DOD Security Problems 01/31/2009

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.

Apple Security Update 01/30/2009

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. 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. Apple is advising people to update to QuickTime 7.6 for Windows, QuickTime 7.6 for Leopard, or QuickTime 7.6 for Tiger.

Verisign Buying Certicom 01/29/2009

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.

Security Updates in Software 01/28/2009

Imbed critical security updates in software applications using FeedForDev. The security alerts are sent via RSS feed imbedded in the application.

Scammers are Creative 01/27/2009

Internet scammers are becoming more creative, experts say. 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.

COPA Child-Porn Law Killed 01/26/2009

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 a clear victory for free speech, having fought the bill for ten years claiming it infringed on a websites freedom of speech. 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.

Computer Virus 01/24/2009

A computer virus is continuing to affect the Ministry of Defences systems but it insists no classified or personal data is under threat. 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. The virus first hit systems a fortnight ago but the MoD says operations have not been affected. It is still trying to discover how the virus breached its security software.

Webmaster Resource 01/23/2009

Collection of resources for webmasters. Webmaster tools, domain tools and security tools.

MBTAs Transit Police 01/20/2009

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. 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.

Cleaning Up the Internet 01/22/2009

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. 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. 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.

Internet Routing Upgrade 01/21/2009

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.

Fast Spreading Computer Virus 01/20/2009

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.

Huge List of RSS Tools 01/19/2009

Check out this Huge List of RSS Tools. Great collection, highly recommend it!

Terrorists and the Internet 01/18/2009

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. complete article

Internet Phones a Security Concern 01/17/2009

Internet telephone services pose a serious threat to Britains security, the head of MI5 has said. 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.

Security Computer 01/16/2009

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.

Winners and Losers for 2009 01/15/2009

Top 10 Winners for 2009 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

Reflections for 2008, Predictions for 2009 01/14/2009

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. 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. 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. Reflections for 2008, Predictions for 2009

Mumbai A Possible US Possibility 01/13/2009

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.

Unprecedented Security 01/12/2009

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. 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.

Homeland Security Reality 01/11/2009

Ratings champion American Idol will face serious competition when it returns next month: the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security USA, 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. 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.

China Crack Down 01/10/2009

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.

Warner Pulled YouTube Videos 01/09/2009

Warner Music Group ordered YouTube  to remove all music videos by its artists from the popular online video-sharing site after contract negotiations broke down.

Review of 2008 01/08/2009

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. 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. 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. Reflections for 2008, Predictions for 2009

ISPs Are New Target 01/07/2009

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.

Software Pirates Prosecuted 01/06/2009

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. 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.

Extended Investigation 01/05/2009

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. 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.

Increased Security for Inaugaration 01/04/2009

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. 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

UN Authorizes Attacking Pirates 01/03/2009

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. 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.

Apple Security Flaws 01/01/2009

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.

Internet Explorer Security Flaw 01/02/2009

Users of Microsofts Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed. The flaw in Microsofts Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of peoples computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say. Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it.

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