Astaro: Tapping the channel for security revenue
[Jack M. Germain] Why sell somebody else's product line when you can do a better job offering your own? That was the question that ultimately pushed Jan Hichert, CEO of Astaro, and two other cofounders to develop their own Internet security solutions for a market they viewed as needy of attention - the small- to medium-sized business (SMB) segment. 29 Aug 2008 12:32

Scope of Best Western customer data breach open to debate
[Jordan Robertson] Did a computer intrusion at a Best Western hotel in Germany open the door for a hacker to steal the records of 8 million customers and pull off "the greatest cyber-heist in world history", as a Scottish newspaper put it? Or was the incident a significantly more minor affair, affecting only 10 customers at the one facility, as claimed by Best Western International? 28 Aug 2008 12:34

Consumers should set online privacy ground rules
Finding the right balance between privacy and convenience online is best left to individual consumers; they are more vested than anyone in protecting their personal information. More control will enable them to decide what information they want to share and how they want to share it. 8 Aug 2008 06:15

Feds throw book at 11 customer data theft suspects
USA - The Department of Justice has charged 11 people with the theft of millions of account numbers from a long list of US big box retailers including TJ Maxx, OfficeMax, Barnes & Noble, Boston Market, BJ's Wholesale Club, Forever 21, DSW, Dave & Buster's and Sports Authority. 8 Aug 2008 06:10

Johnnie Walker set to collar fraudsters
Diageo, owner of Johnnie Walker, one of the world's best-selling Scotches, has developed new technology to crack down on whisky counterfeiters. 5 Aug 2008 07:19

Report: Hackers getting faster at cooking up new attacks
Computer hackers are whipping out exploits at an accelerating rate, according to a new IBM security report. They're able to come up with ways to attack newly discovered vulnerabilities faster thanks to automated programs, and they also benefit from well-intentioned security researchers who make too much information available too soon, according to the report. 4 Aug 2008 06:09

Smash, grab, then make a killing online
[Dahleen Glanton] USA - At first it seemed like ordinary shoplifting - stuffing a few pairs of jeans into an oversize bag and walking out of the store. But the thieves got bolder. They began showing up in groups of five or six in the middle of the day, spraying store clerks with mace and knocking customers out of the way as they gathered armfuls of clothes. Sometimes they tossed a brick through the glass. Sometimes they drove a truck through the front door. 28 Jul 2008 11:05

Leaked DNS exploit drives admins bonkers
Weeks ago, security researchers spotted a domain name system flaw that could spell trouble for the entire internet. They attempted to keep things quiet while they created and distributed a patch admins could use to plug the holes. But the flaw was leaked, it's in the wild, and some DNS admins may be caught with their pants way, way down. 28 Jul 2008 09:05

Study: OSS communities are often slackers in security
Enterprises using certain kinds of open source software may be exposing themselves to serious security risks, according to a study from Fortify Software. The study, which focused primarily on non-commercially supported OSS, found many packages have no ground rules for reporting bugs and do not adequately inform users about how to use the applications safely. 22 Jul 2008 07:09

Beefed up security at Vodacom Challenge leads to arrests
[Bathandwa Mbola] Two people were arrested for selling counterfeit tickets outside Newlands Stadium before the opening of the Vodacom Challenge soccer match in Cape Town with a further seven arrested for being in possession of such tickets inside the stadium. 22 Jul 2008 06:11

Over 50% of emerging, small businesses targeted by criminals
[Bathandwa Mbola] Over 50% of emerging and small businesses in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban experienced one or more incidents of crime in the past year. 17 Jul 2008 11:50

LG sponsors crime line
Consumer goods manufacturer LG Electronics South Africa has partnered with Primedia's Crime Line, an anti-crime campaign endorsed by the South African Police Service, to support the fight against crime in South Africa. The Crime Line road show is aimed at educating high school children that life's good without crime, with Primedia's Talk Radio 702 and 94.7 Highveld Stereo inviting high schools in Gauteng to participate in the road show campaign. 17 Jul 2008 08:55

Ruling opens customer data floodgates
[Anick Jesdanun] USA - A judge's ruling in the Viacom vs. YouTube case sets a new and permissive standard for parties seeking to get their hands on the data companies retain about their customers. While not a legal precedent, the ruling will serve as a reference in future cases, potentially laying bare the trail of search terms we all leave behind. 14 Jul 2008 10:12