12/16/05 |
The next Sober virus attack
Antivirus and security researchers are warning that the next wave of the Sober virus could strike beginning January 5, 2006. We know this because someone cracked the virus writer's codes.
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12/9/05 |
Your antivirus software has BO
With security researchers rushing to find the next big flaw in Internet Explorer, is anyone checking the security apps? One researcher is, and what he's found is that most antivirus apps suffer from critical buffer-overflow errors. Fortunately, most security vendors are responsive.
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12/2/05 |
Is your PC a drug mule?
Today, criminals are making more money from cybercrime than from drug-related crime. But before you ask what's being done about that, maybe you should see what's running inside your own computer.
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11/23/05 |
What good are 1,000 remote-controlled PCs?
Botnets, invisible webs connecting unrelated, random "zombie" computers, have been around since the late 1990s but have only recently become worth owning, selling, or trading. So what good are 1,000 remote-controlled PCs? Read on to find out.
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11/18/05 |
To be "0wned" by Sony
Maybe you skipped the debate on the Sony DRM root kits; perhaps you shouldn't have. New research suggests that more than half a million PCs are already infected, but removing it could make you just as vulnerable to attack.
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11/11/05 |
Congress loves identity thieves
So much for hard-hitting laws to combat identity theft. Congress is preparing to pass a sweeping but very weak ID theft law that's a boon for identity thieves and a burden for you and me. Let's stop HR 4127 while we can.
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11/4/05 |
Spear-phishing snags corporate assets
It's more than a clever new security buzz phrase; spear-phishing is a growing problem for otherwise secure corporate networks. Find out how you can help stop this new threat.
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10/28/05 |
The Sky(pe) is falling
Do recent buffer overflows found in popular VoIP service Skype signal an end to Voice over IP? Maybe not.
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10/21/05 |
Root Kit 101
In the race to detect and remove malicious code from your computer, the bad guys unfortunately still maintain a slight lead. Root kits are one way for malicious code to go undetected.
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10/14/05 |
Give public biometrics the finger
Like it or not, fingerprint scanners are coming to a grocery store near you. Are they more secure? No.
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10/7/05 |
Say good-bye to choice
A not-so funny thing happened this year--most of the independent security companies have been bought by one of five supercompanies. Is this a good thing? Perhaps not.
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9/30/05 |
Windows Vista's new security features
The new operating system won't be out until late 2006, but here's a look at some of the new security features expected.
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9/23/05 |
In defense of Mozilla Firefox
Recent articles declaring Firefox to be less secure than Internet Explorer are out of context. Here's a passionate defense of the little browser that could.
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9/16/05 |
Katrina's second wave of despair
Despite all the charity and goodwill, there are still those who would victimize the survivors of this natural disaster. Here are some recommendations to prevent such abuse.
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9/6/05 |
A virtual den of thieves
Authorities, in announcing the arrests of the authors of the recent Zotob worm family, hint that they've uncovered a major international identity theft ring. Robert Vamosi has the story.
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8/26/05 |
When white hats write
Computer security researchers tend to be good at what they do, so maybe they shouldn't try their hand at writing. Robert Vamosi reviews the Stealing the Network book series from Syngress.
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8/19/05 |
When script kiddies play with fire on the Internet
Last week's outbreak of Zotob and other worms wasn't a conspiracy against Internet users; it was a street fight between rival criminal hackers, each trying to claim boasting rights for best exploiting Microsoft's Plug-and-Play vulnerability. Robert Vamosi has the story.
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8/12/05 |
USB devices offer an old-school way to steal data
Forget the scattershot approach of broadcasting viruses and worms via the Internet; criminal hackers are focusing on faked USB devices that offer a desktop-by-desktop method of installing malicious code and stealing personal or private data. Sure, it requires touching the PC, but only for about 10 seconds.
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8/5/05 |
A credible plan to take down the Internet
One year ago, someone stole the operating system source code for Cisco routers, which carry most of the Internet's daily traffic; now someone's stolen the passwords to Cisco's customer database. It sounds like someone's trying to take down the Internet, and Robert Vamosi has the details.
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7/29/05 |
When software's flawed, who needs to know?
Newsflash: Your desktop software is flawed…but you knew that. Or did you? Robert Vamosi has the scoop on current initiatives afoot to inform you of the latest flaws and fixes.
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7/22/05 |
Smaller, more agile security software gets it right
Robert Vamosi thinks that second-generation software companies are able to take the best of what worked before and combine it with what hasn't yet been tried. This is what ZoneAlarm has done, and that's why you should consider its product over your next purchase of Norton or McAfee security software.
