http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Security Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2012 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 29 May 2012 05:34:43 GMT Tue, 29 May 2012 05:34:43 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Data-Center-Security-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-271327.shtml When it comes to the security of data centers, cloud service providers need to take into consideration strict measures to prevent attackers from gaining physical access to where these services are hosted.

Clearly, this is one of the most important aspects of security, for some cloud services providers being as impor... (read more)]]> Wed, 23 May 2012 14:13:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Data-Center-Security-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-271327.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Data-Center-Security-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-271327.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Adoption-of-Microsoft-s-Security-Development-Lifecycle-SDL-Spreads-270248.shtml On May 16th, at the inaugural Security Development Conference 2012 in Washington D.C., Microsoft unveiled that the adoption of Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) has expanded beyond the software industry.

The Redmond-based software giant notes that SDL has already seen adoption from governments and businesses tha... (read more)]]> Thu, 17 May 2012 16:31:01 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Adoption-of-Microsoft-s-Security-Development-Lifecycle-SDL-Spreads-270248.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Adoption-of-Microsoft-s-Security-Development-Lifecycle-SDL-Spreads-270248.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-23-Vulnerabilities-in-May-2012-Security-Update-268435.shtml
Seven bulletins were included in the update, three of which are rated Critical, while the other four are rendered Important.

Following the Advanced Notification released last week, Microsoft made public specific details on each bulletin and on the vulnerabilities they are destined to patch.

“Fo... (read more)]]> Wed, 9 May 2012 07:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-23-Vulnerabilities-in-May-2012-Security-Update-268435.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-23-Vulnerabilities-in-May-2012-Security-Update-268435.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-Operational-Security-and-Secure-Development-Practices-267795.shtml
The trend shows that there are a lower number of vulnerability disclosures, but that does not mean that there aren’t issues to be concerned of.

In fact, thousands of such security breaches are being disclosed every six months in the software available out there, Tim Rains, director, Trustworthy Computing,... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 19:11:02 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-Operational-Security-and-Secure-Development-Practices-267795.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-Operational-Security-and-Secure-Development-Practices-267795.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Seven-Bulletins-in-Microsoft-s-May-2012-Security-Update-267744.shtml Next week, Microsoft will begin the roll-out of a new security update to users of its products, as part of the usual set of improvements that it is delivering each and every month.

The new set of enhancements will be pushed out to users on May 8, 2012 and will include a number of seven bulletins, addressing various vulnerabili... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 11:52:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Seven-Bulletins-in-Microsoft-s-May-2012-Security-Update-267744.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Seven-Bulletins-in-Microsoft-s-May-2012-Security-Update-267744.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Blames-MAPP-Partner-for-Data-Leak-Plans-Better-Control-of-Information-267712.shtml Yesterday, Microsoft issued a statement on an investigation meant to determine which of its security partners was responsible for a data leak back in March.

In a blog post on Technet, Yunsun Wee, director, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing, notes that Hangzhou DPTech Technologies Co., Ltd. was responsibl... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 09:20:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Blames-MAPP-Partner-for-Data-Leak-Plans-Better-Control-of-Information-267712.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Blames-MAPP-Partner-for-Data-Leak-Plans-Better-Control-of-Information-267712.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Ends-Security-Essentials-4-Beta-Program-267025.shtml The final flavor of the latest version of Microsoft’s popular Security Essentials antivirus was made available for download last week.

The software was made available in a beta version in the fourth quarter of the last year, when Microsoft also launched the beta testing program for it.

The final flavor of Micros... (read more)]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:12:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Ends-Security-Essentials-4-Beta-Program-267025.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Ends-Security-Essentials-4-Beta-Program-267025.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Security-Standards-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-265179.shtml Cloud security has been always one of the main concerns when it came to choosing a specific cloud service or a provider or another.

As much as people are interested in learning more on how secure an offering is when compared to another, there is also the issue of cloud security standards and how well they apply ... (read more)]]> Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:11:02 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Security-Standards-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-265179.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cloud-Security-Standards-Discussed-in-Latest-Cloud-Fundamentals-Video-265179.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Eight-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-Latest-Security-Update-263968.shtml On Tuesday, April 10th, 2012, Microsoft released a new security patch for its products, as part of the monthly updates it has been pushing out for the past years.

The new security release includes no less than six bulletins, just as announced last week in an advance notification, and patches a total of ei... (read more)]]> Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:49:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Eight-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-Latest-Security-Update-263968.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Eight-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-Latest-Security-Update-263968.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Patch-Six-Vulnerabilities-with-April-2012-Security-Update-263382.shtml On April 10th, 2012, Microsoft will deliver a new software update for its products as part of the usual monthly update rollout.

