Popular News Website The Guardian Targeted by Hackers

An article published in 2011 on popular news website The Guardian was found to be redirecting visitors to a landing page containing the notorious Angler Exploit Kit. Read the rest of the story from what follows.

When it comes to hackers, no website is safe; not even the popular and trusted ones; a classic case in point is a 4-year-old article that was published on The Guardian. It was found that the article was harboring a malicious link that was automatically redirecting visitors to a landing page hosting the Angler Exploit Kit. Now, here are two important things to note – first, the irony of the whole situation. The article used for the attack is entitled “Cybercrime: is it out of control?” So, that’s there. Secondly, what is this Angler Exploit Kit. Here’s a quick brief about it.

To begin, Exploit Kits are software/packages that contain pre-written codes (exploits) that take advantage of software flaws present in the Operating System of or the programs in the targeted machine, in order to drop a ‘suitable’ malware infection. These exploits are targeted toward users running outdated or insecure software applications on their machines.

About the Angler Exploit Kit, it first appeared in 2013. And since then, cyber criminals have been increasingly using it to target their victims; hiding it in several web pages. Like other exploit kits, once executed, the Angler Kit starts scanning browsers with outdated versions of Java, Flash Player, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Silverlight, etc., and then deploys the exploits accordingly.

What is most worrying about the Angler Kit is, it has been found to be ‘Ransomware’ focused. In other words, the Kit is being increasingly used by hackers to infect their victims with Ransomware – a malware that either locks your computer or encrypts all your data, and demands a ransom to unlock it. Read more about Ransomware here.

Now, what we do want to take away from this incident? Two learnings:

  1. Using outdated software in your device is like sitting on top of a time bomb – it can go off at any moment. As evident from what we have discussed earlier, exploit kits are like a box full of exploits that can target more than one type of program in the user’s machine. So, what is the solution here? Simple, keep your OS up-to-date with all the recommended security patches, and programs updated whenever notified.
  1. No website, however well-known or trusted, is immune to cyberattacks. And unless we are IT security professionals, it is impossible for us to detect any malicious activity in any website that we visit. What is the solution here? Have an antivirus software that can automatically block access to sites with malicious links. In this particular scenario of The Guardian, an antivirus software might not block access to the website itself. But, it will ensure that the automatic redirection does not occur – which, in fact, is the main danger.

Stay safe.

Source:
https://www.hackread.comhttps://zeltser.com
https://www.dailydot.com
https://www.smh.com.au

Rajiv Singha

Rajiv Singha


52 Comments

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  1. chrome running backround.. pc slow… not browsing safely fast

    Reply
  2. I have bought the Desktop from my local dealer and who has installed any virus in my computer

    Reply
  3. Please send me link to renew my anti virus

    Reply
  4. Avatar Narendra GuptaDecember 18, 2015 at 7:32 PM

    thanks

    Reply
  5. Avatar nirmal kumar jainDecember 18, 2015 at 7:38 PM

    sir

    gardiun antivirus
    packed on date aug 2014
    this product key is incorect. please provide the exact product kay to proceed

    solv my problm please

    nirmal kumar jain

    thanks

    Reply
  6. Avatar EDAVALATH VENUDecember 18, 2015 at 7:42 PM

    I have installed QuickHeal Internet Security and PC Tuner on my Home Laptop. I have installed QuickHeal AntiVirus Pro and PC Tuner on my Office Laptop. Both the Laptops have valid licences for these two Softwares.

    QHIS is expiring on January 2016 and QHAVPro on July 2016.

    Here I have questions, as under:

    1) When will the QH PCTuner licence expire ?

    2) Out of the the combination of QHIS + PCTuner in a PC or QH Total Security (standalone) in a PC, which is the best ?

    Kindly advise.

    Regards….E R VENU

    Reply
  7. very nice anti viras

    Reply
  8. My quick heal product validity is up to 28/01/2016 and here in renew option there is an option about 3 months extra validity and period is within 31st dec, which is between my licence period. so what I should do?

    Reply
    • Rajiv Singha Rajiv SinghaDecember 23, 2015 at 4:36 PM

      Hi Soumen,

      If you renew before 31st Dec, 3 extra months will be added to your previous validity. You won’t lose out on the validity left in your license.

      Regards,

      Reply
  9. good

    Reply
  10. Avatar SUBRATA KUMAR MOHANTYDecember 19, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    Please send me link to renew my account

    Reply
  11. Avatar dr. pramodchandra banaitDecember 19, 2015 at 12:17 PM

    I am using Quick Heal Total Security.still a virus thread attacked my laptop recently.Suggest me solution. Thanks.

    Reply
  12. nice

    Reply
  13. HI……i’m rahul from up east thanks for the service and advise

    Reply
  14. Avatar janu khan banka biharDecember 21, 2015 at 8:20 AM

    thanku

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  15. Avatar janu khan banka biharDecember 21, 2015 at 8:24 AM

    sir not support your team

    Reply
  16. Avatar janu khan banka biharDecember 21, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    daily update is impossible

    Reply
  17. why didnot update the antivarus

    Reply
  18. Nice app

    Reply
  19. Avatar Debajit BhaumikDecember 22, 2015 at 7:27 PM

    good for anythings of quickheal

    Reply
  20. Avatar Debajit BhaumikDecember 22, 2015 at 7:28 PM

    good

    Reply
  21. Avatar Debajit BhaumikDecember 22, 2015 at 7:30 PM

    very good

    Reply
  22. Quick heal is standard and wonderful application…

    Reply
  23. Avatar Rupesh singhDecember 23, 2015 at 5:45 PM

    Good

    Reply
  24. Avatar Neeraj Singh BaghelDecember 23, 2015 at 9:44 PM

    Sir!
    i installed a quick heal one year antivirus in 2013…but now it’s out of date. can i update it from internet?

    Reply
  25. Avatar manish bandalDecember 24, 2015 at 10:40 AM

    i have updated my liscence so when will it be updated its expiry was 23 dec 15

    Reply
  26. my antivirus the problem virus not work properly please solve the problem

    Reply
  27. Avatar Dhirendar Maan SinghDecember 24, 2015 at 8:09 PM

    awesone antivirus

    Reply
  28. Avatar Virendra jaipal satheenDecember 24, 2015 at 8:52 PM

    sir,
    antivirus update nahi ho raha he or incorrect system date and time,or sir google charome or firefox browers ko open karte he tab ssl error ka msg show hota he

    Reply
  29. Avatar sanjay singhDecember 25, 2015 at 1:51 AM

    quick heal is best protection for my pc. but daily update i problem

    Reply
  30. Avatar Nand Kishore SahuDecember 25, 2015 at 8:54 PM

    good antivirus in all respect

    Reply
  31. I m very happy to got guardian Antivirus .it is very effective ,self auto scan,auto updated,and user friendly.
    THANKS FOR ALL QUICK HEEL TEAM

    Reply
  32. very good

    Reply
  33. How can i renew my antivirus. my antivirus is guardian netsecure….

    Reply
  34. I want update my the quickheal antivirus

    Reply
  35. Avatar Pramod singhaniaJanuary 17, 2016 at 4:31 PM

    Clean

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  36. Avatar vishnu GondJanuary 24, 2016 at 3:44 PM

    this antivirus is very good .

    THANKS

    Reply