Microsoft has released a one-click “fix-it” workaround to help Internet Explorer users block malware attacks against an unpatched browser vulnerability.The Fix-It workaround, available here, effectively disables peer factory in the iepeers.dll binary in affected versions of Internet Explorer.
By Andrew StormsEvery month, like clockwork, Microsoft releases security bulletins and every month people ask me if it’s small or a big release. While the exact details of the patches are generally treated as news, the expected workload each month really shouldn’t be a guessing game because Microsoft’s patch releases are predictably cyclical.
The Public Interest Registry will add an extra layer of security known
as DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) to the .org domain
in June — a move that will protect millions of non-profit
organizations and their donors from hacking attacks known as cache
poisoning. Read the full article. [Network World]
The March issue of Information Security magazine is out this week. The cover story is a look at how security information management systems need to evolve, in particular by integrating identity management with SIM in order to tie policy violations to user activity. Also, expert Andrew Jaquith writes about how to measure meaningful information security metrics. Finally, editor Marcia Savage takes on the HITECH Act’s impact on HIPAA and how health care organizations must up their security game. Download the issue here [PDF]
Humza Zaman, a co-conspirator in the hack of TJX and other companies,
was sentenced Thursday in Boston to 46 months in prison and fined
$75,000 for his role in the conspiracy. The sentence matches what
prosecutors were seeking. Read the full article. [Wired]
The takedown of 100 servers used to control Zeus-related botnets may
be a short-lived victory, security researchers said after discovering
that about a third of the orphaned channels were able to regain
connectivity in less than 48 hours. The resurrection of at least 30 command and control channels came
after their ISP found a new upstream provider to
provide connectivity to the outside world, autonomous system records
showed. Read the full article. [The Register]
A network frequently used for malware delivery was shut down Wednesday night, probably against the will of its operators. Troyak.org, an Internet service provider well-known for
serving Zeus botnets and other malware delivery methods, went dark
overnight, resulting in the shutdown of as many as 25 percent of the
world’s Zeus botnets, according to researchers. Read the full article. [Dark Reading]
New capabilities are strengthening the ZeuS botnet,
which criminals use to steal financial credentials and execute
unauthorized transactions in online banking, automated clearing house
(ACH) networks and payroll systems. The latest version of this
cybercrime toolkit offers a $10,000
module that can let attackers completely take control of a compromised
PC. Read the full article. [Network World]
Apple has shipped a new version of its Safari browser to plug multiple serious security vulnerabilities.The Safari 4.0.5 update, available for Mac OS X and Windows, fixes flaws that could lead to remote code execution if a user is tricked into surfing to a maliciously rigged Web site.
In this wide ranging interview, cryptographer, Taher Elgamal, chief
security officer of Axway Inc. and initial driving
force behind SSL, explains how applications may be better adapted to
defend against attacks and how cloud computing may alter data
protection and authentication. Read the full article. [TechTarget]
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