Security related news, security information, virus warnings, alerts and security tips posted daily. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:40:07 -0400 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:00:00 -0400 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.1.0) http://www.feedforall.com A federal investigation has accused dozens of military officials and defense contractors, including some with top-level security clearances, of buying and downloading child pornography on private or government computers. <br /> <br /> The Pentagon on Friday released investigative reports spanning almost a decade that implicated people working with agencies handling some of the nation’s most closely guarded secrets, including the National Security Agency. <br /> <br /> Defense workers who bought child pornography put the Department of Defense, <i>the military and national security at risk by compromising computer systems, military installations and security clearances, </i>a 2007 investigative report said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1665 1665 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The Middle East peace process may be stagnate but Palestinian security forces have brought real peace to areas under their control – so much so that Israel is now likely to allow Jewish Israeli civilians to enter Palestinian towns long forbidden to them, and may even allow Palestinian security forces to operate inside Israeli-controlled areas. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1664 1664 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The United States has condemned as<i> irresponsible</i><i><u> </u></i>the leak of 90,000 military records, saying publication could threaten national security.<br /> <br /> The documents released by the Wikileaks website include details of killings of Afghan civilians unreported until now.<br /> <br /> Three news organisations had advance access to the records, which also show Nato concerns that Pakistan and Iran are helping the Taliban in Afghanistan. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1663 1663 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The UAE says BlackBerry smartphones operate outside of existing national security legislation, raising questions about the devices' legality in the Mideast business hub.<br /> <br /> The countrys Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said in a statement carried late Sunday on state news agency WAM that BlackBerry applications allow people to <i>misuse the service.</i><br /> It says this can cause <i>serious social, judicial and national security repercussions.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1662 1662 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 There should be unprecedented outrage about the federal government filing suit against Arizona's law to protect it's citizens from the flow of criminals crossing from Mexico into the state.<br /> <br /> This step was only taken because the President Obama has failed to enforce the laws or to adequately secure our border. This is not just an immigration issue. It is a security issue that affects the entire country. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1661 1661 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Some IT execs dismiss public cloud services as being too insecure to trust with critical or sensitive application workloads and data. But not Doug Menefee, CIO of Schumacher Group, an emergency management firm in Lafayette, La.<br /> <br /> Of course there's risk associated with using cloud services – theres risk associated with everything you do, whether you are walking down the street or deploying an e-mail solution out there. You have to weigh business benefits against those risks, he says. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1660 1660 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Apple surprisingly ranked first in the security firm Secunias vulnerability tracking report covering the first half of 2010, as reported in the UK-based technology paper, The Register. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1659 1659 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion RIM today took the wraps off its latest offering for consumers, BlackBerry Protect, a free service meant to help non-corporate BlackBerry users secure and manage their smartphones. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1658 1658 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The United States and its allies have plenty to worry about in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with al Qaeda, two Talibans, the Haqqani Network and a plethora of other militant groups active. But the United States and intelligence analysts believe another group, one of Pakistans most powerful and well-established, is also broadening its horizons. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1657 1657 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:00:44 -0400 In a time when everyone is managing and controlling much of their life from a smart phone or laptop, consumers should be more aware of the security risks accompanying such conveniences. Often times, many of the devices people use are connected on a single network. It is important to realize that the infrastructure these networks rely on is often full of holes.<br /> <br /> Kyle Flaherty, director of marketing at BreakingPoint Systems, an Austin-based cyber security product developer, explains that consumers should hold vendors and services such as Twitter or Amazon accountable for their security infrastructure. Flaherty reiterates the fact that there is not any security assurance paired with network or data center equipment. This includes everything from routers for at-home networks to corporate and social media networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1656 1656 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Concertgoers can expect more security personnel and other changes after a larger-than-expected crowd at the summers first Twilight event in Salt Lake City.<br /> <br /> Police estimate 40,000 people jammed Pioneer Park on Thursday night for the concert by the band Modest Mouse, about 10,000 more than expected. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1655 1655 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Twitter has settled charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission that it <i>deceived consumers</i> by allowing hackers to obtain administrative control over Twitter because of loose security.<br /> <br /> The FTC said Thursday that the popular social networking site allowed hackers in 2009 to obtain <i>tweets,</i> the 140-character micro-blogs users sent out, that were designated private and send out phony tweets pretending to be from then-President elect Barack Obama and Fox News, among others. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1654 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 MI5 is investigating whether the Russian intelligence service channelled money into Britain to fund several spy <i>sleeper</i> cells. <br /> <br /> The Security Service is exploring the sources of funding secured by Anna Chapman, 28, an alleged Russian spy arrested in the US last week who spent five years in London.<br /> <br /> MI5 is looking at whether Mrs Chapman was able to use Moscows money to recruit sleeper agents during the five years she spent in London. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1653 1653 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Earlier this weekend, reports emerged that a third-party developer had hacked into peoples App Store and iTunes accounts in order to boost sales of their e-books (a somewhat strange target considering how low e-book sales are through these channels). http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1652 1652 Fri, 9 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 An American geologist held and tortured by Chinas state security agents was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for gathering data on the Chinese oil industry in a case that highlights the governments use of vague secrets laws to restrict business information. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1651 1651 Thu, 8 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 No one can turn the clock back to the days before the Tylenol killer laced bottles of the pain reliever with cyanide and changed drug packaging forever. But computer scientists and a prominent Boston cardiologist warn that medical devices may also be vulnerable to the kind of attacks that once seemed inconceivable.<br /> <br /> Pacemakers, which keep hearts beating properly, and infusion pumps, which control diabetes, also connect patients to doctors by sending vital health data through wireless connections to allow regular monitoring and make programming adjustments possible. Those very communication channels may be susceptible to intrusion, exposing private information or even becoming avenues for interference with life-saving therapies, according to members of the Medical Device Security Center. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1650 1650 Wed, 7 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security has seized control over a joint BP oil spill website, previously managed by several US Government agencies and BP and intended to inform the public about the progress made in the cleanup effort. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1649 1649 Tue, 6 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 US regulator FTC and Twitter have agreed to settle charges that the micro-blogging site failed to safeguard personal information of millions of its users. <br /> <br /> The Federal Trade Commission, which mainly looks into anti-competitive practices, had accused Twitter of <i>serious lapses</i> in its data security that allowed hackers to access non-public user information, among other things. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1648 1648 Mon, 5 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 <font color="#d62a2a">Happy Fourth of July! And thank you to the US Military.</font> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1647 1647 Sun, 4 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 China has issued regulations banning its 2.3 million soldiers from creating web sites or writing web blogs, adding to the nation's existing Internet curbs, state press said Saturday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1646 1646 Sat, 3 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 In the murky world of the Internet, how do you ever really know who you are talking to, who you're buying from or if your bank can actually tell it is you when you log in to pay a bill?<br /> <br /> Amid growing instances of identity theft, bank account breaches and sophisticated Internet scams, the government is looking for ways to make those transactions in cyberspace more secure.<br /> <br /> But officials must tread carefully, as efforts to create identity cards, personal certificates or other systems of identifiers raise privacy worries and fears of Big Brother tracking its citizens online.<br /> <br /> In a draft plan released Friday, the White House laid out an argument for a yet-undeveloped, voluntary identification system and set up a website to gather input from experts and everyday Internet users on how it should be structured.<br /> <br /> The website was already getting votes, snipes and suggestions Friday afternoon — underscoring the incendiary nature of any discussion of Internet regulation. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1645 1645 Sat, 3 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 U.S. President Barack Obamas administration will seek to aggressively enforce its intellectual property laws by putting pressure on countries that do not shut down piracy Web sites and by requiring all government contractors to check for illegal software, the White House announced.<br /> <br /> The White House Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, in a 65-page report released Tuesday, said the U.S. government will also step up its efforts to identify foreign Web sites trafficking in pirated goods and will create a database of intellectual property investigations to be shared among law enforcement agencies.<br /> <br /> The U.S. government will also seek to protect U.S. intellectual property (IP) through trade agreements, including the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, the report said. Several digital rights groups have complained that officials from the U.S. and other countries have drafted ACTA in secret. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1644 1644 Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Intensified military operations against the Taliban are behind a surge in troop deaths in Afghanistan, NATO said Sunday, as the alliance announced the 93rd fatality in a record month for casualties. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1643 1643 Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The survey explored the security implications of social networking and the use of personal devices in the enterprise. The survey polled 500 IT security professionals across the United States, Germany, Japan, China and India and came up with findings that are striking but neither unexpected nor unanticipated.<br /> <br /> While announcing the result of the survey, Cisco informed that the results illustrate that the consumer influence on enterprise IT is growing and that more employees are bringing personal devices and applications into the network. This is serious because on the one hand, it is opening up new business opportunities and on the other hand it is throwing open new security challenges. <br /> <br /> The survey took a close scrutiny of the changing enterprise security landscape that is being shaped up by the evolving requirements of todays borderless networks. The survey also examined the benefits and drawbacks of accommodating an increasingly mobile workforce, and the challenges of protecting sensitive and proprietary data, as part of the changing enterprise security scenario. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1642 1642 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A security expert has identified flaws in the design of some automated teller machines that make them vulnerable to hackers, who could make the ubiquitous cash dispensers spit out their cash holdings. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1641 1641 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday unanimously approved a major cybersecurity legislation that would structure how the federal government protects public and private sector cyber networks.<br /> <br /> Crafted by Ranking Member Susan Collins and Sens. Joe Lieberman and Tom Carper, the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010 calls for the creation of a White House Office of Cyberspace Policy to spearhead federal and private sector efforts to secure critical cyber networks and assets. The office would be headed by a Senate-confirmed director who would be accountable to the public. The bill also creates a new center within the Department of Homeland Security to adopt cybersecurity policies related to federal and private sector networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1640 1640 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 People who work for big companies are consistently ignoring the security policies of their employers to use banned social networking apps and their own phones and computers at work.<br /> <br /> This is the headline finding of a poll of 500 IT security professionals conducted by Cisco. Some 68 per cent of the respondents know their employees use unsupported social networking applications. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1639 1639 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A U.S. appeals court heard arguments Thursday over whether school officials can discipline students for making lewd, harassing or juvenile Internet postings from off-campus computers.<br /> <br /> Two students from two different Pennsylvania school districts are fighting suspensions they received for posting derisive profiles of their principals on MySpace from home computers. The American Civil Liberties Union argued that school officials infringe on student's free speech rights when they reach beyond school grounds in such cases to impose discipline. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1638 1638 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 If you have a Google e-mail account, use Google search, and see online ads that are served by Googles DoubleClick, the chances are good that Google knows more about you than you might want to share with your significant other.<br /> <br /> We trust Google with an unprecedented amount of our data--from our entire search history (Web History), e-mail (Gmail), physical location (Latitude), to maybe even our health records (Google Health). Google stores massive amounts of data about our activities on its servers. And therein lies a privacy paradox. Why is it that we storm the gates of Facebook when it changes its privacy policy, but give Google a pass when it comes to the massive amounts of data that it collects on us? http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1637 1637 Wed, 9 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Some websites, including ones with pornography, that were previously blocked by Chinas Internet censors were accessible inside the country Friday, though reasons for the change were unclear. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1636 1636 Tue, 8 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Adobe has issued a security advisory about a <i>critical</i> vulnerability in its Flash Player and Adobe Reader and Acrobat products that it says could let attackers take control of people's computers. <br /> <br /> The company said late Friday that there had been reports of the hole actually being exploited and that an official patch was not yet available. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1635 1635 Mon, 7 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Send sms and text messages from existing applications using <a href="http://www.notepage.net/pagegate.htm" target="_blank" >PageGate software</a>. Receive alerts of system failures or other events. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1634 1634 Wed, 2 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Software Industry Conference will be held on July 15 - 17, 2010 in Dallas, Texas at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel.

The Software Industry Conference is a three day event that culminates with a Networking Gala Dinner that gives software developers and publishers an opportunity to form partnerships and alliances. The conference also includes dozens of informative, educational breakout sessions covering a wide variety of topics that are critical to the success of Independent Software Developers (ISVs).

The conference includes more than forty educational seminars and presentations that are designed to help developers sell more software. Presentations by industry experts include topics such as profiting from Google Adwords, marketing more effectively, providing income-producing customer support, working with translation and localization services, sending press releases, developing Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, avoiding legal pitfalls, reducing chargebacks, and creating affiliate networks.

The conference allows plenty of time to network with other software developers and software industry service providers. The conveniently-located daily breakfasts in the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel make it easy for conference attendees to meet and socialize with fellow industry members. You can even attend the annual meetings and luncheons of two industry trade associations, ESC and ASP.

The casual SIC conferences are known for their family-friendly atmosphere. Many software developers turn their trips to SIC into mini-vacations.

As always, the conference will present awards to honor developers in several key software categories. SIC's Exhibit Night features the best software development products and services from leading industry vendors.

Registration at the door costs $299(US), or costs $249 if you register online http://www.sic.org/register.asp by July 13. Deeply discounted hotel rooms at the Hyatt Regency DFW are available to all conference attendees.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1633 1633 Tue, 1 Jun 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Social networking, and the broader concept of online privacy, have been under some rather intense scrutiny over the past couple of weeks. The issues at Google--voracious indexer of all things Internet, and Facebook--the largest social network and number one most visited site have made many users more acutely aware of what information is available about them on the Internet. However, your online reputation is being used in ways you may not be aware of, and could cost you. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1632 1632 Mon, 31 May 2010 16:22:43 -0400 Pakistan restored access to Facebook on Monday, nearly two weeks after closing the popular networking site in a storm of controversy about blasphemy, but still restricted hundreds of online links. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1631 1631 Mon, 31 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Australian police have warned teenagers about posting photographs of themselves on social networking sites such as Facebook after a young woman was allegedly murdered by an Internet friend. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1630 1630 Sun, 30 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Symantec Corp.s decision to pay $1.28 billion to buy a division of VeriSign Inc. that sells security technology to websites highlights how quickly the companies are moving in opposite directions.<br /> <br /> Symantec, best known for its antivirus software for personal computers, wants to secure more things.<br /> <br /> With the VeriSign deal, announced Wednesday, Symantec will have spent nearly $3 billion in two years acquiring technologies that make it a bigger player in other parts of the security market, such as protecting data on mobile phones and delivering software over the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1629 1629 Sun, 30 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Google launched a new beta service this week--encrypted search using SSL&nbsp;&nbsp;to protect searches from being snooped or intercepted while traversing the Internet. Encrypted Google search is still not entirely private, but it has benefits for individuals and businesses to ensure sensitive information is not exposed to prying eyes. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1628 1628 Sat, 29 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Russian Internet investment group Digital Sky Technologies, which bought a $300 million stake in Facebook last year, is preparing to buy stakes in dozens of well-known Internet companies, its chief executive said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1627 1627 Fri, 28 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 From Facebook to advertisers who may be putting your online identity up for sale to the highest bidder, and to strangers who could track you across town, new ways of using technology and the Internet are making privacy issues a flash point for controversy. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1626 1626 Thu, 27 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Come to the 20th Annual <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> to learn more about marketing, business and software in the conference sessions, network with peers and vendors at the evening events and in the hospitality suites, and then return to work energized with new ideas and new approaches to old ideas, ready to take your online business to the next level. <br /> <br /> The <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> is July 15-17th in Dallas, Texas. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1624 1624 Wed, 26 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 For young veterans returning from duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, the process of re-entering society can be daunting, especially if they have been injured or have struggled with mental health problems.<br /> <br /> A new, free Web portal wants to help these warriors find the services they need in an environment they are comfortable in: the Internet.<br /> <br /> Warrior Gateway is designed with Google Inc. and social media in mind to make its intended audience as comfortable as possible. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, generally in their mid-20s, grew up with e-mail, keep in touch using Facebook and are familiar with online communities that stretch across time zones. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1623 1623 Tue, 25 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Your internet cafe might be housing a potential security threat—called the Typhoid adware, it works in similar fashion to Typhoid Mary, the first identified healthy carrier of typhoid fever who spread the disease to dozens of people in the New York area in the early 1900s. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1622 1622 Mon, 24 May 2010 10:28:45 -0400 A just-published attack tactic that bypasses the security protections of most current antivirus software is a <i>very serious</i> problem, an executive at one unaffected company said.<br /> Last week, researchers at Matousec.com outlined how attackers could exploit the kernel driver hooks that most security software use to reroute Windows system calls through their software to check for potential malicious code before it's able to execute. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1621 1621 Tue, 18 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Google is suing a blues music label to seek a declaration that it has not facilitated the illegal distribution of copyrighted songs by providing links in search results. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1620 1620 Mon, 17 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Cybersecurity experts from around the world meeting on ways to protect the Internet say they still have fears of <i>nightmare</i> scenarios in which attacks could cripple critical computer networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1619 1619 Sun, 16 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 So, you have built an empire on the Internet, and now it's time to move on. Well OK, maybe its not a full-blown empire, but it has taken substantial blood, sweat and tears to create, and you want to make sure you get a reasonable amount of money for all your efforts. Determining the value of a website can be tricky, because a number of factors can play a role. Factors involved in determining the resale value of a website include...<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/buy-sell-value-website.htm" target="_blank" >Buy, Sell, and Value Websites</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1618 1618 Sat, 15 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Three Mideast countries have become the first to get Internet addresses entirely in non-Latin characters.<br /> <br /> Domain names in Arabic for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were added to the Internet's master directories on Wednesday, following final approval last month by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. It's the first major change to the Internet domain name system since its creation in the 1980s.<br /> <br /> Registrations for websites to use those names are to begin soon. On Thursday, Egypt granted three companies approval to register names using the countrys new Arabic suffix. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1617 1617 Fri, 14 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Come to the 20th Annual <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> to learn more about marketing, business and software in the conference sessions, network with peers and vendors at the evening events and in the hospitality suites, and then return to work energized with new ideas and new approaches to old ideas, ready to take your online business to the next level. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1616 1616 Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A U.S. senator has introduced legislation that would require U.S. government agencies to post all public documents online in a free, searchable database. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1615 1615 Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Stymied by a recent court decision regarding network neutrality, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has decided to partially reclassify broadband as a common-carrier service so that it can forge ahead on net neutrality rules and its national broadband plan. And, as usual of late, Facebooks ongoing privacy issues garnered headlines as well -- we pared down the myriad choices to just a manageable handful. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1614 1614 Wed, 12 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The industry bodies responsible for the root servers that underpin the Internet have claimed success in implementing its DNS Security Extensions DNSSEC to the last clusters. The deployment is the final step before implementing the security required to prevent DNS cache poisoning attacks on Internet addresses. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1613 1613 Tue, 11 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Is there really a <i>cyberwar</i> going on? Some officials and computer security companies say yes, arguing that armies of hackers are stealing online secrets and using the Internet to attack infrastructure such as power grids. <br /> <br /> However, some security analysts said at a conference last week that<i> cyberwarfare </i>is such a broadly used term that it might be hurting efforts by countries to agree how to cooperate on Internet security. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1612 1612 Mon, 10 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Crashing machines, slow boot times, and agony dealing with technical support have Digital Age people suffering from Computer Stress Syndrome, a study available online Tuesday found http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1611 1611 Sat, 8 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Google said Tuesday that fake software security programs rigged to infect computers are a growing online threat with hackers tricking people into installing nefarious code on machines.<br /> <br /> An analysis of 240 million Web pages by the Internet search giant during the past 13 months revealed that fake anti-virus programs accounted for 15 percent of malicious software it detected. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1610 1610 Fri, 7 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will soon join the ranks of politicians on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter, under the profile @chavezcandanga, Minister of Public Works Diosdado Cabello said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1609 1609 Thu, 6 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A college student who hacked into former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palins e-mail account and posted some of its contents on the Internet was found guilty Friday.<br /> <br /> After four days of deliberations, a federal jury found David Kernell, the 22-year-old son of a Democratic Tennessee state legislator, guilty of obstruction of justice, a felony, and unauthorized access of a computer, a misdemeanor.<br /> <br /> Kernell was cleared of a wire fraud charge, and the jury could not agree on a verdict on a charge of identity theft.<br /> <br /> Judge Thomas Phillips declared a mistrial on the identity theft charge but did not set a date for sentencing.<br /> <br /> The obstruction charge alone carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, while the misdemeanor count is punishable by up to one year in jail. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1608 1608 Wed, 5 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Facebooks evolution from online club house to Internet powerhouse is raising fears that the social network is trading privacy for profit.<br /> <br /> The California companys recent move to become omnipresent with software<i> plug-ins </i>that let peoples online communities follow them to any website is the latest iteration to raise hackles of privacy advocates. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1607 1607 Tue, 4 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Without law enforcement, there is no law.<br /> Without law, there is no justice.<br /> Without justice, there is no security.<br /> Without security, there is no freedom.<br /> Without freedom, there is nothing to distinguish the United States of America from every other middling-poor debtor country in the world.<br /> And that, in a nutshell, is why every American from sea to shining sea should be down on his or her knees thanking God for the Arizona legislature taking a courageous stand in favor of principle over politics. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1606 1606 Mon, 3 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Federal government agencies will implement real-time data monitoring for cyber-security that will replace paper-based reports in instructions outlined in a memo from President Barack Obamas technology leaders on Wednesday, April 21.<br /> <br /> The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will provide support as agencies automate the reporting of security data as required by the Federal Information Security Management Act FISMA. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1605 1605 Sat, 1 May 2010 09:00:00 -0400 If you are the kind of person who worries about the security of computer networks, you should know that the National Security Agency is worrying about it too.<br /> <br /> Since Tuesday, the NSA has been conducting its 10th annual Cyber Defense Exercise, a competition that pits students from a series of military academies against each other--and against the competition's leaders at NSA--in a bid to see who has the best cyberdefense skills. The idea? To <i>build and defend computer networks against simulated intrusions by the National Security Agency Central Security Services Red Team.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1604 1604 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A report from Minnesotas legislative auditor says state officials did not do enough to safeguard data in a system used to verify the citizenship of new employees.<br /> <br /> The state stopped using Texas-based Lookout Services Inc. last December after private data like employee birth dates and Social Security numbers were too easily accessed on the companys website. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1603 1603 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The new 100 dollar bill, to be issued on February 10, 2011, has quite a few new important security features, allowing it to avoid counterfeiting by using the latest available technology. These were necessary, since the $ 100 bill is the most counterfeited around the world.<br /> <br /> Here are the most important security features of the new $ 100 Note. They are meant to be easy to recognize by anyone.<br /> <br /> 1. First of all, the new 100 dollar bill includes a technology called the 3-D Security Ribbon. This makes the new note show images if bells and 100s as you move the bill.<br /> <br /> 2. The front of the new $ 100 bill includes another feature. The Bell in the Inkwell will shift its color when the note is moved. Its color will change form copper to green and it will seem to appear and disappear in the inkwell.<br /> <br /> 3. The new 100 bill also shows phrases from the Declaration of Independence and the quill the Founding Fathers of the Nation used to sign the Declaration.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1602 1602 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Visa said Wednesday that it will acquire CyberSource, which provides electronic payment and e-commerce security software, for $2 billion. <br /> <br /> The CyberSource price tag works out to $26 a share. CyberSource closed at $19.44 on Tuesday. The e-commerce security player has more than 295,000 merchants in its network http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1601 1601 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 eWEEK presents the Top 10 vulnerabilities impacting Web applications, and some advice from OWASP as to what Web developers and IT managers can do to stop these security threats. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/10-Most-Dangerous-Web-App-Security-Risks-730757/" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1600 1600 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Opposition activists in Iran are beginning to deploy a new weapon in the cyber war against the regime that they hope will defeat extensive government efforts to block popular mobilization on the Internet inside Iran. <br /> <br /> Called <i>Haystack </i>– and carrying the motto <i>Good luck finding that needle</i> – an encryption software custom-made for Iran in San Francisco is the first anti-censorship technology to be licensed by the US government for export to Iran. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1599 1599 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The Justice Department has charged a former senior official at the National Security Agency with lying, obstruction of justice and retention of classified information. The indictment alleges that Thomas Drake was the unnamed source for a series of newspaper articles about the NSAs cyber security operations and that he provided copies of classified documents to a reporter. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1598 1598 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Cyberspace will not be militarized by the United States to protect the country from attacks on civilian computer networks, according to the Obama administrations nominee to head the new U.S. Cyber Command.<br /> <br /> During Senate confirmation hearings, Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander tried to alleviate concerns by senators who were nervous the new position could violate laws which prevent the military from operating in domestic issues.<br /> <br /> Senators worried the new position of overseeing the militarys cyber defense efforts for the Pentagon could blur the lines between Alexander's current civilian role of leading the National Security Agency (NSA), which also plays a role in protecting the nations computer networks by monitoring domestic electronic communications. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1597 1597 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Despite the diplomatically cordial meeting between the US and Chinese leaders and China’s likely decision to modify its currency, political pressure in Congress, and other quarters, for a more aggressive China policy is mounting. Beyond currency manipulation, various other issues continue to generate fierce debate on the increasingly complex and troubled U.S.-China relationship.<br /> <br /> Emerging strengthened from the global recession with greater international leverage, China’s rhetoric grew increasingly hostile and unnecessarily provocative. It has seriously risked overplaying its hand. It threatens to destabilize much of Asia, already wary of rapid Chinese growth, and undermine volatile bilateral relations with the U.S. Furthermore, such rhetoric can only fuel greater uncertainty in a fragile world struggling to recover from economic turbulence.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1596 1596 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Need a <a href="http://www.logo-search.com/keyword.php/security" target="_blank" >logo design for your security business</a>?<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.logo-search.com/keyword.php/security" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.logo-search.com/preview1/thumb-5697.gif"></a><br /> Wide variety of logos that can be customized for security companies.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1595 1595 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Leaders of countries in the eastern Caribbean told Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates Friday that the international anti-drug crackdown in Mexico has forced traffickers into the waters around their islands, adding to the regions crime and security woes.<br /> <br /> To stem the increase, Caribbean nations are seeking expanded U.S. security help, particularly for combating drug trafficking, and said they would like to see an increased American focus on the region. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1594 1594 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Well, for all Obamas rhetoric, the reality remains that his country is the biggest holder of nuclear warheads on the planet. While Obama alongside Russian President Medvedev recently signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty START which aims to further reduce nuclear stockpiles, his administration is still engaging in the time honoured American tactic of the pot calling the kettle black. Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 (which is up for another five yearly review at a conference later this year), all of the declared nuclear powers (the US, Russia, China, France and Great Britain) are under obligation to eventually renounce their nuclear arsenals through negotiation and not share nuclear weapons materials or technologies with non-nuclear nations. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1593 1593 Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:22:43 -0400 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is in legal limbo after a U.S. appellate court ruling Tuesday tossed out the agency's enforcement of network neutrality principles on broadband provider Comcast.<br /> <br /> Even as the agency moves forward with a rulemaking proceeding to formalize a set of net neutrality rules, the courts decision raises serious questions about the FCCs ability to create regulations in areas where its authority is not spelled out in law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the FCC did not have the legal authority under a set of net neutrality principles adopted in 2005 to stop Comcast from throttling BitTorrent peer-to-peer traffic. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1592 1592 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 For the second time in two weeks, bad networking information spreading from China has disrupted the Internet.<br /> <br /> On Thursday morning, bad routing data from a small Chinese ISP called IDC China Telecommunication was re-transmitted by Chinas state-owned China Telecommunications, and then spread around the Internet, affecting Internet service providers such as AT&T, Level3, Deutsche Telekom, Qwest Communications and Telefonica. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1591 1591 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The case of a teenager in Massachusetts who killed herself after a relentless, months-long bullying campaign shows how the common schoolyard behavior is evolving in dangerous new ways online.<br /> <br /> Six students face felony charges in the death of Phoebe Prince, 15, who hanged herself in January after being subjected to verbal assault and threats of physical harm. Some harassment occurred online on Facebook, in text messages and in other high-tech forms, a contemporary development in the age-old practice, experts said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1590 1590 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Google is the undisputed king when it comes to raking in advertising dollars on the Internet, but Apple wants the crown when it comes to ads on mobile devices.<br /> <br /> The mobile advertising space is shaping up as the latest battleground in an increasingly testy rivalry that led Google chief executive Eric Schmidt to step down from Apples board of directors last year.<br /> <br /> Schmidt may have been photographed recently chatting amiably with Apples chief executive Steve Jobs at a Palo Alto, California, cafe but the technology giants are slugging it out on a growing number of fronts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1589 1589 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The web is not always a friendly place, so what do you do if you are not using an alias and someone is posting derogatory information about you, your company, your products, or your brand?<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/online-reputation-protection.htm" target="_blank" >Online Reputation Management</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1588 1588 Thu, 8 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Internet security experts at Stanford University launched a site Friday that reviews how well certain Web and mobile applications protect users privacy. <br /> <br /> Dozens of the more that 200 apps listed on WhatApp.org have already been reviewed by a team of lawyers, computer scientists and privacy and security experts from Stanford and other institutions. Shoppers and developers can add their opinions and request reviews. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1587 1587 Wed, 7 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Everyone is talking about cloud computing, but security issues are stalling widespread adoption. While vendors work to address enterprise concerns the good, experts warn there is no easy fix the bad. Meanwhile, cloud service outages and criminals operating in the cloud the ugly threaten enterprise acceptance of the utility computing model. Here’s a roundup of our most recent cloud security coverage, starting with some positive advances. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1586 1586 Tue, 6 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Internet giants including Microsoft and Google have joined US privacy groups and academics in a campaign to get outdated US privacy laws revamped for the Internet Age. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1585 1585 Mon, 5 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 From street corners to cyberspace, a battle of words and images is raging over legislation that would link Florida teacher pay to student test scores and erode job security for new hires.<br /> <br /> Teachers and their unions have been circulating petitions against the measure, making picket signs and holding rallies and demonstrations. They have flooded the Florida House with e-mails and so many calls that extra lines were put in and additional staffers assigned to answer the phones. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1584 1584 Mon, 5 Apr 2010 01:08:25 -0400 The United States has raised concerns with Australia about the impact of a proposed Internet filter that would place restrictions on Web content, an official said Monday.<br /> <br /> The concerns of Australias most important security ally further undermine plans that would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the worlds democracies. Internet giants Google and Yahoo have condemned the proposal as a heavy-handed measure that could restrict access to legal information. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1583 Sun, 4 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Facebook users are expressing strong disapproval of proposed privacy changes that will let the site share some user information with third-party Web sites and applications.<br /> <br /> Under Facebooks current rules you are asked first if you want to share information your name, photos and friends list with third-party sites. The proposed policy, which Facebook has not implemented yet, would bypass asking you for approval when visiting some sites and applications Facebook has busines relationships with, sharing limited personal information automatically. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1582 1582 Sat, 3 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Of the 900 technology professionals interviewed by Pew and the Imaging the Internet Center at Elon University, about 72 percent believed that innovative online cooperation will make bureaucracies more productive in the next decade. About 26 percent, however, are pessimistic that institutions will be able to make progress and expressed concern that new technologies will just give companies and agencies the ability to secretly control and track people. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1581 1581 Fri, 2 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 At the annual Pwn2Own contest, where experts in software security compete to become the first to hack the latest and <i>most secure </i>tech products, pretty much everything was hacked in no time. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1580 1580 Thu, 1 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0400 CCDC competitions are becoming more and more common! Teaching students to defend against cyber attacks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1579 1579 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A man has been arrested in China accused of poisoning dumplings in a case which led to a diplomatic rift with Japan, state media reports. <br /> <br /> Temporary factory worker Lu Yueting, 36, allegedly put insecticide in some frozen dumplings because he was unhappy with his pay and colleagues. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1578 1578 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A Minnesota company that guarantees federal student loans... is working with police to figure out who stole personal information on three-point-three million borrowers.The Educational Credit Management Corporation is based in suburban Saint Paul and is a contractor for the U-S Department of Education.Company C-E-O Richard Boyle says the theft was discovered last week when security found something odd in a hallway. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1577 1577 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 A new version of <a href="http://www.feedforall.com/free-php-script.htm" target="_blank" >RSS2HTML php script</a> is now available. It includes an update for PHP 5.3. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1576 1576 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Google is not exactly known for its respect for privacy, but a recent blog post shows the search giant may be attempting to turn a new leaf on what has been called an <i>irresponsible</i> stance on user privacy. Maybe.<br /> <br /> The Google Analytics team has been working to give users a choice on how their Internet browsing data is collected by the analytics and marketing tool, according to a blog post by Amy Chang, group product manager. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1575 1575 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Malware-tainted memory cards may have ended up on as many as 3,000 HTC Magic phones, a greater number than first suspected, Vodafone said Friday.<br /> <br /> The problem came to light earlier this month after an employee of Panda Security plugged a newly ordered phone into a Windows computer, where it triggered an alert from the antivirus software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1574 1574 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> July 15-17th in Dallas, Texas has invitations available for only $229.00 on April 1st the price of attendance will increase. <a href="http://www.sic.org/register.asp" target="_blank" >Register Now</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1573 1573 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:00:01 -0400 Google on Friday released an automated Web security scanning program called skipfish to help reduce online security vulnerabilities. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1572 1572 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Create professional security presentations for staff, conferences or meetings. Use <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/keyword.php/security" target="_blank" >security powerpoint presentation backgrounds and templates</a> to make the presentations look even more professional. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1571 1571 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The federal government may soon send unmanned aircraft to scour West Texas and the states coastal waters in an effort to boost border security, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a letter to the governor sent Friday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1570 1570 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Charles Miller, a computer security researcher who's worked with the NSA, is planning to reveal 20 zero-day security holes in Mac OS X at CanSecWest, a digital security conference, in Vancouver BC this week. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1569 1569 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Cybercriminals have been spreading malware by targeting the subjects users are most interested in. From the Facebook Password Reset Scam to basketball and gossip, web users are getting infected. Basketball brackets are promoting malware and hackers are getting their sites ranked high in searches about Sandra Bullock's marriage woes. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1568 1568 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 The US is taking a go-slow approach on one of the touchiest and least discussed national security issues: Whether to remove the last remaining Cold War-era US nuclear weapons in Europe.<br /> <br /> Some officials in Germany and other US allies in Europe are advocating a withdrawal, citing President Barack Obama's call last year for a nuclear-free world. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1567 1567 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Air France flies non-stop to Mexico by the shortest route, over the United States.<br /> <br /> But at least twice last year, Air France Flight 438, from Paris to Mexico City, was diverted from flying over the United States because one of its passengers was on a U.S. government terrorism watchlist.<br /> The U.S. Department of Homeland Security already diverts flights away from U.S. air space for security reasons. But starting in December with the introduction of Secure Flight, the latest U.S anti-terrorism measure, passengers from all over the world - including Canada - whose views raise a flag with U.S. authorities or who share the name of someone on a U.S. watchlist could be barred from boarding flights that fly over the United States.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1566 1566 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Signaling a new offensive mindset, international military officials vowed Friday to fight the pirates as swarms of Somalis moved into the waters off East Africa. Four shootouts with pirates showed that high-seas attacks are intensifying with the end of the monsoon season.<br /> <br /> Nearly half the 47 ships hijacked off Somalia last year were taken in March and April — the most dangerous months of the year for ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1565 1565 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 At the RSA conference in San Francisco, Trend Micro CTO Raimund Genes discusses the companys plans for building private clouds within public clouds.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1564 1564 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0400 Police believe the men were not expert hackers and bought their virus program on the black market before using it to take over other peoples computers in order to create a <i>botnet,</i> a network of enslaved computers.<br /> <br /> <i>Fortunately this botnet of 13 million computers was controlled by someone who had not realized how powerful it was, </i>Juan Salon, the head of the cybercrime unit of Spains Civil Guard Police, told a news conference. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1563 1563 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 There is a definite buzz of concern about cloud computing security as companies try to figure out when, how and whether they're going to use public<i> (as opposed to private or internal) </i>cloud services. Companies want to know that cloud service providers will protect their information, and service-level agreements and SaS 70 audits may not offer them enough reassurance. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1562 1562 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Sen. Scott Brown, who campaigned on the idea of freezing federal worker salaries to control the deficit, may soon get to explore the topic further. <br /> <br /> Senate Republicans announced Tuesday that Brown will join the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1561 1561 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The Army announced its first internal applications-development challenge March 1. The program, called <i>Apps for the Army,</i> or A4A, gives Army personnel the opportunity to demonstrate their software-development skills.<br /> <br /> Open to all Soldiers and Army civilians, the challenge's top submissions will be recognized at the LandWarNet Conference in August. Winners will receive monetary awards from a cash pool totaling $30,000. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1560 1560 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 New software could be used by banks and e-commerce firms to secure customers online Web security firm Network Intercept today announced the UK launch of its Secure-Me online security and privacy solutions, promising faster browsing and increased protection from identity theft. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1559 1559 Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 A deal between internet giant Google and the US National Security Agency on cyber-attacks may pose serious threats to other countries national security and internet users. <br /> <br /> Analysts worry the collaboration would allow Googles data to flow to the spy agency. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1558 1558 Mon, 8 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Rutgers University researchers say they have identified an old computer security threat that can attack new generations of smartphones. <br /> <br /> The researchers, led by Professor Liviu Iftode and Assistant Professor Vinod Ganapathy, said smartphones are essentially becoming regular computers. They run the same class of operating systems as desktop and laptop computers, so they are just as vulnerable to attack by malicious software http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1557 1557 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Comcast unveiled on Tuesday an aggressive plan to deploy new DNS security mechanisms that are designed to protect Web site operators and consumers from a specific type of hacking attack that involves hijacking Web traffic and redirecting it to bogus sites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1556 1556 Sat, 6 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The US government must take a more active role in securing the Internet, industry experts told Congress yesterday, arguing that the prospect of a serious attack is growing as businesses and governments rely more on cyberspace. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1555 1555 Fri, 5 Mar 2010 18:09:38 -0500 Google is being investigated for possible anticompetitive behavior in Europe following complaints filed against it there by three competitors, Google revealed in a blog post Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The investigation, which has been described as preliminary, follows complaints filed with the European Commission by a U.K. price comparison site called Foundem, a French legal search engine called ejustice.fr, and a German search site called Ciao that was recently acquired by Microsoft, Google said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1554 1554 Thu, 4 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 More than 65 journalists, bloggers and writers have been detained in Iran since last Junes disputed presidential polls and could be tried on charges of <i>spying</i> for the foreign media, a New York-based media rights group said Tuesday http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1553 1553 Wed, 3 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> is a three day event, July 15-17, 2010 in Dallas, Texas with educational sessions and networking events. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1552 1552 Tue, 2 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Two Chinese schools have been linked to the cyber attacks on Google and dozens of other companies last year. <br /> <br /> Computers at Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Lanxiang Vocational School in China reportedly played a role in the attacks, according to unnamed sources cited in The New York Times. <br /> <br /> Jim Christy, the Director of Futures Exploration at the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, talks about the increasing sophistication of attacks that he is starting to see.Lanxiang Vocational School, The New York Times says, was created with funding from the Chinese military and trains computer scientists for the Chinese military. Its network is operated by a company with ties to Baidu, Googles most significant rival in China. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1551 1551 Mon, 1 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0500 A Lower Merion School District official conceded Friday night that <i>notice should have been given</i> to families that the district's computer security system would snap photos of school laptop users — even in childrens homes — if the laptops were reported lost or stolen. <br /> <br /> School technicians activated that system 42 times this school year when the elite suburban district's laptops were reported missing or stolen, spokesman Douglas Young said. He said parents and students should have been told clearly of the policy in advance. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1550 1550 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the cockpit doors of commercial airliners were sealed, air marshals were added and airport searches became more aggressive, all to make sure that a passenger plane could never again be used as a weapon.<br /> <br /> But little has been done to guard against attacks with smaller planes, and that point was driven home with chilling force Thursday when Joseph Stack, 53, crashed his single-engine plane into the seven-story Echelon building in North Austin, where about 200 Internal Revenue Service employees worked. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1549 1549 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Health officials have confirmed a crew member aboard a cruise ship housing the Olympic security force has been diagnosed with leprosy.<br /> <br /> <i>There is no public health risk associated with this case and the crew member, who did not work in a service or passenger support role</i>, the government said in a news release.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1548 1548 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Two security breaches and the dismissal of seven police officers and four military personnel from the Integrated Security Unit, do not seem to bother Olympic organizers.<br /> <br /> IOC executive Gilbert Felli said he has no complaints.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1547 1547 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 <a href="http://www.ufo-gifts.com/alien-t-shirts.php" target="_blank" >Gifts with aliens and ufo designs</a>. All the designs relate to the extra terrestrial alien beings. Is an invasion imminent? http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1546 1546 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Hamas leader assassinated during a visit to Dubai last month exposed himself to attack when he breached security protocol by talking about his trip over the phone and making hotel reservations on the Internet, the militant Islamic group said Saturday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1545 1545 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Many webmasters repeat the mistakes made by their predecessors. Take a look at these <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/top-10-webdesign-mistakes.htm" target="_blank" >Top 10 most common web design sins</a>. Have you fallen victim to any of these?<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1544 1544 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 A report that America’s illegal immigrant population declined by almost 1 million in one year is fomenting hot debate about why it is happening, whether the statistics are correct, and how the numbers should affect US immigration reform.<br /> <br /> The number of illegal immigrants living in the United States dropped to 10.6 million in 2009 from 11.6 million in 2008, the sharpest decrease in 30 years and a second straight year of decline, according to a Department of Homeland Security report released this week. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1543 1543 Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Deep inside a Chinese military engineering institute in September 2008, a researcher took a break from his duties and decided — against official policy — to check his private e-mail messages. Among the new arrivals was an electronic holiday greeting card that purported to be from a state defense office.<br /> <br /> The researcher clicked on the card to open it. Within minutes, secretly implanted computer code enabled an unnamed foreign intelligence agency to tap into the databases of the institute in the city of Luoyang in central China and spirit away top-secret information on Chinese submarines. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1542 1542 Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Blackwater, the controversial security firm responsible for numerous shootings and deaths of civilians, has been kicked out of Iraq. About 250 former and current employees of the company, which now operates under the name Xe, were told they had seven days to leave the country or face possible arrest for visa violations. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1541 1541 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Adobe has published a cross-platform update for Flash that addresses a potentially serious security flaw.<br /> <br /> Flash Player users are advised to upgrade to version 10.0.45.2 to plug a hole in earlier versions of the software that means the domain sandbox security protection could be bypassed to make unauthorized cross-domain requests. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1540 1540 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Nicholas George planned to brush up on his Arabic vocabulary during a flight in August from Philadelphia to California, where he was to start his senior year at Pomona College. So he carried some Arabic-English flashcards in his pocket to study on the plane.<br /> <br /> But those flashcards changed George's life far beyond the classroom. The 22-year-old from Pennsylvania is speaking out against what he contends are abuses by federal authorities in airport security measures.<br /> <br /> George, a physics major who is considering a career as a U.S. diplomat in the Middle East, is suing the Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and Philadelphia police for jailing him after his flashcards were found and confiscated in a Philadelphia airport screening. His lawsuit, filed in federal court this week, said his four hours in detention, half of that in handcuffs, violated his rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1539 1539 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Two former employees of Blackwater Worldwide have accused the private security contractor of defrauding the government for years through phony billing, including charging taxpayers for alcohol-filled parties, spa trips and a prostitute.<br /> <br /> In court records unsealed this week, a husband and wife who worked for Blackwater said they have firsthand knowledge of the company falsifying invoices, double-billing federal agencies and improperly charging the government for personal expenses. They said they witnessed <i>systematic</i> fraud in the company’s security contracts with the State Department in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1538 1538 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500
Over 10,000 temple fairs and thousands of other public events including fireworks shows, lantern exhibitions, official and corporate events will take place in the coming 10 days. The Public Security Bureau, which handles all security, said it has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of people across the country. It was ready to handle emergencies to prevent serious accidents during the Lunar New Year festivities.

