SECURE IT ALERT: Apple Mac Trojan Vulnerability – Patched in OS X Malware Upgrade

Secure IT Alert Header

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Macintosh users are getting their own patches for Mal-Ware lately. Released last week with absolutely no fanfare was OS X 10.6.4 which addresses a Trojan vulnerability among other things. It seems that Apple intentionally has not made a big deal about this security issue, partly to help keep up the appearance that Mac computers are impervious to malicious software. A thought that is echoed by countless owners and proponents of the platform.

Regarding the Trojan and the patch, security firm Sophos has more information here – basically, the vulnerability can give full control of your Mac PC to an attacker…

As with any operating system, whether it is Microsoft Windows, various versions of Linux, Unix, *BSD, or even the beloved Mac OS X, it is important that your computer have proper anti-virus / anti-malware installed, and that you keep the operating system itself up to date with patches as well as any supporting software you may use. Adobe recently announced multiple vulnerabilities in their Flash and Air that are vulnerable on Mac OS X as well as every other platform.

Should you require assistance installing updates or patches, or would like to purchase Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware such as our favorite, Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security and the entire product line from Trend Micro, please call us at 864-990-4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

Homeland Secure IT Alert Footer

Homeland Secure IT Alert - Contact Info

iPad app from the Piano Guy helps you learn new songs on piano – I want one for guitar chords, tab & lyrics!

I have an idea for a great iPad app that would be awesome for fellow musicians…  Imagine having a screen the size of the iPad, with a mount that secures it to a typical mic stand, and allows you to adjust it to a comfortable viewing angle. Now imagine an app that has the chords, tabs and lyrics available for your viewing, and lets you store the most popular songs, as well as search the ‘net for content on the fly.

That would be my dream setup for playing live gigs and when a request for some song you are familiar with but have never played, or maybe you can play it but don’t know the lyrics – you pull it up on your iPad and viola, you make someone happy that you couldn’t have otherwise have done.

Also for learning new songs, practicing, etc, this would be great! I’m waiting for this to come around! If it doesn’t, I may have to develop it myself.

While searching for my dream app, I found one from the Piano Guy, who has a TV show teaching piano… He now has an iPad app for his lessons that lets a person download the lesson, place the iPad on your piano, just like printed music, at a comfortable viewing angle and watch these videos to play along… Nice application!

SECURE IT ALERT: Adobe Vulnerabilities Affect Mac, Windows, and More! Please Update NOW!

Secure IT Alert Header

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, June 18, 2010

Greetings and salutations,

Last week we warned of Critical Vulnerabilities which affect Adobe products and this week we are hearing of many people being exploited by these security holes.

There are patches and updates available that will secure your system, however, they are not applied automatically and must be performed by someone on each workstation. These updates are NOT handled by Microsoft Windows Update, WSUS, and many patch management systems.

Note that this affects ALL platforms, Microsoft Windows, Windows Server, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, VMWare systems with VMWare Tools.

This is an excerpt from the Adobe site:

AFFECTED SOFTWARE VERSIONS

Adobe Flash Player 10.0.45.2 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris
Adobe AIR 1.5.3.9130 and earlier versions for Windows, Macintosh and Linux

To verify the Adobe Flash Player version number installed on your system, access the About Flash Player page, or right-click on content running in Flash Player and select “About Adobe (or Macromedia) Flash Player” from the menu. If you use multiple browsers, perform the check for each browser you have installed on your system.

To verify the Adobe AIR version number installed on your system, access the Adobe AIR TechNote for instructions.

SOLUTION

Adobe Flash Player
Adobe recommends all users of Adobe Flash Player 10.0.45.2 and earlier versions upgrade to the newest version 10.1.53.64 by downloading it from the Adobe Flash Player Download Center or by using the auto-update mechanism within the product when prompted.

To address the vulnerabilities described in this Security Bulletin, a prerelease version of Flash Player 10.1 for Solaris platforms is available from Adobe Labs.

