OS X Mavericks Update and Security Fixes

I recently wrote about the major security whole in the latest version of OS X – read my last post. It appears Apple has released the fix finally. Although the ‘fix’ comes not in a simple ‘patch’ but in an entire Operating System upgrade!

After several months of testing, Apple has released OS X version 10.9.2. The MAJOR (and very dangerous) SSL bug isn't mentioned in the release notes that appear in Software Update, but the bug is mentioned on Apple's security page for the update. Seems Apple is being their usual shity selves when it comes to security - hide or lie about it, sort of hiding the fact that this is so important.

To be a 'little' fair, this update does add some features but over all is really a bug fix of many major issues with the new Operating System. In Windows terms it would be called a full Service Pack.

As with any large Operating System upgrade/update you should of course back up your system – Use Time Machine or any other method I’ve described in previous posts.

Run the Software Update to update your system to 10.9.2 and if any other software shows updates available, select them too. If you’d like you can grab the full Combo update here.

If you have Mountain Lion it too has an update available - run Software Update to get it.

Please make sure if you run an Apple desktop or laptop computer that you update as soon as possible.

Be safe, Peace.

Using Google’s Two Step Verification

If you don't know what 2-Step Verification is here is a simple explanation: The two-step system uses both a password and a numerical code tied to your mobile phone, which can be sent by Google via SMS or generated by a smartphone app. Either way, it means a prospective hacker would need to obtain both your password and your phone to access your account.

I’ve been aware of Google’s two-step verification system for some time, but I felt my very strong password, the fact that I don’t use that password anywhere else and that it could not be ascertained by usual social engineering methods, was more than adequate protection. I was also concerned the system might be a hassle to use since I routinely sign in from so many different computers and locations. I already do use a password manager (KeePass) that requires not only a master password but I also use a key file too. [There are other very effective password managers out there I suggest you use one. Ars has a good article about that here.]
But with the massive increase in hacking and high jacking of information and the advancement of brute force cracking technologies and techniques I felt it was time to get onto the 2-step wagon.

Also I suggest that if you use Yahoo mail for anything you migrate towards Gmail or some other ISP. Yahoo has one of the worst records for email security. They are  hacked all the time! One recent article is here.
And for petesake please do NOT 'link' your Facebook account with Yahoo - that too is a major source of hacked Facebook account activity. If you currently have it linked I suggest you separate it. You can read how here and here.

So here is a brief explanation of how to enable 2-step verification. I will also link to some other resources on how to enable and use it at the bottom. If you find this too complicated or too much of a hassle you can always disable it very easily.

So let’s get started. Login to your account and go to Account then. Security

In the Security list you’ll see 2-step verification. This is where you can ‘turn it on’ and edit the settings.

Printable backup codes. Warning: If your phone is unavailable, these codes will be the only way to sign in to your account. Keep them someplace accessible, like your wallet, desk drawer or other safe place. Printable backup codes.

Here click on ‘Show backup Codes’

I printed out a set and put them someplace safe. I also saved them to a text file and imported and copied that text file of codes into my Password management application – KeePass.

If you click on the Application Specific Passwords you can create them for you other applications like Outlook, iMail, ThunderBird etc. Just give it some useful name, click on ‘Generate Password’ and then make sure to copy (or right down) that password – it is only shown once! I just copied each one to a text file so I could then paste them into the proper field (password) on my Outlook/configuration setups.

Some other links and info.

Here's Google's info page. And more here.

Setting up Mac Mail.

Setting up Outlook.

One more thing to consider if you’re a paranoid guy like me. I have all my browsers set to delete Internet history, cache and cookies when I close my Browsers AND I also run CCleaner many times a day to clean out temp files. Doing this will clear out the 2-Step ‘security token’ so you must manually enter some specific cookies to NOT be deleted in your browser and/or CCleaner.

To create ‘safe cookies’ in Firefox here is a good article. For Chrome go here and read the ‘Make exceptions for cookies for specific websites. The method is just about the same for InternetExplorer and Safari.