If you were born under the Chinese sign of the Tiger, it does not pay to argue with you! Tigers are usually larger than life, warm-hearted extroverts. They can not help being noticed and are often very good-looking. However, they can be quick tempered, laughing and joking one moment and angry the next, turning on anyone who annoys them.

Tigers are fearless and will pursue a perceived wrong no matter what. They have a restless spirit and hate to be confined. Tigers need to be free to roam.

Year of Tiger]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1537 1537 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Blogging has quickly become very common place, and while blogs may be plentiful, many bloggers still make a number of mistakes when it comes to managing their blogs. Presented here are the most common blog mistakes, in hopes that you can avoid making them yourself... <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/blog-mistakes.htm" target="_blank" >Blog Mistakes</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1536 1536 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The phrase <i>mobile security </i>does not usually mean much to anyone, until of course they encounter their first mobile attack. For a growing number of App Store and Android Market customers, this is a growing fear that is becoming all too real.<br /> <br /> Already in 2010, mobile apps via both the App Store and Android Market, owned by Apple Inc and Google Inc respectively, have experienced a rise in malicious mobile apps. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1535 1535 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The annual Munich Security Conference closed Sunday after intensive talks on a rising Asia, Irans nuclear program and reform of the West's security institutions.<br /> <br /> The pursuit of <i>networked security </i>was clearly seen at the conference, as the West sought more integrated security institutions and wider international cooperation to cope with global threats, and tried to solve disputes over Iran's nuclear program through joint international efforts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1534 1534 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Weigh the pros and cons of implementing an RSS feed as a communication channel, and determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks in your own situation.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.feedforall.com/pros-and-cons-of-rss-feeds.htm" target="_blank" >Pros and Cons of RSS Feeds</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1533 1533 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The state health department mailed letters to nearly 50,000 Californians this month - inadvertently listing their Social Security numbers alongside their names and addresses on the envelopes.<br /> <br /> The security breach involved a Feb. 1 mailing by the California Department of Health Care Services to 49,352 recipients of the states Adult Day Health Care program. It occurred when workers at the department, as they prepared and formatted a mailing list, mistakenly included the Social Security numbers on the mailing labels, officials said. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1532 1532 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The Rugged Software Manifesto:

I am rugged… and more importantly, my code is rugged.
I recognize that software has become a foundation of our modern world.
I recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with this foundational role.
I recognize that my code will be used in ways I cannot anticipate, in ways it was not designed, and for longer than it was ever intended.
I recognize that my code will be attacked by talented and persistent adversaries who threaten our physical, economic, and national security.
I recognize these things - and I choose to be rugged.
I am rugged because I refuse to be a source of vulnerability or weakness.
I am rugged because I assure my code will support its mission.
I am rugged because my code can face these challenges and persist in spite of them.
I am rugged, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary… and I am up for the challenge.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1531 1531 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 U.S. airport security lines will lengthen and terminals will become more congested with the coming of body scanners, airport officials predict.<br /> <br /> Even though the U.S. Transportation Security Administration says the scanners will not significantly increase waits at security lines, some airport managers and the International Air Transport Association, an airline group, disagree, USA Today reported Tuesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1530 1530 Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:49:54 -0500 Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes. <br /> <br /> TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1529 1529 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:00:11 -0500 The recent hacking attack that prompted Googles threat to leave China is underscoring the heightened dangers of previously undisclosed computer security flaws -- and renewing debate over buying and selling information about them in the black market.<br /> <br /> Because no fix was available, the linchpin in the attack was one of the worst kinds of security holes. Criminals treasure these types of <i>'zero day'</i> security vulnerabilities because they are the closest to a sure thing and virtually guarantee the success of a shrewdly crafted attack. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1528 1528 Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500
1. Domain Extensions
Many webmasters wrestle not only with choosing the best domain name, but also with the decision of what domain extensions to select for their website. The following is a general guide to what the most popular domain extensions represent...

.com - commercial (by far, the most popular domain extension)
.net - network host (often used by hosting companies)
.edu - educational institution
.org - organization
.info - informational sites

If your primary focus is in a local market, you may find value in a local domain as well.

How To Choose A Domain Name - Part 2

]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1527 1527 Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Executives at corporate operators of critical infrastructure -- power, water, oil, telecom, finance, and transportation companies -- say that their networks face relentless attacks from cybercriminals and foreign governments, a situation that amounts to an undeclared cyberwar. <br /> <br /> On Thursday, McAfee, a security vendor, published a cyber security report authored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a public policy research group. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1526 1526 Wed, 3 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 A survey of 600 computing and computer-security executives in 14 countries suggests that attacks on the Internet pose a growing threat to the energy and communication systems that underlie modern society. <br /> The findings, issued Thursday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the computer-security company McAfee, echoed alarms raised this month by Google after it experienced a wave of cyberattacks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1525 1525 Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:00:02 -0500
Brainstorm
Create a list of words or phrases that relate to the product, service, information, or brand that will be promoted on the website.

Experiment
Experiment with variations of the words in the above list. Change the order of words in phrases to create unique combinations for possible domain names.

How to Choose a Domain

]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1524 1524 Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500 In a high tech first — really, really high — astronauts in space finally have Internet access.<br /> <br /> Space station resident Timothy Creamer had been working with flight controllers to establish Internet access from his orbital post ever since he moved in last month. On Friday, his effort paid off. He posted the first live Twitter post truly from space. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1523 1523 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Silvio Berlusconi is moving to extend his grip on Italy's media to the freewheeling Internet world of Google and YouTube.<br /> <br /> Going beyond other European countries, the premier's government has drafted a decree that would mandate the vetting of videos for pornographic or violent content uploaded by users onto such sites as YouTube, owned by Google, and the France-based Dailymotion, as well as blogs and online newsmedia.<br /> <br /> Google, press freedom watchdogs and telecom providers are among those pressing for changes in the draft to prevent the fast-track legislation from taking effect as early as Feb. 4. They say the decree would erode freedom of expression and mandate the technically burdensome — maybe even impossible — task of monitoring what individuals put on the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1522 1522 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The Obama administration on Friday is posting to the Internet a wealth of government data from all Cabinet-level departments, on topics ranging from child car seats to Medicare services.<br /> <br /> The mountain of newly available information comes a year and a day after President Barack Obama promised on his first full day on the job an open, transparent government. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1521 1521 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 China needs no lessons about its Internet from the United States, the head of an online media association said through official media on Saturday after the United States rapped Beijing over information freedom. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1520 1520 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Consumers are growing increasingly comfortable storing sensitive information on their computers, USB flash drives, and external hard drives, as well as using Web-based solutions to automate regular tasks such as shopping for holiday gifts, paying bills, and tracking financial portfolios. The push from vendors encouraging their customers to move toward e-billing has also played a major role in more personal information being stored locally on personal computers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1519 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 A survey of more than 5,000 active Internet users across 10 cities in India suggests that users are becoming increasingly concerned about online security. <br /> <br /> Ninety one percent of the respondent Internet users have experienced some case of cyber fraud, such as phishing, key logging, identity theft and account takeover. Despite the exposure to cyber fraud, a majority of respondents were unaware of ways to combat it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1518 1518 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 In the beginning, there was one Internet, born from American research and embraced by academics around the world. It was in English and homogeneous, operating according to Western standards of openness.<br /> <br /> It's no surprise that China polices sites like Google.cn, but now nations like France are also cracking down on Internet users. <br /> <br /> Can Google Beat China? It is just a matter of time before technologists find a way to defeat censorship? <br /> <br /> As the Internet grew, it became fragmented and linguistically diversified. It developed borders, across which it now works in different ways.<br /> <br /> In Spain, for instance, you can share music and movies with virtual impunity; in France, doing that is likely to cost you your Internet connection.<br /> <br /> In China, meanwhile, it may soon be nearly impossible to use Google. The company, saying the security of its e-mail had been breached in a campaign to spy on Chinese dissidents, announced last week that it would stop censoring Google.cn, its Chinese Web site, and might have to withdraw from China. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1517 1517 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 BitDefender, provider of innovative anti-malware security solutions, has discovered separate, critical zero-day exploits in two of the most heavily used applications in the world: Microsofts Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader.<br /> <br /> According to preliminary reports, the Internet Explorer vulnerability has already been used in targeted attacks against 34 major corporations including Google and Adobe. <br /> <br /> At the moment, Microsoft has released an advisory, but there is no patch available for this vulnerability. BitDefender has pushed an emergency update to users of its security products that intercepts and blocks the malicious code before it adversely impacts on the target system. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1516 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The Malaysian government has warned against excessive use of micro-blogging sites like Facebook and Twitter, arguing that they could erode the countrys culture, a report said Sunday.<br /> <br /> Rais Yatim, the information and communication minister, said Muslims and other religious groups must be wary of the Internet as it was introduced by the West. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1515 1515 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Illegal wildlife traders are turning to the Internet to reach a wider customer base, circumvent laws and evade authorities, an animal rights activist told a conference on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Items such as rhinoceros horns, leopard pelts and even live tiger cubs are being hawked openly in online advertisements on public websites, said Grace Ge, Asian regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1514 1514 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Federal prosecutors charged more suspects with terrorism in 2009 than in any year since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, providing evidence of what experts call a rise in plots spurred by Internet recruitment, the spread of al-Qaida overseas and ever-shifting tactics of terror chiefs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1513 1513 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:00:52 -0500 Germany: The Federal Office for Information Security has warned users to stop using all versions Microsoft Internet Explorer after details of the vulnerability used to attack Google in China appeared online.<br /> <br /> Microsoft has voiced its disagreement, saying that changing the security zone to high minimises risk. The German government says that it is not enough to make the browser safe. Running IE in high security mode makes many web sites unusable. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1512 1512 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Google has upgraded Gmail’s security by encrypting all email traffic from the service using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTPS is used by online banking and shopping site to protect data from interception. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1511 1511 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 For sale: my vote in Ukraine's election. From 300 to 500 hryvnias $US37-$US63. Can gather others who want to sell. <br /> <br /> Several offers have appeared on the internet from disenchanted citizens in the ex-Soviet republic who say they are ready to sell their votes in the January 17 election for president. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1510 1510 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Chinas recent moves to tighten control of its online and mobile content industries have brought some uncertainty into the market but may not have a major immediate impact on the sectors biggest players. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1509 1509 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has joined Democratic Rep. Nancy Todd, the Entertainment Software Association and Web Wise Kids to unveil an Internet safety program to help parents keep their children safe online.<br /> <br /> Suthers said Monday that children are naive about dangers on the Internet and some parents are clueless about ways to protect them.<br /> <br /> Sponsors say the program, called Wired With Wisdom, addresses the dangers associated with social networking, e-mail, cell phones, chat rooms, instant messaging and other technology so adults can educate young people about safe and responsible online practices. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1508 1508 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Symantec, the world leader in Internet security, today announced Norton Internet Security 3.0 for Macintosh, the most complete Internet security solution for the Macintosh platform, and Norton SystemWorks 3.0 for Macintosh, the worlds first complete antivirus and problem solving solution optimised for Mac OS X. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1507 1507 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The cracking of GSM encryption by 28-year-old German security expert Karsten Nohl has sent shock waves through the wireless industry. But the crack should come as no surprise to an industry that has long given short shrift to security, an analyst says. <br /> <br /> Nohl -- working with others around the Internet -- has created a guidebook for cracking the Global System for Mobile communication's 64-bit A5-1 algorithm, which was adopted in 1988. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1506 1506 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Nearly three-quarters of American adults use the Internet, more than half connect wirelessly via laptop or handheld, and 60 percent use broadband connections at home, according to a survey released Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The Pew Research Center survey also found that Internet users in the U.S. tend to be young, white, and educated, with an equal distribution between men and women. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1505 1505 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 As they imagine the Internet of 2020, computer scientists across the country are starting from scratch and re-thinking everything: from IP addresses to DNS to routing tables to Internet security in general.<br /> <br /> They are envisioning how the Internet might work without some of the most fundamental features of todays ISP and enterprise networks. <br /> <br /> Their goal is audacious: To create an Internet without so many security breaches, with better trust and built-in identity management. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1504 1504 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 One security software program caused its computer to boot up almost 10 seconds more slowly than normal, while another led to a delay of almost 81 seconds during the downloading of a 190-megabyte file. Two solutions proved to be especially nasty speed bumps, with one slowing down work on Office documents by a hefty 59 percent. <br /> <br /> Each of the top Internet security packages slows down computers significantly at some point. That's the conclusion of a recent comparative test of seven solutions conducted by Germanys Computerbild magazine. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1503 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Current law gives the TSA Administrator discretion over whether to collectively bargain with airport security screeners. The TSA has determined that collective bargaining would endanger the safety of Americas air passengers. TSA screeners may belong to a union, and the TSA withholds union dues for screeners who request it. But the union may not collectively negotiate how TSA screeners perform their jobs. However, Southers may change this policy – to the detriment of the American people.<br /> <br /> The TSA has avoided collective bargaining for good reason: the bureaucracy and delays of collective bargaining hurt the agencys ability to defend Americans. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1502 1502 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Top 10 Winners Predicted for 2010
1. Healthy Living
2. The Cloud
3. Savings
4. Simplicity in Design
5. Web Applications
6. Instant and Virtual
7. Portability
8. Energy
9. Green Shopping
10. Security

Top 10 Losers Predicted for 2010
1. Capitalism
2. Health Care
3. Credit Card Companies
4. The Left
5. Acorn
6. Big Government
7. Privacy
8. Super Star Atheletes
9. Facebook
10. Reality...

