Latest Mobile and Wireless Security News

Children have little understanding of Internet security
posted on 17/03/2009

According to research by Global Secure Systems (GSS), pupils are using their PCs at home for two main reasons: online chatting and downloading and sharing music. However, 40 percent admit that they have chat buddies who they do not know in real life, and half admit using peer-to-peer software (P2P) to download music illegally. The findings reveal that many pupils are putting themselves, their friends, their parents and their parents' corporate networks at risk as their behaviour online is exposing them to a whole myriad of threats. 20 percent of pupils confessed to having their computers infected by a virus after using P2P software. This may be contributing to many of the virus attacks within the business environment, as parents unwittingly spread the viruses to their work computers through emails and removable media (such as USBs or CD-ROMs). Kevin Gourlay, CISSP, head of consultancy at GSS and a volunteer for (ISC)2’s Safe & Secure school outreach programme said, “A large perce... [more]

WatchGuard creates secure encrypted VPN mobile connections for NHS North Lincolnshire clinicians
posted on 17/03/2009

NHS North Lincolnshire clinicians now have instant access to vital patient information at the point of care on portable Panasonic Toughbooks, using a local wireless Wi-Fi connection or over mobile GPRS or 3G links. Based on WatchGuard Edge UTM (Unified Threat Management) appliances, NHS North Lincolnshire has created a totally secure virtual infrastructure across 109 sites that treats both fixed and wireless devices in the same way. Remote users have the same access to authorised data and applications as if they were logged into a desktop PC, while the IT team can manage all fixed and mobile devices centrally. The WatchGuard appliances create secure encrypted VPN (Virtual Private Network) mobile connections to ensure the data is always protected, while Radius servers handle the user authentication. "The initial pilot schemes have proved extremely successful and have demonstrated the major benefits of mobile working," said Darren McKay, the Network Manager for NHS North Lincolnshire w... [more]

Alcatel-Lucent partners with BT Global Services to secure data on mobile employees laptops
posted on 11/03/2009

Alcatel-Lucent has announced a strategic relationship with BT Global Services. The relationship will enable BT Global Services to deliver advanced protection for data held on laptop computers, based on Alcatel-Lucent’s laptop security technology, which virtually eliminates the risk of a mobile data breach by allowing organisations to remotely secure, monitor, manage and locate mobile computers. Alcatel-Lucent’s technology ensures that if a laptop is reported lost or stolen, all data held on the device can be immediately and automatically destroyed, even if the computer is turned off. It also enables organisations to take remote control of any laptop in order to apply security patches or track its location. “With any remote access solution, security is paramount. Using Alcatel-Lucent’s laptop protection technology, we can ensure that BT MobileXpress customers’ laptop data is always secure and manageable, and if machines are lost or stolen, that data is inaccessible to unauthorise... [more]

Salvation Army protects integrity of its data with Lumension Data Protection solution
posted on 10/03/2009

The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of social care in the UK, being ssecond only to the Government. The Salvation Army has staff working across the country in a range of drug addiction centres, elderly care homes and Salvation Army centres. A centrally managed endpoint security solution was required to support its 2,000 endpoints and 2,500 staff. Martin Croft, Head of Corporate Systems at The Salvation Army, explains how Lumension’s Data Protection solution allowed his team to more easily and effectively manage the organisation’s IT network without having to physically visit each site. Croft commented that Lumension’s technology gives his team the advantage of auditing all data that is uploaded or downloaded from authorised USBs. This makes it much easier to audit for data protection and compliance; it also allows for more accurate insight into the data that is being transferred on and off the network. “By deploying Lumension’s technology, we have been able to buy o... [more]

Enhanced security with packet filtering and analysis protects the Thai Technology Institute network from threats
posted on 02/03/2009

King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) is a premier institution that promotes science and technology education and drives research and development in order to support the industrial and economic development of Thailand. In 1981, the school established a Computer Research and Service Center (CRSC) to enable the institute to leverage computers for its administration and operations. The CRSC later became a full-fledged unit, providing consultation, system administration, and helpdesk services to all faculty. The CRSC is also responsible for the campus network that enables students, professors, and researchers, as well as external users from the government and private sector, to access resources for training and research. The KMITL network currently supports about 20,000 users. As the number of users grew, the KMITL network was challenged to provide secure remote connections for users accessing the campus network. The CRSC considered implementing a VPN, yet software h... [more]

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