Product Reviews Net » security http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sun, 27 May 2012 11:45:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Web security habits with weight loss necessity http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/10/web-security-habits-with-weight-loss-necessity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=web-security-habits-with-weight-loss-necessity http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/10/web-security-habits-with-weight-loss-necessity/#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2012 06:43:25 +0000 Daniel Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=149528 The moment you switch on your computer and connect to the online world you’re opening a door to many threats, and while installing software from companies like Symantec can help a lot it shouldn’t be left at just that for protection. You need to educate yourself on the top web security threats you’ll find online, and then build habits like seen with people learning the best practices for weight loss, so these habits become part of your daily routine.

It’s all about the habits you build – most of our readers that have tried to stay fit or loss weight know that it’s all about building these routines, which allow you to discipline yourself enough to do the right things without thinking about it. The same goes for web security and no matter what computer you buy, you’ll need to build habits by teaching yourself simple steps to take online that help you protect against infected websites, malware, and other security threats.

In the image above you can see the top-10 web security threats, and below this article we’ve embedded an image that lists each of these web threats thanks to the AVG community. You can read more in-depth information on these and the top malware threats in a report here, although it’s very clear that nearly half of all threats come from the “Blackhole Exploit Kit“, or better known as web pages that contain script code to install a range of malware.

This is one of the first steps you can take by educating yourself on the threats out there, and in most cases it’s good to access websites you trust and this is where brand recognition comes in, but it doesn’t mean you should let your guard down for any website. We found a nice guide here that some of our readers might want to read, which lists a Q&A on habits and could give needed insight if you’re new to web security.

What habits have you built for web security, and how important do you think certain habits are? Have a look at the prevalence table for top web threats below and share your thoughts in the comments. In other news for computer and website security it seems that officials feel this type of crime will “equal or surpass” terrorism in the future.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2012/03/10/web-security-habits-with-weight-loss-necessity/feed/ 0 Conficker virus a tool waiting instruction, removal is difficult http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/28/conficker-virus-a-tool-waiting-instruction-removal-is-difficult/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=conficker-virus-a-tool-waiting-instruction-removal-is-difficult http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/28/conficker-virus-a-tool-waiting-instruction-removal-is-difficult/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:52:24 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=141494 When we first learned of the Conficker virus back in 2008 we had a slight idea of how bad things would be, such as 1 in 5 computers being infected, to it being a major threat to Internet Explorer. Now that it has had time to cultivate there is a fear that as many as 12 million computers being affected by this threat, and at the moment there is nothing that you or I can do – well I have a MAC, so should not be affected.

Currently the virus is dormant in these computers, but they are like the Imperial Storm Troopers from Star Wars, a drone army awaiting instruction to unleash havoc. Instead of bringing down the Republic Conficker will wage war against its digital enemy, such as power grids, communication systems etc – it’s the new way to attack your enemy.

Currently when you attack another county you go in with a plane and jam their communications, this way all someone will have to do is enter a command and there is no risk of pilots being shot down. It’s a horrible thought to know that someone or a group out there has this kind of power, but we have to accept that this could be how things will now be done – wonder if the Mayan’s knew about this all those years ago?

On a serious note, we have no idea who created it, all we know is that there are a bunch of experts working on a Conficker removal tool, but we have no idea as to how much progress has been made. We cannot understand why it is taking so long to come up with a solution to remove the virus; it’s like the stealth fighter of the computer world, as you never know that it is there.

You may wonder why we are discussing the Conficker virus, as it was expected to unleash its havoc to the world back in 2009, but nothing ever came of it? A Bloomberg reporter has explained on Business Week that the threat is far from over, and that it has spent the past three years building up its infrastructure readying itself for the big attack.

Could there still be a threat from Conficker, or is it just another scare tactic like the Millennium Bug was?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/09/28/conficker-virus-a-tool-waiting-instruction-removal-is-difficult/feed/ 2 Mac Defender threat for OS X Lion significantly worse http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/01/mac-defender-threat-for-os-x-lion-significantly-worse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mac-defender-threat-for-os-x-lion-significantly-worse http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/01/mac-defender-threat-for-os-x-lion-significantly-worse/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:57:46 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=138094 The recent malware attacks were affecting a huge number of Mac users, but thankfully the issue was resolved. However, there is no time to feel complacent, as the Mac Defender threat for OS X Lion is set to get significantly worse, as those who created the recent issues have been biding their time. We cannot say for sure if and when it will happen, but it could be soon, since Apple has only just released their new OS.

