malicious software

DrWeb anti-virus software provider compiled a report of the most interesting malware for April. Android OS related viruses turned to be the most popular platform for malicious applications among hackers.

Russian police launched an investigation into a criminal gang that installed malicious "ransomware" programs on thousands of PCs and then forced victims to send SMS messages in order to unlock their PCs. According to local reports that scam may have brought Russian criminals millions of dollars.

Russian police seized computer equipment and detained a Russian "crime family" in connection with the crime. 10 people are expected to be charged. Tens of thousands victims affected by the scam live in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

63% of web users believe it is acceptable for their country to spy on other sates using malware or hacking tools, reports the new study from a security company Sophos. The firm’s 2010 mid-year Security Threat Report shows that 49% of users think denial-of-service (DoS) attack on another country to bring down their financial or communications services is okay during wartime, while seven percent admitted they think it's okay to carry out a DoS attack against another nation at any time.

According to the report of security researchers that attended the Black Hat conference last week China is increasingly getting a leading marketplace for permitted hacking and malware making tools allowing criminal rings to create ‘production chains’ that develop and distribute technologies for producing malicious software.