Threat Check

What types of threats have been plaguing computer users this past month? Take a look, below, at the top threats creating a buzz among Ad-Aware users in the Lavasoft Support Forums.

1. Win32.TrojanDownloader.Agent
Win32.TrojanDownloader.Agent is a generic family for Trojans that download additional families on an infected system. A Trojan is a program that appears to do one thing but actually does another.

2. Win32.Trojan.Bho
Win32.Trojan.Bho is a family for Trojans that utilize Internet Explorer (or Explorer) in order to perform the actions that the malware creator designed them for. The Trojan installs itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO).

3. Virtumonde
Virtumonde, also known as Vundo, is a type of malware/adware that often requires special help, or tools, to remove. It hooks itself into the system and then displays pop-ups. It has also been seen, though not as commonly, popping-up fake alerts for rogue anti-spyware.

4. Win32.Backdoor.Vb
Win32.Backdoor.Vb is a generic family for backdoors that are written in Microsoft Visual Basic. Win32.Backdoor.Vb is able to open up a backdoor on a compromised computer, allowing remote access and control of the victim's machine.

5. Win32.Trojanspy.Banker
Win32.Trojanspy.Banker is a type of password stealer that targets bank accounts. A banker Trojan like this could target a single bank or up to thousands, making behavior different among the varying types.

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Have a question about one of these threats? Need guidance on how to rid your computer of spyware and malware? Take advantage of free support from our worldwide volunteer security network at the Lavasoft Support Forums.