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Worry Watch -- Microsoft security steps up
Saturday, February 11, 2006

With the introduction of Windows OneCare Live, Microsoft is eliminating the need to purchase separate security software for every computer. OneCare provides maintenance, virus scanning, firewall protection and file backups for Windows computers.

 
 

WEEKLY REPORTS

Solutions, Prevention & Remedies

Top 10 Threats

   
 

In June, the company will begin charging $49.95 annually for the service. If you sign up for the beta test (currently free), then purchase the full service during April, you'll only pay $19.95 annually. In both cases, your subscription will cover up to three different Windows PCs.

Some experts believe this low price may force other leading Anti-virus companies to adjust policies to match the OneCare licensing terms. Most vendors, including Symantec and McAfee only allow you to protect a single system per subscription. Trend Micro offers a comparable 3-PC licensing agreement but at almost twice the Windows cost, clocking in at $89.99.

Microsoft hopes that by eliminating the hassle of applying multiple different subscriptions to multiple household computers, more people will have the patience to install protection for all their PCs.


Worry Watch Plus Online only:

Information, Protection and Prevention -- More About Windows Onecare Live and other subscriptions
Windows Onecare Live

Windows Onecare Live Blog

Trend Micro

Symantec

McAfee

PandaSoftware


Latest Security Updates:

Anti-Spyware Product

Latest update

Download Sites

Ad-Aware SE

SE1R91 08..02.2006 (Definitions updated February 8, 2006)

download

Spybot Search and Destroy

Version 1.4 Update 2006-02-03 (Definitions updated February 3, 2006)

download

Go back

* Reading: Solutions, Prevention & Remedies
Additional summary information related to a specific type of solution or prevention that you should be considering. Depending upon the week, this section may have:
• Recent Windows security releases from Microsoft
• Recent updates to widely used anti-spyware programs
• Recent updates to widely used anti-virus programs
• Recent updates to other security programs & devices (ex: Firewalls, routers)
• Recent updates to various applications in wide use


Top 10 Threats:

Name

Type

Affects

Alert Level

Sdbot.ftp

Worm

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP

Low

Netsky.P

 

Worm

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP*

Medium

Bagle.GS

Worm

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP*

Low

Tearec.A

Worm

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP

Medium

Metafile

Trojan

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP*

Low

Sober.AH  

Worm

Windows 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP

Low

Parite.B   

Virus

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP*

Low

Banker.BYJ

Trojan

Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, NT, XP*

Low

Gaobot.gen 

Worm

Windows 2000, NT, XP*

Low

Qhost.gen

Trojan

Windows 2000, NT, XP*

Low

Go back

Read: Top Threats
These are viruses that are currently on the watch lists of major anti-virus software companies.

Name
What the threat is called. We use the name given each virus by Panda Software. Sometimes other anti-virus companies give the same threat a different name. Usually they use similar names.

Type
There are different characteristics associated with different types of threats.
• Virus - has the ability to replicate or infect computers or other programs
• Trojan Horse (or Trojan) - appear to be harmless programs when you get them. They unleash their payload when you double-click, open, or execute them.
• Phishing - a Web site or e-maill message posing as another company - usually one you know to fool you into giving the sender personal information.
• Worm - self replicates onto additional disks, computers or networks
• Spyware - installs on your system to collect information about your activity, preferences or interests
• Hoax - false messages sent by e-maill to mislead the recipient
• Backdoors - opens a security hole that allows outsiders to take control of your computer
• Dialer - uses your telephone to dial an outside number - sometimes a number that costs you money when dialed

Affects
Not all viruses affect all types of systems. Some, for example may affect only Windows 98 and 95, but not Windows XP or NT. Others affect all Windows systems, but not Macintosh. In this column, we show you the consumer systems that the threat is known to affect. We don't always include the servers that operate in your company's backroom.

Alert level
The level of awareness that anti-virus vendors suggest you need to have for each threat listed.
For each threat listed, we'll post a corresponding link here, so you can get more information to help you recognize, diagnose, prevent, and repair the problem.

First published on February 11, 2006 at 12:00 am
Worry Watch is compiled by David Radin & Jes Scherder using data and reports from Microsoft, CERT, Panda, and other sources. To contact the compilers of Worry Watch, go to http://www.megabyteminute.com/contactdavid.html.