Secure IT Alert: Microsoft Unleashes a Slew of Updates for Windows & Windows Server & IIS FTP

Secure IT Alert for Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 The February 2011 Patch Tuesday was not boring…   Updates include something for everyone.  Basically every current Microsoft Windows OS version was addressed. The big one was the IE Update that fixed four code execution holes in the popular web browser. In addition to fixing thumbnail and font vulnerabilities which mainly affect …

Secure IT Alert: Vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer

 Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, December 31, 2010 An advisory from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/2488013.mspx) released today that reveals a new potentially dangerous vulnerability in Internet Explorer…. Here is an excerpt from that site: Microsoft Security Advisory (2488013) Vulnerability in Internet Explorer Could Allow Remote Code Execution Published: December 22, 2010 | Updated: December 31, 2010 Version: 1.1 General Information Executive …

Password security is a necessary inconvenience these days due to various sites being hacked…

It sure has been an event filled weekend regarding security! Several high profile sites have been hacked…  The largest is the Gawker controlled sites, Gawker, Gizmodo, Lifehacker and a slew of others where it is estimated that as many as 1.5 million usernames and passwords may have been compromised. Supposedly, the Gawker passwords also allowed Facebook to be used for …

Secure IT Alert: Apple QuickTime for Mac & Windows Vulnerable – Time to Update!

Secure IT Alert for Thursday, December 09, 2010 Apple has released a security update that addresses 15 media handling vulnerabilities in Apple QuickTime player on both the Mac and Windows operating systems. These vulnerabilities are similar in nature… If attacker can coax a user to open a malicious media file, such as an image or a video, the holes can …

SECURE IT ALERT: Adobe addresses vulnerabilities in Reader, Acrobat & Flash Player

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, November 19, 2010 This week, Adobe released additional updates that cover Adobe Reader, Acrobat and Flash Player… The existing bulletin published on October 28th was updated to cover the changes… I have attached the updated security bulletin below, but in short, if you are using Adobe products, it is important that you apply these …

Stuxnet virus possibly biggest threat to industry ever

An article from the Associated Press published on news.yahoo.com on Wednesday outlines the threat that the Stuxnet virus poses to industry around the world. The malicious computer attack appears to primarily target the Iranian nuclear plants, but according to the article, it can be modified to interfere with industrial control systems around the world, and “represents the most dire cyberthreat …

SECURE IT ALERT: Huge OS X Update Closes 134 Security Holes

Homeland Secure IT Alert Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, November 12 2010 Apple Mac OS X users received some lovin’ in the security department this week with, count ’em, 134 security vulnerability fixes… These “holes” can allow an attacker to gain full control of your machine. The most common of which seems to be of the “rootkit” variety, giving …

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SECURE IT ALERT: Microsoft Patch Tuesday Brings Critical Office Updates

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Wednesday, Nov 10, 2010 Welcome to another exciting episode of Microsoft Patch Tuesday! In this batch of updates, Microsoft has focused on critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft office.  I have included WatchGuard’s description of the updates below since it is a LOT more understandable than the Microsoft version. If you require any assistance with these or …

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SECURE IT ALERT: Apple Mac OS X vulnerabilities and Firefox fixes (for Mac/PC/*Nix)

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, October 22, 2010 Apple has issued two advisories which outline Java security updates for OS X 10.5.x and OS X 10.6.x (Tiger and Leopard). These advisories warn of several vulnerabilities in the OS X Java components (a total of 10). There are updates out to address a few of the flaws, however, many still …