Unplug Everything!

Just kidding…partially.  Have you seen the latest 2011 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report?  It is chock full of data about breaches, vulnerabilities, industry demographics, threats and all the other internet security terms that make the headlines.  It is an interesting view into cybercrime and like last year, there is also information and analysis from the US Secret Service, who arrested more than 1200 cybercrime suspects in 2010.  One very interesting note from the Executive Summary is that while the total number of records compromised has steadily gone down – ‘08: 361 million, ‘09: 144 million, ‘10: 4 million – the...

3 Billion Malware Attacks and Counting

Almost half the total population of this planet.  At this rate, we’ll all have our own personalized malware in the coming years, specifically tailored for our various behaviors.  I built this infection especially for you.  Symantec recently released their annual Internet Security Threat Report for 2010 and noted that the cyber threats are increasing both in sophistication and frequency.  They found more than 286 million new threats last year with social networks and mobile devices being a favorite targets.  Mobile vulnerabilities were up 42% with 163 discovered last year.  The U.S. actually topped the list in many nasty categories: Most...

Identity Theft: Good News-Bad News Edition

So which would you like first?  Javelin Strategy & Research said identity theft incidents were down 28% in 2010 (vs. 2009) according to their latest consumer survey.  This is the lowest level since 2007 and about 3 million less victims than in 2009.  They partially attribute this to a decline in industry reported data breaches going from 604 (221 million exposed records) to 404 (26 million exposed records) in 2010 along with economic conditions, better security measures and busts by law enforcement playing a major role.  If you have an existing credit card account, there’s good news on...

e-card Malware

I’ve gotten some e-cards this holiday season from organizations that I know, and you might even receive one from F5.  I just wanted to post a short reminder to be careful of these, especially if you get one from someone you don’t know.  This is, and has been for several years, one of cybercriminals favorite ways of distributing malware, infecting your computer and stealing your info.  Usually, the e-card arrives in your email with a link to view it online.  Once you click that link and visit the purported e-card site, you can become infected.  In fact, if you get...

2010 Year End Security Wrap

Figured I’d write this now since many of you will be celebrating the holidays over the next couple weeks and who really wants to read a blog when you’re reveling with family and friends.  It’s been an interesting year for information security, and for me too.  I started the year with New Decade, Same Threats? and wondered if the 2010 predictions of: social media threats, smarter malware/botnets, using the cloud for crime, financial DDoS, rogue software, Mac and Mobile malware, more breaches and a whole host of others would come through.  And boy did they.  Social media was...

Personal Data For Sale – In time for the Holidays!

Come one, come all!  Are you tired of using your own money for those big holiday purchases?  Are you wary of entering your own personal & financial information to get that special gift?  Would you rather spend a stress-free holiday season impersonating various folks?  Just in time for your holiday shopping, get your very own unlocked identity profile!!  Why go through the hassle of protecting your own information when you can just pretend you are someone else?  For a limited time we are offering everything you need to create your own shopping character – name, address, bank/credit card info –...

CloudFucius Closes This Cloud Canon

Well, this is the 27th entry (26 not counting the intro) in the CloudFucius Series and what an interesting ride!  What started out as a cloud version of the 26 Short Topics about Security series, soon turned into an exploration of the numerous cloud computing surveys, reports, statistics and other feelings about the technology.  I also intended to investigate areas of cloud computing that I was not so familiar with and there were a few areas that I was able to dig further – like Radio and the NFL.  Readers really seemed to like the ‘CloudFucius’ notion and while...

CloudFucius Has: Déjà Vu and Amnesia…

…at the same time!  Wow, faster than you can mutter, ‘Survey Says…’ more cloud computing survey results appear.  Just last week, CloudFucius reported on 4 cloud surveys which confirmed the trend of our Love/Hate Relationship with the cloud.  Before the week was over, a couple more surveys reiterated our feelings toward cloud computing.  We love it since it helps IT with cost control, yet we’re still very cautious about deployments due to the concerns about security and control.  The results of the Eighth Annual Global Information Security Survey were released last week and once again the theme is, ‘we...

Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - The Blooper Reel

We always have a great time shooting video and Oracle OpenWorld 2010 was no different.  Of course, there were some flubs and while Dick Clark made bloopers famous, we're not above sharing our own fun mistakes. I especially like the Mic Outtake/adlib about halfway through. Thanks to Chris Akker, Ron Carovano, Calvin Rowland, F5 Booth Staff, Oracle and everyone involved with Oracle OpenWorld. ps The Oracle OpenWorld 2010 Videos: Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - Final Thoughts, Thanks & Wrap Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - F5 and Oracle Partnership ...

Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - Final Thoughts, Thanks & Wrap

As Oracle OpenWorld 2010 winds down, F5's Peter Silva wraps up the week. Special thanks to F5's Chris Akker, Ron Carovano, Calvin Rowland, Pat Chang, Cecile de Leon, Heidi Schreifels and the rest of the F5 booth staff along with Oracle's Shankar Jayaganapathy, and Mark Veatch. ps Oracle OpenWorld Videos: Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - F5 and Oracle Partnership Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - PeopleSoft Acceleration Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - F5 and Oracle Integration Oracle OpenWorld 2010 - Optimize Oracle Database Replication ...