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News

• Get internet access when your government shuts it down

  These days, no popular movement goes without an Internet presence of some kind, whether it's organizing on Facebook or spreading the word through Twitter. And as we've seen in Egypt, that means that your Internet connection can be the first to go. Whether you're trying to check in with your family, contact your friends, or simply spread the word, here's a few ways to build some basic network connectivity when you can't rely on your cellular or landline Internet connections.

• Low-cost SSL proxy could bring cheaper, faster security; defeat threats like Firesheep

  Researchers have found a cheaper, faster way to process SSL/TLS with off-the-shelf hardware, a development that could let more Web sites shut down cyber threats posed by the likes of the Firesheep hijacking tool.

• Appliance automates malware detection

  Security firm NetWitness today announced Spectrum, an appliance for enabling automated malware analysis that works in conjunction with the company's traffic-analysis gear used to spot threats and policy violations.

• Experts weigh in on cyber war report

  Until recently, "cyber war" has been reserved for science fiction thrillers -- like something you might expect from William Gibson. In the past few years, though, the concept has been gaining more mainstream acceptance as a real possibility, but a recent report shoots that theory down, claiming "It is unlikely that there will ever be a true cyber war."

• Watchdogs sniff out six critical cybersecurity challenges facing the electrical grid

  As the country's electricity grid undergoes a transformation and moves toward a more intelligently networked, automated system, it faces an increasing amount cybersecurity issues.

• More censorship, data breaches and devices: Security predictions for 2011

  This past year has been a doozy in the security world.

• Gawker hack exposes ridiculous password habits

  Whew! Is it just me, or is it getting tough to keep track of all the info spilled via this week's massive Gawker hack?

• McDonald's customer data compromised through contractor

  McDonald's is warning customers to be on guard against identity theft, phishing attacks, or other scams thanks to a data breach. What makes the data compromise more concerning is that it is indicative of a growing hacker strategy to go for the low-hanging fruit rather than staging a direct attack.

• Fearing more Wikileaks, military bans DVDs, thumb drives

  Removable media such as CDs, DVDs and USB drives are no longer allowed on classified military computers.

• WikiLeaks: Don't shoot the messenger

  With all of the hype and furor over WikiLeaks exposing sensitive government documents, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that WikiLeaks is bad, and is obviously doing something wrong. The reality, though, is that WikiLeaks is just a symptom, not the cause of the problem, and that silencing WikiLeaks is not really a solution.

• Operation payback: WikiLeaks avenged by hacktivists

  WikiLeaks has been experiencing some issues lately ranging from having its Web hosting services shutdown to having its accounts frozen and the flow of money cut off. Some cheer those actions, while others see them as an attack on liberty and free speech and are coming to WikiLeaks' defense.

• Prevent your data from becoming the next WikiLeaks headline

  WikiLeaks is making as many waves as it is headlines these days -- challenging the balance between the right to free speech and the need to defend national security interests. In a recent Forbes interview Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, revealed that the site is expanding beyond government intelligence to begin unveiling corporate secrets as well.

• Trend Micro purchase boosts data protection

  Trend Micro announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mobile Armor -- a company that specializes in endpoint data protection. The move strengthens Trend Micro's data protection capabilities and positions it to address the growing concern of securing data on mobile devices that are easily lost or stolen.

• Google takes Office to the Cloud, security issues remain

  Google has begun testing an intriguing plugin for Microsoft Office. Google Cloud Connect is a devastatingly simple concept: rather than save your files to your computer's hard disk, it allows you to save them to your online Google Docs space.

• McAfee reports malware at all-time high

  McAfee today revealed its McAfee Threat Report for the third quarter of 2010. Information like that provided by McAfee in these quarterly reports is valuable for IT admins -- enabling them to keep a finger on the pulse of malware, and to stay in touch with emerging attack techniques and trends.