Filed under: Security, News, Microsoft
Forget Security Essentials - Microsoft attacks malware pimps with lawsuits
But Microsoft has decided to go one better. After all, simply removing infections or blocking them isn't all that detrimental to the bottom feeders who are pushing the malicious apps. They've now launched a second wave of attacks using one of the deadliest weapons in the Redmond arsenal: lawyers.
Reuters reports that Microsoft has filed suit against several "malvertisers," low-lifes responsible for things like the recent pop-up scare on the New York Times website. The case targets several cheesily-named businesses including "Soft Solutions," "Direct Ad," "qiweroqw.com," "ITmeter Inc" and "ote2008.info."
Microsoft hopes to uncover the actual identities of those responsible. Regardless of your feelings for Microsoft, I think we can all agree that it would be nice for this lawsuit to hit the bad guys where it hurts - in their ill-gotten bank account balances.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Drew Green said 3:16PM on 9-18-2009
Great graphic :)
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Fernando said 3:18PM on 9-18-2009
Let's sue them instead of actually fixing our crappy software. Now that's the American way.
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Rob said 4:21PM on 9-18-2009
It isn't a flaw in Windows; people explicitly install these because they claim to remove viruses that they already have. In actuality, most people with patched xp or vista won't have viruses, but these attacks are so successful because of exploiting people's fears.
Fernando said 4:32PM on 9-18-2009
So you saying that Microsoft cannot fix this at all, so that this type of software cannot be installed?
Lee Mathews said 4:33PM on 9-18-2009
Fernando, when you make something idiot proof a better idiot always comes along.
Besides, if Microsoft DID come up with something that could totally block it, people would start complaining because MS is preventing them from installing something they want to install. #sadbuttrue
Fernando said 6:05PM on 9-18-2009
Also in actuality people with patched xp/vista still get viruses trust me I work in the enterprise and our WSUS and Symantec servers patch xp/vista all the time and people still get viruses.
Rob said 7:41PM on 9-18-2009
The UAC system in later versions will prevent the installation of these stupid things if one has it enabled and doesn't just dismiss the prompts, and the built in spyware scanner will pick up some. Microsoft is also terrified of including an antivirus client in Windows because Brussels would probably slap a few billion dollar fine on them, and the DOJ might get angry as well.
Jordan said 8:02PM on 9-18-2009
You've got it all wrong Fernando, I'd say why, but other people already have. Yes, people still get viruses - but not necessarily these ones, but any attempt by Microsoft to thwart those who create attacks is a good move. The biggest virus threat these days are programs who claim to be virus scanners and get themselves installed by working off people's fears. I work in a help desk and always laugh when people call because their "xp antivirus" found infections, when in all actuality xp antivius is the infection.
Kenn.keeper said 3:19PM on 9-18-2009
I'm one of the lucky few in the US that was able to sign-up and get MSE to try and evaluate. I know that Microsoft gets and sometimes deserves a bad rap but this time they get a 100% thumbs up from me. For the past months that it has been installed I can truly say that my computer has never been this protected from Malware by just using just one program. Now if they would only get their act together and have their Firewall protect outgoing apps I'd be as happy as, well you get the message...
Free is Good....
Kenn-Keeper
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Drew Green said 3:24PM on 9-18-2009
Anyone who wants it can get it. It's on Softpedia.
Kenn.keeper said 3:40PM on 9-18-2009
Drew: Yes you may be able to get it now as of June/09 from certain sites, BUT prior to that date there were only 25,000 in USA, Brazil and Spain that were able to get it. Even though my motto is "Free is Good" be wary of where you get it from....
Free is Good
Kenn-Keeper
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Jean-Pierre Soraire said 12:41AM on 9-19-2009
I just wanted to say, that I'm using the Beta of Microsoft Security Essentials and it is really good. I'm blown away. I don't even realize it's running, but one day recently it caught a worm. Good Job Microsoft. Here is my screen-shot http://www.zshare.net/image/6578179521bf89bf/
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jzsteen said 9:04AM on 9-19-2009
Wow, I would have to agree dude, that is WAY cool!
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Bondo, Jimmy Bondo said 8:10AM on 10-02-2009
Microsoft is just playing a hand for a better deal with the crooks.
ps
I find it ironic that your sponsored links shows peddlers of fraudulent scareware - malvertisers
http://hosts-file.net/default.asp?s=cyberdefender.com
http://hosts-file.net/default.asp?s=stopzilla.com
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