[2461] in Security FYI
[IS&T Security-FYI] SFYI Newsletter, April 9, 2012
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Monique Yeaton)
Mon Apr 9 16:34:23 2012
From: Monique Yeaton <myeaton@MIT.EDU>
To: "ist-security-fyi@mit.edu" <ist-security-fyi@MIT.EDU>
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 20:33:16 +0000
Message-ID: <CBA8BFCA.26530%myeaton@exchange.mit.edu>
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In this issue:
1. Macs No Longer Malware-Free?
2. Tip: Enable the Firewall on Your Mac
3. The Dangers of Hacking
---------------------------------------------
1. Macs No Longer Malware-Free?
---------------------------------------------
Unless you don't read much news on the Internet, you have likely heard abou=
t Flashback<http://asia.cnet.com/crave/flashback-is-the-largest-mac-malware=
-threat-ever-62214213.htm> (Flashfake), a virus targeting Mac computers spe=
cifically using a vulnerability in Java. The malware is estimated to be run=
ning on 600,000 machines around the world and is judged to be the largest M=
ac malware threat ever.
If you're using a Mac computer, be sure to download and apply the patches f=
or Java released by Apple this past week. You can find them through your So=
ftware Update utility or on the Apple Downloads<http://support.apple.com/do=
wnloads/> website.
--------------------------------------------------
2. Tip: Enable the Firewall on Your Mac
--------------------------------------------------
Mac OS X has a built-in firewall that plays the role of security guard, blo=
cking or denying certain network traffic. The firewall on a Mac is turned o=
ff by default. Be careful to configure your firewall <http://kb.mit.edu/con=
fluence/x/FQCKBg> correctly before you turn it on so that you're not blocki=
ng network traffic you need, for example FTP traffic. Steps for Snow Leopar=
d<http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-mac-os-x-snow-leopards-b=
uiltin-firewall.html>. Steps for Lion<http://techmix.net/blog/2011/05/24/fi=
rewall-on-mac-osx-lion/>.
----------------------------------
3. The Dangers of Hacking
----------------------------------
There are those who engage in hacking and commit fraud for monetary gain. A=
nd there are those who hack for the purpose of civil disobedience or to dis=
rupt businesses, such as the group Anonymous. An article posted on NPR: All=
Tech Considered<http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/04/05/1500=
99660/when-online-hacking-poses-real-world-dangers>, discusses the anonymit=
y of online actions and how this anonymity can lure people to believing the=
ir actions online may not have real-world consequences. The author believes=
the risk has more to do with the kind of technology that is being built in=
to more kinds of networked devices, from factory valves to medical equipmen=
t to chips used to track cattle. Food for thought?
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Read all Security FYI Newsletter articles and submit comments online at htt=
p://securityfyi.wordpress.com/.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Monique Yeaton
IT Security Communications Consultant
MIT Information Services & Technology (IS&T)
(617) 253-2715
http://ist.mit.edu/security
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<div>
<div>
<div>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">In thi=
s issue:</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">1. Mac=
s No Longer Malware-Free?</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">2. Tip=
: Enable the Firewall on Your Mac</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">3. The=
Dangers of Hacking</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
---------------------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">1. Mac=
s No Longer Malware-Free?</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
---------------------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">Unless=
you don't read much news on the Internet, you have likely heard about
<a href=3D"http://asia.cnet.com/crave/flashback-is-the-largest-mac-malware-=
threat-ever-62214213.htm">
Flashback</a> (Flashfake), a virus targeting Mac computers specifically usi=
ng a vulnerability in Java. The malware is estimated to be running on 600,0=
00 machines around the world and is judged to be the largest Mac malware th=
reat ever.</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">If you=
're using a Mac computer, be sure to download and apply the patches for Jav=
a released by Apple this past week. You can find them through your Software=
Update utility or on the
<a href=3D"http://support.apple.com/downloads/">Apple Downloads</a> website=
.</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
--------------------------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">2. Tip=
: Enable the Firewall on Your Mac</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
--------------------------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">Mac OS=
X has a built-in firewall that plays the role of security guard, blocking =
or denying certain network traffic. The firewall on a Mac is turned off by =
default. Be careful to
<a href=3D"http://kb.mit.edu/confluence/x/FQCKBg">configure your firewall <=
/a>correctly before you turn it on so that you're not blocking network traf=
fic you need, for example FTP traffic.
<a href=3D"http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-use-mac-os-x-snow-l=
eopards-builtin-firewall.html">
Steps for Snow Leopard</a>. <a href=3D"http://techmix.net/blog/2011/05/24/f=
irewall-on-mac-osx-lion/">
Steps for Lion</a>.</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
----------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">3. The=
Dangers of Hacking</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">------=
----------------------------</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica">There =
are those who engage in hacking and commit fraud for monetary gain. And the=
re are those who hack for the purpose of civil disobedience or to disrupt b=
usinesses, such as the group Anonymous.
An article posted on <a href=3D"http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered=
/2012/04/05/150099660/when-online-hacking-poses-real-world-dangers">
NPR: All Tech Considered</a>, discusses the anonymity of online actions and=
how this anonymity can lure people to believing their actions online may n=
ot have real-world consequences. The author believes the risk has more to d=
o with the kind of technology that
is being built into more kinds of networked devices, from factory valves t=
o medical equipment to chips used to track cattle. Food for thought?</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-he=
ight: 17.0px">
<br>
</p>
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<p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial">Read all S=
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<a href=3D"http://securityfyi.wordpress.com/"><span style=3D"text-decoratio=
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