Google launches privacy Dashboard service

Google has launched a Dashboard service that’s designed to show how much the search engine giant knows about its users online activities.

The service provides a summary of data associated with a specified Google account. Users gain the ability to view and manage data, which ranges from search engine queries and emails sent through Gmail through to videos viewed on YouTube, and much else besides. Users will usually have already consented to allow Google to keep tabs on their activities online, but the search engine giant’s tentacles reach so far that it’s tough to know how much information it holds on each of us.

Google Dashboard – which is designed to address privacy concerns over the search engine giant’s propensity to catalogue data – is accessed by logging into a Google account. Surfers get a list of the number of items held on particular services (Calenders, Blogger, Shopper, Chat, Gmail etc. etc.) linking to the data repositories of these services for more detailed information.

Source:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/05/google_privacy_dashboard/

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Microsoft Security Essentials rated best free antivirus for Windows

Thousands of downloads. Countless positive reviews on software blogs around the Internet. It’s been quite a ride so far for Microsoft Security Essentials.

In AV Comparative’s most recent report on malware removal, MSE was the only free antivirus rated Advanced+. That ranking placed it alongside big names like Norton, Kaspersky, and F-Secure. Security Essentials also beat out technician favorite ESET, which managed only an Advanced rating.

It’s also worth noting that only three antivirus apps – Norton 2010, eScan, and Security Essentials – scored marks of good or better in removal of malware and removal of leftovers. So not only has MSE beaten free competitors like AVG (version 8.5 tested, not 9.0), Avira, and Avast, it also posted test scores equal to or better than a dozen antivirus programs you’d have to pay for.

Source:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/best-free-antivirus-for-windows-microsoft-security-essentials/

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VirtualBox 3.0.10 released

Sun today released VirtualBox 3.0.10, a maintenance release of VirtualBox 3.0 which improves stability and performance. See the ChangeLog for a list of changes since VirtualBox 3.0.8.

Download:
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

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10 easy steps to secure your Linux machine

Whether you use a single desktop or manage a lab full of servers, with the various threats we all face from hackers these days you simply have to make sure you’re running a secure ship.

Running Linux gives you some inherent protection from attack, but you still need to take adequate steps to thwart any attempts that people might make to compromise your system.

Here are 10 of the best courses of action that you can take.

(Summary from original article)
1. Create a firewall
2. Disable network servers
3. Use secure alternatives
4. Revoke non-root access
5. Copy your logs
6. Enable password aging
7. Restrict root logins
8. Physically secure your machine
9. Don’t ignore security updates
10. Keep an eye on open files

Source and full details for each step:
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/10-easy-steps-to-secure-your-linux-machine-644742

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Facebook Password Spam Conceals Malware Attack

Researchers at several security firms have tied the Bredolab Trojan to a spam campaign targeting Facebook users.

The malware is being blasted out by spammers in e-mails claiming to come from “The Facebook Team.” Inside the e-mails is a message that the recipient’s Facebook password has been changed. In order to get the new one, recipients are told to open the accompanying attachment containing the malware.

Researchers at Websense told eWEEK Oct. 27 that they have observed more than 350,000 of the messages. On the company’s blog, researchers explained that the malware connects to two servers to download additional malicious files. Among them is Pushdo, also known as Cutwail.

“One of the first things we saw this Trojan horse download was the Pushdo bot which began spamming out more of these Facebook password reset emails,” according to M86 Security.

Source:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/Facebook-Password-Spam-Conceals-Malware-Attack-635899/?kc=rss

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