Important Message For PC Users
Microsoft will be ending their support for XP on April 8th, 2014.
This means that you have a month to upgrade to retain support for your PC.
Their will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates for this operating system so upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8
is recommended.
Please note that an upgrade to Windows 8.1 is provided free to those upgrading from XP or Vista to Windows 8
and that file backups are recommended prior to upgrading.
Security Alert – Java Vulnerabilities
Last week the Department of Homeland Security advised individuals to disable Java in their browsers in response to the release of vulnerability information on the web.
“Web exploit packs” have been sold online enabling amateurs to perform numerous malicious tasks on machines on which Java is installed.
Java has since released an update but the warning remains at Homeland Security.
Facebook Security Warning
Avoid clicking any links on emails or messages containing the following subject lines : “Hi baby, please check my Facebook profile,” or “I miss you, check my new photo please”
These links install malware on your system.
Keep Those Receipts !
A new virus has been detected by Seculert on point of sale terminals in the United States, Britain and Canada.
“Dexter” forwards information from debit and credit cards directly to fraudsters who can duplicate cards.
Seculert estimates that hundreds of terminals have been infected, in 40 nations, so it’s best to keep an eye out for odd transactions on your bank statements and credit card bills.
You should also consider enabling email and/or mobile alerts on your accounts, as an extra security measure.
Important Warning : DNSChanger Virus
In November 2011, The FBI charged seven individuals from Estonia who concocted a scheme to redirect internet traffic through their web sites to collect affiliation fees.
Through email attachments and web sites, these individuals infected an unknown amount of computers with a virus that changed the DNS settings of computers, rerouting them to a series of web sites that have since been disabled by the FBI during Operation Ghost Click.
Unfortunately the FBI will cease to operate their clean DSN servers on July 9th and computers that remain infected with the DNSchanger virus will no longer be able to access the internet.
To check whether your computer is infected, you can visit the Canadian DNS OK web site by July 8th. And if you are infected removal instructions are available from the DNS Changer Working Group.
Attention Mac Users : Update ASAP
A Russian web security firm has discovered a Mac Trojan that is disguised as a Adobe Flash update.
When installed this virus enables hackers to access passwords and other information typed into browsers and Skype.
Apple has issued an update in response to the Flashback Trojan on Tuesday. Removal instructions are also available from F-Secure.