5 posts and columns on viruses

The First Virus …

in News on September 26, 2011 at 12:00 am PT

Malware — viruses, worms, Trojan horses and the like — has been around about as long as the first networked computers. In fact, 2011 is the 40th anniversary of the first known computer virus.

Google Plans To Remotely Kill Rogue Apps in Wake of Android Attack

in Mobile on March 5, 2011 at 11:07 pm PT

Late on Saturday, Google outlined several steps it is taking in the wake of this week’s “Droid Dream” attacks. The company said it plans to remove the infected applications directly from the devices of those who downloaded them, and will also push out a security update that will prevent any further information from being shared from the device to the attackers. This marks only the second time that Google has exercised its power to remotely remove applications that had been installed by a customer. The first time was last June, when a proof-of-concept malicious application made its way onto the Android Market.

Saving Web Articles

in Mossberg’s Mailbox on November 3, 2010 at 4:09 pm PT

Walt answers readers’ questions on saving Web articles, virus concerns and Wi-Fi-free Internet connections.