How I created my very own Trojan malware today
Today I wrote a computer virus that could steal your passwords, drain your bank account, spy on your private emails and even let me peek at you with your own computer’s webcam. But don’t turn me into the cybercops just yet.
In an effort to show just how bad malware is spreading online and how easy it is to make, McAfee called in a group of journalists today for a demo. Using a couple of common… Continue Reading
Reactions positive on federal cybersecurity chief, but privacy a concern
Positive reactions from the security industry are coming in response to President Obama’s decision to set up a high-level cybersecurity coordinator within the federal government.
Obama said the coordinator — pointedly not named czar, which sounds dictatorial — would lead an effort to beef up both defensive and offensive cybersecurity capabilities. The coordinator would not take over the cybersecurity role, but rather facilitate different parts of the government, such as the FBI or the National Security… Continue Reading
Roundup: OpenTable IPO this week, big cell phone launches approaching, Google facing antitrust scrutiny
Here’s the latest action:
OpenTable going public — Silicon Valley will likely welcome its first IPO in a while this week from the restaurant-reservation site.
Will the summer bring blockbuster cell phone sales? — The launch of the Palm Pre, iPhone 3.0 software, and others could juice cell phone sales. The New York Times has more.
FTC drops case against Rambus – After years of litigation, the Federal Trade Commisison is no longer pursuing an antitrust case against memory chip… Continue Reading
McAfee acquires Secure Computing for $465 million
McAfee has agreed to acquire Secure Computing for $465 million in cash in a bid to stay ahead of Symantec in the enterprise network security business.
Santa Clara, Calif.-based McAfee will pay $5.75 a share, or $413 million, for Secure Computing, a publicly traded company (SCUR). Secure Computing’s preferred stock would also be redeemed for $84 million in additional cash. Net of cash held by secure, the deal is worth $465 million.
Secure already has more than… Continue Reading
Roundup: Agami shuts down, Amazon’s new book-site collection, and more
Toyota working on Segway killer — The transportation robot is called Winglet and comes in three sizes. See screenshot, via ZDnet.
Network storage company Agami shuts down — The Sunnyvale, Calif. company raised $85 million and competed against companies that went public, including 3Par. The shut-down was sudden, catching employees by surprise — apparently, a major debt-holder wanted its money back.
Illinois mandates online cancellation for game subscriptions — An Illinois family found it difficult to cancel a recurring online… Continue Reading
Roundup: Obama inspires tech ire, AOL possibly for sale, thin-film solar to surge, and more
Obama takes flack for telecom reversal — Barack Obama is about as smart as politicians get when it comes to technology, and even plans to name a chief technologist for the country if elected. But he has finally managed to offend the devoted, by changing his opinion on telecom immunity for Bush-era wiretapping and endorsing a bill that would expand the government’s power for domestic spying and protect telecommunication companies that assisted the Bush Administration. Some… Continue Reading
McAfee buys Safeboot, enterprise mobile security co., for $350M
McAfee, the Santa Clara, Calif. security software company, said it has agreed to acquire privately owned Dutch company, SafeBoot B.V., for $350 million in cash.
SafeBoot provides software to protect mobile entreprise data with encryption and access controls.
The statement is here.
Summit Partners appears to have done well. It bought a majority stake in SafeBoot two years ago for about $47 million.