SmartPhone Security 02/28/2011

Smartphone users pay less attention to the security of their phones than they do to their PCs. Ondrej Krehel of Identity Theft 911 said consumers too often do not protect the phone with a password, do not encrypt the data on their phones, and they store personal information such as bank account numbers, e-mails, Social Security numbers -- including those of their family members -- and other confidential information. Be sure to password-protect a smartphone.

Flight School Security 02/27/2011

Several months after federal officials arrested the immigrant owner of a Stow flight school and 33 of his students for being in the United States illegally, officials have not instituted new safeguards to prevent something similar from happening again.

SMS Spam 02/26/2011

The GSMA will recommend that operators join a program that allows mobile subscribers to report SMS spam using short codes in an effort to gather more data on a growing annoyance. The GSMA along with its partner Cloudmark, which makes messaging security software for operators, concluded a trial in December of an SMS spam reporting system that analyzed SMSes and aggregated reports of abuse.

Uganda Blocking Texts with Keywords 02/25/2011

Uganda has ordered phone companies to intercept text messages with words or phrases including Egypt, bullet, and people power ahead of Fridays elections that some fear may turn violent. An internal email from the state-run Uganda Communications Commission with the order was leaked to the opposition coalition Inter-Party Cooperation on Thursday.

Wireless Security 02/25/2011

Do wireless service giants such as AT&T and Verizon wield their power to effectively stand in the way of mobile-device security? Lively commentary on that topic came during the RSA Conference here this week as Ed Amoroso, chief security officer at AT&T, Ian Robertson, RIM director security, and Alex Stamos, partner at security firm iSec, shared a discussion panel moderated by Lookout CEO John Hering. There was a candid willingness to acknowledge that the current world, where mobile devices are tightly bound to wireless telecom provider networks, may not be the best in terms of tackling security issues that are expected to accelerate over the years.

Lax Blackberry Security 02/24/2011

Security experts suggest senior federal bureaucrats are playing with fire by sending sensitive government information on their BlackBerry. The Canadian Press has learned that deputy ministers at three government departments have all used a BlackBerry feature called PIN messaging to discuss sensitive information. PIN messaging allows BlackBerry users to send messages directly between devices over wireless networks, bypassing e-mail servers.

Security Survey 02/23/2011

The growing use of new technologies like mobile devices and social networking has drastically changed the way government agencies and companies do business, but they are also stretching information security professionals thin, according to a new survey. The 2011 Global Information Workforce Survey by Frost & Sullivan found that new threats stemming from mobile devices, the cloud, social networking and insecure applications, as well as the added responsibility of addressing the security concerns of customers, are straining the already overworked information security workforce. The survey of 10,413 information security professionals from companies and public sector organizations worldwide also found a severe gap in the skills needed by information security professionals across the board. Many reported a need for better training, particularly on cloud computing. For example, more than 50 percent of respondents reported having private clouds in place, while more than 70 percent reported the need for new skills to properly secure cloud-based technologies.

Smartphone Security Risks 02/22/2011

2011 is the year that mobile security is going mainstream. Here at 2011 RSA Conference in San Francisco many of the security software companies I have spoken to have either released--or are planning to release a mobile security app of some sort. And while smartphones are not a major malware target in the United States yet, there are reasons to be concerned about the future of mobile security. One of Android strengths is its openness. Just about anyone can write an app and distribute it without having to go through a sometimes lengthy review process. But as is the case on the PC, this sort of openness makes it possible for malware writers to infiltrate the smartphone. Security companies seem to think Android is the next big malware target, thanks to this openness, and the fact that it runs on so many devices.

Internet Kill Switch 02/21/2011

A Senate proposal that has become known as the Internet kill switch bill was reintroduced this week, with a tweak its backers say eliminates the possibility of an Egypt-style disconnection happening in the United States. As CNET reported last month, the 221-page bill hands Homeland Security the power to issue decrees to certain privately owned computer systems after the president declares a national cyberemergency. A section in the new bill notes that does not include the authority to shut down the Internet, and the name of the bill has been changed to include the phrase Internet freedom.

Tax Securitities 02/18/2011

When tax time rolls around, it is not just CPAs who spring into action. It is a big time for hackers as well, who bank on sensitive information getting transmitted over the Internet via online filings. And if the hackers are working OT, you know what that means: more work for IT too. Like everyone else, your company has two options: File taxes yourself or go through a third party. Each choice comes with its own risks, which you can minimize with some foresight and common sense.

Cloud Security 02/17/2011

The buzzword for this year’s RSA Conference – cloud. The conference, which will run from Feb. 14 to Feb. 18 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, has an entire track focused on cloud security. It is one of 17 class tracks available at this years conference, which typically draws a large crowd of vendors, researchers and security pros to the city.

