Security

As I was working with my email today, I realized that I was not alone in trying to combat the scourge of Spam! Many are working to reduce the space and time it takes to transfer the stuff, in many cases at very real expense since there are a number ... of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that charge the user for the amount of data transferred. Some companies, such as AOL and Yahoo, have come up with preventative strategies that don't really work all that well (charging bulk emailers for Preferred Status) and tend to cause difficulties for everybody. When it comes to the user reporting spam in ... (view more)

A recent email memo leaked to APC Magazine revealed that Microsoft is already hard at work on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Microsoft sent out emails to customers and partners to test and provide feedback on (SP1) to help prepare for it's ... release in the second half of 2007. In comparison, it took 11 months after the release of Windows XP for Microsoft to rollout the first service pack. Specific details of the changes (codenamed "Fiji") have not been released by Microsoft yet. Microsoft claims that regressions from Windows Vista and Windows XP (specifically: security, deployment blockers ... (view more)

Hackers recently accessed and attacked the website of a foundation lead by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The intentions of the hackers were to publicly accuse the former leader of brutally suppressing a pro-independence demonstration in ... Soviet-controlled Azerbaijan back in 1990. Those responsible for the hacking posted a series of photographs on the website, taken from the suppressed rally and also posted an open letter to Gorbachev, blaming him for the deaths of more than 130 people. In Azerbaijan, the suppressed rally continues to be referred to as "Black January". Fueled by the ... (view more)

PayPal will soon be offering users a new tool to protect against malicious phishing attacks. The PayPal Security Key is a small electronic device that generates a new six-digit password every 30 seconds. PayPal users with the Security Key will use ... their original passwords as well as the password generated on the device in order to sign into their accounts. (Source: pcworld.com ) "If a fraudulent party somehow got hold of a person's username and password, they still wouldn't be able to get into the account because they don't have the six-digit code," says PayPal spokesperson Sara Bettencourt ... (view more)

Right before the New Year, Google received a nasty surprise. Gmail users were susceptible to having their contact lists stolen and used for malicious purposes. In order for the bug to activate itself, people had to be logged into Gmail and then go ... to a website designed specifically to exploit the vulnerability. Signing in to sites such as Blogger.com, Orkut.com, and Google Docs ... (view more)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. If you don't believe me, check the records in Nevada. A resident there legally changed his name to Santa Claus. But unfortunately for Mr. Claus, his website -- Santaslink.net -- was recently hacked. What's ... next? Reindeer-jacking Rudolph, Grand Theft Auto style? "[Santa] had consulted local experts, which we can only assume were elves, but they were unable to identify anything wrong with his site," StopBadware.org Developer Jason Callina wrote in a recent blog post. But luckily for everyone in Santa's workshop, the jolly folks at StopBadware were ... (view more)

Recently, Sony was fined $1.5 million in penalties and costs to reimburse Californians and Texans whose computers were affected by the illegally installed Digital Rights Management software [software aimed at antipiracy] on some of their music CDs. ... Consumers will be reimbursed up to $175.00 to offset the cost of repairs incurred when removing the software. Consumers without proof of the cost of repairs are still eligible for $25.00. To date, 40 states have settled the law suit with Sony. The total settlement amount is up to $5.75 million. For a list of the 40 states affected, refer to the ... (view more)

Do you use Norton Security or an "all-in-1" solution to protect your PC? You might not want to after you read this: Infopackets Reader Mike L. writes: " Dear Dennis, My problem is that I'm a relatively naive computer user and have -- for some time ... now -- depended on Norton's 'all in one' security package (firewall / anti-virus / anti-spam) to blanket my PC from Internet nasties. A friend told me that Norton tends to configure a PC to best meet their own specifications, and that this causes periodic corruptions. Can you point me to information about the best way for a less than ... (view more)

Microsoft Corp. has released three new software patches that will target all Windows systems that have been marked with a "critical" status -- the highest threat level. The new patches are said to resolve complications in Microsoft's Internet ... Explorer web browser, Windows Media Player, and Visual Studios 2005 software, which allow a remote attacker to run malicious code on a victim's computer. (Source: technology.canoe.ca ) Microsoft has also released four additional patches that will target problems that have "important" status. These patches pertain to complications in Microsoft's Outlook ... (view more)

Although it's had its fair share of problems this year, we're still pretty hesitant to proclaim, "poor MySpace!" Despite accusations that the online meeting place is a haven for predatory offenders, MySpace has held on as one of the web's most ... popular hotspots. Unfortunately, there's a growing stack of reasons to be wary of it. Recently it became clear that a worm has made its way onto MySpace, and it's baiting gullible users via QuickTime video. The entire ploy is nothing more than phishing. No, we don't mean afternoons on the water with Dad, but instead, mischievous schemes that persuade ... (view more)