Avast Security News

What do you want from your browser? These days, we all spend more time online than ever before, so it’s not a bad idea to take a closer look at the tools we use to surf the web. In today’s digital world of large-scale cybercrime, weekly ransomware attacks, and nonstop phishing, it’s time to upgrade these magic windows to the web with some more relevant and timely features. That’s why we created Avast Secure Browser — everything you need to surf online safely in this new and sophisticated technological age.

Data breach #1: Ticketmaster UK On Wednesday, Ticketmaster UK alerted customers their data may have been stolen due to malware found in one of its customer support products. The infected product, hosted by third-party supplier Inbenta Technologies, was disabled as soon as the malware was discovered, reports Ticketmaster UK in their official statement.

Cyberthreats and attacks have been a negative side effect of our computer age for more than three decades. The first viruses or worms were less harmful, designed to slow a system down or annoy other users. Some even say the first viruses were designed as practical jokes. In 1986, the first malicious virus was discovered. The Brain virus, one of the earliest forms of ransomware (though its creators would remove it for free), went worldwide over a short period of time.

SamSam ransomware is back with a surprising addition The ransomware strain that locked up the city of Atlanta in March of this year has returned, cybersecurity experts report, but with one mysterious addition. This new variant of the most infamous ransomware in the world requires input from the attackers themselves in order to fully execute. In a 5-step process, the fifth step necessitates a password to be entered from the ransomers. Some experts speculate this new measure has been put in place to lock out researchers from examining the intricacies of the malware, in case they find a working version. Others speculate this strain was developed for more nefarious purposes than simply making money, as it allows cybercriminals to handpick their individual victims.

UPDATE June 18th: US consumers who practice poor router security are at high risk from cyberattacks designed to take over their connected devices, steal passwords and gather other sensitive personal information. Half of people surveyed (51%) in the US by Avast, the global leader in digital security, have never even logged into their router’s web administration interface to change the factory login credentials. And, 72% have never updated their firmware. Given the vulnerabilities users face with VPNFilter, it is highly recommended to update your router firmware and change your router admin password. See the article below for the full story. UPDATE June 6th: Many more devices are affected by VPNFilter than originally thought. Ars Technica estimates that over 200,000 additional models may be affected. Click here for the full list of routers. The FBI recently issued an immediate call-to-action for every small office and homeowner out there: power cycle (reboot) your router ASAP. The malw..