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Showing posts with label Cyber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyber. Show all posts

Cyber Security and the Emerging Security Threats

Cyber security has been associated with the ever-growing complexities, threats and even costs which are popping up and growing unprecedentedly each passing day. Devices are getting interconnected and this has brought about the many perils in the cyber world. The interconnectivity has made it easier for hackers and criminals to compromise data both on the large scale and irrespective of where it is found. Security risk management has continued to be headache to many different groups of cyber users who happen to be the businesses as well as individuals. The need to proactively protect web applications, web processes and above all data has to be approached with a lot of seriousness and compliance to eliminate all types of threats both external and internal. Not only are cyber attacks the most feared threat but the sabotage of infrastructure is feared since incidences are growing in number each passing day.

The ever-changing cyber security landscape has people, organizations and businesses on their toes in identifying risks and vulnerabilities in their resources and systems. Threats as earlier mentioned have been on the rise due to the communication networks expanding and being in a position to gather humongous amounts of data. Yet another form of threat has been the rise of digital and cyber weapons which have been designed and deployed to target specific control systems or targeted at data stored in them with the intention of bringing each of these down. It should be remembered that the threats to infrastructure arises from the increase in access points within the network. Other threats have been the theft of data especially from governments, the theft of intellectual data property, the theft of financial information and cyber attacks aimed at the mobile devices.

The cyber security landscape this year has seen the problems and challenges which have been presented by mobile devices and applications. The use of the mobile devices has continued to grow and this growth has been matched in the growth of cyber attacks aimed at these devices. The growth of the mobile app niche has also seen an increase in the threats hidden and associated with many apps now found either free or at a small fee. The apps which are location based will have the risk of threat is when the applications are packaged with malicious code and malware such that they are then sold or availed to unsuspecting users. Other applications have been made in such a way that they will download malware and such programs like keyloggers and others that will record phone calls and the text messages.

The social engineering threat has been also on the rise with the intention being people will click on malicious links through the use of rogue antivirus and other many rogue and fake software like fake backup software mimicking the cloud computing services.

Hactivism has also been on the rise with different people or groups of people registering their displeasure and their non compliance with political decisions and opinions and other social factors through the staging of cyber protests. Their biggest tool has the denial of service attacks that are intended to bring down websites and systems. The DoS attacks will limit or totally disrupt the access of data on various websites and across a network. The other form of attacks has seen the posting of sensitive information such as the email information and credit card information which have been stolen or hacked.

The advanced persistent threat is another form of attack which takes the shape of a longterm hacking which is often targeted through subversive and stealthy means at intellectual property. Espionage is one form and the other is capturing network by working on vulnerable points. A network once captured will be used to store data and information and for other people a relay point. The spear phishing attacks are aimed at businesses and the top echelons of organizations with the aim of obtaining some confidential data or gaining access to networks and the businesses.

With so many threats faced in the cyber world, sound security practices need to be used both by individuals and businesses. The practices and measures taken are those that guard against attacks and cyber challenges and ally the impact of an attack.

Go to GNS store for more information on cyber security threats now! GNS specializes in providing the ultimate cyber security solutions in order to prevent devastating types of attacks to your system and facilitate safe web browsing.


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Cyber Attacks and Your Money

During the last month, there were cyber attacks to our banks from foreign countries. These attacks denied many people access to their banking by overloading the system. I check my online banking daily, so I was one of many who could not get access my bank's website to view my account, or make any transactions.

These attacks have caused many people to become concerned about their money. I don't know if these concerns are real or not. Most large companies have very sophisticated computers with extensive backup systems.

However I do see some experts predicting that there might be some problems in the future, either from viruses or other computer problems beyond my understand.

So is our money safe in our banks? And if not, what should we do?

I trust that our financial institutions are doing everything possible to protect our computers and financial records. I believe we have some of the most intelligent and well-trained people in the world protecting our computers and guarding against potential problems.

Having said that, I do believe that there are certain things everyone should do to protect their money and any situation that may arise to come between us and our money.

Here are the basics.

1. Keep an adequate supply of food and the other necessities of life in your home to ride out a short-term crisis.

2. Keep a little extra cash in your home, in small and large bills. If you can't access the money in your bank, you want to have cash available to buy items where business is still being conducted.

You need a mix of both large and small bills. You do not to have to give someone a $10 bill for a bottle of water when they don't have any change.

3. Keep a paper copy of your money in banks or other saving vehicles. Make sure that it is current. If you have an online bank, be sure to print your bank statement monthly and keep it in a safe place in your home.

Finally, be sure and protect your personal computer. Have a good virus program installed on your computer, and back up your information to a travel disk (USB flash drive) and also use an online backup service to store your information.

No one can predict what may or may not happen. However we can do our part to protect our personal information.

Remember, if you get hungry, you cannot count on the government delivering a fresh loaf of bread to your doorstep. If everyone prepares and works together, we will all do better in handling any cyber attacks and potential emergencies together.

About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at http://www.frugalhappyfamilies.com/ - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!


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The Cyber War: Do Not Be a Casualty

America is at war.

No, not just the war in Afghanistan.

There is a war underway that uses computers and software instead of guns and bullets, a "cyber war".

Last week the Washington Post (9/21/12) reported that Iran has been engaged in cyber-attacks against major US banks including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America. The attacks include efforts to disrupt their networks and bring down their web sites through Denial of Service (DOS) attacks that flood their networks with messages.

Senator Joe Lieberman (I) is quoted as saying that he feels this was not independent hackers but a sophisticated effort by the Iranian military to disrupt key components of the American economy.

