Managed Solutions » Uncategorized http://managedsolutions.com We help organizations improve and grow by more effectively using technology. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:33:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 1 in 6 teens admit to hacking http://managedsolutions.com/1-in-6-teens-admit-to-hacking/ http://managedsolutions.com/1-in-6-teens-admit-to-hacking/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:44:47 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/04/1-in-6-teens-admit-to-hacking/ This is a very interesting study about habits of teenage computer users. More UK teens hack but American teens start at a younger age. There is a lot of data and the Zdnet article clipped in this post does a great job of summarizing some of the key points. This is a must read for parents. http://amplify.com/u/4jr1 ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/1-in-6-teens-admit-to-hacking/feed/ 0 New Solid State (SSD) drives push the performance envelope http://managedsolutions.com/new-solid-state-ssd-drives-push-the-performance-envelope/ http://managedsolutions.com/new-solid-state-ssd-drives-push-the-performance-envelope/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:29:16 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/new-solid-state-ssd-drives-push-the-performance-envelope/ We’re really admiring the numbers on this new series of solid state drive from Crucial. Read speeds up to 355MB/s will really launch server and workstation performance ahead. The biggest barrier to SSD drives is the cost, this drive lists for $799 at Crucial.com, over $3/GB. The street price will be a lot lower, well under $700. This drive coupled with a high performance laptop is a large jump ahead. http://amplify.com/u/3tez ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/new-solid-state-ssd-drives-push-the-performance-envelope/feed/ 1 Millions of users open spam emails and click on links http://managedsolutions.com/millions-of-users-open-spam-emails-and-click-on-links/ http://managedsolutions.com/millions-of-users-open-spam-emails-and-click-on-links/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:27:46 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/millions-of-users-open-spam-emails-and-click-on-links/ This is really telling information, and the numbers do not surprise me. I’ve been in the IT field long enough to know that many users are habitually curious and will open and click links or open files that most people would not. It is a delicate balancing act right now with the threats rising and the methods of stopping it always lag behind the trend. The big problem is the user is the best defense but it is very difficult to build and maintain a internet security savvy culture even at the corporate level (especially?). Building that culture really is the key as no software or firewall will ever completely protect users from these threats. Sometimes it boils down to the need to resist the curiosity and not open these messages. http://amplify.com/u/3ql9 ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/millions-of-users-open-spam-emails-and-click-on-links/feed/ 0 Is it safe to bank online? http://managedsolutions.com/is-it-safe-to-bank-online/ http://managedsolutions.com/is-it-safe-to-bank-online/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:04:05 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/is-it-safe-to-bank-online/ This article by Krebs on Security has identified an area of great concerned, exposure to online banking hacks. One of the banks in this article has experienced over a 500% increase in fraud cases. In many cases transactions are reversed but the victims still end up losing some of the money. These compromises typically result from a virus infection that leads to the capturing of banking credentials. It would be prudent to review your banks policies if theft were to occur. We are sharing this article because it depicts a rising tide in internet security, this has been a recurring them in 2009/2010. http://amplify.com/u/3amg ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/is-it-safe-to-bank-online/feed/ 0 Searching for Corey Haim leads to Rogue Antivirus Software http://managedsolutions.com/searching-for-corey-haim-leads-to-rogue-antivirus-software/ http://managedsolutions.com/searching-for-corey-haim-leads-to-rogue-antivirus-software/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:26:17 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/searching-for-corey-haim-leads-to-rogue-antivirus-software/ This is an example of creative Blackhat SEO poisoning attacks. The crooks use unscrupulous methods to build strong response to an emerging key word exploiting a recent event. In this case they exploit the death of Corey Haim to direct people to Malware masquerading as antivirus software. As noted in this article on 17% of AV products would detect this product, meaning 83% of products would allow it to infect your PC. http://amplify.com/u/3616 ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/searching-for-corey-haim-leads-to-rogue-antivirus-software/feed/ 0 Solving Internet Security – Go After the Money http://managedsolutions.com/solving-internet-security-go-after-the-money/ http://managedsolutions.com/solving-internet-security-go-after-the-money/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:15:43 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/solving-internet-security-go-after-the-money/ The environment for operating internet crime syndicates has become a bit bumpier in recent months. Earlier this month we shared news about the arrests in the Mariposa Botnet. This recent news involves an ISP in Kazakhstan that has become a host for many of the delivery methods for Malware and Botnets. This caused a significant drop in Malware activity. By going after the money and making it more difficult for the companies that allow these illegal enterprises to persist we add a high deterrent to the would be perpetrators. http://amplify.com/u/350d ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/solving-internet-security-go-after-the-money/feed/ 0 Attackers can crack 1 in 80 Accounts http://managedsolutions.com/attackers-can-crack-1-in-80-accounts/ http://managedsolutions.com/attackers-can-crack-1-in-80-accounts/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:25:04 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/attackers-can-crack-1-in-80-accounts/ This is an interesting study and the findings are very useful to improving email security, particularly with webmail type services like Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo. They found in this study that attackers were able to crack one in eighty accounts by guessing answers. The results surprised the group conducting the study, they did not anticipate it would be this statistically easy to do. So word to the wise, use the more complicated verification answers whenever possible if you want your accounts to remain secure. We’re usually given a number of choices when we sign up. http://amplify.com/u/2v47 ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/attackers-can-crack-1-in-80-accounts/feed/ 0 Arrests made in dismantling of Mariposa Botnet, consisting 13million infected PC’s! http://managedsolutions.com/arrests-made-in-dismantling-of-mariposa-botnet-consisting-13million-infected-pcs/ http://managedsolutions.com/arrests-made-in-dismantling-of-mariposa-botnet-consisting-13million-infected-pcs/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:46:36 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/03/arrests-made-in-dismantling-of-mariposa-botnet-consisting-13million-infected-pcs/ Big news in the world of internet security. A Botnet this large is responsible for sending a tremendous volume of Spam emails and could be used to wreak even greater Havoc. This is a big win for the good guys, we really need to unravel these criminal networks, the event of arrests in this case is the big news. This is likely to make people reconsider their path in this area of cyber-crime. http://amplify.com/u/299i ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/arrests-made-in-dismantling-of-mariposa-botnet-consisting-13million-infected-pcs/feed/ 0 Fake Microsoft “Security Essentials” in the wild. http://managedsolutions.com/fake-microsoft-security-essentials-in-the-wild/ http://managedsolutions.com/fake-microsoft-security-essentials-in-the-wild/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:18:15 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/02/fake-microsoft-security-essentials-in-the-wild/ A very popular tactic by malware and virus writers is to masquerade as security software. Recently something has showed up in the wild that alleges to be Microsoft Security Essentials. This imposter not unlike many similar packages downloads and installs malicious components that undermine security settings on the infected host and prevents access to antivirus websites. The most popular method for packages like this are browser popups or carefully crafted links in Emails. If you think you may have been infected or received an Email that may link you to this or other Malware, Managed Solutions provides free support via our Facebook page at http://bit.ly/7zaVpx

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]]> http://managedsolutions.com/fake-microsoft-security-essentials-in-the-wild/feed/ 0 A broadband router botnet and vendor complacency stinks http://managedsolutions.com/a-broadband-router-botnet-and-vendor-complacency-stinks/ http://managedsolutions.com/a-broadband-router-botnet-and-vendor-complacency-stinks/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:51:00 +0000 Joe Hackman http://managedsolutions.com/2010/02/a-broadband-router-botnet-and-vendor-complacency-stinks/ A worm is creating a botnet based on broadband routers. Botnets are used to launch denial of service attacks which cause internet services such as websites to become unavailable or slow. The disturbing component of this example is the vendor complacency. In spite being warned about using the same settings on their broadband routers it seems some companies have continued to do so. That creates great opportunity for this sort of worm. We will watch this issue closely and produce follow up information. http://amplify.com/u/21cp ]]> http://managedsolutions.com/a-broadband-router-botnet-and-vendor-complacency-stinks/feed/ 0