Latest News from Ryan Sherstobitoff

Zeus & SpyEye: Summary

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:25:00 EDT

New research conducted into the modus operandi and some of the differences between variants reveals sophisticated operations now focusing on a smaller segment of the financial services market.

Even Heroes Need the Right Tools in Their Utility Belts

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:30:00 EDT

We at SafeKidZone believe, without a doubt, that the people who make up 911 emergency services are all heroes. It’s not an easy job, but these brave folks are earnest in their willingness to do what is necessary to help save a life. In the case of the Schmitts, in the article, 911 did not make it in time to save their family home from burning to the ground simply because of situational fog: in this case poor cellular coverage which routed their emergency call to an alert center on the other side of the county. Compound that problem with difficulty locating the Schmitts and the outcome was unfortunate.

Virtualization Security - Part 2

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:38:00 EST

Server virtualization will become a dominant factor in the next three to five years in an effort to reduce operating costs and simplify business. One highly popular trend is using virtualization for data center consolidation. Companies are consolidating everything from Web servers to the servers that run CRM applications, all in an effort to streamline operations and create efficiency across-the-board.

Hidden Dangers: Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS)

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:30:00 EDT

As the malware threat landscape continues to evolve, hackers are continuously changing techniques to counteract detection technologies being developed by vendors. By using sophisticated methods to evade current antivirus technologies, hackers are relentless in their pursuit of damaging IT systems and oftentimes gaining access to sensitive information.

Breaching Wireless Networks

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EDT

Wireless networks and endpoints offer convenience and connectivity, but unless properly secured, they also offer a means of egress into the network. As evidenced by recent headlines surrounding undiscovered data breaches and subsequent public exposure, hackers have begun to turn their eye toward breaching wireless networks and taking advantage of the many weaknesses incumbent.

Virtualization - Security Should Not Take a Backseat

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:15:00 EDT

There's no question that advances in server virtualization technology are becoming popular among corporations that want to save money by consolidating resources and improving operational efficiency. Virtualization enables a dramatic increase in cost savings in ongoing maintenance and the cost required to keep physical assets afloat.

The Evolution of Traditional Anti-Virus to Security as a Service

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:55:00 EDT

Over the past five years, the anti-virus market has experienced tremendous growth as many new technologies have emerged in response to current threat conditions. What was once a market consisting of very few players is now a multi-billion dollar enterprise consisting of numerous companies with multiple anti-virus products that vary in focus and quality.

SQL Injection Attacks: The Future of Mass Hacking Campaigns

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:45:00 EDT

SQL injection attacks are evolving as one of the primary modes of transportation for malicious scripts that hackers insert into legitimate websites. According to recent events, this method is becoming very popular among the hacker elite, especially considering the number of sites they are able to exploit almost overnight.

Personal Panic-Button Apps for Mobile Phones

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 EST

When the Mobile phone first reached the public at large in its first Generation (1G) the implications were monumental. Gone were the days of Rolodexes and camping by your phone, waiting for a call. Got a flat tire? Call a friend or AAA from your mobile and help is on the way! Although the equipment has changed dramatically over the years and we are in the midst of the transition from the 3G phase to 4G the implications remain the same for the mobile communication device, but the applications have taken flight in a big way, and as a result so has the hardware. These days people with Blackberries, iPhones, and similar GPS enabled wireless devices are leading the market in unit sales. Even basic cell phones released since 2001 are able to be picked up by GPS systems, which could allow authorities to geolocate people in distress in emergencies. The article asks, “can wireless technology help fight crime?” Considering the above, the question seems almost rhetorical! Of course it can help! How and how well wireless does so is the real question. Sure, it’s a no-brainer especially in the story of the woman who was abducted in a parking lot by a sex offender. But isn’t so compelling to ask the what ifs? For example: What if our heroine survivor had been disoriented as to where she was going or could not supply enough information to her boyfriend to be able to help police locate her. The clock is always ticking in these sort of incidents, of course. Although there are many “what ifs” that could be imagined I have found that many of those questions could have been answered with the article’s mention of GPS. “Some police forces also use global positioning systems, or GPS, in their vehicles. This locator technology can alert 911 dispatchers to which officers might be able to respond to an emergency the quickest, as well as allow those dispatchers to reassure panicky callers who want to know how far away help is. In addition, if an officer ever gets into trouble and can’t radio his location back to base, the GPS will broadcast the officer’s position, speed of travel and location.” Tell no one of the power of GPS! But let’s think about one implication that is always on the public’s mind. Kid Safety. As the article mentions, text messaging is the favorite pastime of kids everywhere (another no-brainer). That means that most kids who are old enough to walk to and from school on their own are texting away at the speed of light. Replace the woman in the story above with a text messaging kid and we get a whole new picture with many new what ifs. What if, for example, there was a way that a child in trouble could just hit a button and be able to notify not only loved ones, but also authorities of his/her location, with a photo included of his/her likeness for easy identification.