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Issue
August 2006
In this month's issue of our Security Watch Newsletter and in line with the
forthcoming seminar on Identity Theft, we have a strong focus on Identity Theft.
We have a number of stories highlighting some of the dangers posed by not
securing your personal data and a link to an online survey aiming to gather
responses on whether or not Ireland needs a National Computer Emergency
Response Team. We also highlight some interesting news stories from around the
globe and update you on the latest happenings in BH Consulting
About BH Consulting
BH Consulting was founded in answer to demands for an independent consulting
firm to assist clients gain a competitive edge by achieving IT Operational
excellence in deploying, managing and securing their IT infrastructure. With
over 20 year’s experience, we provide you with access to in-depth expertise,
experience and technical know-how. Backed with our quality processes and
commitment to deliver, BH Consulting provides clients with quality solutions at
cost effective rates.
 Support
Focus Ireland
If you have found any items in our
Security Watch Newsletter to be of use to you we ask that you
make a donation to
Focus Ireland who
work tirelessly supporting the homeless throughout Ireland. Focus Ireland
aims to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call
home through quality services, research, and advocacy. The objectives of
Focus Ireland are to respond to the needs of people out-of-home and those at
risk of becoming homeless, through a range of appropriate high quality services,
to provide emergency transitional and long-term accommodation for people
out-of-home, to campaign and lobby for the rights of people out-of-home
and the prevention of homelessness. No sum is too small and all is
put to excellent use.
NEWS
Reminder - Identity Theft
Seminar as part of Global Security WeeK
A quick reminder that as part of this year's Global Security Week initiative
BH Consulting, in partnership with
Vigitrust, are sponsoring a free seminar on
Identity Theft. The seminar
will take place at 2 p.m. in the Burlington Hotel on Thursday the 7th of
September. Identity Theft is becoming the fastest growing crime and this
afternoon seminar will highlight to individuals and companies alike the threat
posed to their identity by this crime. There will be speakers on this
topic from the Garda Computer Crime Unit,
ENISA (the European Network and
Information Security Agency) and also from the
Companies Registration Office to
talk about company identity theft. More details and the agenda for the
afternoon are available
here. Details of Global Security
Week can be found
here.
If you wish to book a place at this event please do not hesitate
to
contact us.
Survey on Establishing a National Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Ireland.
The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources have been
consulted regarding the establishment of an Irish Computer Emergency Response
Team. The Department is broadly in favour of looking into establishing such a
service. However, before progressing further they have asked that various
bodies, organisations and commercial entities are approached to determine the
feasibility and the level of interest in such a service. To this end an online
survey has been set up to gather responses from companies and individuals on
this matter. The survey should not take more than five minutes to complete and
your participation will enable us to determine whether or not a National
Computer Emergency Response Team should be set up in Ireland at this time.
The survey is available
here.
Phishing Becoming a Major Issue in Ireland
The forthcoming seminar on
Identity Theft may be happening at an
appropriate time. A number of recent incidents show that criminals are
focussing their energies on Irish banks, with
reports that over €110,000 has been conned out
of a number of Bank of Ireland customers. The reports also highlight that
Bank of Ireland are not the only targets for these attacks with customers of
other Irish banks reporting suspicious emails. This has led to a
call from the Irish Chapter of the
ISSA
(Information Systems Security Association), to better educate consumers in how
to protect themselves from online fraud.
BH CONSULTING WEBSITE UPDATE
We strive at BH Consulting to provide information that is
relevant and useful in securing and running your business. To this end we
provide a range of whitepapers available for download
free from our
white papers page;
LATEST THREAT LEVELS
Get more information on the latest updates on current threats at
our online resources page;
FEATURES
ENISA Releases Information Security Awareness Guide
The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) has recently
released a security awareness guide for small to medium businesses within the
member states of the European Union. The guide will help companies develop
effective in-house security awareness programmes in order to ensure users are
aware of the information security threats facing them. A number of useful
templates are also included. .. Click
Here for more info
Have you Disposed of Your Data Securely?
Two recent surveys have shown that a large number of consumers and small
companies are disposing or recycling old computers without firstly securely
deleting the data held on the hard drives in those PCs. According to the
BBC hard drives containing sensitive personal information have
appeared for sale in markets in Nigeria. A recent survey by Glamorgan
University reinforces the BBC's findings. ... Click
Here for more info
Most Companies Admit to Losing Laptops
Containing Sensitive Data
A recent survey by the Ponemon Institute LLC and Vontu Inc. shows
that 81% of US companies admitted to sensitive data being lost as a result of
laptop computers being lost or stolen. ...Click
Here for more info
Majority of Irish IT Budgets Spent on Compliance
Over 40% of Irish companies who responded to a survey are spending over
one third of their annual IT budget on projects to ensure compliance with
various regulatory and industry requirements. ... Click
Here for more info
FREE SECURITY SCAN
In partnership with
Qualys, BH Consulting
are offering a for a free Network Security Scan so you can check how healthy
your network is. To find out more about what this service can do for you, visit
our free
Network Security Scan.
Alternatively contact
us or visit our website to get more details on our
risk assessment service.
This issue of Security Watch is being brought to you by BH Consulting.
If you have found this issue to be of use please support our drive to raise funds
for
Focus Ireland.
Each
Security Watch eNewsletter, and the special Security Alert issues, are produced
independently by the Windows IT Pro Custom Media Group and is distributed by
various Microsoft security partners. Each eNewsletter contains up-to-date
information about security strategies, technologies, and alerts. Each Security
Alert contains the latest information about security threats.
Additional news courtesy of
Silicon Republic,
Cnet,
Silicon and
Zdnet
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