New risk threatens Internet cafe denizens research

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The Star Online > Technology

Published: Monday May 24, 2010 MYT 10:12:00 AM
Updated: Monday May 24, 2010 MYT 10:45:56 AM


New risk threatens Internet cafe denizens: research


BE WARY: Internet users are at risk of a new, more insidious type of
adware, say Canadian researchers. — AP
SAN FRANCISCO: Canadian university researchers have warned of a new
strain of advertising software that can sneak onto laptop computers
linked to wireless networks at Internet cafes.

University of Calgary computer science researchers have branded the
potentially infectious ad software “Typhoid adware” for its ability to
spread in public through unsuspecting laptop users.

“We’re looking at a different variant of adware which we haven’t seen
out there yet but we believe could be a threat soon,” said associate
professor John Aycock, who co-authored a Typhoid research paper.

Adware is software typically sneaked onto people’s computers when they
download booby-trapped files such as screensavers or browser tool
bars.

Once on machines, the programs barrage users with pop-up advertisements.

“Typhoid adware is designed for public places where people bring their
laptops,” says Aycock. “It’s far more covert, displaying
advertisements on computers that don’t have the adware installed, not
the ones that do.”

A “carrier” laptop infected with Typhoid inserts advertisements in
videos or webpages on other computers using hotspots, according to the
research.

“Not only are ads annoying but they can also advertise rogue antivirus
software that’s harmful to your computer, so ads are in some sense the
tip of the iceberg,” Aycock said.

Rogue antivirus software is used to con people into paying to fix
computer problems that don’t exist, steal identity information, and
infect machines with malicious programs.

Internet cafe Web surfers can protect themselves by making certain
online videos being watched are from the original sources and
adjusting computer settings to be more wary of contact from other
computers, researchers said. — AFP/Relaxnews



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