Security Matters Newsletter - January 2005

Social engineering - where the user is the weakest link

By Fran Howarth, Bloor Research

Anyone who has been hit by a computer virus will be doubly wary of unexpected e-mails in the future that may contain viruses. So why do people still keep clicking on attachments? Whatever security technology a company deploys, human nature will always be the weakest link in the chain.

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E-mail: Are we all too reliant on our new best friend?

by Robert Schifreen, SC Magazine

I was once of the opinion that e-mail was more reliable than snail mail, and that following up e-mail was unnecessary. Nowadays, I'm not so sure.

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Spyware - Profitware

By Kelly Martin, Content Editor for Symantec's independent online magazine, SecurityFocus

Some of the largest anti-virus companies have virtually ignored the spyware problem because there is no profit incentive for them to do otherwise. Meanwhile, spyware companies make millions.

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Corporate PCs 'riddled with spyware'

By John Leyden, The Register

Corporate systems are riddled with spyware, according to a study by an anti-spyware firm. Companies voluntarily using Webroot's Corporate SpyAudit tool had an average of 20 nasties per PC, Webroot reports.

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Phishers tapping botnets to automate attacks

By John Leyden, The Register

Computer criminals are making phishing more potent by automating attacks. Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) analysts reckon fraudsters are using automated tools and botnets to ramp up attacks. It estimates attacks grew by an average of 36 per cent a month between July and October.

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E-mail Security: Intelligence Report

January - June 2004

By Hytec and MessageLabs

The January - June 2004 report demonstrated an alarming trend in that, of the more than 5 billion e-mails scanned by MessageLabs in that period, 63% were identified as spam and 8.3% as carrying viruses.

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Hytec appointed as MessageLabs Certified Partner

By Hytec Information Security

During December 2004, Hytec was formally appointed as a Certified Partner by MessageLabs, the leading provider of managed e-mail security services.

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FirePass receives InfoWorld Approval

By Hytec Information Security

FirePass has just received the highest score of any SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network) product that InfoWorld has tested over the last year, including products from Juniper and Aventail. In fact the FirePass product is the only SSL VPN solution that has received an 'Excellent' rating by the InfoWorld Test Center (the highly respected US IT reviewer).

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Hytec launches BS7799 services portfolio

By Hytec Information Security

Hytec has launched the BS7799 Roadmap Service for senior and middle management who recognise the value of BS7799 certification but are unsure of how to start the process.

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