verisign

Survey: Midmarket CIOs favor HP

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

HP is well ahead of some of its rivals according to the latest Vendor Value Service report by Ziff Davis Enterprise Research. The study of midmarket CIOs found that HP was the vendor of choice among 472 organizations, including 172 mid-size firms. The survey rated Dell second, tied with Verisign. Cisco and Citrix were tied at fourth. And Oracle came in 15th in the survey, despite its recent efforts to move into the midmarket sector.

There was some good news for IBM even though Big Blue hasn't shown any major changes from last year within the hardware, software and services category. The survey found that its customers are standing by the company, with its loyalty score 22 points higher than its overall rating. That's good news in a tough market!

For more on HP's popularity:
- See this ChannelInsider article

A bounty for Vista bugs

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

If you've discovered code that creates a security vulnerability in Microsoft's newest operating system Vista, you could be rewarded with some big bucks. VeriSign iDefense Labs is launching another bounty program, this time offering $12,000 for bugs in both Vista and Internet Explorer. While the security vendor wouldn't comment on expectations for bug contributions, it's ready to pay the first six bug finders $8,000, with a bonus payment of $2,000 to $4,000 if the contributor also produces a working exploit code for the found bug. VeriSign is hoping that the program encourages hackers to disclose bugs instead of using them but considering that a Vista exploit can fetch far more on the black market, the company's bounty might be a surprisingly hard sell. The bounty program runs through March.

For more on the Vista bug bounty effort:
- check out the news at TechWeb

Beware of 'Happy New Year' worm

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

When users log-on for the first time in the New Year, they might be greeted by emails that wish them a happy new year and offer a post card greeting. It seems that a new worm is masquerading in such fashion, according to experts at Verisign. Once a user clicks through to the 'postcard' link, a file deploys different variants of malicious code onto the PC and then uses the computer to send similar mass mailings. Some big company networks are already feeling the pain, so make sure that your IT organization is ready to take on the first worm of 2007.

For more on the latest worm threat:
- check out the news item at Securityitworld.com

PLUS: A worm that sniffs for unprotected software via a TCP port. Article
PLUS: The three top security threats coming in the new year. Article

New worm boasts two-pronged attack

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:01:39 -0500

The latest worm assault to hit the enterprise comes with a surprise: a secondary attack that hits the network about six hours after the initial installation, say security vendors. According to VeriSign iDefense, the Stration worm (aka Warezov) starts sending massive amounts of spam for pharmaceutical products once it has infected the network. This payload has gone yet undetected by antivirus and antispam software. This two-pronged strategy provides more evidence that spammers and worm writers are getting more clever than ever.

For more on the double whammy worm:
- read the news at TechWeb

Related Articles:
New worm can knock down firewall, connectivity. Report
Worm on prowl for mobile devices. Report

Senate holding ICANN hearings soon

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Should ICANN force VeriSign to do more for .com security? Yes, according to Network Solutions. Senate hearings tomorrow will focus on the issue of top-level domains and VeriSign's relative lock on the .com domain. Network Solutions recently issued a report detailing VeriSign's alleged security problems. The hearings are also expected to lead into the issue of whether Internet control should be so U.S.-centric instead of relying on an international UN-sponsored group.

For more on ICANN:
- read this IDG News article

ALSO: U.S. cyber-security job filled. Article

Entrust acquiring Business Signatures for $50M

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 20:01:36 -0400

Online authentication and fraud monitoring are a good match, so Entrust is buying Business Signatures for $50 million. Entrust's IdentityGuard system will link with Business Signatures' software called Zero Trust, which features real-time processing. RSA (now EMC) and VeriSign also recently bought anti-fraud firms. The trend is happening because of upcoming federal regulations.

For more on Entrust:
- read this InfoWorld article

ALSO: Security validation of OpenSSL encryption tool uncertain. Article

DEALS: Novell sells consulting unit

Wed, 24 May 2006 20:01:32 -0400

Consulting, security

DEALS
WHO	WITH	WHAT	SCOOP
Novell	Celerant	Novell sells Celerant arm for $77M	Novell dumps its consulting business for a cash infusion and can now focus entirely on software.
VeriSign	GeoTrust	VeriSign buys GeoTrust for $125M	VeriSign gets GeoTrust's security technologies for transactions and access to 9,000 resellers.

ALSO NOTED: SAP releases biz intelligence accelerator; VeriSign acquires GeoTrust for $125M; and much more...

Wed, 17 May 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> SAP releases biz intelligence accelerator. Article

> VeriSign acquires GeoTrust for $125 million. Article

> Hardware firms oppose Net neutrality laws. Article

> Work on MIT's $100 laptop sputters along. Article

And Finally... New solar system increases chances of finding life. Article

DNS hackers' newest, more powerful tool

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 19:01:38 -0500

One of the newest hacker tools is the DNS server, which cyber criminals are using to knock out online businesses and up their ante on Internet assaults. It's no small issue considering that DNS attacks are hitting big time security vendors with everyone else. VeriSign, for example, says it experienced one of the biggest system attacks ever thanks to a DNS event. And there's more than a few reasons why hackers are using the DNS approach--it's easier to hide behind, carries more ammunition and delivers a much more powerful punch than other cyber crime strategies.

For more on the DNS attack trend:
- read this article at News.com

DEALS: Ma Bell may be back; BlackBerry settled at last

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:01:32 -0500

Two weeks of BIG deals.

DEALS
WHO	WITH	WHAT	SCOOP
AT&T	BellSouth	AT&T buys BellSouth for $67B	It may make business sense, but a Ma Bell reunion is dangerously close here.
Research In Motion	NTP	$612.5M ends BlackBerry patent suit	No more worries about losing your CrackBerry devices.
Micron Technology	Lexar Media	Micron buys Lexar for $682M	Micron will run Lexar as a subsidiary and gets a steady flow of memory.
Microsoft	Cisco Systems, Citrix	Partnering for IP app suites	Corporate users get seamless IP communications inside future Office apps.
Brocade Communications Systems	NuView	Brocade buys NuView for $60M	Brocade gets file management tools for network-attached storage.
Asterisk	Zimbra	Partnering for next-gen call control	Asterisk VoIP tools will be integrated with Zimbra's calendar/collaboration apps.
VeriSign	Kontiki	VeriSign buys Kontiki for $62M	VeriSign enters the broadband content services market.
Wyse Technology	VMware	Partnering for virtual OS via thin clients	Virtualization through thin clients isn't new, but it's still cool.