As per the Trend Micro blog, the Conficker worm is finally at work - causing damage by way of fitting the infected computers with a nasty antivirus application called SpywareProtect2009. Coming with the typical scareware strategy of warning about potential threats on the computer, the fake app offers to clean the PC for $49.95.
With the Conficker having hit millions of Windows-based computers on the Internet, experts are worried that the repeated infection alerts appearing on the screen may entice people to click on them and pay for the software just to avoid the infuriating messages, thus ending up furnishing thieves with their credit card information.
The phony antivirus feature – which attempts to install a Trojan downloader – reinforces the hearsay that there is monetary motive behind the malware, without any clandestine intention of interrupting computer or network operations.
Along with being a big money-spinner for online scammers, Conficker is also razing an update for an .E modification, a list of which has been posted on a Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog. The new changes give the worm another chance to spread via MS08-067 Microsoft vulnerability, and further its attempts to stop more current programs as well as block attempts to reach further domains.
Interestingly, the new update has a self-demolition system, whereby it will automatically erase itself after May 3, 2009!
anco Santander's migration of systems inherited with its UK acquisitions to its core banking platform will pay dividends when it rebrands its UK operations over the next year.
The Spanish bank, which has acquired companies in the UK such as Abbey, Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester, will rebrand them as Santander by the end of next year. Santander said that all its acquisitions will be rebranded once they have been successfully migrated to its in-house banking platform, Partenon.
Customers of the different parts of the business will be able to use any of the 1,300 collective UK branches, which will operate under a single core banking system.
António Horta-Osório, CEO of Santander in the UK, said the switch to Santander's global IT platform has driven the brand change. "Abbey has moved to Partenon over the last three years. The experience gained from this major project has enabled Santander to implement a similar programme more quickly for B&B branches, and the group expects to complete the switch of B&B's 338 branches by July 2009. A&L's 254 branches will migrate to the Partenon system by the end of 2010."
"Alliance and Leicester will be rebranded last because the integration to the Partenon platform is more complicated," said a spokesman.
Bob McDowall, analyst at TowerGroup, said having a core banking system such as Partenon makes it easier for banks to rebrand acquisitions. "It could not have achieved what it has achieved without it."
Banco Santander's strategy is to grow by acquisition and integrate the IT operations of the firms it buys to its own in-house platform, which uses in-house middleware called Banksphere.
As well as rationalising IT, this creates cross-selling opportunities and improves customer satisfaction and operational performance. The platform uses a single database so all of a customer's relationships with the bank are automatically linked through a single view of customers.
Partenon was a differentiator during takeover negotiations with Abbey in 2004 because of performance improvements it offered the UK bank, as well as expected cost savings of £300m.
By (Mr.KAKAR)
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