August 4th, 2010
On Tuesday, August 2, Microsoft issued a Critical security bulletin for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows: XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Windows 7. Microsoft describes this as a publicly disclosed vulnerability in WIndows Shell, that can allow remote code execution. For those users with Administrative User Rights, this could be a devastating exploit.
Please be sure that you have your Windows Update set for automatic updates for critical patches such as these. Contact your Help Desk or IT support manager if you have any questions related to this issue.
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July 1st, 2010
Adobe this week released patches for Reader and Acrobat software to address 17 vulnerabilities that can threaten your PC. This release was rushed to public after it was revealed that hackers were using a corrupt PDF file to infiltrate users computers with a Trojan Horse virus. 16 of the 17 patches were labeled as “could lead to code execution” – legalese for saying it is a critical issue. Computerworld reports on the details of the patches in a June 30 post.
Please remember to regularly update your software with the latest updates, as well as your spyware and anti-virus subscriptions. Windows users cannot rely on the Update feature for individual software updates; visit your software Help files and check for auto-updates.
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June 24th, 2010
On Wednesday evening, June 23, one of the Linux shared servers experienced slow response time. This server was never “down,” but was unable to keep up with http requests for a 20 minute window. During this time the server experienced an unusually large number of requests to one of the sites hosted on this server. Our system admin has identified the source of the problem and the site owner has been contacted. We will continue to monitor this particular server and site closely, to ensure a similar problem does not happen in the future.
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June 21st, 2010
This morning, June 21, we experienced some packet loss over one of our ISP connections to our Oregon data center. While this level of packet loss did not have a significant impact on most web connections, it was noticeable on dynamic connections such as streaming applications and VoIP connection. The sporadic nature of the issue resulted in partial underperformance for about four hours. Our network and system administrators ran tests, found the issue and resolved it.
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June 9th, 2010
It was reported this week that a security breach in AT&T’s wireless network exposed the iPad identification numbers used to autheticate a wireless connection for more than 100,000 email addresses. The email addresses, as originally reported by the tech website Gawker, include government, media, entertainment and technology leaders. This information compromise did not expose any passwords, and AT&T immediately addressed the problem, but it raises questions about the security of the GSM cell phone technology and the potential for further harm to voice and data connectivity.
As your organization expands into new communication devises – typically driven by employees who want the latest, greatest technology – it is important to understand the risks inherent with leading edge implementation. The security policies and procedures you have in place need to be reviewed and updated to ensure both the infrastructure and training is up-to-date to address the latest advances in communication. While your employees and customers push to stay on the forefront, bet sure that you are ensuring safety and knowledge back to them as they utilize the new technologies in their daily business routines.
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