mysql.com website hacked and used to serve malware to visitors

In what is becoming way too common, the popular site, mysql.com was exploited, and used to distribute malware by redirecting visitors to another site this week.

Anyone browsing to mysql.com yesterday would have been redirected, and without even being prompted, then likely been exploited themselves by the software running on the rogue website which apparently looked for vulnerable browser plugins to use for an injection point.

Trend Micro’s smart web filtering may have caught this and stopped it, but one thing is for sure… Doing everything you can to protect yourself from this type of exploit is more important than ever.

You should always insure you are running up-to-date and mainstream/quality anti-virus software (Such as Trend Micro), and also keep your operating system (whether Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X or even linux), browser, and all support software such as Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader and JAVA, as well as Microsoft Office fully updated!

Another thing you should consider is backups! With the cost of USB hard drives at an all time low, and online backup (Like our Servosity offering) being an easy install, configuration and affordable, there is no excuse to not have backups.

Should you need assistance in the Greenville / Upstate SC area determining what you or your business needs, please contact us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We provide sales of Trend Micro, Symantect & McAfee anti-virus protection, virus cleanup & removal, and can handle your computer service & computer repair tasks!

 

Cisco OnPlus service available now to small & medium businesses

Cisco OnPlus

Large businesses have full-time IT staff or fully outsourced IT support that provide monitoring of their infrastructure and keep them up to date and now small & medium (SMB) businesses can have the same level of support when it comes to devices on their network.

Cisco OnPlus works by allowing Homeland Secure IT or your Cisco SMB service provider to place a Cisco OnPlus Network Agent at your location and configure it for reporting.  The Cisco SMB specialist will be able to monitor your site from remote on a variety of devices, from handheld to tablets, to desktops and take action when needed.

OnPlus is the latest tool in the Managed Service Provider’s arsenal. Using it, Cisco products can be backed up, restored and fully managed remotely. Other devices are supported as well!

As always with Cisco, security is the name of the game and OnPlus provides a secure environment for your IT service provider to manage your network. Your data is safe from prying eyes, only the devices themselves can be managed and use of this system does not permit access to data outside of configuration and management.

If you would like your business to have monitoring, alerting, reporting and managing capabilities, then ask your Cisco SMB provider about this exciting offering. No need to wait for a service or repair technician to visit your location, management is handled in real-time, remotely! This service is one of the most affordable methods for managing your firewalls and security appliances, IP surveillance systems, switches, routers, VoIP phone systems and more.

Homeland Secure IT provides Cisco SMB sales and support in the Greenville & Upstate SC area. Call us today at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.

 

Want to buy a computer for half off or more?

Whoa, I bet you clicked on the link to come here because you thought Homeland was having some awesome sale??? EVERY DAY is an awesome sale when you compare our prices to the prices in the following post:

http://www.iheartchaos.com/post/10489506835/best-buy-ads-from-1996-look-like-they-might-as-well

 

 

You likely buying your computers at half the cost of those listed in the ad.

Remember when RAM was that expensive? What about CRTs, or whole computer systems? It’s been ages since we sold a notebook with the same price tag on it as in the Best Buy ad from 1996.

Have a great weekend, and be glad you don’t have to put one of those big flip phones up to your head still!

 

Google is planning to put an end to SSL exploits, hopefully before they happen with Chrome

The other day I posted about the BEAST that can circumvent SSL encryption used with websites and how a proof of concept would be demonstrated soon and actual exploits in the wild even sooner.

No sooner had I posted about that than Google’s Chrome development team had posted that they have an update already prepared for the Chrome browser that in theory should protect from the man-in-the-middle BEAST attack.

More information can be found over on The Register …

When the update comes….  Install it =)

 

 

 

 

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What’s your favorite phone? Android? Which flavor?

What smartphone are you using and why?

Our office has moved to Androids, and in particular Samsung Epic 4G (original and the new Galaxy S II Touch) and absolutely love them.

I’d love you input….

SSL encryption broken – Proof of concept demo later this week #ph33r

My first reaction to the news that read “Hackers break SSL encryption used by millions of sites – Beware of BEAST decrypting secret PayPal cookies” was, “What took ’em so long?”

The article above gives all the details you can stand, and a quick search of Google for news articles will tell you everything else you want to know.

The skinny is this: All versions of Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 and earlier are susceptible to listening in on their magic. IE: When you are using websites protected with TLS 1.0 and are hit with a browser exploit, everything is in the clear.

How do you protect against this one? Since this is likely a man-in-the-middle type exploit, using public wi-fi may make it easier for an attacker to make it happen. It also requires that the “BEAST” browser exploit be somehow loaded on your computer. How that payload will be delivered has yet to be determined.

