10/30/12

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Spam hits Indian Skype users

A “malicious spam” has hit the internet-based audio-video communicator ‘Skype’ in the Indian cyberspace and anti-hacking sleuths have asked users to remain alert and cautious.

“A malicious spam campaign is on the rise targeting Skype users by sending instant message which appears to come from friends in the Skype contact list,” a government advisory to ‘Skype’ users in India. Cyber security experts found the malware content has been lurking in the vicinity of cyber networks of Indian users who use this popular Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.

A number of Indians use ‘Skype’ to communicate with their friends, relatives and other contacts within and outside the country.

The government agency mandated to counter such threats - the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT—In) under the Communications and Information Technology ministry, said the spam “eventually controls the victim machine by opening a backdoor and communicating to a remote ‘http’ server.

“The worm reported as stealing user credentials, engaging in click fraud activities and pose as ransom ware,” the agency said.

Cyber sleuths have also recommended a number of counter measures in this regard as it asked the users of this form of web telephony not to “follow unsolicited web links or attachments in Skype messages and install latest security updates to Skype”.

“Download the latest version of the Skype from the trusted markets, install and maintain updated anti-virus software at gateway and desktop level, use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers, disable auto play feature as a safe practice.

“Use caution when clicking on links to web pages and protect yourself against social engineering attacks,” the agency advised internet users in the country.

- The Hindu News

Myanmar camps overwhelmed after fresh unrest: UN

Sittwe (Myanmar), October 30:

Food, water and medical help are in short supply at overcrowded camps in violence-hit western Myanmar that are "stretched beyond capacity", the UN refugee agency said today.

Buddhist-Muslim bloodshed in Rakhine state has caused more than 28,000 people to flee their homes this month, UNHCR said in a statement.

It is clearly urgent that law and order be restored to prevent further violence and that access is facilitated so that aid can be provided to those in need," the agency said.

The latest fighting, which erupted on October 21, has seen whole neighbourhoods razed in a spate of arson attacks that United Nations staff reported had resulted in "widespread destruction and displacement".

Dozens of people have been killed in the fresh unrest.

Thousands from mainly Muslim communities have streamed towards camps already struggling to cope with the 75,000 people displaced by earlier clashes in June.

With the new influx, these already overcrowded camps are being stretched beyond capacity in terms of space, shelter and basic supplies such as food and water," UNHCR said.

Food prices in the area have doubled and there are not enough doctors to treat the sick and wounded."

- Siasat News

Cyclone Nilam stationary, to cross TN coast tomorrow

Cyclonic storm Nilam remained practically stationary and lay centred at about 450 km south-southeast of Chennai and 130 km North-northeast of Trincomalee at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Met department said.

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which would further intensify into a cyclonic storm, on Tuesday brought heavy rains in many parts of Tamil Nadu, especially in coastal areas, prompting the government to declare a holiday for schools.

Chennai, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Villupuram received heavy rains in the morning, inconveniencing commuters. The cyclonic storm would cross between Nagapattinam and Nellore tomorrow, Met Department said.

“The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards, and lay centred at 1800 UTC of yesterday over southwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 9.00N and longitude 82.00E, about 500 km south-southeast of Chennai and 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka).”

“The system would intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move westwards for some more time and come very close to Sri Lanka coast and then move northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by tomorrow afternoon,” the Met Department said.

It forecast “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” upto 25 cm or more besides squally winds reaching upto 45—55 kmph of speed and gusting upto 65 kmph off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours”, it said.

“The wind speed would gradually increase thereafter as the system comes closer to coast. Sea condition will be very rough to high along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 48 hours.

Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into the sea,” the department said.

- The Hindu News