Computer Safety & News

Facecrooks security highlights a new tool available to assess privacy for popular Facebook apps http://facecrooks.com/Internet-Safety-Privacy/privacyscore-new-tool-rates-privacy-risk-of-the-most-popular-facebook-apps.html QUOTE:  Privacyscore, a project conducted by Privacychoice, recently released a Facebook application that rates the privacy risks of the most popular Facebook applications. Pictured below is what you’ll see when you visit the app. Hovering over one of the featured apps, […]

As with all BETA products, a good working knowledge of how to work around issues is essential: Microsoft – Security Essentials v4 BETA release http://betanews.com/2012/04/25/microsoft-releases-security-essentials-4/ QUOTE: Microsoft has released Security Essentials 4.0, the latest version of its lightweight, straightforward antivirus package. The bulk of the changes this time are under the hood. MSE’s “Automatic Remediation” now […]

Facebook is now actively promoting AV solutions that include free 6 month trial periods plus products like MSE, AVG, or AVAST that are completely free Facebook Security Page https://www.facebook.com/security Facebook Security – AV Products being promoted for better security http://facecrooks.com/Internet-Safety-Privacy/facebook-announces-av-marketplace-free-antivirus-better-platform-security.html QUOTE: One of the more exciting announcements made in the post is that the security companies […]

Hundreds of pages of data are highlighted in the latest release Microsoft SIR Volume 12 release – Huge release of analytical information http://blogs.technet.com/b/security/archive/2012/04/25/microsoft-security-intelligence-report-volume-12.aspx QUOTE: Today we released the latest volume of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR) containing a large body of new data and analysis on the threat landscape.  This volume of the SIR […]

A good article documenting the need to review phone bills in detail each month: Mobile Security – How can you tell your phone is infected? http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/296919-how-to-tell-if-your-phone-is-infected QUOTE:  On a PC the signs are pretty obvious. Your computer slows to a near-screeching halt, your browser re-directs you to random websites, your friends are suddenly calling asking about […]

Both Windows and Mac users are protected if they are up-to-date on security patches. http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/hacking/297184-new-multi-layer-malware-attack-uses-same-exploit-as-flashback QUOTE: A malware attack called Flashback infested well over a half-million Macs last week by exploiting a Java vulnerability. All Mac users have since updated to Apple’s recently-released Java update, thereby rendering all Flashback variants powerless. Right. In your dreams! […]

ISC highlights recent security update and the creation of a removal tool for the Flashback Trojan attacks circulating in-the-wild.  Apple Security – Flashback Removal Tool http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=12991 QUOTE:  Earlier in the week Apple released a Java update which included software to remove the Flashback Trojan from OS X Lion machines running Java.  The Flashback Trojan removal tool is […]

DBAs and security teams should apply these patches promptly as numerous products were updated http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2012-366314.html QUOTE: Affected Products and Versions Patch Availability Oracle Database 11g Release 2, versions 11.2.0.2, 11.2.0.3 Database Oracle Database 11g Release 1, version 11.1.0.7 Database Oracle Database 10g Release 2, versions 10.2.0.3, 10.2.0.4, 10.2.0.5 Database Oracle Application Server 10g Release 3, […]

This excellent set of Windows utilities was recently updated ISC: Sysinternals – April 2012 Product Releases http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=13006 http://blogs.technet.com/b/sysinternals/archive/2012/04/17/updates-notmyfault-procmon-v-3-01-testlimit-v-5-2-mark-s-webcasts-and-windows-internals-6th-edition-part-1.aspx QUOTE:    Among the release are updates to the following: • NotMyFault • Process Monitor v3.01 • TestLimit v5.2 • Webcasts from Mark R. • Windows Internals 6th Ed. Part 1

The ISC documents an important security release: Word Press 3.3.2 security release http://isc.sans.edu/diary/WordPress+Release+Security+Update/13024 http://core.trac.wordpress.org/log/branches/3.3?rev=20552&stop_rev=20087 http://wordpress.org/news/2012/04/wordpress-3-3-2/ http://Pluploadwordpress.org/download/ QUOTE: WordPress released a security update (version 3.3.2) that fixes 3 external libraries (Plupload, SWFUpload and SWFObject) as well as privilege escalation and cross-site script (XSS) issues as well as 5 other bugs. Change log posted here. The advisory […]