SecurityWeek

Last week Google announced the details of the third iteration of Pwnium, Google’s contest where it gives cash to security researches who can demonstrate vulnerabilities in select Google applications.

BEIJING  - The official mouthpiece of China's ruling Communist Party on Monday roundly rejected claims of hacking attacks from China by American media outlets, hinting instead at ulterior motives by the US.

SAN FRANCISCO - A Dutch man was sentenced to 12 years in a US prison on Friday for being an online "broker" for credit card numbers stolen in a computer hacking conspiracy. David Schrooten struck a plea bargain in federal court in Seattle after being extradited from Romania for his role in a computer hacking and credit card fraud scheme, prosecutors said.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Post disclosed Saturday that it had suffered a cyberattack and suspects Chinese hackers were behind it, joining Twitter and major US media outlets that have endured intrusions.

BAGHDAD - Hackers attacked the official website of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday, posting a message critical of the leader who has faced weeks of protests demanding he quit.

SAN FRANCISCO - The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that in his coming book, Google chairman Eric Schmidt brands China an Internet menace that sanctions cyber crime for economic and political gain.

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter said Friday it was hammered by a "sophisticated" cyber attack similar to those that recently hit major Western news outlets, and that the passwords of about 250,000 users were stolen. "This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident," Twitter information security director Bob Lord said in a blog post.

The Carberp Trojan, which has been around for years and has been proven able of bypassing layered defenses, has made a comeback of sorts. According to Trend Micro researchers, new versions of the malware have been observed on the criminal markets.

Years ago on the wall of an IT department, I spotted an innocent looking red box, labeled “Break In Case of Emergency”. Inside was a hefty wire-cutter – the ultimate firewall. The humor of this won’t be lost on security-minded folks. The job of a firewall is to block all traffic by default, allowing only certain traffic by exception. Considering only security and ignoring business requirements, the best firewall is one that allows no traffic to pass through.

The recent attacks against the New York Times allegedly carried out by the Chinese military highlight the importance of layered security to protect sensitive systems and data.

An update to XProtect on OS X 10.6 has blocked Java entirely. Given the nature of XProtect and the standing security problems in Oracle’s product, it seems as of Apple has taken a stance on security. However, that hasn’t stopped some users from complaining.

F5 Networks expanded its Application Delivery Networking lineup with new and more powerful tools, including a new top-end VIPRION 4800 blade chassis and an advanced firewall.

On the December 2012, an Egyptian hacker who calls himself ViruS_HimA claimed to have breached Yahoo!’s security systems and acquire full access to certain Yahoo! databases, leading to full access on the server for that domain.

Two former U.S. officials have told the Associated Press that a new National Intelligence Estimate (NEI) is being prepared, and that it will include details of the economic impact cyberattacks from China have on the nation.

WASHINGTON - The Wall Street Journal said Thursday its computers were hit by Chinese hackers, the latest US media organization citing an effort to spy on its journalists covering China.