For those wondering if they need the best internet security software when surfing, they should read the latest study from Norton.

The Norton range of anti-virus products is developed by the Symantec company and their latest study will no doubt convince the most sceptical of computer users that they require protection by using the best internet security software out there. Cybercrime is pervasive and indiscriminate, and Norton reveals that 65% (two thirds) of internet users globally have been affected by some form of cybercrime. In the US alone, 73% of internet users have faced cybercrime in some shape or form; whether that’s viruses, identity theft, or the loss of personal information. China is the worst affected country at 83%, with Brazil and India also huge targets at 76%.

Cybercrime does not just affect your computer; it takes an undeniable toll on the people involved. Norton decided to take this angle when putting together their report. In their survey, they asked for internet users to tell them the feelings that are elicited by cybercrime. The strongest reactions were annoyance at 51%, anger (58%), and a sense of feeling cheated (24%). There is also no doubt that these victims have felt overwhelming helplessness; the report showed that 80% of internet users questioned believe that the cybercriminals will never be punished. With no belief that the criminals can be brought to justice, internet users feel unable to move on.

Joseph LaBrie, PhD, professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University, says: “We accept cybercrime because of a ‘learned helplessness’. It’s like getting ripped off at the garage – if you don’t know enough about cars, you can’t argue with the mechanic. People just accept a situation, even if it feels bad.”

No wonder, then, that there is an apathy towards reporting a crime that has been committed. However, software security companies urge internet users to report these crimes just like they would feel compelled to any other kind of crime: there are ways of dealing with these criminals.

Adam Palmer, Norton lead cyber security advisor, explains: “We all pay for cybercrime, either directly or through pass-along costs from our financial institutions. Cybercriminals purposely steal small amounts to remain undetected, but all of these add up. If you fail to report a loss, you may actually be helping the criminal stay under the radar.”

So what can internet users do to keep themselves safe from cybercriminals in the first place? Norton’s report echoes many security companies who urge users to buy comprehensive security software for their computers; the first and best defence against these criminals. The best internet security software will keep your computer safe, not only from day-to-day annoyances, but also from making you into another cybercrime-related statistic.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The computer security industry may continue to encourage users to buy anti virus software, but the words might take on a greater significance if Microsoft decides to bid for massive bug catcher Symantec.

Internet security is essential to the wellbeing of computer users everywhere and the corporate world appear to be getting excited about its future potential. Not only has Intel snapped up McAfee for north of seven billion dollars, but news has just come of the purchase by Hewlett Packard of another computer security company, ArcSight, although for the lesser figure of $1.5 billion.

Hence the reasons for the bid rumours re Microsoft and Symantec. City dealers work on gossip, rumours and trends (some say like sheep), so the jump from two major bids, to talk of a third, is not unsurprising.

And it’s a persuasive theory. What worries many companies in any given sector is the size of the competition and their ability to lever their cash resources. McAfee and Symantec are both giants in that sector, with Symantec – the creators and developers of the Norton range of products – recognised as being the largest player. Now suddenly their main rival has the likes of Intel looking after them. This means that McAfee will have the financial muscle to step up research and development, and, should they so choose, implement an aggressive sales strategy with wholesalers and retailers. Symantec will now wonder how Intel’s big pockets will affect their competitive and technology standing.

The theory therefore goes, that Symantec might welcome a move from a larger company to offer it the same kind of weight that Intel now offers McAfee. And shareholders of Symantec might think that payday is around the corner with such a bid from a company like Microsoft. And Symantec’s recent near 10% rise in its share price suggests that the markets are hoping for a suitor for the internet security giant in the near future.

What’s more, many wags suggest that given Microsoft’s arguably terrible reputation when it comes to being the hacker’s favourite target, the Seattle company could do with a helping hand on the inside to help repel boarders.

But investment analysts aren’t convinced that Microsoft is ready to make such a move. They point to Microsoft’s better security record and their development of their own range of antivirus products, including anti-malware programmes and effective firewall solutions. Does it need Symantec to improve this area for them – maybe not? Nor would Symantec’s reputation for its Norton products to hog processor power like a jealous lover, endear it to the geeks in Seattle.

And nor would Symantec be cheap. Microsoft certainly has the deep pockets needed to acquire such a large company, but it may not give its own investors a reasonable return. A smaller computer security company might just do the trick instead. So many investors are taking the slide rule to other credible players, which have the technology, but not the premium price tag.

So, buy anti virus might just be the corporate buzz phrase for the end of 2010, and even if Microsoft don’t want to swallow Symantec, expect some smaller players to be targeted by other general computer companies.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Internet security warnings are coming thick and fast at the moment and giant computer security company Symantec is actively tracking a new threat.