Iran has denied they caused the attack, but it is widely believed that the Iranians have stepped up the cyber capabilities since they were the victim of a computer virus that attacked their nuclear facilities, known as the Stutznet Virus. Just today, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard asserted that they are prepared for a "Cyber War" that he believes could cause more destruction than a "physical confrontation". (Reuters 9/25/12)

This is not a new phenomenon and it is growing. Gen Keith B. Alexander, head of the US National Security Agency asserted that cyber-attacks against US Infrastructure increased by a multiple of 17 between 2009 and 2011 (NY Times 7/26/12). These attacks have targeted infrastructure such the electrical grid, water supply, computer and cell phone networks.

The Iranians are certainly not the only foreign attacker. The Chinese are believed to be heavily engaged in hacking into American corporate and governmental networks. Although they seem more intent on stealing technology and gaining intelligence for economic gain, there has also been an ominous focus on oil and energy related infrastructure (CBSNews.com 9/20/12).

Should this matter to the average computer user or web site operator to do?

Well, besides the fallout from disrupting infrastructure and the economy the average person can be directly affected.

First, viruses intended for one target may hit other targets. There are some nasty viruses floating around that appear to have been intended for Mideast targets that have made their way to Europe and the US. Anytime you visit a web site and download a file you could be at risk. How do you know who really operates that site with those Kate Middleton pics?

Second, a common technique of these attacks is to enlist unwitting computer users into participating. This is called creating a network of bots, aka "zombie" computers by infecting and controlling a user's computer for nefarious purposes. Such "bonnets" are the number one source for sending spam email and Denial of Service attacks. The use of these computers makes it difficult to trace the original source and the computer owners may not even be aware that they are being used.

Zombies may be popular today in film and fiction but you do not want your computer to become one. You may "only" experience performance issues, but you could also be open to further infection.

What can you do?

First, all computer users should make sure they have the best available Firewall and Antivirus protection. That's true whether you are a home user, operating a corporate network or a web host. Home users should never be without protection because there are some very good free firewall and scanner systems available.

In managing corporate networks, it is helpful if you use "end point security management" systems that help you ensure that every computer on your network has the latest antivirus and firewall software that your company is using. A computer network is only as strong as its weakest link and most malware are unknown at the time they are unleashed.

That is why I believe the best antivirus software and firewalls use a whitelist system and sandbox technology. The way this works is the scanner only permits software to operate within your system if it is on a list of valid programs. If it suspects that any software has a problem, it will allow the program to run in an isolated system area called a sandbox. Based on its behavior in the sandbox, the AV software will determine if it is OK or should be deleted.

If you are the operator of a web site that exchanges personal information, such as an e-Commerce site, you probably know to use the Secured Socket Layer (SSL) that creates a secured encrypted connection between the web server and the browser. This will prevent you from unwittingly supplying malware to your site users.

However, this requires that you obtain and SSL Certificate and not all Certificates are the same. Beware of free certificates that are "self-signed". That means there is no verification that the web site the user is attempting to connect to is in fact the one it is purported to be. That means your users could be supply information to a hacker who will use it for nefarious and even criminal uses.

In addition, there are various levels of verification with SSL Certificates. Basic certificates just verify that the correct ownership of the web site, not that they are reputable. More advanced, enhanced certificates provide a higher degree of verification and protection.

If you do not want to be a casualty of the cyber war you need to make sure that you have best firewall and antivirus protection. Web operators who want to stay out of the line of fire need to use Enhanced SSL Certificates as well.

There is a cyber war underway and every computer user needs to be involved in the fight. by using the best antivirus software. Every web operator must keep their sites clean of infections and, if they exchange information with their visitors, use Enhanced SSL Certificates.


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How to Remove United States Cyber Security Virus

United States Cyber Security virus is a ransomware that was programmed to attack computers in USA. This virus can be distinguished from other malwares by a very aggressive behavior towards an infected machine. As soon as it gets inside the system, it blocks computer completely. The only thing the owner of the infected machine can see is a message:

Your PC is blocked due to at least one of the reasons specified below.

You have been violating Copyright and Related Rights Law (Video, Music, Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, also known as the Copyright of the Criminal Code of United States of America.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of two to five hundred minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for two to eight years.

...

To unblock the computer, you must pay the fine through MoneyPak of $100.

United States Cyber Security virus just like other versions of this ransomware such as FBI virus, Canadian Police virus or Ukash virus gets inside computer using security holes and system vulnerabilities. One might get infected by the virus after downloading a corrupted file or visiting an infected webpage. United States Cyber Security virus is distributed using Trojans downloaded from exploit pages as well as corrupt shareware.

Once the virus is in the system, you will be displayed with a scary message shown on a with "camera" window each time you turn on your computer. This ransomware disables the rest of your programs therefore your PC does not respond to any of your commands. No matter how convincing the message of this virus looks like, do not pay the fine. It will only encourage more of similar viruses to be distributed and definitely will not unblock your system. If you already paid the fine and read this article after your money is spent, contact your credit card company as soon as possible and dispute the charges. Note, none of official governmental institutions accept payments using prepaid payment system. Once you see such a payment option this should be a first sign for you that something is wrong and you are looking at a scam.

To unblock your computer you will need to do some work manually. First of all restart your computer in a safe mode or safe mode with networking. Then run MSConfig. After it is finished, disable all startup entries. You can identify malicious entries easily as they will reference a file from your user folder. Restart your computer one more time. This time it should not be blocked anymore. Do not forget to perform a full system scan of your PC.

Here is a step by step video guide on United States Cyber Security virus removal.


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