Privacy, Security Archive

Security used to be as simple as a solid lock on a solid door, a safe in the back room and perhaps even a retired police officer out front (if you were really serious). But the modern business looks at security, and threats to security in a whole different light. Security of information, systems and networks are now just as important as, and often integrated with, shop-front security. read more

Mobile security is a hot issue, but who is listening? The mere word 'security' sends most people running. Investing in preventative IT security has never been a very popular topic. It often needs a competitor or an organisation itself to become a victim of crime before senior executives sit up and listen. read more

Microsoft has taken alot of heat for the security issues that surround its Windows operating systems, but they should not be the only ones taken the heat for Windows security. There are other parties out there that deserve to shoulder some of the blame with Microsoft. This editorial, originally written for a Communication Security course, tries to take an objective view of who is exactly to blame for what in the perceive mess that is Windows security.

A report released today indicates Windows Server 2003 may actually be more secure than its most popular Linux competitor when it comes to vulnerabilities and the time it takes to patch them.

Removable media devices are here to stay. Their ease of use and low cost have made them ubiquitous in the work environment – but at what price? In this article we look at the pro’s and con’s of removable media, and the steps IT managers can take to mitigate the security risks associated with them.

The Least Privilege Model in Solaris 10 allows for finegrained management of process and user privileges within Solaris 10. Amy Rich has written a nice introduction for Sun's bigadmin website.

The IT industry isn’t as boring and technically obsessed as many outsiders believe. Viruses and malicious hacker threats in particular have been increasingly sensationalised in the popular press, squeezing the issues gradually into the public consciousness.

A Windows computer without the latest security patches is in big trouble. That's the conclusion from a "honey pot" experiment conducted by StillSecure, a Louisville network security firm. StillSecure attached six computers - loaded with different versions of the Windows, Linux and Apple's Macintosh operating systems - earlier this month to the Internet without anti-virus software. The results show the Internet is a very rough place.

An encryption standard widely used in digitally signing documents and programs has a flaw in it that could allow for the creation of forgeries, sources said Wednesday.

Microsoft's Security Chief says that Windows is safer than Linux. Mike Nash made the comments while stressing that the company is making progress on security. He compared vulnerabilities in Windows with those in Red Hat or SuSE Linux. Update: Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy for Microsoft in the UK has claimed that 'Linux is not ready for mission critical computing.'

If you've used Linux for a long time, you're probably quite familiar with file permissions. Indeed, managing permissions is a critical part of managing a Linux system. In general, you should provide minimal access whenever possible. Every user (or group) should have just enough permissions and no more.

As I have browsed this site and others like it, I have often seen comments like "The only way to secure a Windows box is to not connect it to the Internet!" and "How can you stand to use Windows when you have to run tons of apps such as spyware removers and spend hours trying to keep it secure?" Some people have even gone as far as to say that it is literally impossible to secure Windows. Well, I'm here to tell you that not only is it possible, it's actually quite trivial! It requires very little effort and you can do it without running a buttload of security apps and without spending a dime.

Many of you have new computers in your homes, but how many of you realize that this computer is already vulnerable? How can this be? How can a brand new computer be vulnerable? Read this article and find out more.

A senior Microsoft executive, speaking exclusively to vnunet.com, has dismissed Linux's reputation as a secure platform as a "myth", claiming that the open source development process creates fundamental security problems.