Matt Hines

Network appliance maker Finjan released an updated version of its Internet security software on Nov. 27, claiming new capabilities for identifying and defeating Web-based IT threats. Dubbed Vital Security Version 8.4, the software will be made available as a free download to all users of the company’s existing network security appliances, and promises to allow […]

Not everyone was happy to see IBM acquire Internet Security Systems, according to officials at McAfee, which launched a new program Nov. 27 aimed at convincing ISS customers and partners to move over to its own technology. When IBM snapped up Atlanta-based ISS for $1.3 billion in late August 2006, a number of the security […]

Researchers have published exploit code that targets an unpatched kernel vulnerability in Apple’s OS X desktop software. An independent vulnerability analyst working as part of the “Month of Kernel Bugs” campaign released the details necessary to attack the hole in OS X on Nov. 22, revealing the manner in which hackers could target the glitch, […]

Overwhelmed by an onslaught of external threats that aim to take down or infiltrate their networks, enterprises are increasingly turning to their telecommunications carriers, ISPs and managed services providers to help stop attacks before they arrive. Companies are demanding that their providers offer a range of security protections as part of their licensing agreements. Alongside […]

Leading researchers say adware broker Zango continues to employ questionable business practices to distribute its programs, even as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission finalizes a settlement proposed by the company that would ban it from such activity. In a statement posted on his Web site Nov. 20, independent adware researcher and Harvard-trained attorney Ben Edelman […]

Apple Computer has reported that a small number of its popular video iPods were infected with a virus that targets Windows PCs before they were sold to consumers. According to a statement issued by the hardware maker on Oct. 17, roughly 1 percent of the iPod Video devices it has shipped since Sept. 12 were […]

McAfee launched a new corporate strategy on Oct. 16 aimed at helping companies integrate IT defenses used to fight external attacks and manage internal compliance, announcing a $20 million buyout of data leak prevention software maker Onigma as part of the expanded effort. Officials with McAfee, based in Santa Clara, Calif., said customers are increasingly […]

Microsoft was unable to offer immediate access to its monthly collection of security patches as a result of a procedural issue in distributing the content to users Oct. 10. While the company appears to have remedied the situation, at the time that the security fixes were first released the software giant was forced to inform […]

Microsoft released 10 individual security patches on Oct. 10, addressing a handful of critical problems in Office programs along with several equally serious issues in its Windows operating system. In all, the software maker issued patches for six critical flaws, one important problem, two moderate glitches and one low-priority issue. The “critical” designation represents the […]

Hosted security applications provider Qualys and RedSeal Systems announced a new product integration pact Oct. 10 through which they will offer RedSeal’s risk management analysis capabilities on top of Qualys’ vulnerability protection and policy compliance tools. According to company executives, enterprises are seeking new methods for determining what security tasks they must address next, as […]

Symantec took the wraps off a series of new products and services on Oct. 10, as the security software market leader outlined its latest approach to helping enterprises juggle the litany of technologies necessary to protect themselves from IT-based attacks. At a meeting with customers and analysts in New York, Symantec Chief Executive John Thompson […]

As rivals complain ever louder over Microsoft’s move into the security applications space, antitrust analysts predict that the company may soon be defending its business practices to government regulators once again. European regulators have already begun to warn Microsoft against trying to thin competition in the security market via the addition of security measures in […]