29DEC
Beware the Holy Taco
If you like to have drive by downloads installing malware on your computer, by all means, visit holytaco.com. But if you like a clean, well-running system, stay away.
I like my humor. After a long day of dealing with digital destruction, I like to unwind with some laughs. I've been frequenting the site above for quite awhile, and received these alerts every now and again. I've even sent messages to the webmaster. But still, the problem seems to be building.
So I, for one, won't be going there any longer. Maybe if enough people stop going there, and they see the numbers drop, they'll do something about it.
Just for informational purposes, below is some background on the type of thing that is going on.
Any time a file is downloaded to your computer without your knowledge or permission, it is considered a drive by download.
Exploiting weaknesses in web browsers, operating systems, and email clients, drive by downloads work their way into as many systems as they can, wreaking all sorts of intended and unintended harm. For even if a drive-by download is disseminated as a "harmless tool", for example, it can still put a burden on your hard drive, slow down and in other ways interfere with efficient computer operations, change your personal settings and preferences, and replace default applications (among other misdeeds). In the worst of cases, a drive by download can even be responsible for erasing data and freezing or crashing a computer.
There are 3 primary ways that a person can expose their computer to a drive-by download:
- visiting a website
- clicking on a pop-up window
- opening an email
Since each of these possibilities are actions taken by the user, the purveyor of a drive-by download can make the claim that the user "requested" the download, or at the very least, "gave permission" for it to occur.
One particularly sneaky drive by download tactic, in fact, prompts the user to click "OK" to accept the download before it occurs.
One of your first lines of defense is to consistently and promptly install all those routinely updated security patches, service packs and software updates issued by your OS, browser of choice, and most frequently used applications.
Additionally, installing and keeping active one or more firewalls on your system can go a long way towards obstructing unwanted downloads.
Posted On 2009-12-29 by FortyPoundHead
Keywords: Malware Drive by installation 2010
Tags: Malware and Phishing Security Tip Windows
Views: 1444
Comments On This Post
No comments on this post yet!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
