Hackers Marketing User Friendly Tools

Hacking kits which can launch automated attacks on are going on sale over the Internet, experts have warned.

Now cyber criminals can purchase specific viruses or a kit which allows them to devise their own kind of cyber attack, the BBC reports. Some of the hacking kits even promise a year of technical support upon purchase. An expert from the software security company Sana told the BBC that sites which offer hacking tools "are starting to pop up left and right".

"It's the classic verticalization of a market as it starts to mature." There is almost "no limit" to what money can buy when it comes to hacking tool kits, he added. Among the most popular hacking toolkits of last year was the infamous MPack. Over 16,000 PCs have been infected using the kit, which is a product of Russian hackers.

MPack usually sells from $500 to $1,000.

Cyber Criminals Recruiting Hackers

The world's best hackers and computer experts are being hired by criminals to aid them in their spamming and scamming activities, according to industry experts. Large organizations, like corporations and business enterprises are becoming more vulnerable to cyber attacks, the news service AHN has reported. The AHN article said that three ingredients are needed to launch an attack, being an email generator, official looking emails and a set of powerful servers.

Chee Heng Loon, vice president of Sonicwall, said: "If end-users are not hiring them, if we are not hiring them, then where did all these people disappear to? "The only conclusion we can come to is that a huge organization out there is sucking out all of the skill sets and we believe they are the guys who are behind all the spamming and phishing attacks." In August Sonicwall reported a rise in the volume of spam and phishing attacks.

Judge scraps electronic records requirement in Patriot Act

The section of the Patriot Act that requires internet and telecommunication providers to give records to the government without customers' knowledge has been cancelled by a judge.

Judge Victor Marrero of New York ruled on Thursday that the stipulation violates the US constitution. Previously, the FBI and department of justice could issue national security letters (NSL) to internet and phone service provides to requisition their customers' records.

Judge Marrero wrote: "In light of the seriousness of the potential intrusion into the individual's personal affairs and the significant possibility of a chilling effect on speech and association - particularly of expression that is critical of the government or its policies - a compelling need exists to ensure that the use of NSLs is subject to the safeguards of public accountability." Currently the department of justice is reviewing the judge's decision.

The Patriot Act was passed in the months following 9-11 and was re-authorized by Congress in 2006. Civil liberties groups have claimed that the act is unconstitutional. The Patriot Act's full name is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act.

Internet Crime Committed Every Ten Seconds

Last year in excess of three million internet crimes were committed, according to recent research performed by the online identity company Garlik.

This means that someone became a victim of an internet crime approximately every ten seconds. And in approximately 75 percent of the cases the victim was a private citizen rather than a business or government organization.

Garlik chief executive Tom Ilube commented: "Our study is the first step in measuring the impact of cybercrime. "It demonstrates how real and widespread a problem it is, covering illegal activities from computer hacking, stalking or bullying via the internet, financial scams and identity theft." There is more personal information on the internet than ever, making it crucial that users be alert about protecting their personal details, added Mr Ilube. A full 90 percent of internet crimes are not reported by the victims, as they believe that the authorities will be helpless to prosecute, the survey found.

Meanwhile, it has been 25 years since the first computer virus, Elk Cloner, was created.

CyberData Introduces New VoIP Zone Controller, 4-Port Audio-Out

CyberData Corporation announced the release of its new VoIP Zone Controller, 4-Port Audio-Out. The Zone Controller is a SIP-endpoint that enables access to analog paging speakers through a VoIP phone system. Each of the 4 audio outputs is designed to interface with a standard analog paging amplifier. The zone control function is set up through its web interface and offers up to 15 programmable paging zone groups in addition to page-all.

"The zone controller allows for a cost effective migration from legacy phone systems to VoIP, utilizing existing analog paging systems," said Phillip Lembo, President of CyberData Corporation, "while saving installers and end users time and resources due to its ease of installation and its flexibility when configuring paging zone groups."

The CyberData's VoIP Zone Controller is scheduled for release on September 21, 2007 and can be purchased from a variety of distributors and resellers. Please visit CyberData's website for details.

The new VoIP Zone Controller, 4-Port Audio-Out will be on display at the Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO West 2007, September 10-12, 2007, booth 241, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

Businesses Fail To Secure Wireless

Businesses fail to secure wireless

Though wireless technology is in use by most businesses, many neglect to secure their wireless technology, a new survey from the National Computing Center (NCC) has found.