For CCleaner you can add the cookies to keep manually. Read here.

The actual cookie names you need to keep are here:

accounts.google.com
accounts.youtube.com
google.com
mail.google.com
apis.google.com
0.docs.google.com
docs.google.com

Hope this helps some. Peace out.

Critical February Security Patches

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday is next week. And it's going to be VERY important

Microsoft's security patches are due to be released at 1:00pm EST on Tuesday 12th February. [Read more here from MS  ]

The longer you take to update the security patches on your computer, the greater potential risk you could find yourself in!!

In all, 57 separate security flaws are waiting to be fixed.

According to Microsoft, every single version of Internet Explorer - from version 6 to version 10 - needs to be patched, as they are vulnerable to exploitation by drive-by attacks.

That means that simply visiting a booby-trapped webpage could silently infect your computer with malware - hijacking your PC for a hacker's own ends.

According to an advisory from the software giant, five of the 12 security updates have been given Microsoft's highest severity rating of "critical".

Also note that Adobe has again released critical security patches to it's Flash Player software. [read here]

Even if you are not on a Windows/Microsoft Operating System you should still make sure your Adobe Flash, Adobe Shockwave  and Oracle's Java software  and Browser Plug-ins are up to date!

Be safe out there! MMm K.

Disable UPnP to Protect Yourself from New Security Hole Found in Wi-Fi Routers.

If you don't know. And most of you probably don't. There is a major security flaw that has been recently aggressively exploited. It could allow people with malicious intent access your system(s). Mac, Windows PC and Linux, all are vulnerable because this is NOT a OS flaw, but a router flaw! So please don’t think you are safe just because you by into the belief (very wrong by the way) that ‘your’ type of Operating System ‘doesn’t get infected…’.  Scans from security companies have shown about 50 MILLION vulnerable access points already.

It is strongly suggest that end users, companies, and ISPs take immediate action to identify and disable any internet-exposed UPnP endpoints in their environments.
UPnP is pervasive - it is enabled by default on many home gateways, nearly all network printers, and devices ranging from IP cameras to network storage servers.

Rapid7.com has an online tool here  that can check the external interface of your router and let you know if you are vulnerable.

To fix/resolve this issue all you need to disable UPnP on your wireless router.
Since each router is different, you’ll need to login to your wireless router’s admin panel (use the manual to figure that out), and then find the UPnP setting. This may require someone with more skills (like your teenager) or an IT professional (preferred method) to turn this off for you you. But however you do it, please do it.

Be safe.

Avoid Internet Doomsday: Check for DNSChanger Malware Now

Some background:
The DNS system is a network of servers that translates a web address -- such as http://www.google.com -- into the numerical addresses that computers use to locate actual websites, computers and servers. It is known as the Internet's phone book, which translates URLs to the IP address for the server hosting the Web site. This is not only true for Web sites, but also for any other Internet-based service being used, including servers for e-mail, backups, synchronization, chat programs, and calendars AND antivirus programs to update themselves.

Back in November, law enforcement authorities working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested six of the seven individuals in Estonia responsible for infecting millions of Windows and Mac machines worldwide with the DNSChanger Trojan. As part of the "Operation Ghost Click" raid, FBI agents also seized over 100 servers at data centers throughout the United States masquerading as legitimate DNS servers.

If the FBI were to simply shut down the DNS network, then the millions of computers that had been affected by the malware would instantly no longer be able to access the Internet, and given the scope of this malware infection, would suddenly cut off many and very likely have a notable negative impact globally. Being infected with the malware, these systems would not benefit from users checking for and changing their DNS settings, since the malware would continually revert it and thereby continually disrupt communications.

To prevent this, the FBI instead chose to keep the rogue DNS servers active and convert it to a legitimate DNS system for infected computers. Since November 2011, there has been a campaign by the government, security agencies and MANY high profile internet service providers (ISPs) to notify users of the DNSChanger malware and offer services to help users identify systems that are infected.

Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.

To quickly and easily see if this may affect you and what you can do about it visit this site

Click on the link in the middle of the page and you will be notified if you are currently infected.

If you are infected/compromised you can visit this page for resolution tips and instructions.

Remember this trojan/virus will affect PC's AND Macs. Better safe than sorry. Or you could always call me for a hou$e call when your system won't connect to the internet.

You can read the FBI's page here.

Google has one here

Facebook also has one here.

Windows AND Mac System Security News 04-12-2012

For OSX users:
Apple just released Java for OS X 2012-003, an update to the Java implementation in OS X. The update removes "the most common variants of the Flashback malware." Check that out here. You should definitely update your Java NOW!

For Windows users.
It's even scarier again. Trend Micro has found some scary ass Ransomware.

You can and SHOULD read the scary details here.

From TrendMicro’s blog, here is some of the details.

"We have encountered a ransomware unlike other variants that we have seen previously. A typical ransomware encrypts files or restricts user access to the infected system. However, we found that this particular variant infects the Master Boot Record (MBR), preventing the operating system from loading. Based on our analysis, this malware copies the original MBR and overwrites it with its own malicious code. Right after performing this routine, it automatically restarts the system for the infection take effect. When the system restarts, the ransomware displays the following message:

This message prompt informs affected users that the PC is now blocked and that they should pay 920 hryvnia (UAH) via QIWI to a purse number (12 digits) – 380682699268. Once paid,they will receive a code that will unlock the system. This code will supposedly resume operating system to load and remove the infection. This particular variant has the “unlock code” in its body. When the unlock code is used, the MBR routine is removed.

Bottom line PLEASE keep your security software, Operating Systems and Browsers (including and especially browser plug-ins like Java, Flash etc.) up to date and patched.

Peace.

Mac Fanboys and Girls let the terror start

OK now the terror starts for you fanboys (and girls). My last article told you of this Mac Trojan. Now it's apparently infected at least 600,000 users so far (read here) and it's terrifying everyone! It's written in an unknown language, doesn't even need your password to compromise you!

It's written in an unknown language, and doesn't even need your password to compromise you, and.

For instructions on how to check for and remove you can AND SHOULD go here

NO system that is connected to a network is EVER safe. It can only be made more secure. Don’t ever think you Operating System is your security; it’s not – YOU ARE!

Be safe out there people!

[side note: I wonder how many calls I’ll get about this and how to repair the damage? The compromised system I can fix – your emptied bank account I cannot. Just saying.]

New Flashback Trojan Infecting Macs NOW

A new Mac Trojan that can now infect your computer from little more than a visit to a website AND requires NO PASSWORD TO INSTALL is making it's rounds and promises some scary things!

The exploit was patched in February for MS Windows systems, however Apple has yet to release one for OSX.
Read more about it here.

F-Secure has a method for checking for and removing the infection here.

So once again folks please do not be naive and think you are immune to attack simply because your Operating System is not MS Windows.

Be safe out there.

More Scareware going around–Fake disk errors and hidden files.

More security news. There is another round of Scareware/Trojans going around that trick users into infecting their machines http://bit.ly/zqaBJK and then ransoming a fix for money.

This new threat, named "Trojan.HiddenFilesFraud.A" by Bitdefender's researchers, hides all files and folders on your machine and disables some standard keyboard shortcuts so you can't un-hide them. To further inflame your mania it displays error messages as-if from Windows reporting such worries as "damaged hard disk clusters." Disk scareware hides files.Just when your frenzy is at its peak, the fake disk repair tool goes to work. It busily spins and flashes and eventually reports a plethora of errors. Want the problem fixed? All you have to do is register... for $80. The worst of it is, even when you do register it doesn't unhide your files. Pay $80 for the repair utility that will do absolutely nothing once purchased. The scam is done, the money is gone. And there is a good chance your credit card will be used for more fraudulent activity in the very near future!

