It seems that even the most innocuous machines in the workplace can serve as a security threat to companies. According to this report from CBS News, many office copiers save the images they copy on a dedicated hard disk installed inside them. This means that everything from mundane memos to your most sensitive information such as financial statements and contracts are stored – and could potentially extracted.

So the next time you dispose of a copy machine, if you’re not sure what’s stored on it and how to get it off – give us a call to help out.

To see the news report, watch this video.

Almost everyone has first-hand experience dealing with malware or viruses on their computer.  I am sure that experience was not a positive one.  At Veracity Technologies we deal with this issue on a daily basis.  VT’s Help Desk is great at removing malware and viruses from computers.  Unfortunately this is a practice that they have come to perfect because of the frequency they have had to clean infected computers.

In the last 30-days VT has increased our capabilities to prevent our client’s managed computers and servers from becoming the next victims in the war against malware and viruses. 

First, we introduced a tool we call FILE BLOCKER.  Just before you open an application the FILE BLOCKER scans the program against a list of malware characteristics we have identified.  If there is a match, FILE BLOCKER prevents the application from even starting.  This is very helpful as antivirus applications do not always detect the latest threats.  As VT recognizes threats we can immediately “block” those threats from running.

Second, we introduced a new service we call Reliant+ Security.  Reliant+ Security’s advantage is that it integrates fully with our managed services tool.  In the past if antivirus applications detected an infection that could not be cleaned it would generate an alert within a separate management tool.  In most cases the end-user had called us before we even knew of the infection.  This was not something we wanted.  With Reliant+ Security we have all of the monitoring being done within our managed services tool.  All of our alerts are in a single console; making our response time more efficient.

Both of the new capabilities above require that your organization participate in at least one of our many Reliant+ service offerings.  If you are interested in hearing more please contact one of our Account Managers at 952-941-7333 or info@veracitytech.com.

Does your organization deploy blackberry devices to your end-users?

Up until recently, the ability to synchronize MS Exchange email, contacts and calendar to your Blackberry devices “over the air” required an additional purchased software and license package. Blackberry is now offering the Blackberry Enterprise Server Express, designed for small businesses, for free. That’s right, no software or license fees apply! It is free to download right from blackberry’s website.

Connect people via BlackBerry® smartphones and ideas get bigger. Progress happens faster. Answers get smarter. So imagine what happens when you give a business the freedom to connect all its employees.

BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express enables businesses of any size to quickly and easily get started with the BlackBerry solution. It provides advanced BlackBerry smartphone features with no additional software or user license fees, and works with any Internet-enabled BlackBerry data plan or a BlackBerry enterprise data plan.

Contact Veracity to see how our team of experts can install and configure this solution on your network and allow you to take advantage of these additional features by utilizing the technology you already have invested today!!

Contact us today at - 952-941-7333 or info@veracitytech.com and we will design and implement a deployment strategy that fits your needs.

Users beware of ransomware: malicious software that extorts money from users in exchange for freeing the user’s computer or data. One particularly nasty version was recently discovered by researchers at CA which came bundled with a software download called uFast Download Manager. The malware blocks Internet access for users until they pay the publisher a fee via SMS. Users who download the software are immediately infected, seeing a message posted in Russian demanding a ransom under the guise of activating the uFast Download Manager application. To keep your computer environment safe, always be wary of downloading suspicious free software on the Internet. If you need help or are unsure, please contact us first so we can help!

Spanish authorities report that they have arrested the masterminds behind a string of online criminal activities using the botnet dubbed Mariposa. Mariposa is the original name of a commercially distributed Do-it-Yourself malware kit, sold online for 800/1000 EUR for “wannabe” hackers.  Along with the arrest, authorities seized sensitive data belonging to about 800,000 users in 190 countries, gathered from an estimated 12M+ infected host computers on the Internet.

What’s particularly interesting is that the cybercriminals arrested were not themselves the author of the malware, nor were they any more techincally adept than many ordinary users. They simply had access to malware widely available on the Internet, and were able to conduct a crime of such a wide scale and reach.

This illustrates that it’s become easier for many cybercriminals to conduct their nefarious deeds online, and highlights the need for more vigilance on the part of law-abiding netizens in keeping their network secure from hackers and malware.

Is your network safe? Contact us to find out.

Related articles:

• How FBI, police busted massive botnet (go.theregister.com)
• Botnet takedowns ‘don’t hurt crooks enough’ (go.theregister.com)
• Vodafone distributes Mariposa Bot, Conficker and Lineage in HTC Magic (techie-buzz.com)

Microsoft recently released a number of security bulletins and patches addressing vulnerabilities in Windows and Office that are of high risk to users. It’s widely believed that many will be exploited by hackers within the next 30 days. One of them could potentially allow hackers or malware authors to easily compromise systems by tricking users to download malicious AVI-formatted files. Others require nothing more than just visiting a website. Another specifically targets Powerpoint Viewer 2003, and opening a malicious .ppt file could affect your system.

This latest round of patches and vulnerability updates is really nothing new – although the sheer number made public in one day is notable. This highlights the need for a comprehensive security policy, because vulnerabilities do exist in even the most mundane or old versions of software. Customers under our Managed Services plan can rest easy since we monitor and update their computers as soon as these patches and advisories are released. Find out more about what we do to make your systems safe and secure. Contact us today.