Apple are already working round the clock to come up with the first update for Lion, as there have been a few technical issues, so now would be the perfect time to cause a bit of confusion for Mac users and the Apple team behind the operating system. It is Ed Bott from ZDNet who is convinced of this, and he has seen the evidence that it will be worse.

Ask any Mac user and they would say that they would never come under such attack again, but they thought they would not the first time round either. We are always being told that you do not need to add any third-party security software to Mac, as it is safe enough. While that was true a few years ago, we cannot say the same now.

The people behind Mac Defender and other malware programs target things with a big reach, and now that Apple has managed to make Mac a great success it is only a matter of time before there is another attack. Now is the time to be vigilant, because it could already be out there, and we have yet to see it.

Mac Defender certainly kept Apple on their toes, because the moment Apple released updated signatures the attackers where ready to attack OS X again. The attacks were simple, as they were the first of their kind for Mac, the next ones will not be as easy going. Now that they know how to write them Lion will not fare so well. It is a horrible thought to know that Mac Defender 2 could be lurking in the recess of someone’s computer waiting for the go ahead to unleash havoc to the world – well those with a Mac anyway.

Remember, no matter how careful you think you are, these guys seem to have a way to booby trap you. All you need do is take your eye of the ball for a moment and bang they have you. We would suggest that you be extra vigilant, not just for now but always.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/08/01/mac-defender-threat-for-os-x-lion-significantly-worse/feed/ 3 Sony’s phishing attack, not to do with PSN http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/21/sonys-phishing-attack-not-to-do-with-psn/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sonys-phishing-attack-not-to-do-with-psn http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/21/sonys-phishing-attack-not-to-do-with-psn/#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 07:48:07 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=131657 It has come to our attention that Sony has suffered a phishing attack, but we have to inform you that this is nothing to do with the recent PSN hack that crippled the network for almost a month. The attack happened on an Italian bank website, which is served under the domain hdworld.sony.co.th.

F-Secure were one of the first to spot the attack, so felt impelled to report the news and release a few screen shots in the process. As we said above this has nothing to do with the recent attacks on the PlayStation Network, but this will still be a headache for Sony, who are doing all they can to bounce back from the recent event.

We know that this is not an important server in the grand scale of things, but it is still a sign that there are issues. Knowing that Sony has been hacked yet again makes you wonder if something else is really going on? F-Secure has since tried to visit the site again, but Sony or someone else seems to have taken action, as it returns a 404 error.

Sony must be thinking that someone is out to get them at the moment, as this is just the latest of a number of issues that have happened. PSN users are still a bit wary – ways to stay safe- as they still do not know if they will come under any spearfishing attacks. So far there has not been any reported incidents, but we have to warn you to stay vigilant.

Do you think that this latest issue with Sony is anything to worry about?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/21/sonys-phishing-attack-not-to-do-with-psn/feed/ 0 Paranoid PlayStation Network Users: 4 Ways To Stay Safe http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/19/paranoid-playstation-network-users-4-ways-to-stay-safe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paranoid-playstation-network-users-4-ways-to-stay-safe http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/19/paranoid-playstation-network-users-4-ways-to-stay-safe/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 10:39:32 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=131403 Sony could now be worrying that PlayStation Network users could become paranoid due to recent events. The PSN service was brought back online over the weekend, and users are not certain how safe it is. Taking down the password reset webpage does not fill us with confidence, but let us not confuse this with another attack; it’s just a precautionary measure.

The reason they did this was because it was possible that that people would be able to change PSN users passwords if they had their email and date-of-birth. Sony knows that they are a target right now, and so do users. They will be on edge, as to what could happen next. If PSN was attacked again, then there could be serious consequences.

The first thing that you need to do is to change your password via your PS3. Remember to use a password that you have not used before, and try to stick to numbers and letters. The next step is to create a new email account just for use with PSN, this way you know that what emails come in will be phishing e-mails, as no one but Sony will have it.

