Category Archives: Malware
← Older posts“Wanna Cry” Ransomware Warning
A dangerous form of malware is circulating across the globe in the form of a PDF email attachment. Users who open the attachment are exposed to the “Wanna Cry” ransomware, which encrypts all the files on the target computer. Wanna … Continue reading
Posted in Malware, Phishing | Tagged malware, phishing, ransomware, security advisory
What Is Spyware?
What is spyware? Spyware is loosely defined as a type of malicious software, also known as malware, that runs in the background of a computer, collecting private information and transmitting it to a third party without the user’s knowledge. How does spyware … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Malware | Tagged adware, malware, security terms, spyware
What Is Malware?
What is malware? Malware – a contraction of “malicious software” – is just that: hostile software designed to infiltrate a device without the owner’s knowledge, often with damaging effects. Malware can take many forms, including spyware, which monitors your system and steals sensitive … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Malware | Tagged malware, security terms
Millions of Twitter Accounts Locked Following Data Breach
A hacker with ties to the recent LinkedIn, MySpace, and Tumblr data breaches now claims to have gained access to Twitter’s account database. The hacker has allegedly posted the account information of 32 million Twitter users for sale online. According to Twitter, the data breach … Continue reading
Posted in Malware, Security Breach, Social Networking | Tagged malware, password security, social networking, twitter
Yes, You Do Need Antivirus for Your Mac
Are you a person who thinks that Macs don’t get viruses, so you don’t need to worry about installing antivirus software on your computer? If so, you should realize that malware for the Mac is on the rise thanks to … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Malware |
Malware spam with subject “Invoice”
Many people received the following email. The original malicious payload was replaced with the file “Replacement.txt” but the message was still delivered instead of quarantined. We are working with the department that runs the originating email server to resolve this … Continue reading
Posted in Malware |
FBI Issued Warning – Destructive “Wiper” Malware
The FBI released a warning to a wide range of companies that a U.S. business had experienced a malicious software that wipes data from every hard drive it touches. This malware (some refer to as “wiper”) overwrites computers beyond the point … Continue reading
Posted in Malware |
Fake UPS/FedEx/DHL email
Every year around this time, we see a significant increase in the volume of fake email claiming to be from UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. Please examine these messages carefully before opening/saving an attachment or clicking on a link. The attachments … Continue reading
Posted in Hoaxes, Malware, Phishing | Tagged fake email, fedex, ups
Recognizing Malicious Pop-Up Windows
Some users have reported encountering pop-up windows similar to those below while online. Note that this is not limited to browsing while on the USC networks. This may occur through any connection to the Internet, including home and public wireless … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Malware |
Staying Safe Online for Consumers
The booklet below, prepared by the ITS Information Security Office, contains important safety tips for browsing and shopping online. Staying Safe Online For Consumers [PDF]
Posted in E-Commerce, Education, Malware |