Just when we all thought CoolWebSearch was a thing of the past, it rears up to trouble the victim with pop-ups, browser hijacking, and scraping up personal data. Getting rid of it and its ilk is the first task. Keeping them from returning is the second.

CoolWebSearch first began spying on Windows users in 2003. Not too long after, InterMute Software (now part of TrendMicro), released CWShredder, a freeware antispyware utility bent on destroying CoolWebSearch and known variants from your PC. Start there.

Hopefully the infiltrating malware isn't crafty enough to disable your Internet connection or new downloads. If it is, downloading the file on an uninfected computer and transferring it through flash memory or a CD to the besieged computer might work. If the executable installs but isn't able to run, rebooting in Safe Mode--by repeatedly punching the F8 key and selecting "Safe Mode"--should succeed.

Posted by Annette King in Adware, Spyware and Trojans at 15:13

Apple has released a new Windows version of Safari that patches four vulnerabilities, including one that had Microsoft telling its customers to not use the browser.

Earlier this month, Microsoft warned users about a "blended threat in which the Safari flaws coupled with an unpatched Internet Explorer bug could enable hackers to run unauthorized software on a victim's computer. To address that, Safari version 3.1.2 prevents files from automatically downloading on the Windows desktop; instead, files will go the Downloads folder on Windows Vista and to the Documents folder on XP. In addition, users will be prompted prior to saving a download.

These fixes are also designed to prevent "carpet bomb" attacks, which could litter the Windows desktop with malware files by taking advantage of a design flaw in Safari. For its part, Microsoft has not patched the IE bug.

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Posted by Annette King in Adware, Spyware and Trojans at 10:17