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Week in Geek: uTorrent Server Delivered Malware

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This week we learned how to check if your CPU supports second level address translation (SLAT), speed up Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010, create your own Windows 8 shortcuts, understand those confusing Windows 7 file/share permissions, looked through a roundup of the best Linux home server apps, and more.

Photo by Lord Dane.

Weekly News Links

  • uTorrent server delivered malware for two hours on Tuesday
    The BitTorrent company has confirmed that its uTorrent servers were hacked on Tuesday 13 September and, for almost two hours, anyone downloading the uTorrent client software from the servers received a scareware fake anti-virus package instead.
  • Another online banking trojan for Android
    First, Android mobiles were found to be infected with the ZeuS trojan, and now there are reports that SpyEye has also made the jump to this smartphone platform.
  • Return of the BIOS trojans
    Chinese AV vendor 360 has discovered a virus in the wild that makes its home in a computer’s BIOS, where it remains hidden from conventional virus scanners.
  • Facebook tool helps out stalkers
    Security experts have demonstrated Facebook Pwn, a Java tool which uses social engineering to obtain personal details of Facebook users that are not publicly accessible.
  • Hundreds of Go Daddy-hosted sites compromised
    Hundreds of Web sites hosted by Go Daddy were found to be compromised this week and were redirecting visitors who’d arrived at the sites from search engines to a site with malware on it.
  • Some Linux Foundation crack attack details emerge
    A well-maintained secure operating system, like Linux, can be safe. But, that doesn’t mean that a Website built on top of it is necessarily safe. The Linux Foundation has found out the hard way.
  • Italian researcher finds more SCADA holes
    An Italian researcher has uncovered at least a dozen security flaws in software used in utilities and other critical infrastructure systems, prompting security advisories from the U.S. government.
  • Comodohacker: I can issue fake Windows updates
    Following his recent attack against Dutch security company DigiNotar, the hacker known as Comodohacker is now threatening to exploit Microsoft’s Windows Update service.
  • Stock exchanges face threats despite stronger security
    The function of stock exchanges as a “meeting place” and the need to be time-sensitive make them vulnerable to security threats, despite their more stringent security infrastructure compared to banks, note security insiders, who say exchanges need to adopt a comprehensive security strategy to prevent breaches.
  • Sony: Sign new PSN terms or you’re banned
    Use of Sony’s online services, including the PlayStation Network (PSN), which was hacked to pieces a few months ago when digital thieves made off with millions of users’ personal information, is now subject to terms and conditions that see you waiving your rights to collectively sue the company for any reason, including future security breaches.
  • Symantec claims cybercrime losses on a par with drugs trade revenues
    According to Symantec’s latest Cybercrime Report 2011, the UK has suffered losses totaling £1.115 billion ($1.762 billion) over the last twelve months as a result of internet criminality. Globally, it estimates losses at £72 billion ($114 billion), rising to £246 billion ($388 billion) if lost working hours are factored in.
  • Windows 8 to offer built-in malware protection
    Microsoft is including a beefier version of its malware protection in Windows 8. The company is tweaking its Windows Defender tool, which has been part of the last few versions of Windows, by essentially adding some of the more robust features from its free Security Essentials product.
  • Microsoft Office likely to get the Metro treatment
    Windows president Steven Sinofsky reiterated what we already knew: Windows 8 PCs and tablets running on ARM chips won’t be able to load applications originally built for Intel-based computers. While this is no surprise, Microsoft did also say that applications using the Windows 8 Metro interface will be easily ported to ARM platforms and that Microsoft Office will likely be given the Metro treatment.
  • EU determining if Google abusing search dominance
    Regulators in the European Union are evaluating whether Google is a dominant force in search and, if so, whether the company is abusing its position.
  • Andreessen, others reportedly interested in Yahoo
    Looks like someone may actually still want to buy Yahoo. Several parties, including Marc Andreessen’s venture capital firm, have been in touch with Yahoo to discuss acquiring all or part of the troubled media company, according to a report by All Things Digital.

Random TinyHacker Links

Super User Questions

If you have questions, then Super User has the answers you need. This week we have lots of extra questions all focused on Windows 8.

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Catch up with all of this week’s excitement with our hottest HTG Main posts of the week.

Geeky Goodness from the ETC Side

Add some fun to your weekend reading with our most popular ETC posts of the week.

One Year Ago on How-To Geek

Have fun on your computer this weekend with these terrific articles from one year ago.

How-To Geek Comics Weekly Roundup

Comments (2)

  1. September 18, 2011
    xana452

    Wait wait stop… Doesn’t the Windows 8 with the antivirus built in break a monopoly law or something like that? Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think it does.

  2. September 19, 2011
    Lelouch

    @xana452 MSE is inbuilt with the Windows Bitdefender. So in a sense it’s in OS level and not a separate program. If users don’t like it they can install their own. So I don’t think that it’s monopoly. (I mean come on, everyone is complaining on security in Windows)

Akemi Iwaya (Asian Angel) is our very own Firefox Fangirl who enjoys working with multiple browsers and loves 'old school' role-playing games. Visit her on Twitter and .

  • Published 09/18/11

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