Update, Dec. 1, 2011: False alarm! Well, at least in the Illinios water pump case. Read this Wired | Threat Level article for the real story. Still, no reason to let your guard down… This weekend, hackers made news for not only breaking into computer systems, but literally breaking a pump at a water plant in […]
Is data security SSD’s new Achilles’ heel?
Companies are steadily alleviating two of the common pain points related to solid-state drive technology: price and longevity. But another has emerged: data security. One of Today’s 10 links is this InformationWeek article on how traditional methods of wiping data from hard drives aren’t as effective on SSDs. University of California at San Diego researchers […]
Top 10: Most popular ecoINSITE posts of 2010
It’s that time. Before we welcome a brand new year, here are 2010’s most popular posts according to you! 1. Stats of the Day: BP Oil Spill Google Results Back in June, I ran a little experiment. In terms of Google search results, how did BP’s recent oil spill compare against the previous top environmental […]
Tech Vault: Security and green IT mix in Vermont-based data center
Security is the ruling consideration for Tech Vault’s data center, which opened late last month, in South Burlington, Vermont. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no room to run the facility in an energy efficient way. Unsurprisingly, the window-less, hardened facility with backup fiber connectivity exemplifies the “no expense spared” credo of ultra-secure data centers […]
Intel on server chips: Atom out, McAfee in
SeaMicro, you’re on your own. (And it could be a good thing.) According to Intel’s vice president and general manager of its Data Center Group, Kirk Skaugen, the chipmaker won’t be making a push into the server space with its low-power Atom processor. The market for servers comprised of several Atom processors, like the ones […]
Smart Energy: Stuxnet and the smart grid security opportunity
If you’ve been following IT security lately, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Stuxnet. The worm is currently sparking some cybersecurity drama with a sprinkling of geopolitical intrigue. (Iran thinks the presence of the worm in its nuclear plant is an assault from foreign powers.) What sets this episode apart is that the worm targets industrial control […]
Stuxnet attracts mainstream attention
Stuxnet is no stranger to folks interested in computer security, more specifically smart grid security. Long story short: this nasty little piece of malware is very targeted, affecting a suite of software called Siemens Simatic WinCC that manages control systems in industrial facilities and critical infrastructure like power plants. It’s flown under the radar, by […]
Intel buys McAfee: New era of secure (green) clouds?
In a whopper of deal, Intel today announced that it is acquiring McAfee for $7.68 billion. On the surface it looks like Intel is elbowing into the software space, but snagging one of the premier IT security firms is also indicative of a three-pronged plan of attack for cloud computing and data centers. Intel’s CEO, […]
Stuxnet: Prelude to smart grid security threats
Have you heard of Stuxnet? Unless you run industrial or power control systems, the emergence of this nasty little piece of malware probably didn’t even cause the slightest blip on your radar. But that’s no reason to ignore it. Stuxnet targets Siemens Simatic WinCC, a Windows-based suite of software that’s used by industrial plants and […]
E-waste Security Alert: Wipe Those Photocopiers
…and not with Windex. Along the lines of the e-waste and regulatory compliance issues I’ve posted about in the past, companies would do well to give the same care and attention to their copiers that they devote to their…