A full 40 percent of the businesses surveyed admitted that their wireless networks were either only partly secured or not secure at all. In addition, many companies have not secured their VoIP networks and are unaware of the security weakness posed by using USB devices. Stefan Foster, NCC managing director said: "Running unsecured Wi-Fi is like locking the front door, but leaving the windows open.

"Fraudsters are increasingly targeting IT systems and the growing use of Wi-Fi is attracting their attention both inside and outside of the office environment." The NCC survey also found that of the businesses who have VoIP, only 15 percent have bothered to secure their network.

Meanwhile, a recent survey carried out by Trend Micro revealed that mobile workers pay less attention to internet security than those who operate from an office.

Comcast Self-Install VoIP Kits Launching within six months...

11:37AM Tuesday Sep 04 2007

Comcast is now offering self-install VoIP voice kits, and is testing self-install wireless phone VoIP kits in San Francisco, with launch expected in Boston, Denver and Philadelphia within six months. The switch should drastically reduce Comcast VoIP install costs, giving them a leg up in the triple-play battle with phone operators.

Verizon incurs $880 on average per customer to get TV installed. While Comcast added 671,000 VoIP customers last quarter, Verizon lost 723,000 landline customers while adding 167,000 TV customers. "Comcast tentatively plans to charge customers $250 for three cordless phones that link to their cable modems. The total time from opening the box to getting a dial tone is 30 minutes or less, Avgiris said. "It's for the customer who says, 'I want the service, and I want it now,'" said Avgiris."

Comcast VoIP is exploding -- the company added three million VoIP customers in just two years, quickly becoming the nation's largest VoIP operator.

The company has had to hire 12,000 people in the past year and a half to help manage VoIP demand, and will spend $450 million adding telephone customers in 2008.

Rihanna, Beyonce Video Spreads Trojan Horse

An email that purports to offer music videos of stars like Rihanna, Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Clarkson, but which actually contains a Trojan horse, is being disseminated around the Internet, according to Sophos.

If recipients click on the link contained in the email they are sent to a site which hosts malicious script that will invade the victim's computer and turn it into a zombie - a computer which sends spam mail.

The subject line of these emails contains phrases such as "awesome new video" and "dude this is not even on MTV yet". Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant for Sophos, said: "Earlier this week hackers were pretending that their emails pointed to a YouTube video, before that they posed as e-cards or breaking news stories.

"What's clear is that they will keep on adopting new disguises to try and infect the Windows computers of innocent internet surfers." Internet uses must stop pursuing links in emails from unknown sources, Mr Cluley added. Meanwhile, a recent survey by Trend Micro has found that mobile workers are the least security conscious.

Verizon Expands Broadband In Western Pennsylvania

Verizon has announced that it has rolled out its high-speed Internet services in new areas of Pennsylvania, giving more people access to broadband.

Over 4,300 phone lines were upgraded over the last few months so they could handle high-speed Internet, the company claims. New equipment has been installed in telecommunications facilities across eight of the most rural counties in the state.

William B Petersen, president of Verizon Pennsylvania, said: "Verizon is enabling more rural residents across Pennsylvania to make the high-speed connections that are important to them. "Verizon's ongoing, significant investment in Pennsylvania means that many more rural communities have access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet service."

Some of the counties involved have as few as 29 working phone lines. Meanwhile, Verizon has said that it is soon to release the LG VX8350 clamshell phone, the successor to the popular VX8300, reports IntoMobile.

Computer Virus Reaches 25

It has been 25 years since the first officially recognized computer virus was unleashed.

Dubbed Elk Cloner, the virus was created in 1982 by ninth-grade computer enthusiast Rich Skrenta . He is quoted in the London Free Press as saying: "It was some dumb little practical joke. "I guess if you had to pick between being known for this and not being known for anything, I'd rather be known for this. But it's an odd placeholder for [all] I've done."

Since Elk Cloner there has been a plethora of other viruses, some highly damaging, to hit PCs around the world. The Associated Press today compiled a list of some of the more damaging viruses over the years, including the Brain virus, released in 1986. Brain has the dubious honor of being the first virus to appear on computers running Microsoft products. In 1999, the world was hit by Melissa, one of the first viruses to be disseminated over email.

The most recent virus on the list is the notorious Sasser, which hit computers in 2004 and caused computers to repetitively crash and reboot.