Panda Security Offers Guidance to SMBs for Combating Concerns About Authenticity, Privacy and Security With Social Media

February 26, 2011 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

Tips provide guidance for SMBs as they integrate social media strategies into their core businesses

Panda Security is providing guidance to small-to-medium sized businesses on ways to safely and securely integrate social media strategies into their businesses. After conducting its 1st Annual Social Media Risk Index for SMBs last September, Panda Security discovered that 78 percent use social networking sites to support research and competitive intelligence, improve customer service, drive public relations and marketing initiatives and directly generate revenue. However, corporate social media strategies and security policies usually overlook crisis management plans to face the challenges posed by social media, and authenticity, security and privacy continue to be of utmost concern.

Authenticity

Protecting brand or digital identity should be a priority for all businesses, but in reality, neither the top social media platforms nor companies themselves seem to pay much attention to it. The fact that anybody can create a fake online profile in the name of a real business means that people can speak on behalf of a company without having anything to do with it. This could lead to the creation of communities of users tricked into believing that a corporate account is authentic. It could also lead to publication of information that could damage the brand and result in public relations disasters. Read more

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Spyware Compromises 150,000+ Symbian Devices

February 24, 2011 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

A new variant of spyware “Spy.Felxispy” on Symbian devices causing privacy leakage has recently been captured by the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre of China. According to NetQin Mobile Inc., a global leader in mobile security service, there are more than a dozen variants of the spyware since the first was spotted, and the latest has affected 150,000+ devices.

Once installed, the spyware will turn on the Conference Call feature of the device without users’ awareness. When users are making phone calls, the spyware automatically adds itself to the call to monitor the conversation. “The Conference Call feature allows more than two parties to join a conversation, and it’s easily available to most smart-phone users. The privacy stealers exploit the vulnerability of this feature for financial purposes. The privacy protection on mobile devices becomes more important than ever,” said Dr. Zou Shihong, Vice President of R&D from NetQin.

NetQin Cloud Security Centre detects that the spyware can remotely turn on the speaker on the phone to monitor sounds around users without the users’ awareness. Apart from that, the spyware is also capable of synchronizing the messages the user received and delivered to the monitoring phone. These performances will compromise users’ privacy.

According to NetQin, the privacy stealers usually install the spyware on the phone or send MMS containing the spyware to users to lure them to click. As the spyware is artfully disguised, users will easily be trapped.

NetQin warns that smart-phone users are exposed to more mobile security threats than ever and users should always be cautious whenever performing operations on their mobile devices. To stay safe, NetQin experts give the following tips in using your phone: Read more

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Microsoft and T-Systems Join Forces in Innovative Cloud Mega-Project for Shell

February 21, 2011 · Filed Under Productivity Software, Software News · Comment 

Microsoft and T-Systems have signed a major five-year deal that will allow Shell employees to work together online globally.

Shell will buy SharePoint services dynamically via the internet to increase flexibility at work and to reduce costs.

Shell is already using SharePoint as a collaboration platform.  With a target date of April 2011, T-Systems is now preparing to provide Shell employees a customized version of the Microsoft SharePoint solution virtually, from its own data center.  Doing so will take Shell staff to the next level of collaboration, by offering an enterprise-wide capability to work virtually in the cloud from anywhere at any time.

“For us as a globally operating company, SharePoint is a key instrument for smooth cooperation in projects with decentralized teams. This joint solution will allow us to appreciate considerable cost reductions and greater flexibility,” said Shell’s VP IT Services Jay Crotts.

Microsoft and T-Systems are working jointly on the project, with Microsoft SharePoint providing a central platform for various applications such as document and content management as well as organization and collaboration in project work.

Reinhard Clemens, member of the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management and CEO of T-Systems said, “This is a significant addition to our current contract and puts Shell at the forefront of innovation by combining the data security features of private clouds with the benefits of fully scalable public clouds.”

“Microsoft and T-Systems are now bringing together their strengths in SharePoint for Shell. It is highly significant for us that Shell, one of our largest SharePoint customers, is now receiving the application in a hybrid cloud, thus putting them at the top of the innovation tree in this area,” said Jan Piet van Roon, Global Client Director for Shell at Microsoft.

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Five Teams Advance to Finals in National Cyber Competition

February 19, 2011 · Filed Under Software News · Comment 

After four exciting rounds of competition and nearly five months of preparation, five All Service teams have advanced to the finals of CyberPatriot III, the nation’s largest high school cyber defense competition.

Today, CyberPatriot concluded its two-day semifinal round for the competition’s All Service Division – comprised of Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons – at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, where 12 teams competed for the five spots in the finals.

Congratulations to the advancing teams:

  • Ramona High School, Navy JROTC, Ramona, Calif.
  • Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Marine JROTC, Fitchburg, Mass.
  • Clearfield High School, Air Force JROTC, Clearfield, Utah
  • Buena High School, Army JROTC, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
  • Orlando Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, Orlando, Fla. Read more

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Norton 360 Version 5.0 Ranks First in Protection and Performance

February 17, 2011 · Filed Under Security Software, Software News · Comment 

Newest Version of the Fastest and Lightest All-in-One Security Suite Offers Consumers Powerful Defense Against Cybercrime

As evidenced by the new Norton Cybercrime Index, which launched today and tracks and warns people about cybercrime risks, online crime takes place daily all over the world. Last year, Symantec discovered 286 million distinct threats, an average of nine new threats every second, targeting consumer, corporate and government computers. Given the massive growth in threats, consumers need the strongest, most comprehensive protection to defend their identity, their computer, and their most important files when they are searching, shopping, banking or socializing online. To give computer users the protection they need, Norton by Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) today launched Norton 360 version 5.0, the industry’s fastest, most effective all-in-one security suite.  In new independent lab tests, Norton 360 ranked first in both protection and performance.

“Consumers need more protection than ever as cybercriminals target every aspect of our increasingly digital lives,” said Janice Chaffin, group president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec. “We’ve designed the latest version of Norton 360 to give consumers an easy-to-use, all-in-one suite that provides the utmost protection and won’t slow down their PC.” Read more

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