The essential guide to VPNs: What they are and how they work

What is a VPN connection and why are so many people talking about it? The term crops up in every conversation about the internet lately, and for good reason. While VPNs were once novel tech solutions, they are now necessary tools. At the basic level, VPNs protect your privacy online so you cannot be targeted, tracked, or discriminated against based on location.

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3 unique and unusual Valentine’s gift ideas to make digital hearts sing

If you are having a hard time thinking beyond a dozen roses and a box of chocolates for February 14th, we’re here to help. Sure, those classic gifts can still bring a smile and a swoon, but chocolates disappear within a few hours (reappearing on our waistlines), and roses don’t last long enough to justify how expensive they are this time of year. (By the way, if roses are your thing, you’ll appreciate this fascinating experiment conducted by Brad’s Deals to determine the best time of the year to find the best prices on roses. Spoiler alert: it’s not Valentine’s Day.)

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4 tips for parents of the smartphone generation

Today’s children are known as “digital natives.” That is, they were born into a world where “phone” is short for “smartphone,” not “telephone,” and staring at screens is more necessity than luxury. But at what saturation point does phone usage get unhealthy? How much is too much?  

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Avast earns “Top Rated Product for 2017” award from AV-Comparatives

It’s the review we always welcome: AV-Comparatives conducts independent tests throughout the year to take a hard look at 21 security products for Windows, putting them through rigorous testing that examines their ability to 1) protect against real-world internet threat, 2) identify thousands of recent malicious programs, 3) provide protection without slowing down the PC, and finally, 4) remove malware that has already infected a PC.

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Protect yourself from cryptojacking

It’s staggering to realize that Bitcoin, the very first cryptocurrency, splashed onto the scene almost a decade ago. It’s only been over this past year that digital coinage has really gained its tremendous popularity. As of January 2018, there are well over one thousand varieties of cryptocurrency in circulation — Bitcoin, Monero, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, IOTA and many more.

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Botnet at large: Avast blocks Smominru miner

The good news is that Avast users are protected against cryptomining, which includes the current threat terrorizing the world’s Windows servers and computers. The Smominru botnet has torn through hundreds of thousands of servers and computers alike, hijacking their CPU power to mine the cryptocurrency Monero. ZDNet reports that the Smominru botnet mines 24 Monero ($8,500) a day, with a net total to date of 8,900 Monero ($2.8M - $3.6M).

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2018 Resolution: Keep Your Tech, and Yourself, Up to Date

As we enter 2018, I encourage everyone to include a simple resolution on their list: make sure you are well-informed about the technology you use, and avoid getting swept up in false narratives and exaggerated claims about its dangers. Let me be clear: there are genuine threats, but they don’t come from the technology itself. As I always say, technology is agnostic. The dangers come from the bad actors that are willing to use any tool at their disposal, including those in cyberspace, to do harm. Our real target should be combating these forces, not demonizing this or that latest technological development. Education about the realities of our digital world is the best antidote against misplaced fears. And, conveniently, it is also the best way to inoculate ourselves against the security issues that technology does indeed pose.

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Central Illinois MSP gains edge in security threat battle using Managed Workplace

The customer

Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, Advanced Technology Services (ATS) has been providing IT and managed services for some of the largest brands in the U.S., Mexico, and United Kingdom since 1985. In addition to global enterprises, ATS also services a good many small businesses. This calls for adaptability in their offerings.

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Looking ahead: 9 threat trends in 2018

Cyberattacks are continuing to increase in number and severity every year, and 2018 will be no exception. We believe that many of the threats we observed in 2017 will, unfortunately, appear in evolved forms this year to continue threatening our businesses, personal data, and privacy via attacks on our PCs, smartphones and IoT devices. After all, as trends in politics, society, and technology evolve, so does cybercrime.

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UPDATE: Arenavision site now clean: Hackers mine cryptocurrency Monero using visitors’ browsers without their knowledge

Update Monday, January 29, 2018 4:00 PM CET: Arenavision reached out to Avast on Twitter, claiming their site was hacked on January 16, 2018. Avast reexamined the JQuery file and can confirm the site is now clean and does not contain any mining algorithms. The below post has been updated to reflect this.

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Keeping your Android safe this year

You hold the fate of your digital life in the palm of your hand. Literally. Every day. We’re talking about smartphones and tablets.

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Three Easy Steps to Stay Clear of Ransomware in 2018

In 2017, Avast blocked more than 122 million WannaCry attacks, the infamous ransomware that caused tears to be shed around the globe. That attack, along with the Petna and Bad Rabbit ransomware attacks, cost consumers and businesses around the world more than 5 billion dollars. Without a doubt, ransomware was the year’s biggest threat. And this terrible trend will unfortunately continue rising in 2018.

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Avast champions new generation of cybersecurity talent at Cambridge University’s annual hackathon

Starting tomorrow, in Cambridge, more than 300 student hackers, programmers, and designers will put their creative and technical competence to the test over an exciting 24-hour period, developing projects that push the boundaries of technology—a new generation of talent that may change the landscape of things to come. 

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Downloaders on Google Play spreading malware to steal Facebook login details

Multiple downloaders, malicious apps that download further malicious apps to infected devices, have made it onto the Google Play Store. The downloaders are capable of downloading further apps that pose as system apps, some of which are capable of stealing Facebook login credentials. To do so, the malicious apps use social engineering tactics to trick victims into giving them up.

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Avast Business Endpoint Protection: A Closer Look at CyberCapture and Sandbox

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Why security is a unique challenge for AI

When I think of the unique challenges faced by AI researchers in security, it reminds me of an excerpt from the Harry Potter series. At the beginning of Book 6, the Minister of Magic pays a visit to the  (muggle) Prime Minister to warn him about evil deeds being carried out by dark wizards. The Prime Minister is understandably scared and confused. In frustration, he implores, “But for heaven’s sake—you’re wizards! You can do magic! Surely you can sort out—well—anything!” The Minister of Magic replies pragmatically, “The trouble is, the other side can do magic too.”

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Avast Mobile Security for Android gets a perfect score

AV-Test, the Independent IT-Security Institute, regularly conducts impartial studies on all leading cybersecurity products on the market. The purpose is to keep consumers aware of what’s performing as promised, and what’s not.

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Which IoT device scares me the most?

I was thinking about Jeff Weiner's question to identify a single product or feature that you cannot do without. For me, it is easy to pay that accolade to Tesla's self-driving autopilot. Every time I am stuck in Bay Area traffic, I allow the car to drive itself while I engage in creative thinking or relax with an audiobook. This is the perfect example of what technology should do—take on the monotonous work and do it better than a human being can.

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A much-needed wake-up call: “Sleep Mode” for slow PCs

Looking for a solution to stop programs from slowing down your PC—without sacrifices? Meet “Sleep Mode,” part of the all-new Avast Cleanup Premium.

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Consumers beware: New malware Catelites Bot could be targeting your banking apps

There is a terrible new malware invading Android devices and using dirty tricks to steal users’ online banking info. Avast Threat Labs worked with SfyLabs to uncover and expose this malware, dubbed Catelites Bot. The malware is similar to a Russian outbreak earlier this year, where cybercriminals successfully stole over $900,000. (That malware was called “CronBot”—which shares similarities with the original Catelites Bot.)

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