The 25 worst passwords of 2012, and easy ways to avoid them
The most common passwords are also the most obvious, which makes them the easiest to crack, according to SplashData's annual list. It doesn't have to be that way.
How zero-day exploits can improve security
The Metasploit Framework can be used for good or ill, but its purpose is to give the good guys the same tools the bad guys are already using.
Want secure BYOD? Hire only rich retirees
A recent survey on password use suggests that the more established and stable you are, the more likely you are to use a strong password.
DIA message system slashes clearance-level red tape
Two-stage DIA protocol preps documents to move at 'moment's notice' across separate security domains.
Solar-power system flaws shine light on Smart Grid threats
A DHS alert on vulnerabilities found in control systems for solar power equipment underscores the importance of security in a complex and varied power grid.
Kaspersky Labs plans industrial control OS to fend off Stuxnet-like malware
A secure, bare-bones operating system designed strictly for industrial systems could protect critical infrastructure, the founder of the Russian company says.
Hackers fleece a city account as cyberattacks focus on banks
The theft of $400,000 from a Burlington, Wash., account handling employee payroll and some citizen payments comes on the heels of warnings that U.S. banks were being targeted.
Report: 2 states' online registration systems vulnerable to hackers, fraud
Flaws in the voter databases in Mayland and Washington state would allow hackers to effectively prevent people from voting, the New York Times reports.
How a ‘Tron’ model can improve agency IT security
MIT engineers develop a game interface for protecting networks that puts the human element, and a bit of fun, into the mix.
Windows 8's winding path to agency networks
Wholesale migrations aren't expected soon, but IT managers say there are several ways the new OS could start slipping in through the side doors.
Divide the password process to defend against attacks
An innovative cryptographic scheme does away with trusted third parties to protect stored and scrambled passwords on separate servers.
How to secure 300,000 smart phones? MegaDroid can help.
Sandia Labs’ virtual Android network is part of a larger project to emulate large-scale networks to help understand and defend complex online environments.
5 ways Windows 8 can be great for agencies
Innovative security, a friendly (for real) cross-platform interface, and handy support for telework and BYOD could do a lot for public-sector organizations
A few ways to protect yourself against 'visual malware'
Considering the potential threat demonstrated by PlaceRaider, users in government buildings could take precautionary measures.
Automated IT security gets a step closer
Using NIST's Security Content Automation Protocol in tandem with TCG's Trusted Network Connect architecture provides the benefits of two open standards to improve endpoint security.
How government created a new secure hash
The government has specified a series of vetted cryptographic algorithms that can be used to verify the authenticity of documents and digital signatures. Here's how they do it.
Why agencies don't have to upgrade to a new crypto hash
The winner of the five-year competition -- called Keccak -- will be a candidate for the new federal SHA-3 standard, but NIST scientists say it is not a replacement for SHA-2, which has held up better than expected.
Belkin switch secures audio ports
For agencies that need secure voice over IP communications, Belkin has introduced a switch that offers certralized control over audio ports.
Android malware builds 3D model of user's environment
A team from Indiana University frames PlaceRaider as a potential tool for burglars, but what if it got into government buildings?
Using a ‘sinkhole’ to squash the Nitol botnet
Microsoft has reached a settlement with the operators of the 3322.org domain in China to “sinkhole” traffic to 70,000 malicious subdomains.
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