I recently ran accross a new MalWare variant posing to be an AntiVirus program.  The program was called Total Security.  It actually integrated tight enough to alert Windows Security Center that it was out of date.

So far, Malware bytes and SuperAntiSpyware is not detecting this variant.

To remove - Open Task Manager and find TSC.EXE and Kill the process.

Then, locate the file on the hard drive (usually at c:\program files\ts).  Delete the TS directory. 

Reboot.  Fixed.  Run your favorite scanner to clean up any residual crud.

I was on Facebook today and started seeing a lot of people posting that the Facebook Fan Check application was virus and to remove it.

After doing some research, I found that the application is probably not a virus.  The spin to the apparant hoax is that there are several malware sites that have the keywords "Fix Fan Check virus" in their portfolio.  So, people use the app, see the posting that it was a virus, search google on how to fix it, then end up on an infectuous site that tricks them into installing malware on their computer which claims to fix the problem that never really existed.

Interesting social study for sure.

In my opionion, all of the apps and quizzes, etc, on Facebook are meant to drive advertising dollars by driving up usage and page impression counts.  I will admit I play MobWars and FarmTown occasionally, but I ignore nearly ever other quiz, test, app, etc.  The smaller my footprint on Facebook, the better in terms of possibility of contracting malicious software from the site.  Its called safe FaceBooking maybe.

Additional reading and sources:

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/09/14/is-facebook-fan-check-a-virus-careful-whom-you-ask/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fan-Check-Developer-Rebuts-Malware-Claims-121319.shtml

http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/facebook-fan-check-virus-rumours-are-driving-users-to-more-danger-633935

http://mashable.com/2009/09/07/facebook-fan-check-virus-hoax/

Since the release of Battlefield 2 1.5 Update (http://blog.freedriversite.com/2009/09/06/Battlefield215UpdateAvailableNow.aspx), I have been able to successfully play BF2 on Windows 7 64-Bit Build 7100.  After applying the patch, I played the game for about an hour and then got kicked off the server and received the message  "Visit www.evenbalance.com to update your security files".  I then went to EvenBalance and manually updated my PunkBuster files using PB Setup: http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsetup.php.

Since applying the patch and updating Punkbuster, I have been able to play the game repeatedly with no errors.

The most recent update for BattleField 2 is available now.  At first look it seems to fix the problems with BF2 and Windows 7.  I have been successfully playing BF2 on Windows 7 64-bit for a day or so now.

Here is the link to the official release page at EA:  http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/bf2_2142/archive/2009/09/01/battlefield-2-update-v1-50-available.aspx##

Here are links to the download mirrors:

Australia
iiNET Australia - http://ftp.iinet.net.au/games/bf2/patches/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe
Internode - http://games.on.net/file/29153/Battlefield_2_Patch_v1.5
Mammoth - http://www.ausgamers.com/files/details/html/46763

Europe & UK
BSN Gaming - http://dl2.bsngaming.eu/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe and http://dl2.bsngaming.eu/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe
Gaming.fi - http://www.gaming.fi/keskustelu.php?kat_id=9999&ketju_id=1361&tyyppi_id=7
i3D - http://forum.i3d.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=2436
Killercreation - http://files.killercreation.co.uk/win/games/battlefield-2/patches/1.50/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe
Fileplay - http://www.fileplay.net/features/52-bf2-patch-v1-5
NextGenTel - http://broadparkgames.no/downloads139.html - User registration required
Pelikaista.net - http://forum.pelikaista.net/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=327
TV2 Battle.no - http://www.battle.no/?section=download&get=129

USA
BSN Gaming - http://www.bsngaming.com/bf2/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe and http://dl1.bsngaming.com/BF2_Patch_1.50.exe
Fileplanet - http://www.fileplanet.com/files/200000/204626.shtml
GamersLifeLine - http://www.gamerslifeline.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=602
Hypernia - https://support.hypernia.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=97&nav=0,2,56,61,62
WOLF Servers - http://redirect.wolfservers.com/wolfservers/BF2/sks71z59w/