Mob Arrests 02/16/2011

A recent federal sweep netted more than 120 defendants, among them several dockworkers and longshoremen union officials. The FBI called it one of the largest Mafia takedowns in history. The indictments seem to indicate that organized crime elements persists in the ports, despite decades of law enforcement efforts to root them out.

Protesters in Algeria Stifled 02/15/2011

Protesters showing solidarity for Egypt. Security forces scuffled Saturday in Algeria with demonstrators emboldened by the recent events in Egypt and Tunisia. The clash led to the arrest of multiple pro-democracy protesters, including human rights activists.

10 Tips to Grow Your Business 02/14/2011

1. Manage Accounts Receivable Be courteous, but firm with customers. Most small businesses do not have the cash flow that allows the luxury of providing lines of credit to their customers. Track accounts receivables closely, and follow-up on past due accounts. 10 Tips For Growing Your Business

Pentagon fears Iraq is becoming Forgotten War 02/13/2011

Iraq is in danger of becoming a forgotten war, much as Afghanistan was earlier in the decade, according to senior US officials. Testifying on Capitol Hill this week, they further warned that US neglect of the country – where security remains “fragile” – could create a Charlie Wilsons War moment for America. At the same time, in the face of ongoing instability on the ground, officials offered one of the first hints that the American military could stay in Iraq beyond this year. US troops must pull out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011 under the current security agreement.

Local Responders Receive Homeland Security Grants 02/12/2011

Congressman Paul Tonko announced today that the federal government has awarded grants totaling over $160,000 to two agencies in the 21st Congressional District through the Department of Homeland Securitys Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. The Town of Glen Volunteer Fire Department and the Clinton Heights Fire Department will be receiving grants to help these organizations enhance emergency services to residents and improve safety for first responders.

Egypt takes center stage at Munich Security Conference 02/11/2011

The ongoing unrest in Egypt cast a long shadow Saturday over the Munich Security Conference, a gathering set up to address global security issues. While other items -- including terrorism and the New START treaty between the United States and Russia -- were on the agenda, it was impossible for leaders at the conference to ignore the crisis.

Bush Trip Canceled for Security Concerns 02/10/2011

A visit by former President George W. Bush to Switzerland this week has been canceled because of security concerns, as the threat of mass protests loomed and the possibility emerged of a legal case against him for ordering torture. Mr. Bush was informed Friday by the charity he planned to address in Geneva, the United Israel Appeal, that his Feb. 12 dinner speech had been called off, said his spokesman, David Sherzer.

Forum Etiquette 02/09/2011

The Internet has become a highly interactive medium. In order to participate in discussion forums and newsgroups, it is important to be familiar with standard and accepted Internet forum etiquette. Here are some tips to help make your forum participation more productive and beneficial... 1. Terms-Of-Service Read the forum rules and terms-of-service before you begin posting. This way, you can avoid having your introduction to the forum being an accidental breaking of a rule or other misconduct. Forum Etiquette

Greyhound Security Review 02/08/2011

Greyhound officials are taking a second look at security measures in light of a Thursday night incident where a man hijacked one of their buses headed to Raleigh. Passengers said Jose Flores, 32, had a gun and implied that he had a bomb too.

Nasdaq Acknowledges Security Breach 02/07/2011

Nasdaq acknowledged Saturday it has been the victim of hackers and said it has notified customers about the problem. The statement by Nasdaq OMX Inc. came on the heels of a report in Saturday's Wall Street Journal that said unidentified hackers had repeatedly breached the companys computer network in the past year.

Security tight for Super Bowl Sunday 02/05/2011

The teams are in Texas, practicing and mentally preparing for game day. Not the Green Bay Packers or the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the dozens of security teams that have been brought in from all over the country to keep the Super Bowl safe. With more than 100,000 people expected to attend the game, and an estimated worldwide television viewership of 110 million, the Super Bowl could be a tempting terror target. Though officials say there is no specific, credible information indicating there is a threat to the game, they have spent more than two years planning its protection.

Web Filters Not Effective 02/04/2011

A European Internet study has an instant message for parents who want to control their children's online habits: web filters are not 100 percent foolproof against harmful sites. A solid 84 percent of programmes restrict access to websites such as porn pages, according to a study released by the European Commission on Thursday. But they still leave a 20 percent chance for sites with content unsuitable for children -- webpages promoting anorexia, suicide and self-mutilation -- to escape the filters.

Google and Web Spam 02/03/2011

Google on Friday defended its search-related spam-fighting policies and denied that sites with Google ads get a free pass, though it acknowledged a recent uptick in spam and pledged to crack down more heavily on content farms. Pointing to several recent news stories that criticized Googles search results as spammy and unhelpful, Google principal engineer Matt Cutts said in a blog post that that search quality today is better than it has ever been in terms of relevance, freshness and comprehensiveness.

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