Security company Symantec says it has found a bug in Adobe’s widely used Flash Player software. We use this program to view animated Web pages. The flaw is in the newer version 9.0.124.0 and the older 9.0.115.0. Hackers and criminals are already exploiting the flaw to run their code on unsuspecting computers, or in effect, hijack it.

is working with Symantec to “investigate the vulnerability”, as they say. Until a patch is issued, stay away from unknown or questionable Web pages, and keep all your security software up to date. And stay tuned.

Yahoo has filed suit in New York against a group of lottery scammers who have been using Yahoo’s name, trademarks and images in a scam. The email scams try to get personal information from the victims.

Some recipients were notified that they had won a prize, and had to send a certain fee for delivery, security, etc. before they could get their cash. (I get a bunch of these every day, and you probably do too.) They were directed to what looked like an official Yahoo Web site.

These types of phishing scams are as old as the hills, but they still manage to ensnare some victims. Be on guard, and remember, lottery scams are among the most widespread of online frauds.

I wish Yahoo good luck in their lawsuit; they are going to need it. Finding and nailing scammers is very difficult or impossible, especially if they are outside North America. Yahoo’s action is probably intended to be a deterrent more than anything else, and that is good, too.

Syd Tash is a noted computer security consultant and author of How to Protect Your Computer Online. He has been keeping Internet surfers safe and secure since the last century. Find out how he does it; protect your own computer with five layers of protection right here:
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