Category Archives: Information Security

Phishing URLs at All-Time High

cybercrime

SC Magazine reports that MarkMonitor, an internet fraud and brand-protection vendor, has determined that the number of phishing URLs reached a record high during Q2 2009 with more than 150,000 phishing URLs being established – eclipsing the previous record set … Continue reading

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Disaster Recovery Plans for Small Businesses

fire

The New York Times has published a useful article on developing Disaster Recovery Plans for small businesses (and, I would assume, other organizations such as non-profits and government agencies). Too many small organizations are putting themselves and, in some cases, … Continue reading

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Crack Your Webmail Password for $33?

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The Washington Post has published an article about the continuing availability of password-cracking services as YourHackerz.com, piratecrackers.com and hack-mail.net. They advertise openly, and offer to crack the password of Web-based email systems as Gmail, Facebook, Yahoo, Hotmail, and AOL for … Continue reading

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Cost of a Single Security Breach – US$822,000

money

It’s often difficult to justify security measures because of the lack of realistic data regarding the cost of security incidents. After all, few organizations want to publicize their mistakes! But, from time-to-time, a snippet of information becomes available that enables … Continue reading

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Facebook Applications Have Holes – Lots of Them!

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DarkReading is carrying a report about research into Facebook security holes by a researcher known only as ‘theharmonyguy’. He/she is disclosing flaws that he/she has discovered in Facebook and the 3rd party applications that many people use. So far, he/she … Continue reading

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Data Exchanged Between Employees Could be a Security Breach

ssn

The Washington Post recently reported that an employee in the National Finance Center sent an Excel spreadsheet of employees’ personal information to a coworker in an unencrypted email. The Commerce Department sent a letter to all affected employees notifying them … Continue reading

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IBM 2009 Mid-Year Trend and Risk Report

ibmreport

If you’re responsible for developing computer security training, the 2009 Mid-Year Trend and Risk Report from IBM should be required reading.

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Social Engineering Attacks Still Alive and Well

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CNET News recently reported that the AT&T account of convicted hacker turned security consultant Kevin Mitnick had been breached for the second time. Reportedly, the hacker(s) simply called a representative at an AT&T store in Idaho and asked them to … Continue reading

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Fax Insecurity

fax

Recently, I was working on a Cosaint end-user awareness course about fax security – when it’s safe to use a fax, how to protect faxed information … But, as I worked on it, I became increasing convinced that it’s never … Continue reading

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CMS Recommendations for Complying with the HIPAA Security Awareness Training Requirements

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During 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) reviewed ten HIPAA covered entities (CEs) for their compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. They found that the CEs had problems in compliance … Continue reading

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