Big Week for Computer Security and Internet Safety
As we all know that this coming Tuesday will be patch Tuesday for Microsoft. This is a reminder the Microsoft releases new patches to fix security holes in their software every second Tuesday of the month. This month they will be releasing a several patches for Windows. Office , and IE. The bulletin is calling for a total of 34 holes being fixed this week. The IE and Silver light fixed are closing security holes in Windows that could allow malware or viruses to infect computers.
Microsoft has also released earlier this month a patch to fix a critical flaw in IE. IE had a zero day flaw that was discovered. This zero day flaw was being exploited by cyber criminals all across the world. The hackers could take over computer or run remote code from your computer with this flaw. The patch is available at Microsoft.com. If you have not done so already please visit Windows Update and update your computer today. Internet safety and security starts with installing all Microsoft critical patches to verify your computer is up to date.
Adobe also this week has release a several security patches to fix critical flaws in the Adobe reader. At the black hat conference last week security professionals revealed they had found 16 security flaws in the adobe reader. These flaws allow hackers to install remote code, viruses, or malware into computers that are left unprotected. If you have Adobe reader 8 or 9 verify you have the latest patches. To install the patches open the application and go to Help -> Check for updates. This will do out and download the latest security patches.
AVG announced this week that the new “Mumba” botnet has now infected of 55,000 computers worldwide. This bot net infects computer to get information about that user. This bot nets will look through computer and copy data that is sends back to the creator of the bot net. This information is then used for identity theft and other criminal activities.
Officials at the Thomas Jefferson hospital in Philadelphia, Pa have started the long process of notifying individuals that a laptop was stolen with patient records. The laptop contains the addresses, social security numbers, and other data about patients. The theft was reported after an individual working at the hospital said he was storing this information on a personal laptop. That laptop was stolen and the hospital was notified. Patients who had data stolen will be notified shortly.