About.com Operations / Technology

Got WebEx? Update Now and Fix the Security Holes

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:40 +0000

Online meeting software and networking company WebEx, announced last week that their meeting player software (WRF Player) has at least six security holes. Most of the bugs only cause the program to crash, but some of them could allow a hacker to take control of your computer. Theoretically, a hacker could record a meeting and inject malicious code into the recording. When an unsuspecting user plays the recorded meeting, the malicious program will be executed.

WebEx has fixed the problem and recommends that you install a new WRF Player as soon as possible. The new program can be down loaded at the WebEx download site.

Got WebEx? Update Now and Fix the Security Holes originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 12:00:40.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Google Chrome Passes Safari for No. 3 Browser

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:09:02 +0000

According to the technology market share research company Net Applications, Google's Chrome Internet browser's market share increased to 4.39% last week. This is just enough to bump Apple's Safari out of the Number 3 spot. While Microsoft maintains the Number 1 spot (63.62% and holding steady) and Firefox solidly in Number 2 (24.72% small decrease), Apple and Google will continue to battle it out for the Number 3 position.

Google accomplished this by releasing a version of Chrome for the Mac. In effect they are beating Apple at their own game on Apple's platform. The only other Internet browser that has a prayer of getting into the game is Opera (2.31% holding steady) in the Number 4 spot. Opera has recently released its latest version Opera 10.10 in hopes of playing catch up to the "Big 3" Internet browsers.

Overall Market Share for All Versions:

Microsoft Internet Explorer - 63.62%
Mozilla Firefox - 24.72%
Google Chrome - 4.39%
Apple Safari - 4.36%
Opera - 2.31%

Google Chrome Passes Safari for No. 3 Browser originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 19:09:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Closing the Office for the Holidays

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:01:23 +0000

It's not too late to start planning for the holiday shutdown. Some offices will be closed only on Friday, December 25th. Others will be closed on Christmas Eve too. Some won't close at all. How you know? What do you do? To help you shutdown your office for the holidays, I have prepared A Holiday Shutdown Checklist that will make sure you don't forget anything. From vendors to the thermostat, I have you covered.

Closing the Office for the Holidays: A Holiday Shutdown Checklist

Closing the Office for the Holidays originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 12:01:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Scrooge Comes as a Botmaster

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:00:49 +0000

The botnet called Koobface (Facebook spelled backwards) is taking advantage of the Christmas season. The most effective social engineering botnet is now spoofing a YouTube video page. When you try to view the "cute Chirstmas video" the malicious website tells you that you must update your Adobe Flash Player. The dialogue box that is presented looks and feels like the real Adobe Updater interface. Unfortunately, you get malware installed on your PC that gives the botmaster complete control over your computer. This can be disastrous in a corporate environment.

Take the time to inform your employees of the dangers and damage that non-work related web surfing can do. Use email or your company newsletter to tell them in a positive and informative way. Stay away from the "doomsday" and scare type messages; these just tend to alienate your employees instead of motivating them to watch out for the bad guys.

Scrooge Comes as a Botmaster originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 12:00:49.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Bogus H1N1 (Swine Flu) Emails Can Infect Your Computers

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:04:44 +0000

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) reports that hackers are sending bogus email alerts regarding the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines. The emails try to trick users into visiting a fake Center for Disease Control and prevention website. Once there, it prompts the user to register and create a user profile at which point the website installs malware on the victims PC.

According to US-CERT, tell your employees to delete emails that have the following subject lines:

"Governmental registration program on the H1N1 vaccination"
"Your personal vaccination profile"
Please note that subject lines may change at any time.

Bogus H1N1 (Swine Flu) Emails Can Infect Your Computers originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 20:04:44.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Opera Holes and Ransomware

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:38:16 +0000

The buzz around the Internet news organizations this week once again centers on malware. The web browser Opera, from Opera Software has three security holes. One was rated "extremely severe." If you use Opera in your business, you are advised to download and install version 10.10 immediately.

