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More than 6 months ago we saw a new fast emerging security threat: fake security software. The sellers of these systems scare Internet users by running a "scan" looking for security problems, and reporting false evidence of viruses, spyware and illegal pornography. The unaware user is then led to a page where he or she needs to buy a license of the bogus software to remove the non-existing problems.

We are are delighted to see that the the US government has moved to shut down sellers of fake security software. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has won a restraining order that stops several sellers of "scareware" from continuing to trade.

Millions of people are thought to have been caught out by these fake security products: WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus - familiar names to active WOT members. Read the full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7779223.stm

We are celebrating two million downloads with a Fantastically Creative WOT logo contest. Create an original logo for WOT in the Google style, and you could win a $100 gift card from Amazon.com.
 
You have seen the clever and cute Google logos. They use their original logo and build a story around it using the season of the year, an event, birthday or even a good idea.
 
For this contest, be inspired by Google, but don't copy one of their designs. Use the WOT logo and design your own story. Our jury of esteemed judges will choose the best one and the lucky winner will have 100 bucks to spend on anything you like!
 
Fantastically Creative WOT logo contest rules

1. The contest is open to all registered WOT users.
2. Respond to this posting with your entry. You can use the image tag to add it here, or send us a link to see it.
3. Submit the link to your entry by midnight December 31, 2008 to the comments section of this blog. By participating in the Fantastically Creative WOT logo contest , you give us permission to use the material in our marketing efforts.
4. The WOT panel will select one winner who will receive a US $100 gift card from Amazon.com. Winners will be announced on our blog and notified by email no later than January 9, 2009.

Google developers have started to make good on their promise of adding extensions to their Chrome browser.They have some catching up to do, but they have jump-started their work on extension support for Chrome by releasing a document that outlines a plan. Among the initial add-ons they want to support is WOT!

According to the document, the Chrome extension system will have to be open, 'webby', rich, general, stable, secure and maintainable and offer support for five types of extensions:

• Bookmarking/navigation tools: Delicious Toolbar, Stumbleupon, web-based history, new tab page clipboard accelerators
• Content enhancements: Skype extension (clickable phone numbers), RealPlayer extension (save video), Autolink (generic microformat data - addresses, phone numbers, etc.)
• Content filtering: Adblock, Flashblock, Privacy control, Parental control
• Download helpers: video helpers, download accelerators, DownThemAll, FlashGot
• Features: ForecastFox, FoxyTunes, Web Of Trust, GooglePreview, BugMeNot

Could it be a redo of Firefox, and to some extent Internet Explorer? (Yes, they also have add-ons for IE. What? You didn't know?! Imagine that...) With no timeline for delivery, we'll just have to sit back and wait. It will be hard, but we're sure it will be worth it!

Read the press release

As the holidays approach,  be on alert for increased phishing attempts by Scrooges who attempt to infect your machine or steal your personal information.

Infected Christmas greetings

Websense Security Labs has issued a warning of an e-greetings campaign which sends you an animated greeting card that actually leads to a Trojan backdoor enabling access and control over the resources of your compromised machine. The spoofed email messages appear as though they have been sent from postcards.org.  A URL link within the email leads to a malicious file called postcard.exe.

TIP: Suspect a scam if  the greeting card doesn't address you by name or the card sender's name isn't included in the body of the email. Never open a card from a generic name or someone you don't know. If the card requires that you install a special viewer or tries to download a file to your system, treat it like a trojan. Cancel the download and scan your system with up to date antivirus software. Don't reply using the email you received - the From address just might be bogus.

Spoofed package delivery notifications

Be on the lookout for phony FedEx and UPS e-mails describing a package delivery waiting for you. The fake emails have been reported to contain a trojan that disables firewalls, steals sensitive financial data (credit card numbers, online banking login details), makes screen snapshots, downloads additional components and provides a hacker with remote access to the compromised system.

TIP: Large companies like UPS don’t send you an executable in a zip file and rarely include attachments. FedEx and UPS tracking is done online on their website. 

Holiday screensavers and games

Parents should be especially careful as many kids are home from school and busily downloading lots of Santa screen savers, holiday puzzles and games or reindeer ringtones. Many free screensavers, at a minimum, cause unwanted pop up advertising.

TIP:Check the WOT ratings on screensaver and game sites.

Experts in cyber-intelligence and Internet security have predicted a significant increase in phishing attacks over the Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally the busiest of the holiday shopping season.

Last year, Internet intelligence gathering companies reported a significant spike in phishing threats and malicious URLs between October and December, with the most detected around the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. These scams are typically used to trick shoppers into giving their debit or credit card numbers, or to download malware.

Before you shop online, be sure to consult the WOT ratings and scorecards to help you determine if a site is trustworthy. Please rate sites yourself too, and let everyone know about your experiences with online vendors.

Or maybe just watch some football and eat leftover turkey...