Computer Safety & News

More online safety tips for the 2012 holiday season: http://www.forbes.com/sites/firewall/2012/11/25/you-better-watch-out-online-attacks-are-coming-to-town/ https://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=14569 QUOTE: It is time for a more consumer oriented blog post with a couple of hints about what to watch out for during the holiday online shopping season. How do you watch out and tell who is naughty and nice online? You better check […]

This article in the Mac Security Blog makes a great point,  While seatbelts won’t prevent all injuries, you are much safer by buckling up.  Likewise, security controls won’t guarantee complete safety, but folks can stay better protected through technical safeguards and best practices. http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/security-measures-arent-completely-effective-but-that-doesnt-mean-you-shouldnt-use-them/ QUOTE: Passwords, security software, and user education don’t prevent 100% of […]

Symantec has identified a new sophisticated malware threat designed to alter SQL Server databaseswhere user rights are not properly locked down.  As with the Stuxnet attacks, this new threat is most active in the Middle East http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/w32narilam-business-database-sabotage http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/305296-database-modifying-malware-narilam-a-corporate-sabotage-tool QUOTE: In the last couple of years, we have seen highly sophisticated malware used to sabotage the […]

AV Comparatives recently tested cleaning capabilities for free and premium AV products.  All products tested did fairly well in scoring. http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/docs/avc_rem_201211_en.pdf http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/305309-which-antivirus-cleans-best QUOTE: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2013 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2013) managed an A average in both removal and convenience. That comes as no surprise to me; both products also scored very well in my […]

The System Restore process was improved for Windows 8.  The following compares the new approach with an advanced third party recovery tool. http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/305179-windows-8-reset-and-refresh-versus-faronics-deep-freeze QUOTE: In theory, if you screw up your settings or otherwise run into trouble, the Windows System Restore feature can put things right. In my years of experience, however, I’ve found that […]

The FBI is using social media networks to investigate security fraud, as noted below: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/fbi-uses-twitter-social-media-look-securities-fraud-1C7209895 QUOTE: The FBI sees social media as a potential breeding ground for securities fraud, and has agents scouring Twitter and Facebook for tips, according to two top agents overseeing a long-running investigation into insider trading in the $2 trillion hedge […]

Sensitive police documents were apparently shredded and used as confetti in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/11/26/confidential-parade-confetti/ QUOTE: The world’s most famous Thanksgiving parade is probably not where you’d expect to find shredded confidential police documents. But that’s exactly what Ethan Finkelstein says he found while enjoying the annual parade in New York City […]

This article by PC Magazine offers excellent safety advice in four distinct vulnerable areas: http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/305284-shop-online-safely-this-holiday-season QUOTE: While Black Friday marked the beginning of holiday shopping in stores around the country, many consumers are increasingly counting on online deals to find the best gifts. In a PriceGrabber.com survey of 4,958 U.S. online shoppers, 41 percent of […]

Excellent advice by PC Magazine as scam attacks work through malicious applications on Facebook that appear to come from a trusted friend or contact.  Avoid clicking the LIKE button or visiting a URL offered if it seems to good to be true. http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/305285-dissecting-the-facebook-gift-scam-how-they-get-you QUOTE: “Get free stuff!” is a common lure scammers use on Facebook. […]

Trend Labs shares an informative article related to Out of office notification risks http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/the-risks-of-the-out-of-office-notification/ QUOTE: Many enterprises today, guarding against data breaches and targeted attacks is one of the top concerns of IT administrators. One of the things that administrators guard against is reconnaissance and targeting of any potential high-value personnel who may fall victim […]