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4:33
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Security Fix
Last week, Security Fix published an analysis of Atrivo, a California based Internet service provider, also known as Intercage, that has proven to be a virtual magnet for cyber-criminal operations. Since that time, Atrivo's biggest network backbone provider decided it could no longer support the company, and stopped offering it direct connectivity. I first got wind of this change while reading a post on the NANOG mailing list, which caters to professionals employed by ISPs...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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20:25
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Security Fix
The number of PCs compromised with software that lets cyber criminals control the machines from afar has more than quadrupled over the last quarter, security experts warn. The estimates come from Shadowserver, a group of volunteers that monitor activity from robot networks or "botnets," large armies of hacked personal computers used for spam, phishing and all kinds of criminal activity. Shadowserver saw a rise from roughly 100,000 botted PCs to about 400,000 over the past...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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20:13
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Security Fix
A new security add-on for the latest version of Firefox is available to help users make better sense of a controversial new feature of Firefox 3 that blocks users from visiting a Web site when the browser detects a problem with the site's security certificate. The "Perspectives" add-on for Firefox 3, developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, tries to help users make more informed decisions about what to do when the browser warns about...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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21:18
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Security Fix
The FBI is warning people not to be disturbed by an e-mail scam that threatens your life and orders you to pay up to avoid being the target of a hired hit man. The FBI said its Internet Crime Complaint Center continues to receive thousands of reports concerning the hit man e-mail scheme. The FBI notes that while the content of the missive has evolved since similar hit man scams first surfaced in late 2006,...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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19:22
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Security Fix
Last week, I examined a series of Web services that make profiting from cyber crime a point-and-click exercise that even the most novice hackers can master. Today, I'd like to highlight the activities of Atrivo, a Concord, Calif., based network provider that hosts some of these services. Several noted security researchers are releasing a report today that stems from many months of investigating malicious activity emanating from Atrivo's customers. Security experts say that Atrivo, also...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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20:24
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Security Fix
The Bush administration has ordered all federal agencies to adopt new measures to shore up the security of government Web sites, setting a January 2009 deadline for implementing the changes across all dot-gov domains. Agencies will be required to roll out domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC), a set of security add-ons for the domain name system. DNS is a fundamental piece of the Internet infrastructure that acts as a kind of distributed Internet phone...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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6:33
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Security Fix
Spammers have made great strides this past year in defeating CAPTCHAs, the distorted text used as a security test to ensure a person and not a machine is behind a computer screen. But automated programs that spammers use to thwart CAPTCHAs still aren't nearly as successful as the practice of hiring thousands of people to do nothing but remotely solve the puzzles for clients. This is the business model behind anti-captcha.com, a subscription service that...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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6:44
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Security Fix
The allure of cyber crime lies in its promise of quick riches, much like that of the illegal drug trade. But building a network of hacked personal computers that can distribute your data-stealing malicious software is a time-consuming process that requires a modicum of skill. That is, until recently, when several online services have emerged that promise to help would-be cyber crooks graduate from common street dealers to distributors overnight. Such is the aim of...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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20:28
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Security Fix
Opera has released a software update that fixes at least seven security vulnerabilities in the Web browser program. Users may be prompted to update when they first launch the browser. Alternatively, Opera surfers can simply select "Help" and "Check for New Release." Opera 9.52 corrects a number of bugs in addition to the security problems. You can read more about what's included in the update on Opera's Web site. I've been trying to split more...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.
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6:50
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Security Fix
For businesses, positively identifying someone online - by name, or physical location - is extremely difficult. Many Internet firms seek to verify the identity of customers by requesting scanned copies of their driver's licenses, passports, or utility bills. But what if services aimed at creating counterfeit versions of these documents became widespread? How long would businesses continue to rely on this method of identification? Unfortunately, there are several such services. Among the most active is...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.