IT Security Blog

How Authorities are Using IT in their Fight Against Drug Abuse

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In the continued fight against drug abuse worldwide, authorities are getting additional help from technology. Thanks to computer programs and applications for cell phones and other mobile devices, the campaign on preventing and treating substance abuse is moving forward and gaining teeth.

drug abuse

The 2015 World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) noted that some 246 million people used an illicit drug in 2013 with 27 million considered to be problem drug users. It also found that men are three times more likely than women to use marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to misuse opioids and tranquilizers. [Read more…]

Top Cyber Attacks Against U.S. Companies in 2014

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cyber crime

As the internet technology advances, people who have dark motives against other people and organizations are also learning the ways to do their illicit acts. Despite the implementation of anti-cybercrime laws, they are unfazed and continue to do their moves.

Companies in the U.S. even those that have installed the best security measures are not exempted from these cyber attacks. In 2014 alone, a Ponemon Institute survey noted the cost of cyber crime committed against U.S. retail stores amounted to $8.6 million for every company. The figure was more than double compared to the previous year. In the financial services sector, the yearly average costs of cyber attacks per company went up to $20.8 million; $14.5 million in the technology sector and $12.7 million in the communications industries. [Read more…]

McAfee Announces 2015 Consumer Security Suites

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McAfee, part of Intel Security, is one of the most popular brands in the IT security niche. Founded in 1987, the company has since then grown to become a household name, with people paying a premium for its products.

mcafee

Today, the company announced the newest line of 2015 consumer security suites, which have been beefed up to address new threats and to provide added security for potential digital threats. The McAfee line of 2015 consumer security suites includes McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2015, McAfee Internet Security 2015, and McAfee Total Protection 2015. [Read more…]

Web browsers and web hosting companies

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With the advent of various web browsers, website hosting companies are vying to prove their one-upmanship by providing a wide variety of flavors of web hosting services to woo the customers.
It’s a known fact that internet in future is the destination for all the marketing requirements, hence the web hosting companies are leaving no stone unturned in this cut throat competition to gain their foot hold in this billion dollar industry.

These companies provide a wide variety of choices to the customer to choose from ranging from one time activity to continuous partnership wherein the website gets maintenance on behalf of the clients. This in turn generates another source of income to these companies.

The websites are custom made to suit individual preference and requirements. Some may want a personalized site while the other would be looking at having many options made available and would want to have it as interactive as possible.

These companies help generate plans provide attractive color schemes and creative ideas coupled with the best of rates in the industry so that they would be able to have a strong foothold in the industry.
Akin to the cell phones, where at one point of time even receiving a phone call had a bomb charge, today various providers are vying to provide the best of service at the least of charges. Even the website hosting companies have made it a reality to think of having a website, voila it comes to creation for you regardless of the budgetary constraints or lack of knowledge to maintain it. All one has to do is type web hosting companies and hit enter!

An Internet of Criminals

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Hacker NetworkThe world of cyber-crime has grown so much in these past few years due to the explosion of growth with respect to the number of internet users the world over. It has not only expanded on the side of normal people but on the side of cyber-criminals who now operate on their own networks, spanning the globe and ready to spread their products, malicious code that first scans the globe for weak points in the security net that we all put up to somewhat give us a sense of security from the ever-growing threat which is actually futile to some extent. [Read more…]

Choosing the Right Person to Hold Network Security Access

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If there is one thing to be learned from Mr. Terry Childs, a talented network engineer who was jailed due to computer tampering, you better be careful at who you choose to have administrative rights as far as network access and security is concerned. Apparently for some reason, Mr. Childs has refused to turn over the administrative passwords for the larger part of the San Francisco Department of Technology FiberWAN.

A petty issue with a run-in that he had with his agency had was said to be the cause of it all. But while that may sound off-topic, he has been tagged as becoming unstable and apparently this has lead to his being charged with four felony counts of computer tampering. The bail was set at $5 million dollars which most people including his lawyer said was crazy.

Let this be a lesson that the power of technology, once it goes to the wrong hands, may be entirely catastrophic. While technology breakthroughs are something to look up to, it remains that the people behind them have to be likewise trusted. Better yet, it would be best to have the technology guy and an authorized executive have access to make sure that nothing of this nature would occur as well.

Childs was said to be maniacal at the start so you have to wonder, why did you entrust the guy with the passwords and rights to the network security? Surely this was already a problem at the start and now that it has escalated towards paralyzing most of the operations only one man who is obviously psychologically disturbed holds the key to it. No wonder the bail was set at such a crazy amount of $5 Million!

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