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Apple OSX 'Gatekeeper' vulnerable to malware?

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:11:46 +0000

Gatekeeper, the security feature in Apple Inc.&39;s upcoming OS X Mountain Lion operating system, may be letting malware sneak in through the backdoor, a computer security firm said.Sophos said that while the idea behind the security is sound, its implementation – at least at this stage – could be somewhat flawed."I think Apple is really on to something here if they implemented this feature in a more comprehensive manner. I give them an A for what they want to accomplish, but sadly only a D- on implementation," Sophos&39; Chester Wisniewski saidin a blog post.With Gatekeeper bundled in the recently released developer preview of OS X Mountain Lion, Apple aims to give users a measure of security against malware downloaded from the Web.Three options are available for Mountain Lion users: App Store only, App Store and applications with valid developer signatures or all software (current behavior).But Wisniewski noted Apple is relying on the LSQuarantine technology used in its rudimentary integrated anti-virus known as XProtect.This means Gatekeeper is essentially a whitelisting technology bolted onto the blacklisting technology it introduced two versions ago, he said."While this will clearly reduce the risk for users who primarily download all of their programs through popular browsers or the App Store, it only addresses the Trojan problem that has been the primary vehicle for delivering malware to OS X," he added.Yet, he said LSQuarantine only triggers on files downloaded from the Internet that have been tagged by the application that downloadeanti trojan scannerd it with the quarantine bit."This means that files from USB drives, CD/DVD/BR or even network shares will all install and run without being screened,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. " he said.Worse, he said some applications that download from the internet like Bittorrent also do not flag downloads with the quarantine bit.Also, he said Gatekeeper code signing only applies to executable files, meaning anything that is not itself a Trojan like malicious PDFs, Flash, shell scripts and Java can be exploited without triggering a prompt.Also, he said files are only checked at the time they are initially executed – so if a rogue developer distributes a malicious app, Apple will need to revoke that certificate before the victim executes the download."This one-time check, combined with the limitations of what files are scanned from which sources significantly weakens the usefulness of Gatekeeper," he said.Another problem is a common one to all platforms – fooling the user into overriding the security software, he said."It&39;s human nature. Yes, of course I want to install this pirated movie codec, or really snazzy screensaver. Apple&39;s just warning me because they think I should pay $800 for this photo editing app," he said.— TJD, GMA News

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Google Bouncer Now Scanning Android Market for Malware

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:11:04 +0000

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Google on Thursday added a new layer of security to the Android Market, dubbed Bouncer, that will scan apps for evidence of malware.

The effort will automatically scan new and existing apps as well as developer accounts, without disrupting the user experience of Android Market or requiring developers to go through an application approval process, said Googles vice president of engineering, Hiroshi Lockheimer, in a nod to Apples App Store process.

Heres how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans, Lockheimer wrote in ablog post. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags.

Google said it runs every app in its cloud infrastructure to simulate how it might work on an Android device to look for anything fishy. Developer accounts are also scrutinized to guard against banned individuals a reappearance.

Android malware was big news in 2011. Unlike Apple, Google does not have a strict approval process in place for its Android Market, and while that might make for a more open environment, it also makes the store vulnerable to some dangerous apps.

Weve chosen not to be the gatekeeper, Alan Davidson, now former director of public policy at Google, said during aMay hearing on location tracking. We dont generally go back and try to make sure that every app does what it says its going to do. &91;Google is&93; really trying to maximize the ability of small app developers to get online.

According to data from Juniper Networks,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. malware in the Android Marketjumped 472 percentbetween July and November 2011. Google said today, however, that it saw a 40 percent decline in the number of potentially malicious downloads on the Android Market between the first and second halves of 2011.

This drop occurred at the same time that companies who market and sell anti-malware and security software have been reporting that malicious applications are on the rise, Lockheimer wrote. We know the rate is declining significantly.

After announcing the discovery of the most widespread piece of Android malware, Android.Counterclank,Symantec today retractedits claim to align with rival Lookouts more muted assessment.

Last month, in hopes of capitalizing on Googles mobile security problems,Microsoft offered free Windows Phonesto Android malware victims.

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Google reveals Bouncer scanner system has reduced malicious software on Android Market by 40%

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:10:23 +0000

Android developers may not have to go through the same rigorous review process as those working on Apple devices, but that doesnt mean that Google isnt concerned about security issues.

