Safer Net Surfing
by NIST
When you type www.irs.gov—or the Web address of your bank or an e-commerce site—into your web browser, you want to be sure that no one is hijacking your request and sending you to a bogus look-alike page. You’re relying on the integrity of the Internet’s “phone book,” the Domain Name System (DNS). Computer scientists [...]
Tracking GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network
This report documents the GhostNet – a suspected cyber espionage network of over 1,295 infected computers in 103 countries, 30% of which are high-value targets, including ministries of foreign affairs, embassies, international organizations, news media, and NGOs.
The capabilities of GhostNet are far-reaching. The report reveals that Tibetan computer systems were compromised giving attackers access to [...]
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Conficker Worm Targets Microsoft Windows Systems
US-CERT is aware of public reports indicating a widespread infection of the Conficker worm, which can infect a Microsoft Windows system from a thumb drive, a network share, or directly across the network if the host is not patched with MS08-067.
The presence of a Conficker infection may be detected if a user is unable to [...]
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Java Security Vulnerabilities
Sun Releases Updates for Java SE
added March 26, 2009 at 08:54 am
Sun has released updates for Java SE to address multiple vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial-of-service condition, or operate with escalated privileges.
US-CERT encourages users to review the Sun Java SE 6 Update Release Notes and upgrade [...]
Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities
Source: US-CERT
As part of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for March 2009, Microsoft released updates to address vulnerabilities that affect Microsoft Windows and Windows Server.
A remote, unauthenticated attacker could gain elevated privileges, poison the DNS cache, execute arbitrary code, or cause a vulnerable application to crash.
Solution
Microsoft has provided updates for these vulnerabilities in the Microsoft [...]
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Is Your Computer Part of a Zombie Army?
(NAPS) — Hackers and spammers may be using your computer right now. They invade secretly and hide software to get access to the information on your computer, including your e-mail program. Once on your computer, they can spy on your Internet surfing, steal your personal information and use your computer to send spam to [...]
Economic Stimulus Email and Website Scams
US-CERT is aware of reports of economic stimulus scams circulating. These scams are being conducted through both email and malicious websites.
Some of the email scam messages request personal information, which can then be used for identity theft. Other email scam messages offer to deposit the stimulus funds directly into users’ bank accounts. If users provide [...]
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Mozilla Foundation Releases Firefox 3.0.7
Mozilla Foundation has released Firefox 3.0.7 to address multiple vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, cause a denial-of-service condition, obtain sensitive information, or spoof the location bar. The Mozilla Foundation Security Advisories also indicate that these vulnerabilities affect Thunderbird and SeaMonkey.
US-CERT encourages users to review the following Mozilla Foundation Security [...]
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Next World Cyber-security Contest
Next World Cyber-security Contest Launched by FIRST, CERT Coordination Center
Pittsburgh, PA, February, 25 2009 – The second international competition honoring best practices and advances in safeguarding the security of computer systems and networks was announced today by FIRST (the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) and the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute CERT Coordination [...]
New Variant of Conficker/Downadup Worm Circulating
US-CERT is aware of public reports concerning a new variant of the Conficker/Downadup worm, named Conficker B++. This variant propagates itself via multiple methods, including exploitation of the previously patched vulnerability addressed in MS08-067, password guessing, and the infection of removable media. Most significantly, Conficker B++ implements a new backdoor with “auto-update” functionality, allowing machines [...]
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