Related links:

• Patch Tuesday: Microsoft plugs critical Windows worm holes (zdnet)
• Researchers warn of likely attacks against Windows, PowerPoint (computerworld)
• Microsoft delivers huge Windows security update (computerworld)

A malicious piece of software making the rounds of news websites this week is believed to be behind the compromise of over 75,000 systems in over 2,500 international organizations – many of which are government agencies and large Fortune 500 companies.

Called the Knebner botnet after the name in the email used to register the initial domain used in the campaign to propagate the malware, the software infects computers and captures user login access to online financial services such as Paypal and online banks, social networking websites such as Facebook, and email. Infected computers can be centrally controlled from a master computer, which presumably harvests the data captured for nefarious means.

The Knebner botnet itself is not new. It’s based on the ZeuS botnet, and has gained prominence lately because it’s slipped under the radar of so many organizations. However, there are ways to prevent compromises from botnets – one of which is to have a proactive security system and policy in place. Our Managed Security customers have this assurance in place since we continuously protect their system from botnets and other malware. If you’re not sure that you’re protected, talk to us today.

Related articles:

• Kneber botnet described as ‘massive’ and ‘worldwide’ (inquisitr.com)
• Kneber attack resurrects notorious Zeus Trojan, say experts (guardian.co.uk)
• Malicious Software Infects Corporate Computers (nytimes.com)

In a report by security firm Websense, an alarming rise in the growth of malicious websites was identified in 2009 as compared to 2008 – almost 225 percent. The study also found an increased focus among hackers and spammers on targeting social media sites such as blogs and wikis. Social media or so-called Web 2.0 sites allow user-generated content, which can be a source of vulnerability. Researchers identified that up to 95 percent of user-generated comments to blogs, chat rooms, and message boards are spam or malicious – linking to data stealing sites or to downloads of malicious software. Email also continues to be a target for malicious activity with tens of thousands of Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! email accounts hacked and passwords stolen and posted online in 2009, which resulted in a marked increase in the number of spam emails.

For our clients on our Managed Service plans, we work hard to ensure your systems are protected from harmful or malicious activity coming from the Internet. If you’re not under our Managed Service plans perhaps now is a good time to talk – let’s make sure your systems are safe in 2010.

Related articles

• Top search results riddled with malware (v3.co.uk)
• Email phishing attack spreading say experts (telegraph.co.uk)
• Fraudsters Go Phishing For Victims’ Friends (news.sky.com)

Veracity Technologies is excited to announce that Gary Demers has recently joined our team as the Service Manager.  He comes to us with over 20 years of experience in the areas of customer service, project management and logistics within various industries.  For the last seven years he served as the Operations Manager at Cash Systems in Burnsville, MN where he managed all aspects of operations and customer support for clients throughout the United States.  He also served as a Project Manager for Invensys Network Integration Services where he was responsible for planning, coordinating and scheduling resources for telecommunications projects within the Midwest. Like the other organizations Gary has served, Veracity is also looking forward to the positive impact he brings in the area of customer service for your company.  Some of Gary’s responsibilities include managing the service team and working as a liaison between customers and technicians. As you know, Veracity strives to provide exceptional customer service and support. To help us continue to meet this objective, we ask that all service related questions be directed to Gary, as he will provide prompt response and escalation of your service requests to the correct team. Please feel free to contact Gary via email at gdemers@veracitytech.com or give him a call at 952-767-6250.

All other communications will continue to be handled by your assigned Account Manager.

One of Gary’s hobbies includes his passion for snowmobile riding. We have come to learn that he is a fanatic about this recreational activity.

So take warning, if you decide to engage in candid conversation on this topic, be prepared for his enthusiasm and the knowledge he shares towards the sport.

Once again, we hope you all will welcome Gary to our team as we expect that all of our clients will benefit from the experience and fortitude he brings to the organization.

Mozilla, the organization behind the popular Firefox browser disclosed that two add-ons available for download on its website were vectors for Trojans that could compromise users’ computers. Add-ons allow users to extend and enhance the capabilities of Firefox beyond the default install. Normally they are scanned for malware before being uploaded onto Mozilla’s website, but apparently two of them managed to slip through Mozilla’s automated scans. The infected add-ons are Version 4.0 of Sothink Web Video Downloader and all versions of Master Filer.

Mozilla has since updated their scanning process, but as part of our ongoing security watch we are vigilant in continuously protecting our customers under our Managed Services program from malware – you can rest easy.

When managing your systems on your own, it’s highly advisable to be vigilant with security and always use antivirus software – even when downloading and using software from legitimate sources. If you have downloaded these Firefox add-ons, uninstalling them does not remove the trojans that they carry, and you’ll need to use antivirus software to remove any malware on their system. Need more information or help? Call us and we will be glad to assist you.

Related links:

• Mozilla Firefox hit by malware add-ons (zdnet)
• Trojan Horse Mozilla Firefox Addons (the firefox extension guru’s blog)
• Mozilla admits Firefox add-ons contained Trojan code (sophos)