What is Hot for 2010]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1500 1500 Fri, 8 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Another year has rolled by marked by miracles, political milestones and tragedies alike. 2009 was the year of financial uproar with bailouts and ponzi schemes dominating the news on a regular basis. Chrysler and GM stalwart car giants struggled to survive. Bernie Madoffs financial pyramid came tumbling down, taking average citizen's retirement plans with it, emptying the coffers of trusting non-profits and celebrities alike.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/2009-reflections-2010-predictions.htm" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1499 1499 Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Blame the Internet for the latest decade of security lessons. Without it, you probably wouldn't even recognize the terms phishing, cybercrime, data breach, or botnet. Lets revisit the top security horrors of the past ten years, and try to remember what we learned from each.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34644028/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1498 1498 Wed, 6 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 The cracking of GSM encryption by 28-year-old German security expert Karsten Nohl has sent shock waves through the wireless industry. But the crack should come as no surprise to an industry that has long given short shrift to security, an analyst says. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1497 1497 Tue, 5 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 Mobile phones smuggled into British prisons could be used by Islamist militants to spread their extremist ideology and threaten national security, Conservatives claimed today. <br /> <br /> Tory security spokeswoman Baroness Neville-Jones quoted official Justice Ministry figures which show that more mobile phones and SIM cards than ever are being secretly brought into jails, despite a ban on their use. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1496 1496 Mon, 4 Jan 2010 09:00:00 -0500 China says it arrested thousands of people over the course of 2009 in a crackdown on Web pornography and says it will continue the push in the new year, according to a report. <br /> <br /> The Chinese government announced late this week that the sweeping effort resulted in 5,394 arrests and 4,186 criminal investigations, a fourfold increase over the year prior, Reuters reports. And those numbers could rise still higher. Reuters says Chinas Ministry of Public Security warned that in 2010 it will intensify punishments for illegal Internet operations, ramp up information monitoring, and press Internet service providers to use preventive technology. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1495 1495 Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:22:50 -0500 As usual, we can expect the Internet to be rife with potential cyber crimes and annoyances next year - more spam, more fake antivirus software and more computers hijacked by criminals. <br /> <br /> But 2010 will also see more attacks moving to smartphones, now that the devices are being used more like mobile computers, predict security experts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1494 1494 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The third computer hacker attack this year on the popular Internet site Twitter shows the weakness of the companys security systems, U.S. experts say. <br /> <br /> Twitter officials say no user information appears to have been stolen in Fridays attack, in which a hacker obtained the password to enter the popular sites master directory of Internet addresses. But experts told The New York Times the incident illustrates continuing problems. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1493 1493 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Political conflict and public piety converged on tension-filled streets in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday. Clashes erupted between riot police and opposition protesters as hundreds of people solemnly took part in an annual Shiite Muslim observance. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1492 1492 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 It is impossible to ensure 100% security for the pope without erecting a barrier between him and believers, the Vatican spokesman said after an attack at Benedict XVI on Thursday night.<br /> <br /> A woman jumped a barrier and rushed at Pope Benedict XVI during the Christmas Eve Mass, for the second time in two years, managing to knock him down.<br /> <br /> Benedict, 82, was not hurt and continued the procession to the altar at St. Peter's Basilica. On Friday, he delivered traditional Christmas greetings and urged people worldwide to abandon violence and coexist peacefully. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1491 1491 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 U.S. and European airports were tightening security Saturday following an attempt Friday by a suspected terrorist, who allegedly claimed Qaeda ties, to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane as it approached a landing in Detroit, according to media reports. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1490 1490 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:51:57 -0500 The FBI is warning consumers about an ongoing threat involving pop-up security messages that appear while they are on the Internet. <br /> <br /> The messages may contain a virus that could harm your computer, cause costly repairs or, even worse, lead to identity theft. The messages contain scareware, fake or rogue anti-virus software that looks authentic.<br /> <br /> The message may display what appears to be a real-time, anti-virus scan of your hard drive. The scareware will show a list of reputable software icons; however, you can not click a link to go to the real site to review or see recommendations. Cyber criminals use botnets—collections of compromised computers—to push the software, and advertisements on websites deliver it. This is known as malicious advertising or <i>malvertising.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1489 1489 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 There are real security problems and many, many threats, not only from e-mail but also from web browsing. Your employee could be browsing online, come across a link, click on it, and download a little file. Thats how some piece of malware finds its way onto the machine and from there it gets into all the machines on the network. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1488 1488 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/thumb-2782.png"></a><br /> Collection of <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" >Security PowerPoint Templates</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1487 1487 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:13:00 -0500 Security experts have known for months that some countries have had a harder time battling the Conficker worm than others. But thanks to data released Wednesday by Shadowserver, a volunteer-run organization, they now have a better idea of which Internet Service Providers have the biggest problem.<br /> <br /> In terms of the total number of infected computers, China Telecoms Chinanet seems to have been hardest hit by the worm, which began spreading late last year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1486 1486 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Homeland security officials improperly gathered intelligence on the Nation of Islam, a black Muslim group, but U.S. government rules were <i>unintentionally and inadvertently violated</i> and only publicly available information was collected, according to documents made public Wednesday.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1485 1485 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Chinas government censors have taken fresh aim at the Internet, rolling out new measures that limit its citizens’ ability to set up personal Web sites and to view hundreds of Web sites offering films, video games and other forms of entertainment.<br /> <br /> The authorities say the stricter controls are intended to protect children from pornography; to limit the piracy of films, music, and television shows; and to make it hard to perpetuate Internet scams. But the measures also appear devised to enhance the government’s already strict control of any political opposition. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1484 1484 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The third computer hacker attack this year on the popular Internet site Twitter shows the weakness of the company's security systems, U.S. experts say.<br /> <br /> Twitter officials say no user information appears to have been stolen in Friday's attack, in which a hacker obtained the password to enter the popular site's master directory of Internet addresses. But experts told The New York Times the incident illustrates continuing problems. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1483 1483 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Prosecutors say a former linguist for the FBI has pleaded guilty to leaking classified documents to a blogger who posted the information online.<br /> <br /> Officials say 39-year-old Shamai Kedem Leibowitz of Silver Spring, Md., admitted giving secret documents to the unidentified host of the Web site.<br /> <br /> Under a plea deal Thursday in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., Leibowitz is expected to receive a prison term of one year and eight months.<br /> <br /> The FBI says Leibowitz held a top security clearance for his work as a linguist, and in April of this year gave the blogger documents about U.S. communication intelligence activities.<br /> <br /> Officials would not say what the information was or where it appeared online. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1482 1482 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Microsoft, famous for prosecuting infringements on its intellectual property, got some mud in the eye this week. Amid charges that its Juku micro-blogging service for China contained code and design elements stolen from Plurk.com, Microsoft issued a formal apology on Wednesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1481 1481 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:02:48 -0500 Thanks to part of a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Rutgers scholars will head the federal agency's new data analysis research center. The goal is to improve intelligence at federal and state agencies. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1480 1480 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Businesses can use Twitter as a marketing tool in a variety of ways. Many business owners struggle with social media as a marketing medium. At the heart of the most effective social media marketing campaigns is personal communication. Many businesses that try to manage social media may attempt to shout their message, rather than simply engaging with potential customers. Potential customers who are active in social networks will not be receptive to marketing in this fashion. The trick with social media like Twitter is to interact and engage, rather than shouting your message.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/twitter.htm" target="_blank" >Twitter as a Business Tool</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1479 1479 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Guards from American security company Blackwater participated in CIA raids on suspected militants in Iraq and Afghanistan, the New York Times says. <br /> <br /> It reported that the raids revealed a greater level of involvement between the spy agency and Blackwater than previously acknowledged by either. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1478 1478 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Iraqs bid to auction off oil exploration rights Friday showed companies are still reluctant to enter the country.<br /> <br /> Only two of the eight fields on offer resulted in deals in the first day of the countrys second oil auction this year. Five in regions still plagued by unrest were withdrawn and a sixth field drew only one bid. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1477 1477 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Global security, storage and systems management solutions provider Symantec is offering its next-generation security and enterprise-class storage management solutions through the Amazon elastic compute cloud Amazon EC2. <br /> <br /> Under the agreement, Symantec end-point protection and Veritas storage foundation basic are now available on Amazon EC2. Symantec solutions will provide that essential additional protection to businesses Windows servers in the cloud. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1476 1476 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 <a href="https://www.defcon.org/html/links/dc-archives/dc-17-archive.html" target="_blank" >Defcon presentations</a> from conference. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1475 1475 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Computer hacker Gary McKinnon is mounting a fresh High Court challenge to stop his extradition to the US. <br /> <br /> Solicitor Karen Todner said papers were lodged with the High Court seeking a judicial review of the home secretarys decision not to block his transfer. <br /> <br /> The home secretary has 14 days to respond before a judge considers it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1474 1474 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:48:18 -0500 The media spotlight has focused on the brash couple who recently managed to attend a White House state dinner, but a U.S. Secret Service training document details 91 breaches of security between 1980 and 2003.<br /> <br /> Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan confirmed the existence of the internal report, which was first disclosed in the Washington Post on Monday. Donovan would not provide CNN a copy of the report, but said it is a historical document that is used to help train agents in preventing and responding to breaches of security. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1473 1473 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:23 -0500 Most of the Iranian capital's Internet links with the outside world were down on Saturday, two days ahead of planned demonstrations by opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.<br /> <br /> Sources close to Iran's technical services told AFP the cut was the result of <i>a decision by the authorities</i> rather than a technical breakdown, but telecommunications ministry officials were unavailable for comment. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1472 1472 Wed, 9 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Everyday Internet users will be a key target for cybercriminals looking to get people to download their malware, while the proliferation of social sites such as Facebook and Twitter will lead to an increase of possible fraud cases, reported Symantec. <br /> <br /> At a media briefing Wednesday, the security vendor released a report outlining security threats enterprises and consumers should be mindful of in 2010. Of these, the security risk faced by everyday Internet users is likely to increase as criminals look to trick people into downloading malware through means such as an innocent-looking URL link or videos and pictures from unknown sources. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1471 1471 Tue, 8 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The new computer emergency response team, CERT Australia, will expect internet service providers to be more active in cleaning up infected computers operating on their networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1470 1470 Mon, 7 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A computer worm that China warned Internet users against is an updated version of the Panda Burning Incense virus, which infected millions of PCs in the country three years ago, according to McAfee.<br /> <br /> The original Panda worm, also known as Fujacks, caused widespread damage at a time when public knowledge about online security was low, and led to the country's first arrests for virus writing in 2007. The new worm variant, one of many that have appeared since late 2006, adds a malicious component meant to make infection harder to detect, said Vu Nguyen, a McAfee Labs researcher. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1469 1469 Sun, 6 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Hackers have built a virus that attacks Apple Incs iPhone by secretly taking control of the devices via their Internet connections, security experts said.<br /> <br /> The virus has been detected in the Netherlands and can only attack iPhones whose users have disabled some pre-installed security features, according to analysts monitoring the progress of the virus, known as the <b>Duh Worm</b>.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1468 1468 Sat, 5 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Businesses can use Twitter as a marketing tool in a variety of ways. Many business owners struggle with social media as a marketing medium. At the heart of the most effective social media marketing campaigns is personal communication. Many businesses that try to manage social media may attempt to shout their message, rather than simply engaging with potential customers. Potential customers who are active in social networks will not be receptive to marketing in this f<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/twitter.htm" target="_blank" >Twitter for Business</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1467 1467 Fri, 4 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The Podcasting Bundle includes FeedForALl and RecordForAll, it makes it simple to record audio files, layer audio files, edit audio files and publish podcast feeds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.recordforall.com/podcasting-bundle.htm" target="_blank" >Complete Solution for Podcasting</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1466 1466 Fri, 4 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 President Obama will maintain a lid of secrecy on millions of pages of military and intelligence documents that were scheduled to be declassified by the end of the year, according to administration officials.<br /> <br /> The missed deadline spells trouble for the White Houses promises to introduce an era of government openness, say advocates, who believe that releasing historical information enforces a key check on government behavior. They cite as an example the abuses by the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War, including domestic spying and assassinations of foreign officials, that were publicly outlined in a set of agency documents known as the<i> family jewels.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1465 1465 Thu, 3 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 When you encounter a mention of your products or services that casts a negative implication, try not to let anger or emotion dictate how you respond. Always behave professionally when providing responses, and always try to offer solutions and assistance. This can often be instrumental in changing the public perception about your company brand when problems arise. Your reputation is important, so be proactive! <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/managing-your-reputation.htm" target="_blank" >Manage Your Reputation Online</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1464 1464 Wed, 2 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The numbers of people attending emergency rooms and walk-in clinics with flu-like illness is decreasing across the health district, but a physician with Annapolis Valley Health says do not develop a false sense of security.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1463 1463 Tue, 1 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Cyber Monday is a great way for parents to shop online without the crazy crowds of Black Friday. So, how can you get the best deals on Cyber Monday, while making sure your identity is protected? With a bit of research and a few safeguards, parents can still get amazing deals online without having to stand in line for hours. Cyber Monday is a win-win for both retailers and consumers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1462 1462 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 20,000 documents were taken from ACORNs trash behind their office in National City and they want them back.<br /> <br /> Derrick Roach, a private investigator, said he took more than 20,000 documents from the caged trash area behind ACORNs office, on October 9th and posted them on the web site biggovernment.com.<br /> <br /> The documents shown on the website and also displayed for a news conference on Monday, show driver's licenses, Social Security numbers, immigration records, credit reports, tax returns, credit card statements and bank accounts numbers from ACORN members or job applicants. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1461 1461 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 In security software, you have plenty of options, from free antivirus programs to paid ones to full-blown, multifunction security suites. The big issue, of course, is deciding which approach is right for you. <br /> <br /> These usually include an antimalware program and a firewall, plus other features such as protection against phishing and scams, spam filtering, parental controls, and Website filtering. Some suites also bundle system tune-up tools. Prices typically run about $50 to $70 for a one-year, one-PC subscription. Take a look at the best Internet security suites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1460 1460 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:15:10 -0500 Three hackers have been indicted for redirecting the Comcast.net Web site to a page of their own making in 2008. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1459 1459 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.S. Congress needs to take action to protect consumers tricked into signing up for membership clubs that charge a monthly fee when they buy products or services from other Web sites, the chairman of a U.S. Senate committee said Tuesday.<br /> <br /> Many legitimate Web sites selling items such as flowers or airline tickets have partnered with companies that lure consumers into signing up for monthly payments after being promised cash-back rewards, said Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1458 1458 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Two-thirds of the sites that tend to care most about security still have serious unfixed vulnerabilities, according to an analysis from web security firm WhiteHat Security.<br /> <br /> The statistics from WhiteHats report, released today, cover vulnerabilities found in custom Web applications on 1,364 different Web sites. That number is only a small fraction of the number of sites online, but it represents those companies that have contracted with WhiteHat for additional security scanning, and therefore likely care more about security flaws than the average Web site.<br /> <br /> Historically, 83 percent of the sites WhiteHat looks at have had a serious vulnerability at some point, according to WhiteHat founder Jeremiah Grossman. Currently, 64 percent still have at least one flaw. These numbers represent flaws in custom apps the companies make themselves, and not basic security holes resulting from a missing operating system or Web server patch, for instance. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1457 1457 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 THE internet is an amazing productivity tool for sending documents but security has long been its achilles heel. <br /> <br /> Which is why a plethora of security solutions have been pursued with varying levels of success.<br /> <br /> Small Sydney software company Cocoon Data is now making big strides in protecting data sent on the internet with numerous applications across the law, banking, medical records, media and the military. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1456 1456 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Computer security is not just a cyber or technical issue but has become a social issue. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1455 1455 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 To avoid a scary experience on the Internet, computer security company Symantec is advising people to avoid the Seven Deadly Sins of Internet Security to keep their PCs, cash and their personal identities safe. David Freer, vice-president of Symantec Consumer Business, Asia Pacific and Japan, says there are simple steps people can take to protect themselves, but often people don’t follow this advice. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1454 1454 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 French authorities planned legal action against an Internet company yesterday after it organised a cash giveaway in Paris that turned into a security nightmare when thousands of people showed up.<br /> The Rentabiliweb firm was forced to cancel the publicity event advertised on its Mailorama site when a crowd of about 7,000 gathered near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, several thousand more than expected. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1453 1453 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 President Barack Obama gave China a pointed, unexpected nudge to stop censoring the Internet access of its own people, offering an animated defense of the tool that helped him win the White House — and telling his tightly controlled hosts not to be wary of a little criticism. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1452 1452 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 VeriSign, Inc the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure for the networked world, announced its strategic approach for working with the Internet community to deploy DNS Security Extensions in the .com and .net Top Level Domain Names TLDs. Through a collaborative industry-wide effort, VeriSign, and the ICANN and business communities can play a part in helping to protect the Internets Domain Name System DNS from<i> man in the middle </i>and cache poisoning attacks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1451 1451 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:43:14 -0500 A drug industry group on Monday urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adopt a universal safety symbol for Internet content containing FDA-approved information about a medicine or medical device.<br /> The proposal from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which represents some of the biggest drug makers in the world, came ahead of an FDA public meeting this week on how FDA-regulated prescription drugs and medical devices are promoted in social media and on the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1450 1450 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A Chinese government watchdog has ordered Yahoo China to clean pornographic content from a photo-sharing site it hosted, a reminder of the regulatory challenges often faced by foreign Internet companies in China.<br /> <br /> The government-linked Internet Society of China on Friday said Yahoo China and other local Web sites had <i>violated social morals</i> by allowing porn to appear on their domains. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1449 1449 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Of all the sinister things that Internet viruses do, this might be the worst: They can make you an unsuspecting collector of child pornography.<br /> <br /> Heinous pictures and videos can be deposited on computers by viruses — the malicious programs better known for swiping your credit card numbers. In this twist, it is your reputation that's stolen.<br /> <br /> Pedophiles can exploit virus-infected PCs to remotely store and view their stash without fear they will get caught. Pranksters or someone trying to frame you can tap viruses to make it appear that you surf illegal Web sites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1448 1448 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A Cuban blogger who has gained international attention for her searing commentary about life on the communist island said she was briefly detained Friday and warned by state security agents about her opposition activity. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1447 1447 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The suspected Fort Hood shooter has participated in homeland security conferences since 2008 at George Washington University while based in the Washington area.<br /> <br /> Most recently, Army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan was listed as an attendee in January for a conference on new security priorities for the Obama administration. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1446 1446 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 One day after a shooter opened fire at Fort Hood, Army Chief of Staff George W. Casey Jr. ordered a review of all force protection policies at Army bases worldwide. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1445 1445 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 An unusual cloak-and-dagger operation being run by internet security experts has been exposed this week, after details of a flaw in the SSL protocol were made public.<br /> <br /> The problem with the Secure Sockets Layer standard that keeps e-commerce websites, mail servers and more safe from attack was first discovered in August by a phone-security firm called PhoneFactor. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1444 1444 Mon, 9 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 An Internet security expert says there's no way Internet voting can reliably replace paper ballots to ease the expense of election day.<br /> <br /> John Hopkins University computer science professor Avi Rubin spoke one day after Lake County, Ind., sat out a transit referendum because county commissioners did not have a spare half million dollars to fund the election.<br /> <br /> Professor Rubin says there are several problems with Internet voting. He says voters do not know if their votes have been counted, if the vote was private, if others cast votes in the name of someone else.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1443 1443 Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The Internet is set to undergo one of the biggest changes in its four-decade history with the expected approval this week of international domain names — or addresses — that can be written in non-Latin script, an official said Monday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1442 1442 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The internet is an information superhighway that has completely changed the way schools teach. But for students, that unlimited access can often become overwhelming — and even dangerous.<br /> <br /> A local school district is taking more steps to ensure that the learning environment remains safe while giving students opportunities to search the web.<br /> <br /> At a public hearing earlier this week at the Bell County Board of Education building in Pineville, David Smith, Chief Information Officer for the Bell County School District, spoke about updates the board has taken to ensure internet safety. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1441 1441 Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:26:52 -0500 Microsoft issued a friendly reminder in a blog post earlier this week that if you installed Windows 7 on a blank hard drive using an upgrade disc, your Windows installation is illegal. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1440 1440 Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Popular US gadget blog Gizmodo apologized to its readers on Tuesday after being duped by malware masquerading as an advertisement.<br /> <br /> <i>Guys, I am really sorry but we had some malware running on our site in ad boxes for a little while last week on Suzuki ads</i><u>,</u> Gizmodo editorial director Brian Lam said in a message at Gizmodo.com.<br /> <i>They somehow fooled our ad sales team through an elaborate scam</i>, he said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1439 1439 Mon, 2 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Lawyers for five former Blackwater contractors facing manslaughter charges over an alleged massacre in Iraq are demanding that the U.S. government arrange armed security for the defense team as it heads into the dangerous streets of Baghdad to gather evidence and interview witnesses. <br /> <br /> The Obama administration could soon face a stark choice: Order U.S. commanders in Iraq to give the defense attorneys a military escort for their trip, or throw into jeopardy the prosecution of one of the worst alleged atrocities of the Iraq war. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1438 1438 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 More Australians would be happy to offer their fingerprints to prove their identity as concerns over internet security rise, a poll shows.<br /> <br /> Increasing use of the internet for banking and shopping online has led to a 15-point rise in fears over protection of information, the Unisys Security Index survey of about 1200 people found, The Courier-Mail reports. <br /> <br /> Of those, 92 per cent supported fingerprint scans, while 86 per cent backed the use of iris scans. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1437 1437 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A blogger helping to tune a friends wi-fi network uncovered a gaping security hole in Wi-Fi cable modem routers installed in 64,000 Time Warner subscribers homes, leaving them open to attack. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1436 1436 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Looking to gain the upper hand in any future cyber conflicts, China is probably spying on U.S. companies and government, according to a report commissioned by a Congressional advisory panel monitoring the security implications of trade with China.<br /> <br /> The report outlines the state of Chinas hacking and cyber warfare capabilities, concluding that <i>China is likely using its maturing computer network exploitation capability to support intelligence collection against the U.S. government and industry by conducting a long term, sophisticated computer network exploitation campaign.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1435 1435 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Use a <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/thumb-2474.png" target="_blank" >security PowerPoint Template</a> for presentations about security! <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/thumb-2474.png" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/thumb-2474.png"></a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1434 1434 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 According to a new cybercrime Symantec report, tens of millions of US PCs are infected with scam security software. Moreover, software, users may have pay for, can only make computers more vulnerable.<br /> <br /> Symantec found 250 varieties of security malware with legitimate sounding names like Antivirus 2010 and SpywareGuard 2008. The company also found about 43 million attempted downloads in one year, however it was not made sure how many of the attempted downloads succeeded. <br /> <br /> Cyberthieves are increasingly planting fake security alerts that pop up when computer users access a legitimate website, warning them of a virus and thus offering security software, for free or for a fee.<br /> <br /> It was also impossible to tell how much cyberthieves made off with but "affiliates" acting as middlemen to convince people to download the software were believed to earn between 1 cent per download and 55 cents. Top affiliates of TrafficConverter.biz, which has been shut down, earned as much as $332,000 a month for selling scam security software.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1433 1433 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 First they were on the buses. Now cameras will help keep an eye out for crime on the Green Line as part of an MBTA safety initiative that one civil liberties group says raises concerns.<br /> <br /> The MBTA will begin testing cameras on the trolleys underground as part of a pilot program that is funded with $500,000 in grant money from the Department of Homeland Security, Chief Paul MacMillan of the MBTA Transit Police said yesterday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1432 1432 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400
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complete article]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1431 1431 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Obama administration has signed up 55 state and local law enforcement agencies to help enforce immigration laws, including an Arizona county sheriff under investigation for racial profiling, the Homeland Security Department announced Friday.<br /> <br /> Another 12 agreements have been approved and are awaiting local or state approval.<br /> <br /> The administration had previously suspended the program, which critics say was mismanaged and allowed racial profiling and discrimination. Before it was suspended, there had been 66 local and state agencies participating.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1430 1430 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Nasdaq has told Mace Security International Inc. of Horsham, the pepper-spray manufacturer, that the companys shares could be delisted because they are trading below $1 a share. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1429 1429 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Todays most compelling technologies are giving you the biggest security headaches. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn enhance collaboration and help your company connect with customers, but they also make it easier than ever for your employees to share customer data and company secrets with outsiders.<br /> <br /> Virtualization and cloud computing let you simplify your physical IT infrastructure and cut overhead costs, but you have only just begun to see the security risks involved. Putting more of your infrastructure in the cloud has left you vulnerable to hackers who have redoubled efforts to launch denial-of-service attacks against the likes of Google, Yahoo and other Internet-based service providers. A massive Google outage earlier this year illustrates the kind of disruptions cloud-dependent businesses can suffer. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1428 1428 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Two decades ago, studies showed that computer users were violating best practices for setting up hack-proof passwords, and not much has changed since then. What is clear, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and IT University in Copenhagen, is that until human factors and ergonomics methods are applied to the problem, it is not likely to go away. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1427 1427 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 How secure and dependable is the Internet? The Great Twitter Outage of 2009, which shocked the microblogging community and amused many other observers, called into question the reliability of Web-based communications and transaction capabilities that are easy to take for granted.<br /> <br /> According to Nielsen NetRatings, the Twitter user base grew at almost 1,400 percent from February 2008 to February 2009. Microblogging, online auctions and email may be a convenience for some users, but others view these features as critical to their connected lifestyles. Is the Internet falling apart, or can we depend on the Web to be there when we need it? http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1426 1426 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Internet infrastructure services provider VeriSign and RSA, the security division of EMC, have announced a partnership to provide organizations with more choice in one-time password OTP authentication. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1425 1425 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 T-Mobile Sidekick customers should today learn more about the server crash that caused their phones to lose their personal data, the company said. Meanwhile, the carrier warns customers not to remove the handset's battery or newly entered data will be lost.<br /> <br /> Bad enough for T-Mobile, the incident is particularly embarrassing for Microsoft, which operates the Sidekick data service, and other companies who are promoting Internet-based <i>cloud computing</i> as the next generation of data storage. <br /> <br /> The actual extent of the loss, from a Microsoft server, has not been released, though it appears thousands of customers lost contact lists, calendar items, photographs, and other personal items from their phones. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20091012/tc_pcworld/tmobiletoupdatesidekickusersondataloss" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1424 1424 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Choosing and buying clothes via a cell phone is getting easier in Japan with the launch of a new service that allows shoppers to simulate an outfit before they buy.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20091011/tc_pcworld/cellphonesimulatorhelpscoordinateanoutfit" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1423 1423 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Comcast Corp. wants to enlist its customers in a fight against a huge problem for Internet providers — the armies of infected personal computers, known as <i>botnets,</i> that suck up bandwidth by sending spam and facilitating cybercrime.<br /> <br /> The countrys largest provider of high-speed Internet to homes started testing a service this week in Denver in which Comcast sends customers a pop-up message in their Web browsers if their computers seem to have been co-opted by a botnet. One botnet can have tens of thousands or even millions of PCs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1422 1422 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's effort to hire some 1,000 new cybersecurity experts could hit a wall because people with such skills are increasingly hard to find, according to security experts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1421 1421 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Solid Oak Software filed its first lawsuit in a case of Chinese software code theft against TV giant CBS's Internet division, CBS Interactive.<br /> <br /> The Santa Barbara, California, company filed the suit against CBS Interactive for distributing software that contained programming code stolen from its CyberSitter software, which filters pornography, violence and other Internet content deemed bad for kids. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1420 1420 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The federal government is teaming up with a medical software maker to help keep tabs on the spread of swine flu.<br /> <br /> Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the government is getting together with Cerner Corporation to keep track on how the strain of flu is spreading.<br /> <br /> Sebelius says the information provided by the company is more current than the data federal officials have. And she says that will let authorities better target efforts to respond to the H1N1 virus. Meanwhile, the HHS chief is strongly encouraged people to get the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines as they become available. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1419 1419 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Parents who install a leading brand of software to monitor their kids online activities may be unwittingly allowing the company to read their childrens chat messages — and sell the marketing data gathered.<br /> <br /> Software sold under the Sentry and FamilySafe brands can read private chats conducted through Yahoo, MSN, AOL and other services, and send back data on what kids are saying about such things as movies, music or video games. The information is then offered to businesses seeking ways to tailor their marketing messages to kids. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1418 1418 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The worldwide security software market will total $14.5 billion in 2009, an 8 per cent increase from 2008, according to Gartner. In 2008, it grew at 19 percent and Gartner anticipates the market to grow 13 percent in 2010 as revenue will total $16.3 billion. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1417 1417 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Microsoft also published a dedicated swine flu information center at health.msn.com. The site will notify users when vaccines are available in their neighborhood, among other services. <br /> <br /> Microsoft launched HealthVault in 2007, and the site is designed to be an online repository of health-related records that can be accessed by the user and designated physicians, as well as a portal for health-related news and information. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1416 1416 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Suffolk Community College has agreed to pay a company for the next year to monitor the credit of 300 students whose last names and Social Security numbers were mistakenly listed in an attachment to an e-mail sent to those students last month. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1415 1415 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Internet has made it easier than ever to conduct business, keep in touch with friends and manage our finances with greater speed, efficiency and convenience. Unfortunately, criminals also use the Internet to try to gain access to personal and financial information.<br /> <br /> October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and, to raise awareness among Canadians, banks have teamed up to provide information, consumer tips and an interactive quiz to educate consumers about online threats so they can protect themselves and their computers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1414 1414 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The US has agreed to relinquish some oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN, the global group that oversees elements of the Internets architecture. The move should give other countries a more prominent internet role and ease concerns that the US has undue influence over its evolution. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1413 1413 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Microsoft has finally unveiled a new security product, Microsoft Security Essentials, designed to replace its former offering OneCare. Security Essentials, previously known as Morro, is available as a free download from Microsoft and features security tools including antivirus and anti-spyware. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1412 1412 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400
Zoe Pemberton from southern England put her 61-year-old grandmother up for sale on the auction website with no reserve price, describing her as rare and annoying and moaning a lot.