In a post over on the Google Mobile blog, VP of engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer has outlined a security system which has been running for a while in the background of the Android Market place.

Codenamed Bouncer, the system is designed to provide automated scans of all Android Market content, both new and existing, as well as developer accounts for malicious software, without disrupting user or developer experience.

How it works

Once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analysing it for known malware, spyware and trojans, explains Lockheimer.

It also looks for behaviours that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analysed apps to detect possible red flags.

We actually run every application on Googles cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyse new developer accounts to helanti trojan scannerp prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.

Cause and effect

Lockheimer goes on to highlight that since this service has been employed,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. the amount of malicious software has seen a dramatic decrease. In ct, between the first and second halves of 2011 malicious content fell by 40 percent.

This drop occurred at the same time that companies who market and sell anti-malware and security software have been reporting that malicious applications are on the rise, stressed Lockheimer.

Lockheimer also outlines other areas of protection that run behind the Android scenes.

Sandboxing provides virtual walls to protect content on your device should malware make its way there. Permissions, meanwhile, enables users to view and organise their app preferences, allowing them to see if an app is behaving untowardly.

Despite these measures Lockheimer concludes, no security approach is foolproof, and added scrutiny can often lead to important improvements.

Our systems are getting better at detecting and eliminating malware every day, and we continue to invite the community to work with us to keep Android safe.

[source:Google Mobile blog]

PG.biz week that was: Zynga and Gamevil post record sales, Rovio heads into space and Apple heads for 25 billion downloads

Beating guidance, burning less cash and leading on Android, were confident about the future, says Glu CEO De Masi

Third-Party Online Advertising

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:09:42 +0000

Trust is a cornerstone of our mission at CBS Interactive. We are committed to gaining and maintaining your trust by following a core set ofPrivacy Principles.

Some of the advertisements you see on CBS Interactive Web Sites are delivered by third parties who also collect information throughcookies, web beacons, and other technologies

&160;about your online activities, either on our Web Sites or across the Internet, in an effort to understand your interests and deliver you advertisements that are tailored to your interests. These third parties include advertisers, advertising agencies, and ad networks that may collect information when you view or interact with one of their advertisements.

Third parties that currently collect information on our Sites for the purpose of serving you with advertising tailored to your interest include, but are not limited to,Atlas,BlueKai,DoubleClick,EyeWonder,Google,Mediamind,Audience ScienceandPointroll. These companies may offer you a way to choose not to have your information used for advertising purposes. You can find more information by clicking on the company names above and following the links to each companys web site.

In addition,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. some of these companies are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), which offers a single location to opt out of receiving tailored ads from member companies. To opt out of information collection by NAI member companies, or to obtain information about the technologies they use or their own privacy policies, please visit theNAI consumer opt out page.. In the UK, the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB UK) has developedGood Practice Principles for Online Behavioural Targeting. More information and an opt out page to manage online behavioral advertising preferences with IAB UK member companies are available atYourOnlineChoices.com.

Please note that if you choose to opt out of having your information used to deliver advertisements tailored to your interests, you will continue to see advertisements on our Web Sites, but thpc antivirusese advertisements may not be as relevant to you.

CBS Interactive does not have access to the information these third parties may collect about your interests to deliver relevant advertising to you, and the information practices of these third parties are not covered by this Privacy Policy.

In addition, CBS Interactive works with third parties to help us track the ads that are delivered to you, in particular to control the number of times you receive the same ad, and to analyze the effectiveness of advertising on the CBS Interactive Web Sites. Third parties that use cookies, web beacons and other technologies to help us with traffic measurement, research and analytics includeOmniture,Comscore,NielsenandConfirmIT. We do not share contact information with these third parties.

Flash vulnerability exploited to deliver malware

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:09:03 +0000

Attackers are once again exploiting the publics tendency for not keeping its software updated and its ongoing interest about Iran and its nuclear program to infect users with a backdoor Trojan.

The threat, firstflagged and describedby security researcher Mila Parkour, comes in an email from a William Abnett with Irans Oil and Nuclear Situation in the subject line.

The attachedIrans Oil and Nuclear Situation.docfile contains Flash, which downloads a corrupted mp4 file,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. which in its turn causes memory corruption and code execution. The attachment takes advantage of a recently fixed Flash bug (CVE-2012-0754).