It’s a worm with malicious intent and spreads via a socially engineered email attack, and internet security companies have been quick to warn internet users of exactly how malicious it is. If you receive the email and make the mistake of clicking on the link embedded within, you are taken to a webpage hosting a PDF file (which is in fact a disguised, malicious program). When the unsuspecting user clicks on this link, the installation of the threat W32.Imsolk.B@mm begins immediately, and the malicious program is soon at work inside the user’s computer. All of this, without the internet users knowledge.

So what does the program do once installed?

This particular worm is designed to disable many antivirus products, and so can move about undetected. Not only that, but it starts to try and breed itself onto more computers; a copy of the email the affected user was sent is passed on to the contacts in the user’s address book. Just to ensure that it is spread beyond the one computer, the worm also attacks other users through home or office networks, thereby spreading the affects of this nasty worm further.

Symantec, who have taken the lead in warning users of the dangers of this worm, has seen the damage that can be caused. They claim that the email the worm is borne within is sent out in such large numbers that some e-mail servers have been completely crippled by the amount of these messages sent.

How can one deal with this particularly virulent threat?

As always with these kinds of dangers, prevention is considered to be the best cure. Security software companies urge users to buy an extensive and complete internet security package so that computers are kept protected from these sorts of threats. If for whatever reason a piece of malware or malicious program slips through the net, a user’s computer needs to be able to defend itself against the attack and have the right capabilities to disarm and destroy the threat; this is what a complete security package should provide.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The security antivirus sector has undergone a major shake-up with the news that Intel, the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, has bought McAfee for $7.68 billion (£5 billion).

The logic behind the deal, which has come as a surprise to most investment analysts and also to many within the security antivirus sector, is to take a new approach to fighting cybercrime. Intel plans to build security features within the microprocessors that are used to power computers and smaller devices such as mobile phones.

Intel have deep pockets and have offered $48 cash per share for McAfee stock which represents a 60% premium on the McAfee pre-deal share price. Not surprisingly McAfee shares jumped 58% on the news of the bid and the price being offered.

And even though the two companies had been working together for over a year, the deal still caught many unawares. Although both company Boards approved the deal, the takeover will have to be passed by shareholders of both companies and the US regulatory authorities.

Should the deal go ahead – and few see any major problems – the first few products of the amalgamation will be introduced early in 2011.

As the bidder and the ones coughing up the cash, Intel’s shares off 4% to 18.84 US cents.

The BBC was one of many media organisations to run the story and the editor of PC Pro Magazine was one of many who were surprised at the news:

“Intel does buy a lot of companies and it does have a lot of more cash than anyone else out there. So it making a big acquisition isn’t a surprise, but you may have thought it more likely to buy another hardware firm. No doubt Intel is looking ahead and seeing that the laptop and desktop market are probably past their heyday and the big growth area is mobile.

“For a company like Intel, it’s nowhere near as strong in the mobile area as it is in the laptop and desktop areas, so it’s probably looking for new ways to get streams and revenues in the future. Perhaps that is Intel’s point of view but not everybody else’s. The reaction from investors has been quite negative.”

Experts now say that the deal will be a major re-arrangement of the computer antivirus sector, with some firms now feeling on the back foot as McAfee gets access to the sharp end of the industry.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

The phrase download internet security takes on a new meaning every month when Patch Tuesday comes around and people can see how alert Microsoft is when it comes to combating the latest virus threats.

And the latest Patch Tuesday, which allows computer users to download internet security patches in order to correct bugs, has proved a particularly big one. In this set, 14 alerts have been issued, with eight being rated ‘critical’ and the other six as ‘important’.

The most significant of these alerts that have been announced, affect Word, .NET, SMB Server, , MPEG Codecs and XML Core Services. As usual, the latest release also includes the most recent number of fixes that have been issued for Internet Explorer. Also included in this latest bulletin was a fix to solve the vulnerability with .lnk files, that has been causing a number of problems.

Coinciding with the release of the entry, Microsoft also wrote a blog entry describing and covering each of the most important fixes that were issued.

Adobe has also released some fixes; out of the three that were released, two were rated as ‘critical’ and one as ‘important’. This release – which had been timed to arrive at the same time as Patch Tuesday – was vital for fixing risky problems with Flash Player and Flash Media Server. As well as this, they release an important HotFix for ColdFusion.

Reader, a piece of software from Adobe, will have an emergency update released for it next week. Users will have to wait until this is issued before the vulnerabilities can be dealt with. In the mean time, any user who wishes to chose the alternative for viewing PDFs – Foxit Software – will have to update for a vulnerability that has affected a number of Apple iPhone users. The vulnerability is not, however, extended to Adobe users.

Users that download internet security patches are doing so to ensure that their computers remain safe from the host of vulnerabilities and dangers that are being created and released constantly.

Guest Article by Neil Camp