But she also said pensioner Marian Goodall was very cuddly, loved word searches and enjoyed drinking tea.

More than 20 bids were received for Goodall, but she has since been withdrawn from the site, eBay said.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1411 1411 Fri, 9 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 House members struggled Wednesday for a way to stop Internet bullying of children without violating free speech.<br /> <br /> Bullying has always been mean-spirited, but a House Judiciary subcommittee was told that federal law does not make it a crime to engage in <i>cyberbullying</i> that becomes destructive to its young victims. The worst examples resulted in child suicides. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1410 1410 Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 There is no kill switch for the Internet, no secret on-off button in an Oval Office drawer.<br /> <br /> Yet when a Senate committee was exploring ways to secure computer networks, a provision to give the president the power to shut down Internet traffic to compromised Web sites in an emergency set off alarms.<br /> <br /> Corporate leaders and privacy advocates quickly objected, saying the government must not seize control of the Internet.<br /> <br /> Lawmakers dropped it, but the debate rages on. How much control should federal authorities have over the Web in a crisis? How much should be left to the private sector? It does own and operate at least 80 percent of the Internet and argues it can do a better job. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1409 1409 Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security is looking to hire 1,000 cybersecurity professionals in the next three years according to the agencys secretary Janet Napolitano. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1408 1408 Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 AT&T Inc. said Thursday it has completed a deal to buy VeriSign Inc.s security consulting business. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1407 Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Verified Identity Pass, a company founded by the entrepreneur Steven Brill, offered travelers a tempting proposition: pay up to $199 a year, submit to a fingerprint and iris scan, and skip to the front of interminable airport security lines. <br /> <br /> An investment banker is trying to revive a company that provided a service called Clear, which allowed its members to bypass airport security lines. <br /> <br /> But last June, the company left its roughly 200,000 paying customers stranded, saying that it was ceasing operations and did not have cash to offer refunds.<br /> Now it appears those customers will get a break. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1406 1406 Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Russian cybergangs have established a robust system for promoting Web sites that sell fake antivirus software, pharmaceuticals and counterfeit luxury products, according to a new report from security vendor Sophos. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1405 1405 Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A veteran security researcher today challenged the anti-malware industry to work on a standard way of assigning computer/Internet threat levels to present transparent helpful information to consumers and businesses.<br /> <br /> During a presentation at the Virus Bulletin 2009 conference here, Fortinet project manager Bryan Lu discussed the current scenario where anti-malware vendor use different systems to display threat levels — either color-coded or using numbers and arrows — and suggested that vendors use existing data to make threat level indicators more useful and meaningful. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1404 1404 Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Internet criminals are increasingly targeting small and medium-sized businesses that do not have the resources to keep updating their computer security, according to federal authorities.<br /> <br /> Many of the attacks are being waged by organized cyber groups that are based abroad, and they are able to steal not only credit card numbers, but personal information -- including Social Security numbers -- of the card holders, said Michael Merritt, assistant director of the U.S. Secret Services office of investigations. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1403 1403 Sat, 3 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The U.N. Security Council held a rare summit today to work toward eliminating nuclear weapons. There were also new calls to confront Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1402 1402 Fri, 2 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A suspected bomb plot under investigation in New York and Denver has the ingredients of a worst case scenario for U.S. security, experts say: an al Qaeda link, overseas training and free movement within U.S. borders.<br /> <br /> Colorado airport shuttle driver Najibullah Zazi, who U.S. authorities say admitted to taking a bomb-making course at an al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan, is at the center of what they say could be a plot to blow up subways or other targets.<br /> <br /> Zazi has maintained his innocence, as has his father and a New York City imam who have also been arrested. So far authorities have only charged the three Afghan-born men with lying to investigators, which carries an eight-year maximum sentence, and not a more serious terrorism-related charge. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1401 1401 Thu, 1 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Sports officials are confident that adequate security measures are in place to thwart any potential terrorist attacks on stadiums around the country.<br /> <br /> Responding in a low-key manner to security warnings that terrorists would like to attack stadiums, several sports officials said Tuesday that they have already boosted precautions so much the latest alerts will not make much difference. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1400 1400 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 U.S. security authorities have told local law enforcement agencies to be on alert for possible attacks on luxury hotels, but said they had no information on the timing, location or target of any planned attacks.<br /> <br /> The note, sent by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to local law enforcement agencies, was unrelated to a probe into a bomb plot in New York and Denver made public in the last week, officials said on Tuesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1399 1399 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 After at least 100 students this weekend protested the detention of a popular lecturer and self-help guru, a number of them said Monday that they had been visited by officials from their respective universities and persuaded to sign statements promising not to make any more trouble. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1398 1398 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 McAfee Web Gateway has earned a Readers Choice Award from Information Security Magazine and SearchSecurity.com. McAfee Web Gateway won the gold medal in the Security Gateway Products category, placing above Trend Micro and Websense for the top position. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1397 1397 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The number of Web sites containing child pornography is increasing and more images show serious abuses, a U.N. expert said Wednesday.<br /> <br /> More than 4 million Web sites worldwide show images of children being sexually exploited, said the U.N. investigator on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat Mjid Maalla. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1396 1396 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A company owned by the founders of Skype has filed a copyright infringement suit against the Internet phone service and parent eBay Inc. — an action that could crimp eBays plans to sell Skype for about $2 billion to a group of private investors.<br /> <br /> Joltid Ltd., owned by Skype founders Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court of Northern California. The complaint alleges Skype violated an agreement over the use of critical peer-to-peer communication technology that Skype licenses from Joltid for use in its software, which routes phone calls over the Web. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1395 1395 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A group of prison guards dubbed the Facebook Five has gone to an Australian court to fight for the right to complain about their boss on the Internet.<br /> <br /> The case has stirred debate in Australia about whether writing on social networking sites amounts to a chat between friends or a form of publishing. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1394 1394 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A new federal guide for businesses on the H1N1 flu tells employers to quarantine sick workers and have them wear surgical masks.<br /> <br /> The guide was released Monday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. <i>If an employee does become sick while at work, place the employee in a separate room or area until</i><br /> <i>they can go home, away from other workers,</i> the federal H1N1 guidebook says. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1393 1393 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Police in Pakistan say they have raided the offices of a private security firm hired by the US embassy in Islamabad. <br /> <br /> The offices of the Inter-Risk company were entered and around 70 weapons were seized and two personnel arrested. <br /> <br /> Officials in Pakistan allege that the haul of 61 assault riffles, nine pistols and ammunition were unlicensed. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1392 1392 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Government auditors reported Thursday that the effort to secure the Mexican border with technology and fences has fallen years behind schedule, will cost billions of dollars extra in maintenance costs and has no clear means of gauging whether illegal crossings have been curtailed. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1391 1391 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The head of the FCC plans to propose new rules that would prohibit Internet service providers from interfering with the free flow of information and certain applications over their networks, an official at the agency said Saturday.<br /> <br /> The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Julius Genachowski, will announce the proposed rules in a speech Monday at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, the official said on condition of anonymity because news of the announcement had not been formally released. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1390 1390 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Senior U.S. officials are pressuring the Chinese government to shelve a proposed rule that would require all computers shipped in China to be equipped with Web-filtering software, citing concerns that the order may violate China's commitments to the World Trade Organization. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1389 1389 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Symantec has unveiled a new tool that gathers some basic information about you and the links between your financial information and the Internet, then calculates what the value of your identity would be on the black market. The value it comes up with is sobering at best. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1388 1388 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A U.S.-based group monitoring militant Web sites said Friday that jihadist forums have been experiencing technical problems on the eve of Sept. 11, finally going offline a day before the 8th anniversary of the al-Qaida attack on the U.S. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1387 1387 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Two University of California at Berkeley professors are teaming up with colleagues to launch Cyberlaw Cases, a blog covering what they consider the top 10 most-important pending U.S. legal cases involving issues that impact the Internet, databases, and software programs. <br /> <br /> The blog focuses on an evolving list of cases on issues such as network neutrality, privacy, copyright, trademark, and patent issues, and includes analytical postings about each case and the authors assessments of potential impacts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1386 1386 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Microsoft pushed out software updates to plug at least eight critical security holes in computers powered by its various Windows operating systems. The patches are available through Windows Update or via Automatic Updates. The flaws were addressed in a bundle of five patches, each of which earned Microsofts most dire <b>critical</b> rating, meaning they are serious enough that attackers could break into systems without any help from users. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1385 1385 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A spokesman for the Bruce Power nuclear generating station northwest of Toronto said dozens of contract employees were fired over inappropriate internet use, adding that none of their activities posed a security threat to the plant. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1384 1384 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Social Medias rise in popularity has created some very real problems for the Internet and its users. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have seemingly opened the floodgates to security troubles, and over the past few weeks, this has been accentuated by a number of issues and studies. <br /> <br /> As WebProNews recently reported, based on a study from Russell Herder and Ethos Business Law, time on social networking sites has increased by 73% in the past year. Without even taking security into consideration, 51% of executives surveyed said they fear social media could reduce employee productivity, while 49% said that using social media could damage a company's reputation.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1383 1383 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Google has been battling accusations of copyright violations and monopolistic behavior in relation to its book-scanning program, but the search engine giant switched gears this week to address privacy.<br /> In response to a request from the Federal Trade Commission, Google on Thursday posted an official privacy policy as it relates to Google Books. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1382 1382 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.security-port.com/never-forget.gif"> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1381 1381 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Parents who install a leading brand of software to monitor their kids' online activities may be unwittingly allowing the company to read their childrens chat messages — and sell the marketing data gathered.<br /> Software sold under the Sentry and FamilySafe brands can read private chats conducted through Yahoo, MSN, AOL and other services, and send back data on what kids are saying about such things as movies, music or video games. The information is then offered to businesses seeking ways to tailor their marketing messages to kids. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1380 1380 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Online music sites, as well as search engines that provide links to songs, will have to obtain approval from the Chinese government for songs recorded outside the country, according to the newspaper. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1379 1379 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Kai-fu Lee, Google Incs former China chief who quit the search giant this week, said on Sunday he will launch his own business next week to fund Chinese technology start-ups. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1378 1378 Wed, 9 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Brits are lax at updating their security software, compared to their European counterparts, says PC Tools.<br /> <br /> Worldwide research by the security firm revealed that a third of Brits never update their security software, compared to just five percent of German and seven percent of French web users.<br /> <br /> Nearly one in ten Brits also admitted they do not use any form of security software when surfing the web, compared to five percent of French and four percent of Germans. <br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1377 1377 Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 When rail cars idle on side tracks in Mexico to be loaded with legitimate cargo and shipped to the United States, drug smugglers scan for places to hide their own loot — and if no good place is apparent, they make one.<br /> <br /> Marijuana and cocaine can be concealed above rail car axles or behind false undercarriages made of plywood. Bolder smugglers sometimes weld a false wall into a car or sabotage trains to stop them and quickly stow their contraband on board before the train moves on. Cars are then tagged with graffiti or other markings so the dealer in the U.S. can spot his delivery. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1376 1376 Fri, 4 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Many individuals are called upon to give presentations, but many have no formal instruction on how to deliver the most effective presentations. So for the benefit of those who might need a bit of help, we have put together a primer for presenters...<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/presentation-primer.htm" target="_blank" >Presentation Primer</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1375 1375 Thu, 3 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An industry group representing some of nations largest banks sent a private alert to its members last week warning about a surge in reported cybercrime targeting small to mid-sized business.<br /> <br /> The advisory, issued by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, recommends that commercial banking customers take some fairly rigorous steps to secure their online banking accounts. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1374 1374 Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Fresh details of large-scale cyber attacks against data processor Heartland Payment Systems Inc and supermarket chain Hannaford Brothers show the challenges facing the efforts of the U.S. credit-card industry to upgrade security measures.<br /> <br /> While both companies say their computer networks met the tough new standards meant to prevent data breaches, Visa Inc. said Heartland at least may have let its guard down.<br /> <br /> The positions reflect broader disagreements in the industry, as squabbling between merchants and financial firms over technology and the cost of systems upgrades continues to impede progress, said Robert Vamosi, an analyst for California consulting firm Javelin Strategy & Research. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1373 1373 Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Merely hours after a Swedish court ordered to have The Pirate Bay taken down, the sites bandwidth supplier is claiming it has been sabotaged, the TorrentFreak blog reports. <br /> <br /> As the peer-to-peer community was preparing to put to rest their favorite file sharing site The Pirate Bay, their vigil has been disturbed. Black Internet, the ISP that supplied much of the sites bandwidth, says it has been sabotaged. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1372 1372 Tue, 1 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A Chinese court sentenced four people to prison and imposed about $1.6 million in fines for distributing pirated versions of Windows XP and other software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1371 1371 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A U.S. judge has ordered a Delaware man who sold copies of software packages on an Internet auction site to pay US$210,563 in damages and court costs, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) announced Monday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1370 1370 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Radisson Hotels & Resorts said Wednesday its computer systems were accessed without authorization, affecting an unknown number of people between last November and May. Radisson said in a statement it has informed customers of the situation and that guest information may have been accessed, including credit card numbers. Social Security numbers were not included. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1369 1369 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Investigators projected that the Housing and Urban Development Department subsidizes roughly 2,100 to 3,000 households that include a serious sex offender. The HUD inspector generals office conducted the review.<br /> <br /> Congress banned subsidized housing for the most serious sex offenders after a 1997 case when a convicted sex offender was charged with assaulting and molesting a 9-year-old neighbor girl who lived in the same public housing building. The legislation said that housing authorities must not admit any household that includes a person subject to the lifetime registration requirement, typically reserved for the most serious offenders. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1368 1368 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Central Intelligence Agency hired the private security firm Blackwater USA in 2004 to work on a covert program aimed at targeting and potentially killing top al Qaeda leaders, according to a source familiar with the program. <br /> <br /> The existence of the program, which began in 2001, came to light earlier this year when CIA Director Leon Panetta canceled the effort, but it is only now that Blackwaters involvement has become known.<br /> That development was first reported Thursday in The New York Times.<br /> <br /> The program was part of a broader effort inside the CIA to develop the capacity to conduct training, surveillance and possible covert operations overseas, according to the source. The program was outsourced to contractors to <i>put some distance</i> between the effort and the U.S. government. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1367 1367 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Azlin Mohamed Yasin spends several hours a day trawling the Internet, but she is not your typical young surfer, descending into a world of bomb-making, militancy and extremism.<br /> <br /> From her computer, she enters a world where young Muslims openly volunteer to fight against US-led coalition troops in Afghanistan or learn how to make explosives out of everyday materials. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1366 1366 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400
Thirty thousand families in the city are to be picked by lottery this fall to receive the software, funded with $1.5 million from tenants' groups representing poor families, the New York Daily News reported Saturday.

It is about time that in the 21st century that everybody that has a (cell phone) can transmit their childrens information to the police department, tenant spokesman Reginald Bowman said. Just like we text, just like we tweet.