A total number of six bulletins will be included in the update, four of which are rated critical, and which are meant to patch several security holes that were discovered in various p... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 Apr 2012 09:57:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Patch-Six-Vulnerabilities-with-April-2012-Security-Update-263382.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Patch-Six-Vulnerabilities-with-April-2012-Security-Update-263382.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-Leaked-Code-for-Windows-Vulnerability-259261.shtml On Tuesday, March 13th, Microsoft made available a new batch of security updates for the Windows client and other products, in an attempt to patch a variety of vulnerabilities that were found to affect them.

Among them, there was a security bulletin rated Critical, meant to patch two vulnerabilities found in the Remote Desk... (read more)]]> Sat, 17 Mar 2012 10:32:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-Leaked-Code-for-Windows-Vulnerability-259261.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-Leaked-Code-for-Windows-Vulnerability-259261.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Four-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-February-2012-Security-Update-252943.shtml Today, Microsoft started to deliver a new security update for its users, solving a total of 21 vulnerabilities that have been reported in its products.

The new security update includes a number of no less than 9 bulletins, four of which are deemed Critical, while the other five are rated Important.... (read more)]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Four-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-February-2012-Security-Update-252943.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-Four-Critical-Vulnerabilities-with-February-2012-Security-Update-252943.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Release-9-Security-Bulletins-on-February-14th-252084.shtml Next week, Microsoft will make available its February 2012 monthly security patches for the Windows platform and various other products on it.

In the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for February 2012, that it made public on Thursday, Microsoft announced that there would be no less than nine bulletins incl... (read more)]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Release-9-Security-Bulletins-on-February-14th-252084.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Release-9-Security-Bulletins-on-February-14th-252084.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Products-Increasingly-Influence-the-Security-Ecosystem-250304.shtml Microsoft is registering progress when it comes to its products influencing the development of the security ecosystem out there.

This year, the company celebrates ten years of Trustworthy Computing and eight years since the creation of its Security Development Lifecycle (SDL).

SDL, a software developm... (read more)]]> Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Products-Increasingly-Influence-the-Security-Ecosystem-250304.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Products-Increasingly-Influence-the-Security-Ecosystem-250304.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Video-in-Cloud-Fundamentals-Series-Benchmarking-and-Evaluation-249176.shtml The latest installment of the Cloud Fundamentals Video Series – which has Laura Posey as guest - focuses on one of the most important topics related to cloud computing: benchmarking and evaluation.

When it comes to choosing a specific product in this segment, companies need to assess the pros and cons for th... (read more)]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:38:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Video-in-Cloud-Fundamentals-Series-Benchmarking-and-Evaluation-249176.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Video-in-Cloud-Fundamentals-Series-Benchmarking-and-Evaluation-249176.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Names-Andrey-N-Sabelnikov-as-Defendant-in-Kelihos-Case-248410.shtml Microsoft’s Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit has been actively investigating the Kelihos botnet case since September when it took it down in collaboration with Kyrus Inc. and Kaspersky Labs.

Microsoft has been pursuing new leads in the case in an attempt to hold all those behind the botnet responsible for their a... (read more)]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:21:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Names-Andrey-N-Sabelnikov-as-Defendant-in-Kelihos-Case-248410.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Names-Andrey-N-Sabelnikov-as-Defendant-in-Kelihos-Case-248410.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Addresses-Eight-Vulnerabilities-with-the-January-2012-Security-Update-245855.shtml
As announced in the advance notification for the January security bulletin release, there were no less than seven bulletins included in this month’s release.

Among these, we can count a bulletin rated Critical, destined to patch two... (read more)]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Addresses-Eight-Vulnerabilities-with-the-January-2012-Security-Update-245855.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Addresses-Eight-Vulnerabilities-with-the-January-2012-Security-Update-245855.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Four-Vulnerabilities-in-NET-Framework-with-Out-of-Band-Update-243796.shtml On December 29th, 2011, Microsoft released an out-of-band security update for all Windows flavors starting with Windows XP, in an attempt to fix a number of vulnerabilities discovered in Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 and later.

Four security holes were patched with this update, one of which was rated ... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:11:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Four-Vulnerabilities-in-NET-Framework-with-Out-of-Band-Update-243796.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Four-Vulnerabilities-in-NET-Framework-with-Out-of-Band-Update-243796.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Picture-Password-Security-Optimization-Tips-242868.shtml One of the security features that Windows 8 will bring along is the possibility to login using a picture password, and not the usual password that contains letters and numbers.

Microsoft has already demoed the feature a few times before, suggesting that it would add an extra level of security to devices powered by its next Windo... (read more)]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Picture-Password-Security-Optimization-Tips-242868.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Picture-Password-Security-Optimization-Tips-242868.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-19-Vulnerabilities-via-December-2011-Security-Bulletins-240513.shtml On December 13th, 2011, Microsoft released a number of 13 security bulletins to address various flaws that its Windows platform and other products were found to have.

