Dennis Fisher

Microsoft Corp. this week launched a new Web-based tool designed to help Internet users determine the level of online privacy they want. The tool takes the form of an interactive 10-question quiz that puts the user into one of six categories based on his or her answers. The categories range from “Defender: One who is […]

Nortel Networks Corp. on Tuesday unveiled a suite of products and services designed to increase the performance of corporate networks by eliminating the data bottleneck created by firewalls and other security applications. Known collectively as the Alteon Security Cluster, the products include the Alteon Web Switch, Alteon Security Appliances and custom software. The suite is […]

In an effort to capitalize on the interest in all things security, IBM and Loudcloud Inc. last week announced expanded security service offerings, with an emphasis on vulnerability assessment and intrusion detection. Among the offerings from IBM Global Services are enhanced intrusion detection and vulnerability assessments, security policy assessments, managed firewall services, and virtual private […]

A fast-spreading e-mail worm infected thousands of home users over the long holiday weekend and began spreading in enterprises as well on Monday. Known as Badtrans.B, the virus infects PCs through several methods, but the most troubling aspect of the new worm is its ability to install a keystroke logger and a backdoor Trojan. Badtrans.B, […]

As part of its ongoing effort to repair its reputation for poor security, Microsoft Corp. for the past year has taken the extraordinary step of subjecting the code of its .Net framework to an intensive review by two outside security firms. The review, conducted by Foundstone Inc. and Core Security Technologies, included a study of […]

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday launched a new Web-based tool designed to help Internet users set their level of online privacy. The tool, dubbed the Privacy Assessment Quiz, takes the form of an interactive 10-question quiz that puts the user into one of six categories based on the answers. The categories range from “Defender: One who […]

Microsoft Corp.s vulnerability-handling plan is a good start but may end up being insufficient as the specter of government regulation of Internet security looms, according to security experts. As IT security administrators and CIOs were absorbing the details of Microsofts plan last week (see “Cracking Down on Hackers”), the U.S. House Committee on Energy and […]

IBM on Monday announced a broad expansion of its security consulting practice, including a partnership with Kroll Inc. for physical security assessments and protection. Among the new offerings from IBM Global Services are enhanced intrusion detection and vulnerability assessments, security policy assessments, managed firewall services, and VPN and authentication services. IBM, of Armonk, N.Y., is […]

John Ryan, who resigned abruptly as CEO of Entrust Inc. earlier this year, took over the same post at ZixIt Corp. on Thursday. Ryan replaces David Cook, ZixIts founder and the former president and CEO of the Dallas company. Ryan will also assume the title of chairman, which was formerly held by Jeff Papows. Both […]

Security researchers have identified a serious vulnerability in the Common Desktop Environment GUI used by many Unix systems that could enable a remote attacker to gain root privileges on a target machine. The flaw is a buffer overflow in the subprocess control server, which is typically started by the Internet service daemon when the CDE […]

Palm Inc. on Monday announced that it has chosen RSA Security Inc. to provide the encryption and other security software for future versions of the Palm OS. Palm will use RSAs BSAFE encryption software to protect transactions made using Palm devices. The deal is an important one for RSA, of Bedford, Mass., which has fallen […]

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–Claiming that the wanton posting of security information online is empowering hackers and hurting consumers, Microsoft Corp. is crafting a plan that would restrict the number of people privy to security vulnerability data. Under the terms of the proposal circulated, which began as an online essay by Microsoft Security Response Center Manager Scott […]