Security

I'm an experienced writer with a decade of work as a reporter and industry analyst covering IT security, cyber security and hacking. Prior to donning the reporter's cap, I spent close to a decade in the technology field, providing technical communications, product training and marketing and communications services to firms including Cisco Systems, Logica and SteelPoint Technologies (now part of Autonomy Corp. PLC). More recently, I served as editor of the computer security blog Threatpost.com. My writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, Salon.com, Fortune Small Business, as well as ZDNet, Computerworld, InfoWorld, eWeek, CIO , CSO , ITworld as well as long format analysis for The 451 Group. I have provided expert commentary on cyber security and emerging threats for leading news outlets including NPR's Marketplace TechReport. Finally 'yes,' I was a guest on The Oprah Show — but it’s a long story.

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Social media steps up in wake of Boston Marathon blasts

Posted Apr 16, 2013 - 09:20 am

As chaos reigned in the hours after twin explosions at the finish line of the storied Boston Marathon, social media outlets became a lifeline between runners, spectators and the outside world.
IRS's big data play built on shaky foundations

Posted Apr 11, 2013 - 10:04 am

The IRS is scaring taxpayers silly this season with boasts about its Big Data prowess and 'robo audits.' But recent reports suggest the agency is struggling to keep its IT operations afloat.
Crowdfunded lock lets car owners secure their data

Posted Apr 01, 2013 - 07:04 pm

With the federal government proposing airplane style "black boxes" in every automobile, a crowd-funded project wants to design a lock that will allow car owners to secure their data from snooping and tampering.
Android: The IT community's latest problem child

Posted Mar 27, 2013 - 08:44 pm

Microsoft's Windows operating system spent close to two decades as the 'problem child' of the IT world - ubiquitous, buggy and easy to hack. But this week brought more evidence that Google and its Android mobile operating system may be taking that mantle from the folks in Redmond, Washington.
DARPA looking for way to spot attackers on wireless networks

Posted Mar 19, 2013 - 11:44 am

The U.S. military relies heavily on distributed, wireless networks to communicate in combat zones. Now DARPA is looking for ideas on how to keep enemies off these networks.
PC cleanup scammer calls Microsoft Malware Protection Center expert. Hilarity ensues.

Posted Mar 11, 2013 - 02:28 pm

What's a bad day for a scammer selling bogus Windows PC clean up services? How about accidentally dialing a guy who works in Microsoft's Malware Protection Center!
Five more holes reported in Java

Posted Mar 04, 2013 - 05:35 pm

A security researcher claims to have found five, new vulnerabilities in Oracle's Java technology that could allow a malicious hacker to bypass safety features in the latest version of the Java technology.
Cyber's Strangelovian moment?

Posted Feb 25, 2013 - 10:03 pm

A steady drumbeat of news about sophisticated cyber attacks against our government and leading institutions has attendees at this year's RSA conference in a fever. And that may be bad for security.
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Antivirus's star fades, letting new technologies shine

Posted Feb 25, 2013 - 02:54 pm

As if you didn't know it already: antivirus software isn't doing its job, even though it sucks up around 30% of IT security budgets. But where can companies turn next? Two firms think they have an answer.
Security stories to watch: Security firm Bit9 hacked. Also: Microsoft megapatch and identity management

Posted Feb 11, 2013 - 04:20 pm

The hack of security firm Bit9 reminds us that application whitelists work great at stopping malware ... until they don't. And: Microsoft prepares a mystery 'double patch' of the Internet Explorer web browser, fueling speculation.

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