It displays a fake 'error' and 'fix window' that if clicked on (EVEN TO CLOSE!!) actually infects the machine! The the user is supposed to be scared enough and convinced to reach for his pocket and 

Please keep your Anti-virus/Spyware application, Systems and especially your Browsers up to date! I have posted previously on how to 'get out' of this bogus application look here http://bit.ly/pUhosM and throughout my blog for MANY articles regarding security please check them out. Or you could just pay me to fix what you mess up for not following my advise.

Be safe folks! Peace.

Facebook Timeline Fix with Social Fixer

OK. I was asked again about Facebook's Timeline and how to 'fix it' and make the experience more like 'it used to be'. I'll tell you now: You are stuck with Facebook Timeline - it's Facebook’s world and what they say goes in their world. (for the most part anyways). And Facebook says EVERYONE is getting Timeline!

BUT you can Un-Fack the Timeline and make it more 'enjoyable' by using the Social Fixer extension for Firefox, Chrome, Opera or Safari. Get it here. I just posted about this a couple of days ago but seems not many actually read it. Hope you will this time. The folks at Lifehacker put up a quick and simple video of it's use here:

 

So get the extension, watch the video and experiment and see if this help you.

I have also written numerous articles on using extension/add-ons for Browsers - specifically Firefox and Chrome. Since so many of us spend so much time interacting with the world via a Browser window, it's seems utterly silly that most won't or don't customize or tweak that window for more productivity, security and enjoyment. Maybe, many of you just don't know what you can do. But now you do. So go search through my blog to find those other tips!

While I’m here let me give you some other links on how to better secure your Facebook Profile and enhance your personal security.

Techworld has a VERY good article here. I agree with, and do everything they mention.

Have fun and stay safe out here. :-)

Peace.

Blacksheep add-on to protect against WiFi session Hijacking

This is a Firefox add-on everyone should use if you use public WiFi anywhere anytime.
It's called 'Blacksheep'.

Blacksheep will find and block 'Firesheep' - a highly popular new hacking tool used to 'sniff out and steal your sensitive information on WiFi networks.

What Firesheep is:
Firesheep is the Firefox extension that makes it easier to steal logins and take over social media and email accounts after users log in from a WiFi hotspot or even their own unprotected network. It is designed to sniff out weak security and hijack web site credentials on open Wi-Fi networks. This technique is technically called 'Session Hijacking'.

Session hijacking is nothing new. Web sites typically use SSL connections for initial login pages, but revert to non-encrypted traffic for all subsequent communication. As such, while a user’s username and password may be protected, once they are authenticated, any user on the same network can simply sniff network traffic, obtain a user’s session ID and then hijack their session for a given website. Although this has always been a serious risk, especially on insecure networks such as public WiFi hot spots, some degree of technical knowledge was required to accomplish the attack. Firesheep, opens such attacks to the masses as it turns session hijacking into a point and click exercise. Unless websites mandate SSL for all traffic on the site, session hijacking will always remain a threat.

Fortunately, BlackSheep can be used to let you know if someone is running Firesheep on the same network and protect you.

Read some more here.

and here

or just add the extension to Firefox by going here!

Be safe folks!

Apple Security news end of June 2011

Apple has released Mac OS X v10.6.8 and Security Update 2011-004 addressing a total of 39 vulnerabilities in OS X 10.5.x and 10.6.x.

Many are critical errors which could allow an attacker to take control of the system!

Please use the System Update. You can read the notice here:

And get the direct download here:

As usual I would remind you to also make sure you also update your Web Browser(s) and plug ins - ESPECIALLY Adobe Flash and Adobe Acrobat!

Another serious Web Browser hole

Contexis Security has found a BIG problem with WebGL implementations on Windows, Mac and Linux have numerous vulnerabilities which allow malicious web pages to capture any window on the system or crash the computer, according to research from Context Information Security. They actually demonstrate how to steal user data through web browsers using this vulnerability!

The report comes right on the heels of Microsoft's denunciation yesterday of the security architecture of WebGL and announcement that it wouldn't be seen in Microsoft products any time soon see here .

Sheesh! IE 9 is proving to be WAY more secure that FireFox and even Chrome! But until I can get the Firefox Extensions I use (or comparable) in IE I’m still a FireFox guy.

So let's fix that:
To Disabe WebGL in Firefox 4

1. Type about:config in Firefox address bar and continue on through past the warning dialog.

2. Type "webgl.disabled" (no quotes) into the Filter box then Double click Webgl.disabled entry and turn its value into “True”.

3. Restart Firefox browser, WebGL is now disabled in Firefox 4.

To disable WebGL in Google Chrome you will need to:

1. Rright-click your Google Chrome shortcut or from your Windows menu on your desktop, click ‘properties’ and add “-disable-webgl” to the Target Shortcut box

2. Restart Chrome

As always please keep your systems, Web Browses and their plug-ins, Anti-virus/Antispyware software, and applications (especially Adobe products!!) up to date and fully patched.

And try and be vigilant about security and always ‘on guard’.

More OS X utilities

While this is an early Beta, I am very happy to see one of my favorite tools now available on OS X - CCleaner.

I have been using this for some time on ALL of my Windows machines. In fact I have it scripted for all my users - every time they login CCleaner is run. This helps keep any lurking nasty's in temp folders from being able to be run – since they are removed.

This early Mac version does not of course have as many features as the Windows version yet but looks real promising. Have a try. I hope you find it useful.

You can get it here

You should also have (if you don’t already from my previous posts – Onyx

You can get that here

MacDefender Trojoan Strikes Again!

Apple and Mac folks I'd like to welcome you to the Windows world of malicious and pernicious attacks - even 'drive bys'. For over two decades I and the rest of the security world have been trying to inform people that NO networked system is safe from attack. Because of the sheer number and percentage of Windows machines vs. Mac and Linux machines, they have been the most easily targeted and exploited target. But that is changing! With the spread of OSX on the desktop and the realization by the malicious software vendors that Mac people are VERY EASILY duped and exploited because of their false sense of security, they are coming on strong and fast!

I recently wrote about the new Mac Trojan out and how to defend against it and remove it – read here. After 25 days Apple finally did put a notice and instructions on how to remove it. BUT only after telling their technicians AND users that 1st it didn't exist and then that they would not provide help!

Mac malware authors have released a new, much more dangerous version of MacDefender trojan variant:

"Unlike the previous variants of this fake antivirus, no administrator’s password is required to install this program. Since any user with an administrator’s account – the default if there is just one user on a Mac – can install software in the Applications folder, a password is not needed. This package installs an application – the downloader – named avRunner, which then launches automatically. At the same time, the installation package deletes itself from the user’s Mac, so no traces of the original installer are left behind."
Please read this from ZDnet

Apple is promising an update to OS X "in the coming days" that will detect the malware and its known variants, remove it, and remain in order to warn the user if they download it again. But don’t hold your breath!

I've spent years worth of time dealing with people who have been 'sold' on the false idea that "Macs don't get viruses or hacked". Wrong wrong wrong! OS X is built on a '*nix' core - one of the oldest operating system architectures in the world. How could you NOT think that there are exploits around that are just waiting to be ported to the newest derivatives? What type of systems do you think the hackers/crackers where getting into in the 70's and 80's?
I fault Apple a great deal for this. They have been literally selling the LIE that Macs are not susceptible to hacks for years. AND people believe them!

Again welcome to the world of Windows PC responsible computing. Be careful or get burned.

Please practice safe computing folks.

LastPass Warns of Potential Breach, Ratchets Up Security

OK FOLKS, TAKE NOTE LAST PASS MAY HAVE BEEN HACKED!!

Read about it here.

I don't use them, but I know many people who do! CHANGE YOUR MASTER PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY!
It's important to note that they have no evidence that anyone was actually compromised - YET.

Once you change your master password any breach that may have happened will be rendered moot. Their service is still good, I’m sure – just not good enough for me.

