Apple QuickTime Patch Fixes 15 Flaws
Apple this week issued an update that plugs at least 15 security holes in its QuickTime media player.
Yearly Archives: 2010
Reintroducing Scanlab (a.k.a Scamlab)
Many sites and services require customers to present “proof” of their identity online by presenting scanned copies of important documents, such as passports, utility bills, or diplomas. But these requests don’t really prove anything, as there are a number of online services that will happily forge these documents quite convincingly for a small fee.
Rap Sheets on Top Software Vendors
A new online resource aims to make it easier to gauge the relative security risk of using different types of popular software, such as Web browsers and media players.
What You Should Know About History Sniffing
Researchers have discovered that dozens of Web sites are using simple Javascript tricks to snoop into visitors’ Web browsing history. While these tricks are nothing new, they are in the news again, so it’s a good time to remind readers about ways to combat this sneaky behavior.
Cable: No Cyber Attack in Brazilian ’09 Blackout
The Nov. 2009 blackout that plunged millions of Brazilians into darkness for up to six hours was not the result of cyber saboteurs, but instead an unusual confluence of independent factors that conspired to cause a cascading power failure, according to a classified cable from the U.S. embassy in Brazil.
FBI Identifies Russian ‘Mega-D’ Spam Kingpin
FBI investigators have identified a 23-year-old Russian man as the mastermind behind the notorious “Mega-D” botnet, a network of spam-spewing PCs that once accounted for roughly a third of all spam sent worldwide.
According to public court documents related to an ongoing investigation, a grand jury probe has fingered Moscow resident Oleg Nikolaenko as the author and operator of the Mega-D botnet.
Cybercrime Untouchables?
The text above was the lead for a story published April 3, 2006 in The New York Times. It described Zo0mer as a “kingpin” of the criminal underworld market for stolen identities and credit cards.
What’s remarkable is how — almost four years later — Zo0mer’s business is now stronger than ever.
Shopping Online? Know Thy Seller
This time of year, it seems like everyone has a guide on how to shop safely online. Most of these tip sheets focus on ways to spot insecure Web sites and harden your computer against data-stealing malware, but it’s equally important to research the reputation of the merchant before it’s too late.
Spear Phishing Attacks Snag E-mail Marketers
Criminals have been conducting complex, targeted e-mail attacks against employees at more than 100 e-mail service providers (ESPs) over the past several months in a bid to hijack computers at companies that market directly to customers of some of the world’s largest corporations, anti-spam experts warn.
The attacks are a textbook example of how organized thieves can abuse trust relationships between companies to access important resources that are then recycled in future attacks.
Escrow Co. Sues Bank Over $440K Cyber Theft
An escrow firm in Missouri is suing its bank to recover $440,000 that organized cyber thieves stole in an online robbery earlier this year, claiming the bank’s reliance on passwords to secure high-dollar transactions failed to measure up to federal e-banking security guidelines.
