Data Storage Security

Network Intercept is an internet security company which has created an innovative new product – Secure-Me. Secure-Me, it was just announced, is now available in the UK which is good news for anyone who goes online. As online fraud is forever rising, using a top security product is now a must.

Secure-Me starts up a secure web browser that actually encrypts all traffic going in and out of a device and it also speeds up browsing. With file encryption, regular malware scans and keyboard/keystroke interference software, Secure-Me is now being considered by many institutions and businesses that put security first.

All business share sensitive information from time to time be it financial transactions or health records. Businesses believe that they are sharing information securely but often this isn’t the case – and unless you have security experts checking your networks then you’re at risk. According to research from Cyber-Ark Software, only 13% of businesses surveyed were actually sending sensitive information over secure networks. This highlights an alarming gap in computer security and security knowledge. Just because you can’t see the threat doesn’t mean it isn’t there. As many businesses need to send and receive confidential information a lot of the time, it simply isn’t good enough to have lax security.

A new and serious security flaw has been discovered in the Adobe Download Manager. According to reports, the flaw is a combination of a website defect and a bug in the download manager and it can allow hackers to install and execute malicious content onto a users PC. So if you use Adobe Download Manager for the Flash or Reader software, then you need to be extra careful, particularly if you have sensitive information stored on your computer!

Web security company Symantec has released a new Norton 360 version. The new Norton 360 can remotely access data that’s backed up and also has new and improved security systems to add to its repertoire. Norton 360 includes the Internet Security software and the popular Norton Antivirus 2010 and it is particularly focused on social networking threats and new malware, which there is a great demand for. Symantec has plans to release a beta version for iPhones and the Android platform in the near future.

In the first case of its kind, police in Finland are investigating Google – for breach of the privacy legislation. Under investigation is Google’s ‘Street View’ map. Police began investigating after a man complained that there was a picture of him on the Street View maps. According to the police, the picture was taken during summer and the man can be seen sat in a rocking chair wearing a shirt…but no pants. Obviously not a picture you want immortalised on the internet forever. The police are trying to determine whether Google is guilty of unauthorised surveillance.

This isn’t the first time that complaints have been made about Google and Street View maps or Google Earth – Google seems to have the knack of capturing pictures that really shouldn’t see the light of day.

The US Federal Trade Commission, consumer protection watchdog, has been in communication with the Federal Communications Commission expressing concerns over the security of cloud computing. Cloud computing is the new trend in the IT and telecoms sector whereby information is stored in “the cloud.” According to some industry experts though, businesses that ask customers to upload sensitive information to the cloud are neglecting to mention the risks to data security. Something to be aware of if you’re looking into cloud computing as an option!

Security company Symantec has warned that South Africa could be the next hotspot for cyber crime and cyber criminals. South Africa has recently benefited from links to two undersea fibre-optic cables which is set to improve the country’s broadband connectivity. South Africa is also to host the World Cup tournament this coming summer and according to Symantec, both of these factors combined could create a ‘prefect storm’ for cyber criminals. Symantec warn that countries with a fast developing broadband infrastructure are extremely likely to see a sharp rise in malicious activity. So be warned.

Cisco are to release a report on Tuesday that details the security risks associated with social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The sheer number of people associated with social networking sites is a huge draw to cyber criminals say security experts at Cisco and this has lead to various schemes used to perpetrate cyber crimes.

Cyber criminals can hack unprotected databases to procure passwords and as many people stick with one password for all accounts, once one account is hacked, the rest could be too. Cisco are also warning businesses about the Koobface worm (a play on the word Facebook) which is a malicious code that can get onto work computers if staff use social networking sites in the office. Cisco say that one in 50 clicks of a mouse in the workplace is to a social networking site. Businesses be warned.

Cisco, provider of Unified Communication (UC) solutions, has announced the finalisation of ScanSafe Inc, the web-security company. The news comes just as Cisco’s acquisition of Tandberg gets rolling once again. Cisco has been on an acquisition mission of late and the completion of the ScanSafe deal is set to build upon the Cisco’s gain of the IronPort company. Using both companies in tandem, Cisco is aiming to provide superior on-premise Web security solutions. ScanSafe Inc specialise in software-as-a-service web security whereas IronPort is an on-premise content security provider. A successful year for Cisco who can now add top-of-the-range web security as another feather in its cap.

100 delegates were surveyed at Mobile Enterprise 2009 and the results showed that over two-thirds of organisations in Europe are unaware of what sensitive data their employees’ mobile devices contain. 38% are not aware of what applications their employees’ mobile devices had and just 15% were confident that in case of a lost mobile device, they would be covered legally.

According to security experts this survey highlights the need for businesses to properly protect their sensitive data and to protect employees mobile devices. Let’s hope that those solutions will be enough for the security experts and they don’t go in for the Big Brother solution of keeping an eye on mobile devices!