The file drops and executes the embedded binary (us.exe) in the users %Temp% directory. The executable is a Trojan that opens a backdoor on the targeted computer and tries to block AV solutions warnings about its malicious nature.

But since both the DOC and the EXE files are still detected only by a minority of the AV solutions used by VirusTotal, there may not be warnings for it to block.

Parkour warns users to be careful and think twice about opening emails and files sent by people they dont know or organizations they havent first contacted themselves – email subjects and names of attachtrojan virus fixed malicious files are easily and often changed.

Anonymous takes down Vatican websites

The Italian offshoot of Anonymous has managed to take down for a few hours on Wednesday Vaticans official website (vatican.va) and several more belonging to the Catholic Church.

Two-thirds of Android AV solutions not good enough

Nearly two-thirds of Android antivirus products offered on the market today cannot be considered reliable enough for use, says independent IT and security research institute AV-Test.

Contradictions in security perception vs. reality

McAfee announced the State of Security report showing how IT decision-makers view the challenges of securing information assets in a highly regulated and increasingly complex global business environment.

Privacy concerns impacting what people buy

Concerns about data security and privacy are impacting what people buy and which companies they do business with, according to a new Edelman study.

Major phishing contributors and enablers

By analyzing millions of successful phishing schemes that made it into the inboxes of unsuspecting banking customers, Agari reveals core vulnerabilities that apply worldwide and across industries.

Best Android antivirus apps revealed by AV-TEST Labs

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:08:22 +0000

There have been several Android Market malware scares in the recent past. Google responded by introducingBouncera while back, but it never hurts to add a goodAndroidantivirus app for extra protection. But which apps offer the best protection?

Independent testing authority AV-TEST Labs has just posted the results from its most recent Android security rundown. Of the 41 apps they tested, 7 posted detection scores above 90%: Avast!, Dr. Web Antivirus Light, F-Secure Mobile Security, IKARUS mobile.security LITE, Kaspersky Mobile Security Lite, Lookout, and Zoner Antivirus Free.

Other big-name apps performed well, too, but couldn&8217;t break the 90% barrier. They include Norton, ESET, AVG, BitDefender, Trend Micro, and the Vipre Mobile Beta. Perennial security whipping boy McAfee iled to detect more than 65% of malware samples, leaving them surrounded by lesser-known apps in the middle of the pack.

The jury is still out on whether or not Android malware is a genuine problem. Most malicious apps appear in third-party stores, andTrojanized impostor appson the Android Market haven&8217;t exactly become a regular occurrence. Either way,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. the AV-Test report is still good news for Android users because it clearly shows that top-notch Android antivirus and anti-malware apps are up to the challenge. Better still, some of the best protection you can get for youravg anti virus Android device is totally free.

Whether or not you&8217;re convinced you need to worry about getting an infection on your Android phone or tablet, there&8217;s certainly no harm in downloading one of the free apps AV-Test ranked. If you&8217;d like to dive deeper, you cancheck out their PDFfor full results.

More atAV-TEST

Tags:Android,antivirus,apps,AV-Test,avast,kapersky,malware,Mobile,Security,Smartphones,tablets,zoner antivirus

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2 in 3 Android anti-malware scanners not up to the job

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:07:42 +0000

Threat test: Droid malware grows 450% in 4 months

ByJohn Leyden•Get more from this author

Posted inMalware,7th March 2012 08:02 GMT

Two-thirds of Android anti-malware scanners iled to protect against a range of malware in independent tests.

AV-Test put 41 different virus scanners for Android through their paces. Almost two-thirds of these scanners are not yet suitable for use as reliable products, identifying less than 65 per cent of the 618 types of malware tested.

Packages that detected more than 90 per cent of the Android malware thrown at them included Droid security software from Avast, Dr Web, F-Secure, Ikarus, Kaspersky, Zoner and Lookout.

Products that picked up more than 65 but less than 90 per cent of Android malware included applications from established desktop players (AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, Norton/Symantec, QuickHeal, Trend Micro, Vipre/GFI and Webroot) and a couple of mobile specialists (AegisLab and Super Security).

Android security products from Bullguard, Comodo, G Data, McAfee, NetQin and Total Defense fell into the third range (detection of between 40 to 65 per cent). AV-Test said these products generally provided reliable malware protection against a few milies, but fell down elsewhere probably due to inadequate mobile malware sample collection.

