Latest Mobile and Wireless Security News

European navy deploys Maritime Boarding system to stamp out the threat of Somali Pirates
posted on 27/02/2009

The International Maritime Bureau recently released its annual piracy report confirming the increase in piracy around the world, and particularly a 200% increase off the coast of Africa where there were 111 attacks reported last year, with 49 vessels hijacked. These include the high profile Faina, which has a cargo of T-72 tanks, the Saudi owned supertanker, the Sirius Star, recently released for an undisclosed ransom. This is a very serious issue, not just for ships and their cargo, but for the crew. In 2008 nearly 900 crew members were taken hostage, 32 sailors injured, 11 killed and 21 missing, presumed dead. In January 2009 alone 3 vessels in the region have been hijacked and there have been nearly 20 reports of attacks in the region. A European navy has recently deployed a Maritime Boarding system which has been developed by Systematic of Denmark with UK based IT security consultancy firm - Global Secure Systems (GSS), and Rajant Corporation of the USA to stamp out the threat of... [more]

Outbound Internet connections must be as tightly secured as inbound connections
posted on 27/02/2009

Companies should apply the same stringent security controls to information leaving their network as they do to inbound information. Over the last two months, Network Box has seen a significant increase in requests from companies seeking help with blocking applications such as Skype or MSN, in order to prevent a security breach. But the problem with blocking an application is that it will often find a way through a firewall – either using ‘tunnelling’ software, or by searching through all available ports until it finds one open. As a result, companies are advised to apply the same controls to outbound connections as to inbound, by configuring firewalls to block all outbound connections except those to secure proxies, forcing all web access through a gateway security system. This ensures web access complies with company policy, which can be adapted to suit individual users with specific business requirements. This approach will have little or no impact on the end user but has a huge... [more]

Webroot provides its Email Security SaaS solution to The Ritz London
posted on 26/02/2009

With its impeccable reputation for quality since it was built in 1906, The Ritz, based on Piccadilly in London, demands the same high quality standards of service from its suppliers. Webroot has been chosen by The Ritz London to provide its Email Security SaaS solution. Richard Isted, IT Manager at the hotel chose Webroot for the high service levels, effective spam filtering and ease of use. “We communicated our specific needs to Webroot,” Isted said. “We were looking for a bespoke solution to protect 120 email users and to deal efficiently with an increasing number of web-based guest reservations. We wanted better integration, superior usability and more comprehensive reporting – all of which we now get with Webroot.” The Ritz benefits from a 24/7 Business Continuity Service which was added as an optional feature to Webroot’s basic email security service. Isted explains, “Clearly, a 24/7 hour operation such as a hotel requires reliable, round the clock email and web security as we... [more]

Organisations must address Generation Y changes to avoid data loss problems
posted on 25/02/2009

The technological advances in business communications over recent years have been truly astounding. In less than 20 years companies have gone from predominantly physical post and fax-based organisations, to a state where these tools are almost obsolete. There are now over 62 billion emails sent on a daily basis, backed up by an ever-growing array of new online communication tools. The rise of the internet from a simple novelty to the beating heart and nervous system of the business world has catalysed this trend alongside the much debated Generation Y. Company employees now have more communication tools at their disposal than ever before. But many businesses are yet to fully understand the shifting communication landscape, leaving them highly vulnerable in terms of information security. Recently the rate of growth in new communication tools and device advancement seems to have increased at an almost exponential pace. Each new generation entering the workplace now has its own idiosyncras... [more]

ShadowSurfing is the single biggest threat to pupil safety online
posted on 25/02/2009

The term ShadowSurfing refers to the act of using a web-based tool or online community to bypass web filters in order to access banned material. By using programs like UltraSurf an increasing number of students are breaking through school security and masking their illicit surfing behind legitimate web addresses. Where browsing is uncontrolled, children are not protected and schools are powerless to stop cyberbullying and other Internet misuse. Some proxy tools also help Trojans, worms and other malware to sneak into school networks undetected. Schools need to improve their online protection following a national survey which found that secondary students are at greater risk than ever before. 85% of the school IT staff who took part in SmoothWall's survey said that Internet abuse was now the number one IT problem for schools, with 70% of respondents pointing to ShadowSurfing (also known as anonymous proxy abuse) as the single biggest threat to pupil safety online. Although ShadowSurfin... [more]

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