Security

CyberDefender Corporation, the developer with the Internet’s most advanced early detection and Internet security tools, has identified the following dangerous category 9.9 extremely high risk computer virus for November 14, 2006:
Virus Filename: smss.exe.up11~
CyberDefender Threat Level: 9.9 VERY HIGH
Date Discovered: 11/14/2006 09:10:00
For real-time observation of this virus and other threats, go here.
CyberDefender issues its CyberDefender AntiVirus [...]

An update for those of us following the Ohio University security breach situation:
The August firings of two IT workers at Ohio University after a series of data security breaches have been upheld by the schools provost. The move, made public today, comes despite a recommendation last month by a grievance committee that the workers be [...]

Dennis Fisher of SearchSecurity.com writes:
A new information clearinghouse for data on phishing attacks is up and running, and unlike similar efforts at other sites, PhishTank includes an open API that enables contributors to submit and access data through various applications.
The new site is not only an archive of suspected and confirmed phishing emails, but it also [...]

Web3.0log reports:
Social news rave[s] about Browzar - [it] claims it’s a new secure browser leaving no footprints. After looking at it closer, I found out that it’s not a browser at all, and moreover, this software thrusts search via its own PPC-SE full of ads on user[s].
Yeah, it’s just [a] 264K addon to Microsoft Internet [...]

Well, it had to happen. Ever since Microsoft cut Windows 9x/ME users adrift, people have been holding their breath. We’ve been waiting for that moment when the first serious security threat developed. That is now a reality. Is there hope?

Security company CA is bringing out a free beta version of eTrust EZ Antivirus for Windows Vista Beta 2. This is not the first time the company has handed out free software.
CA’s usual strategy is to hand out limited or simple versions of software, then let a more powerful and complete version carry the freight [...]

The SANS Institute (via ZDNet Australia) recently reported: “Millions of Blogs Inaccessible Due to DDoS Attack.”
A “massive” distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Six Apart’s blogging services and corporate Web site left about 10 million LiveJournal and TypePad blogs unreachable for hours on Tuesday, May 2. Six Apart plans to report the attack to authorities…
Once again [...]

Unfortunately, Firefox is like any other software - security holes are discovered by doing things with the software that the developers never comtemplated or never came up in testing. Firefox versions 1.5.0.2 and version 1.0.8 have been released to fix multiple security vulnerabilities that include the possibility of someone taking control of your computer. [...]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
This doesn’t really require much comment because it is so hilarious. On the other hand, if you read the story, it was his home computer, so IT didn’t install the AV for him. But it’s not that he was cheap. He didn’t even have to buy the software as, according to [...]

Gnomie Josh Araya writes:
Recently, I was tasked to test SoHo (Small Office/Home Office) security software. In this test, I have tested many of the major anti-virus and anti-spyware suites, and I must tell you, NOD32 Antivirus System by Eset is the clear winner.

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
AOL appears to be on the ropes, and it certainly doesn’t need any help from Symantec to lose more customers. :-) But in a story reminiscent (though not as bad) as last week, when McAfee started deleting or quarantining Excel, an update to Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security resulted [...]

The abuse of personal information in the Internet Age isn’t uncommon, but only the most naive among us ignore the precautions we can take against it. What happens, though, when the abuse comes from within a trusted source - say, an employer’s personnel files? Tom Krisher of the Associated Press (via The Seattle Post-Intelligencer) writes:
A [...]

William Kates of the Associated Press (via Newsday.com) writes:
ROME, N.Y. - A group of students at Rome Catholic School are learning how to become the future defenders of cyberspace through a pilot program that officials say is the first of its kind in the country.
The program teaches students about data protection, computer network protocols and vulnerabilities, [...]

This project Higgins sounds fascinating. But the big question is whether or not it will really ever be something that people can accept in everyday life?

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:
If you’ve read any of my previous articles on 180solutions, you know I’m not a fan, same as most of you, we can all see thru the bull, in the past someone catches them with some nonconsensual installs, and they try to turn it into PR, kicking the naughty affiliate to [...]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about this. Apparently if you don’t have the “Users” Group on your computer, Windows Defender won’t install. And I mean “Users” in English. Since “Users” is localized for some international versions of Windows, this is causing an “Error 1609″ when installing Windows [...]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
I listened to an NPR radio story on biometrics this week. I can’t recall what day it was, but biometrics was being touted as the solution to issues like trojans that capture your passwords, as well as for other things like entering areas that require security clearances. But [...]

Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes:
Just a day after what is believed to be the first virus to target OS X was discovered, another one appears.
Read more about Inqtana Here
[tags]os x,realtechnews,security,virus,michael santo[/tags]

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:
How is that for a resume, gold medalist and adware distributor. Aussie Dale Begg-Smith won the Olympic gold medal in the Men’s Moguls, but, as Wayne Porter puts it, All that Glitters is not gold, according to StopScum.com he is also distributor of adware through his AdsCPM website. When asked by [...]

Jimmy Daniels of RealTechNews writes:
Looks like Apple users may have one less thing to brag about, as Times Online is reporting that Sophos, an online web security firm has found the first apple virus to target the Mac OS X operating system.
Read More about the First OS X Virus Here
[tags]mac,os x,apple,realtechnews,virus,jimmy daniels[/tags]