InfoWar.com » Cybersecurity

Symantec tells customers to disable pcAnywhere software

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:34 +0000

“Symantec Corp took the rare step of advising customers to stop using one of its products, saying its pcAnywhere software for accessing remote PCs is at increased risk of getting hacked after blueprints of that software were stolen.”

(Source: Symantec tells customers to disable pcAnywhere software | Reuters.)

Cyber-Crimes Pose ‘Existential’ Threat, FBI Warns

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:33:47 +0000

“Despite the increased frequency and severity of online crime and espionage in 2011, many American corporations and consumers are still not taking the threat seriously, the FBI’s top cyber official said Thursday.

The risk posed by criminal hackers is “existential, meaning it could eliminate whole companies,” said Shawn Henry, the FBI’s executive assistant director. If hackers were able to tamper with critical infrastructure such as the power grid, “it could actually cause death,” Henry said in remarks at the International Conference on Cyber Security in New York. “

(Source: Cyber-Crimes Pose ‘Existential’ Threat, FBI Warns.)

Cyber defense effort is mixed, study finds

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:50 +0000

“A Pentagon pilot program that uses classified National Security Agency data to protect the computer networks of defense contractors has had some success but also has failed to meet some expectations, according to a study commissioned by the Defense Department.

The program showed that Internet carriers could be trusted to handle the NSA data, that direct government monitoring of private networks could be avoided and that the measures could be of particular benefit to companies with less mature cyber defense capabilities, according to the Carnegie Mellon University study.”

Source: Cyber defense effort is mixed, study finds – The Washington Post

Microsoft Readying Real Time Hosted Threat Intelligence Feed

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:46:17 +0000

“Microsoft has proven that it can take down huge, global botnets like Kelihos, Rustock and Waldec. Now the company is ready to start making the data it acquires in those busts available to governments, law enforcement and customers as a real time threat intelligence feed.

Representatives from the Redmond, Washington software maker told an audience at the International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) here that it was testing a new service to distribute threat data from captured botnets and other sources to partners, including foreign governments, Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and private corporations.”

Source: Microsoft Readying Real Time Hosted Threat Intelligence Feed | threatpost

US banks teaming with NYU to set up cybersecurity center

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:51:04 +0000

“A number of the largest US banks are teaming with New York University’s Polytechnic Institute to establish a center that would sift through bank data to detect potential cyberattacks.”

(Source: Infosecurity – US banks teaming with NYU to set up cybersecurity center.)

Security Techincal Implementation Guides for Smartphones

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:34:00 +0000

DISA has released STIGS for common smartphones including Android and IOS.

“The Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and the NSA Guides are the configuration standards for DOD IA and IA-enabled devices/systems. Since 1998, DISA Field Security Operations (FSO) has played a critical role enhancing the security posture of DoD’s security systems by providing the Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs). The STIGs contain technical guidance to “lock down” information systems/software that might otherwise be vulnerable to a malicious computer attack. DISA FSO is in the process of moving the STIGs towards the use of the NIST Security Content Automation Protocol (S-CAP) in order to be able to “automate” compliance reporting of the STIGs. “

(Source: Network/Perimeter/Wireless – Wireless (Smartphones).)

Fallout from the Christmas Hack of Stratfor

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:02:52 +0000

“Let this be the day that you change your password practices. On December 24th, 2011, Anonymous, the group of hackers that includes anyone who chooses to adapt that label, announced that they had broken into the servers of the defense intelligence organization Stratfor. Despite Anonymous’ belief in a vast military-industrial-government conspiracy, Stratfor is merely a think tank that researches and reports on global hot spots and events.”

(Source: Fallout from the Christmas Hack of Stratfor – Forbes.)

Hackers Said to be Planning to Launch Own Satellites to Combat Censorship

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:09:34 +0000

“Hackers reportedly plan to fight back against Internet censorship by putting their own communications satellites into orbit and developing a grid of ground stations to track and communicate with them.”

(Hackers Said to be Planning to Launch Own Satellites to Combat Censorship | PCWorld)

Cybersecurity insurance: What small businesses need to know

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:03:23 +0000

“Sure, you can install anti-virus programs. You can even go a step further and encrypt your data and heavily protect your passwords. In fact, these are but a few of many steps business owners can take to prevent cybersecurity breaches and subsequent data theft.”

(Cybersecurity insurance: What small businesses need to know – On Small Business – The Washington Post)