Paul F. Roberts

An increase in the number of holes in software applications and network devices like routers and switches is allowing malicious hackers to gain access to sensitive systems, including government and military systems, according to the SANS Institute. SANS warned of the switch to attacks on applications and network devices in its annual publication of the […]

Anti-virus and e-mail security companies warned Internet users Tuesday about a new variant of the Sober worm that was flooding e-mail servers around the world, with help from zombie machines infected by earlier editions of the same worm. Sober.AG is the latest in a long line of mass e-mail worms. It appeared Monday, after machines […]

Just weeks after announcing its first dedicated product for network access control, Juniper Networks Inc. last week said it will buy Funk Software Inc. to boost its network access security lineup. Juniper, of Sunnyvale, Calif., will pay $122 million for Funk, of Cambridge, Mass., in an all-cash transaction that still must be approved by the […]

Google is useful for all kinds of things—finding Web pages, getting driving directions, even doing math. Now add murder to that list. According to a published report from television station WRAL in North Carolina, investigators looking into the 2-year-old murder of Janine Sutphen said that the prime suspect in the murder, Sutphens husband, Robert Petrick, […]

Two of every three computers are running software that contains a critical security hole, according to statistics released by vulnerability scanning company Qualys Inc. The data, based on more than 32 million vulnerability scans, spans three years. In all, 21 million critical vulnerabilities were identified in that period that could allow an attacker to take […]

Dell Inc. will bundle security software from Wave Systems Inc. on future business PCs equipped with the Trusted Platform Module, a secure computing chip, according to information provided to federal regulators by Wave Systems. Wave signed a deal with Dell to ship the Wave Embassy Trust Suite software on new business PCs on Nov. 14, […]

IT administrators who are inclined to dismiss the dust storm that has blown up over Sony BMG Music Entertainments digital rights management rootkit might want to reconsider. Vulnerabilities in Web and client/server applications are becoming the new battleground in the war against malicious hackers, as holes in network perimeters and Web servers become harder to […]

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. is notifying customers that it will replace CDs that contain copy protection software from Sony BMG, citing security concerns. In e-mail messages sent to customers who bought one of more than fifty CDs with the controversial XCP copy protection, Amazon.com told customers that they can receive full refunds for the CDs, […]

Identity management continued to be a hot area for acquisitions, as nCipher plc, a UK-based cryptographic hardware and software maker, said on Friday that it had acquired Abridean Inc. of Chicago, a maker of identity management technology for US $17.9 million. nCipher will add Abrideans Provisor user identity management technology to its keyAuthority key management […]

Its not engraved in stone or gracing the edifice of any corporate headquarters, but the following adage is well-established in the IT departments of corporations, universities and government agencies around the world: “When in doubt, blame the user.” Its an amazingly versatile tool. Did a virus slip past your desktop anti-virus product? Blame the user! […]

Two prominent advertising software vendors said on Wednesday that they would support a new registration program for consumer downloadable software programs that is backed by Yahoo Inc., America Online Inc. and others. Representatives from 180 Solutions Inc. and Direct Revenue Inc. said their companies would agree to support the Trusted Download Program and begin making […]

Citrix Systems Inc. continued its investment in application delivery technology Tuesday, announcing that it has purchased privately held Teros Inc., which makes Web application firewall technology. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Citrix, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plans to use Teros Web application security technology along with application delivery software it acquired with […]