A fourth group of Android security products provided detection rates of less than 40 per cent basically completely unreliable. These products none of which came from recognised security vendors generally iled to react even when smartphone users opened well-known Android Trojan, much less detecting anything amiss during a regular scan.

The findings are of concern because of the growth in malware (largely Trojans) targeting Android devices over the last year or so. Threats for Android smartphones include phishing Trojans, banking Trojans, spyware, bots,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. SMS fraud Trojans, premium diallers and ke installers.

AV-Test reckons there were more than 11,000 strains of Android malware, a figure that has grown exponentially over recent months. The figure only crossed over the 2,000 mark at the end of October 2011. Thats still a tiny fraction of the 10-million-plus Windows malware strains out there, but Android malware is well on track to exceed the volume of Mac-targeting nasties.

The popularity of the Android system has led to a huge increase in the distribution of Android malware, Andreas Marx, chief exec of AV-Test explained. This malware is mainly distributed in markets operated by third parties, but even the Google Android Market cannot guarantee that all of its listed applications do not contain any threats.

Malware detection of free and paid-for Android scanners from the same vendor was the same. Paid-for Android security suites tend to bundle extra features beyond a basic anti-malware scanner, such as application permission control.

Even if an Android security package performs badly in malware detection it may be useful in other ways, such as remote lock and wipe, backup and phone locating, as AV-Test points out.

More information on the tests, including charts and results, can be found on AV-Tests websitehere.

The latest tests, the results of which were published on Tuesday, are a follow-up on previous less comprehensive tests of Android anti-malware scanners carried out by AV-Test last year. These earlier tests found that many free-of-charge antivirus products iled to protect Android smartphone against malware effectively. ®

Here we look at Extended Validation certificates, which build on SSL to protect web users against phishing attacks and other kinds of online fraud.

Based on candid warts and all feedback from over a thousand experienced adopters, we take a practical look at the use of desktop Linux in a real world business context.

For as long as businesses have been considering mobile working, the concern topping everyones list has been security…

In this study we wanted to cut through the hype andavg anti virus determine the kinds of things that do actually make a difference to the levels of risk organisations ce. The study gathered insight from over 1,000 IT professionals.

Desktop support is the public ce of most IT departments, and hub of many daily IT operations and services that are routinely delivered to users, or customers. But too often

Most Android anti-virus products dont work

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:07:02 +0000

An independent IT security firm deemed nearly two-thirds of Android anti-virus scanning software not yet suitable for use as reliable products.

Out of 41 different Android anti-virus solutions tested last month, the German-based security institute AV-Test found that 34 scanners detected less than 65 percent of 618 different types ofAndroid-specific malware.

Software from companies including AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, Norton and Trend Micro detected between 65 and 90 percent of malware. In the second bracket of solutions, detecting only 40 to 65 percent of malware, fell products from BullGuard, Comodo, McAfee, NQ, Total Defense and G Data, leadingAV-Test to concludethat these vendors may not yet have a sufficient infrastructure to collect a broad range of malware or they focus on a local market.

Of the 41 products,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. only seven scanners, from Avast, F-Secure, Lookout, Kaspersky, Ikarus, Dr. Web and Zoner, detected more than 90 percent of Android malware. Taking these products as well as those from the second tier, AV-Test said you can trustfully choose from at least 17 products to protect your Android device.

Av-Test recommended choosing Android anti-virus software from this list, and consavg anti virusidering mobile security solutions that offer backup and anti-theft protection as well. To add a much-needed layer of security and help your mobile malware software win the fight, its important to download onlyAndroid appsfrom Googles official Android Market. Before you download an app, make sure to read the comments and reviews and check what permissions the app requests. If you feel an app is suspicious, dont download it.

Report Uncovers Fake Android AntiVirus Apps

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:06:24 +0000

A month ago, we were unpleasantly surprised to learn that a report from Juniper Networks Mobile Threat Centershowed a 3,325 percent increasein Android malware over 2011. According to the report, Android malware samples increased from 11,138 in 2010 to 28,472 in 2011. And if that wasnt enough bad news for you, a recent report from digital security firm F-Secure shows how Android malwareis now dominating the mobile malware scene, as it overtook both Symbian malware and Pocket PC malware.

