security

Microsoft has issued an emergency software fix for a critical flaw in its Internet Explorer web browser. According to reports, hackers have already exploited the vulnerability. Microsoft released the "Fix It" software in an attempt to prevent what ... it calls "targeted attacks" on a vulnerability in its Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft is calling this a "zero day" vulnerability, meaning software developers were unaware of the issue before it was exploited by hackers. Hackers Launch Remote Code Execution Attacks Reports indicate that hackers have used the flaw to carry out remote code ... (view more)

A new security report reveals that most 'hacktivists' (or politically-motivated hackers) aren't looking to inflict long-term damage on their victims through cyberattacks. Instead, their primary goal is to draw attention to their own cause. But ... that's not necessarily a good thing -- in fact, experts say it makes devising a foolproof security strategy extremely difficult. "What we have seen with hacktivists is that attacking a website tends to be more about generating media coverage about their cause than it is about which site they targeted or what the impact was," says Michael Smith, incident ... (view more)

For most Internet users, passwords are just a part of life. We enter them to access our desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, email programs, and cloud storage accounts. But managing all of those passwords can be a major hassle. That's why many ... firms are devising systems that allow us to ditch the traditional password. Recently, Canadian firm Bionym showed off the Nymi , which uses an individual's unique heart rate to skip the typical login process. Now, one of Google's most prominent security executives says traditional "passwords are dead." Google Exec: "Game is Over" for ... (view more)

Another monthly Patch Tuesday security update has arrived and this time Microsoft is providing fixes for 'critical' flaws in its Internet Explorer web browser and its Outlook email manager. In total, Microsoft's Patch Tuesday offering includes 13 ... bulletins, four of which have been marked critical -- Microsoft's highest security rating. Many security experts are pointing to the critical bulletin affecting Outlook as the most important security issue this month. Code Execution Flaw Affects Outlook Wolfgang Kandek, chief technology officer at IT security firm Qualys, says it's imperative that ... (view more)

A seller of Internet-based home security cameras and baby monitors has settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after private video content was accessed by hackers. TRENDnet sells a range of "SecurView" cameras that allow customers to monitor ... activity in their homes through the Internet. Suggested uses include monitoring a baby or checking a home's security while away on vacation. The company repeatedly used the word "secure" when marketing its products. Unfortunately, the security had three major shortcomings. First, there was a design flaw that allowed hackers to bypass a login ... (view more)

A new report reveals that Microsoft won't kill support for all Windows XP users. However, continuing to receive crucial security updates for the aging operating system won't be cheap. Microsoft has repeatedly insisted that users of Windows XP move ... away from the decade-old operating system (OS) by April 2014, when support for the OS officially ends. For most users, that means Microsoft will no longer make or distribute security patches designed to keep the OS safe from hackers. 'Custom Support' Extends XP's Life -- For a Price But not everyone is being cut off in April 2014. According to a new ... (view more)

Microsoft's August Patch Tuesday is approaching and once again the company has plans to fix serious security vulnerabilities affecting its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser. This month's Patch Tuesday includes eight security updates -- that's one ... more update than last month . However, August's Patch Tuesday includes just three security updates marked "critical," Microsoft's highest security rating. Last month there were seven of these updates. Two of this month's critical updates are attracting plenty of media attention. All Versions of Internet Explorer Vulnerable The first affects every ... (view more)

Microsoft has flatly denied claims that the National Security Agency (NSA) has direct access to Outlook email accounts. The firm is also criticizing the US government for preventing it from discussing NSA snooping with the public. Last week, several ... sources claimed Microsoft had given the National Security Agency help bypassing the encryption meant to keep its webmail services, such as Outlook.com, confidential. The same reports suggested Microsoft had allowed the NSA to intercept Skype conversations and access files stored through the SkyDrive service. (Source: pcworld.com ) Microsoft's ... (view more)

Outsourcing has become a popular way for big companies to save money. One example: offering 'bug bounties' that encourage independent researchers to help prevent security nightmares. According to a new study completed by University of California ... Berkeley researchers, it's far cheaper for technology firms to use these freelance security experts than expand an existing in-house security team. The study examined the bug bounty programs (otherwise known as vulnerability reward programs, or VRPs) used by two of the Internet's biggest firms: Google and Mozilla, makers of the Chrome ... (view more)

It's estimated that up to 99 per cent of all Android smartphones are vulnerable to a new security vulnerability. The bug involves two of the main security measures used on phones running the popular Android operating system from Google. The first ... security measure affected by the bug is the security check used on all applications that run on an Android phone. Every application has a cryptographic signature, which is a code that confirms the application is genuine. The signature directly correlates to the contents of the application itself, meaning that any attempt to tamper with the contents ... (view more)