For users who cannot update to Flash Player 10.1.53.64, Adobe has developed a patched version of Flash Player 9, Flash Player 9.0.277.0, which can be downloaded from the following link.

Adobe AIR
Adobe recommends all users of Adobe AIR 1.5.3.9130 and earlier versions update to the newest version 2.0.2.12610 by downloading it from the Adobe AIR Download Center.

SEVERITY RATING

Adobe categorizes this as a critical update and recommends affected users update their installations to the newest versions.

More information about the security updates is available from Adobe at this URL:

http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-14.html

If we can be of any assistance at all, please do not hesitate to contact us… We perform complete computer, server and network support, service and repair in Greenville and Upstate SC, as well as offer best-in-class Anti-Virus from Trend Micro!

Be safe and have a great weekend!

Homeland Secure IT Alert Footer

Homeland Secure IT Alert - Contact Info

2

Best of the Upstate / Greenville Computer Repair, Sales, Service & Support #greenville #upstate

Best of the Upstate

We would be honored if you would help us get this cool graphic for use on our website and publications!

We are often told we offer the best computer repair, sales, service and support in Greenville and the Upstate, but the Greenville News is currently looking for people to participate in their poll for the “Best of the Upstate 2010” and we would be honored if you would take a couple minutes of your time and vote…

Here is the link to the poll: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AM8P6RVZN

What’s in it for you??? You can win a $500 dollar Visa gift card just for voting in 10 categories!

The category that we fit into is #34 Computer Store/Service Provider…  We are not listed there, so you would have to write in: Homeland Secure IT, LLC

Please consider writing in or selecting these other great places:

#22 Bartender

Brad at Thaicoon Ricefire (We love this guy, super nice, and does a great job)

#28 Carpet Cleaners?

McAbee’s Custom Carpets (This is Pamela’s family owned business)

#34 Computer Store/Service Provider?

Homeland Secure IT, LLC  (US! Wouldn’t you know it!??!)

#45 Jewelry Store?

Julie’s Jewels & Gifts (Julie is awesome – she can get anything for you if she doesn’t have it, or she can have it made)

#50 Mexican Restaurant?

Cancun of Piedmont (This is a client of our’s… Best Mexican food in Piedmont. Oh wait, the ONLY Mexican food in Piedmont!)

Thank you for your support!!!!!!!!!!

1

Protect your computers and servers from power issues with an UPS #lightning #greenville

Lightning Strike

One lightning strike can ruin your whole day...

If you live here in the Upstate of South Carolina, you probably enjoyed nature’s light show last night, but you might not have enjoyed it if your computer, server, network components or other sensitive electronics fell victim to one of the many strikes that occurred.

While it is very difficult to protect yourself from a direct lightning strike, a modest investment can prevent the most common threats from destroying your equipment. Power events such as blackouts, where power is totally lost, or brownouts where the voltage drops to less than 120 volts AC, and the worst culprits of power surges and power spikes, which occur along with the blackouts, brownouts and nearby lightning strikes can usually be stopped before they cause damage.

The cheapest form of insurance is a surge protector, but we suggest you go one step further, and use an UPS, which is an Un-interruptable Power Supply. This type of device goes in-line between your power outlet, and your computer, and can protect the computer, printer, monitor and other devices that are plugged into it.

BONUS: If there is a power event that causes a brownout or blackout condition, an UPS will continue to power your computer until it can be shutdown safely, after saving your documents! With a cheap surge protector, the computer would go down immediately and everything you were working on could be lost.

There is an UPS for every application. UPS large enough to power your servers, network equipment and VoIP or analog/digital phone system are available, and small enough to protect a surveillance camera system and keep it online. Most feature the ability to protect a network too, so you can stop a surge from coming in on a DSL line and possibly save that expensive Cisco router or firewall!

Homeland Secure IT offers a full line of outstanding power protection products from surge protection, full-house surge protection, to UPS and power isolators. We are partners with two of the biggest manufacturers of these products, APC by Schneider Electric and EATON.  Whether you need protection for just one computer, or an entire data center, please email info@homelandsecureit.com or call 864-990-4748 and select option 1 to speak with me and arrange for a free consultation for Greenville and Upstate SC businesses and individuals.

