Remote Devices Subject To Exploit, Botnets, And A Need For Security Training

Power users of computing systems and remote devices are always looking for different ways to alter their systems to get more power or add more features. Manufacturers place certain limits on their devices for many reasons, one of them being security. Where a user may believe the manufacturer is exerting far too much control over a device the user purchased, in all actuality it is a benefit to the user the original design is in place.

One of the most recent devices, the iPhone, is known to have certain features in place for reasons of security. Jail breaking the iPhone removes approximately 80% of protection that is meant to be within the device. With the latest operating system on the iPhone is possible there is a security hole in the iPhone's mobile browser. Normally the iPhone had to be connected to a computer system in order to jailbreak it. The recent discovery is performed through the browser, revealing a hacker can gain control of your device if you visited a particular webpage. By visiting the website through a web link that appears to be a PDF file, once arriving on the page it is possible malware or an exploit can be executed. Once this occurs, the hacker can have full access to your device.

One of the flaws appears to be in the area of a PDF file being parsed by the browser, allowing exploit code to enter the sandbox area. The other security hole would give code the ability to leave the sandbox and attain administrator privileges. It is regular configuration the iPhone itself has been created in such a way that it contains multiple layers of defense, limiting how much a hacker can do to your phone. Once more it demonstrates that for every individual who is knowledgeable and has good intentions, there is always one or more who walks a different path and chooses to do harm.

Currently the vulnerability does not appear to have any malicious intent, but others could use a discovery in the code involved for their own dishonest purposes. It is vulnerabilities such as this that become reengineered and exploited for use of malware and other related attacks. It does not make a difference what kind of device you use, the ability to exploit a device remotely will always remain a possibility.

In other areas, it has recently been discovered a new botnet that has attached itself to computer systems in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany has gained control of approximately fifty five thousand computers globally and has assisted cyber criminals in stealing more than sixty Gigabytes of information. The AVG security firm has given the botnet a name, Mumba. It appears information that has been stolen includes logins to social networks, details of credit cards, and the numbers of bank accounts. It is also believed to botnet was created and controlled by individuals who named themselves the Avalanche Group. The botnet has the ability to act as a host for phishing sites, retains data it collects as well as propagating malware that steals information. AVG has discovered computer systems carrying the botnet spread up to four dissimilar strains of the Trojan.

The botnet appears to operate on a fast flux system, obscures itself inside a system that has been infected, changing and reallocating servers of a command and control nature. The Avalanche Group is largely based in Eastern Europe, containing individuals who also belong to a secondary group.

There is a very strong need for security awareness. That belief has gained support, as a report reveals the United Kingdom is in need of stronger information protection within businesses with a small to medium size. Approximately fourteen percent of businesses in the survey who do possess security systems do not keep them up to date. This rate is higher than the rate of any other country within the report. The survey also demonstrated training in matters of security is not up to par. Close to fifty percent of the firms in the United Kingdom did not receive any type of basic security training or how to avoid threats against sensitive information. The Panda Security technical director said, "Small to medium British businesses are missing education involving information security and have fell behind many other European countries in the area of the installation and update revisions of security systems. The necessity of protection awareness is vital to British businesses as they can easily become prey to cyber criminals and hackers if their workforce to not receive the proper training and education on how important it is to retain a strong sense of security.”

Within the report, it appears the primary source of malware and information breaches come from USB flash drives and related devices, or through the Internet, each accounting for one third of the total amount of infections. Up to fifteen percent of those in the survey did say they greatly increased how much they invest in information security. Antivirus software solutions on its own without any assistance from other resolutions will not see businesses and organizations from more intelligent and sophisticated attacks. Up to ninety six percent of the global participants totaling more than ten thousand indicated their systems that contain antivirus software, with fifty percent still receiving infections delivered through the Internet.

CISSP training courses bring the understanding and awareness of the many issues concerning data security. Enterprises and organizations must be aware of the various areas, including cryptography, access control, network security, application development security, security risk management, business continuity and disaster recovery, security policies and compliance, and many more topics. K Alliance offers a very comprehensive certification training course in information security, leaving to a new, rewarding, and very fulfilling career that is needed on a global scale.

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