The second big news story is that ransomware is starting to make a comeback. The latest piece of ransomware blocks your computer from accessing the Internet until a fee is paid to unlock the functionality. It comes disguised as a "free" download manager that will speed up your Internet downloads. The only thing you get to speed up, is the money leaving your wallet. Fortunately, some antivirus vendors have a removal tool or "key" generator to help you unlock your computer. Check with your antivirus software vendor if you are infected with ransomware. Remember, never make the ransom payment or else your identity will be the next thing that gets stolen from you.

Opera Holes and Ransomware originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 20:38:16.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Are Your Company's iPhones in Jail?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:54 +0000

If your company buys Apple iPhones for your employees, then you better put some ground rules down before your company's sensitive and confidential information is posted on the Internet for all to read. As I read Mikko's article on the F-Secure website about the second worm attacking the iPhone (there was one before), I couldn't help but wonder when this is going to hit a major corporation? You see, the worm only attacks "jailbroken" iPhones. A jailbroken iPhone has had its software hacked to allow it to download applications from anywhere, instead of the restriction of Apple's iPhone website only. Some users refer to this restriction as "iPhone jail."

Unfortunately, applying this hacked piece of software to your iPhone has also allowed the bad guys to take control of your iPhone. Without any action by you, they can load whatever program they want on it and run it. Maybe, download your customer list or read confidential information on a company proposed downsizing, the damage that can be caused is endless. All this risk because your employee want a free gaming application. Set down the rules and enforce them equitably for all employees: "No software modification is allowed."

Are Your Company's iPhones in Jail? originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 09:00:54.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Windows 7 is Hot; Google Chrome is Not

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:23 +0000

Microsoft's Chief Executive, Steve Ballmer, told shareholders at last week's annual meeting, that Windows 7 is outselling any previous operating system in its first month of sales by a two-to-one margin. This number includes retail box sales, upgrades and new PC installs. Ballmer was enthusiastic about the news and almost seemed relieved at how well Windows 7 has been received. Another Vista fiasco has been avoided.

On the other hand, Google's foray into the operating systems arena, Chrome, was met with dismay when the much anticipated beta release did not happen last week. In addition, they said the production release will be at least a year away. So much for the "free" operating system for the masses. To placate the geeks of the world, they did release the source code to the open source developers network. They said that this group of external developers will have access to the same source code as Google's internal developers. I'll keep you posted.

Windows 7 is Hot; Google Chrome is Not originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 12:00:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

'Twilight' New Moon Bites PCs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:16:40 +0000

As expected, the purveyors of various kinds of malware have jumped on the popularity of the latest installment of the popular vampire movie "Twilight; New Moon" that premiered today. They are taking advantage of unsuspecting web searchers who are looking for "free" photos, wallpaper and screensavers for their computers. Instead of being able to download the "free" stuff, they are directed to a website that loads malware onto your computer, tries to get you to buy a fake antivirus program or lunches a phishing attack on you.

Take the time to educate your employees about the dangers of surfing for something for "free" on your company's computers. A dangerous virus, worm or other type of malware running loose on your computer network can have serious operational and financial impacts to your company. The Ultimate Malware Protection Guide will help you protect your computers.

'Twilight' New Moon Bites PCs originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 20:16:40.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Choose Your Passwords Carefully

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:58:26 +0000

The other day in my computer security class a student asked me if he could test a program that he downloaded off the Internet. Per lab procedure we took a test PC and isolated it from the rest of the network. The program he had scans the PC for information on users that have previously logged on to that PC. The program then displays up to the last ten users and asks if you want to crack their passwords. After receiving my permission he launched the password cracker tool. It took it 4.5 seconds to crack my ten digit numeric password (I have since changed it). That is 10,000,000,000 (ten billion!) different combinations in under five seconds. Other user's passwords took minutes and some hours and it still didn't have anything after chugging all night.

In order to protect your computer systems and networks, make sure your users create strong passwords. Not only do these protect your data, but they may end up protecting the reputation of your company.

More on Creating Strong Passwords

Choose Your Passwords Carefully originally appeared on About.com Operations / Technology on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 21:58:26.

Permalink | Comment | Email this