[IS&T Security-FYI] SFYI Newsletter, June 29, 2009

[Monique Yeaton]

In this issue:

1. Microsoft Security Essentials in Beta
2. Reminder: Renew Certificates and Passwords
3. "Frontline" Covers Digital Data Dumping, Data Fraud
4. Are Your Habits Putting You at Risk for Identity Fraud?

Note: During the summer months, SFYI will be sent every other week,  
rather than weekly.


------------------------------------------------------
1. Microsoft Security Essentials in Beta
------------------------------------------------------

Last Tuesday, Microsoft made a test version of its new anti-malware  
service Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE, previously code named  
"Morro") available in a few select countries. The malware detection  
engine behind it is the same as the one used by OneCare, a consumer  
product from Microsoft. Subscriptions of OneCare will no longer be  
sold as of the end of June. Microsoft claims it will ship the final  
version of MSE by year's end. Independent tester Andreas Marx of AV- 
Test.org said the product seemed "very good" in tests against a range  
of virus, bot and worm samples from the most recent WildList.

Read the full story here:
<http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/early-evaluations-of-microsofts-antivirus-software/ 
 >


-------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Reminder: Renew Certificates and Passwords
-------------------------------------------------------------------

IS&T sent out a reminder this month that MIT personal certificate  
renewal is now underway.  Certificates obtained over the past year are  
set to expire on July 31st.  Renewal of MIT's personal Web  
certificates is not automatic. To ensure continued access to MIT's  
secure Web applications, such as Benefits, SAPweb, WebSIS, etc, you  
can acquire your own new personal certificate at: <http://ca.mit.edu/ 
 >. If you use certificates on multiple machines, you will need to get  
a new certificate for each browser on each machine.

More complete information and documentation is available at: <http://web.mit.edu/ist/help/cert/ 
 >.
For those with questions or concerns, please contact the Computing  
Help Desk at: <computing-help at mit.edu>.

And while you're busy renewing certificates, you may as well change  
your Kerberos password too, if you haven't not done so for over a  
year. Changing your password on a regular basis and keeping it both  
unique and secret will protect it against unauthorized use.

You can change your password here (using your current password or  
personal certificate):
<https://wserv.mit.edu/fcgi-bin/cpw>


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. "Frontline" Covers Digital Data Dumping, Data Fraud
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The PBS program "Frontline" aired a story on Tuesday, June 23rd about  
Ghana and what is happening with digital dumping and recycling in that  
country.

The program is summarized on pbs.org: "As this month's digital  
television conversion makes tens of millions of analog TVs obsolete,  
and Americans continue to trash computers and cell phones at alarming  
rates, Frontline/World presents a global investigation into the dirty  
secret of the digital age -- the dumping and dangerous recycling of  
hundreds of millions of pounds of electronic waste across the  
developing world. The report also uncovers another byproduct of our  
disposable culture -- data fraud, as thousands of old hard drives are  
finding their way into criminal hands."

Learn more about the story and program here:
<http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ghana804/>


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Are Your Habits Putting You at Risk for Identity Fraud?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find out by taking this short 14-question safety quiz and see how you  
rank in regards to the security of your identity:
<http://www.idsafety.net/quiz1.asp>



= 
= 
= 
========================================================================

Find current and older issues of Security FYI Newsletter: <http://kb.mit.edu/confluence/x/ehBB 
 >

= 
= 
= 
========================================================================


Monique Yeaton
IT Security Awareness Consultant
MIT Information Services & Technology (IS&T)
(617) 253-2715
http://web.mit.edu/ist/security

---------------------------------------
Important: DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR PASSWORDS!
Ignore emails asking you to provide yours. IS&T will *NEVER* ask you  
for your password.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/ist-security-fyi/attachments/20090629/bf891500/attachment.htm