Blog Elements

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Windows XP Support Ending, What does that mean to you?

2014-04-04/0 Comments/in General Security, Windows Security/by admin

Support for Microsoft’s popular operating system, Windows XP will end on April 8, 2014, 12 years after it was introduced to PC users.

SANS Security West 2014 – Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity – is coming up on May 8-17

2014-03-30/0 Comments/in Conference, Training/by SecurityOrb_Staff

SANS Security West 2014 is a vital event for information security professionals looking to stay on top of industry trends, to acquire certifications, and to learn and immediately apply new cybersecurity skills.

Windows XP Support Ending, What does that mean to you?

2014-04-04/0 Comments/in General Security, Windows Security/by admin

Support for Microsoft’s popular operating system, Windows XP will end on April 8, 2014, 12 years after it was introduced to PC users.

SANS Security West 2014 – Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity – is coming up on May 8-17

2014-03-30/0 Comments/in Conference, Training/by SecurityOrb_Staff

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Windows XP Support Ending, What does that mean to you?

2014-04-04/0 Comments/in General Security, Windows Security/by admin

Support for Microsoft’s popular operating system, Windows XP will end on April 8, 2014, 12 years after it was introduced to PC users. By that, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for the Windows XP operating system to the user community. SecurityOrb.com, an information security, privacy and internet safety awareness organization recommend users that are currently using Windows XP, migrate to a modern operating system such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 if possible. If users do not migrate to a modern operating system, they will eventually increase their risk exposure exponentially as time increases.

Another areas of concern also lie with the banking industry. At it highest point 92% of automated teller machines (ATMs) worldwide operated on Windows XP. Recent speculation, In spite of numerous upgrading projects, estimate there are still perhaps 80% of ATM still operating on the Windows XP platform, both abroad and in the US (Seltzer, Feb 2014).

Even though the current ATM situation does pose some security risk, the positive aspect of this scenario is ATMs as well as other devices such as Point of Sales (PoS) run Windows in what Microsoft describes “with embedded restrictions” until 2016. Embedded restrictions makes the device that it is operating on look and act less like a regular computer and minimize its attack surface as well.

SecurityOrb.com has identified locations and personnel that maybe slow to migrate from Windows XP to a modern operating system. They are as follows:

Senior citizens
Small businesses and solos
Smaller Non-profits
Individuals that may have been donated a computer

In addition to Windows XP coming to an end on April 8, 2014, support for Windows Server 2003, Exchange Server 2003, Small Business Server 2003 and Office 2003 are also on the chopping block.

Again, it is recommended that you upgrade and if you are not able to upgrade, understand the risk and operate accordingly until you can.

SANS Security West 2014 – Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity – is coming up on May 8-17

2014-03-30/0 Comments/in Conference, Training/by SecurityOrb_Staff

* Panel discussions on emerging trends in cybersecurity

* 25+ hands-on immersion InfoSec courses

* Industry-leading instructors with real-world experience

=========================
Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity
=========================
Security West features emerging trends in cybersecurity and is highlighted by evening talks and star-studded panel discussions from teams who will present the following:

* Keynote: Emerging Security Trends: Crossing the Chasm to Protecting a “Choose Your Own IT” World presented by John Pescatore

* Emerging Trends Panel: DFIR led by Rob Lee

* Emerging Trends Panel: Offense Informs Defense, but How? led by Ed Skoudis

* Emerging Trends Panel: Will The Real Next Generation Security Please Stand Up? led by John Pescatore
=========================
Security Training Courses
=========================
This training event will offer more than 25 outstanding hands-on immersion courses for all security professionals in IT audit, security management, technical security, penetration testing, and computer forensics. At SANS Security West, you have the opportunity to advance your information security skillset, learn to prepare your organization for the future, and enjoy the Pacific Ocean and San Diego!

For a complete list of course descriptions and to register, please visit:
http://www.sans.org/info/154435
( Save 5% on your course with discount code: SecOrb5_SANS )