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Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=10031
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Author:  pcernie [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

Quote:
Virgin Media subscribers whose computers are part of a botnet can expect a letter warning them to tighten up their security, under a new initiative based on data collected by independent malware trackers.

The UK's third-largest ISP will match lists of compromised IP addresses collected by the Shadowserver Foundation, among others, to its customer records.

Those with infected machines will be encouraged to download free security software to remove the malware and protect their connection in future. Virgin Media says it expects to send out hundreds of letters per week initially, with plans to expand the campaign based on customer feedback.

The firm will also take the opportunity to plug its Digital Home Support service, a £6-per-month remote PC maintenance helpline, "for those who need a little bit more help". A quarter of callers have a malware infection, Virgin Media said.

The announcement today marks the second anti-malware initiative by a major UK ISP this summer. TalkTalk is preparing an optional service that will block infected webpages by controversially following all its customers around the web, creating lists of all the URLs they visit.

Virgin Media said it is exploring other customer security initiatives to follow its letter-writing campaign. ®


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/16/vm_malware/

VM saw a business opportunity, but at least it'll do good too... How the hell did TalkTalk keep that proposal out of the spotlight though, optional or not? :shock:

Author:  JJW009 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

pcernie wrote:
How the hell did TalkTalk keep that proposal out of the spotlight though, optional or not? :shock:

Reading the details it actually sounds OK, provided it's implemented honestly and competently:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/26 ... talkstalk/

I'm rather narked that I read about it here first though, given that I work for an Opal wholesaler and I've been selling their products. Maybe I should have read the update emails more carefully...

Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

What virgin are doing seems perfectly acceptable.

Quote:
TalkTalk is preparing an optional service that will block infected webpages by controversially following all its customers around the web, creating lists of all the URLs they visit.

That is not nice. I wonder who can get access to the list? What if someone sold the list to the papers or demanded it under a freedom of information request?

Author:  pcernie [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

JJW009 wrote:
pcernie wrote:
How the hell did TalkTalk keep that proposal out of the spotlight though, optional or not? :shock:

Reading the details it actually sounds OK, provided it's implemented honestly and competently:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/26 ... talkstalk/


Now JJ, come on... ;)

And I'd say TT are leaving themselves open to the entertainment industry saying, 'Well, if you can scan for that...' :evil:

Author:  JJW009 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

Amnesia10 wrote:
That is not nice. I wonder who can get access to the list? What if someone sold the list to the papers or demanded it under a freedom of information request?

I expect they will indeed sell the list, or otherwise use it for profit. They are a business, not a charity.

The list contains no information about which client visited which site. It's just a black / white list of infectious / safe websites which have been visited by anonymous TT customers. Other such black lists are already available, and are used for security software such as SpybotSD and services such as Microsoft's Phishing Filter.

Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Virgin Media to warn malware-infected customers

As long as the lists are anonymous and not linked to the individual. I dread to think what bobbdobbs would make of my list of NSFW sites. ;) :shock:

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