Consider keeping virus definition up to date, using quality anti-virus like Trend Micro Worry Free for your business, or Titanium for your personal computer or smaller business. Keep the OS up to date, the browser and all support applications such as JAVA and Adobe Flash Player should also have the latest updates.

Be careful about which pages you visit, sites with questionable content (think porn, “warez”, etc) are excellent places to avoid.

Using a VPN when on public wi-fi is always a great idea.

While the proof of concept has not been released, expect copycat “BEAST” exploits to be out within weeks, or even days…

Be careful out there! (And don’t think this will be limited to Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer…  Expect Mac, Android, iPad, iPhone, Mozilla & Chrome to get in on the action too)

 

We’re giving away Microsoft Office 2010 for the heck of it it! #Greenville

Microsoft Office Home and Student 2010 (Product Key Card)We have ended up with an extra Microsoft Office Home & Student 2010 Product Key Card, which has to be sold at the time of a new computer purchase… So, what are we to do with it?

I think the only cool thing to do is give it away!

Anyone who buys a HOME / PERSONAL computer from us during the month of September will be entered into our little contest.

On Oct 3rd, 2011, we will draw a name and give that person a free copy of MS Office Home & Student 2010 to go with that computer you purchased!

This is normally a $120.oo value…

Need a computer for your home or business, or maybe dozens of computers??? We are resellers and partners with some of the biggest names in computer and server technology! HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Nexlink and more!  Call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

 

My next phone? Possibly Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch on Sprint….

One of our phones has a contract that is up and I could upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch that was released just today on Sprint.

Only one problem…  Nobody that I called in the Greenville area has one!  One person told me only 200 of the top stores got them today and those 200 stores only received 2 each.

So I will wait a while, or I could buy it online at sprint.com.

Why do I want it? Last year about this time, we replaced our aging Blackberry phones with Samsung Galaxy S Epic 4G phones and have loved them! BUT, that was this, this is now. The new phone does not have a keyboard built-in, so it is much thinner, and it also has a much larger display. The battery life is improved to boot.

As far as speed, the new phone has a 1.2Ghz DUAL CORE processor, compared to the 1Ghz single core we currently have.

The OS is upgraded, the camera is 8 megapixels.  What’s not to like?

Apparently the size. Some people don’t like that bigger 4.5″ screen, compared to the 4.3″ screen in our current phones.

We’ll see… Maybe by next week I can find one?

Thoughts?     OH, and don’t make it about carriers.  Sprint has done a great job of keeping us happy.  Verizon would be our 1st choice, but we’re locked in for a little while longer with 3 of our phones.

Have a great weekend!

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Can you increase your processor’s performance without replacing it? With some Intel CPUs you can!

Our preferred vendor Nexlink, has an “Upgrade Ready” line of computers that makes perfect sense for businesses who may want to save some money when they initially purchase, but down the road, increase the “horsepower” of their computer without replacing the entire system, or changing out the processor.

For example, if you purchased a business computer system from us with the Intel Core i3 2102 processor, you can later purchase a “Processor Performance Upgrade” from us too, and it does not involve even opening the machine.

We would visit your business, or you could optionally bring the computer to us, and we would apply a product key from Intel that would accomplish the following:

  • Increase frequency by 500 Mhz
  • Improves performance when downloading, editing and viewing photos, videos and music so you can multitask more effectively
  • Works more efficiently while running complex applications

Even the Intel Pentium C6x2 processor family can be upgraded with an increase of 600 Mhz!

The update is affordable and fast!

If you would like more information about the Intel Processor Performance Upgrade, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Old and busted – MBR viruses… New hotness – BIOS viruses (again)

This may come as no surprise to those who have been around computer security for a while, but the BIOS viruses are making a comeback!

One of the first made its debut back in 1999 and was known as “CIH”.  But Symantec is reporting a new killer on the block called “Trojan.Mebromi” that affects the Award BIOS and seizes control of a system even before you get to the MBR (Master Boot Record).

Expect this trend to continue….

Read more about it here:

http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/bios-threat-showing-again

 

As always, please insure your systems are using the latest anti-virus (We suggest and sell Trend Micro products such as the amazing Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security), that all updates are applied to your Microsoft Windows operating systems, all applications and support programs from Microsoft Office, to Adobe Reader, Flash and JAVA are at the latest patch levels. Obtain a quality firewall, and use common sense! And don’t forget to BACKUP!

If you suspect your system may be infected, or want to know how to better protect your computer or an entire business full of computers and servers, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.  We offer virus removal and cleanup in the Greenville / Upstate, SC area.

We provide sales, licensing, installation and support for Trend Micro and Symantec products. We can sell you one seat, or protect your business with 1000 users!