Study: Backdoor Trojans, password stealer top threats to Windows 8

While its new technology can block rootkit-based malware, Windows 8 remains vulnerable to other forms of malware such as backdoor Trojans and password stealer, a security vendor said this week. Bitdefender said Windows 8's backward compatibility with earlier versions of Windows may allow Trojans and worms to bypass its security mechanisms. "The test on Windows 8 confirmed that most Trojans, once they reach the PC, can run without any compatibility issues. Among the most dangerous applications that ran smoothly on Windows 8 were backdoors and password-stealing applications," it said in a post on the Hot for Security blog. Other e-threats that can pose significant danger to the system include Brazilian banker Trojans, which are bank phishing tools embedded in executable files. Bitdefender said the backward compatibility of Windows 8 also applies to malicious software,  which can run in earlier versions of Windows such as Vista. It noted backdoors are particularly threatening since they allow an attacker remote access to the infected machine. "The attacking party can fully control the PC, access data stored on it, see what the user does and also 'rent' the PC to other cyber-criminals for other malicious purposes," it said. — LBG, GMA News