Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

(credit: Patrick Wardle ) Hackers compromised a download server for a popular DVD-ripping software named HandBrake and used it to push stealthy malware that stole victims’ password keychains, password vaults, and possibly the master credentials that decrypted them, security researchers said Monday. Over a four-day period ending Saturday, a download mirror located at download.handbrake.fr delivered a version of the video conversion software that contained a backdoor known as Proton, HandBrake developers warned over the weekend . At the time that the malware was being distributed to unsuspecting Mac users, none of the 55 most widely used antivirus services detected it. That’s according to researcher Patrick Wardle , who reported results here and here from the VirusTotal file-scanning service. When the malicious download was opened, it directed users to enter their Mac administer password, which was then uploaded in plain text to a server controlled by the attackers. Once installed, the malware sent a variety of sensitive user files to the same server. In a blog post published Monday morning , Thomas Reed, director of Mac offerings at antivirus provider Malwarebytes, wrote: Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

(credit: Patrick Wardle ) Hackers compromised a download server for a popular DVD-ripping software named HandBrake and used it to push stealthy malware that stole victims’ password keychains, password vaults, and possibly the master credentials that decrypted them, security researchers said Monday. Over a four-day period ending Saturday, a download mirror located at download.handbrake.fr delivered a version of the video conversion software that contained a backdoor known as Proton, HandBrake developers warned over the weekend . At the time that the malware was being distributed to unsuspecting Mac users, none of the 55 most widely used antivirus services detected it. That’s according to researcher Patrick Wardle , who reported results here and here from the VirusTotal file-scanning service. When the malicious download was opened, it directed users to enter their Mac administer password, which was then uploaded in plain text to a server controlled by the attackers. Once installed, the malware sent a variety of sensitive user files to the same server. In a blog post published Monday morning , Thomas Reed, director of Mac offerings at antivirus provider Malwarebytes, wrote: Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

(credit: Patrick Wardle ) Hackers compromised a download server for a popular DVD-ripping software named HandBrake and used it to push stealthy malware that stole victims’ password keychains, password vaults, and possibly the master credentials that decrypted them, security researchers said Monday. Over a four-day period ending Saturday, a download mirror located at download.handbrake.fr delivered a version of the video conversion software that contained a backdoor known as Proton, HandBrake developers warned over the weekend . At the time that the malware was being distributed to unsuspecting Mac users, none of the 55 most widely used antivirus services detected it. That’s according to researcher Patrick Wardle , who reported results here and here from the VirusTotal file-scanning service. When the malicious download was opened, it directed users to enter their Mac administer password, which was then uploaded in plain text to a server controlled by the attackers. Once installed, the malware sent a variety of sensitive user files to the same server. In a blog post published Monday morning , Thomas Reed, director of Mac offerings at antivirus provider Malwarebytes, wrote: Read 5 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Mac users installing popular DVD ripper get nasty backdoor instead

Makers of uncrackable ransomware hand over the key

The creators of a virus that forces users to pay to recover their own files seem to have turned over a new leaf. Security researchers at ESET are reporting that TeslaCrypt’s developers posted the master encryption key, enabling ESET to develop a free fix. According to the firm, the creators of the virus were “wrapping up” their activities, and when a researcher asked for the master key, it was simply handed over. ESET has subsequently been able to produce a decryption tool (available here ) that’ll enable anyone affected to get their files back. ESET has gone to great pains to point out that ransomware is still one of the largest threats to people’s data online. It advises that everyone should keep their operating system updated and use a good anti-virus, as well as making regular backups of anything they wouldn’t want to lose. There’s also the question as to why TeslaCrypt’s developers were so willing to hand over the keys, but let’s hope that they decided to do the right thing. The alternative is just too horrible to contemplate. Via: Bleeping Computer Source: ESET

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Makers of uncrackable ransomware hand over the key

The White House Is Redirecting $598 Million From The Fight Against Ebola To Combat Zika

A blood-engorged female Aedes albopictus mosquito feeding on a human host. Photo James Gathany With summer approaching, the risk of a surge in cases of the Zika virus has become a major concern for US officials, and the White House has announced that they would be redirecting money earmarked for Ebola to efforts combatting Zika. Read more…

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The White House Is Redirecting $598 Million From The Fight Against Ebola To Combat Zika

A Virus Has Forced an Entire Hospital Chain to Shut Down Its Computers

Hackers and hospital computers are a bad mix , as a string of attacks has been proving. The latest victim is MedStar Health, a company that operates a chain of hospitals around the Baltimore and Washington area. Read more…

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A Virus Has Forced an Entire Hospital Chain to Shut Down Its Computers

Rare Civil War-Era Shipwreck Discovered off the Coast of North Carolina

Marine archaeologists have discovered a large iron-hulled steamer near North Carolina’s Oak Island. The decaying wreck has yet to be identified, but it’s the first Civil War-era vessel to be discovered in the region in decades. Read more…

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Rare Civil War-Era Shipwreck Discovered off the Coast of North Carolina

The next Windows 10 update is all about Cortana

Cortana has learned three languages in the latest Windows 10 update, which is available today for Insider members in the program’s Fast ring. Cortana now supports Spanish (Mexico), Portuguese (Brazil) and French (Canada) languages, each with its own specialized flair. “Cortana is fond of pasteis which is a common food found in many regions across Brazil, ” Microsoft’s blog post reads. “And in Mexico, we added local flavor to reflect the accent and language of the country.” In today’s preview build, users can also set simple reminders with Cortana, including events that don’t have due dates. It’s possible to return to these reminders later to set specific parameters. In future updates, Cortana “will be able to retrieve these upon request, just like a real personal assistant would, ” the Windows team promises. Microsoft is also updating the Lock and logon screens — they’ll now have the same background (the one chosen for the Lock screen). The company is also working to streamline the transition between the Lock and logon screens. The latest update squashes a few bugs, including a glitch where Cortana showed reminders for events that were already completed. Some PCs bluescreened after downloading certain drivers from Windows Update, but this build should take care of that problem. Additionally, all Windows Insiders will now receive Windows 10 firmware updates automatically as they become available. Source: Windows

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The next Windows 10 update is all about Cortana

This Net-Firing Cannon Can Take Down a Drone Without Destroying It

Behold SkyWall100 , the latest in a string of new tools to neutralize problematic drones. This shoulder-mounted cannon can capture a drone with a net—and then land it safely with a parachute. Read more…

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This Net-Firing Cannon Can Take Down a Drone Without Destroying It