This is a guest post by Margot. Unless you live completely off the grid, network security is an issue relevant to us all. From identity theft and computer viruses to major hacks into national security, we are all in need of the most up to date and constantly advancing security measures to protect our lives and businesses. Sure I use a deadbolt on my front door, but a physical home invasion is the least of my worries in comparison to the serious and permanent damage that can be inflicted online. For small businesses, Dell SecureWorks is one way to go, and you could maybe check out deals using Dell coupons to save some money on their new appliances.
Viruses that evade anti-malware exist, making giants like Apple and McAfee, and even Norway’s National Security Agency vulnerable to hackers in 2011 alone. All kinds of stuff can be sabotaged with online security breaches. In central Illinois this year someone remotely turned a water pump on and off, causing the pump to burn out. Sony’s PlayStation network was hacked this year too; 77 million member’s credit cards were compromised. Hackers stole Citigroup credit card numbers resulting in 2.7 million in fraudulent losses. Remember the DroidDream malware episode? Google had to remove around 50 Android apps for being dangerous to users and their security. And lets be honest, I don’t go a month without getting a notification from my bank that there are new phishing email or fraudulent scams on the prowl.
The more advanced security gets, the smarter hackers get. There is a never-ending battle for the most valuable and prized of commodities: information. It is hard to hate all hackers though, Anonymous and YGN Ethical Hacker Group are heading movements to expose in ways that help rather than hurt. YGN found holes in the Apple and McAfee security measures and alerted them rather than exploiting them in order to protect consumers. When McAfee didn’t take measures to fix the weak spots that YGN pinpointed, YGN went public with the information. Embarrassing yes, but better than an evil virus infecting everyone’s computers. The only solution is staying vigilant. The second anyone thinks they are invincible is right when they
are most vulnerable.
Viruses that evade anti-malware exist, making giants like Apple and McAfee, and even Norway’s National Security Agency vulnerable to hackers in 2011 alone. All kinds of stuff can be sabotaged with online security breaches. In central Illinois this year someone remotely turned a water pump on and off, causing the pump to burn out. Sony’s PlayStation network was hacked this year too; 77 million member’s credit cards were compromised. Hackers stole Citigroup credit card numbers resulting in 2.7 million in fraudulent losses. Remember the DroidDream malware episode? Google had to remove around 50 Android apps for being dangerous to users and their security. And lets be honest, I don’t go a month without getting a notification from my bank that there are new phishing email or fraudulent scams on the prowl.
The more advanced security gets, the smarter hackers get. There is a never-ending battle for the most valuable and prized of commodities: information. It is hard to hate all hackers though, Anonymous and YGN Ethical Hacker Group are heading movements to expose in ways that help rather than hurt. YGN found holes in the Apple and McAfee security measures and alerted them rather than exploiting them in order to protect consumers. When McAfee didn’t take measures to fix the weak spots that YGN pinpointed, YGN went public with the information. Embarrassing yes, but better than an evil virus infecting everyone’s computers. The only solution is staying vigilant. The second anyone thinks they are invincible is right when they
are most vulnerable.
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