Raccoon might not be the cheapest option on the market but the malware had gained popularity among cybercriminals for its ability to target at least 60 applications, many of which are browsers we use today. The Raccoon infostealer, also known as Racealer, has attracted a following in underground forums thanks to the aggressive marketing of […] More

When is Black Friday? Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, Black Friday sales were reserved for in-person shopping for one day only. In recent years, Black Friday promotions have begun in early November, and most of the best deals are available online. Cyber Monday is Monday, Dec. 1, and is another opportunity to shop end-of-year deals.Are headphones really cheaper during Black Friday? Yes, headphones and earbuds are typically cheaper during Black Friday. Some models released this year will see discounts for the first time, while older models can now receive even deeper discounts, as new models are on the market.How did we choose these early Black Friday deals?Typically, ZDNET chooses Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals based on the depth of their discount (preferably 20% or more) and our hands-on testing. Many of the models featured on this list have been tested and worn extensively throughout the year.When headphones and earbuds are on sale, we compare the sale prices across retailers, as they sometimes vary. We keep an eye on prices throughout the year, comparing them to declare which annual sale offers the best discounts. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing, in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More

Image: Deagreez/GETTY Mark Russinovich, the chief technology office (CTO) of Microsoft Azure, says developers should avoid using C or C++ programming languages in new projects and instead use Rust because of security and reliability concerns. Rust, which hit version 1.0 in 2020 and was born at Mozilla, is now being used within the Android Open […] More

Google announced plans this week to ban ads that promote stalkerware, spyware, and other forms of surveillance technology that can be used to track other persons without their specific consent.
The change was announced this week as part of an upcoming update to Google Ads policies, set to enter into effect next month, on August 11, 2020.
Examples of products and services that advertisers won’t be able to promote via Google Ads anymore include:
Spyware and technology used for intimate partner surveillance including but not limited to spyware/malware that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls, or browsing history;
GPS trackers specifically marketed to spy or track someone without their consent;
Promotion of surveillance equipment (cameras, audio recorders, dash cams, nanny cams) marketed with the express purpose of spying.
Google said that private investigation services or products designed for parents to track or monitor their underage children are not banned under this new policy and will still be allowed to be advertised on its platform.
Offenders who promote stalkerware will receive a seven-day warning, after which they’ll be banned if they don’t remove the offending ads.
Fight against stalkerware is picking up

Google’s crackdown against stalkerware ads comes after the antivirus industry has banded together to add detections for stalkerware products in their virus scanning engines.
After improving their products, antivirus companies, along with several domestic abuse frontline organizations, also founded the ‘Coalition Against Stalkerware’ in November 2019, as the first global initiative of its kind, set up to raise awareness of the growing threat of stalkerware.
For those unfamiliar with the terms, stalkerware is a form of malware that is part of the larger spyware class.
Stalkerware refers to spyware apps specifically designed for couples that abusive partners install on the devices of their loved ones without their knowledge or consent — hence why stalkerware is also sometimes referred to as spouseware.
Stalkerware use has skyrocketed over the last decade due to the proliferation of mobile smartphones, as it allows jealous partners to keep tabs on their partners at all time just by tracking their phone.
Furthermore, the easy availability of stalkerware products on official app stores has also increased the visibility of these products and opened their reach to millions of potential users.
While Google, Apple, antivirus makers, and the FTC have cracked down on some of these apps, they have not gone away for good, but are actually more popular than ever.
According to statistics gathered by antivirus vendor Kaspersky, the number of users who had stalkerware-like apps installed on their Android devices rose from 40,386 devices detected in 2018 to more than 67,500 in 2019.
The good news is that according to independent antivirus testing lab AV-Comparatives and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, detections rates for stalkerware applications on Android and Windows devices have slowly improved, as the issue is gaining more press coverage and security vendors are moving in to address their growing risk.
By limiting the visibility of stalkerware products on its advertising platform, Google has helped take some of the traffic these malicious apps are getting on their sites. More

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