One of the best pieces of advice is to never use a credit or debit card, you should purchase a PlayStation Network Card. These can be bought from Amazon, Best Buy and many other stores. If for any reason that card number is stolen, then they will only be able to use it to purchase something on the PSN Store.

Finally for those PlayStation Network users who are paranoid, then keep a close eye on your credit/debit card statements. So far there has been no reports that details have been stolen, but it is always best to be cautious. Those of you in the U.S. will be able to use a free year of Debix fraud protection cover, but this has yet to happen – just stay vigilant.

Are you now paranoid over the whole PSN hacking issue?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/19/paranoid-playstation-network-users-4-ways-to-stay-safe/feed/ 6 Microsoft Security Essentials: Update On Low AV Rating http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/10/microsoft-security-essentials-update-on-low-av-scores-for-latest-download/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=microsoft-security-essentials-update-on-low-av-scores-for-latest-download http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/10/microsoft-security-essentials-update-on-low-av-scores-for-latest-download/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 09:12:52 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=130194 We have not mentioned Microsoft Security Essentials in some time, so now we thought we would give you an update on its low AV rating. Many years ago people were not worried about having protection on their computers, but the digital age has forced us to install security features. With so much choice it is often hard to know which is best, but is seems that Microsoft’s is not one of them.

When choosing people look at recent reviews, forums, what friends say or even advice from other sources. However, one of the best ways is to look at the most recent AV-Test. So where did your security software come on that list? There are 22 in total, all that run on Windows 7 – be prepared for some shocks.

It was a poor result for Microsoft Security Essentials, as they came in second to last with a score of just 11.5; it seems as though it was not any good at protection. This enforces what we have heard from friends and family members, who seems to suffer from attacks more than those using other security software.

We are not saying that it is all bad for Microsoft Security Essentials, as it did well on a certain test – just not on repair and usability. However, do not let that force you into purchasing some new software, as there are those who have never had a problem with Essentials. For those who have then visit AV-Test to know which came out on top.

Have you had a bad experience with Microsoft Security Essentials? What security software do you use?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/05/10/microsoft-security-essentials-update-on-low-av-scores-for-latest-download/feed/ 1 RSA Security Warning after Sophisticated Cyberattack http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/18/rsa-security-warning-after-sophisticated-cyberattack/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rsa-security-warning-after-sophisticated-cyberattack http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/18/rsa-security-warning-after-sophisticated-cyberattack/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:06:33 +0000 Tina Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=125788 RSA – the security division of EMC Corporation – has recently warned its customers that their data could well be at risk, after the company suffered what they described as an ‘extremely sophisticated cyberattack.’ RSA said that they are currently working with the authorities and investigating the attack.

As Emma Woollacott over at tgdaily.com noted, RSA’s multifactor authentification security system – which is used by around 25,000 organizations inlcuding government agencies and the military – involves the usage of SecurID electronic tokens, which create a time-based number for people to use alongside their passwords.

The company’s executive chairman Art Coviello said that they are confident that the information that was taken would not allow a successful direct attack on any of its SecurID customers. However, Art said that the stolen data could potentially be used as part of a broader attack.

Coviello pointed out that the company do not believe that either employee or customer personally identifiable information was compromised as a result of the recent attack, which seems to be an Advanced Persistent Threat of the type that attacked Google back in 2009.

There appear to be fears that the stolen data could well inlcude source code that reveals vulnerabilities in the security system or the seed codes for clients, which would then enable the attacker to create the time-based code to allow them access to client systems.

Are you an RSA SecurID customer?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/18/rsa-security-warning-after-sophisticated-cyberattack/feed/ 0 Norton 360 5.0 Vs AVG 2011: Internet Security Features http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/27/norton-360-5-0-vs-avg-2011-internet-security-features/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=norton-360-5-0-vs-avg-2011-internet-security-features http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/27/norton-360-5-0-vs-avg-2011-internet-security-features/#comments Sun, 27 Feb 2011 09:40:20 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=123476 From the moment that you purchase a computer the very first thing that you need to decide is what Internet Security or Antivirus software you will choose. There are more out there than you think, those that you pay for and those you do not. Choosing these usually comes down to personal preference, and the most popular of either paid or free are Norton 360 and AVG, and both have new versions for 2011.

