Semo.net Weblog

Security is of large interest these days. With viruses, worms, and holes in secuirty being found all the time, new updates have to be made available. Microsoft has released a major update to the Windows XP operating system, XP Service Pack 2. The hold back though is that it is an extremely large download. For those on dial up, it can be a pain to wait for it download. Microsoft though has made the service pack available through the mail with 4-6 week delivery, with free shipping.
I ordered one even though I have broadband service, just to have an official copy for backup.
Click Here to sign up for a copy.

The Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities submitted a report to Congress yesterday showing that Peer-to-Peer filesharing traffic on campus networks has dropped over the last year; in some cases by as much as 50%. Likely factors contributing to the decline include a growing number of universities making deals with “legitimate” online music services such as the now industry-friendly Napster and Apple’s iTunes Music Store, as well as over 150 cases of students being sued for copyright infringement.

A new software tool from WholeSecurity can spot fraudulent Web sites used in online cons known as “phishing” scams, according to a statement from the company.

PCWorld Article

Here’s proof that GA airports really are small communities and that the “residents” know when something is amiss. On Wednesday, this led to the nabbing of some suspicious characters at St. Louis Downtown Airport. It all started when a man telephoned an FBO (Fixed based operator) not far from the Gateway Arch and asked about chartering a helicopter. About an hour later, two men walked into the FBO, pulled out cash to pay for the flight, and presented driver’s licenses from two different states as ID. Office staff noticed their car was registered in a third state and called the FBI and local police. FBO workers stalled the two suspects until the authorities arrived. After a little time behind bars, the two “terrorists” confessed that they were NBC employees from New York. Their assignment: A story on how “easy” it is to get information and directions to a helicopter and then hijack it. St. Louis was their first attempt; the network reportedly planned similar tries to penetrate security at airports around the country. “This incident demonstrates the validity of the Airport Watch concept,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “Vigilant pilots and airport workers make the best security force because they know who does and doesn’t belong at the airport. They can easily spot the things that just don’t seem right.”

What is Phishing?
Phishing attacks use ’spoofed’ e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them.

For more information and to verify if an email you have receieved has been reported visit AntiPhishing.Org