Category Archives: Consumer Alerts

2013 AV-Comparatives Security Survey: Great news for AVAST

  Results of the AV-Comparatives 2013 Security Survey (pdf) are in, and once again AVAST leads among consumer preferences. Since AV-Comparatives is an independent testing firm, we always look forward to what they have to say. Here are some highlights:   According to survey respondents, AVAST remains the most widely used antivirus solution worldwide, claiming first […]

The avast! 8 User Interface: A study of change

  Everyone knows that change is not easy. When a decision is difficult, people tend to go with the status quo or choose to do nothing. So when we decided to update the look of Avast for version 8, we first had to get through the challenge of change. One of the most important aspects […]

Netflix Slow Today? Global “Biggest Attack Ever” May Be to Blame

Users experienced widespread delays and outages in Internet service around the world this week after a group called Spamhaus made a new addition to its spam blacklist—a Dutch company called Cyberbunker. Email service providers (like Gmail or Hotmail) use blacklist services like Spamhaus to separate likely spam messages from legitimate mail, and as it turns Read more…

Thwart iForgot Password Reset Flaw

      No Comments on Thwart iForgot Password Reset Flaw

Following the lead of companies like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft, Apple last week announced two-step verification (also known as two-factor authentication) to help customers secure their Apple IDs against hackers. Unfortunately, just a day later, a major new security hole was discovered that affected any customer who had not implemented their new two-step security feature. Read more…

Criminals Prefer Pheasting on Phish Over Spam

Most of us are aware of spam, and while we may think it’s just an annoyance, what’s really dangerous about it is the fact that most spam are phishing attempts. Phishing is when cybercriminals attempt to fraudulently acquire your personal information, such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person or Read more…

PIN numbers need protection too

      No Comments on PIN numbers need protection too

By now, avast! users are aware of the importance of creating strong computer passwords, and guarding their Social Security number like a trained Doberman. But what about the humble four-digit PIN number? Personal identification numbers (PINs) are security features just like passwords. They give access to your mobile phone, credit card, bank account, and numerous […]

Web Advertisers Burned by Bot

      No Comments on Web Advertisers Burned by Bot

Web advertisers got a nasty surprise this week after the discovery of the “Chameleon” botnet, a network of thousands of computers stealing millions of dollars through fake adverts. To-date, researchers have found over 120,000 home PCs infected with Chameleon, and they estimate the bot costs advertisers a whopping $6 million per month. That sounds like Read more…

Are We Witnessing the End of Privacy?

      No Comments on Are We Witnessing the End of Privacy?

Computers collect data; It’s a natural side effect of their operation. Every time you open an Internet browser or log into a website, your computer, smartphone, or tablet, information about you is stored. And as privacy and security expert Bruce Schneier points out, while much of this information is innocuous, it only takes one offensive Read more…