Bleeping Computer
Bleeping Computer is a website covering technology news and offering free computer help via its forums that was created by Lawrence Abrams in 2004.[2] It publishes news focusing heavily on cybersecurity, but also covers other topics including computer software, computer hardware, operating system and general technology.
Type of site | Technology news and computer help |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Owner | Bleeping Computer LLC. |
Created by | Lawrence Abrams |
URL | www |
Registration | Optional |
Launched | 26 January 2004[1] |
Current status | Online |
In 2018, Bleeping Computer was added as an associate partner to the Europol NoMoreRansom project[3] for the ransomware information and decryption tools provided by the site.
History
BleepingComputer was founded in 2004 after Abrams could not find existing technical support sites that could offer easy-to-understand instructions for his friends and family.[2]
The domain name bleepingcomputer.com originates from the sounds made by a broken computer and because a user might want to curse at a computer when it does not work properly.[2]
Since the CryptoLocker ransomware attack in September 2013, and a subsequent DDoS of the site due to its reporting on the new malware,[4] Bleeping Computer has been reporting on new ransomware families as they are released.[5]
Content
The articles published at Bleeping Computer are categorized as news articles, tutorials and virus removal guides. Its content includes searchable databases for looking up Windows start-up programs and uninstall entries, as well as a free Internet forum to receive computer help.
The site covers news released by researchers and companies, but also performs in-house investigative reporting [6] and analysis of ransomware[7] and malware. [8]
Free decryptors to unlock files encrypted by various ransomware families have been released through the forums or the site's news section by third-party researchers.[9]
Government agencies have included Bleeping Computer cybersecurity articles and analysis in numerous advisories.[10][11]
Bleeping Computer's reporting has been cited by major media that cover technology and IT security news.[12]
The site offers a malware removal training program[13] through its forums that teaches volunteers how to remove Windows infections using various tools, including Combofix, HijackThis, DDS,[14] OTL, GMER, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Rkill,[15] developed by Abrams.
In October 2020, there were over 840,000 registered members on the site.
Legal issues
In early February 2016, Enigma Software, the developers of the anti-malware suite SpyHunter, filed a lawsuit[16] against Bleeping Computer in response to a negative review of SpyHunter, alleging a campaign to damage the reputation of their company and product.[17] Bleeping Computer requested financial aid from its readers to help pay legal fees arising from the lawsuit.[18] At the beginning of August 2016, Bleeping Computer filed[19] its own lawsuit against Enigma Software for an alleged long-running smear campaign against Bleeping Computer.[19] The lawsuit against BleepingComputer ended in settlement, with BleepingComputer removing Quietman7's posts on Enigma Software's product.[20]
See also
References
- "Bleeping Computer Technical Support Forums". Bleeping Computer.
- "Behind the scenes of a free PC troubleshooting helpsite: Interview with BleepingComputer". Emsisoft | Security Blog. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Join the global 'No More Ransom' initiative to help more victims fight back". Europol. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- "Information regarding October 10th's DDOS attack". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Articles tagged with Ransomware". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- "Garmin outage caused by confirmed WastedLocker ransomware attack". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Canon confirms ransomware attack in internal memo". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020. - "DarkSide: New targeted ransomware demands million dollar ransoms". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Fake VPN Site Pushes CryptBot and Vidar Info-Stealing Trojans". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "TeslaDecoder released to decrypt .EXX, .EZZ, .ECC files encrypted by TeslaCrypt". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "ECh0raix Ransomware Decryptor Restores QNAP Files For Free". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Windows Ransomware Decryptors Downloads". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020. - "Petya Ransomware". CISA. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Microsoft Operating Systems BlueKeep Vulnerability". CISA. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Customer Alerts: Frauds and Scams". US Treasury. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Cybersecuritybeeld Nederland CSBN 2019" (PDF) (in Dutch). Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- "LokiBot Malware". CISA. Retrieved 7 October 2020. - "Emotet Malware". CISA. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Easy-to-use ransomware code discovered". BBC News. 4 January 2016.
- Turkel, Dan (9 January 2016). "Hackers are now offering 'customer support' to the victims they extort money from". Business Insider.
- Storm, Darlene (10 August 2016). "Thugs developing cat-themed ransomware for Androids and Hitler ransomware for PCs". Computer World.
- "Cybercrime Gets Personal". Time. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
- Smith, Ms. (27 September 2016). "Ransomware targets government, others honor Donald Trump and Voldemort". Network World.
- "Malware Uses Fake PCMag Review as 'Proof'". PCMag.
- Chokshi, Niraj (22 May 2019). "Hackers Are Holding Baltimore Hostage: How They Struck and What's Next". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- Bajak, Frank. "Garmin acknowledges cyberattack, doesn't mention ransomware". Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- Crothers, Brooke (5 December 2019). "Smith & Wesson targeted in cyberattack, report says". Fox News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Cognizant hit by 'Maze' ransomware attack". Reuters. 19 April 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- Stanglin, Doug. "N.C. county rejects hackers' $26K ransom demand to unlock infected computers". USA Today. Retrieved 7 October 2020. - Elise. "Malware Removal Training Program - Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Help". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- "Am I Infected? What do I do? How do I get help? Who is helping me? - Am I infected? What do I do?". Bleeping Computer.
- "RKill - What it does and What it Doesn't - A brief introduction to the program - Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, and Privacy Software". Bleeping Computer.
- "Enigma Software sues BleepingComputer for a smear campaign". Digital Trends. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- Smith, Ms. (3 February 2016). "BleepingComputer under free speech attack as SpyHunter makers sue over bad review". Network World. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Help BleepingComputer Defend Freedom of Speech". BleepingComputer. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "BleepingComputer's lawsuit document" (PDF). Bleepstatic. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- Abrams, Lawrence (1 March 2017). "Press Release". BleepingComputer. Retrieved 22 September 2017.