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Wednesday 11 April 2012

Free Virus Removal Tool for download from Sophos



You know that feeling when you're pretty sure your Windows machine *might* be infected, but your anti-virus finds nothing?

Or worse, your anti-virus does detect malware, but the instructions to disinfect and rid your system of the malware are so complicated that you want to pull out your hair.
Well, Sophos has just released its Virus Removal Tool. Designed to be child's play to use, it detects and, more importantly, disinfects all those nasty viruses, spyware, rootkits and even fake anti-virus with its flagship industrial-strength anti-virus.
Best of all it is free, and for Naked Security readers, there are no details to enter before you can download and use it.
Actually, really best of all, there is no need to remove existing anti-virus that is already installed.
virus-removal-tool-screenshot
For the past year or so, the Virus Removal Tool has been used by some of Sophos's biggest customers to disinfect complicated malware that sneaked onto a poorly protected computer, but this is the first time Sophos has released this tool to the public at large.
Sophos has also provided a free support forum called Sophos FreeTalkwhere you can ask any questions about this and other free Sophos products.
The majority of our readers are pretty security conscious, and we know from experience that many of you are probably the IT guy or gal called upon to help family and friends sort out their computers when things go awry. Sophos hopes that this tool will make your lives a little bit easier.
Sophos's free Virus Removal Tool
Lastly, Sophos would love to hear your thoughts on its Virus Removal Tool. It sees this as a tool worth investing in, but the company wants to make sure it gets your thoughts first so it can prioritise any improvements accordingly.
Originally posted by Naked Security

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) Goes Viral!

Wow the CPNI is now very much public! I think this is a very brave move but I'm positive it will be a successful one. CPNI are already the public face of MI5 and a new series of YouTube videos have taking things a step further. 


What a fantastic idea, opening up their vast source of knowledge to the masses. Hopefully they will add some other resources for PhySec, PerSec and InfoSec to the channel. My head is spinning with ideas but being able to integrate their PerSec guidance into training modules (e-learning specifically) via a short video would be really useful!


There are currently 3 videos listed on the CPNI channel, they are 

ow).
One of the CPNI Channel Video's

About the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI): they provide integrated security advice (combining information security, personnel security and physical security) to organisations which make up the national infrastructure. Their advice helps to reduce the vulnerability of the national infrastructure (primarily the critical national infrastructure) to terrorism and other threats to national security.

Monday 2 April 2012

Protective Security: Tackling The Issue of Metal Theft

A new Crimestoppers campaign has been launched to tackle metal theft. Opportunistic criminals are targeting the community by stealing metal from houses, businesses and public premises. You can help by reporting any crime you see.
Dangerous crime
This crime can also be extremely dangerous to you, your family and your community. Criminals will target children’s playgrounds, church and school roofs, telephone cabling and so on, with no regard for the potential consequences.
Among the things being stolen are:
  • manhole covers
  • cables used for 999 calls
  • live electricity wiring

You can provide any information to Crimestoppers, no matter how small, 24 hours a day either by:
You have guaranteed anonymity and it won’t even show on your phone bill.
Crimestoppers is an independent, international charity providing a vital service to the public, enabling them to pass information in relation to crime anonymously in order to make the UK a safer place for all of us.
You can get more information, including a leaflet, at the following link:
Figures show that in 2011 there were 669 recorded incidents of metal theft throughout Northern Ireland compared to 219 in 2007.

More useful links
Chatback has previously reported on metal thefts

Sunday 1 April 2012

Fraud Women's Network - 'From Fagin to Phishing'

Last Thursday I attended the 6th Annual Event and 5 year Celebration of  the Fraud Women’s Network (FWN). The event was called “From Fagin to Phishing” 200 Years of Organised Crime with presentations from Colin Woodcock MBE – SOCA and David Chernick - MD at TREACL Ltd, and Chair of PREFIT. Both presentations were very good and took us on a professional and personal journey of how organised crime changed through the ages? Or had it? How have organisations tackled and mitigated these changes? Have they? How has it evolved and shaped the way we tackle crime and look at fraudsters today?

But the real reason in coming together was to celebrate the FWN's 5th year anniversary, present the Stella Walsh Award and have a truly wonderful network evening where the women definitely outnumbered the men and I was one of the lucky few to be invited.


Now, some of the older, crustier and less tolerant men out there may just see this organisation as a bunch of raving feminists coming together to right all the wrongs in the world created by men. They couldn't be more wrong.  The FWN's strap line isn't we hate men, far from it. Chair, Toni Sless was recorded saying the complete opposite, but it is important to recognise there are notable differences and challenges that women face everyday. I spoke to a number of women who attended the event to ask what they get out of it and what are some of the challenges they actually face and it was all too clear that there is a distinct lack of women in senior positions within the fraud prevention and detection arena.

So what's this Fraud Women's Network actually all about then. Well any woman who works in the anti-fraud arena will know that it can sometimes be a rather male environment and lack true support and mentoring. The Fraud Women’s Network has therefore been set up to bring together women involved in all aspects of fraud prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution, to network and to share best practice, information and experience in order to help tackle the threat from fraud and organised crime head on. They aim to provide women in the anti-fraud business with:
  • Networking opportunities. Our regular networking events provide an invaluable way of establishing and cementing contacts across the whole anti-fraud arena, sharing information and ideas (they also enjoy the social aspect and are good at it)
  • Access to a wide-ranging education programme about the latest trends and developments in fraud and organised crime, and the newest tools to help prevent, detect and investigate fraud; 
  • Mentoring opportunities. Many of the members of the Fraud Women's Network are senior within their organisations and have a great deal of knowledge, experience and advice that they can impart, as well as encouraging junior women to progress in their careers; 
  • Access to the members and activities of the regional Fraud Forums, all part of the National Federation of Fraud Forums.

The winners of the Stella Walsh Award 2012 were:

  • Pat Turner, Manager, Virgin Media – Long Term Commitment to Preventing Fraud.
  • Jenny Playford DC, City of London Police – Outstanding Fraud Investigation
Congratulations to both, very well deserved and fascinating accounts of the work they completed.


Personally, I can see real and genuine value in this network and completely support its board, membership and objectives. Do share the above website with any women who may not be in the Network, I know they'd be welcome. I was delighted to be invited by the Chair and even more surprised and honoured to receive a mention within her introductory speech. A Big well done, congratulations and Happy Birthday to the Fraud Women's Network, keep up the good work and keep in touch.