Viruses, Trojan horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware, and Remote Control programs have overrun computers in 2003 and the forecast for these digital parasites is worse for 2004. Hackers and spammers use all the latest software security holes, worms and trojans to attack many businesses and trick Internet users into revealing their personal and financial information. These constant attacks on private and public systems have become more than just a nuisance, they’ve become an overwhelming financial burden, 10 billion dollars. Listed below are the most commonly used programs Hacker tools, Key Loggers, RAT: (Remote Administration Tool), Spyware, Spyware cookies, Trojans, and Worms from the year 2003.
Hackers Tools of 2003
Hacker tools are programs written to access a computer system using known software vulnerability. Most of these programs have been written and are freely distributed from “Hacker” websites. Some of these programs were written for legitimate uses and are abused as a hacking tool.
Coldlife 4.0
DeCSS 1.2b
FPort 1.33
NMap Win 1.2.12
John the Ripper 1.6
PCHelps Network Tracer
TCPIP Protector Pro 7.18
IntelliTamper
Deleted File Analysis Utility
Key Loggers of 2003
Key Loggers, like the name suggests, are programs that record keystrokes from the computer keyboard and either logs it to the computer or sends it to its maker through a built in e-mail engine. Key logging allows a prospective hacker to gain access to the user name, passwords, and even id numbers entered into sensitive online bank accounts or passwords to remote control programs. Listed below are the top 9 key loggers reported.
RAT (Remote Administration Tool) of 2003
RATs are remote administration programs that have been embedded into an unsuspecting victim's computer. This is the most dangerous of all hacking tools as it allows complete and total control of the infected computer.
Global Killer 1.0
Artic 0.6b
Beast 2.00
Kikbak 0.9
Beast 1.91
WinSpy 7.2.3
B-S Spy 1.90
NetSlayer
ComLoad
Click HERE to see a list of 350 others
Top 10’s Spyware of 2003
Spyware as the name suggests is software that is embedded on a computer and records passwords, Internet visits, cookies and can sometimes control computers services and remotely execute commands. Spyware is becoming more popular as husbands and wife’s become more concerned with their spouses Internet activity. There are many computer programs offered on the Internet for free that have hidden Trojans with spyware embedded in them. Remember, nothing is really as free as it may seem, there is always a hidden price. Listed below are 10 of the most common Spyware programs:
Top 10’s Spyware Cookies of 2003
Cookies store information about websites that a person has visited, sometimes with a username and password. Most sophisticated computer users have their Internet browser configured not to allow cookies on their computer, but some software demands it and they will give up security for convenience. List below are ten Cookie Spyware programs.
Trojans Eliminated
All Trojans are hidden programs that are disguised within another program. This is the largest example of “Freeware” software that has another agenda. It should be stated that most “Freeware” is perfectly legitimate and is contributed freely by the author with good intentions. However, there are still other “Freeware” in the mix that is distributed intentionally and unintentionally for the sole purpose of gaining access to your computer system. Sadly, paranoia is the safest bet if you want to keep out unwanted intruders. Unfortunately, this isn’t always effective when there are programs that enter on their own. Below are 10 of the most common Trojan programs of 2003
Worms
Many worms use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express to propagate. These types of e-mail "Worms" have an attached file that has to be clicked open to be installed. These types of worms typically have a file with a double extension, such as (NAME.BMP.EXE or NAME.TXT.VBS). These extensions are Windows executable files that install a program on your computer. These programs can be Remote control programs, Spyware, Keyloggers or any software used maliciously by a dark hacker. Additional extensions are VBS, SHS, BAT, EXE, CMD and PIF.
Other "Worms" take advantage of buffer overflows and other program vulnerabilities.
Buffer Overflow Explained
Buffer Overflows happen when more data is put into a buffer or holding area, then the buffer can handle. This is due to a mismatch in processing rates between the producing and consuming processes. This can result in system crashes or the creation of a back door leading to system access.
Below are 20 of the most common "Worms" found in 2003. To show the success of these programs, I gave a list of all the Worms discovered in the month of January 2004.
VirtualBouncer 2.0
W32.Blaster.worm
W32/Lovsan.worm.a
I-Worm.Swen
I-Worm.Mimail.a
I-Worm.Tanatos.b
I-Worm.Sober.c
I-Worm.Klez.h
I-Worm.Lentin.m
I-Worm.Sobig.f
I-Worm.Dumaru.a
I-Worm.Mimail.j
Macro.Word97.Saver
I-Worm.Lentin.j
I-Worm.Lentin.o
Win32.FunLove.4070
Backdoor.Agobot.3
I-Worm.Sobig.a
Worm.Win32.Lovesan
VBS.Redlof
W32.HLLW.Sanker January 22, 2004
Backdoor.OptixPro.13b January 21, 2004
Backdoor.Tuxder January 20, 2004
Trojan.Httpdos January 20, 2004
Trojan.Mitglieder.C January 20, 2004
VBS.Zsyang.B@mm January 19, 2004
W32.Beagle.A@mm January 18, 2004
Backdoor.IRC.Aladinz.H January 18, 2004
Trojan.Bookmarker.C January 15, 2004
W32.Protoride.Worm January 16, 2004
W97M.Twopey.E January 15, 2004
W32.Stuplo January 15, 2004
Backdoor.IRC.Aladinz.G January 15, 2004
Downloader.Mimail.B January 14, 2004
W32.HLLC.Elpmis January 14, 2004
W32.HLLW.Nettrash January 12, 2004
Trojan.Bookmarker.B January 12, 2004
W32.HLLW.Gaobot.FQ January 12, 2004
PWSteal.Freemega January 11, 2004
PWSteal.Leox January 11, 2004
Backdoor.Threadsys January 10, 2004