Handhelds : Still the Biggest threat to Corporate Security

Written by Saran on November 30, 2007

hh3.jpghh3.jpghh2.jpgEmployee’s love them, Network Administrators hate them, the advent of more function packed handheld devices have sparked a re-evaluation of the threat these small devices pose. Traditionally, networks were quite safe for to gain access to it you needed to be hooked up to the network, physically with a LAN cable. Now that the shift to wireless has become the network engineer’s best friend the network has surely been simplified and companies are switching to the new technology. Thy no longer needed wires and all existing computers are either replaced with ones that support Wi-Fi or bought individual dongles that allowed connection within the office. That was still an easy security agenda for they usually had a range of a couple of hundred feet.

Then came wireless internet hotspots which commercial developers started to put up to get more workers out of the office into their shops allowing them to work while, say having coffee. That’s where the problems began for the more office correspondence left the walls of the office, the more harder was it to secure. VPN’s were implemented that allowed a secure channel within existing networks making it a bit better. But that was still quite vulnerable to attack and security experts needed a better way of securing corporate data where-ever the user might be. Projections by business and security analysts estimate volume to increase to 100 million email transactions to and from outside the office locations that is still causing nightmares as the next step is found in the drive to secure this network without physical bounds.

[tags]Handheld Computing, Mobile Computing[/tags]

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Categories: Cryptography, General, IM, Instant Messaging, IT Security Basics, Network Security, News, Real-World Issues, Security Policies, Wireless Security

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Disable that Shared Folder

Written by Saran on August 1, 2007

Shared Folders

It would only be normal to find shared folders in the default setup of Windows operating systems. This can be easily seen once a person would go to the explorer option of his computer where shared folders are waiting to be accessed. This is automatically made for access if people connect to a network and would not set the security policies and accessibility on a restricted basis which only allows administrators to access them.

The importance of setting security levels to avoid such access to folders is important. Not al people are aware of the harmful things an unauthorized user may do once he gets the chance to intrude in another person’s workstation. Aside from probable back-ups, a person may lose the files contained in such folders if he is not careful. Hence it is best to do the precautionary measures before hand to avoid unwanted avoidable circumstances would ensue.

[tags]shared folders, security policy, network security[/tags]

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Categories: Backups, Cryptography, IM, Instant Messaging, IT Security Basics, Network Security, Physical Security, Privacy & Anonymity, Security Policies, Storage, Tips

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Suspicious Links on Yahoo Messenger

Written by Saran on March 15, 2007

Yahoo Messenger Trojans/ Malware Infection Links

Anyone will receive different kinds of offline and online messages from friends and acquaintances. Some would be links to other websites they have done, pictures or news feeds. But while these would be helpful in most cases, it would be best to first query the person and ask what the site is all about.

Cases of rapidly increasing links that creep into the instant messaging service create havoc and spread to the entire contact list of people endorsing the various instant messaging services available over the web today. The most popular of which is perhaps Yahoo Messenger and Instant Messaging. These are the widely used modes of communication today since aside from saving on cost, they hold a wider coverage, thanks to the Internet which is available all throughout the world today.

Hence, such coverage offers a tempting way of making lives miserable and the computers a living hell. The discomforts that it would have would drive a person crazy since the need to remedy the situation may take some time. However, for some people there is always the option to format the whole system, something that is not needed by people who need to access their files regularly and have no backup copies.

[tags]yahoo messenger virus, spyware, instant messaging, hyperlinks, bad links[/tags]

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Categories: Backups, IM, Instant Messaging, IT Security Basics, Malware, Spyware, Tips

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Free Messaging with Voice for Now

Written by Saran on February 15, 2007

Slowly but surely, communication has grown entirely advanced. At first, it was mainly done through keystrokes called chatting conversations with some emoticons in tow to spice up the supposed conversation. Next came the web cam era wherein a person can now see the person he is talking to, being more relieved that the person they are communicating to is really existent.

Voice Calls and Instant Messaging

Today, voice messaging has been added to the fray, making it all the more enticing for people who put premium on the web with regards to communicating with friends and associates anywhere in the world. One can just imagine the savings that such voice calls can provide compared to the old practice of making calls by phone. Indeed the latter was very expensive to the point that people would have problems settling their accounts payable to such providers.

Voice messaging today over the Internet is free as long as it is a PC to PC call. However, leaning on the trends and developments, it is not far fetched to see that one day that such offered voice calls would charge minimal amounts which would gradually increase as demand does too.

[tags]im, instant messaging, video conference, voice messaging[/tags]

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Categories: IM, Instant Messaging, Privacy & Anonymity, Wireless Security

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Consolidating the Instant Messenger Services

Written by Saran on February 11, 2007

The different instant messenger services that sites such as MSN and Yahoo offer are no longer limited towards the need of having to subscribe towards each network individually. Thanks to the efforts by all the networks today, regardless if you are a member of Yahoo or MSN only, you can communicate with other people as well. This makes it more convenient for people to message other people from one network to another, taking away the need to create separate accounts.

Instant Messaging

It was only a matter of time before such possibilities could be made. Take into consideration the cross communication that cellular networks were able to do, only thing is that messaging does not really need spending issues. Messaging over the Internet is entirely free and all that was solved was really more of convenience and creation of dummy accounts just to avail of such service.

Such not only becomes an inconvenience for the networks but for the subscribers as well since they have to go between services just to see their buddies online.

[tags]yahoo messenger, msn messenger, instant messaging[/tags]

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Categories: IM, Instant Messaging, Real-World Issues

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The New Breed of Communications: Instant Messaging

Written by Saran on February 1, 2007

Instant messaging has become the next generation means of being able to talk with people anywhere in the world. A lot of IM software has been offered and made available to all people exposed over the Internet. The list includes the following:

1. Yahoo Messenger
2. MSN Messenger
3. ICQ
4. Chikka
5. Skype
6. America Online

Instant Messaging

The technology invested in these messaging programs has included that of providing features that enable people to use web cameras to actually see who they are talking with, voice chat, and being able to send text messages to mobile phones anywhere in the world as long as they are affiliated with them.

Such innovations and advancement in technology has truly changed the face of communicating prowess in the world. Aside from the available resources over the web, cost has been trimmed down and made economical for anyone. Besides, the early practices of making long distance calls have become a thing of last resort for people. Ask the telecommunication companies, they can attest to this fact.

[tags]instant messaging, yahoo messenger, msn messenger, chikka, skype[/tags]

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Categories: IM, Instant Messaging, Real-World Issues, Wireless Security

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