As malware popped out, weve seen the Android Market being populated with more and more anti-malware apps, up to the point where uneducated Android users (remember that around 850,000 new Android devices are activated on a daily basis) could assume that installing any of the so-called anti-malware apps will solve their security problems. Unfortunately though, it seems that, in a similar way to PC antivirus software, many Android security solutions dont really help with catching and eliminating threats. Afresh report released by independent testing organization AV-Test shows that not all Android security apps perform with equal efficiency. In ct, some of them might not even work at all.

The report classified Android anti-malware apps into several categories. The first group includes the apps that detected north of 90% of the 618 malicious .APK files included in the test. Among them, youll recognize names likeAvast, Dr. Web, Kaspersky, Ikarus, orF-Secure(all of them also have a desktop counterpart). However, you will also encounter some relatively new names in the anti-malware scene, such asZonerandLookout. All of the solutions in this top group are considered golden solutions against Android malware.

The second category is made out of apps that detected between 65 and 90% of the malicious files. According to the report, apps in this category missed a couple of malware milies that dont account as threats under certain environments. As was the case with the golden apps, popular AV solutions are included here (AVG,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. BitDefender, Norton, ESET, Trend Micro, Quickheal, VipreandWebroot), as well as a couple of Android-only apps such asAegisLabandSuperSecurity. Despite the lower detection-rate (compared to the first category apps), youll be quite safe with any of these apps installed.

The report goes on to list apps that detected a smaller percentage of the malicious files. But the surprising part of the report outed by AV-Test is the ct that there are 6 apps that detected NONE of the threats. These ke Android Anti-Malware apps are:Android Antivirus, Android Defender, LabMSF Antivirus beta, MobileBot Antivirus, MT Antivirus, andMYAndroid Protection Antivirus. If you have one of these installed, youd better remove them and install one of the apps that detected above 65% of the threats.

How about you? What solution (if any) do you use to protect your Android device? Are you concerned about the rise of Android malware?

The Android O.S. already severely restricts the spread of viruses and there effect on your platform. Malware here really just refers to dodgy apps, just be careful what you download and you don&8217;t need any of these &8216;security&8217; apps.

I have yet to hear about paid apps with malicious nature. That said, all my apps are paid versions (I don&8217;t care aboutavg anti virus the $ amount) for two reasons..One, I hate ads, Two, believe it or not, I feel a bit safer with the paid versions. I also, check the developer reputation before I buy my apps.

I always believe that its always best to be safe than sorry and when it comes to my computer security I have always trusted the best antivirus provided by Quick heal total security. Now I use the same on my new samsung Galaxy note I recently got as a gift from my brother and bhabhi on my birthday. I was advised by my brother to use the mobile security product by quick heal for android mobile phone. I am happy to have bought the software as it costed me less than the scratch guard I brought. effectively 150 Rs per year for secuirity of my android phone is some thing very appealing, I recommend Quick Heal to all who care for their android mobile.

Hey nice post&8230;.keep posting&8230;.you rock

From my android experience I will also recommend to use &8220;SuppApp&8221;.

It can connect remotely to your phone via another phone and notifies about Incoming SMS, Calls (Missed, Dialled or Received) through SMS or Email.

AndroidAuthority.com is not affiliated with Google or any of the device manucturers listed on this site. We are an Android Enthusiast site.

Android Market riddled with bogus security products

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:05:44 +0000

The big brand Android securitycharlatansmay inspire trust in their security products, but a test by German antivirus test lab, AV-Test, shows that only a handful live up to their name.

The trustworthy Android security apps, measured by their effectiveness in blocking major malware milies include, in order, avast! Free Mobile Security, DR. Web antivirus light, F-Secure Mobile Security, IKARUS, Kaspersky and Lookout, according to antivirus test lab,AV-Test(PDF).

The organisation tested 41 free and paid-for security apps available on Android Market, and found a majority did little or nothing to protect devices against major milies of malware. Some were free, others paid for and some offered both free (Lite) and paid-for versions.

The products that were useful but deficient at detecting malware included some of the biggest names in desktop security such as AVG, BitDefender, Norton Mobile Security Lite, Trend Micro and Vipre (GFI Software), amongst others. Their detection rates against the list of malware AV-Test tested against was between 90 per cent and 65 per cent.

Products with a (malware) detection rate between 90% and 65% are still very good and could move to the top range depending on changes to the tested malware set. Some of these products just miss one or two malware milies, which might be not prevalent in certain environments anyway, the organisation reported.