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7/8/05 |
Why spyware's here to stay (for now)
Who's looking out for your best interests in stopping spyware? If you said the antispyware vendors, you might want to think again. Robert Vamosi says there's too much money to be made--both in creating spyware and in stopping it.
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7/1/05 |
Targeted Web attacks
Phishing typically casts a wide net to lure potential victims, but criminal hackers are now choosing government agencies and companies with great care, stealing high-value secrets deep inside private networks.
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6/17/05 |
When digital discovery meets CSI
As much as he loves the TV show, Robert Vamosi gets superannoyed with CSI whenever it tries to do digital forensics.
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6/10/05 |
Data destruction--it's harder than you think
Within Windows, it's notoriously hard to permanently delete files. For accidental deletions and criminal investigations, this is great. However, criminals know this as well. New federal rules require data destruction but provide little guidance regarding electronic data destruction.
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6/3/05 |
Writing down passwords
We've long been told never to write down passwords. So why is a senior manager for security at Microsoft saying we should? Robert Vamosi explains.
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5/27/05 |
Of ID theft, Paris Hilton, and methamphetamines
The headlines scream ID theft, but what's the real story behind these thefts? Robert Vamosi pieces together what's known about the Secret Service's Operation Boca Grande and the recent raids connected with thefts at LexisNexis.
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5/20/05 |
Why the Sober virus is still messing with your PC
About a week ago, e-mail in-boxes around the world started to melt down with German-language e-mail. Was it spam? Was it a virus attack? CNET's security expert explains how it was both.
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5/13/05 |
Is your Toyota Prius safe from computer viruses?
Back in January, a Russian antivirus company suggested that a virus may have leapt from a cell phone to a Lexus's navigation system. A Finnish antivirus company conducted tests to see if that could really happen. Robert Vamosi has the results.
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5/6/05 |
Why virus writers still do what they do
The appearance of Sober.p got Robert Vamosi thinking about why virus writers are simply churning out variations upon variations of old viruses. The incentive to write unique viruses is gone, replaced by hard cold currency instead. Find out who's benefiting from your latest computer annoyance.
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4/29/05 |
The flip side of phishing
P.T. Barnum said there's a sucker born every minute. On the Internet, it must be every second or so. Rather than talk about the phishers as the problem, Robert Vamosi asks why we're not taking more responsibility for own actions.
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4/15/05 |
Identity theft remedies in the works
The number of people who have had personal information fall into the hands of identity thieves keeps growing. Fortunately there's new congressional legislation on the way, as well as a new National Science Foundation project to safeguard our personal data.
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4/8/05 |
Beware of ungracious hosts (hosts files, that is)
Taking a page from virus writers, identity thieves could soon use a tiny file on your computer to redirect you to their fraudulent sites.
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4/1/05 |
IM viruses finally come of age
For years, we've all enjoyed the benefits of instant messages. Now virus writers are targeting IMs, and, unwillingly, Microsoft could soon provide them with an effective means of launching a major virus attack.
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3/21/05 |
Criminal hackers reach beyond Windows and Internet Explorer
Symantec's semiannual report on Internet security threats is a mixed bag. While companies are better at protecting their networks, attackers are now going after their end users instead.
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3/15/05 |
Who you callin' spyware, spyware?
The definition of spyware is a slippery one. Now, spyware producers are attempting to sue antispyware vendors into ignoring their products. And that's just one of the tricks they're using to get you to fall for their marketing campaigns.
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3/4/05 |
Crafty Bagle viruses keep spreading
After more than 50 variations, the latest versions of Bagle attempt to download additional code onto infected computers. Fortunately, the antivirus companies put an end to that.
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2/25/05 |
When identity thieves strike data warehouses
Fraud, not a computer hack, is responsible for the latest breach of more than 140,000 personal data records. The recent ChoicePoint data breach begs for national legislation mandating disclosure and the safeguarding of personal information in data warehouses.
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2/18/05 |
Alarm over pharming attacks: identity theft made even easier
A new form of phishing makes it easier for the bad guys to get your personal information.
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2/11/05 |
Why Word and Excel password protection isn't safe
Weak password protection gives the illusion that you are safe when you are not. An encryption flaw in Microsoft Office passwords makes them relatively easy to crack. Find out what you can do to protect your documents.
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1/28/05 |
Beware your evil twin (hot spot, that is)
An old form of wireless attack is again in the news, thanks to the latest take on phishing scams. Now instead of logging in to fraudulent Web sites, your wireless device might instead log in to a fraudulent access point or base station.
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1/14/05 |
New Year, old flaws in Windows, Internet Explorer
Even with Windows XP SP2, there are new attacks aimed at your PC.
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