When children disappear, the so-called AMBER Ready]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1365 1365 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Twitter fell down hard Thursday morning under the force of a malicious flood of fake packets, stranding millions of users looking for their daily fix of 140 character bon mots. Facebook users faced smaller difficulites, such as slow loading pages, also due to an apparent attack.<br /> <br /> But security experts say the attacks on Twitter and Facebook are nothing new under the sun and that Distributed Denial of Service Attacks — which render a web server useless to real users by overwhelming the server with fake requests, are commonplace on the net. DDoS attacks are usually carried out using a zombie army of infected Windows computers known as a botnet, where the controller tells the infected computers what site to bombard with requests. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1364 1364 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security is expanding a pilot project that uses fingerprint scanners and kiosks to speed travelers headed overseas through airport security. <br /> <br /> On August 24th, the Global Entry Trusted Traveler program will be available at 13 additional airports in the United States and Puerto Rico, bringing the total number of airports equipped with the technology to 20. <br /> <br /> The program is also available at airports in the Netherlands through a partnership. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1363 1363 Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Climate change threatens to undermine global stability and security because of its human consequences, including widespread hunger, water shortages, forced migration, conflict over scarce resources and disease. Those facing the most extreme risk are the poorest with the fewest resources and the least capacity to cope, despite contributing the least to the crisis.<br /> <br /> Climate change legislation must urgently and aggressively reduce our emissions. But because of the damage already caused, some consequences are now unavoidable. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1362 1362 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies will use the platform to share operational information on cybersecurity threats and best practices. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1361 1361 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Telecommunications providers will not have to give the government sensitive revenue and Internet speed data for a program to map broadband use in U.S. homes and bring high-speed Internet service to more people.<br /> <br /> The U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday that companies such as Verizon Communications Inc, Comcast Corp and AT&T Inc do not have to share how much money they make from each Internet subscriber. Nor must they say how fast their Internet connections typically run.<br /> <br /> Instead, they will provide data by the block, usually about a dozen homes depending on the size of the block. They also will share the speed of Internet service that they advertise. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1360 1360 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Iowa Lottery officials says they have completed another round of unannounced security checks at retail locations across the state. <br /> <br /> Lottery officials said Thursday that investigators visited 217 random locations and presented large prize tickets to store personnel to test security procedures. Officials said all the tickets, totaling $1.5 million in prizes, were handled properly by store employees. <br /> <br /> Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer said the security checks were initiated in February after the agency received customer complaints. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1359 1359 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Apple fixed 18 security flaws in the latest update to its Mac OS X operating system. Several of the bugs are tied to the handling of images. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1358 1358 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Great collection of <a href="http://www.webmaster-elements.com" target="_blank" >resources and tools for Wemasters.</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1357 1357 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 When Shanghai blogger Isaac Mao tried to watch a YouTube clip of Chinese police beating Tibetans, all he got was an error message.<br /> <br /> Mao thought the error — just after the one-year anniversary of a crackdown on Tibetan protesters in China — was too suspicious to be coincidental, so he reported it on a new Harvard-based Web site that tracks online censorship.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, more than 100 other people in China did the same thing. The spike in reports on Herdict.org in March pointed to government interference rather than a run-of-the-mill technical glitch, even before Google Inc. confirmed China was blocking its YouTube video-sharing site. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1356 1356 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 As the first day of classes approaches for some districts, school and health officials in several states are preparing for the possibility of wider outbreaks of the H1N1 virus. <br /> <br /> Swine flu, which disproportionately targets teenagers and young adults, is expected to begin spreading more rapidly when students return to the close quarters of classrooms and dormitories, county and state health officials say. They expect greater-than-usual numbers of students to seek inoculations because of widespread publicity about H1N1.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-08-02-swineflu_N.htm?csp=34" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1355 1355 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 China has banned online games featuring sinister mafiosi and knife-wielding street gangs, accusing the software of promoting anti-social behaviour and harming youth, state media said Tuesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1354 1354 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Current technology news is rife with stories of compromised Internet security. Consider these recent examples:<br /> <br /> Twitter Gets Hacked...Bad - Back in April a hacker broke into the popular micro blogging service Twitter. At the time Twitter's co-founder Biz Stone wrote about the incident on Twitter's official blog. The truly distressing part of the hack was that it was executed with such stealth that Twitter did not even realize until weeks later the full extent of the hack. Sensitive company information including financial projections, employee credit card information, confidential contracts, and internal executive strategic meeting reports were all taken from the company. The writers over at TechCrunch have discussed the Twitter hack at length with someone who claims to be the actual hacker and created a great debrief of the incident entitled, The Anatomy Of The Twitter Attack. It's a bit long, but well worth reading.<br /> <br /> FOX News Gets Hacked - Dave Briggs, a FOX and Friends Weekend co-host, had his Hotmail email account hijacked when hackers were able to guess either his password or his qualifying question. According to published reports, the attackers first locked Mr. Briggs out of his own account. They then spammed all of his email contacts with a phony email that appeared to be written by Mr. Briggs himself. The fraudulent email claimed that he was trapped in Malaysia and further asked that someone help him by wiring money via Western Union.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1353 1353 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The smarter your phone, the dumber criminals need to be to exploit it. That is the message from the annual BlackHat security conference. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1352 1352 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A powerful new type of internet attack works like a telephone tap, but it operates between computers and websites they trust. <br /> <br /> Hackers at the Black Hat and DefCon security conferences have revealed a serious flaw in the way web browsers weed out untrustworthy sites and block anybody from seeing them. <br /> <br /> If a criminal infiltrates a network, he can set up a secret eavesdropping post and capture credit card numbers, passwords and other sensitive data flowing between computers on that network and sites their browsers have deemed safe. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/hackers-expose-trusted-site-security-flaw-1766666.html" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1351 1351 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security is investigating whether one of its employees used a government e-mail account to post racially insensitive comments on a newspaper Web site in western New York. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1350 1350 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Antivirus software cuts two ways. It is great at blocking known viruses, but it can sometimes misfire, mistakenly flagging clean files as malicious. That sends a computer into a tailspin trying to clean up stuff that is supposed to be on there. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1349 1349 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 More than half 56% of Americans have accessed the Internet using wireless mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops, according to a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.<br /> <br /> The most popular way people go online via wireless is with a laptop as 39 percent of Internet users have done this.<br /> <br /> One-third of Americans 32% have used a cell phone or a smartphone to access the Internet for emailing, instant messaging, or searching for information. The amount of mobile Internet usage is up by one-third since December 2007, when 24 percent of Americans had gone online via a mobile device.<br /> <br /> On an average day 19 percent of Americans use the Internet on a mobile device, up significantly from 11 percent in December 2007. That's a growth of 73 percent in the 16 month time period between reports. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1348 1348 Sun, 9 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Reports show that Free Antivirus Leads to False Sense of Security in users. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1347 1347 Sat, 8 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The U.S.-based agency that regulates Internet addresses, facing criticism that it is too America-centric, remains the best guardian of a <i>single, unified, global Internet</i>, according its new chief executive. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1346 1346 Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Congress pressed officials with the Homeland Security Department and Social Security Administration on Thursday for assurances that an individuals personal information would remain secure during expansion of the system used to verify work eligibility. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1345 1345 Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Adobe on Wednesday issued a security advisory about a critical zero-day vulnerability that affects its Flash Player, Reader, and Acrobat software across all major operating systems. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1344 1344 Thu, 6 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A business that makes the decision to be environmentally-conscious will often promote goodwill among potential customers, while making the world a better place for future generations. Many businesses hesitate to adopt green practices because they fear it will hurt their bottom line and negatively impact profits. But many eco-conscious businesses discover that they can actually save money and bring in new customers who specifically patronize companies that actively make an effort to be environmentally friendly. Many customers may even be willing to pay a bit more for a product or service from a company that is green.<br /> <br /> Many businesses already do things that are eco-friendly, not necessarily because they are sensitive to green living, but simply to save money. That does not, however, diminish the value of their green efforts. The trick for businesses is to be eco-friendly without compromising profitability. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/businesses-going-green.htm" target="_blank" >Business Going Green</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1343 1343 Wed, 5 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Software piracy is an ever-present problem for software developers, and unfortunately there is no way to entirely prevent it. Software developers can employ tactics such as hardware dongles, registration codes, passwords, online activation, separate downloads for licensed versions, etc, but the fact remains that none of the protection schemes are absolutely foolproof or failsafe. All software protection measures can ultimately be circumvented if someone is persistent and determined enough. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.developer-resource.com/preventing-software-piracy.htm" target="_blank" >Preventing Software Piracy</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1342 1342 Tue, 4 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Following yesterdays news that a Chinese engineer committed suicide after misplacing a 4G iPhone prototype, a security officer involved in the death has been suspended from his job, and his case has been turned over to Chinese authorities. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1341 1341 Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 McAfee outlined details of its Security-as-a-Service strategy, designed to provide consumers, SMBs and large enterprises with security products delivered as a service in the cloud. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1340 1340 Sun, 2 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Days after the government said it was planning to introduce genetically modified food crops in the country in three years, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton gave a clear indication of the US administrations approval of deploying <b><i>cutting-edge technology</i></b> to raise crop yields. <br /> <br /> During her first visit to India as secretary of state, which included a strategic stop at the countrys premier agriculture institute, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Clinton was vocal about the need to address the<i> root</i> of the problem of world hunger: crop productivity. And helping increase crop yield would be cutting-edge technology, she claimed. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1339 1339 Sat, 1 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0400 With no debate, the Senate in 2005 approved the Real ID Act:h.r.00418: -- which had been inserted into must-pass legislation authorizing funds for the Iraq war. That may have been the only way to get the deeply controversial law through the upper house, because of all the heightened security measures passed following 9-11, none will have as dramatic and intrusive an effect on the lives of everyday Americans as Real ID.<br /> <br /> The law mandates a tamper-proof card that would become the only acceptable form of identification for federal purposes, such as boarding a commercial airliner or entering a federal building. It was clumsily drafted in a way that imposes multibillion-dollar expenses on state governments, enhances opportunities for identity theft, turns state motor vehicle departments into arms of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will almost certainly lead to harassment of immigrants, legal or otherwise. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1338 1338 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Twitter's latest security hole has less to do with its users than it does with its staff, but lessons can be learned on both sides. <br /> <br /> In the case of Jason Goldman, who is currently Twitters director of product management, the simplicity of Yahoo's password recovery system was enough to let a hacker get in and gain information from a number of other sites, including access to other Twitter staff's personal accounts. <br /> <br /> The aftermath of the hack, which took place in May, is just now coming to fruition. Documents that a hacker by the alias of Hacker Croll recovered from Goldmans account and others including Twitter co-founder Evan Williams could be a treasure trove of inside information about the company and its plans. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1337 1337 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The multicolored terror alert system that was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks could be getting an overhaul — or could be eliminated entirely.<br /> <br /> Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to appoint a panel Tuesday to reevaluate the system, a senior administration official said.<br /> <br /> The five-tiered system that goes from green, which signals a low danger of attack, to red, which signals a severe threat of attack, has proven to be confusing at times, and critics say the different colors are too vague to deliver enough information to be useful. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1336 1336 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A report by the Brookings Institution scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday in Detroit found that federal officials now treat security at Canadian and Mexican crossings into the U.S. the same, despite the differences between its southern and northern neighbors.<br /> <br /> The Washington-D.C.-based research group began work on the study last year with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce as the Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is the busiest Canadian-U.S. corridor. It sees about 400,000 people each day and about 16 million cars, trucks and buses going back and forth each year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1335 1335 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Attackers are exploiting a new critical ActiveX hole in Microsoft Office to take control of PCs by luring Internet Explorer users to malicious Web sites, Microsoft said on Monday. <br /> <br /> The zero-day hole, the third one announced by Microsoft in less than two months, is in Office Web Components ActiveX controls used to display and publish spreadsheets, charts, and databases to the Web. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1334 1334 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Vowing to fight unauthorized reproduction of news reports online, The Associated Press said Thursday that it would add software to each article showing who created it and what limits apply to the rights to use it. The software will also notify the A.P. about how the article is used across the Web.<br /> <br /> The new program, approved Thursday by the A.P. board, follows through on a statement the company made in April that it would take on digital piracy not only for itself, but on behalf of embattled American newspapers, which own the A.P., a nonprofit corporation. But the announcement raises many unanswered questions, including who the intended targets are, what the legal limits are on using material online, and what redress it will seek. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1333 1333 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Western hotel owners predict the growth of luxury brands will continue relatively undaunted in Asia despite the latest bombings at two such hotels in Indonesia.<br /> <br /> However, the incidents could put pressure on some hotels to beef up security measures at a tough time for the industry.<br /> <br /> The bombings Friday killed nine people and injured more than 50 others at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in central Jakarta. They followed others in recent years at Western-branded hotels, potentially giving pause to developers of hotels under construction in Asia. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1332 1332 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Twitter hack that compromised sensitive company documents stored on Google Docs might illustrate gaping holes in password security policies, but Twitter attacks will likely increase as long as the micro-blogging site remains popular, security experts say. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1331 1331 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Great collection of <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" >security powerpoint templates</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1330 1330 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 New Yorks attorney general charged Thursday that Tagged.com stole the identities of more than 60 million Internet users worldwide — by sending e-mails that raided their private accounts.<br /> <br /> Andrew Cuomo said he plans to sue the social networking Web site for deceptive marketing and invasion of privacy. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1329 1329 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Dartmouth researchers who were pioneers in Public Key Infrastructure PKI – a system that secures and authenticates computer communications – are now playing leading roles establishing Internet standards and guidelines for security. <br /> <br /> Secure Internet activity requires being able to prove who you are. Security experts agree that the traditional approach of passwords is not always effective. PKI and public key cryptography solve these problems, and Dartmouth researchers are leading the way in helping organizations deploy PKI. A new system developed at Dartmouth called PRQP, which stands for PKI Resource Query Protocol, is now in the pipeline with the Internet Engineering Task Force IETF to become the universal way to easily implement PKI-enhanced computing security. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1328 1328 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Every time you swipe your credit card and wait for the transaction to be approved, sensitive data including your name and account number are ferried from store to bank through computer networks, each step a potential opening for hackers. <br /> <br /> And while you may take steps to protect yourself against identity theft, an Associated Press investigation has found the banks and other companies that handle your information are not being nearly as cautious as they could. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1327 1327 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The two leading makers of computer security software, Symantec and McAfee, are like preachers who conduct dueling tent revivals. <br /> <br /> They boast and frighten and denounce each other while trying to convince the crowd that their particular brand of salvation will ward off the devil — in this case, malicious e-mail viruses and evil Internet worms. <br /> The stakes are huge: millions of global followers willing to donate a steady sum every year for protection against online threats. <br /> <br /> Recently, the competition between the two has become fiercer, as both have tried to get their software tied to more new personal computers, Web sites and Internet service providers. McAfee has been particularly aggressive, using a string of deals with large PC makers in a bid to usurp Symantec’s leadership position. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1326 1326 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China urged Beijing to reconsider implementing a controversial Internet filter, saying on Monday it raised serious concerns about security, privacy and user choice.<br /> <br /> The EU Chamber said it supported measures to protect children from potentially harmful content on the Internet, but this goal could be better achieved through a healthy and open dialogue on parental controls. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1325 1325 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 <a href="http://www.defcon.org/" target="_blank" >DEFCON 17</a> will be held July 30 - August 2, 2009, at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas! Admission is $120 USD at the door. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1324 1324 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Kaspersky Lab Inc. has won immunity in a court case that pitted customers of Zango against the Woburn-based security software firm. The case, which offered an unprecendented ruling, involved Zango users who claimed the software interfered with Zangos downloadable programs.<br /> <br /> Zango is a provider of free online videos, games and music. According to a release from Kaspersky Lab officials, Kasperskys software targeted Zango software as malware and, as a result, <i>protected</i> users from downloading it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1323 1323 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Router maker Juniper Networks has barred one of the company's security researchers from discussing security flaws in Automated Teller Machines after an ATM maker threatened legal action.<br /> <br /> Staff Security Researcher Barnaby Jack had been set to deliver a July 30 talk entitled <i>Jackpotting Automated Teller Machines</i>" at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. But Jack abruptly asked conference organizers to pull the talk on Monday, according to Black Hat Director Jeff Moss. The talk has also been pulled from Black Hats sister conference, Defcon, he added. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1322 1322 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The computer security industry historically borrows military defense concepts to combat digital threats, literally creating war rooms where experts follow attacks in progress on huge screens with phones ringing off the hook. <br /> <br /> Not so at Googles Postini e-mail security service provider unit. Instead, computerized systems monitor 3 billion messages per day that flow in and out of customer systems and pass through Postinis thousands of machines in data centers around the U.S. and in Europe before hitting the Internet. The Postini system is highly automated, distributed, and scalable, characteristic of all of Googles operations. <br /> Googles Gmail antispam efforts are separate from those of Postini, which Google acquired two years ago, although it follows similar computerized operations and the teams have started to integrate the processes. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1321 1321 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Here is a skill that you may not have realized you need, but you need it: Become a master of Internet search.<br /> <br /> Obviously I am talking about a lot more than tossing a few words in the Google box and pushing the search button.<br /> <br /> I'm talking about understanding how to run very specific searches to find information leaks within your company and outside of it, whether intentional or accidental. Such leaks might come in the form of intentional, outright posting of sensitive information by ex-employees. Or they might be misconfigured or forgotten Web applications that were not supposed to be publicly accessible. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1320 1320 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Security researchers warned Thursday of the increasing levels of viruses and spam using Jacksons name to snare unsuspecting users. <br /> <br /> One e-mail carries the subject line <i>Remembering Michael Jackson</i> was circulating with a worm in tow. The e-mail has a zip file attached that infects victims if downloaded. <br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1319 1319 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Facebook has come under fire from internet security experts over a relaxation in its privacy settings, which may place younger people at increased risk of being preyed on.<br /> <br /> The popular social networking site — which has over 900,000 users in Ireland alone — is testing new settings that recommended a privacy level which exposes much of the users information to strangers. <br /> <br /> They will also have the option to share their information with <b><i>everyone</i></b>, in a move widely perceived as a response to Twitter, the micro-blogging site which has rarely been far from the news in recent weeks. <br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1318 1318 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Obama administration is moving cautiously on a new pilot program that would both detect and stop cyber attacks against government computers, while trying to ensure citizen privacy protections.<br /> <br /> The pilot program, known as Einstein 3, was supposed to launch in February. But the Department of Homeland Security is still pulling the plan together, according to senior administration officials. <br /> <br /> Einstein 3 has triggered debate and privacy concerns because the program will use National Security Agency technology, which is already being employed on military networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1317 1317 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Intenet backbone company, Interoute has launched a free tool aimed at providing up-to-date information on security threats. The Internet Barometer draws on information provided by 22 sensors placed at strategic points on the Interoute backbone network and gives accurate information on the volume of threats on the Internet at any one time. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1316 1316 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Lots of security topics including software protection and minimizing fraud are on the schedule for the 20th <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference July 16-18th in Boston, MA.</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1315 1315 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Britain warned on Thursday of a growing risk to military and business secrets from computer spies and pledged to toughen cyber security to protect the 50 billion pounds or $82 billion dollars spent a year online in its economy.<br /> <br /> Launching Britain's first national cyber security strategy, security minister Alan West said hostile states and criminals were increasingly attacking British interests online and al Qaeda and like-minded groups were seeking the ability to do so. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1314 1314 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Implementing RSS or Really Simple Syndication can be aided by an understanding of the terms relating to RSS. Learn the <a href="http://www.feedforall.com/abcs-of-rss.htm" target="_blank" >ABCs of RSS</a>....<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1313 1313 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Online payment fraud is huge problem, and creating a reliable fraud screening system is not only very time consuming, but also requires constant updating and maintenance. Software e-commerce providers invest in top notch fraud screening. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.developer-resource.com/outsourcing-software-ecommerce.htm" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1312 1312 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Perfect for professional <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" >Security Presentations</a>. PowerPoint Templates for security topics.<br /> <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/previewthumb-1942.png"></a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1311 1311 Thu, 9 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A first-ever public symposium about the dramatic effect high-tech white-collar crime has on society will be held in August to educate the public on how they can prevent becoming a victim of Internet and financial scams. <br /> <br /> The event, called <b><i>Local to Global: Protecting our community and beyond,</i></b> will give both the public and law enforcement officers a better idea of how white-collar crime affects each and every community, and what law enforcement officers, security professionals and the citizens can do to protect themselves from becoming a victim.<br /> <br /> The conference and exhibition, which is being held on Aug. 20 in Fairmont at the Technology Park Research Center, will feature speakers, classroom instruction and demonstrations from members of the West Virginia High Tech Consortium and the National White Collar Crime Center, said Craig Butterworth, communication specialist for the NW3C. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1310 1310 Wed, 8 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A business that makes the decision to be environmentally-conscious will often promote goodwill among potential customers, while making the world a better place for future generations. Many businesses hesitate to adopt green practices because they fear it will hurt their bottom line and negatively impact profits. But many eco-conscious businesses discover that they can actually save money and bring in new customers who specifically patronize companies that actively make an effort to be environmentally friendly. Many customers may even be willing to pay a bit more for a product or service from a company that is green.<br /> <br /> Many businesses already do things that are eco-friendly, not necessarily because they are sensitive to green living, but simply to save money. That does not, however, diminish the value of their green efforts. The trick for businesses is to be eco-friendly without compromising profitability. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.notepage.net/steps-businesses-can-take-to-go-green.htm" target="_blank" >Steps Businesses Can Take to Go Green</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1309 1309 Tue, 7 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Just when you think you have got everything under control, a new Internet security problem pops up. This time, it is called clickjacking.<br /> <br /> It is legal, so your spyware or anti-virus programs do not block it. It is a common feature of Web programming that in the wrong hands can cause mayhem. <br /> <br /> A Webmaster or a hacker can program an invisible box over a legitimate Internet link. The box contains a link. Click on the harmless link and the invisible one executes untoward things. The script opens an invisible frame and does its deed.<br /> <br /> The problem with this is your computer is being controlled by somebody else who may be more than a prankster. <br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1308 1308 Mon, 6 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 At least six men suspected or convicted of crimes that threaten national security retained their federal aviation licenses, despite antiterrorism laws written after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that required license revocation. Among them was a Libyan sentenced to 27 years in prison by a Scottish court for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.<br /> <br /> In response to questions from The New York Times, the Transportation Security Administration, which is supposed to root out such individuals, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration suspended the licenses on Thursday. <br /> <br /> The two agencies appeared to be unaware that the men were among the nearly one million people licensed as pilots, mechanics and flight dispatchers. They were identified by a tiny family-owned company in Mineola, N.Y., demonstrating software it developed to scrub lists of bank customers for terrorism links. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1307 1307 Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.security-port.com/flag.jpg"><br /> Happy 4th of July - Freedom to all, especially those in Iran. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1306 1306 Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Department of Defence sanctions creation of new, united military command focused on protecting America from online attack - and waging information warfare.US defence secretary Robert Gates ordered the formation of the group earlier today, following a period of debate over the best way to defend the country from attacks over the internet.<br /> <br /> The command - which will unite a string of organisations run by the army, navy, air force - plans to tie them together into a single, coherent group that is able to both defend the United States from information warfare and strike out at hostile nations if necessary.<br /> <br /> The Department of Defence said that the group is set to begin operating later this year, and plans to be fully operation by October 2010.<br /> <br /> The move comes amid growing concern over the possibility of and the threat of cyber-espionage - including perceived attacks from inside China and Russia. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1305 1305 Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has decided to kill a controversial Bush administration program to use U.S. spy satellites to collect domestic intelligence for counter-terrorism, law enforcement and security, a senior Homeland Security official said Monday evening.<br /> <br /> The National Applications Office program was established in 2007 to provide up-to-the-minute electronic intelligence to local and state law enforcement. But it has been delayed due to concerns by privacy and civil liberties advocates -- and by some lawmakers -- that it would intrude on Americans lives.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1304 1304 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 According to figures released recently by the Nemertes Research Group, an Illinois-based research advisory firm, as many as 71 percent of U.S. companies offer full-time or part-time telecommuting to employees. Despite the large number of employees who work out of office, another recent study from The Center for Democracy and Technology found many continue to sideline the issue of telecommuting security in favor of more urgent needs. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.itworld.com/security/65336/four-telecommuting-security-mistakes" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1303 1303 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Federal investigators say the governments next generation radiation detectors are only marginally better at detecting hidden nuclear material than monitors already at U.S. ports, but would cost more than twice as much.<br /> <br /> The machines are intended to prevent terrorists or criminals from smuggling into the U.S. a nuclear bomb or its explosive components hidden in a cargo container.<br /> <br /> The monitors now in use can detect the presence of radiation, but they cannot distinguish between threatening and nonthreatening material. Radioactive material can be found naturally in ceramics and kitty litter, but would be of no use in making a bomb, for instance. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1302 1302 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Steve Bierfeldt was standing in the security line at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis when he was detained by TSA officials for carrying too much money.<br /> <br /> Bierfeldt was put in a room for a half hour and asked a series of questions about the $4,700 in his possession. He says he had raised the money at a St. Louis event for the Campaign for Liberty—an organization with roots in Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign.<br /> <br /> Angry and concerned over being detained, Bierfeldt has filed a federal lawsuit&nbsp;&nbsp;against Homeland Security for what he calls an unreasonable search and violation of his constitutional rights. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1301 1301 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:31:40 -0400 Out of fear that history might repeat itself, the authoritarian governments of China, Cuba and Burma have been selectively censoring the news this month of Iranian crowds braving government militias on the streets of Tehran to demand democratic reforms... In China, political commentators tinted their blogs and Twitters green to show their support ... http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1300 1300 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The internet suffered a number of slowdowns as people the world over rushed to verify accounts of the death of Michael Jackson. Search giant Google confirmed to the BBC that when the news first broke it feared it was under attack. <br /> <br /> Millions of people who searched for the stars name on Google News were greeted with an error page. It warned users <i>your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. </i><br /> <i></i><br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1299 1299 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 When it comes to online security, men are less savvy than women, according to PC Tools. <br /> <br /> Research by the security firm revealed that 47 percent of men use the same passwords when signing up to online banking and shopping facilities, compared to just 26 percent of women. <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1298 1298 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Iranian opposition groups have been using the Internet and social media tools like Twitter to protest the country's recent presidential election. The government has cracked down, but e-dissent is difficult to quell. Which raises the questions: Can Iran simply shut down Internet access and, if so, why doesn't it? http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1297 1297 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 One of the Internets founding fathers and modern evangelists, Vinton Cerf, warned a gathering of government and technology industry leaders that the Internet <i>still lacks many features that it needs</i>, including essential authentication and security tools. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1296 1296 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 How secure is your Gmail? At the behest of 37 privacy and security experts, Google said Tuesday that it is looking into a process that would encrypt its Web-based e-mail service at all hours, not just during sign-on. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1295 1295 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Microsoft says it has adjusted its freshly-launched Bing search engine to make it easier to filter out porn.<br /> <br /> Adults-only images and video will be served from a separate domain, explicit.bing.net, so that content can easily be barred from Bing search results, according to Bing general manager Mike Nichols. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1294 1294 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A California software publisher will seek an injunction preventing U.S. companies from shipping computers with Chinese anti-pornography software it says was stolen, the companys president said.<br /> <br /> Solid Oak Software said it found pieces of its CyberSitter Internet-filtering software in the Chinese program, including a list of terms to be blocked and instructions for updating the software http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1293 1293 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Get ready for the <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >2009 Software Industry Conference</a>! This year we will be in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Marriott Quincy from July 16-18, 2009 for another exciting Software Industry Conference. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1292 1292 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Presentations can be a great way to attract new business, simply by making yourself more well-known. However, nerves can often get in the way of entrepreneurs who want to use speaking opportunities to develop their business. Follow these steps to overcome nerves and make a powerful presentation during your public speaking engagement...<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/tips-for-public-speaking.htm" target="_blank" >Tips for Public Speaking and Presenting</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1291 1291 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has ordered that all computers purchased in China after July 1 have a new internet filtering software pre-installed that the regime says targets pornography and other <i>unhealthy information.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1290 1290 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A high school computer whiz did not get a high grade for a recent feat: designing software to shut teachers out of the grading system.<br /> <br /> A New York State Police spokeswoman says 16-year-old Matthew Beighey has been charged with unauthorized use of a computer and third-degree identity theft. He was ordered to return to court Wednesday.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1289 1289 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Managing your time and using it wisely is a journey, and not something that can be easily mastered overnight. Implementing a plan will help, but it is not going to be a sure cure. Time management requires a significant amount of self-discipline.<br /> <br /> Here are some tips to assist you with time management...<a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/time-management.htm" target="_blank" >Time Management Tips</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1288 1288 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 If you think the biggest threat to your sensitive information lies in network security, think again. Once a criminal is inside a building, there are limitless possibilities to what that person can access or damage. Take a look at your buildings security. How easy is it to get inside?<br /> <br /> We spent an afternoon with social engineering expert Chris Nickerson, founder of Lares, a security consultancy based in Colorado, to get an idea of some of the key vulnerabilities a criminal looks for in building security. <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9134085" target="_blank" >more</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1287 1287 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Jeff Moss, founder of the Black Hat and Defcon hacker and security conferences, was among 16 people sworn in on Friday to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.<br /> <br /> The HSAC members will provide recommendations and advice directly to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. <br /> <br /> Moss background as a computer hacker aka <i>Dark Tangent</i> and role as a luminary among young hackers who flock to Defcon in Las Vegas every summer might seem to make him an odd choice to swear allegiance to the government. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1286 1286 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The live website critique covers subjects covered include the initial impression created by a website, structure, navigation, communication, SEO setup and more. Tuesday June 23rd at 12:00 EST. More on <a href="http://www.sharewarepromotions.com/website-critique.html" target="_blank" >Website Critique</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1285 1285 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The governments inadvertent and red-faced Internet posting of a 266-page list of U.S. nuclear sites provided a one-step guide for anyone wanting details about such sensitive information. Obama administration officials said Wednesday the document contained no classified material about nuclear weapons. They contended the locations and other details already were available from public sources. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1284 1284 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Wikipedia has blocked the Church of Scientology from editing entries at the communally-crafted online encyclopedia due to an unrelenting battle over the groups image. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1283 1283 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The document takes users through more than 20 simple recommendations for system settings, Safari settings and iPhone Configuration Utility settings, a spokeswoman said. Using the recommendations is designed to help reduce the the chance of a remote attack, with instructions on securely erasing data and setting up strong passwords. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1282 1282 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Web 2.0 is a perceived transition of the Web to web-based applications. Web 2.0 is the next generation of technology solutions where interactive content is the norm.<br /> <br /> There is no agreement on exactly what Web 2.0 means. Depending on who you are speaking with, you may receive different explanations. At it's heart, Web 2.0 is about the maturity of the Web. While many refer to Web 2.0 as companies that employ powerful web technologies, the key components of Web 2.0 are said to include: the Web as a platform, collaboration, and syndication. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/abcs-of-web-2.htm" target="_blank" >ABCs of Web 2.0</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1281 1281 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 China will launch a four-month crackdown on unapproved Internet cafes, state media said Thursday, signalling heightened vigilance ahead of two politically sensitive anniversaries. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1280 1280 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 <a href="http://www.sic.org/files/sic-student-flyer-09.pdf" target="_blank" >Student Discount for Software Industry Conference in Boston MA July 16-18th</a>. Only $50.00 with student ID normally $249.00! Educational sessions for software developers and marketers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1279 1279 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 How would you react if one million of your customers were suddenly stopped from coming into your shop? Matt Mullenweg just shrugged.<br /> <br /> The 25-year-old American is the founder of Wordpress, software that allows computer users worldwide to easily create their own websites, or blogs.<br /> <br /> The simplicity of Wordpress has made it one of the worlds top blogging platforms six years after it was set up.<br /> <br /> But in 2006, as the site was growing from strength to strength, Chinese authorities suddenly blocked it.<br /> <br /> Overnight, one million Chinese visitors to the various blogs disappeared, accounting for about a quarter of all traffic to the site. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1278 1278 Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Applications I Can not Live Without!

FeedForAll
Used daily for updating RSS feeds.

The Bat!
Used hourly for managing email.

FTP Voyager
Used for FTPing up new web design layouts and images.

Dreamweaver
Used for Web Design.

MS Office
Used for correspondents and administrative tasks.

PaintShop Pro
Used for graphic editing and image enhancement.

RecordForAll
Used occasionally for recording audio files for podcasts.

RSS Submit
Used weekly to submit RSS feeds to RSS directories and search engines.

FeedDemon
Used to manage reading of RSS feeds on a regular basis.

GroupMail
Used for sending email newsletters.

PDF995
Used regularly for converting documents to PDFs.

TNT Screen Capture
Used occasionally for capturing screen shots

TopStyle
Used occasionally for making changes to Cascading Style Sheets -CSS

SureThing CD Labler
Used occasionally for designing CD inserts and labels.

FireFox
Used hourly for navigating the web, also use plug-ins for search marketing research.
]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1277 1277 Mon, 8 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 1. Protect your personal information. It is valuable.<br /> 2. Know who you are dealing with.<br /> 3. Use security software that updates automatically.<br /> 4. Keep your operating system and Web browser up-to-date and learn about their security features.<br /> 5. Keep your passwords safe, secure and strong.<br /> 6. Back up important files.<br /> 7. Learn what to do in an emergency.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1276 Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Spyware refers to computer software, programs, that are installed, usually without the computer users knowledge and gather information about how the computer is being used and the websites the user visits.<br /> <br /> The simplest and most insidious form of spyware are so-called<i> cookies</i> although not all cookies are bad. These tiny pieces of computer code are loaded into your browser when you visit a site. They are usually required to let you login to an ecommerce site, such as Amazon, or a social networking site like Facebook. They are a necessary evil in such cases, without them login would not necessarily work, but they also allow the owners of various sites to track your browsing on that site.<br /> <br /> At worst, however, a cookie might be planted by a less than ethical site that traces your activity across different sites. Modern browsers have built in controls that allow you to control which sites can install cookies. They also let you automatically delete cookies when you close your browser and retain the ones you need on an ad hoc basis.<br /> <br /> Spyware, however, is more than crumbling cookies. When the term was first coined in the 1990s it usually referred to a small program that was installed on your computer when you installed another program, such as a freeware or shareware drawing package, text editor, or other application. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1275 1275 Sat, 6 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 President Obama directed his national security adviser and senior Cabinet officials yesterday to examine whether the government keeps too much information secret. <br /> <br /> In a memo, Obama acknowledged that too many documents have been kept from the public eye for years and affirmed that he remains <i>committed to operating with an unprecedented level of openness.</i><br /> Obama asked national security adviser James L. Jones to canvass executive branch officials about their procedures for handling classified information and to make recommendations about better information sharing. <br /> <br /> The president also said that turf battles and problems with technology continue to pose obstacles to disseminating unclassified national security information among federal agencies with their partners in states and the private sector. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1274 1274 Fri, 5 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 VeriSign Inc. said Tuesday that it is selling its security services unit.<br /> <br /> The Mountain View, Calif.-based company, which runs some of the key directories that computers need to find Web sites and route e-mail, is selling Managed Security Services to SecureWorks Inc. of Atlanta, Ga. Details of the deal were not disclosed. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1273 1273 Thu, 4 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 In an effort to help prevent misidentification of passengers on the Transportation Security Administrations <i>no fly</i> or "<i>watch list,</i> the government agency is making a few security changes.<br /> <br /> Effective immediately, when making airline reservations, you will be asked to enter your full name as it appears on a license, passport, or government identification card.<br /> <br /> The name on the identification card must match exactly to the name of the passenger.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1272 1272 Wed, 3 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Large collection of <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" >security powerpoint templates</a>. Works with any version of Microsoft PowerPoint.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.ppt-templates.net/preview1/previewthumb-1942.png"></a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1271 1271 Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 For decades piracy numbers have been freely quoted by studios, software companies and intellectual property lobbyists, yet few have questioned the accuracy of these numbers, how they were obtained or how they were interpreted. <br /> <br /> This now looks set to change thanks to Dr. Michael Geist, a Canadian law professor who holds the Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottowa. <br /> <br /> After asking some tough questions and doing some investigating, Geist discovered that the piracy numbers quoted by the Canadian Business Software Alliance were based on a hunch rather than any actual surveys of the Canadian public. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1270 Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:00:05 -0400 Diminishing supplies of oil and natural gas will push countries into violent competition, the Kremlin predicted in a long-awaited national security strategy paper released this week. The document foresees these struggles playing out in the Arctic as well as the Middle East, the Barents Sea, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia — and states that Russia is prepared to fight for its share of the worlds resources. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1269 1269 Mon, 1 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The National Archives has lost a computer hard drive containing sensitive data from the Clinton administration.<br /> <br /> Congressional officials say the information includes Social Security numbers, addresses and Secret Service and White House operating procedures.<br /> <br /> The chairman and ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee disclosed the security breach Tuesday after receiving a briefing from the inspector general of the National Archives and Records Administration. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1268 1268 Sun, 31 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Pakistan on Thursday said it would maintain the security of its nuclear deterrence especially in the light of changing regional environment. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1267 1267 Sat, 30 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400
This sounds like a Matrix movie, but the virtual equivalent of this is real and poses one of the most serious new risks on the Internet, according to Jeremiah Grossman, chief technology officer and co-founder of Whitehat Security.

Most exploits like worms and attacks that take advantage of holes in software can be patched, but clickjacking is a design flaw in the way the Web is supposed to work, Grossman said. The bad guy is superimposing an invisible button over something the user wants to click on...It can be any button on any Web page on any Web site.

The technique was used in a series of prank attacks launched on Twitter in February.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1266 1266 Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Companies are cutting jobs or slashing pay to cope with the sagging economy but there is money to be made of you have a government security clearance.<br /> <br /> ClearanceJobs.com, an online career management resource company, reports workers holding security clearances are enjoying an average pay increase of nearly 2 percent to $73,961. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1265 1265 Thu, 28 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Software vendors fed up with software piracy have responded by beefing up their licensing and activation procedures, only to have pirates crack their code again. <br /> <br /> A company called V.i. Laboratories Inc. is proposing a new approach called CodeArmor Intelligence, which embeds stealth algorithms inside programs that <i>phone home</i> with information about the unauthorized usage of software, including their Internet domain and even a company location on a Google Map. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1264 1264 Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A federal judge in Madison has sentenced an Iowa woman to prison for pirating software. <br /> <br /> U.S. Attorney Erik Peterson said Kelly Garcia, 39, of Dubuque, posted online advertisements selling software at reduced rates in March 2003. <br /> <br /> The Business Software Alliance bought several titles and discovered they were pirated copies of Macromedia software programs. In November 2003, federal investigators searched a home in Boscobel, Wis., where Garcia lived at the time, and uncovered records showing she made about $85,000 selling pirated programs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1263 1263 Tue, 26 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 One in five teenagers are able to used advanced internet-distributed hacking tools, says Panda Security. <br /> <br /> Research by the security firm revealed that casual hacking is as much a part of teen life as downloading music to an iPod.<br /> <br /> Two thirds of those surveyed revealed they had succeeded in hacking instant messaging or social network accounts of people known to them, with 20 percent admitting to having published embarrassing photographs or videos of acquaintances on the internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1262 1262 Mon, 25 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Should you use WEP or WPA encryption with your wireless router? WEP is now considered obsolete, as it contains security flaws and is much more easily hacked. It is still used widely, however, because some older devices still do not support WPA. Most recent routers, however, do offer WPA data encryption, which is far more secure. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1261 1261 Mon, 25 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Facebook has been working to clean up its site after its 200 million members were targeted by hackers. <br /> <br /> Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt would not comment on how many accounts had been hit but he did confirm it was blocking any that had been compromised. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1260 1260 Sun, 24 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster pointed out Saturday there are plenty of places in South Carolina other than his Web site to find prostitution ads and obscene photos, saying in a blog that he wants to know why the states top prosecutor is targeting his company.<br /> <br /> South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster has threatened to prosecute Craigslist executives for aiding and abetting prostitution if an ad on the Web site leads to a prostitution case in South Carolina.<br /> <br /> In the post on his companys blog, Buckmaster linked to a publication in Greenville he said has a larger number of adult ads and more explicit content than his Web site. He later updated the post to point out a publication in Charleston that listed 19 adult ads on Friday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1259 1259 Sat, 23 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An approach based on the mathematical theory of elliptic curves may pave the way much more efficient cryptography — which underpins privacy, confidentiality, and identity to provide the fabric for e-commerce and secure communications — that will be capable of strengthening security against cyber crime and any terrorist attacks via the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1258 1258 Fri, 22 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Thousands of boxes of Washington cherries will be loaded onto passenger planes in coming weeks, bound for Pacific Rim countries like Japan and Korea.<br /> Or so farmers hope.<br /> <br /> Growers and shippers of highly perishable crops like cherries worry that a new requirement that all cargo on U.S. passenger flights undergo a security scan could create huge delays, leaving crops to rot in hangars as they await inspection. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1257 1257 Thu, 21 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The World Health Organisation warned on Friday against a false sense of security from waning and apparently mild outbreaks of H1N1 flu, saying the worst may not be over. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who raised the United Nations agencys pandemic alert to the second-highest level, said there remained <i>great uncertainty</i> about the strain that could pose particular threats in Southeast Asia.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1256 1256 Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The scale of the threat posed by cybercriminals has been revealed after researchers took over a network of computers for 10 days, gaining unrestricted access to thousands of bank and credit-card accounts.<br /> <br /> They showed how a botnet, a network of 180,000 compromised or zombie computers, allowed thieves to steal thousands of bank account and credit-card details and computer passwords and to spy on the browsing habits of the users. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1255 1255 Tue, 19 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Former Vice President Dick Cheney says he believes the U.S. has become more vulnerable to a potential terrorist attack since the Obama administration took power.<br /> Cheney cites interrogation and surveillance policies put in place after the Sept. 11 attacks. He says those policies kept the U.S. safe, but the Obama administration is now critical of them — and raising the possibility of prosecuting government lawyers who signed off on some policies. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1254 1254 Mon, 18 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A new cyberbullying bill aims to punish those who intend to cause <i>emotional distress</i> online with fines, jail time, or both. The problem—as usual—is the vague language used in the bill, which leaves many critics concerned that it could be used to censor speech on the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1253 1253 Sun, 17 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Googles unabashed success as an Internet search and advertising juggernaut has placed it in the crosshairs of regulators worried the firm will trample free market competition. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1252 1252 Sun, 17 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Bruce Schneier, author and computer security expert, wrote a good reality-check essay on the subject of online privacy, or the lack thereof.<br /> <br /> In it, he points out how using Webmail or an online document service like Google Docs not only allows for more easily snagging your information, but also severely waters down legal privacy protections. For example, he points out that <i>the courts have ruled that the police can search your data without a warrant, as long as others hold that data. If the police want to read the e-mail on your computer, they need a warrant; but they don't need one to read it from the backup tapes at your ISP.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1251 1251 Sat, 16 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Applications I Can not Live Without!