Among these, we can count a number of no less than three rated Critical in severity, while the rest of 10 are rated Important. The company re... (read more)]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-19-Vulnerabilities-via-December-2011-Security-Bulletins-240513.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Patches-19-Vulnerabilities-via-December-2011-Security-Bulletins-240513.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Defender-Offline-Now-Available-in-Beta-239394.shtml In an attempt to provide users with increased security option on their computers, Microsoft has rolled out the Windows Defender Offline beta software, which is nothing more than a version of the Windows' anti-spyware feature.

The main difference, however, is the fact that users will have to download it in the form of an ISO file that s... (read more)]]> Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Defender-Offline-Now-Available-in-Beta-239394.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Defender-Offline-Now-Available-in-Beta-239394.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-4-Now-in-Public-Beta-237446.shtml
The new application release comes with Security Essentials and Antimalware Client version 4.0.1111.0, and brings along a series of interface improvements, along with better protection and more.

Although in beta, the new Microsoft Security Essentials 4 is touted as a ... (read more)]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-4-Now-in-Public-Beta-237446.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-4-Now-in-Public-Beta-237446.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Bootkit-Demoed-on-Video-236698.shtml
This is none other than the Stoned Lite bootkit that Austrian security researcher Peter Kleissner has been working on for the past few weeks.

Softpedia already reported on the matter, as Kleissner announced about a we... (read more)]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Bootkit-Demoed-on-Video-236698.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-Bootkit-Demoed-on-Video-236698.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Readies-New-Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Beta-Program-235387.shtml Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is gearing up for the release of a new flavor of their Microsoft Security Essentials application, and the company is currently getting ready to kick a new public beta testing period for it.

Apparently, the company has already started to send out invites to existing Security Ess... (read more)]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:16:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Readies-New-Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Beta-Program-235387.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Readies-New-Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Beta-Program-235387.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Targets-Carberp-Banking-Trojan-233411.shtml
Almost two years after it was initially discovered, the attackers behind Carberp have transformed the malware from a downloader into a banking trojan and user-mode rootkit, Wang said.

Even back in 2010, Carberp was a part of attacks designed to steal sensitive user data, but it had to first download the PWS:Win32/Ldpi... (read more)]]> Wed, 9 Nov 2011 13:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Targets-Carberp-Banking-Trojan-233411.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Targets-Carberp-Banking-Trojan-233411.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Conflicts-with-Security-and-System-Cleaner-Solutions-233108.shtml It’s not uncommon for security solutions to have issues with products offering functionality that overlaps or conflicts theirs, and Microsoft Security Essentials is no exception.

Apparently, Microsoft Security Essentials 2.1 fails to play nice with antivirus products and with some solutions ... (read more)]]> Tue, 8 Nov 2011 15:54:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Conflicts-with-Security-and-System-Cleaner-Solutions-233108.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Conflicts-with-Security-and-System-Cleaner-Solutions-233108.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Zbot-Zeus-Update-to-Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Leads-to-Explosion-of-Infections-Removal-231642.shtml When it first equipped Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) to deal with the PWS:Win32/Zbot malware family, Microsoft managed to clean infections from no less than 444,292 computers in the first month alone.

However, security is very much an evolving cat and mouse game, and the cybercriminals... (read more)]]> Wed, 2 Nov 2011 16:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Zbot-Zeus-Update-to-Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Leads-to-Explosion-of-Infections-Removal-231642.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Zbot-Zeus-Update-to-Free-Microsoft-Security-Tool-Leads-to-Explosion-of-Infections-Removal-231642.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Virus-and-Spyware-Definitions-Update-Failed-Error-231211.shtml When they first start a new Windows 7 computer pre-installed with Microsoft Security Essentials, users can get a warning message informing them that MSE failed to update.

Microsoft confirmed this issue and revealed that customers simply need to connect the new machine to the Internet, and the problem w... (read more)]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Virus-and-Spyware-Definitions-Update-Failed-Error-231211.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Virus-and-Spyware-Definitions-Update-Failed-Error-231211.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Gets-a-New-Home-230395.shtml Microsoft Security Essentials 2.1 now has a new home, under Windows.com, and is no longer hosted under Microsoft.com/security_essentials.

The software giant was completely mute on moving MSE, but then again, the company did not announce the release of v2.0, so silence was somewhat to be expected.

Users navigating to M... (read more)]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:12:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Gets-a-New-Home-230395.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-2-1-Gets-a-New-Home-230395.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Drops-Lawsuit-Against-Kelihos-Botnet-Case-Named-Defendants-230372.shtml Microsoft will be dismissing the lawsuit against Dominique Alexander Piatti and dotFREE Group SRO, the named defendants in the case of the Kelihos botnet takedown, after a settlement was reached.

Richard Domingues Boscovich, Senior Attorney, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, stressed that the software giant will con... (read more)]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Drops-Lawsuit-Against-Kelihos-Botnet-Case-Named-Defendants-230372.shtml Security http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Drops-Lawsuit-Against-Kelihos-Botnet-Case-Named-Defendants-230372.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga)