Security Issue for iPhone, iPad and Mac iOS users

Apple recently reported a security issue in the Apple iOS which can be exploited to conduct spoofing attacks. A spoofing attack is a situation in which one person or program successfully masquerades as another by falsifying data and could therefore capture or modify data in what seems to be a secure session.

Patches for the mobile platform, iPhone, iTouch and iPad (7.0.6 – for newer versions) (6.1.6 – for older versions) have been released. Please ensure your devices are updated immediately. Go to Apple support here.

A patch for the Mac OS is not yet available. Until then, Mac users should exercise caution when surfing the web using Safari, Apple’s native browser. You may use other browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and IE that do not contain the same vulnerability.

I also recommend you do not use any of your devices on public WiFi networks until you can update your device. 

Thousands may lose Internet access when FBI shuts down servers - The Hill's Hillicon Valley

The following excerpts are from The Hill:

• Hundreds of thousands of people could lose Internet service on Monday when the FBI shuts down servers from an online fraud ring that allegedly planted a virus among computer users.
• The FBI says about 252,000 computers worldwide could be affected and that about 45,000 of those computers are in the United States.
• Users can check whether their computer is infected with the malicious software — often called malware — by visiting dcwg.org, a site run in cooperation with the FBI, or by visiting an anti-virus site such as McAfee. 

Note: This will happen on Monday, July 09, and is not limited to only the United States!

Click the link below to read more:

Thousands may lose Internet access when FBI shuts down servers - The Hill's Hillicon Valley

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Free Online Malware Scan From ESET

Many times, no matter which antivirus or antimalware solution we use, threats still manage to somehow get onto our computers.

Many antivirus software makers offer free online virus/malware scanners that work to varying degrees of efficiency. Many will find the threats, but not all will also remove them.

I have found one by ESET that does a very thorough job of finding and removing virus and malware threats from your computer.

You can find their online scanner here. If you use Internet Explorer to run the online scan, you will need to install an Activex control that will allow it to run.

After the Activex control is installed, it will ask if you want to install the program. Click "yes". Then, there will be a box that appears that will give you options to enable. Be sure that the ones shown checked in the screenshot below are checked before you proceed.

You also have the options of having the scan include "Scan archives" and/or "Scan for potentially unsafe applications".

Then click "Start" to begin the scan. For your first time using the scanner, please read the note at the botton of the box. A screenshot of it is included here below:

Now, go watch a movie, your favorite tv show or read a book while the database loads, and the scan runs, as it will take some time for it to complete.

Please keep in mind, that this online scanner is a good supplement to, and not a replacement for a full time antivirus/antimalware program that protects and runs in realtime. It is just good for your online peace of mind as regards your web safety.