November 13, 2009
Update covering November 6 - 12, 2009
Welcome to Tech Talk! In this edition, Tech Talk Editors Andy Zavoina and John Burnett write about cooperation that's bringing an international hacker ring to justice, dropped child-porn charges, a takeover at Facebook, a gift from Google, and more.
Our selections from this week's tech news:
- Indictments in $9 million hack
- Getting comfy with the Internet
- Infected PC — porn charges dropped
- Have social networks killed email?
- Mobile business account management
- Risks for jailbroken smartphones
- A benevolent takeover at Facebook
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- Microsoft patches bugs
- An untouched bug in Win 7
- Bugs in the Apples
- Holiday wireless gifts
- Putting your stamp on Win 7
- Android phone pros and cons
- and on the lighter side...
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Get the details below.
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Join
Andy Zavoina
in a 2-hour
LIVE Webinar
Wednesday,
November 18th
Speedier Lending with e-Disclosures
Lending disclosures are more burdensome now than ever before. To get through these requirements as quickly and cost effectively as possible, you may consider turning to electronic disclosures. In this webinar we'll review the requirements of E-Sign what you can do to comply. We'll follow through with examples of how these requirements impact your disclosures for approved and denied loans.
Can't attend?
Order the CD ROM of the program now.
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Payment Card Industry Data Security Policy Template
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On the lighter side ...
Tired of having your lunch stolen from the fridge in the break room? This may be an answer. With 15 hours of recording time, you'll be sure to see who swiped your PB&J. Oh, ignore that "Classic" is misspelled. Gizmodo has your crime-fighting tools.
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8 indicted in multi-million dollar hack-theft
RBS WorldPay is a credit card processor that was hacked last year. $9 million was stolen last November and eight individuals have been indicted for the crime a year later. A PCWorld article explains the sophisticated hacking techniques used and how the stolen information was converted to cash. The PCW Business Center has the details.
A Wired article explains more on how the RBS WorldPay hackers worked with a cadre of 44 mercenaries to systematically steal more than $9 million through ATMs in 280 cities around the world in less than half a day.
Feeling better about using the Net
The Unisys Security Index: Global Summary reported on a survey of 8,000 people in more than eight countries. Privacy and security concerns are lower than they were a year ago, including fears associated with Internet banking. While we do want users to feel secure, we don't want them to be complacent. NetworkWorld has the details.
Innocent by reason of infection
Yet another reason to keep all anti-virus software up to date can be found in this article. Child porn can be added to a computer via a virus. The real users of that porn could use your machine to store their illegal files. It took a computer forensic expert to clear Michael Fiola. Read more about Fiola's exoneration and why law enforcement is usually skeptical of accused pedophiles' claims of innocence, at MSNBC.
Is email dead?
This story takes you to a four minute video that asks the question, "Is email dead?" With increase use of Facebook and other social networking less email is being sent by a demographic you may be seeking out. Is it time to recognize the huge growth of the social networking phenomenon and redirect some of your marketing efforts? Check out smartplanet for the video.
Commercial smartphone app
Many Smartphone apps for banking are targeted at the consumer. Wells Fargo has just released a new iPhone app designed for commercial customers. "CEO Mobile" allows iPhone-equipped business customers to monitor their accounts, approve payments, review intraday activity and more. Read more on this at Yahoo Finance.
Real worm for a smartphone
Apple's iPhone is very popular and its use is growing in the corporate environment. Australian users of jailbroken iPhones have reported a real worm being circulated. Apple has long maintained that jailbreaking an iPhone to add third party programs defeats some security measures. Read more on this worm at Sophos.com.
Don't think for a minute that these attacks are nothing to worry about. If your iPhone is jailbroken, you could be at risk. Intego, a security vendor from Austin reports your data can be stolen. CIO has this story.
Facebook lost control
"Control Your Info" is an anonymous group flexing its muscle with Facebook. To drive home its message about a significant Facebook weakness, this group took control of hundreds of Facebook groups. Facebook maintains that no confidential information was exposed. Read more on this incident at CNet News.
Patch Tuesday 15, bugs 0
Microsoft had a slow patch month. There were only six patches for 15 vulnerabilities in Windows, Word, Excel and other applications. This article explains more of the bugs repaired and emphasizes the critical patch users need to make sure they apply. Read more at eWeek.
It is really recommended that you apply MS09-065. Networkworld has more on why that patch ought to get prompt attention.
Win 7 bugged
If you are upgrading computers to Windows 7 and you believe you don't have to worry about patches yet -- wrong. While there were no Windows 7 patches released this week, Microsoft is looking into a vulnerability in the Server Message Block that can crash a computer. Code execution is not possible, but read more on the risks at TechWorld.
Check Processing Change Reminder
Check processing at the Federal Reserve's Los Angeles branch is being transferred to the Fed office in Cleveland effective tomorrow, November 14. If you haven't already taken care of making any needed changes to your routing number tables for funds availability or other purposes, now is the time to get them done.
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Bugs trigger Apple patch
Apple provided 58 fixes for bugs in their operating system and software this week. 32 of those repaired were identified as bugs that could allow code to be executed on the Mac. Mac OS X has 37 of these patches. QuickTime had four critical vulnerabilities patched as well. Read more on this at NetworkWorld.
Free wireless
Are you or an executive traveling this holiday season? Google has a gift for you — free wireless in airports for the holiday season. You can read more about this offer and see which airports are included at ZDNet.
But wait, there is more of the same (sort of) this season — from Microsoft and Yahoo. Check out their wireless beneficence at PCWorld.
Make sure that your use of free holiday Wi-Fi doesn't connect with a Grinch. Public Wi-Fi comes with risks. Check out this blog entry by Jeff Bortolucci at PCWorld to help keep your public Wi-Fi risks under control.
Win 7 tips and tricks
Windows 7 is the new kid on the block. It is getting pretty good reviews, too. But what good is a system if you can't play with it? This article provides you with 20 tips and tricks so that you can flex some virtual muscle and use some international themes, modify the User Account Controls to reduce pesky warnings, and more. Computerworld has the descriptions and instructions.
These aren't the Droids you are looking for
He may not have "The Force" behind him, but Computerworld's Galen Gruman is telling his readers that the Motorola Droid and the HTC Droid Eris (both on the Verizon network) are not ready for business. Between security shortcomings and a lack of Exchange ActiveSync, these are not the droids you are looking for, says Gruman. Read his analysis in Computerworld. Not everyone is down on the Droid; check out PCWorld for its take on the Droid's features.
On the topic of cell phones, did you know Nokia is recalling 14 million chargers? eWeek has more on this shocking story.
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