Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) wants to know why Apple’s iPhone collects and stores device location data in an unencrypted file. Franken penned a two-page letter asking nine questions of Apple CEO Steve Jobs in response to yesterday’s news regarding the “consolidated.db” file. Read more »
The news that Apple devices keep a record of your movements has generated plenty of coverage. Now, however, one researcher says not only has the knowledge been public for some time, but it’s already being used by security researchers and law enforcement agents. Read more »
Developers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden recently discovered that your iPhone or 3G-capable iPad has been regularly recording your device’s location since the introduction of iOS 4. All of the data regarding your device’s whereabouts during the past year is easily accessible using a simple app. Read more »
Internet botnets wreak much of their havoc because of the sheer number of infected machines, and a startup security service called ipTrust is trying to fight fire with fire by using many terabytes worth of log files to combat these hordes of zombie PCs. Read more »
You can lock down your devices, but that doesn’t mean your network is safe. There are some features of Apple’s AirPort networking technology that, if used properly, provide ample security for most households. The process is time-consuming, but it could pay off in the long run. Read more »
Incapsula is trying to democratize web site security and performance by utilizing the distributed, yet centralized, nature of cloud computing. In some ways, its namesake product is the epitome of a cloud service because it utilizes both crowdsourcing and centralization to create the best-possible experience. Read more »
Amazon Web Services this morning announced dedicated EC2 instances for customers using AWS’s newly upgraded Virtual Private Cloud service. This is yet another example of AWS pushing the innovation envelope despite its customer lead, although Dedicated Instances are a bit pricier than some recent free tools. Read more »
This past weekend, beta-phase PaaS offering PHP Fog was hacked and vandalized by a couple of teenagers, a situation that raises serious questions about cloud security. But the questions aren’t just about technology; the case also raises issues about who’s ultimately responsible for security breaches. Read more »
Internet payment firm VeriFone found that you can easily create an app that uses the payment dongle employed by its competitor Square to skim financial and personal info from a user’s credit card, so it went ahead and created one and released it to the public. Read more »
Bad news for the French government as a weekend of Internet attacks culminates in the news that the country’s Ministry of Finance has been targeted by hackers looking to steal sensitive information — a reminder that the internet’s revolutionary power can often work against our interests. Read more »
There’s a new set of challenges for the modern workforce. When do you switch between personal time and work? How do you ensure that you remain productive and motivated? How do you cope with the onset of cabin fever? What are the security issues? Read more »
The iTwin device provides a simple and secure way of connecting to your office’s files while you’re out of the office. You’ll be able to access, move, copy and back up files. You can edit remote files directly, or copy files by dragging and dropping them. Read more »
The transition to cloud computing won’t realize its potential until more vendors and buyers fully understand security requirements in the cloud. By establishing basic security requirements early and discussing these five questions, companies can position projects for success and avoid common security-related issues. Read more »
If you’re getting or giving a new MacBook during the next couple of days, then grab Mac app Hidden, which provides a number of theft prevention services. Now until January 2011, the app is free. All you need to do is register, download and install. Read more »
The always-unpredictable mobile space enters 2011 at a particularly dynamic time. Carriers are now bringing 4G networks online, even as their definitions of “4G” vary. Meanwhile, mobile data consumption is exploding and the FCC trying to settle on policies both to regulate the industry and to ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Smartphones and Wi-Fi-enabled devices are without a doubt essential business tools for many of us. With mobile communications and connectivity comes security issues, though. How can we share and manage sensitive documents over the airwaves? WatchDox, a document management and security application, is one solution. Read more »
If I asked you for your Gmail login credentials, would you give them to me? Probably not, because those credentials are the keys to your email, and you don’t want me poking around. Unfortunately I’ll bet you have given them to other folks you don’t know. Read more »
While there are no true viruses for OS X, that doesn’t mean Macs are impenetrable. They’re still vulnerable to malware, spyware, spam and trojans. However, with just a few precautionary measures, your Mac can be more secure than most any other consumer technology out there. Read more »
Around the world, organizations and individuals are coming together to tackle technological hurdles to cloud computing. Just this week, Intel launched its Open Data Center Alliance and Cloud Builders initiatives; last week, CloudAudit joined the Cloud Security Alliance. But when it comes down to it, people, ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The Twitter website has been hit by a security breach that allows hackers to send bogus messages and malicious links through a user’s account, and all a user has to do to trigger the spam is to move their mouse over a link on the site. Read more »
