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October 10, 2008 1:45 PM PDT

Security Bites 117: How 'Clickjacking' attacks hide behind the mouse

by Robert Vamosi
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Criminals may have found a way to get you to click on malware without you even knowing. Worse, they might also be able to open the microphone or Webcam on your PC to eavesdrop.

Called Clickjacking, the process allows the attacker to trick you the user into clicking on something only briefly visible on the screen. While it's mostly a problem for the browser makers, it also affects Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and Sun's Java.

Although clickjacking, which may contain up to half dozen specific vulnerabilities, has been around for years, it has recently come to the attention of online criminals and security researchers alike.

One of those researchers is Jeremiah Grossman, CTO of WhiteHat Security. Robert Vamosi of CNET News spoke with him by phone.

Grossman recommends users of Firefox consider using the NoScript plug-in and set it to forbid IFrame content. More details on configuring NoScript to block this attack can be found here. Additional US-CERT tips for securing other browsers can be found here.


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As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments.
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by Fil0403 October 13, 2008 4:55 AM PDT
Yet another proof that security vulnerabilities exist in and affect every Web browser from every company, not just "buggy Windows Internet Explorer" from "evil Microsoft"; I wonder if Apple will deal with this the usual way, i.e. denying that Safari is affected in any way by it and fixing it more than 6 months later, more than 5 months after companies like Microsoft fixed their products.
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by Dalkorian October 13, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
You apparently live in a different world than I do.
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Backdoors, pharming, botnets, phishing, rootkits, viruses, worms. Feeling vulnerable? Every Friday, CNET.com's Robert Vamosi will tell you about the latest security threats, what's coming, and how to protect your system.



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Robert Vamosi Robert Vamosi has appeared on CNN, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, and various other media outlets as an expert on computer viruses, spyware, identity theft, phishing, and other criminal activities on the Internet.
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