Linux News: Security

Friday - May 9, 2008

Gas prices are setting record highs, homeowners are facing foreclosure, the dollar's slipping further down a black hole, and the credit industry is collapsing. These are frustrating times -- and perhaps that's partly why "Grand Theft Auto IV" just set some new records for video game sales. The controversial title took in a half billion dollars in its opening week, with more than half of that haul coming on opening day. You've got to take out your economic frustrations somehow, and what better way than to plunk down 60 bucks for the chance to rampage through a simulated New York City. [More...]

Facebook Fences Off Bullies, Predators

Friday - May 9, 2008

Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, is adding more than 40 new safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyber-bullies under an agreement with officials nationwide that was announced Thursday. The measures include banning convicted sex offenders from the site and limiting older users' ability to contact subscribers under 18. [More...]

Trojan-Infected MP3s Have PC Users Singing the Blues

Friday - May 9, 2008

A new type of Trojan horse malware application is hiding inside fake MP3 media files, infecting approximately 500,000 consumer PCs, McAfee Avert Labs reported. The nefarious files have been delivered primarily on peer-to-peer networks during the last several days. The trojan, known as "Downloader-UA.h," was added to McAfee's DAT files about a week ago. [More...]

Internet Archive Wins David-and-Goliath Privacy Tussle With FBI

Thursday - May 8, 2008

The Internet Archive revealed Wednesday that the FBI dropped an effort to secretly obtain information about the online activities of one of the digital library's users. The Archive revealed that it had been served a National Security Letter by the FBI last year about one of its patrons. [More...]

Defunct TorrentSpy Slammed With $110M Judgment in MPAA Suit

Thursday - May 8, 2008

A federal judge in Los Angeles has awarded the MPAA $110 million in compensation from Valence Media, operator of the now-defunct file-sharing Web site TorrentSpy. U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper ordered Valence Media to pay $30,000 for each copyright infringement of nearly 3,700 movies and television programs that were downloaded. The MPAA took TorrentSpy to court in February 2006. [More...]

Hackers Bombard Epilepsy Site With Seizure-Inducing Images

Thursday - May 8, 2008

Computer attacks typically don't inflict physical pain on their victims. However, in a rare example of an attack apparently motivated by malice rather than money, hackers recently bombarded the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site with hundreds of pictures and links to pages with rapidly flashing images. The breach triggered severe migraines and near-seizure reactions in some site visitors who viewed the images. [More...]

Yahoo, McAfee Team to Guide Searchers Through Web Minefield

Tuesday - May 6, 2008

Yahoo is working with Web security technology specialist McAfee to alert users about potentially risky Web sites. The companies launched the beta version of the SearchScan service on Tuesday. Now, Yahoo users will see red exclamation points and warnings next to search results McAfee has identified as offering potentially dangerous downloads, unsolicited e-mails or browser exploits. [More...]

Loopt's Brian Knapp: Mapping Out a Proactive Privacy Strategy

Tuesday - May 6, 2008

Loopt has taken friend connections to a new level. The startup's mobile social mapping application not only allows users to see where their friends are on a map, but also lets them text each other within the app and share photos. Since Loopt's beginnings, the company has been proactive in setting high standards for user privacy. [More...]

Malware Writers: Steal Someone's SSN, Not My Code

Thursday - May 1, 2008

Even criminal hackers want to protect their intellectual property, and they've come up with a method akin to copyrighting -- with an appropriate dash of Internet thuggery thrown in. Professional virus writers are now selling a suite of software on the Internet with an unusual attachment: a detailed licensing agreement that promises penalties for redistributing the malicious code without permission. [More...]

Microsoft Hands Cops a Crowbar for BitLocker

Wednesday - April 30, 2008

Microsoft has given law enforcement officials a new tool known as "Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor," or COFEE, to aid in the pursuit of crimes involving computers. COFEE is a framework of customizable and common forensic tools for law enforcement. Microsoft made the announcement at this year's Law Enforcement Technology conference. [More...]

eFashion Solutions Chief Ed Foy on Giving Customers the CEO Treatment

Wednesday - April 30, 2008

It's all about image in the fashion world. An apparel or accessory designer's brick-and-mortar stores must appear ever so alluring to the passerby, and its magazine ads should leave readers pining for the latest fashions. Then there's its online store, which visitors expect to be faultless and continually impress them with eye-catching design, an endless inventory and top-notch security. [More...]

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