FeedForAll
Used daily for updating RSS feeds.

The Bat!
Used hourly for managing email.

FTP Voyager
Used for FTPing up new web design layouts and images.

Dreamweaver
Used for Web Design.

MS Office
Used for correspondents and administrative tasks.

PaintShop Pro
Used for graphic editing and image enhancement.

RecordForAll
Used occasionally for recording audio files for podcasts.

RSS Submit
Used weekly to submit RSS feeds to RSS directories and search engines.

FeedDemon
Used to manage reading of RSS feeds on a regular basis.

GroupMail
Used for sending email newsletters.

PDF995
Used regularly for converting documents to PDFs.

TNT Screen Capture
Used occasionally for capturing screen shots

TopStyle
Used occasionally for making changes to Cascading Style Sheets -CSS

SureThing CD Labler
Used occasionally for designing CD inserts and labels.

FireFox
Used hourly for navigating the web, also use plug-ins for search marketing research.
]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1250 1250 Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Last week, the Pentagon embarked on a yearlong review of its strategic priorities. In the months to come, defense officials will be facing some exceptionally painful choices about where to focus their limited resources in the wake of the economic crisis and the ever-rising tab for seven years of war. The Defense Department got used to being on the receiving end of blank checks to fight tough military campaigns on two fronts, but money is tight now.<br /> <br /> Indeed, budget constraints are making it increasingly difficult for the U.S. military to project power to hot spots around the globe, with an alarming and growing effect on national security, some longtime military analysts say. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1249 1249 Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Supreme Court on Monday took away one of the governments tools for prosecuting and deporting workers in this country illegally, ruling that the crime of identity theft was limited to those who knew they were using another person's Social Security number.<br /> <br /> People who use false documents can be jailed, the court said. But they cannot be convicted of the more serious crime of <i>aggravated identity theft</i> without proof that they knew the identification number belonged to someone else, the court ruled unanimously.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1248 1248 Wed, 13 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Software companies could be held responsible for the security and efficacy of their products, if a new European Commission consumer protection proposal becomes law. <br /> <br /> Commissioners Viviane Reding and Meglena Kuneva have proposed that EU consumer protections for physical products be extended to software. The suggested change in the law is part of an EU action agenda put forward by the commissioners after identifying gaps in EU consumer protection rules. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1247 1247 Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Leaving children unsupervised on the internet is like giving them the keys to a Porsche and letting them loose on the motorway, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff says. <br /> <br /> Privacy Awareness Week began yesterday, with events focused on two privacy hotspots: the security of official information and internet awareness for young people.<br /> <br /> Shroff said cases like that of Kaiapoi man Malcolm Spark who last week was jailed for 2 1/2 years for offences that stemmed from his prowling through internet chatrooms and enticing underage girls into discussions about sex highlighted the dangers the internet posed. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1246 1246 Mon, 11 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Worried about Swine Flu? If so, do not let your fear and anxiety dupe you into clicking dubious links in emails. Spammers are increasingly using Swine Flu in subject lines and messages to take advantage of people's fears of the rapidly-spreading Influenza strain, according to McAfees Advert Labs Blog. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1245 1245 Sun, 10 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Doctors have confirmed 898 cases of the H1N1 flu virus in 18 countries and, for the first time, a sick farm worker has infected pigs, according to the World Health Organization. <br /> <br /> A farm worker who had recently traveled to Mexico has infected a herd of pigs in Alberta, Canada, said Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety scientist at the WHO at press conference Sunday morning. The worker returned to the farm in mid-April and the animals began getting sick eight to 10 days later, Embarek said. The infection was mild, however, and the farm worker and pigs have recovered.<br /> <br /> The Pan American Health Organization Sunday said there are cases in Colombia, but this in not reflected on the WHO site. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1244 1244 Sat, 9 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The White House took a major leap into the Web 2.0 world, launching pages on social networks MySpace and Facebook and sending its first <i>tweets</i> on hot micro-blogging service Twitter. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1243 1243 Fri, 8 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Among the suggestions for improving federal cyber security that were proposed at a hearing by the Senate Homeland Security Committee Tuesday, one that appeared to garner a fair amount of interest from lawmakers had to do with the use of government buying power to boost security.<br /> <br /> The suggestion from Alan Paller, director of research at the Bethesda, Md.-based SANS Institute is one that is shared by several others within government and outside it as well. The basic premise is that the government which purchases over $70 billion worth of IT products a year can use its enormous buying power to force vendors to make their products more secure. <br /> <br /> Most often, cyber criminals and foreign adversaries are able to penetrate systems and networks because of common programming errors and insecure configuration issues that are pretty well understood at this point but which vendors keep repeating all the same in their products. So getting them to fix these issues before they are permitted to sell into government is a surefire way to improve security and reduce costs, says Paller.<br /> <br /> An example of where this approach has worked is the U.S. Air Force which has deployed over 500,000 desktops with a secure, standard Windows desktop configuration, Paller says. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1242 1242 Thu, 7 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 CBS News has learned of another data breach potentially compromising the personal information of thousands of people. Companies Lexis Nexis and Investigative Professionals have notified up to 40,000 people whose <i>sensitive and personally identifiable</i> information may have been viewed by individuals who should not have had access. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1241 1241 Wed, 6 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Facebook has brought in some soldiers to fight the war against malware and phishing Relevant Products - Services scams on the social-networking site. After two different malware attacks this week, Facebook announced it would begin using San Francisco-based MarkMonitors antifraud services as an additional layer of protection against attacks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1240 1240 Tue, 5 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Department of Homeland Security and several technology giants are launching a nationwide volunteer program to put tech pros in kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to make the younger generation aware of Internet dangers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1239 1239 Mon, 4 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Two brothers from Missouri and two of their cohorts have been charged with conspiracy and violations of the CAN-SPAM Act thanks to their $4 million e-mail scheme targeting university and college students across the US. The scheme originated out of the University of Missouri, but the group took numerous measures to obscure the origins of their e-mails. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1238 1238 Fri, 1 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 <a href="http://www.notepage.net/pagegate.htm" target="_blank" >Send network alerts</a> to pagers and cell phones immediately. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1237 1237 Sun, 3 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Software piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication and use of computer software. Software developers work hard to develop solid software programs. If those applications are pirated and stolen, the software developers will often be unable to generate the revenue required to continue supporting and expanding those applications. The effects of software piracy impact the entire global economy. The reduced revenues often divert funding from product development, and result in less research and less investment in marketing. In 2007, economists indicated that software piracy cost the industry $39.6 billion. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.developer-resource.com/software-piracy.htm" target="_blank" >What Is Software Piracy?</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1236 1236 Sat, 2 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> is scheduled for July 16-18th, 2009 in Boston MA. <a href="http://www.sic.org/register.asp" target="_blank" >Sign-Up now</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1235 1235 Fri, 1 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Headache pills made of rat poison and Viagra made of chalk, the truth about internet drugs. They cause hundreds of thousands of deaths per year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1234 1234 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Large collection of <a href="http://www.logo-search.com/category.php/security-logos" target="_blank" >security logos</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1233 1233 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Pentagon is completing plans for a new military command that would coordinate the security of the nations computer networks. It would also develop new offensive cyber-weapons, U.S. officials said. <br /> <br /> It comes as hackers, criminals and spies have increased attacks on the countrys utility grids, stock markets, airline systems, military networks and other government computer systems that contain sensitive information. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1232 1232 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 China insisted on Thursday it was opposed to Internet crimes, following a US media report that said Chinese hackers may have been behind a cyber attack on computers linked to a new US fighter jet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1231 1231 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 In virtual worlds like FusionFall, one moderation executive says, the greatest risks are bullying and young users own efforts to share personal information. <br /> <br /> VIRTUAL worlds for children and teenagers — Web sites like Neopets, Club Penguin and Habbo — are a big business. On these sites, children create an avatar and, with it, explore an imaginary universe. They can play games, chat and decorate virtual rooms or other spaces.<br /> Skip to next paragraph <br /> <br /> By the end of this year, there will be 70 million unique accounts — twice as many as last year — in virtual worlds aimed at children under 16, according to K Zero, a consulting firm. Virtual Worlds Management, a media and trade events company, estimates that there are now more than 200 youth-oriented virtual worlds <i>live, planned or in active development</i>.<br /> <br /> As the number of these virtual worlds grows, so, too, does the demand for sophisticated monitoring software and people, called moderators, who can act as virtual playground monitors. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1230 1230 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Register for the 2009 <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> is scheduled July 16-18, 2009 and will be held in Boston, MA. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1229 1229 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The National Security Agency has been campaigning to lead the governments rapidly growing cybersecurity programs, raising privacy and civil liberties concerns among some officials who fear that the move could give the spy agency too much control over government computer networks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1228 1228 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The number, scale and sophistication of data breaches fueled by hackers last year is rekindling the debate over the efficacy of the credit card industrys security standards for safeguarding customer data.<br /> <br /> All merchants that handle credit and debit card data are required to show that they have met the payment card industry data security standards, a set of technical and operational requirements designed to safeguard cardholder information from theft or unauthorized access. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1227 1227 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400
Wanted: Computer hackers. Buffeted by millions of digital scans and attacks each day, federal authorities are looking for hackers — not to prosecute them, but to pay them to secure the nations networks.

General Dynamics Information Technology put out an ad last month on behalf of the Homeland Security Department seeking someone who could think like the bad guy. Applicants, it said, must understand hackers tools and tactics and be able to analyze Internet traffic and identify vulnerabilities in the federal systems.

And in the Pentagons budget request submitted last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates hung out his own help-wanted sign, saying the Pentagon will increase the number of cyber experts it can train each year from 80 to 250 by 2011.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1226 1226 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Some schools have banned backpacks. Others have locked doors, installed cameras, bought metal detectors, and started disaster drills.<br /> <br /> Ten years ago, two teenagers killed 13 people and wounded 23 others inside Columbine High School in suburban Littleton, Colo., a massacre that forever altered the nations school-security landscape. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1225 1225 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A court in Sweden has jailed four men behind The Pirate Bay, the worlds most high-profile file-sharing website, in a landmark case. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1224 1224 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 What does a software pirate look like? Anyone. And that's the new message of the Business Software Alliance, which asked five convicted software pirates to tell their stories. <br /> <br /> As part of the BSAs new <b>Faces </b> campaign, the BSA asked five people who were convicted of software piracy to tell their stories via videos posted to YouTube. Four of them were found guilty of criminal software piracy, while the fifth, a grandmother from Georgia, was found guilty in a civil suit, said Jenny Blank, the BSAs senior director of legal affairs, in an interview. <br /> <br /> <b><i>We wanted to put a human face on the issue of software piracy </i></b> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1223 1223 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 RSS is a standard for syndicating content on the Internet. RSS feeds are used in a variety of ways to distribute all types of content via the Internet. The benefits for individuals subscribing to RSS feeds have resulted in a rapid growth and adoption rate.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.feedforall.com/create-rss-make-rss.htm" target="_blank" >Create RSS | Make RSS Feeds</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1222 1222 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Web 2.0 is a perceived transition of the Web to web-based applications. Web 2.0 is the next generation of technology solutions where interactive content is the norm.<br /> <br /> There is no agreement on exactly what Web 2.0 means. Depending on who you are speaking with, you may receive different explanations. At its heart, Web 2.0 is about the maturity of the Web. While many refer to Web 2.0 as companies that employ powerful web technologies, the key components of Web 2.0 are said to include: the Web as a platform, collaboration, and syndication. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/abcs-of-web-2.htm" target="_blank" >ABCs of Web 2.0</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1221 1221 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Foreign investors in Internet companies pose a potential threat to national security, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned members of the United Russia political party at a meeting on Wednesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1220 1220 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 With the objective to create awareness on the usage of authentic products and to put a check on the business of software piracy, Kaspersky, a Russia-based anti-virus software and Internet security software solution provider is taking action against resellers propagating pirated software. <br /> <br /> Zoom Technologies, importers of Kaspersky in India, has gone ahead and taken legal action against the dealers who are involved in selling counterfeit and pirated software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1219 1219 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The FBI has now ranked cyber crime as the third-greatest threat to U.S. national security, after nuclear war and weapons of mass destruction. <br /> <br /> The Department of Defense said it has spent $100 million in the past six months responding to cyber attacks. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1218 1218 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Macs were more secure than Windows machines, but the tables have turned. Macs are safer than PCs because they are not targeted as much, but the latest versions of OS X are <i>inherently less secure than the latest versions of Windows</i>, says Rich Mogull, the Mac security expert who provided tips this week. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1217 1217 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Chinese national living in northern New Jersey has been accused of stealing a software program from his former U.S. employer and selling a modified version to the Chinese government after being fired. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1216 1216 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Purdue and Rutgers universities will co-lead a U.S.-Canadian research group in a six-year, $30 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security study. <br /> The researchers said they will create methods and tools to analyze and manage data in preparing for, preventing, detecting, responding to and recovering from terrorist attacks as well as natural and man-made disasters. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1215 1215 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Companies offering to protect consumers from identity theft tout their ability to shield your personal financial information from fraud.<br /> <br /> But some consumer groups caution you to think twice before shelling out money for those services because in many cases, they say, identity theft protection services fall far short of being a financial security blanket.<br /> <br /> The Consumer Federation of America recently examined 16 identity protection firms and found that, in most cases, they gave unclear, confusing or misleading information about the services they provide and the extent of the protection consumers were buying. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1214 1214 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 French politicians have rejected a bill which proposed that people caught downloading music illegally three times should be cut off from the internet. <br /> The legislation, backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy, would have set a tough global precedent in cracking down on internet piracy. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1213 1213 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Here is a collection of what we consider<i> must have </i>tools for webmasters. These tools will benefit any webmaster, both novices and experts alike. Arm yourself with these tools in order to achieve a more professional online presence. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/webmaster-tools.htm" target="_blank" >Webmaster Toolbox</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1212 1212 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The Cloud Security Alliance, whose founding members include eBay, PGP Corporation and Qualys, is seeking to promote the best ways to secure cloud computing and outline how to use cloud computing for the protection of other types of computing. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1211 1211 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Web 2.0 is a perceived transition of the Web to web-based applications. Web 2.0 is the next generation of technology solutions where interactive content is the norm. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/abcs-of-web-2.htm" target="_blank" >ABCs of Web 2.0</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1210 1210 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A new bill presented to Congress would see mandatory computer security standards imposed on government and private companies that control the critical infrastructure of the US.<br /> <br /> The bill, sponsored by senators John D. Rockefeller IV and Olympia J Snowe, would see the creation of a National Cybersecurity Advisor with direct access to the president. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1209 1209 Thu, 9 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Microsoft on Thursday issued a security advisory concerning a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Office PowerPoint. <br /> <br /> If a user can be convinced to open a maliciously crafted PowerPoint file -- contained in an e-mail message or via a Web site link -- the vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute code remotely. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1208 1208 Thu, 9 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Internet-based rip-offs jumped 33 percent last year over the previous year, according to a report from a complaint center set up to monitor such crimes. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1207 1207 Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The discovery of a Chinese-based cyber spy network that infiltrated government computers around the world exposes the need for the federal government to take Internet security more seriously, a team of Canadian researchers said Monday as they discussed their findings. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1206 1206 Tue, 7 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 2008 was the busiest year yet for online fraudsters according to an annual Internet Crime Report released Monday by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1205 1205 Tue, 7 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Staff who have lost their jobs are reporting their former bosses for using unlicensed software, figures released from the Business Software Alliance show.<br /> <br /> That at least is the suspicion of the BSA, which is reporting about 100 leads a week coming from the public, in addition to those caught in raids. <br /> <br /> The number of leads rose 8% in January and February, compared to the same period last year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1204 1204 Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Nearly 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries have been attacked and have become part of a computer espionage network apparently based in China, security experts alleged in two reports last week. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1203 1203 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Russias leading computer security labs have warned of a new software virus which infects Automatic Teller Machines ATM to steal money from bank accounts of their users. <br /> <br /> Two leading anti-virus software producers <i>Doctor Web’</i>and <i>Kaspersky Lab</i> claimed to have discovered a new virus, in the networks of several bank ATMs, which is able to collect information from bank cards. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1202 1202 Sun, 5 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An elected California official wants the state known for Internet technology to blur images of schools, hospitals, government buildings and houses of worship in online maps.<br /> <br /> Southern California assemblyman Joel Anderson, a Republican, is backing a bill that would call for Internet mapping services to obscure such images or face daily fines of 250,000 dollars. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1201 1201 Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The fast-moving Conficker computer worm, a scourge of the Internet that has infected at least 3 million PCs, is set to spring to life in a new way on Wednesday — April Fools Day.<br /> <br /> That's when many of the poisoned machines will get more aggressive about <i>phoning home</i> to the worms creators over the Internet. When that happens, the bad guys behind the worm will be able to trigger the program to send spam, spread more infections, clog networks with traffic, or try and bring down Web sites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1200 1200 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:00:00 -0400 Nearly 60 people have been arrested in what Canadian police said on Thursday was the countrys largest investigation into child pornography on the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1199 1199 Fri, 3 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 AT&T Inc., the nations largest Internet service provider, will start sending warnings to its subscribers when music labels and movie studios allege that they are trafficking in pirated material, according to an executive.<br /> <br /> The phone company thus joins other major ISPs that either go beyond legal requirements or interpret their duties under the law to mean that they have to forward such notices. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1198 1198 Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An Energy Department investigation has alleviated fears that a significant amount of plutonium was missing from a national laboratory, but it has also heightened concerns about flaws in the system for controlling the U.S. stockpile of weapons materials.<br /> <br /> The investigation began in February, shortly after a routine inventory at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico found a plutonium shortage estimated at 2.2 pounds, setting off a frantic national effort to determine what happened to the material.<br /> <br /> The confidential investigation concluded this week that statisticians at the lab had miscalculated the amount of plutonium at its facility and that none was actually missing. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1197 1197 Wed, 1 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An outcry is growing in Alexandria over a prospect no one seems to like: terrorist suspects in the suburbs. <br /> <br /> The historic, vibrant community less than 10 miles from the White House markets itself as a <i>federal friendly zone</i>. But it has turned decidedly unfriendly to news that the Obama administration might move some detainees from their highly controlled military fortress at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Alexandria to stand trial at the federal courthouse. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1196 1196 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The UN Security Council on Wednesday extended the United Nations presence in Afghanistan for another year, while recognizing the key role played by the world body in coordinating international efforts in the country and in supporting upcoming elections. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1195 1195 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 An electronic spy network, based mainly in China, has infiltrated computers from government offices around the world, Canadian researchers say. <br /> They said the network had infiltrated 1,295 computers in 103 countries. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1194 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Large collection of <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security-ppt-templates" target="_blank" >security powerpoint templates</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1193 1193 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Security flaws have halted work on the internet database designed to hold the details of 11 million children and teenagers. <br /> <br /> The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) admitted last night that it had uncovered problems in the system for shielding details of an estimated 55,000 vulnerable children. <br /> <br /> These include children who are victims of domestic violence, those in difficult adoptions or witness protection programs and the children of the rich and famous, whose whereabouts may need to be kept secret. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1192 Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A weekend riot by hundreds of ethnic Tibetans was a spontaneous response to tough Chinese security measures, activists and an expert said on Monday, and more destabilising outbursts are likely in coming months. <br /> <br /> Beijing has flooded Tibet and ethnic Tibetan areas in neighbouring provinces with security forces, cut off some Internet and mobile phone services and closed the region to almost all foreigners in March, a month of sensitive anniversaries and a controversial new holiday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1191 1191 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 New Zealand Monday withdrew a controversial law which could have forced firms to disconnect Internet users accused of illegal use of material such as music or films. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1190 1190 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 American International Group is warning employees to take protective measures given the publics outrage over the companys retention-bonus payments.<br /> <br /> The company also provided some rather obvious safety and security guidelines, including advising against wearing apparel emblazoned with the companys insignia, making sure AIG corporate badges are not readily visible when exiting the office and to be aware of individuals who appear to be out of place or spending an inordinate amount of time near an AIG facility. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1189 1189 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 A long-overdue internet early warning system for Europe could help the region avoid deliberate or inadvertent outages, reduce the spread of new computer viruses, and ensure continuity of services. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1188 1188 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Social networking already has passed through the firewall of every company on the planet. Now CIOs need to ask, <i>What else snuck in with it?</i><br /> <br /> Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace already are a part of employees lives. They are also one of the greatest tools for hackers to gain entry into the corporate enterprise, no matter how impenetrable a company thinks it is from the bad guys. And it's not just the 20-something employees. With workers of all ages showing growing angst over their jobs, they have been flooding onto LinkedIn to build up their contact lists in case they get laid off. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1187 1187 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The operator of Liver4you.org is facing wire fraud charges for an alleged scheme to use the Web site to entice people needing organ transplants to wire tens of thousands of dollars to the Philippines in exchange for nonexistent surgeries, the U.S. Department of Justice said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1186 1186 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Thursday it has launched a crackdown on several groups who had set up anti-Islamic and pornographic Internet sites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1185 1185 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Early bird discount is available only until April 1st, 2009 for the <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a>. The conference is designed for Software Developers and Software Marketers it is scheduled for July 16-18th, 2009 in Boston, MA. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1184 1184 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 It likely came as no surprise that when software developers began disabling software functionality, their sales increased significantly.<br /> <br /> Protecting software and limiting its usage beyond a specified trial period has become a necessity and protecting software from cracks can be critical to an applications success. In fact, some statistics suggest that a software crack can impact software sales by as much as 30%!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.developer-resource.com/how-to-protect-software.htm" target="_blank" >How to Protect Software</a><br /> <br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1183 1183 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Halfway into a 60-day review of U.S. cybersecurity policy, lawmakers and tech industry experts are expressing alarm about the state of the nations cyberdefenses and hunger for leadership in the unacknowledged cyberwar against America. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1182 1182 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Here is a collection of what we consider <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/webmaster-toolbox.htm" target="_blank" >must have tools for webmasters</a>. These tools will benefit any webmaster, both novices and experts alike. Arm yourself with these tools in order to achieve a more professional online presence. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1181 1181 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Churches can stop a shooter or anyone else intent on harming church members with the proper security measures in place, an expert on protecting places of worship said Monday.<br /> <i></i><br /> <i>A church is not helpless when they have a plan.</i> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1180 1180 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 If you comment on a blog, should your identity be fair game if that bloggers post becomes the subject of a lawsuit? That is the question facing Virginia blogger Waldo Jaquith, who runs cvillenews.com. <br /> <br /> Jaquith is scheduled to appear in a Buckingham County court Thursday after being hit with a subpoena that requests he reveal any and all information he has on the people who left comments on a December blog post. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1179 1179 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 French bloggers and high-tech experts scorned Tuesday plans to punish illegal downloaders by cutting off Internet access, saying the move was unfair, unworkable and would not stop online piracy.<br /> <br /> One in three of Frances 30 million web users admit to downloading music, films or video games on the Internet, a recent poll showed, with some 450,000 movie copies a day downloaded in France last year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1178 1178 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 In schoolyards across the country, all it takes to attract a crowd are the words <i>Fight! Fight! Fight!</i><br /> <i></i><br /> But students are increasingly showing up with cameras to record the brawls, then posting the footage on the Internet. Some of the videos have been viewed more than a million times.<br /> <br /> Now school officials and cyberspace watchdogs are worried that the videos will encourage violence and sharpen the humiliation of defeat for the losers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1177 1177 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 The U.S. governments director for cybersecurity resigned on last week, criticizing the excessive role of the National Security Agency in countering threats to the countrys computer systems. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1176 1176 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Social media is the Internets version of viral messaging and marketing. Social media can be used to disseminate news or information, as well as to attract attention. There are a wide variety of social media channels and networks available.<br /> <br /> Social networks and social media websites are community-driven websites that allow visitors to submit items of interest. Visitors also decide what items appeal to them by voting or tagging; the more popular an item is determined to be by the visitors, the more exposure the item is given. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/social-bookmarking-primer.htm">Social Media Primer</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1175 1175 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 According to the security firm, four hoax applications have become available on the social network along with a new variation of the Koobface virus, which was first detected at the end of last year, and directs users to a fake YouTube page where they are encouraged to install malware.<br /> <br /> Two of the hoax applications that have been downloaded by Facebook users include F a c e b o o k - closing down!!! and Error Check System. By downloading the app, users are giving hackers access to their profile and personal information, and also unwittingly forwarding fake messages to their friends, also encouraging them to download the programs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1174 1174 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Cisco is planning to offer a new set of managed, hosted and hybrid e-mail security services to give businesses more choice in defending their networks. Ciscos approach puts them on a path similar to the one vendors such as Symantec and Google are walking.<br /> <br /> Cisco Systems has hopped aboard the cloud security train with a set of new managed, hosted and hybrid e-mail security services. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1173 1173 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 Three things in life are certain; death, taxes and loss of data. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1172 1172 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 This is a good question, and raises an issue that many PC users do not fully understand: Deleting a file from your system does not permanently remove it from your hard drive. <br /> <br /> When you delete a file in Windows, it gets moved into the Recycle Bin -- a sort of second drive reserved for deleted files, from which documents can be easily recovered. Once you're sure files are no longer needed, you can empty the Recycle Bin to make them unrecoverable by Windows -- but in truth, they're still ripe for recovery. <br /> <br /> Fact is, when you delete a file or folder, it is not erased from the disk media: Instead, the operating system simply removes the reference to the file from the file system table, marking its space as free to be occupied or overwritten by another file. And even after a new file is created over it, it's still possible to recover the original data by analyzing the magnetic fields on the disk surface. <br /> <br /> The only way to truly eradicate your data is to have the system overwrite old files sectors of the hard drive with new data -- and then do it again and again. In fact, modern recovery technology is so through that even when you employ extreme measures such as reformatting the drive or removing the system partition, experts can still salvage the data. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1171 1171 Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0400 3Coms security branch, TippingPoint, says that the 2009 edition of the Pwn2Own challenge will ask security experts and others attending the Vancouver, Canada event to hack smartphones, not just computers, in an attempt to find exploits that would allow arbitrary code.<br /> <br /> Garnering publicity by way of Fortune, the two-day contest -- which begins along with CanSecWest on March 18th -- will give participants the opportunity to breach the safeguards of any one of five mobile platforms, each represented by a single device. Apple's iPhone will have to compete against the other heavyweights of the cellular world, including a BlackBerry as well as representative models for Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile.<br /> <br /> The contestants will have to depend solely on remote access and are thus forced to use techniques that are more likely to be seen in the wild, such as dangerous websites visited through the mobile web browser, harmful e-mail contents, or deliberately malformed SMS text messages.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1170 1170 Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The Obama administration on Friday lost its bid to halt a lawsuit charging that President George W. Bush broke the law when he authorized warrantless spying on terrorism suspects, the only such case to make it to federal court. <br /> <br /> A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Departments bid to halt the lawsuit by a now-defunct Islamic charity over warrantless wiretapping. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1169 1169 Fri, 6 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater Worldwide security firm, announced Monday he has resigned as head of the company, recently renamed Xe. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1168 1168 Thu, 5 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Late Monday, President Obama said he would nominate veteran prosecutor John Morton to become the next assistant secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Homeland Security Department. John P. Torres, a career law enforcement official, now holds that position on an acting basis. Morton is acting deputy assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's criminal division and has extensive experience in immigration enforcement. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1167 1167 Wed, 4 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Despite the popularity, Twitter still a lot to do when it comes to securing the platform. Just days after popular social networking tool Twitter was hit was a phishing scam, the company is now trying to clean up a mess surrounding a separate hacking attack.<br /> <br /> Over the weekend, some Twitter users received scam tweets, or direct messages, to visit certain sites or blogs. The URL in the message redirected users to a bogus login page in an attempt to steal login credentials for a phishing scheme. Monday, thing got worse as Twitter officials revealed several high profile accounts, such as those of Britney Spears and Barack Obama were hacked. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1166 1166 Sun, 1 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Ignacio Carlos Flores-Figueroa, an undocumented worker from Mexico, made a curious and undeniably bad decision. After working under an assumed name for six years, he decided to use his real name and exchanged one set of phony identification numbers for another.<br /> <br /> The change made his employer suspicious and the authorities were called in. The old numbers were made up, but the new ones he bought happened to belong to real people. Federal prosecutors said that was enough to label Flores-Figueroa an identity thief.<br /> <br /> The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on prosecutors aggressive use of a new law that was intended to strengthen efforts to combat identity theft. In at least hundreds of cases last year, workers accused of immigration violations found themselves facing the more serious identity theft charge as well, without any indication they knew their counterfeit Social Security and other identification numbers belonged to actual people and were not made up. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1165 1165 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A third-party add-on for eBay used by thousands of sellers is being flagged by Google as potentially malicious, after it became infected with a trojan. <br /> Auctiva provides tools for sellers on the popular auction website. <br /> <br /> The company confirmed a virus had attached itself to files on its servers but remedied the problem soon after. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1164 1164 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 It is always interesting to watch what little hooks and schemes the malware industry has cooked up in an attempt to better bait the public and the new Anti-Virus-1 package does not disappoint. AV-1 is a cute mixture of scareware and malware, and while we've seen XP Antivirus playing this turf for years, AV-1 adopts a few new tactics of its own. Once run, the program installs its particular Trojan of choice (Zlob and Vundo are apparently popular options), then makes certain modifications to the hosts file. <br /> <br /> BleepingComputer.com has assembled a list of these changes, a sample of which is included below. If a user attempts to visit any of the links listed, he or she is directed to a site under the control of the botnet controllers.<br /> <br /> a1.review.zdnet.com <br /> www.reviews.download.com <br /> reviews.download.com <br /> reviews.pcadvisor.co.uk <br /> reviews.pcmag.com <br /> <br /> Once redirected, users are served up with what appears to be an actual, legitimate review of Anti-Virus-1 from a reputable source. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1163 1163 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A Romanian hacker who has spent the past few weeks exposing a common, but dangerous, Web programming error on security vendors Web sites says he has found a SQL injection flaw on Symantecs Web site. But Symantec says it is not a security issue. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1162 1162 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The Secure Enterprise 2.0 Forum has just released its 2009 industry report outlining the top Web 2.0 security threats. These security threats are not so much specific to Web 2.0 companies as much as they are to browser-based applications.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10165961-62.html" target="_blank" >List of Top Security Threats</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1161 1161 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 President Obamas recent order of an immediate two-month review of the federal governments cybersecurity plans apparently ca not come fast enough. The federal government, dogged by computer security issues over the years, was hit by two more incidents this week. <br /> <br /> One occurred at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where data of 49,000 people were stolen during a data breach. The other occurred at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, which is undergoing a security shakeup following the discovery that a total of 90 computers were reported missing or stolen over the past year. <br /> <br /> Experts have been calling for an overhaul of federal computer security practices. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1160 1160 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 According to Facebooks terms of service they can use any photos posted to Facebook in any way they deem appropriate.... http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1159 1159 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Firefox has a great add on called <b>NoScripts</b> that locks it down and prevents malicious website scripts from infecting computers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1158 1158 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Apple last week issued security updates to plug more than 50 security holes in its OS X operating system and other software. The patches, which affect Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5, Java for the Mac and Safari for Windows systems, are available through Apple Downloads or via the companys automatic update program. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1157 1157 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 At a time when incidents of drug and weapon possession are on the rise, at least 15 Long Island school districts have been adding four-legged operatives to their security forces.<br /> <br /> The Sachem district is the latest to use dogs to periodically sniff hallways, lockers and classrooms in an effort to keep schools safe and drug-free. Officials have been introducing the canines to students in its four middle schools and two high schools in a series of assemblies. Mount Sinai has set aside funds in its 2009-10 budget for dog patrols. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1156 1156 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Registration is open for the <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a> in Boston, MA July 16-18th. Early bird registration is discounted for a limited time. The conference attracts software industry experts, developers, internet marketers, software publishers and software marketers for 3 days! http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1155 1155 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Security practitioners used to be seen as propeller-hat wearing introverts hunched over computers in dark, cold basements for weeks on end, shunning daylight and anyone who tried to start a conversation with them. But times have changed.<br /> <br /> Thanks to the blogosphere, social networking sites and podcasting made easy, many security pros are taking on a much more public persona, becoming near-rock stars. Evidence of this can be seen in abundance at the ShmooCon 2009 security gathering in Washington DC this month.<br /> <br /> One example was a lunch gathering of the Security Twits — a growing group of security pros who communicate with each other and the rest of the world via the Twitter micro blogging site. Another example was an evening meet-up of security podcasters.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1154 1154 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:36:07 -0500 High-tech surveillance cameras introduced by government organisations are liable to being hacked by cyber criminals unless top security precautions are made, internet experts have warned. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1153 1153 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Web Elements is a premier collection of resources for webmaster, search engine marketers and others interested in online marketing.<br /> <br /> Web Elements is designed to help both beginner webmasters and experienced search marketers. We have compiled lists of useful resources and submission sites.<br /> <br /> We have compiled a collection of resources from Search Engine Optimization, Press Release Submissions, DoFollow Lists, Webmaster Scripts, Webmaster Blogs, and Forums. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.webmaster-elements.com/" target="_blank" >Webmaster Tools and Resources</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1152 1152 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Barack Obama has been warned by the CIA that British Islamist extremists are the greatest threat to US homeland security. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1151 1151 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Kansas State University says personal information of 45 students was inadvertently exposed on the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1150 1150 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 <a href="http://www.logo-search.com/category.php/security-logos" target="_blank" ><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.logo-search.com/viewPreview.php?preview=2973"></a><br /> Check out security logos with a romantic flare! http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1149 1149 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Downtown Washington resembled a militarized zone last week for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, but some major contributors who had direct contact with Obama said they were surprised to find what they viewed as porous security surrounding the president-elect and vice president-elect. <br /> <br /> Three contributors who raised $300,000 or more for the inauguration said they were never asked to show identification to retrieve dozens of tickets, including VIP passes that allowed them and their guests to meet privately with Obama. One of the three said ticket checks were so lax that no one noticed when, after a breakfast for contributors, a friend whose name had not even been submitted for a background check tagged along into a VIP room to take pictures with Vice President-elect Joseph Biden. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1148 1148 Mon, 9 Feb 2009 21:00:00 -0500 A group of U.S. companies, led by technology giants Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and eBay, is set to outline recommendations for new federal data-privacy legislation that could make life easier for consumers and lead to a standard federal breach-notification law.<br /> <br /> The recommendations, which were developed by a group of industry players called the Consumer Privacy Legislative Forum, are set to be released at an upcoming privacy conference six weeks from now, according to Peter Cullen, Microsofts chief privacy officer.<br /> <br /> The companies have been working for the past three years to encourage the adoption of federal consumer data-privacy laws and to answer the question of what federal legislation should look like, Cullen said in an interview. Other forum members include Google, Oracle, Procter & Gamble and Eli Lilly. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1147 1147 Sun, 8 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Chinese authorities have shut down 1,507 pornographic websites in an online clean-up that has included ordering Internet giants like Google to sever links to vulgar sites, state media said Wednesday.<br /> <br /> The campaign was continuing despite week-long Lunar New Year celebrations, Chinas biggest holiday, with authorities blocking another 55 sites since Monday, Xinhua news agency said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1146 1146 Sat, 7 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Anti-malware company AVG has released research that indicates the number and volatility of web sites serving malicious code is increasing dramatically.<br /> In the last three months the number of new malicious sites they observe has increased from 100,000 to 200,000 per day to 200,000 to 300,000. AVG also shows a surprising velocity of change in the compromised sites. Part of the effect is that they are being cleaned up quickly, but the attacks are also changed frequently to redirect to different sites, Almost 60% of these sites are up for less than one day. The goal of these techniques seems to be to defeat blacklist-based protections. AVG calls them transient threats. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1145 1145 Fri, 6 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The overseer of the Internets addressing system is soliciting ideas for how to fix a problem that is enabling spammers and fraudulent Web sites to flourish.<br /> The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN has issued an initial report on fast flux, a technique that allows a Web sites domain name to resolve to multiple IP - Internet protocol addresses.<br /> <br /> Fast flux allows an administrator to quickly point a domain name to a new IP address, for example if the server at the first address fails or comes under a denial-of-service attack. It is legitimately used by content distribution networks such as Akamai to balance loads, improving performance and lowering data transmission costs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1144 1144 Thu, 5 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Do not look now, but you are being watched. And now that I have signed up for Spokeo.com, I could be the one watching you. <br /> <br /> Spokeo is a search engine that uses email addresses to find people across the social Web. Give the site your log-on info for Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, or AOL -- or just upload your personal address book; Spokeo will scour 41 social networks and collect all information associated with each email address. <br /> <br /> Blog entries, Linked In profiles, Flickr photostreams, Twitter tweets, Digg comments, Amazon wish lists -- and a whole lot more -- all on one tidy little Web page. And every time they add new content, Spokeo lets you know. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1143 1143 Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 This site may harm your computer.

