Network Security Roundup for August 8, 2003

VNUNet: Bugwatch: Know Your Security Onions
07-Aug-03 16:43 ET

Story Highlights:
"The biggest ever cyber-crime involved the theft of more than a million credit card numbers from online banks and retailers across 20 countries. According to the FBI, the thieves were able to seize the details in spite of firewalls and other security tools in use at all 40 sites involved. The immediate reaction to the heist was to ask how hackers bypassed the expensive security software. The answer was that they didn't have to."

Full Story on VNUNet

Story Highlights:
"Businesses that overspent on computer networks during the boom have pulled back, cutting into sales for makers of network traffic management technology. But because customers are still buying network security, many traffic management firms have also become security firms to grab new revenue."

Full Story on Business Journal

Story Highlights:
"Bret McDanel already served his 16 months in federal prison for violating the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Now he wants to clear his record."

Full Story on The Register

Story Highlights:
" A study unveiled at the Black Hat Briefings conference in Las Vegas last week paints a grim picture of network security problems. Among the study's surprising results: Some kinds of computer security vulnerabilities -- especially ones with an aggressive 'exploit' (something that takes advantage of the vulnerability, such as a worm or virus) -- may plague computer networks indefinitely."

Full Story on ComputerWorld

Story Highlights:
"South Africa's universities have found themselves the latest victims of vandal hackers, as the websites of four major institutions came under attack. In a week considered to be the worst yet for IT security at local tertiary institutions, the websites for the University of Stellenbosch, Natal University, Rhodes University and the University of the Witwatersrand all came down."

Full Story on News24