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Security UPDATE--Month of Apple Patches--January 10, 2007

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CONTENTS

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IN FOCUS: Month of Apple Patches

NEWS AND FEATURES

- Attacking Vista: From Proof of Concept to Actual Exploit

- Cisco Strengthens Mail Offering with IronPort

- Backup and Recovery Basics

- Recent Security Vulnerabilities

GIVE AND TAKE

- Security Matters Blog: At Least 11 Unpatched Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Products

- FAQ: Start a Program with Elevated Permissions

- From the Forum: Information Quality During Security Incidents

- Share Your Security Tips

PRODUCTS

- Secure Remote Access from Handhelds

- Wanted: Your Reviews of Products

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

FEATURED WHITE PAPER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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=== IN FOCUS: Month of Apple Patches

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

by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor, mark at ntsecurity / net

Recently, someone announced that a new Apple-related security bug would be posted every day for the month of January (see the URL below). The stunt comes on the heels of other such projects, dubbed Month of Kernel Bugs and Month of Browser Bugs. There was also a proposed Month of Oracle Database Bugs, but that stunt never came to fruition.

http://applefun.blogspot.com

You might have read my recent Security Matters blog article in which I questioned whether this relatively new "month of bugs" trend is stupendous or just plain stupid. If you missed it, you can read it at the URL below.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94653

The problem I see with these events is that they place millions of computer users at severe risk. The alleged motives for launching these events vary, but it seems to me that they're primarily publicity stunts designed to draw attention to the operators of the events. If that weren't the case, then the bug publicists would at least post their bugs anonymously. Furthermore, if they really cared about the overall effects of their bug reports, they'd be more responsible with their disclosure methods instead of leaving people vulnerable while vendors scramble to fix the bugs.

At least some people out there have a conscience. In response to the recent launch of the Month of Apple Bugs (MOAB) comes the cavalry riding to the rescue, led by Landon Fuller, former Apple engineer.

Fuller found out about MOAB and decided that it would be a good exercise and public service to fix the bugs while waiting for official fixes from Apple. So day by day, as the new bugs are posted, Fuller works to find ways to fix them and subsequently releases patches.

http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/code/macosx/

In addition to Fuller's work, William Carrel stepped in to set up a MOAB Fixes group at Google where MOAB patch coordination is taking place. There you can find open discussion along with the patches released so far. The group is accessible at the URL below.

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/moabfixes?hl=en

Apple will undoubtedly release its own patches for the bugs in the near future. However, so far the company hasn't said anything publicly about possible patches or the MOAB project. Although Fuller formerly worked at Apple and is helping to fix the bugs on his own, he stated that he hasn't heard anything from Apple regarding MOAB or his patching efforts.

I think that the work of the people who are now involved in patching the issues made known by the MOAB project is admirable. The people who launch these "month of bugs" stunts could take a lesson in public service from the example being set. But will they? I doubt it.

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=== SECURITY NEWS AND FEATURES

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

Attacking Vista: From Proof of Concept to Actual Exploit

During the final week of December, a vulnerability was discovered in Windows platforms that affects the Client-Server Runtime Subsystem (CSRSS) service. Then, on the final day of 2006, just in time to ring in the new year, an anonymous person posted a working exploit to the Full Disclosure mailing list.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94746

Cisco Strengthens Mail Offering with IronPort

Cisco will acquire IronPort Systems, which makes a range of appliances that help companies defend themselves against email- and Web-based attacks.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94789

Backup and Recovery Basics

Every business needs a comprehensive data protection plan. David Chernicoff shows you how to begin creating one for your company.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94307

Recent Security Vulnerabilities

If you subscribe to this newsletter, you also receive Security Alerts, which inform you about recently discovered security vulnerabilities. You can also find information about these discoveries at

http://www.windowsitpro.com/departments/departmentid/752/752.html

=== SPONSOR: Vizioncore

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

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=== GIVE AND TAKE

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

SECURITY MATTERS BLOG: At Least 11 Unpatched Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Products

by Mark Joseph Edwards, http://www.windowsitpro.com/securitymatters

Are you aware of the known vulnerabilities for which no patch is available? There are at least 11, and the list is growing. Learn more about them in this blog article.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94788

FAQ: Start a Program with Elevated Permissions

by John Savill, http://www.windowsitpro.com/windowsnt20002003faq

Q: How can I easily start a program in elevated permission mode?

Find the answer at

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/94782

FROM THE FORUM: Information Quality During Security Incidents

A forum participant writes that he's seen discrepancies in data collected during various incidents, which can lead to wrong actions being taken. He's curious to hear stories from others about such incidents as well as suggestions about how people handle information quality issues during incidents.

http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=42&threadid=83308&enterthread=y

SHARE YOUR SECURITY TIPS AND GET $100

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=== PRODUCTS

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

by Renee Munshi, [email protected]

Secure Remote Access from Handhelds

Positive Networks announced PositivePRO 3.5, the newest version of the secure remote access service, which offers several major improvements, including automatic device detection for easier provisioning, the ability to work on handheld devices such as BlackBerries and phones with a Web browser, and Windows Vista support. The PositivePRO remote access service combines a client-based VPN, a clientless, Web-based Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPN, and remote desktop control. PositivePRO supports multiple antivirus products on the client and can prevent a client's access to the network if PositivePRO detects a virus on the client. PositivePRO can also install up-to-date antivirus software on a client that doesn't have it. For more information, go to

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WANTED: your reviews of products you've tested and used in production. Send your experiences and ratings of products to [email protected] and get a Best Buy gift certificate.

=== RESOURCES AND EVENTS

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

For more security-related resources, visit

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=== ANNOUNCEMENTS

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