If you click on a Google result link in spite of the warning, you get an interstitial page with an additional warning: Warning - visiting this web site may harm your computer!

Clicking the warning itself will take you to this page, which explains: This warning message appears with search results we have identified as sites that may install malicious software on your computer.

Needless to say after about 45 minutes the problem was resolved.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1142 1142 Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Iraqis voted Saturday for local representatives, on an almost violence-free election day aimed at creating provincial councils that more closely represent Iraqs ethnic, sectarian and tribal balance.<br /> <br /> By nightfall, there were no confirmed deaths, and children played soccer on closed-off streets in a generally joyous atmosphere. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1141 1141 Tue, 3 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The UKs Intellectual Property minister David Lammy has said the government will not force internet service providers to pursue file sharers. <br /> There had been mounting speculation about government legislation on the issue as the music industry steps up its fight against the pirates. <br /> Other countries, such as France, have supported tough action on file-sharers, who the industry claims cost them dear. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1140 1140 Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 If you are interested in speaking at the <a href="http://www.sic.org" target="_blank" >Software Industry Conference</a>, please submit an abstract. The details of speaking requirements can be found in the <a href="http://www.sic.org/files/SIC-2009-Call_for_Papers.pdf" target="_blank" >following paper</a>. The Software Industry Conference is scheduled July 16-18, 2009 in&nbsp;&nbsp;Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Marriott Quincy. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1139 1139 Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Last year, the Department of Defense suffered an estimated 80,000 network attacks. On government networks alone, a new software vulnerability is exploited every 82 minutes. Meanwhile, attacks on US federal agencies computer systems are increasing at alarming rates. Furthermore, utilities are being hit by an estimated 500 to 1000 attacks from hackers and malicious code every year. The financial and economic impact of a one day cyber sabotage effort that disrupts US credit and debit card transactions is estimated at being about $35 billion USD. For 2009, the national cyber budget will exceed $6 billion USD. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1138 1138 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Apple has issued a critical security update for QuickTime media player, aimed at resolving vulnerabilities that could potentially allow a malicious attacker to take control of a persons computer, according to an Apple advisory released this week. <br /> <br /> People running QuickTime 7 for Windows and for Mac OS X, are affected, as well as those who are using Mac OS X 10.4 or Mac OS X 10.5, according to Apple. <br /> Apple is advising people to update to QuickTime 7.6 for Windows, QuickTime 7.6 for Leopard, or QuickTime 7.6 for Tiger. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1137 1137 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 VeriSign Inc., the largest manager of computers that direct Internet traffic, agreed to buy security- software maker Certicom Corp. three days after Research In Motion Ltd. withdrew its bid. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1136 1136 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Imbed critical security updates in software applications using <a href="http://www.feedfordev.com" target="_blank" >FeedForDev</a>. The security alerts are sent via RSS feed imbedded in the application. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1135 1135 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Internet scammers are becoming more creative, experts say. <br /> <br /> From duplicating eBay pages or mortgage company Web sites to customizing e-mails that claim their target is the sole beneficiary of a large sum of money, scammers are doing their homework, said Capt. Tony Wickersham with the Macomb Sheriffs Department. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1134 1134 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.S. Supreme court announced its refusal to hear appeals against the banning of the Child Online Protection Act COPA, effectively killing the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union called it <i>a clear victory for free speech</i>, having fought the bill for ten years claiming it infringed on a websites freedom of speech. <br /> <br /> COPA was first passed in 1998, and made it illegal to display any pornographic material on a Web site without an access code or proof of age message. However, state courts began challenging the bill immediately, claiming it was unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment. Instead, it was ruled that parental controls should be used by individual families to block unwanted content, rather than the government determining what can and cannot be seen by all. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1133 1133 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A computer virus is continuing to affect the Ministry of Defences systems but it insists no classified or personal data is under threat. <br /> <br /> Up to 70 sites, including several Royal Navy ships and RAF bases, have been affected by the bug, which has shut down computers and knocked out e-mails. <br /> The virus first hit systems a fortnight ago but the MoD says operations have not been affected. <br /> <br /> It is still trying to discover how the virus breached its security software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1132 1132 Sat, 24 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 <a href="http://www.webmaster-elements.com" target="_blank" >Collection of resources for webmasters</a>. Webmaster tools, domain tools and security tools. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1131 1131 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Twenty members of the MBTAs Transit Police Department will join the thousands of law enforcement officials heading to Washington to help provide security for the inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> The MBTA officers were set to leave Boston on Sunday on an Amtrak train bound for Washington for the largest-ever security operation for a presidential inauguration. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1130 1130 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Governments in a number of countries are raising concerns over the way in which the Internet is allowing unlimited access to all sorts of pornography.<br /> <br /> China recently warned a number of online portals and search engines that are making it easy for Internet users to come into contact with porn, CNN reported Jan. 6.<br /> <br /> CNN revealed that the move comes as several Chinese government agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security, launched a month-long campaign to clean up the Web.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1129 1129 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.S. federal government is accelerating its efforts to secure the Internets routing system, with plans this year for the Department of Homeland Security to quadruple its investment in research aimed at adding digital signatures to router communications. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1128 1128 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 A computer virus that may leave Microsoft Windows users vulnerable to digital hijacking is spreading through companies in the U.S., Europe and Asia, already infecting close to 9 million machines, according to a private online security firm. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1127 1127 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Check out this <a href="http://www.rss-specifications.com/huge-list-rss-tools.htm" target="_blank" >Huge List of RSS Tools</a>. Great collection, highly recommend it! http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1126 1126 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Terrorists increasingly are using the Internet as a means of communication both with each other and the rest of the world. By now, nearly everyone has seen at least some images from propaganda videos published on terrorist sites and rebroadcast on the worlds news networks. Western governments have intensified surveillance of such sites but their prosecution of site operators is hampered by concerns over civil liberties, the Internet's inherent anonymity, and other factors.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.cfr.org/publication/10005/terrorists_and_the_internet.html?breadcrumb=%2F" target="_blank" >complete article</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1125 1125 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Internet telephone services pose a serious threat to Britains security, the head of MI5 has said. <br /> <br /> The danger with online calls, said spy chief Jonathan Evans, was that they do not result in telephone bills, which are key evidence documents in prosecutions. This meant it would be much easier for terrorists to make the calls and eventually escape prosecution if they are tried for criminal offences. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1124 1124 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 At the CES show in Las Vegas this week, Yoggie Security Systems launched the new HyPC, a hybrid computer solution that provides complete browsing security by running the browser on its own internal CPU. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1123 1123 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500
1. Personal Responsibility
2. Financial Diversification
3. Mobile Malware
4. Weight Loss
5. Going Green
6. Social
7. Cloud Computing
8. Virtual Collaboration
9. Video
10. RSS

Top 10 Losers for 2009

1. Global Economy
2. Republicans and Conservatives
3. Hollywood
4. China
5. Somali Pirates
6. Financial Services Industry
7. Corrupted Politicians
8. Security or Securities
9. Outsourcing
10. Gasoline

Winners and Losers for 2009]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1122 1122 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 2008 was a year filled with great triumphs and a year scarred by deep sorrow. What 2008 was not, was a peaceful year, and whether the world is a better place, for having endured is unclear.<br /> <br /> Russia's invasion of Georgia has chilled Russia's relations with the West, a resurgence of the Cold War may be on the horizon. The Tibetan monk's protests being crushed in the streets demonstrate that freedom of speech, is not a God given right for all. The continued unrest in Middle East is no longer news, but simply part of daily life in the region.<br /> <br /> Close calls with Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans and the water lapping at the edge of overburdened levies caused concern that the lessons of Katrina have still not yet been fully learned. The heartbreaking destruction of Hurricane Ike in Galveston and the Texas coast shows that while the US has made progress, she is still no match for mother nature. Natures wrath still wields a heavy hand. As horrific as the despair in Galveston, it paled in comparison to the cyclone that hit Burma/Mynamar, taking the lives of more than 100,000 people in the region. China, widely thought to be a rising world power, was no match for the 8.0 earthquake that collapsed buildings like tinker toys. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/reflections-for-2008-predictions-2009.htm" target="_blank" >Reflections for 2008, Predictions for 2009</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1121 1121 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 U.S. lawmakers are concerned that the terror attacks on Mumbai, India in November, which killed some 170 people, could happen in the United States. They heard from U.S. homeland security and law enforcement officials at a Senate hearing. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1120 1120 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 With an estimated two million people likely to attend the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, authorities here are facing a logistical challenge to put in place fool-proof security arrangements for the January 20 event. <br /> <br /> Unprecedented security is being put in place in the US capital as it gears up for the inauguration of its first black President, with police in riot gear and military troops patrolling the streets. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1119 1119 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Ratings champion <i>American Idol</i> will face serious competition when it returns next month: the Department of Homeland Security. <br /> <br /> <i>Homeland Security USA</i>, an ABC reality series debuting Tuesday, tracks the daily efforts of the federal workers responsible for safeguarding the nations airports, borders, waters and anyplace else threats might arise. <br /> <br /> While viewers see the mechanics of agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration, absent is discussion of such hot-button issues as post-Sept. 11 security programs or immigration policies. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1118 1118 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 China has launched a crackdown against major websites that officials accused of threatening morals by spreading pornography and vulgarity, including the dominant search engines Google and Baidu.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1117 1117 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Warner Music Group ordered YouTube&nbsp;&nbsp;to remove all music videos by its artists from the popular online video-sharing site after contract negotiations broke down. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1116 1116 Fri, 9 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 2008 was a year filled with great triumphs and a year scarred by deep sorrow. What 2008 was not, was a peaceful year, and whether the world is a better place, for having endured is unclear.<br /> <br /> Russias invasion of Georgia has chilled Russia's relations with the West, a resurgence of the Cold War may be on the horizon. The Tibetan monk's protests being crushed in the streets demonstrate that freedom of speech, is not a God given right for all. The continued unrest in Middle East is no longer news, but simply part of daily life in the region.<br /> <br /> Close calls with Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans and the water lapping at the edge of overburdened levies caused concern that the lessons of Katrina have still not yet been fully learned. The heartbreaking destruction of Hurricane Ike in Galveston and the Texas coast shows that while the US has made progress, she is still no match for mother nature. Nature's wrath still wields a heavy hand. As horrific as the despair in Galveston, it paled in comparison to the cyclone that hit Burma/Mynamar, taking the lives of more than 100,000 people in the region. China, widely thought to be a rising world power, was no match for the 8.0 earthquake that collapsed buildings like tinker toys. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/reflections-for-2008-predictions-2009.htm" target="_blank" >Reflections for 2008, Predictions for 2009</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1115 1115 Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The US recording association said Friday that it will stop suing people who download music illegally and focus instead on getting Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to take action. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1114 1114 Wed, 7 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Three Texas men have been sentenced to prison terms for their role in selling counterfeit software worth US$2.5 million, the U.S. Department of Justice said.<br /> Thomas Rushing III, 24, of Wichita Falls, Texas; Brian Rue, 29, of Denton, Texas; and William Lance Partridge, 24, of Royse City, Texas, were sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on criminal copyright violations. The three were accused of operating Web sites including Valuesoftwaresales.com and Allsoftwaredownload.com to sell pirated software, the DOJ said in a news release. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1113 1113 Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.<br /> The vote came after the chief investigator, Daniel Bellemare of Canada, asked that his commission's mandate be pushed ahead to Feb. 28, from years end. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1112 1112 Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.S. military will be on high alert during Barack Obamas inauguration, increasing air defenses and deploying chemical attack experts and medical units, a general said Wednesday.<br /> <br /> Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who heads the military command that oversees security for North America, said the Defense Department had not been told of specific Inauguration Day threats. Nonetheless, he said, the armed services must be ready http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1111 1111 Sun, 4 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize nations to conduct military raids, on land and by air, against pirates plying the waters off the Somalia coast even as two more ships were reportedly hijacked at sea. <br /> <br /> The vote represented a major escalation by the worlds big powers in the fight against the pirates, who have disrupted commerce along one of the world's most active sea routes and acquired tens of millions of dollars in ransom. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1110 1110 Sat, 3 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Apple has released software updates to fix at least 21 security vulnerabilities in its Mac OS X operating system and other software for the Mac. The patches are available via Software Update or Apple Downloads. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1109 1109 Thu, 1 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Users of Microsofts Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed. <br /> <br /> The flaw in Microsofts Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of peoples computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say. <br /> <br /> Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1108 1108 Fri, 2 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500 Paranoid types with trust issues have reason to celebrate, as Mobile Spy--a hybrid software/service that spies on smart phones--has finally infiltrated the iPhone. <br /> Mobile Spy allows the account administrator to implant an undetectable rat inside the iPhone. It then squeals to a server, which is accessible via the Web. <br /> <br /> Mobile Spy records SMS messages and inbound and outbound call info, including call duration. That means if you want to see what your employees are texting in real-time, or how long your teenaged daughter gabs with that kid from down the street, you can now do so for $100 per year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1107 1107 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 scareware through online advertisements. These pop-up ads would warn Web surfers that their systems had been compromised by viruses, spyware, and even illegal pornographic content. They were even so brazen as to suggest that users could be investigated or outed as some type of degenerate porn addict. Of course, they were happy to sell you software and services to alleviate the problem.

Unfortunately, there will always be a population of low-down dirtbags willing to take advantage of peoples fears and hardships. After September 11 they pitched gas masks; they sold bottled water for $10 a piece following Hurricane Katrina. Given the cybersecurity activity out there, we are bound to see more and more of these security scams. The difference here is that security con artists are preying on fears that users really don't understand. Consumers may get scammed or become cynical--neither of which is good.

