Has your computer been acting funny, crashing, running slow, or displaying unusual error messages? Have you been promiscuously clicking on Web links and opening up attachments from strangers? You could have a malware infection.

I get questions all the time from readers and friends asking what to do when they think their computers are infected. Here's a primer that should help. It's focused on Windows-based PCs because that's where most of the malware is targeted.

What are the warning signs of an infection? An infection may cause the computer to run more slowly than normal, stop responding, … Read more

The next time you get injured, go ahead and swear.

Researchers who found that cursing actually relieves pain were among the winners of Ig Nobel prizes today. Also honored were projects on whale snot and certain things fruit bats do while copulating.

Sponsored by the science humor magazine "Annals of Improbable Research," the annual awards were presented tonight in a ceremony at Harvard University to projects that "cannot and should not be reproduced."

The Ig Nobel peace prize was awarded to research from Keele University in the U.K. that confirmed that swearing can lessen pain. … Read more

We've been hearing it for years: antivirus software is dead. But is it really? If so, it seems to have more lives than Richard Nixon.

Rather than being the industry's swan song, mobile devices could be its redemption opportunity.

The antivirus industry is in major transition as threats have evolved from being just the viruses and worms written to exploit holes in Windows that plagued computers in the 1990s to the exploits that target vulnerabilities in Web applications and end user gullibility today.

Many consumers fork over at least $40 for Norton AntiVirus or something similar, many more … Read more

In the latest update to Snow Leopard, Apple included software to protect Mac computers from a Trojan horse that has been distributed by attackers disguised as iPhoto, but which opens a back door on the machine, security firm Sophos said on Friday.

When Apple released OS X 10.6.4 on Tuesday, the company said it addressed certain compatibility issues with VPN connections and other things, but failed to mention anything about adding an anti-malware update.

But buried in the code is an update to the XProtect.plist file, which contains signatures of malware written to target the Mac. The … Read more

Hi, it's me again, Catherine Hwang, a partner manager at CNET, where I manage the developer community on Upload.com. Every month, we try to bring you a special offer from one of our partners, designed exclusively for our CNET readers. Last month, we brought you a special offer from Symantec's Norton 360 and today, we have teamed up with AVG,  one of our most popular products on CNET Downloads.

You may all be familiar with AVG's free solution, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, but AVG Internet Security 9.0 goes even further by providing you with … Read more

IBM is apologizing for handing out USB drives at a security conference in Australia this week that had malware on them.

The thumb drives were distributed for free to people who walked up to the IBM booth at the AusCERT conference.

"Unfortunately we have discovered that some of these USB keys contained malware and we suspect that all USB keys may be affected," Glenn Wightwick, chief technologist at IBM Australia, wrote in a letter to AusCERT delegates that was reprinted on the Beast or Buddha blog.

"The malware is detected by the majority of current Anti Virus … Read more

Security researchers have discovered flaws in common file formats, including .zip, which can be used to sneak malware onto computers by evading antivirus detection.

Eight vulnerabilities were found in .zip, supported by Microsoft Office, along with seven others in the .7zip, .rar, .cab and .gzip file formats, said Mario Vuksan, president of ReversingLabs Corp.

The vulnerabilities could be used by attackers to hide malware that could then be slipped past antivirus software via an e-mail attachment and used to compromise a computer, he said.

"The file goes straight through Gmail or Hotmail because it's a trusted format," … Read more

Hi, I'm Catherine Hwang, a Partner Manager at CNET Downloads. I manage software publisher relationships for Upload.com, and I'm here to tell visitors of Download.com about a software deal that's too good to pass up.

CNET Downloads teamed up with Lavasoft to bring you an exclusive special offer: Today only, you can upgrade your free version of Ad-Aware to Ad-Aware Plus for $9.95 (usually $26.95). That's 63 percent off the regular price, so take advantage of this special offer now, only at CNET Downloads. Click here to grab your copy.

Lavasoft Ad-aware … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--In July, John Hering and Kevin Mahaffey demonstrated an SMS attack targeting a variety of smartphones at a security show. This week they are launching a company, with backing from some heavyweight investors, that will offer a fix for that problem, as well as protect smartphones from many other security issues.

Lookout has received $5.5 million in Series A funding from Khosla Ventures, Trilogy Partnership, and angel investors including Phil Paul, founder of Paul Capital Partners; Chris Sacca, former head of special initiatives at Google; and Joseph Ansanelli, former chief executive of Vontu.

Lookout is a cross-platform, … Read more