Trojan harvests software keys for cracked copies

Yet another version of the Agobot worm is starting its rounds: Agobot-KN. The much copied threat - the code for which is widely available on hacker and virus-writing sites - now exists in hundreds of versions. One interesting twist in the latest version is that it attempts to steal the Windows Product ID and keys from several computer apps or games, such as Neverwinter Nights, Unreal Tournament (2003 and 2004) and various Medal of Honor games. ...more

Hackers welcome Web 2.0

According to security experts, companies embracing web 2.0 technologies could open themselves up to new forms of attack by hackers. The fact that these technologies introduce both JavaScript and XML onto the desktop to mediate between the browser and the web server makes things more problematic, said Pete Simpson, ThreatLab manager at content security company Clearswift, speaking at a round table event. ...more

Spammers dupe Yahoo! users in new scam

Yahoo! users are being duped into opening email accounts for spammers, according to security experts. UK security company MessageLabs say it is detecting dubious emails that claim to be sent from Yahoo! and request the recipient to confirm their identification by using a picture ID. The picture ID - an image of a group of words and numbers - is used to prevent spammers sending out bots to automatically open email accounts through which they can subsequently send spam. ...more

BT charged with holding back line unbundling

The Telecommunications Adjudicator has again criticised BT for dragging its heels over local loop unbundling. Peter Black's latest Telecommunications Adjudicator Update notes that the 'delivery of backhaul in exchanges is still unacceptable'. Put simply this means that BT is failing to release telephone lines so that operators can plug them into their own networks. ...more

Microsoft appoints Chief Security Strategist

Scott Charney, from Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Cybercrime Prevention and Response Practice, has been chosen to lead Microsoft's security efforts. With a serious CV of tackling computer crime, Charney has been welcomed as an 'essential member of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing leadership team'. He will be responsible for security strategies for software and services, and generally beefing up Microsoft's performance in this increasingly-sensitive area. ...more