IT Security

Archive: 03-2012

• How effective is antivirus software on smartphones?

  Patrick Lambert looks at the limited usefulness of smartphone antivirus apps. Should you bother with it?

  Posted by Patrick Lambert | March 30, 2012, 9:54 AM PDT

• Attacked by Anonymous: How to defend against a denial-of-service

  Alfonso Barreiro witnessed an Anonymous-led attack firsthand. Here is a description of their primary weapons and the countermeasures that can be taken against them.

  Posted by Alfonso Barreiro | March 27, 2012, 6:48 AM PDT

• Mobile password managers: Cracking the security mechanisms

  Password managers for mobile devices are convenient. But are the cached passwords sufficiently protected? Michael Kassner asks two experts to explain the vulnerabilities.

  Posted by Michael Kassner | March 26, 2012, 8:07 AM PDT

• Putting passwords out to pasture: Identity behaviour vs. identity authentication

  Dominic Vogel writes that the days of relying on passwords, strong or otherwise, is an outdated security practice. What’s the next step?

  Posted by Dominic Vogel | March 20, 2012, 5:00 AM PDT

• Mozy online backup service: Privacy does matter

  Online backup services are enticing, but, how does one know if the data remains private — truly private? Michael Kassner takes a look at Mozy to see how it measures up.

  Posted by Michael Kassner | March 19, 2012, 7:27 AM PDT

• USCC report on China's cyber-espionage and -warfare capabilities

  Patrick Lambert breaks down the latest report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which rates China’s capabilities for cyber-espionage and warfare.

  Posted by Patrick Lambert | March 19, 2012, 6:00 AM PDT

• U.S. State Department switches to Chrome browser: Is it secure enough for you?

  Ian Hardenburgh looks at how Google has shored up security for its Chrome browser. What sets it apart from other browsers?

  Posted by Ian Hardenburgh | March 15, 2012, 11:03 AM PDT

• Hack networks in style with the Transparency Grenade and the Pwn Plug

  Patrick Lambert describes two innovative tools that can be used by pen testers — but also by those with more nefarious plans. Here are two gadgets IT pros should know about.

  Posted by Patrick Lambert | March 12, 2012, 9:36 AM PDT

• Locating cell-phone owners the non-GPS way

  Using GPS, a cell phone can be located within a few feet. So why are researchers concerned about locating a cell phone by its association with a specific cell tower?

  Posted by Michael Kassner | March 12, 2012, 7:11 AM PDT

• Infographic: Safe coding

  This infographic, courtesy of Veracode, shows a nifty snapshot of top application vulnerabilities, where they’re found, and other interesting coding security nuggets.

  Posted by Selena Frye | March 9, 2012, 7:47 AM PST