Top 5 Optimizers technical rumors

As more and more people are using Google Chrome and its functionalities to browse the net and to organize information, cybercriminals are setting their minds on exploiting this environment to spread malware and steal users’ information. The story is simple: Google Chrome users receive an unsolicited e-mail which announces that a new extension of their favorite browser has been developed to facilitate their access to documents from e-mails. An apparently unsuspicious link is provided, and the recipients are advised to follow it in order to download the new extension. Once they click the link, they are redirected to a look-alike of the Google Chrome Extensions page, which, instead of the promised extension, provides them with a fake application that infects their systems with malware. Although the sham application has the same description as that of an original Google Chrome Extension, the first sign the more inquisitive users will get about it not being what they were looking for should be the fact that instead of the expected “.crx” extension, it features a flamboyant “.exe” tail. Identified as Trojan.Agent.20577 the application modifies the Windows HOSTS file in an attempt to block access to Google and Yahoo webpages. Every time users want to access them and write “google.[xxx]” or “[xx].search.yahoo.com” in the web browser, they will be redirected to another IP: 89.149.xxx.xxx . This allows the malware creators to intercept the victims’ calls to reach the respective sites. In this way, the credulous users will be redirected to the cybercriminals’ own malware-laden versions of those sites.

Google has realeases a new version of its Chrome browser for Macintosh useres as competition for Safari Apple offers owners of its machines. Late last year Google released a web browser for personal computer running on Windows making a rival for its own Internet Explorer. The Macintosh version is still in beta version and doesn’t yet include customization features. Google has also released a version of its browser for open-source Linux operating system covering all three most popular OS in the world.

Some of the early printscreens of Chrome OS have been leaked, and from this info we can see that it is really basic and lightweight, perfectly suiting netbooks and laptops. Should these news have any influence on Windows 7? We think they do, since PC manufacturers tend to rely more on low-cost OS to keep the prices of budget devices down (many are already using Linux for example). The direct result as we see it is the Windows 7 Starters Edition to counter this possible threat. We will try to monitor the events on this subject and keep you informed.