Lavasoft News - August 2007


This month’s Lavasoft News is all about a safer environment. We’re bringing you the latest news on securing your computing environment from online threats, but we’re also focusing on how we can all do our part to make sure that the technology-centered world we live in leaves a less harmful impact on our surroundings. Find out about the negative effects of technology growth on the environment, and how you can do your part in cleaning up the mounting waste problems brought on by our digital lives. Don’t miss the scoop on the Lavasoft tree planting challenge in our “Green Computing” article. Also in this issue, stay up-to-date on spyware and malware news with a threat forecast from the experts at Lavasoft, an update on a Vista compatible version of Ad-Aware 2007, and a look at what the “Operation Bot Roast” botnet clean-up project means for the future. Read a few of last month’s Letters to the Editor. If you want to comment on an article you see in LN or have an idea for a story, write to editor@lavasoft.com. Green Computing and the Lavasoft Challenge As computers become intertwined with our daily lives, the negative environmental impact of our reliance on gadgets is rising. Get eco-friendly computing tips you can put to use today, and find out how Lavasoft is challenging you to help make a difference. Read more Spyware and Malware Threats Forecast What are the latest Internet security threats and what does Lavasoft expect to see in the coming months? Find out what to look out for now and in the future. Read more Transitioning to Windows Vista Read the latest news on the migration to Microsoft’s Vista operating system and how Lavasoft is responding to our users’ needs with a Vista compatible version of Ad-Aware 2007. Read more U.S. Steps Up Fight Against Botnets and Spam Law enforcement officials throughout the world are taking notice of the growing threats posed by cyber crime groups. A national initiative and ongoing investigations in the U.S. aim to disrupt the Internet’s large-scale botnet problems, along with a renewed vow to clean up spam activities. Read more The Most Famous (or Infamous) Viruses and Worms of All Time eWeek Take a look back with eWeek’s slideshow of the most notorious viruses and worms ever seen. Read more Security Shorts Lavasoft News has compiled a list of "security shorts" - summaries of other online security stories making news around the world this past month. Read more New Targets in Detection (July 2007) Protect your privacy with a complete list of new targets for July 2007. Read more Lavasoft Blog If you want to go behind the walls of Lavasoft, hear what we are up to, what we are thinking and what is happening in the industry, the Lavasoft Company Blog is the place to go for regular, up-to-date information. Read more Lavasoft Personal Firewall Review It is clear more than ever before that having a first-rate firewall in addition to anti-spyware and anti-virus software is the ideal way for computer users to keep sensitive information safe. A recent review of Lavasoft’s Personal Firewall earned the software a top place in an analysis of over 35 personal firewall products. Read more To get all news on one, printable page, click here Home		Stats The global IT industry accounts for 2 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions - the same amount produced by the world's aviation industry, Gartner statistics show. Over the next 5 years, technology companies will be met with growing financial, environmental and legislative pressure to become more environmentally sustainable, according to a Gartner analyst. Source: CNET News.com Term of the Month A bot herder is a hacker who installs malicious software on a PC without the knowledge of the computer user, with the ultimate goal of controlling thousands of compromised machines. Once hackers install their software, they are capable of controlling the infected computers remotely. After they have compromised enough computers, bot herders have a robot network, or botnet, under their command. Source: www.fbi.gov Tech Tips How can you help fight the botnet battle, and make sure that your PC does not end up under a bot herder’s control? Contributing to the problem is the large number of home users whose computers do not have adequate protection and are easy prey for botnet operators. It is critical that home users install up-to-date firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, in addition to being cautious when going online. If you have been a victim of cyber crime, you can also file a complaint online through the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Helpful Homepages Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste problems. So before you buy that new PC, think about what to do with the old one. Visit www.computertakeback.com or www.earth911.org to find out more about recycling your electronics. The Computer TakeBack Campaign focuses on requiring consumer electronics manufacturers to take responsibility for the life cycle of their products, while Earth 911 offers community-specific environmental information for consumers looking to live more responsibly. Lavasoft AB Lilla Bommen 1 411 04 Gothenburg Sweden www.lavasoft.com editor@lavasoft.com