We do not know how many times people have said to us that they only stick with Norton because that is all they have ever used, so they will be pleased to know that there is a new version, Norton 360 5.0. As you would imagine Symantec certainly do there best to sell their product, such as explaining how this new security suite will not only help keep your computer running fast, but also keep you safe while you surf the web.

Looking over the features we cannot see that much has changed, this all-in-one protection will still stop your computer from slowing down and boot up much quicker. However, it is knowing that you will be protected against viruses and malware that is of most interest to the consumer. The price you pay is just $79.99, more details can be found on on the Norton website.

Now with AVG you have a choice, you can either opt for the free version, which is just antivirus only, or you can decide to pay the much cheaper price of around $50. For that you will get the complete AVG Internet Security 2011 version. This will not only keep the toughest threats out, but also keeps your private information safe. Compare all three version on the AVG website.

Over the years we have noticed how much memory resources Norton 360 takes, so if your machine is a little on the old side and does not have much RAM, them maybe you should opt for something that is not resource intensive. There are many other versions of security software on the market, what one do you use?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/27/norton-360-5-0-vs-avg-2011-internet-security-features/feed/ 0 iPhone Security Issue: Passwords Attack http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/10/iphone-security-issue-paswords-attack/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=iphone-security-issue-paswords-attack http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/10/iphone-security-issue-paswords-attack/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:12:07 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=121530 We covered a story yesterday about how vunerable smartphones were that use Adobe Flash, and the fact that the iPhone was safe as it does not support the player. Well it seems that us iPhone owners should not get too complacent, as there is a security issue. We have just learned that the passwords stored on your Apple iOS device have seen a series of attacks.

An article on Yahoo News reports that researchers in Germany was able to uncover the passwords that were stored in a locked iPhone, and it was done in just 6 minutes. The most shocking thing of all was how they did not even have to crack the phones passcode.

In order for the attack to work, researchers had to take possession of the iPhone and then focus on the keychain, along with the password management system used by Apple. Some of the details that were revealed might not be a worry to a consumer who does not save much on their handset, but for company owned handsets, this could be a nightmare.

For those who use their iPhone at work, the worry is that this could expose passwords stored to access the network – not good if you work for a bank or in a government building. I own an iPhone 4, but cannot say that I am too worried, the only password saved on mine is for my home network, and I am not likely to hand my phone out to anyone anyway.

PC World has a link to YouTube that demonstrates just how this works. We did not feel comfortable about embedding this on our site either, but we are not stopping you using the link above.

Do you still feel that your iPhone is safe?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/10/iphone-security-issue-paswords-attack/feed/ 0 U.S. Bill: Internet Kill Switch Option Following Egypt http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/01/u-s-bill-internet-kill-switch-option-following-egypt/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=u-s-bill-internet-kill-switch-option-following-egypt http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/01/u-s-bill-internet-kill-switch-option-following-egypt/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:18:35 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=120402 Back in June 2010 we asked if U.S. president Barack Obama should be allowed to turn the Internet off? Well it was no surprise what the answer would be, as most believe that it would take away their basic rights. You might wonder why we are bringing this subject up once again? The recent troubles in Egypt has been all over the news, but when the government managed to hit the kill switch and turn the Internet off, the world was surprised.

Bloggers in the country were hardest hit; as they were the intended targets of this shutdown – many thought that it could never happen. Yesterday the very last ISP in Egypt was shut down, with Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry from Business Insider noting that the only way that such a thing could happen is if the government had control over these ISPs.

CIO now reports that the old U.S. Internet Kill Switch bill has now raised its ugly head once more, with senators’ Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman behind the bill. However, as we have discussed before, Obama will not have the ability to turn the entire Internet off in America if they faced the troubles that Egypt is, but if there was a cyber emergency then he could.

This has always been a sensitive subject, as many people see the Internet as a living thing and is now part of our lives, to take it away would be something that none of us would want to imagine. ABC News has sat down with an expert on Internet control, so if you are looking for a more detailed insight into this kill switch, then should most defiantly visit their website.

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