Security

Forcing someone into bed is a crime. So are inappropriate relations between a child and an adult. That's obvious, right? But, what happens when these actions take place online in the fantasy world of a massive multiplayer video game? That's the ... question authorities in Germany and Belgium are trying to answer right now. This virtual den of iniquity is known as "Second Life". But, to be fair, the game does not promote or encourage this kind of activity. Alas, freedom given inevitably becomes freedom abused. The problem: no physical crimes were actually committed and no children were really ... (view more)

Thank security software gurus McAfee for confirming what most of us had come to believe: searching on the Internet can be dangerous to your computer's health. The company recently launched a survey under its "SiteAdvisor" division, and some of the ... results are startling. According to McAfee, searches for the following: "digital music", "tech toys", and "to do online" returned some very shady websites. McAfee says that between 35% to as many as half of the domains popping up with these search terms are considered "risky", whether entered into Google, Yahoo!, MSN, or any other search engine. As ... (view more)

Independent security tests performed by CRN.com suggests that Windows Vista is only marginally more secure than Windows XP. CRN spent a week testing both operating systems against various Trojans, viruses and various exploits. The tests were ... performed with Windows Vista Business on an HP Compaq 6515b notebook with Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and an HP Compaq nc6400 with Windows XP with Internet Explorer 6 (IE6), both using the default security features and settings. Finjan's RUSafe sniffer tool (a security tool that sniffs live traffic and generates logs that can be analyzed to help protect you ... (view more)

Imagine you walked out to the front step tomorrow morning, clad in bathrobe, boxers, and scruffy slippers, only to find a note with the message "I'm going to kill you." Now, imagine that same sentiment came in the form of a personal email. Is there ... a difference? Most long-time users of the web and electronic mail would be hard-pressed to consider both mediums in the same manner. Although it takes some backbone and effort to leave a note like that on someone's porch, doing so via email isn't quite as personal. Regardless, the "Killer Spam" that is now finding its way into electronic mailboxes ... (view more)

If you have Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003, 95, 98, or NT, beware! Symantec has identified a new Trojan Horse aimed at snatching credit card details. Once the Trojan has made its way onto your system (via an infected email, for example), The ... Windows-reactivation Trojan, known as "Trojan.Kardphisher," appears as a message from Microsoft with the headline "Microsoft Piracy Control." It tells the user that their current copy of Windows has been activated by another user and must be reactivated before it can be used again. It gives the user two options: reactivate Windows over the Internet ... (view more)

The United States federal government is in the midst of unveiling their latest defense mechanism against chemical, biological and/or radiological attacks... the common cell phone. Officials at Homeland Security have revealed that these new cell ... phones are equipped with detectors that would direct emergency responders to locations where harmful toxins and other biological agents have been released. While yet to be tested, many experts believe that cell phones could change the way chemical, biological and radiation detection and response is handled. The U.S. government has invested billions of ... (view more)

International hackers have reportedly been targeting American federal agency computers, stealing as much data as possible, and assuming control of PC files. While this appears to be a very difficult and sophisticated endeavor to accomplish, ... international spies are simply using the same method that domestic hackers implement on a smaller scale: corrupt Microsoft Office files. The actual virus is sent via email attachment and when government officials unwittingly open these Word, Excel or PowerPoint files, they relinquish control of their entire PC. The attacker then uses the PC as a base from ... (view more)

We've known for a long time that Microsoft is the most powerful software company in the world. If it's a desktop or laptop PC, in all likelihood it's running a Windows operating system -- or any number of other programs crafted by the Redmond-based ... company. Over the course of a year, Microsoft has also began to dabble in security, most notably with the release of its Windows Live OneCare. Although the program has been criticized at times for loopholes, it appears MS is serious about building out this new venture. That's becoming more and more apparent, especially with the recent establishment ... (view more)

One of the rising technologies right now is Skype, a peer-to-peer telephone network devised by the same entrepreneurs behind the now decrepit Kazaa. But, don't be too alarmed; although peer-to-peer and Kazaa have both become dirty terms in the ... security vocabulary, Skype is a rather safe (and in many cases, cheap) and effective way of reaching friends long distance. However, Skype grows in popularity, so too do the threats, including a recent instant messaging worm that has spread its way to a few unlucky users. The recent issue hitting Skype's instant messaging service isn't much different ... (view more)

"Protected Mode provides the safety of a robust Internet browsing experience while helping prevent hackers from taking over the system and installing programs or deleting your information." At least, that's what the Windows Vista web site and all ... the commercials tell you. The problem is, you're not as protected as you thought you were. According to Microsoft, users with Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) in Windows Vista are better protected from malicious web exploits than users with IE7 in Windows XP -- all thanks to the introduction of Vista's Protected Mode. With Protected Mode enabled on a ... (view more)