MAAWG outlines best practices for malware removal
Monday, August 3, 2009
A group of web security vendors and ISPs called the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG) has issued a paper aimed at helping the global ISP industry work more closely with consumers to recognize and remove malware infections on end-users' PCs.
The paper details strategies used by some of the largest ISPs worldwide to help smaller network operators work with their users to detect and remove malware.
Malware running on users' computers without their knowledge, also called bots, are responsible for generating up to 90 percent of spam and can be used for identity theft or launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
"Bots are a global affliction and these best practices are an important step in educating the industry on the appropriate processes to help protect consumers," said MAAWG Chairman Michael O'Reirdan.
The report recommends that ISPs scan users' PCs remotely and notify customers of detected malware through email, phone calls and other means. In-browser messages would be among the most effective methods to alert customers, but also can be technically challenging to implement, MAAWG said.
A MAAWG survey released last month found that about one in six web users has attempted to purchase products advertised via spam, while only 20 percent of PC users believe they will ever be infected by malware.
Related News:
Conficker still a threat to web security - 3.18.2010
The Conficker worm was by far the most notorious piece of malware in 2009 for several reasons. Not only did it receive media attention and infect more computers than any other strain, according to Katonda, a business technology website, it reminded web security professionals of bygone days when major epidemics were the norm.
Network security update not responsible for crashes - 2.24.2010
Reports of the so-called "blue screen of death" following the installation of the latest Microsoft security update are the result of malware, not a defect in the update.
Botnets and Chuck Norris take aim at network security - 2.22.2010
Last week, word spread of the Kneber botnet compromising more than 2,000 computers worldwide. With the start of a new week comes more malware attacks plaguing the web community. The so-called "Chuck Norris" botnet is attacking routers and DSL modems by guessing commonly used passwords.
Web security company warns of scareware's risk - 2.19.2010
The rise in scareware attacks and cyber criminal behavior in general forced DynaSis, an IT services company, to issue a warning to its users about the threat of fake anti-virus software infecting their computers on Friday.
Age-old trick with brand-new target - 1.18.2010
Cyber criminals have turned to a scam from the early days of the internet to target the growing smartphone market: Trojan phone dialers.
|
