Dennis Fisher

NAI Tool Scans for Network Cracks

Network Associates Inc.s McAfee Security division on Monday unveiled a new scanning tool designed specifically to find network vulnerabilities that viruses and worms might be able to exploit. Known as ThreatScan, the software works in conjunction with the companys existing ePolicy Orchestrator management console and can perform scans of any network-attached device. ThreatScan works much […]

IEs Handling of Cookies Flawed

A newly discovered flaw in the way that Internet Explorer handles Web site cookies could enable an attacker to view and edit a users personal data contained in the cookies. The vulnerability affects all versions of IE but is mitigated by several factors, according to a bulletin released Thursday by Microsoft Corp. Under normal operation, […]

EPIC Gains in Records Battle

The Electronic Privacy Information Center won another round this week in its ongoing battle with the FBI over access to records pertaining to the Carnivore surveillance system. A federal judge has ruled that the nearly 2,000 pages of documents the bureau produced in response to EPICs request under the Freedom of Information Act likely dont […]

Experts Debate Risks to Crypto

There is a growing debate in the cryptography community over whether the cryptographic keys used in dozens of applications should be considered compromised in light of a recent paper detailing a more efficient way of factoring large numbers. On one side are security and cryptography enthusiasts—professionals and amateurs alike—who believe that the technique, described in […]

SEC Investigates Network Associates

One day after McAfee.com Corp. rejected its exchange offer, security vendor Network Associates Inc. on Tuesday revealed that it is the subject of a formal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC on Friday informed the company that it has begun an inquiry into NAIs accounting practices during the 2000 fiscal year. As […]

Security Proposal in Jeopardy

The future looks increasingly murky for a document that many in the security industry hoped could help bring some order to the chaotic process of disclosing security vulnerabilities. The document, “Responsible Disclosure Process,” was withdrawn last week from consideration by the Internet Engineering Task Force by its authors, Chris Wysopal, director of research and development […]

NAIs Plan to Buy Back McAfee.com in Jeopardy

McAfee.com Corp. on Monday said a special committee of its board of directors rejected Network Associates Inc.s plans to buy back the McAfee.com shares it doesnt already own because the “offer would be financially inadequate.” The company, which was formerly a wholly owned division of Network Associates, said that its former parent companys proposal undervalues […]

MyLife .B Worm Deletes Infected PCs Files

Anti-virus experts are tracking a new worm that has the ability to delete files from infected machines. The worm, known as MyLife.B, arrives via e-mail and is a variant of the original MyLife virus, which has been in the wild for some time. The worm arrives in an e-mail with the subject line of “bill […]

Taking on IT Security

The Federal Governments top information security officials are finalizing a strategy that they hope will provide immediate and long-term solutions to the security problems plaguing the nations networks. The multifaceted plan would require cooperation from private industry and academia but would not involve any real government oversight. The combination of public-private partnerships and market pressure […]

NAI to Buy Back Complete Control of McAfee.com

Continuing his effort to refocus Network Associates Inc. and do away with any unnecessary management layers, CEO George Samenuk announced late Sunday that NAI will make a formal offer to buy back the 25 percent of McAfee.com shares that it doesnt already own. McAfee.com shareholders will be entitled to 0.675 shares of NAI stock for […]