Network Security News

Kaspersky Lab's sales growth slowed in 2011 (Reuters)
Reuters - Russia's Kaspersky Lab reported that sales growth slowed substantially last year as the world's No. 4 maker of anti-virus software said its business was starting to mature.
Hacker releases Symantec source code (Reuters)
Reuters - A hacker released the source code for antivirus firm Symantec's pcAnywhere utility on Tuesday, raising fears that others could find security holes in the product and attempt takeovers of customer computers.
Fresh iPhone Apps for Feb. 7: Hotels by Orbitz, TripLingo Romance Edition, The Hacker, Dream Pethouse (Appolicious)
Appolicious - Get ready for your next trip with today’s leading fresh app, Hotels by Orbitz, which leverages the popular travel service to help you find hotel accommodations. If you happen to be planning a trip overseas, then our next app, TripLingo Romance Edition, which can teach you flirty phrases in 10 languages, might come in handy as well. In games, The Hacker will give you something of the experience of hacking into a 1980s-style computer, while Dream Pethouse brings you a casual game experience where you’ll raise pets and build them a giant tree house.
Anonymous publishes email exchange with Symantec over $50K payoff (Digital Trends)
Digital Trends - Released in a Pastebin dump earlier today, members of Anonymous published a long series of emails between Anonymous member “Yamatough” and a representative of Symantec going by the name of Sam Thomas. While there’s no Sam Thomas listed on LinkedIn as working at Symantec, the IP address within the header of the exchange linked to the original “sam_thomas@symantec.com” email account can be traced back to Symantec’s Mountain View, California headquarters. Writing from a Venezuelan email address, Yamatough was eventually offered $50,000 by Thomas to deliver proof of pcAnywhere and Norton Antivirus source code as well as destroy the original code. Thomas also wanted Anonymous to release a statement that the group did not hack Symantec during 2006.  
Symantec warns of mutating malware in Android Market (Appolicious)
Appolicious - The world of mobile device malware is getting a little more dangerous with the announcement from tech security company Symantec that it has discovered malware programs that mutate every time they’re downloaded.
Bigger US role against companies' cyberthreats? (AP)

AP - A developing Senate plan that would bolster the government's ability to regulate the computer security of companies that run critical industries is drawing strong opposition from businesses that say it goes too far and security experts who believe it should have even more teeth.

Hackers intercept FBI, Scotland Yard call (AP)

AP - Trading jokes and swapping leads, investigators from the FBI and Scotland Yard spent the conference call strategizing about how to bring down the hacking collective known as Anonymous, responsible for a string of embarrassing attacks across the Internet.

Android OS rules in U.S., gets a Bouncer to keep malware out the Market (Appolicious)
Appolicious - The Android platform expanded its dominance in the U.S. smartphone market during Q4 of 2011, according to the latest ComScore report. Apple may have boosted its share of the mobile handset market with the release of the iPhone 4S, but Android’s still the clear winner in terms of OS use, powering 47.3 percent of surveyed subscribers. That’s up from 44.8 percent last year, growing by slightly more percentage points than Apple’s increase to 29.6 percent from 27.4 percent.
Google tightens security in Android app store (Reuters)
Reuters - Google Inc has been quietly policing its online store for months now in an acknowledgement of malware's growing threat to its increasingly popular Android mobile software.
Exclusive: Hacked companies still not telling investors (Reuters)
Reuters - At least a half-dozen major U.S. companies whose computers have been infiltrated by cyber criminals or international spies have not admitted to the incidents despite new guidance from securities regulators urging such disclosures.