Computer hackers have begun targeting power plants and other critical operations around the world in bold new efforts to seize control of them, setting off a scramble to shore up aging, vulnerable systems.

Computer networks controlling the electric grid are plagued with security holes says a new Energy Department report based on the findings of 24 assessments of computer-control systems performed between 2003 and 2009. Many are VERY basic.

Microsoft stated they will issue an emergency patch for the critical Windows shortcut bug on Monday, Aug. 2. The patch is set to be released on Monday at around 10 a.m. California time. The news of this vulnerability surfaced 2 weeks ago and with an of attackers trying to exploit this vulnerability, Microsoft has taken an out-of-band approach to fix the problem. To date SecurityOrb.com has learned a few companies were comprimised by this bug.

Recently in the media, there has been a big “commotion” about the 100 million Facebook profiles containing user IDs, names, URLs and other data that was obtained and place into a file and posted online by Ron Bowles a security consultant. The media and surprisingly many security professionals have been spinning this matter as massive hack on Facebook and its users, when it fact it really was not.

It has been stated that 85% of all crime leaves a digital fingerprint in electronic devices. This may occur from an Internet intrusion, identity theft and traditional crime like murder. Computer forensics has aided in the investigation of these crimes. Computer Forensics is the use of specialized techniques for recovery, authentication, and analysis of electronic data when a case involves issues relating to reconstruction of computer usage, examination of residual data, authentication of data by technical analysis or explanation of technical features of data and computer usage.