Aurora attack

Aurora attack on Google and others

Aurora attack - What was the furore all about?

It really is time to wise up! Hands up, those of you that heard about last month's attack on Google? Now, does anyone know what all the furore was about? I didn't think so!

Google executives targeted

Google was one of many large corporations targeted in the "Aurora" attack. Industry analysts are saying that it was a highly targeted and sophisticated attack. The attackers exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in Internet Explorer to gain access to the intellectual property on the machines that were targeted, but how was this done? Many readers will be surprised to hear that several employees of each of the affected companies (Google, Adobe etc.)

Aurora attack - A sophisticated attack?

were invited to click on a link to a web page (from what looked like a trusted source) and when they did so, a back door was opened into their computer which gave the attackers complete control over the infected system, allowing them to steal valuable data. I don't know about "Sophisticated!" How simple is that!

Aurora attack - Don't click on a link in an email

I receive at least 10 emails every week, supposedly sent to me by people that I know however, I know that they are not! True, the emails do come from the computers of people that I know, people that have my email address stored in their email address book, but they are not actually from them. Their computer has been infected, probably in much the same way as the computers of the Google employees were infected and it is sending out mail to me, and anyone else who is unlucky enough to appear in the same email address book. The emails contain links to web pages in China, usually advertising very cheap electronic equipment (mobile phones, ipods etc.) Please don't ask what happens if you click on one of the links because I haven't and if you receive one of the emails, neither should you!

Aurora attack - three important things to remember!

This article highlights three VERY important things that everyone should remember. The emails/links appear to come from a trusted source. Clicking on a link in the email or, web page, is all that you have to do to infect your computer. If some of the top people at Google, Adobe and many other top companies in the field of IT can get caught with such a simple trick, so can you! Beware!

Aurora attack - companies re-assess their security policies

The "Aurora" attack has made many companies re-assess their security policies as they consider the possibility that they could lose their intellectual property, but what is their "intellectual property." Well, it could be the source code for their latest piece of software, a recipe for a new ground-breaking drug or, (prick your ears up) their database containing the credit card details of all their customers! - You!

Aurora attack - Any comments or, questions?

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