Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 11:08AM |  -2°
MENU
Advertisement

Experts: Leading antivirus software exposes customer computers

Experts: Leading antivirus software exposes customer computers

WASHINGTON -- Symantec Corp.'s leading antivirus software, which protects some of the world's largest corporations and U.S. government agencies, suffers from a flaw that lets hackers seize control of computers to steal sensitive data, delete files or implant malicious programs, researchers said Thursday.

Symantec said it was investigating the issue but could not immediately corroborate the vulnerability. If confirmed, the threat to computer users would be severe because the security software is so widely used, and because no action is required by victims using the latest versions of Norton Antivirus to suffer a crippling attack over the Internet.

Symantec has boasted its antivirus products are installed on more than 200 million computers. A spokesman, Mike Bradshaw, said the company was examining the reported flaw but described it as "so new that we don't have any details."

Advertisement

Researchers from eEye Digital Security Inc. of Aliso Viejo, California, discovered the vulnerability and provided evidence to Symantec engineers this week, said eEye's chief hacking officer, Marc Maiffret. He demonstrated the attack for The Associated Press.

Mr. Maiffret's company -- which has discovered hundreds of similar flaws in other software products -- also produces intrusion-protection software, called "Blink," that he said already blocks such attacks and can operate alongside Symantec's antivirus products.

Mr. Maiffret published a note about the company's discovery on its Web site but pledged not to reveal details publicly that would help hackers attack Internet users until after Symantec repairs its antivirus software. eEye said it intends to describe the problem in detail privately for some of its largest customers.

"People shouldn't panic," Mr. Maiffret said. "There shouldn't be any exploits until a patch is produced."

Advertisement

The reported flaw comes at an awkward time for Symantec. Its chief executive, John Thompson, has campaigned in recent months to convince consumers they should trust Symantec -- not Microsoft Corp. -- to protect their personal information.

Mr. Maiffret said eEye's testing showed the problem affects Norton Antivirus Version 10, including its corporate editions. He said Symantec's current security suite -- which includes both antivirus and firewall features -- did not appear to be vulnerable.

First Published: May 26, 2006, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
Will Scharf assists as President Donald Trump signs an executive order at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
1
news
Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) slides after making a first down and is hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) and safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
2
sports
Gerry Dulac: Steelers might not have to run far to find next year's QB
3
sports
Hempfield basketball coach BIll Swan resigns
FILE - Rioters wave flags on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Federal prosecutors say a network of supporters has helped fugitives from Florida avoid capture to face charges stemming from the riot. Prosecutors argued Thursday, March 14, 2024, that a Jan. 6 defendant, Thomas Osborne, is a flight risk because he is close to the family of a brother and sister from Lakeland, Fla. who remained on the run for months after they were charged with storming the Capitol. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
4
news
'Are we really a country of law and order?': Pardon of Western Pa. Jan. 6 rioters draws divided reactions
FILE - Soldiers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus rally to welcome the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Oct. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin, File)
5
news
North Korean troops in Ukraine gain battlefield experience, cementing alliance with Russia
Advertisement
LATEST business
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story