Paul F. Roberts

Sony BMG will have a big job ahead of it as it tries to replace all copies of controversial copy protection software, according to a computer security expert, who says that he has evidence there are more than 500,000 versions of the program installed worldwide. Dan Kaminsky, an independent security researcher, discovered evidence that so-called […]

3Com Corp. on Monday announced the first product that combines the companys security technology with intrusion prevention system wares from its new TippingPoint division: an integrated security appliance called the TippingPoint X505. The new device features IPS technology and firewall, Web filtering technology and VPN (virtual private networking). It also has bandwidth allocation features that […]

Just weeks after announcing its first dedicated product for network access control, Juniper Networks Inc. on Monday said it was buying Funk Software Inc. to boost its network access security products. Juniper will pay $122 million for Cambridge, Mass.-based Funk in an all-cash transaction that must still be approved by the companies shareholders. Juniper plans […]

A gaggle of new threats that target computers running the Linux and Unix operating systems appeared on the Internet last week, challenging administrators more accustomed to threats that target Windows systems. Anti-virus companies and The SANS Institutes Internet Storm Center advised network administrators to be on the lookout for Internet-borne attacks that target a vulnerability […]

Music company Sony BMG Music Entertainment has succumbed to mounting criticism, announcing plans to stop production of music CDs that use a controversial digital rights management technology called XCP. The company said Friday that it is temporarily suspending manufacture of CDs with XCP, which security experts said used malicious “rootkit” techniques to evade detection on […]

Anti-virus firms are warning computer users about a new malicious program that attempts to hide on victims computers by taking advantage of maligned DRM (digital rights management) technology from Sony BMG. Symantec Corp., Sophos PLC and Bit Defender, part of Romanian company SOFTWIN, all issued alerts about Trojan horse programs that can become completely invisible […]

Microsoft Corp. is concerned about rootkit features in CDs from Sony BMG artists and is evaluating the situation to see if any action needs to be taken, a spokesperson said. The Redmond, Wash., software maker said that the security of its customers information is a “top priority” and that the company is concerned by software […]

A noted computer security expert who has clashed with Oracle Corp. in the past is warning customers that a cumulative security patch from the company may overlook a critical hole that could leave Oracle databases open to remote attack. David Litchfield of NGSS (Next Generation Security Software Ltd.) posted a warning on the Bugtraq security […]

Sony Corp. released yet another patch for its maligned digital rights management software on Tuesday, as the company fended off barbs from computer security experts. Sony is being criticized for installing stealth programs, known as “rootkits,” which harvest information and make unauthorized updates to customers machines. Researcher Mark Russinovichs analysis of Sonys new DRM technology […]

New digital rights management technology shipping on music CDs by Sony BMG Music Entertainment artists employs stealthy, root-kit-style techniques to hide from users, according to a security expert. The technology, which Sony BMG has dubbed “sterile burning,” manipulates the Windows kernel to make it almost totally undetectable on Windows systems. Furthermore, the DRM files are […]