Computer network security and support is about more than a quick fix or repair on your PC, it is about preventing devastating damage through planning…

SECURE IT ALERT: Apple iPad reportedly still has a vulnerable Safari browser

Apple iPad

The little Apple iPad could come complete with a big security hole

The awesome little iPad tablet computer from apple is still vulnerable to the hacks that were reported earlier. According to this article, ‘Once implemented, the hack can reportedly allow hackers to steal someone else’s email identity, reflash network devices with firmware, or trick Safari into doing “pretty much anything on any TCP port and not have any current IDS/IPS in existence be any wiser for it.”‘

The Safari browser has been patched on other platforms, but remains vulnerable on the iPad. User beware…

Homeland Secure IT is committed to helping our clients stay safe by informing them of potential security issues. If we can help you or your business with network security or network support, please email info@homelandsecureit.com or call us today at 864-990-4748.

Microsoft Office 2010 is finally available for purchase from Homeland Secure IT!

Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2010 is Available NOW

Microsoft has released Office 2010 and it will be coming pre-installed on computers immediately. Should you buy a new computer from us or any other vendor, why not compliment that awesome new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system with the new Office 2010?!

The pre-loaded version will operate in a fully functional demo mode to give you an idea of how great this new office is, and when you are ready, you need only purchase the registration card, which does not include the software installation CD, just a 25 character product key on a card (PKC, or Product Key Card is the official name). You key that in and your software is registered.

Homeland Secure IT is a Microsoft Partner & Microsoft Small Business Specialist!  We can provide your registration cheaper than some other retail outlets. I will list the retail prices below and explain the versions that are available for registration. Please email info@homelandsecureit.com or call us at 864-990-4748 for your cost.

Versions of Microsoft Office 2010:

Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Student – Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote – Retail $149

Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Business – Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook – Retail $199

Microsoft Office 2010 Professional – Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access – Retail $349.99

Registering the version that comes loaded with your new computer will save you LOTS of money over the full retail versions!  The entire suites retail for $279.99 for Home & Business, and a whopping $499.99 for professional! In addition to the savings, you are obviously doing something good for the environment because you are eliminating all of the packaging materials involved with the retail purchase!

Should you wish to purchase a full retail suite, or open licensing, please contact us for details! We also offer installation and upgrade support, computer repair & service, etc.

4

Help Homeland Secure IT & maybe get something for yourself in the process! #greenville

The Best of the Upstate voting is going on, where you pick your favorite places in the Upstate, and those who are most popular win fame and fortune!  Okay, maybe not fame or fortune, but the winners do get a little publicity and recognition…

If you would like to participate go to: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AM8P6RVZN

You can win a $500 dollar Visa gift card just for voting in 10 categories!

You just fill out some information about yourself (if you want a chance at winning) then select the best places in the Upstate of SC!

Please consider writing in or selecting these places:

#22 Bartender

Brad at Thaicoon Ricefire (We love this guy, super nice, and does a great job)

#28 Carpet Cleaners?

McAbee’s Custom Carpets (This is Pamela’s family owned business)

#34 Computer Store/Service Provider?

Homeland Secure IT, LLC  (US! Wouldn’t you know it!??!)

#45 Jewelry Store?

Julie’s Jewels & Gifts (Julie is awesome – she can get anything for you if she doesn’t have it, or she can have it made)

#50 Mexican Restaurant?

Cancun of Piedmont (This is a client of our’s… Best Mexican food in Piedmont. Oh wait, the ONLY Mexican food in Piedmont!)

#55 Best NEW Upstate Business

Homeland Secure IT, LLC (Hey, it’s us again!)

Thanks again for your support of Homeland Secure IT, we really couldn’t do it without our awesome friends, family and clients!  Sure, we could still offer the best computer service, repair & network support in Greenville and the Upstate, but what would it matter without you!?!

Thank you so much for your help!  BTW: If you have a business you would like someone to vote on, please respond to this post…

John