Google today announced that it was adding the option of a two-step verification process to Google Apps, which requires users to log in using a password and a verification code that’s sent to their phone via SMS or generated using a mobile app. Read more »
Do you know what kind of information your Twitter apps are collecting? According to Mike Champion, VP of engineering at app directory Oneforty, the way that Twitter handles user permissions means that you could be giving those apps access to plenty — including your private messages. Read more »
The creators of a software project called Haystack claimed their software would allow Iranian dissidents to surf the web anonymously by encrypting their activity and hiding it among other web traffic, but the project has been shut down after security analysts said these claims were false. Read more »
Hewlett-Packard has agreed to buy security software maker ArcSightfor $1.5 billion in cash, as the computer giant tries to expand the range of services it offers corporate clients. ArcSight’s software is used by companies and governments to track and identify suspicious activity on corporate networks. Read more »
Just released from Apple, Safari 5.0.2 addresses a few usability issues, as well as three security flaws that might get your Mac or PC pwned. Two of the three security issues affect both Safari for OS X and Windows. Read more »
The stage is set for a grand freak-out whereby the security companies inform people that their smartphones are just like computers and thus vulnerable to attack — before pitching a product folks can buy in order to stave off said attacks. It worked for PCs. Read more »
With both the iPhone and Mac address book syncing to Google or MobileMe, your address book data can be hacked without access to your actual phone. It’s time to think twice about what you store in your address book. Read more »
The latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 4, has been with us for a number of weeks now, but did you know that one new addition to the OS is the ability to lock your phone with any password of your choice? Read more »
The document management and security product, WatchDox by Confidela, has announced a new offering for Google’s Android platform. A BlackBerry version is coming later this year, as soon as BlackBerry supports Adobe Flash, and a native iPhone/iPad app is also in the works. Read more »
For those seeking an alternative to the indecipherable text-based captchas that test your humanity and your patience, there’s a new video-based solution available. NuCaptcha allows sites and blogs to deflect spambots with an animated security check, with a higher success rate than the static versions. Read more »
Luckily, it’s not often that we have to make announcements regarding dangerous malicious software for the Mac. But not often isn’t never, and right now there’s a nasty piece of spyware attacking Apple’s computer platform. It’s called OSX/OpinionSpy, and it piggybacks in on free screensaver software. Read more »
Visit the Plugin Check site and it’ll check out all of the plugins installed on the computer — Plugin Check now works in most browsers. If any plugins are out of date, it gives you a handy link so that you can grab the latest versions. Read more »
The next time you finish using that free AT&T hotspot that stands as one of the few highlights of being an iPhone users on that network of questionable dependability, you might want to make sure your phone forgets that particular Wi-Fi connection. Read more »
The usage of URL shortening services like bit.ly and TinyURL has exploded over the past couple of years. They’re useful for shortening lengthy URLs, but as the user cannot tell what destination the link points to, they can also be used for malicious purposes Read more »
UPDATED According to white-label video management company Brightcove, rival Ooyala has been sending misleading information to Brightcove customers and the press, issuing a packet of information that purports to expose potential security vulnerabilities related to its media API. Brightcove says it has had at least two […] Read more »
Wikileaks, the crusading non-profit web site that publishes documents companies and governments don’t want released, is alleging that the U.S. State Department and possibly the CIA have been spying on the group, following them on airplanes and even monitoring their meetings in an Icelandic fish-and-chip restaurant. Read more »
It’s absolutely crucial that I do everything I can to protect my information. I do my best to find trustworthy applications, but in the end, some of my security comes down to something I do for myself — choosing good passwords. Read more »
It looks like we’re getting close to the official release of 10.6.3, the latest update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard — and, from what we’re hearing on the developer grapevine, it might prove to be the most extensive Snow Leopard update yet. TUAW reported on […] Read more »
Crashed web sites, stolen credit card info — imagine seeing the damage caused by Internet viruses and worms unleashed on a fleet of vehicles. The results could include vehicle location data used with malicious intent, the prevention of a plug-in vehicle battery from recharging, remote starting […] Read more »
I love Time Machine for its simplicity and the fact that it’s free. Apple did the right thing in creating a backup utility that was integrated into the OS and was actually useful. Anyone who has fought with Windows Backup can tell you, this has been […] Read more »
