Archive: September 2013

I have recently tried some password cracking tools. These programs are very good are cracking a password. They can tell the user how long it could take. Simple dictionary words and numbers can take a few minutes. As soon as you adding punctuation and special characters that number jumps to days. The more characters will make jump even more days.

Pass phrases are better. Here is an example: Be here @8!

Basic tips for good passwords are as follows.

• Minimum of 8 characters
• Capitalize a character or two
• Add special characters.
• Avoid dictionary words.

While trying to learn Backtrack I somehow clicked on something that initiated a download of ZipOpenerSetup.exe. The AVG antivirus caught a trojan virus. Here are the pages I was on:

http://www.backtrack-linux.org/downloads/

I was downloading several items, so when an installer popped up I choose to run it. That’s when AVG jumped in. I wondered why I was installing a Zip program. I already have several. I canceled the install and it took me to this page.

http://www.thenewzipopenerfun.com/gb/uninstall/?sr=gb&lp=sag&cc=US&c=1

http://www.thenewzipopenerfun.com/

By using the URL above I found where to download the software I am labeling as Malware.

Beware of what downloads you click on!

When googling “ZipOpener malware” I found some people had/have issues with this, and I don’t find a page to download it. I was either careless with my mouse clicks, could be cross-site scripting, or it could have been something else.

Top it all off I realized it left a desktop icon so I would complete the installation.

I ran a Malware Bytes scan and it returned 7 items it found as known threats, and the reinstall for Zip Opener was one of them. There were also some other exe files.

Be careful out there.

More info:
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new/be-very-careful-when-downloading-slow-down-read-be-wary-and-take-your-time/