MS Browser Holes Lead to AIM, Dial-Up Attacks

[MrRant 0]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Security holes in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser have been exploited by hackers to hijack AOL instant messaging (news - web sites) accounts and force unsuspecting Web surfers to run up massive phone bills, computer experts cautioned on Friday.

 

Some Internet Explorer users are also finding that malicious Web sites are secretly slipping trojan programs onto their computers, which could prove an even more dangerous exploit, said Drew Copley, a research engineer at Aliso Viejo, California-based eEye Digital Security, who discovered the original security vulnerability.

 

Such stealth programs can include keystroke loggers that record everything a person types or software to erase the hard drive, among other things, he said.

 

Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) has released a patch for the original hole, which was reported about a month ago, said Stephen Toulouse, security program manager for Microsoft's Security Response Center.

 

The company is looking into what it says are variations of the original hole that have been discovered since then that the patch does not fix, Toulouse said.

 

"We will release a fix for the variations," he said.

 

Security experts are reporting the variations as new security holes, disclosed within the past three weeks and used for different types of attacks, Copley said.

 

Microsoft and eEye Digital Security said they have issued information for temporary workarounds.

 

In general, the attacks are accomplished by leading Internet Explorer users to a malicious Web site, either by sending an e-mail with a link to the Web page or distributing a link through instant messaging, Copley said.

 

When the Web site appears, it downloads code that can execute commands on its own onto the unsuspecting computer user's machine, according to Copley.

 

An attacker has written a program that uses a security hole in Internet Explorer to hijack an already running AOL Instant Messenger account, changes the password and send a message to the buddies list with a link to the malicious Web page, according to postings on the Bugtraq security e-mail list.

 

The Web site the posting listed as stealing the AIM passwords appeared to have been shut down.

 

An AOL Time Warner(NYSE:AOL - news) spokesman said the company was looking into the issue.

 

'PORN DIALER'

 

Another attack is being accomplished by sending computer users to Web sites -- typically porn sites -- that change the computer's dial-up settings to an expensive long-distance phone number without the user knowing it, said Richard Smith, an independent Boston-based security researcher.

 

In the so-called "porn dialer" attack, victims are being charged as much as $5 a minute instead of paying their normal Internet service fee, he said.

 

A third type of attack steers computer users to pay-per-click Web sites, where the spam marketer gets paid each time someone goes to the Web site, Copley said.

 

"These kinds of bugs are really spooky" because they work in the background, undetected by the computer user, he said. "With these kind of holes, a lot of roaches crawl through."

 

Computer users can protect themselves by applying patches, following the workaround instructions or changing their settings in Internet Explorer to prompt them before a Web site downloads programs that can execute on their own, Toulouse said.

 

Also on Friday, anti-virus company Global Hauri of South Korea (news - web sites) warned about a new medium-risk computer worm that spreads through Microsoft Network's MSN Messenger system, attempts to connect to a porn Web site and passes itself around to others in the victim's contact list.

 

Toulouse said Microsoft was looking into the matter.

 

Information about the security holes and how to fix them is at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security.

[Guest I'm That Damn Zzzzz]

Just say no to Shiternet Exploder.

[AndrewTS 0]

Just say no to Shiternet Exploder.

What would you recommend? Nutscrape?

 

Or is there some other better browsers? I'd be interested in hearing about them.

[Guest I'm That Damn Zzzzz]

From the "Things You need on your PC" thread pinned on the top:

 

 

Browsers

 

Mozilla 1.4 - Includes pop-up blocking in the browser itself.

 

Mozilla Firebird - Really cool. Has pop-up blocking AND tabbed browsing. Tabbed browsing owns.

 

Avant Browser - Addon to Internet Explorer and adds pop-up blocking and you can have multiple browser windows. Updated constantly.

 

Opera - Good browser and very fast. There is a free version with a ad banner so if it doesn't bother you then its a good choice as well.

[MrRant 0]

I suggest Mozilla 1.4 (However Firebird rules all but it's not at version 1.0 yet even though the 0.6 version I am using right now is rock solid.)

[Guest Doyo]

mozilla is the way to go. especially if you turn on the popup blocking feature.

it's good to visit 1wrestling.com without seeing any popups.

[Guest Choken One]

why would anyone go there anyways?

[Eclipse 0]

Hmmm....this concerns me big time.

 

 

I think I am gonna change browsers. Out of those browsers posted, which one is the best?

[MrRant 0]

Mozilla 1.4 .

 

However when Firebird reaches 1.0 then that would be my pick. You can try it now of course as well.

[razazteca 0]

Such stealth programs can include keystroke loggers that record everything a person types or software to erase the hard drive, among other things, he said.

I think I had this happen to me as my Kazaa share folder has had some files disappear on me.