News

Bill aimed at small-biz cybersecurity
By Mary Mosquera
FCW.com
June 10, 2008

Lawmakers have introduced legislation to help protect small businesses from computer hackers and information security breaches.

On June 9, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) joined Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) in introducing versions of the Small Business Information Security Act of 2008 in both houses of Congress.

The measures would create a Small Business Information Security Task Force at the Small Business Administration. The task force’s goal would be to help small firms understand and effectively respond to information security vulnerabilities, said Nick Christiansen, a spokesman for the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/152790-1.html

{ 0 comments }

According to a report released today by antivirus software vendor McAfee Inc.

The second annual McAfee “Mapping the Mal Web” report into the riskiest and safest places on the Web reveals that 19.2% of all Web sites ending in the “.hk” domain pose a security threat1 to Web users. China (.cn) is second this year with over 11%. By contrast, Finland (.fi) remains the safest online destination for the second year with 0.05%, followed by Japan (.jp).

Basing that on TLD seems flawed to me and when I see this;

The domain risk assessments come from the McAfee SiteAdvisor site rating database.

I think of this; xpsecuritycenter Rogue Security Program

{ 0 comments }

Ed Bott broke the news that Sysinternals Live is now open to the public.

The new service enables you to execute the most recent version of any Sysinternals tool directly from an Internet-connected PC, without having to hunt for the executable file and manually download it first.

What a treat for Sysinternals utilities fans.

Microsoft bought the company and its library in 2006. Sysinternals co-founder Mark Russinovich is now a Technical Fellow in the Platform and Services Division at Microsoft.

Sysinternals Forum
Sysinternals home page

{ 0 comments }

Following China’s crackdown on protests in Lhasa by Tibetan activists, and a blackout of YouTube and Google News within the country, a new twist on events brings us to Internet security.

Apprantly Groups supporting freedom of Tibet are being targeted by technically advanced malware attacks.

Asia Free Press news report:

AFP received an email Tuesday from someone claiming to be in Denmark, who had attached a file they said were pictures of Tibetans shot by the Chinese army. When AFP tried to open the attachment, a virus warning appeared.

Students For A Free Tibet
Analysis by F-Secure Labs: Targeted malware attacks against pro-Tibet groups

{ 0 comments }

My last post on this item was May 31, 2007, the month Soloway was arrested. Several months later, after pleading guilty to fraud and tax evasion charges, Soloway is due to be sentenced 20 June, 2008.

The notorious spammer has previously been found guilty of sending spam in several civil cases, Microsoft won a $7.8m judgement against him back in 2005, but he’s always avoided paying fines.

According to his lawyers, the only assets are a collection of two dozens pairs of expensive sunglasses valued at more than $3,700, 27 pairs of shoes, and clothing worth about $14,200.

Seattle Times

{ 0 comments }

Hot on the heels of Piracy Surcharge on ISPs proposed by Music Industry

Verizon Communications Inc. has broken ranks with the industry and is set to announce Friday that it plans to help its users share files faster - at least those who do it legally.

With researchers at Yale University and a group of companies that make file-sharing software, Verizon collaborated to enable faster downloads for consumers and lower costs for participating ISPs.

CBS2

{ 0 comments }

The industry’s anti piracy efforts appear to be futile, failure to stop piracy by suing Internet users, digital rights management all but abandoned.

But wait, now the music industry is considering a file sharing surcharge, per user per month, that Internet Service Providers collect from users.

This would be used to compensate songwriters, performers, publishers and music labels. Rightly so, but… will Internet Service Providers be able to implement such a practice. There is sure to be a backlash especially from smaller providers on a tight budget. Think rural, ISP options are often sparse in the boonies, something city users may not be aware of with their countless Internet options and budget packages.

Like I have said before, piracy is not free, it costs us all.

Discussion today at South by Southwest
Mobility, Ubiquity and Monetizing Music
Room 18ABC
Friday, March 14th
3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

{ 0 comments }

Adult Website Operation Settles FTC Charges Unwitting Consumers Exposed to X-Rated Spam

An X-rated Web operation that paid affiliates who used illegal e-mail to drive customers to its Web sites will pay a $413,000 civil penalty under a settlement reached with the FTC and the Department of Justice. The settlement also bars the illegal marketing practices in the future and requires the operator to monitor its affiliates to ensure that they are complying with the law.

FTC Press Release

{ 0 comments }

After removal of what government officials deemed a “blasphemous” video clip, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has lifted the ban on YouTube, owned by Google, Inc.

CNN.com

{ 0 comments }