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Google buys VirusTotal–good especially for BIOS scanning. Bad? Hackers using it to test malware.

By on January 30, 2016 6:44:14 AM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums

DrJBHL

Join Date 04/2002
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Well, Google acquired Motorola…but also VirusTotal.

They also set up a website (currently at VirusTotal) where you can scan files, etc.

The interesting in this is that it can scan the firmware on your computer (think Lenovo, and others), AND they’ve added an important layer of scanning: Your BIOS, which traditional AV software doesn’t scan…which the NSA counted on in spyware they created.

They never think about Darwin though, do they?

So…Brandon Dixon (a security researcher) noticed that several big hacking teams were using VirusTotal to test attacks before launch (hence the Spy vs. Spy graphic). He also noticed two state sponsored operations using it as well. These guys are using VirusTotal as debugging software, and have used it to make old threats dangerous again.

The coolest part of this is that with proper observation and tracking, they can see what changes have been made and how to counteract them, and track the buzzards’ activity.

So…bottom line…be careful where you go, and which emails you open…and use Virusztotal’s online site…it really is free.

A special article about Kaspersky is included…special for Jafo.

Sources:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/07/google-acquires-virustotal/

http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/28/googles-virustotal-can-tell-if-your-firmware-is-infected/

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/02/google-virustotal-used-to-test-hacks/

http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/14/report-kaspersky-developed-malware-to-trip-up-competition/

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January 30, 2016 9:09:25 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I remember those two guys...from somewhere.  So this is a good thing to check on our computers or not? 

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January 30, 2016 9:31:20 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Barb...I'd take advantage of it...

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January 30, 2016 11:19:04 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting teddybearcholla,

I remember those two guys...from somewhere.
Mad Magazine. What, Me worry?

I  also read Cracked....go figger.

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January 30, 2016 3:14:49 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting Wizard1956,

Mad Magazine. What, Me worry?
Yep thems the ones! lol!

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January 31, 2016 1:29:44 PM from Elemental Forums Elemental Forums

i remember seeing a spy vs spy game (apple?) many many years ago. never played it though... i think.

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February 11, 2016 4:12:23 AM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

The thing that worries me is that in all of the efforts to keep everything safe, people seem to just gloss over all of the loss of privacy. We want to stay safe online, so we only visit "secure" https SSL certified sites, and we assume it is all good because the connection between browser and site is secured. But while we focus on that, the smoke screen is that regardless, all of our web history is tracked through our IP address (which if you are curious you can check here: http://www.1and1.co.uk/ip-address). It's really not kept private just because it is supposedly secure. And think of how much information normally people have online: baking info, credit cards, home addresses, our entire lives broadcast via social media; pretty much everything. And once it is out there, it's out there for good. The powers that be can look up our entire lives in a matter of minutes. 

Not that I am paranoid or anything, but I set up for my IP address to change every couple of days. Not because I have anything to hide, but I just prefer to not be an open book to whichever prying eyes might be involved. I also no longer post anything on social media, since that info just gets sold anyway, and I NEVER use an app on my phone to "check in" so that the whole worlds knows exactly where I am at that particular moment. I'm even thinking of getting rid of the smart phone and going back to a dumb version that seems a little less trackable.

OK, so maybe I do come across as paranoid lol. I've just been learning more and more about all of the convenient things that we have in our lives and how unaware we are of how much privacy is becoming an outdated, antiquated notion that is more and more bordering illusion these days.

I say stay out of my computer. You can already track all of my online movements, I am not willing to give you full access to scan my personal computer OFFLINE at whim. And, maybe I am living under the illusion that this is even still a private sphere when probably every computer comes with software built in to scan everything at whim already.

It's all in the name of security (whether personal or national). Has anyone seen Person of Interest. I fear that this show is less of a "this is a future possibility" kind of foreboding show and is actually closer to our lived reality then we would like to admit.     

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