AV-Test conceded there were problems testing products against pråk known malware because total samples are still small, and the market is dynamic in that some are quickly removed. AV-Test focused on malware milies prevalent between August and December 2011.

A notable ommission from this mid-range group of Andoird security software is Intel-owned McAfee, a popular Android AV app with over 2,300 installs from Android Market. Still, it is relatively unpopular compared with Lookouts 279,000 installs, and avast!s 20,000, achieved since its February 2012 release.

Bullguard, Comodo, G Data, McAfee, NetQin and Total Defense are in the third range. These vendors may not yet have a sufficient infrastructure to collect a broad range of malware or they focus on a local market. They provide reliable malware protection against a few milies,
Download latest Anvi Smart Defender to repair your computer and protect your privacy. but have trouble with some others, AV-Test reported.

They detected more than 40 pervbrmy of malware.

Theres also a bunch of a apps too many to list here – that dont protect against any malware milies. Not surprisingly, the apps are not from any known traditional desktop AV vendors except for Android newcome and security star Lookout.

In most cases when there is a free (often called Lite) and a paid version, the malware detection capabilities are the same. So if you are just looking at the detection rates, you can take the Lite result and apply this to the paid version and vice versa. Another finding of the test is, that the well known Desktop IT vendors perform above the average. Even the worst products from those vendors are still better than most of the specialized mobile security software vendors, AV-Test said.

AV-Test does not mention which security apps use of the cloud to detect malware iled, but it warns that latency issues may be behind the ilure of cloud services in their tests. There were also problems deleting malicious apps that had ben detected, forcing testers to click the remove button several hundred times.

Despite Googles Android malware scanning Bouncer service, designed to weed out bad apps before they reach Android Market, AV-Test recommends using one of the top 17 security apps. (See list pictured).

Additional features users should consider when installing an app include backup and anti-theft protection such as locating a lost device or remote data wipe.

Part of the reason why users should consider a security app is related to the numbers game. Google Android apps have exploded from 100,000 a year ago to over 450,000 in 2012, and while Google is taking steps to prevent bad apps from appearing on its official market, it can often take several weeks for it to remove them.

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Manage and visualize the security and compliance of VMware, physical, and hybrid-cloud infrastructure from the RSA Archer eGRC Platform.

Software security company gives some advice this holiday season tomake sure employees don’t end up on Santa’s naughty list!

At a fundamental business level, social media is a useful additional tool for communicating and collaborating with customers, colleagues and new business prospects. From an HR point of view, the social web is not only useful for recruitment but also as a knowledge network. At an employee level, social media is changing the way we work: Employees increasingly expect to be able to access personal technology and services in the workplace. As the lines between work and home life blur, staff are looking for greater flexibility in their roles; working from home is an increasing trend, but so too is ‘home-ing from work’, where staff expect to be able to perform personal tasks at work.

But social media brings risk and reward to business in equal measure. Information security is a key concern: Many organisations view social media channels as yet another route along which sensitive data can escape from the business, whether accidentally or maliciously. On top of this, senior management may be concerned about the amount of time employees spend on social networks.

This cultural shift raises new questions about trust in the workplace, the balance of power in employer / employee relationship and levels of control over people and content.

Organisations using content and web security technology can manage the way their staff use email and the internet without having to resort to a deult position of mistrust. With a whopping third of ANZ employers completely blocking social media access at work, there’s a real danger of throwing the benefits of collaboration out with the risks.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

Trust breeds responsibility: People underestimate the amount of company time they spend on personal browsing. Allow staff to view their own web usage and foster more responsible behaviour without undermining trust.

Know limits:Set clear limits on personal surfing and communicaavg anti viruste them to users. Alert them when they are approaching their limit. Help your people to play by the rules.

Share the load:Spread responsibility for usage reporting among managers and department heads so everyone gets to see how their usage impacts on the rest of the organisation. This also gives managers greater control and visibility into usage.

Need to know:Yes, you need reports and visibility. What you don’t need is employee data becoming common knowledge. Access control means reporting can be adjusted on a need-to-know basis.

Can a hacker burn down your business by remotely setting one of your printers on fire? Researchers at Columbia University have recentlyproposed such a scenario, although HP quickly denied that its possible. However, even if your printers cant be used as remote firestarters, there are many risks involved in networking a printer.

Email and Web Security: Protecting Content is King. Download the Aberdeen Group White Paper to learn more.