There is a growing concern in corporate America with the amount of money that is lost due to the fight against viruses and hacker attacks.  From this concern, companies have begun looking at the source of the problem rather then the quick fixes to different attacks.  Companies are not satisfied with the ever increasing software vulnerabilities and there has been one organization that has stepped up to begin the change.  “..BITS, a large financial-industry organization that recently crafted a detailed security policy on how it expects technology companies to respond to the needs of its members firms. Two weeks ago, the nonprofit consortium squeezed concessions from Microsoft.  Now, other big-names vendors are in its sights” (Foley, Hulme, Marlin, 2004).   

Back in April, the BITS organization released a plan to persuade IT vendors to show a “higher duty of care” in developing infallible products.  The plan has asked developers “to make security a fundamental part of software design, support older versions of products, make upgrades easier, improve the patch-management process, and give companies with “critical infrastructure” advance notice of new vulnerabilities” (Foley, Hulme, Marlin, 2004). Software companies are also being urged to work together to resolve these vulnerabilities throughout their software.  Mary Ann Davidson, Oracle’s chief security officer said, “Developing secure code is not a trade secret.  Vendors need to start calling each other up and sharing development techniques.  The hackers certainly share attack and vulnerability information” (Foley, Hulme, Marlin, 2004).   

The push to make software vendors more accountable for their developments has been met with a willingness from the vendors to address the concerns of the IT professionals.  With this said, another problem still exists, “vendors efforts have not yet passed the most important test:  There’s been no decline in the number of security threats or attacks, or in costs associated with them” (Hulme, 2004).

For full story, click here.

"We do not have plans to deliver Windows XP SP2 enhancements for Windows 2000 or other older version of Windows," the company said in a statement.  "The most secure version of Windows today is Windows XP SP2.  We recommend that customers upgrade to XP and SP2 as quickly as possible."

(Reference Article, www.CNetNews.com - September 24, 2004)

For the full story, Click Here 

"The number of new viruses and worms aimed at Microsoft Corp.'s ubiquitous Windows operating system rose 400% between January and June from the same period a year earlier, computer security company Symantec Corp. said yesterday.

Nearly 5,000 new Windows viruses and worms were documented in the first half of the year, up from 1,000 in the same period a year earlier, said Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec."

Make sure you have the latest virus definitions whether you are using McAfee, Norton AV or any other. If you are not sure you have a virus checker on your machine, Click Here for a FREE Online Virus Scans.  

This offer is for a limited time only, so don't let it pass you by.

Call Melsernet to find out more
about our SonicWALL Firewall solutions for all businesses. 

Attention Education Professionals!
The 2004 HECC Conference is just around the corner and Melsernet is pleased to announce we will be present for the second year in a row.  The Hoosier Educational Computer Coordinators Conference is an annually held convention that brings together hoosier school systems, potentials clients and hands-on workshops.

Along with having a booth, Melsernet has
partnered with Alcatel to sponsor
snacks on Thursday afternoon.  Take a moment and stop by for a refreshing break.

The conference is Thursday and Friday, November 18th and 19th 2004 at the Crowne Plaza at Union Station in Indianapolis.

See the HECC website for Registration Details.