What is Winshock?

So the other day I got blindsided with a question at work: What are we doing about Winshock. Winshock, I asked? I had to go look it up, and I found that’s what they dubbed what I’ve been calling MS14-066, the vulnerability in Schannel, which is Microsoft’s implementation of SSL/TLS for Windows.

Based on that, I’d argue it has more in common with Heartbleed than Shellshock, but I guess “Winshock” is catchier than “Winbleed.”

Then the lead of another team asked me to brief his team on Winshock. I actually managed to anticipate all but three of the questions they asked, too, which was better than I expected. Some of what I shared with them is probably worth sharing further.

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Veracrypt is a Truecrypt alternative if you’re looking for one

I’ve written about Truecrypt before. If you need cross-platform full-disk crypto, here’s an alternative I found recently. Veracrypt is based on Truecrypt, but since you can’t fork it without a name change, it has a different name.

I haven’t messed with it yet myself–yet–but if you need this, you probably already know it. And, for the record, I don’t believe there was any conspiracy against Truecrypt.

This should go without saying: Upgrade your WordPress!

Apparently, 86% of WordPress blogs haven’t been upgraded yet to version 4.0 or 4.01, because they are vulnerable to a terrible cross-site scripting vulnerability.

If you’re reading this, and you have a WordPress blog, go update it. This post will still be here when you’re done. Read more

More encryption = more safety

Mozilla, Akamai, Cisco, the EFF, and Identrust are teaming up for Let’s Encrypt, an effort to make SSL encryption free and easy.

This is important, because it means mundane stuff will get encrypted. When SSL/TLS traffic are no longer flagged as special, security will increase. Read more

How to protect executives traveling to hostile countries

Slashdot ran a story about executives being targets in high-end hotels in the Far East. I didn’t realize this was a new phenomenon; perhaps I just assumed it’s been going on all along.

At any rate, it’s possible to protect against it.

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Got tech support scammed? Worry about your credit card, not your computer

Got tech support scammed? Worry about your credit card, not your computer

A college classmate contacted me a week or two ago. A relative of hers got scammed, and she wanted to know what to do.

“Get the charges reversed on the credit card,” was my simple response.

“What about cleaning up the computer?” she asked.

That’s the easy part. Read more

Retracing the Home Depot attackers’ steps

New details emerged on the Home Depot attack that left 56 million consumers with compromised credit cards. The interesting thing in the new details is that it could have been much worse, but maybe not for reasons immediately obvious.

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FTDI needs to be charged under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

FTDI is a company that makes computer chips for USB peripherals. Their chips are frequently cloned, which is an issue they have a right to deal with. But they have to be careful.

Breaking suspected cloned chips that consumers bought in good faith is the wrong answer. If I did that, it would be called hacking, and I would be sitting in jail right now, and probably would be facing a quarter-century in prison. Read more

How to rebuild a PC in a hurry

Sometimes rebuilding a PC is faster than trying to fix it, and if you’re dealing with a virus infection, it’s better to rebuild than try to clean. It’s impossible to know if the system is 100% clean after infection–unless you rebuild.

If you’re the family CIO, here’s how you can go about rebuilding a Windows PC in a hurry.

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Resources for securing WordPress

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform, and as one who’s tried virtually all of them you’ve heard of and a bunch you haven’t, I’ll also argue it’s the best.

From a security point of view, it has issues. That goes with being popular. But there are resources that can help, as well as general principles to keep in mind. Read more