We need a focused effort to pull together as a security community, educate consumers, and push for strict punishment of these flimflammers. If not, things can only get worse.]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1106 1106 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Security experts are warning Internet users to be aware of a disturbing evolution in malicious software that can turn a single infected computer into a vehicle for stealing data from nearby systems, regardless of what operating system or security software those computers may be running. <br /> <br /> The evolution comes compliments of the DNSChanger family of malware, which usually comes disguised as a codec or browser plug-in that a user is told he or she needs to install in order to view Web-based videos. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1105 1105 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Two years ago, Microsoft rankled computer-security software vendors by jumping into their market. Now the company is again creating waves by pulling out of it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1104 1104 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The Chinese government is stirring trade tensions with Washington with a plan to require foreign computer security technology to be submitted for government approval, in a move that might require suppliers to disclose business secrets.<br /> <br /> Rules due to take effect May 1 require official certification of technology widely used to keep e-mail and company data networks secure. Beijing has yet to say how many secrets companies must disclose about such sensitive matters as how data-encryption systems work. But Washington complains the requirement might hinder imports in a market dominated by U.S. companies, and is pressing Beijing to scrap it. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1103 1103 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The Department of Homeland Security has failed to ensure the nations cybersecurity, a new report to be released Monday concludes, because the threat of cyberattacks is too vast for any one agency to tackle and must be addressed by a new White House office, as well as revised laws and government practices.<br /> As President-elect Barack Obama fills the remaining cabinet positions in his administration, a Center for Strategic and International Studies commission is recommending Obama create a new office in the White House: the National Office for Cyberspace, headed by an Assistant to the President for Cyberspace.<br /> The Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency, an independent, nonpartisan group, releases its final report Monday after more than a year of exploring how to address the countrys cybersecurity threats. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1102 1102 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Symantec Corp. announced today that Norton Internet Security 2009 received a perfect score and was named the top-rated product in a comprehensive analysis of protection in security suites conducted by third-party testing organization Cascadia Labs. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1101 1101 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The Internet is becoming an increasingy important tool for extremist groups, also in Norway. Head of the Security Police, Joern Holme says they are following developments closely. <br /> <br /> Extreme web sites trying to influence young people to associate themselves with terrorism as a tool, is a global phenomenon which is also available to young people in Norway, Holme says. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1100 1100 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 IBM said that based on data from its 3,700 managed security services customers worldwide, the number of security events had risen from 1.8 billion to 2.5 billion per day over the past four months, and noted that a significant proportion of clients logging in to the security centre had not done so in the previous six months.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1099 1099 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:30:37 -0500 Microsoft has launched 63 separate lawsuits against people peddling counterfeit software on auction sites. <br /> <br /> The legal action targets sellers in 12 nations including the US, UK, Germany and France. <br /> <br /> Most of those Microsoft has targeted have been selling fake <i>Blue Edition</i> versions of Windows XP. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1098 1098 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been urged to halt the extradition to the US of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. <br /> <br /> Mr McKinnon, from Wood Green, north London, faces up to 70 years in prison if found guilty in the US of breaking into military computers. <br /> <br /> Supporters held a vigil and delivered a letter to Downing Street calling for him to be tried in the UK instead. Campaigners said the fact that Mr McKinnon has Aspergers Syndrome should be taken into account. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1097 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Governments and banking institutions are still failing to pay enough attention to internet security, and allow too much responsibility to rest on the shoulders of consumers, according to Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab. Skip related content<br /> <br /> Eugene Kaspersky, the anti-malware firms chief executive, argued that governments are more likely to pay attention to the current financial crisis than internet crime, despite figures from consultancy Deloitte released this week predicting that online spending will reach £4.7bn this year. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1096 1096 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 In its End-of-Year Data Security Wrap-Up for 2008, F-Secure today announced that 2008 has been another record year of explosive growth in the amount of malicious software (malware) on the Internet. F-Secures detection count tripled in one year, which means that the total amount of malware accumulated over the previous 21 years increased by <b>200%</b> in the course of just one year.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1095 1095 Tue, 9 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Scientists have proposed a new method to estimate the approximate time of death, based on the analysis of several substances from the vitreous humour of the eye of cadavers.<br /> <br /> A team at the University of Santiago de Compostela has developed a piece of software which in fact makes it possible to establish precisely the post mortem interval, information that will make the work of police easier, the Statistics in Medicine journal reported. <br /> <br /> To apply this technique, the researchers analysed potassium, urea and hypoxantine concentrations present in the vitreous humour of the eye of the human cadaver, and then introduced the figures into a computer programme. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1094 1094 Mon, 8 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Authorities in a southern Chinese city require that Internet cafes pay close attention to the operating systems used on their computers, saying the rule should promote wider use of legitimate software. But is it really a way to help the authorities snoop on users?<br /> <br /> The new rules that went into effect Nov. 5 in the city of Nanchang require operators of Internet cafes to remove unlicensed software and replace it with legitimate copies of either Microsoft Windows or China's homegrown Red Flag Linux operating system. The goal is to cut down on pirated software, said Hu Shenghua, a spokesman for the Culture Bureau in the city of Nanchang.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1093 1093 Sun, 7 Dec 2008 07:52:54 -0500 Online attacks will be dominated by smarter malware and bots targeting Web users ranging from gamers and social network users to the elderly and unsuspecting parents. <br /> <br /> This is according to IT management software company CA, maker of the CA Internet Security Suite, which was recently updated to the Plus 2009 version. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1092 1092 Fri, 5 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Sophisticated security-related electronics are expected to flood the domestic market after the Mumbai terror attacks.<br /> <br /> Detection and surveillance solutions — from biometrics to video surveillance to explosive or hazard sensors — continue to gain momentum, while background screening, data analytics, biometrics, digital video, and sensor-based detection will continue to be major security investments over the next three to five years. The market is currently growing at 30 per cent annually.<br /> <br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1091 1091 Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The IT security vendor community came out in force today to warn consumers and corporate web surfers that internet criminals are likely to double their efforts over the Christmas season to infect machines and steal sensitive data. Skip related content<br /> <br /> Content security firm Websense released a five-point plan to help users avoid scams, which includes taking steps to ensure that all systems are protected with the most recent patches. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1090 1090 Wed, 3 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Many companies use monitoring software to watch temperature control, systems, or other processes. By using alerting software in conjunction with the monitoring software you can receive instant notification of any system anomalies on a cell phone. <a href="http://www.notepage.net/pagegate.htm" target="_blank" >PageGate</a> easily integrates with monitoring applications to send alerts to individuals who need to be notified. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1089 1089 Tue, 2 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 It used to be that when hackers raided a corporate computer system, they would perform the digital equivalent of a ransacking, messing up files, infecting anything and everything with viruses, and turn the machines into spam-spewing zombies they could use to infect other computers. But not today. Modern hackers slip silently into a small security hole and without disturbing any other records, patiently wait for their chance to strike. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1088 1088 Mon, 1 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Digital River <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/29283/rn_a15863 /a15863" target="_blank" >Software Deal of the Day</a> is offering <b>HUGE</b> discounts on some security products for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Buy one <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/29283/rn_a15863 /a15863" target="_blank" >Norton 360</a> and get on <b>FREE! </b>Recieve $ 20.00 Off of <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/29283/rn_a15863 /a15863" target="_blank" >Bit Defender Total Security 2009</a>. These are great deals. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1087 1087 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Have a secure and Happy Thanksgiving! http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1086 1086 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The University of Texas at San Antonio launched a new incubator that will help commercialize security technologies.<br /> <br /> The Institute for Cyber Securitys (ICS) new incubator will provide start-ups access to seed capital, business advise, and office space and infrastructure on the campus. It is getting $5.5 million in funding from the state of Texas. <br /> <br /> The first two start-ups being incubated are Denim Labs, which developed technology that protects PHP-based Web sites against certain types of intrusions, and SafeMashups, which enables Web mashup applications to authenticate with each other before exchanging data. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1085 1085 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman will remain as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, after Democrats voted overwhelmingly to let him to stay despite his support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1084 1084 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 NetWitness, a vendor of networking threat-analysis software, is offering a free version of its NetWitness Investigator package by download, the company said Monday.<br /> <br /> NetWitness Investigator is different from most other network-scanning software in that it uses forensic tools to examine applications and changes on content on the network, as well as attacks coming from outside the network, said Amit Yoran, NetWitness chairman and CEO. The software package gives users detailed analyses of malicious activity on their networks, he said.<br /> <br /> NetWitness Investigator is designed to address gaps in other cybersecurity products, he said. It can help users identify cybersecurity problems, insider attacks and sophisticated outsider attacks, and it can help with IT audits and antifraud investigations, the company said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1083 1083 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Law enforcement officials bracing for the largest crowds in inaugural history are preparing far-reaching security – thousands of video cameras, sharpshooters, air patrols – to safeguard President-elect Obamas swearing-in. People attending the ceremony and parade Jan. 20 can expect to be searched by machines, security personnel or both. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1082 1082 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Microsoft said that the anti-malware tool it pushes to Windows users as part of Patch Tuesday removed fake security software from nearly a million PCs during nine days this month. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1081 1081 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Internet addiction is on the rise in the world's largest Net market, and now Chinese doctors have officially defined it as an ailment.<br /> <br /> Users who spend six hours or more per day online, and exhibit at least one symptom including difficulty sleeping or concentrating, yearning to be online, irritation, and mental or physical distress are classified as meeting the definition of addiction.<br /> <br /> Being hooked on the Internet has been considered a problem in Chinese society as early as 2005, when the first clinic dedicated to Internet addiction opened in Beijing. It began accepting patients who exhibited dependency symptoms for those of substance abuse. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1080 1080 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 A U.S. Internet service provider suspected of aiding cybercriminals in online scams and hosting child pornography was at least partially cut off from the Internet on last week. <br /> <br /> The ISP, McColo, had been under the watchful eye of computer security analysts for years. It is one of a handful of so-called <i>bulletproof</i> hosting providers that provide safe haven online for cybercriminals selling Viagra and fake security software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1079 1079 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Internet fraudsters sell complete financial identities for just £80, according to an online safety group. <br /> <br /> The details packaged and sold online include names, addresses, passport numbers and confidential financial data such as credit card numbers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1078 1078 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Global spam levels have dropped by as much as 75 percent following the shutdown of a US web host that provided the backbone for most of the worlds spam.<br /> The bust has sent spammers scrambling and, although it occurred on last week in the US, spam volumes remain down, security companies say. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1077 1077 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Intelligence officials are warning that the deepening global financial crisis could weaken fragile governments in the world's most dangerous areas and undermine the ability of the United States and its allies to respond to a new wave of security threats. <br /> <br /> U.S. government officials and private analysts say the economic turmoil has heightened the short-term risk of a terrorist attack, as radical groups probe for weakening border protections and new gaps in defenses. A protracted financial crisis could threaten the survival of friendly regimes from Pakistan to the Middle East while forcing Western nations to cut spending on defense, intelligence and foreign aid, the sources said. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1076 1076 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 The dramatic security increase around Obama since the election has made a sizable impact in the Loop, where the president-elect is running his transition office at the Kluczynski Federal Building, straining an already-stretched Chicago police force and city budget.<br /> <br /> The Chicago Police Department Union that represents police officers, has been told that in addition to the dozens of officers detailed to the perimeter near the Obama home, about 60 officers are being temporarily assigned to protect the transition headquarters. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1075 1075 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Googles recent announcement that it may have found a way to predict U.S. flu trends has led to the inevitable expressions of concern from some privacy groups. <br /> <br /> The Electronic Privacy Information Center and Patient Privacy Rights sent a letter this week to Google CEO Eric Schmidt saying if the records are disclosed and linked to a particular user, there could be adverse consequences for education, employment, insurance, and even travel. It asks for more disclosure about how Google Flu Trends protects privacy. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1074 1074 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:13:13 -0500 IT professionals surveyed worldwide said they think their own employees pose a more serious security threat than outsiders, and often it is because of personal use of corporate assets, according to the third and final report based on a 2008 survey commissioned by Cisco Systems and released Wednesday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1073 1073 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Chinese computer users have become chief targets for online criminals, according to a security report released by Microsoft. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1072 1072 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Perhaps the biggest threat to Googles increasing dominance of Internet search and advertising is the rising fear, justified or not, that Googles broadening reach is giving it unchecked power.<br /> <br /> This scrutiny goes deeper than the skeptical eye that lawmakers and the Justice Department have given to Googles proposed ad partnership with Yahoo Inc. Many objections to that deal are financial, and surround whether Google and Yahoo could unfairly drive up online ad prices. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1071 1071 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Creating a security related website? Keep it simple, use a <a href="http://www.webmaster-templates.net/category.php/security-templates" target="_blank" >security web template</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1070 1070 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Innovative <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security-ppt-templates" target="_blank" >Security PowerPoint Backgrounds and Themes</a> for Professional Presentations. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1069 1069 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Can, and will, the next generation of politicians exploit the communication mediums available to them? Will the new communication mediums have the power to influence public opinion? Will politicians be the victims of technology, or will they use it to their benefit? Will one party benefit from the use of the technology more than another? All reasonable questions, considering the role technology plays in todays society. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.feedforall.com/influence-of-technology.htm" target="_blank" >Technology is Influencing Politics</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1068 1068 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands have managed to crack the so-called McEliece encryption system. This system is a candidate for the security of Internet traffic in the age of the quantum computer - the predicted superpowerful computer of the future.<br /> <br /> The attack succeeded this month by means of a large number of linked computers throughout the world. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1067 1067 Sun, 9 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 No one knows for sure, but auditors think the United States has paid well over $6 billion to private security companies who have been guarding diplomats, troops, Iraqi officials and reconstruction workers in Iraq. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1066 1066 Sat, 8 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says the federal government is monitoring dozens of potential terrorists in the U.S. <br /> <br /> Chertoff tells The Record of Bergen County the government has quietly blocked dozens of potential terrorists from entering the country in recent years. <br /> <br /> Chertoff says there is a risk that some would see opportunity during the transition between administrations. <br /> <br /> Chertoff says he doesn't want to stay with Homeland Security after a new president is in office and the lawyer says he does not have a job waiting. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1065 1065 Fri, 7 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 IBM was set to unveil on Wednesday a prototype USB device designed to protect people doing online banking from having their data stolen or compromised. <br /> The device, which looks like a memory stick with an integrated display, creates a secure channel to a banks online transaction server. The connection bypasses the user's PC, which could be infected with viruses and other malware that make sending financial information over the Internet unsafe. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1064 1064 Thu, 6 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Recent findings show that only 51% of internet users have current up-to-date internet security on their computers, and only 55% have anti-spyware software installed. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1063 1063 Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 All eyes are on the US presidential election. If you feel security is an issue be sure that you vote if you are able to.<br /> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.logo-search.com/viewPreview.php?preview=2397"> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1062 1062 Tue, 4 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Comodo Security Solutions, Inc, the computer security company has released Comodo Internet Security, a complete antivirus and firewall security package free to all PC users. Among its many powerful features, this security software detects and prevents malware such as viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, bots and rogue software, and includes always-on, real-time protection against threats. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1061 1061 Mon, 3 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Rate the safety of websites using <a href="http://safeweb.norton.com" target="_blank" >http://safeweb.norton.com</a> enter the URL of the website and then you can rate the security of the website based on your experience. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1060 1060 Mon, 3 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0500 Just days after the T-Mobile G1 smartphone went on the market, a group of security researchers have found what they call a serious flaw in the Android software from Google that runs it.<br /> <br /> One of the researchers, Charles A. Miller, notified Google of the flaw this week and said he was publicizing it now because he believed that cellphone users were not generally aware that increasingly sophisticated smartphones faced the same threats that plague Internet-connected personal computers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1059 1059 Sun, 2 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0400 European Union governments agreed to set up a common platform to fight illegal activities on the Internet and said they would cooperate more closely to block narcotics imports via West Africa. <br /> <br /> Interior ministers of the 27-member EU agreed today at a meeting in Luxembourg that the platform would be managed by Europol, the European police agency. It would allow any cyber criminality alert to be instantly shared among police forces across the continent. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1058 1058 Sat, 1 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0400


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]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1057 1057 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A 19-year-old Tennessee resident is claiming that he hacked into entertainer Miley Cyrus Gmail account. <br /> <br /> According to the blog Wired.com, Josh Holly admitted to several bloggers and a radio station in Arizona that he hacked into Cyrus' e-mail account and retrieved suggestive pictures of the teen singing star. The pictures soon began circulating on the Internet. <br /> <br /> According to Holly, there were plenty of photos of Cyrus, but only the most provocative ones were published. He told a Phoenix radio morning show in August he held on to the pictures for a while. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1056 1056 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Chinese Users are furious at Vole for daring to launch a version of its Windows anti-piracy tool which targets Chinese computer users to ensure they buy genuine software.<br /> <br /> Microsoft has released its glorious Windows Genuine Advantage program into China where the software is often pirated.<br /> <br /> The Chinese version turns the users screen black if the installed software fails a validation test. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1055 1055 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Three out of four children have seen images on the internet that disturbed them, an NSPCC poll suggests. <br /> <br /> The charity is renewing its call for computer manufacturers and retailers to install security to stop children finding violent or sexual content. <br /> <br /> The NSPCC, which polled visitors to its children's website There4me.com, said it was<i> alarmed</i> by the accessibility of potentially disturbing material. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1054 1054 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A website used by criminals to buy and sell credit card details and bank log-ins has been shut down after a police operation. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1053 1053 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A man has been jailed for life for stabbing his wife to death over a posting she made on the social networking site Facebook. <br /> <br /> Wayne Forrester, 34, told police he was devastated that his wife Emma, also 34, had changed her online profile to <i>single</i> days after he had moved out. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1052 1052 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0400 Savvy Internet users know that downloading unsolicited computer programs is one of the most dangerous things you can do online. It puts you at great risk for a virus or another time bomb from a hacker. <br /> <br /> But even some sophisticated surfers could get taken in by a sneaky new attack in which criminals create fake YouTube pages — dead-on replicas of the real site — to push their malicious software and make it look like it's safe stuff coming from a trusted source.<br /> <br /> A program circulating online helps hackers build those fake pages. Users who follow an e-mail pointing them to one of the pages would see an error message that claims the video they want will not play without installing new software first. That error message includes a link the hacker has provided to a malicious program, which delivers a virus. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1051 1051 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Internet and Web browser security experts are sounding the alarm about a new type of malicious attack called<i> clickjacking,</i> a technique that can be used to dupe Web surfers into revealing confidential information while clicking on seemingly innocuous Web pages. Among other things, a clickjacking attack can be used to take control of a computers Webcam and microphone without the knowledge of the user. <br /> <br /> Clickjacking has been identified as a vulnerability for the Adobe Flash player, as well as for every major browser, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari and even the newly released Google Chrome. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1050 1050 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Some of the most vicious Internet predators are hackers who infect thousands of PCs with special viruses and lash the machines together into botnets to pump out spam or attack other computers.<br /> <br /> Now security researchers say cell phones, and not just PCs, are the next likely conscripts into the automated armies. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1049 1049 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Two former software executives have been arrested and charged with wire fraud. Prosecutors say the men falsely inflated their companys revenue to attract venture capital. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1048 1048 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 US anti-virus software firm Symantec has agreed to buy web security firm MessageLabs for $695m http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1047 1047 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Software piracy refers to the unauthorized duplication and use of computer software. Software developers work hard to develop solid software programs. If those applications are pirated and stolen, the software developers will often be unable to generate the revenue required to continue supporting and expanding those applications. The effects of software piracy impact the entire global economy. The reduced revenues often divert funding from product development, and result in less research and less investment in marketing. In 2007, economists indicated that software piracy cost the industry $39.6 billion. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.developer-resource.com/software-piracy.htm" target="_blank" >What is Software Piracy</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1046 1046 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The son of a Democratic politician has been indicted over the hacking of US Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palins e-mail account. <br /> <br /> At a court in Knoxville, Tennessee, David Kernell, 20, pleaded not guilty to gaining unauthorised access to Mrs Palins Yahoo account. <br /> <br /> Prosecutors say he posted some of the messages and her password online. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1045 1045 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Online bullying could be more pervasive than you think. <br /> <br /> Three out of four teens were bullied online over the last year, according to a study released this week by psychologists at the University of California, Los Angeles. And while that number may seem high at the outset, only 1 in 10 of those kids told their parents or another adult about it, the study showed. <br /> <br /> The anonymous Web-based study surveyed 1,454 kids between the ages of 12 and 17. Of those, 41 percent reported between one and three cyberbullying incidents during the year; 13 percent reported four to six incidents; and 19 percent reported seven or more. In other words, no longer are victims of bullying relegated to the geeks and nerds of yore when it comes to the Internet. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1044 1044 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 An Internet security expert says posting a family tree online can be a dangerous move that sometimes results in identity theft.<br /> <br /> Linda Criddle told attendees at the Utah Attorney Generals Economic Crime Conference on Thursday that family trees can be dangerous because a mothers maiden name is a common security question for online accounts.<br /> <br /> Criddle says criminals also frequently check birth announcements, wedding registries and obituaries for information that might be useful. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1043 1043 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A Chinese-language version of Skype scans users chat messages for keywords such as <i>democracy</i>, and sends a copy of the offending message to the companys servers, according to a report released Thursday by a Canadian online human rights group. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1042 1042 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The Business Software Alliance continues to battle distribution of pirated software on peer-to-peer and auction sites.<br /> <br /> The trade group served more than 48,000 <i>takedown</i> notices related to BitTorrent files in the first half of this year and says BSA members lost an estimated $525 million in sales as a result of peer-to-peer piracy, according to a new BSA report called <u>Online Software Scams: A Threat to Your Security</u>.<br /> <br /> During the first half of this year BSA asked auction site providers to shut down more than 18,000 auctions in which 45,000 products, worth $22 million, were being sold, the report says. <br /> <br /> The piracy problem on auction sites is so bad that the Software and Information Industry Association has said it was considering suing eBay. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1041 1041 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Skype, the online text messaging and voice service, said Thursday it was "extremely concerned" by monitoring of Internet chat by its Chinese partner reported by Canadian researchers. <br /> <br /> Citizen Lab, a group of computer security experts at the University of Toronto, revealed Wednesday that China was spying on Skype users, censoring politically sensitive messages and storing them on computer servers. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1040 1040 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Sharing information and technology is crucial in the ongoing battle against Internet child predators, says an expert with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.<br /> Supervisory special agent Terri Campbell said working together, forming partnerships and sharing information on a national and international level has helped the FBI combat predators who target children online. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1039 1039 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The Federal Trade Commissions Website that helps senior citizens and other consumers stay on guard against Internet fraud is revamping – with the help of 22 other agencies and groups - to provide extra tools for cyber safety. The FTCs announcement of the newly designed and improved site comes on the first day of October, which is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.<br /> <br /> Since the September 2005 launch of <a href="http://www.onguardonline.gov" target="_blank" >www.OnGuardOnline.gov</a> and its Spanish-language counterpart, <a href="http://www.alertaenlinea.gov" target="_blank" >www.AlertaEnLínea.gov</a>, more than 8.1 million visitors have learned about computer security at these sites. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1038 1038 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A security hole in Adobe Systems Inc software used to distribute movies and TV shows over the Internet allows viewers to copy movies on some Web sites and avoid commercials on others, threatening the financial success of online video.<br /> <br /> The problem exposes online video content to the rampant piracy that plagued the music industry during the Napster era and is undermining efforts by retailers, movie studios and television networks to cash in on a huge Web audience. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1037 1037 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A travel company based in the north of England has been fined a six-figure sum for using unlicensed versions of Microsoft software, an amount negotiated by the Business Software Alliance (BSA).<br /> <br /> <br /> The BSA has taken further enforcement action against three other companies - debt recovery firm Philips Collection Services, packaging company Procurasell and online marketing group Webevents - all due to the use of unlicensed software. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1036 1036 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Like other airlines, Southwest Airlines will soon let you buy your way to the front of the security screening line.<br /> <br /> Southwest says later this month it will set up special <i>Fly By</i> security lines at seven big airports: Baltimore, Dallas, Phoenix, Orange County, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The lines will be for passengers who purchase <i>Business Select</i> tickets, which cost extra for benefits like priority seating, a free drink and extra frequent-flier credits, and for people at the top of Southwests frequent flier program. Southwest says it will add more priority security lines to other airports in the coming months. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1035 1035 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A new Harris Poll measures the public's perceptions of which candidate would do better in handling sixteen different policy issues. It finds that John McCain has a sizable lead on defense, homeland security and keeping the U.S. safe from terrorism, and modest leads on Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, Iran, Russia and gun control. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1034 1034 Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Deputies securing a clandestine field of cannabis Tuesday found plants tied to stakes by tape bearing the Department of Homeland Security logo and the words <i>inspected.</i><br /> <i></i><br /> The tape has <i>Transportation Security Administration</i> written in bold letters, the Corsicana Daily Sun reported for its Tuesday editions. It looks like the kind used by TSA to mark bags and freight that have been inspected, said Navarro County Sheriff Les Cotten. But it was not immediately clear if the tape was authentic or how it ended up in the field. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1033 1033 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Egyptian special forces were involved in an operation inside Chadian territory to free a group of kidnapped Western tourists and Egyptians, an Egyptian security official said on Monday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1032 1032 Wed, 8 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A new organization is being unveiled Monday in Vienna that seeks to bolster security at thousands of nuclear sites around the world in an effort to block atomic theft and terrorism. Its aim is to promote the best security practices, eliminate weak links in the global security chain and, ultimately, keep terrorists from getting the bomb.<br /> <br /> No single organization now does that for the worlds expanding maze of nuclear sites — private and public, civilian and military. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1031 1031 Tue, 7 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Qantas says it is embarrassed by two security breaches at its Brisbane Airport terminal in one week.<br /> <br /> The top floor of the Brisbane domestic terminal was evacuated last night after a number of people walked through a Qantas screening area without being checked. <br /> <br /> Passengers who had already boarded planes were forced to disembark and return to the security screening areas.<br /> Flights were delayed by up to two hours. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1030 1030 Mon, 6 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The deadly attack on Marriott Hotel last Saturday has left a question mark on police performance as to how a truck loaded with explosives entered the Red Zone. <br /> <br /> The explosion in which 53 people were killed and dozens injured not only mirrored poor performance of the police but also created a sense of insecurity among the citizens as well as foreigners in the federal capital. <br /> <br /> The truck that exploded at the main gate of Marriott Hotel apparently hinted that neither the traffic police, nor intelligence officials had noticed the vehicle moving towards a sensitive area, said a senior police official seeking anonymity. He said the incident was a result of a security lapse. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1029 1029 Sun, 5 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a new resolution last Saturday reaffirming previous sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment program and offering Tehran incentives to do so.<br /> <br /> The speedy vote followed a compromise between the United States and Russia to lead a new council effort to condemn Irans nuclear program, without introducing any new sanctions.<br /> <br /> The brief resolution reaffirmed the three earlier Security Council sanctions resolutions, which imposed progressively tougher sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment program. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1028 1028 Sat, 4 Oct 2008 21:00:00 -0400 Sonoma State University officials are investigating a security breach that exposed the Social Security numbers of about 600 former students. <br /> <br /> University officials say they are not aware of any criminal or inappropriate activity linked to the breach, which was discovered on Sept. 2. <br /> <br /> Officials say a former student accessed the roster of names and Social Security numbers through a networking Web site for students previously enrolled in computer science classes. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1027 1027 Sat, 4 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Since being released from prison eight years ago, Kevin Mitnicks brushes with the law have consisted of a few parking tickets and a citation for driving without a front license plate--that is, until he returned from a trip to Colombia two weeks ago.<br /> <br /> After landing at the Atlanta airport for a security conference, Mitnick was detained for four hours for reasons still not fully explained. To make matters worse, while customs officials in Atlanta were busy inspecting his cell phone, laptop, and luggage, police in Bogota were ripping open a package he had mailed to his U.S. address on suspicion that it contained cocaine. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1026 1026 Fri, 3 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Web surfers can feel more secure about their clicks and Web purchases now that three of the nations four largest Internet service providers have pledged to stop tracking users behavior unless given permission by the user. <br /> <br /> <br /> AT&T, Verizon, and Time Warner Cable officials testified Thursday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that they would not deliver ads based on consumer Web surfing. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1025 1025 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Amid an economic crisis, Congress found some time this week to address online threats to children. <br /> <br /> <br /> The Protect Our Children Act, introduced by Sen. Joe Biden, made it through the Senate on Thursday. Separate bills authored by Sens. John McCain and Hillary Clinton were folded into the legislation, which authorizes more than $320 million for the Justice Department over the next five years for, among other things, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The bill would affect how Internet companies report online child pornography to authorities, and it approves funds for law enforcement to focus on online child exploitation. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1024 1024 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A security hole in Adobe Systems Inc software, used to distribute movies and TV shows over the Internet, is giving users free access to record and copy from Amazon.com video streaming service. <br /> <br /> <br /> The problem exposes online video content to the rampant piracy that plagued the music industry during the Napster era and is undermining efforts by retailers, movie studios and television networks to cash in on a huge Web audience. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1023 1023 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 The bevy of personal information on the internet is making the use of personal security questions a far less effective protection method, according to one expert.<br /> <br /> <br /> Gary Warner, director of computer forensics research at the University of Alabama, Birmingham outlined the new risks which had surfaced in the aftermath of the Sarah Palin e-mail attack.<br /> <br /> Warner said in a blog posting that the attack shows just how simple it can be to obtain information to foil the <i>personal information </i>questions used by many web services. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1022 1022 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 State public higher education officials will consider whether to implement proposed safety and security measures at each of the 29 public campuses beginning this fall.<br /> <br /> In a report released earlier this year by the Department of Education, the agency called for its colleges and the University of Massachusetts to respond to the potential of <i>serious violence</i> on public school campuses.<br /> <br /> Though tragedies like the campus shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University are rare - 13 incidents since 1990 - bolstering campus security is needed for more prevalent crimes, such as sexual assaults and other violence, according to the department's report. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1021 1021 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 An al Qaeda video marking the anniversary of the September 11 attacks has appeared on the Internet more than a week late due to technical problems. <br /> <br /> <br /> The delay of the much-touted 87-minute video, caused in part by the main Islamist websites crashing, has thwarted al Qaedas yearly celebration of its attacks on U.S. cities in 2001.<br /> <br /> Parts of the video -- a compilation of documentary footage and messages by al Qaeda leaders -- were aired on September 8 by Al Jazeera television, which did not say how it obtained it.<br /> <br /> But the full version hit websites on Friday, eight days after the anniversary. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1020 1020 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Cybercriminals are getting more and more business-like. The latest examples involve a tool that automates the creation of fake YouTube Web sites that can be used to deliver malware and password-cracking services for sale. <br /> <br /> <br /> Panda Security said it has uncovered a tool circulating in underground hacking forums, dubbed YTFakeCreator, that enables anyone to easily create a fake YouTube page that surreptitiously installs a Trojan, virus, or adware on a visitor's computer, said Ryan Sherstobitoff, chief corporate evangelist of Panda Security. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1019 1019 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 A brokerage firm has agreed to pay a $275,000 fine following a series of alleged online hacking incidents into customer accounts.<br /> <br /> The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday that LPL Financial Services failed to protect its customers personal information, leaving at least 10,000 clients vulnerable to identity theft.<br /> <br /> The company, which has headquarters in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., and San Diego, will pay the fine without admitting or denying the allegations.<br /> An SEC order against the firm claims hackers accessed customers' accounts between July 2007 and early 2008, and attempted to place more than 200 unauthorized trades worth more than $700,000. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1018 1018 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Countrywide Financial Corp. is notifying mortgage holders of a possible security breach that could compromise the privacy of customer information.<br /> <br /> The FBI arrested a former Countrywide employee in August, accusing him of selling personal and financial data belonging to the lenders customers.<br /> <br /> The FBI contends Rene Rebollo Jr., 36, of Pasadena sold consumer data for as much as $70,000. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1017 1017 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Google was keeping mum about a three-day-old security fix to its Chrome browser, but now the company has revealed details of two critical-risk vulnerabilities and some lesser issues it says are fixed. <br /> <br /> The critical patches relate to buffer overrun vulnerabilities that could have let a remote attacker execute arbitrary software on a Chrome users computer, said Mark Larson, a Google Chrome program manager, in a mailing list posting Monday afternoon. The first patch fixed a vulnerability in handling long file names, called the SaveAs vulnerability, and the second a vulnerability in dealing with the Web site addresses displayed in Chromes status area when the user hovers over a link. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1016 1016 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400
1. Promising The World
Entrepreneurs will commonly make bold promises that are often impossible to actually deliver. It is important that you stay grounded in reality, and only agree to things that you know you can actually deliver.

2. Lack Of Discipline
Owning a business takes commitment and self-discipline. Since you are "the boss" you probably won't be disciplined for things like not showing up for work on time... but such things will have a negative impact on your business. It is important that entrepreneurs treat their business just like a real business, and not like a personal hobby. Act professional, charge for your services, and be accountable for the product or service provided. Self-discipline is critical to being self-employed.

Business Mistakes to Avoid]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1015 1015 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 security logos:



All the security logos come in a wide variety of formats .gif, .jpg, .tif, .png, .bmp all for only $ 9.99]]> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1014 1014 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Can, and will, the next generation of politicians exploit the communication mediums available to them? Will the new communication mediums have the power to influence public opinion? Will politicians be the victims of technology, or will they use it to their benefit? Will one party benefit from the use of the technology more than another? All reasonable questions, considering the role technology plays in today's society. <br /> <br /> The staggering distribution numbers, through channels like iTunes, YouTube, or podcasting websites, indicate that technology could play a critical role in the upcoming elections. Technology could be the deciding factor in the 2008 US Presidential race, and while distribution has never before been as accessible as it is to todays politicians and political candidates, politicians have far less control over the news and media than their counterparts in previous years. <br /> <br /> The curious need not look any further than YouTube to find the latest political constituents being haunted by their own words and dogged by their past missteps. Todays politicians have far less control of the news media and messages associated with their candidacy.<br /> <br /> The Internet and technology is positioned to play a huge role in elections. <a href="http://www.small-business-software.net/politics-and-podcasting.htm" target="_blank" >Politics and Technology</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1012 1012 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 If you are presenting at a security conference or need material for an educational presentation on security check out these <a href="http://www.ppt-templates.net/category.php/security-ppt-templates" target="_blank" >Security PowerPoint Templates</a>. Each theme includes 18 slides and the templates work with any version of PowerPoint. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1011 1011 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 We found this new website focussed on <a href="http://www.prepare-for-emergency.com/" target="_blank" >Preparing for Emergencies</a>. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1010 1010 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 As Hurricane Gustav approached the southern Louisiana coastline last weekend, an estimated 10,000 hospital, nursing home and home-based special needs patients were moved by plane, helicopter, bus, car, ambulance and train to areas farther north. Local, state and federal officials coordinated with each other and with private groups to accomplish the evacuation. It was the largest pre-storm medical evacuation in American history.<br /> <br /> But when anticipated safe harbors such as Baton Rouge were hit harder than New Orleans, all that planning hit a snag. Dozens of hospitals and nursing homes lost power and are still being partially or fully evacuated. Some patients found themselves being transferred twice. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1009 1009 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 <img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.security-port.com/9-11-logo.gif"><br /> 9-11-2001<br /> Never Forget http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1008 1008 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:00:00 -0400 Police in San Francisco is strengthening security in a downtown district, where a surge of violence has left at least six dead in the past two weeks. <br /> More uniformed and plainclothes officers will be deployed in downtown San Francisco's Mission District, especially in areas where drugs are sold and gang members are known to gather, police chief Heather Fong said Friday. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1007 1007 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Vietnamese security company Bach Khoa Internet Security (BKIS) has found a flaw in Google Chrome 0.2.149.27 and posted details on its Web site. The company says the problem is a critical buffer-overflow vulnerability that could allow a hacker to perform a remote attack and take complete control of the affected system. http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1006 1006 Tue, 9 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 Airport officials and federal authorities said Thursday that they have tightened security at Los Angeles International Airport because of the recent arrest of an elevator mechanic suspected of smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.<br /> <br /> Officials for LAX and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the measures included security adjustments at the federal inspection area inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal.<br /> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1005 1005 Mon, 8 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 This handbook has been designed to help you prepare your family and your home for the potentially devastating effects of a hurricane or tropical storm.<br /> <br /> By planning ahead you can minimize the dangers of these storms. By planning now you also reduce the discomforts of recovery and the time required to return your life to normal.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.co.pinellas.fl.us/BCC/hurrprep.htm" target="_blank" >Prepare for Hurricanes</a> http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm#1004 1004 Sun