I have used KeePass for years and looks like I will continue to do so now for sure - it is open source and resides on YOUR system(s). It may not be as 'slick' and completely web based as LastPass but I trust it more. I guess I will NOT be migrating to that service after all.

As a systems administrator and IT guy, I have no less than 78 items in my main password safe! And I have a few smaller ‘safes’ for some of my clients. So it is necessary for me to have a place to keep them all and of course a flat file or piece of paper wouldn’t work.
I keep a KeePass safe on my machines that I sync and also on a usb drive. I have always believed in owning my information.

Be safe folks.

New Mac Trojan horse and Security tips from the NSA

There is a new Mac Trojan horse masquerades as virus scanner – read about that here . This is another example of social engineering - tricking users into making security mistakes.
Users looking for legitimate protection against viruses on their Macs might be duped into downloading and installing this. Essentially this is ‘ransomware’. It requires payment to ‘stop’ the ‘infection’. AND the payment information is often then sold to other nefarious people.

Remember that NO operating system is immune to attack. And since every system is utilized by humans they remain the biggest weak link - humans that is.

Also in other security news the NSA has released some good advice and documents for better security practices with your home network, and Operating Systems (including Mac OSX).
Read about that here. [via PCMAG Security watch blog].

Nearly all of this contains information that I and other security people have been saying for years but is well worth reading.

Your iPhone Is Secretly Tracking Everywhere You’ve Been

I am not sure how many have heard about or actually even care.
Butt this does sound scary as sh*t to me! It’s time that we as consumers have more choice on what information we choose to ‘share’ with providers and vendors. Things like this should be disclosed to consumers.

"Security researchers have discovered that Apple's iPhone keeps track of where you go – and saves every detail of it to a secret file on the device which is then copied to the owner's computer when the two are synchronized.

The file contains the latitude and longitude of the phone's recorded coordinates along with a timestamp, meaning that anyone who stole the phone or the computer could discover details about the owner's movements using a simple program.

For some phones, there could be almost a year's worth of data stored, as the recording of data seems to have started with Apple's iOS 4 update to the phone's operating system, released in June 2010.” [from here]

So if someone were to get a hold of either your phone or gain access to your computer they could find out where you go often, what time and how often.

If you want to actually see what is there you can (and should!) check out this open source freeware application.

Gizmodo.com has a super article on this too, check it out here.

Massive Data breach again – protect yourself

The names and e-mails of customers of Citigroup Inc and other large U.S. companies, as well as College Board students, were exposed in a massive and growing data breach after a computer hacker penetrated online marketer Epsilon.

The list of companies is HUGE! TiVo, JP Morgan Chase, Capital One Financial, US Bank, the Kroger grocery chain, teleshopping company HSN Inc., Verizon Communications Inc, Blackstone Group LP's Hilton Hotels, Kraft Foods Inc, and AstraZeneca and more.
According to the reports only email addresses and name information was stolen. So you may just get an extra does of spam. But you can never be sure.

You can read more about it HERE and HERE.

My advice is to reset your account passwords if you use any of these merchants and as always, use extremely strong passwords - preferably using applications like LastPass  or KeePass to create super strong passwords and manage all your accounts information.

Either of these apps should be used by EVERYONE anyways. LastPass being the easiest for most.

Keep safe folks!

More Rogue Antivirus/Spyware infecting many!

Users are being 'Tricked' into infecting themselves with trojans/virus'
This has been used on probably 1.5 million websites!
And it is increasing!

I have written about this type of attack before and how to avoid it and stop the ‘infection’.
Please Read Here

The hack seeks to trick Web users into believing that their computer has been compromised by viruses and prompts them to download fake security software that itself causes further problems. [called a social engineering hack] Among the sites serving up the links to the fake software sites are some belonging to Apple and used on its iTunes store, though Apple is said to have cleaned up the affected code on its site.
Here is an excellent video showing how and what happens.

For more information please read this too.