infosec – Page 54 – Stilgherrian

19 January 2010

Crikey: China isn’t our biggest hacker threat

Crikey logo

Despite all the news about Google being, it is alleged, hacked by attackers in China, from an Australian perspective China probably isn’t our main problem.

I made this point in Crikey‘s lead story yesterday, quoting a security consultant at a leading outsourcing firm.

Australian attacks targeting the private sector have come from other so-called ‘friendly countries’. Which country is a problem closely correlates with business competition in the particular sector…

You could pick any one of our major trading partners and I could tell you a story about a sophisticated and well-executed attack sourced from that country. Examples at the top of my mind include Japan, Canada, US, India and France.

The story is free to read. Do click through.

18 January 2010

Patch Monday: Contactless EFTPOS and Google privacy

Privacy issues on the Patch Monday podcast this week.

Contactless EFTPOS and credit cards that allow you to make payments without a signature or entering a PIN, and the vast honey pot of personal data that is Google. It’s not just Gmail, but everything else.

My guest is the Chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation, Professor Roger Clarke.

You can listen below. But it’s probably better for my stats if you listen at ZDNet Australia or subscribe to the RSS feed or subscribe in iTunes.

Please, let me know what you think. We now accept audio comments too. Either Skype to “stilgherrian” or phone Sydney 02 8011 3733.

04 January 201010 November 2010

Patch Monday: Smart Grids a critical infrastructure risk?

In the first Patch Monday for 2010, a look at the potential security risks of Smart Grids.

In theory, Smart Meters that monitor your energy usage and Smart Grids that manage your electricity consumption should save money and reduce carbon emissions. But do we really want to have cheap wireless-enabled devices connected to our home networks and the electricity grid?

A good mate of mine, security consultant Crispin Harris, is a tad concerned and, as he explains in this week’s feature interview, he’s not alone.

You can listen below. But it’s probably better for my stats if you listen at ZDNet Australia or subscribe to the RSS feed or subscribe in iTunes.

Please, let me know what you think. Feedback very, very welcome. And do let me know if there’s any topics I should cover, or guests we should interview.

24 December 200909 December 2012

Patch Monday: 2010 security trends and other predictions

In episode 23 of Patch Monday, a look at security trends for 2010 and some other predictions.

I speak with Mark Goudie, who heads up the forensics practice for Verizon Business Asia Pacific in Melbourne.

You can listen below. But it’s probably better for my stats if you listen at ZDNet Australia or subscribe to the RSS feed or subscribe in iTunes.

Please, let me know what you think. Feedback very, very welcome. And do let me know if there’s any topics I should cover, or guests we should interview.

27 November 200928 November 2009

My new podcast: ZDNet’s “Patch Monday”

Be afraid. Be very afraid. I have taken over ZDNet Australia‘s podcast Patch Monday.

In this week’s episode, Cyberwar. What is Australia’s place in the world of digital warfare? What are the implications for the NBN? Tom Worthington, a computer scientist who’s been watching how Australia’s defence forces use IT, helps separate the myth from reality.

We also look at the Australia Council’s innovative “Geek in Residence” program, helping bring arts organisations into the 21st Century. Applications close 9 December.

You can listen to my first episode, which is Patch Monday episode 20, below. But it’s even better for my stats if you listen at ZDNet Australia or subscribe to the RSS feed or subscribe in iTunes.

Please, let me know what you think. Feedback very, very welcome. And do let me know if there’s any topics I should cover, or guests we should interview.

And yes, I know it’s Friday, not Monday. Shoosh. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

01 November 2009

Byteside Tech: the Dark Side

Tuesday night I was on the panel for Byteside Tech episode 4, this time discussing the dark side of the Internet where the hackers and criminals lurk.

The other panellists were David Peterson from Trend Micro; David Hollingworth, editor of Atomic; journalist Stephen Fenech from the Daily Telegraph; and host Seamus Byrne. And here’s the video.

Once more, we seem to be remarkably enthusiastic. What is it about this event?

If the embedded video doesn’t work for you, click through.

One thing I find interesting about this subject is that so much of it is brand new even for people with an in-depth knowledge of their own field of IT. Does this mean that security issues simply don’t get the coverage they deserve?