes only a few more minutes to set up a new Microsoft Online account, if you don't already have one.

Another part of the setup process gathers information about your computer to preload up to 27 small troubleshooting applets or wizards to guide the process. In my case, with my smaller than normal "travel-sized" installation of Windows Vista, the program installed 11 "troubleshooters." The automated troubleshooters have simple descriptions, and the Fix it Center user interface has a large help button. The directions were easy to understand and include sample screens.

To learn for myself how the process worked, I ran the first item listed, "Common system maintenance tasks" The wizard ran through a short list of common maintenance issues from broken shortcuts and disk errors to setting the clock. If a problem is found the user has the option of allowing the program to fix the problem or not. No problems were found (thank goodness). Other items I could have checked included computer slowdowns, networking and printing.

Administrators have added troubleshooting options available - more than ordinary users. (See the Fix it Center Help - Learning the Fix it Center interface for more details.) One of the help options presents a feedback screen that asks what can be done to improve the application. Overall, everything looks simple and easy to install and use. It's something that might be useful for new and even a few intermediate users. At least it's something to try before calling for tech support or your family technical guru. ...Well, at least it's a start.

Thanks to Lifehacker for the information and links. The site is one of the online places I regularly check.

A copy of this entry is also posted on Fort Smith Seniors blog site.