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Verizon, RIM, ATT looking to protect your smartphone from malicious attacks
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Software,
Many people take the security of their smartphones for granted. As the amount of private data communicated through smartphones increases, so does the threat of attacks from viruses and hackers. Choosing to act now rather than wait for a security fiasco, phone companies such as AT&T, are hiring security researchers to focus on strengthening the security of mobile phones from attacks. Since security has previously not been a major concern on mobile devices it will take some time (years) for these security measures to fully implement.
"Everyone is realizing that this is an uncontrolled environment," said Edward G. Amoroso, chief security officer of AT&T Inc. "We don't want to have the same problems that we had with PCs."
Read More 
| Wall Street Journal
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McAfee pushes bad update, takes down Windows XP computers
Posted by Dan Hughes Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Internet, PC / Laptop, Software,
Yesterday, McAfee pushed out a DAT file for its Enterprise virus-scanning software that tracked down a core Windows XP system file and quarantined it as malware. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of computer systems were damaged as a result. Windows XP cannot run without the quarantined file, SVCHOST.EXE, and as a result, automatically shut itself down. Other weird settings and symptoms were evident, such as taskbars disappearing, blue-screens-of-death, and other crash-related symptoms.
On one hand, relief simply did not come fast enough. On the other…what more could McAfee have done to repair the damage? McAfee rolled back the virus definition as quickly as it found out, and released an addendum file that could be manually applied to infected PCs. The servers hosting the offered file were strained by the demand, resulting in disconnect errors and failures to update the McAfee software.
“We believe that this incident has impacted less than one half of one percent of our enterprise accounts globally, and a fraction of that within the consumer base,” said Barry McPherson, on McAfee’s blog Wednesday. He goes on to identify the error in the update, stating that it was an attempt to detect a potentially damaging virus, and the update “clearly did more harm than good.”
“Having talked to literally hundreds of my colleagues around the world and emailed thousands to try and find the best way to correct these issues, let me say this has not been my favorite day. Not for me, or for McAfee. Not by a long shot.”
Click to continue reading McAfee pushes bad update, takes down Windows XP computers
Read More | McAfee SI Blog
Microsoft Morro beta Security Released
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, Microsoft, Software,
Morro is finally available in beta, limited to users in the United States, Brazil, and Israel. The free security tool replaces Windows Live OneCare, which was a paid service. Available for 32- and 64-bit installations of Windows XP/Vista/7, it supplies you with protection against viruses, malware and others baddies on the Internet. Microsoft is hoping to target those who let their yearly software subscriptions expire, those who don’t buy it and users that never turned theirs on.
Read More | PC World
Trend Micro Smart Surfing Virus Protection
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Utilities, Free Apps,
With Conficker and other evils running amok of late, Trend Micro has developed what it calls the first safe app for browsing on the iPhone and touch. Smart Surfing uses advanced “in the cloud” Web Reputation technology to block access of viruses, worms and other malware. When you use the application and come across an unfavorable URL, Smart Surfing will notify you visually. The application is free and available at the iTunes App Store.
Read More | Trend Micro
Conficker Damage Minimal
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet,
So did you wake up and wonder if your computer had been infected? It seems that Conficker did most of its damage in Asia, and was found to be modifying itself to make it more difficult to eradicate. While the threat is still not over, the best thing to come out of the virus is that security has been beefed up to try to find it. Symantic’s Vincent Weafer said that they believe that it was designed to make money. Maybe it can find Madoff’s missing millions.
Read More | BBC
Conficker to Come Out April 1?
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Microsoft,
We have mentioned Conficker before and how Microsoft is seeking help to find the source. Apparently, it is still unaccounted for and there may be a serious problem as of April 1. The program turns off security settings in Microsoft Windows and the fear is that infected computers may contact a control system on that date. Dan Kaminsky, a consultant for IOActive, says that it might go after corporate networks, especially if they run older Window versions.
Read More | ABC News
NetWrix USB Lockdown
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, USB, Hot Deals, Internet, PC / Laptop, Software,
Worried that someone will steal data from your SD card, memory stick, MP3 player or flash drive that you uploaded to your PC? Or worse, that someone will expose it to a viral attack? NetWrix is freeware that can lockdown your USB port. If you have GPMC (Microsoft Group Policy Management) on your computer, then you can protect your data locally or remotely with the tool. The blocker is simple to use and technical support is also provided with no charge.
Read More | Netwrix
Microsoft Offers $250,000 to Find Virus Source
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, USB, Internet, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,
Use your computer skills and earn enough to retire. Microsoft is offering $250,000 to find the person behind the Downadup/Conficker virus. Released in October, millions of Windows computers have been affected. The Conficker worm can infect computers or hide in USB flash drives. Downadup, as we previously told you to watch out for, can turn your PC into a botnet. The reward has been offered because the company views the virus as a criminal attack, so go out there and catch the bad guys.
Read More | BBC
Valentine Devkit Virus
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet,
Another virus has reared its cute
ugly head, this time in the guise of puppies for Valentine’s Day. Known as the Valentine Devkit, click on it and you will see the pooches and but also download lloveexe.exe, start.exe.or something similar. Be very careful if you decide to create an e-card for the holiday as there are those above as well as fake Hallmark cards that will infect your computer with malware.
Read More | McAfee Avert Labs
Downadup Virus Hits Millions
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
The virus Downadup, which originated in October by the name Conficker, has apparently attacked more than 3.5 million computers in less than 24 hours. The hackers have used phony Barack Obama websites to do the damage. The network of worms becomes a part of Windows services.exe then establishes an HTTP server from the computer. Make sure you have an updated anti-virus software program and check with Microsoft for patches to ensure your computer’s safety.
Read More | Gadgetell
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