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• GetSafeOnline: providing advice for consumers to help them stay safe on the Internet without blinding them with science

  It's the fourth annual GetSafeOnline campaign week whereby the team will raise the profile of consumer internet safety through a revamped GetSafeOnline website (containing a wealth of commonsense "how to" information) and a range of media... Posted Nov 17 2008, 11:03 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Interesting video interviews with the FBI discussing security

  Kai Axford has posted a series of short video interviews with representatives of the FBI – they are well worth a look – particularly if you are based in the United States as they include advice regarding whom to report breaches to. Check out The Security... Posted Aug 26 2008, 10:20 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Interviews, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Tweaking the file level security of the operating system is a bad idea!

  Over the last week I've two people who are suffering pain due to corporate laptop builds that have been "secured" - meaning that an untold number of access controls have been changed and parts of the operating system have been removed to "enhance the... Posted Apr 07 2008, 05:17 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Windows Vista, Windows Server, Information, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering, Windows Server 2008

• How to deal with online bullies

  I've been contacted by someone who's being bullied online asking for advice. I was typing a reply when I mentioned it to Eileen who came up with a much simpler suggestion than I was going to give. Eileen adviced me that there's a report abuse facility... Posted Jan 28 2008, 01:00 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Should you be entitled to privacy in a restaurant? What is the threat?

  I went for a lovely meal yesterday with family and friends and was somewhat surprised to see the following sign on the wall - I have removed the third party's contact details hence the blank areas: It wasn't the most expensive restaurant on the planet... Posted Dec 27 2007, 06:52 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• What are the UK trends in the corporate use of Social Networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace?

  Microsoft recently surveyed nearly four hundred IT Professionals to find out their approaches to Social Networking. You can view the full results here . I think the findings are interesting as the results suggest that social networking sites are more... Posted Dec 18 2007, 05:41 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering, Social Networking

• Where to start with Effective Security - why do we need it?

  The purpose of Information Technology is to make the right information available to the right people at the right time. The traditional approach to information security is the “no you can’t” syndrome. It's much more effective to define what the business... Posted Dec 17 2007, 04:37 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Where to start with Effective Security - how to reduce your risk

  Effective security is all about risk. Measure it. Decide which risks you are uncomfortable with and take steps to mitigate them. It's also about People AND Processes - technological controls alone will not give you Effective Security. Scott Culp's 10... Posted Dec 17 2007, 04:28 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• How to help the non-technical people understand privacy?

  I've been enjoying some internal "soft skills" training with my European counterparts this week in Prague - it's an amazing place - well worth a visit. BTW: I took the following picture after climbing 287 steps in the Cathedral! We've had many interesting... Posted Nov 22 2007, 08:23 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Free money from Microsoft - I don't think so - Ignore emails claiming to be from the Microsoft Award team

  Several people have forwarded me email messages like the following which is bogus - if you receive something similar then disregard it. We don't have a "Ken Gate", nor do we send emails from "yahoo.co.uk" addresses either. From: "KEN GATE" < fiduciarymicrosoftclaimsagent_14... Posted Nov 07 2007, 03:32 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• How to help non-technical friends and family stay safe on the Internet: GetSafeOnline

  Eileen recently wrote a post titled Security for the 78 year olds which referred to an interview with Scott Charney (head of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing initiative) who talked about his experience advising his mother on the need for security precautions... Posted Nov 06 2007, 08:51 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Windows Vista, Information, Training, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• Thanks to everyone who joined me at the University of Glamorgan yesterday

  It was wonderful to receive such an enthusiastic welcome at the University of Glamorgan yesterday. It's VERY rare that I get chance to speak at Universities. I thoroughly enjoyed lecturing students on the wonders of information security. The room was... Posted Oct 24 2007, 10:14 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Events, Information, Training, Security Systems, Information Security, Linux, Social Engineering, Integration / LINUX, Windows Server 2008

• When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

  We have a lovely new building with a Gym in the basement - why on Earth do such places require me to find a legacy writing implement to sign up for a trial! I know that the question kind of answers itself in some respects as it's typically the requirement... Posted Oct 08 2007, 05:57 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Social Engineering

• The Virtual Side of TechEd:IT Forum is back with Tony and Daniel

  Tony Krijnen and Daniel van Soest have taken over the reigns as hosts of this year's " The Virtual Side of TechEd: IT Forum ". I was delighted to be invited to meet them earlier today to shoot a short interview and to hear of their plans to cover the... Posted Oct 01 2007, 02:09 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Events, Information, Interviews, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• Stupid Security at The Simpsons Movie!

  Together with some other Microsofties I went to a cinema earlier this evening to see The Simpsons Movie - I really enjoyed the show. We went to a cinema that I've only been to once before and that was years ago. Upon booking online I was pleasently surprised... Posted Aug 14 2007, 04:44 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• Spoof hacker message circulating on Facebook

  I received the following message from a friend on Facebook earlier: "Not sure this is true but.....If somebody called bum_tnoo7@hotmail.com adds you DON'T accept it because it's a hacker. Tell everyone on your list because if somebody on your list adds... Posted Aug 10 2007, 11:38 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering, Social Networking

• Bluetooth mobile phone security/spam - how many people remain discoverable?

  A UK nightclub made the morning news today as they are about to start broadcasting sexual advice messages via bluetooth. Their stated aim is to remind drunken clubbers that their should keep safe if they go off piste - in principle this sounds like a... Posted Aug 09 2007, 04:01 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering

• I'd like to change my Mother's maiden name please

  In the UK a common "authentication" question used by banks and many other institutions is "what is your Mother's maiden name?". The idea is that it's supposedly difficult to find out what someone else's Mother's surname was before she was married. It... Posted Aug 03 2007, 09:36 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Information, Information Security, Social Engineering

• Facebook: Will you be my friend?

  This is a question many of you will be asked if you know people who use Facebook. For some requests it's really straight forward as they are someone you socialise with and regard as a friend. What about if a work colleague asks to be your friend? What... Posted Aug 03 2007, 09:18 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Information Security, Social Engineering, Social Networking

• Facebook, myspace and other social networking sites - whatever happened to Privacy?

  I've been slow to adopt Facebook. Perhaps I'm a luddite. Perhaps I'm too paraniod. There's an article titled Facebook users open to cyber attacks, ID theft? on News.com which discusses many of my concerns. Rick Howard (Director of intelligence at VeriSign... Posted Aug 03 2007, 08:58 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Information Security, Social Engineering, Social Networking

• How will Vista stop malicious code from compromising the Administrator account?

  There are a range of new features and architectual changes in Windows Vista (and Server 2008) that help reduce the risk of using excessive privilege though you're still better off logging in as a non-privileged user where possible. If you log in as an... Posted Jul 30 2007, 10:28 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Windows Vista, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• Kiosk PCs are not secure - Blimey, that was close!

  As James mentioned in his excellent post detailing his travel misery we're at an internal ("TechReady 5") conference in Seattle. The network in our hotel is cr*p suboptimal. Browsing the web generally works OK. Accessing anything else is a disaster. Sometimes... Posted Jul 25 2007, 07:05 PM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Events, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• The email titled "Reminder: Important changes to PayPal Accounts in the European Union" is NOT a Phishing email

  The reason for this post is to make sure that those who subscribe to my blog and saw my earlier inaccurate post will see the correction and also to give this message the same profile. I have edited the original post. Thanks to Rab for investigating and... Posted Jul 06 2007, 08:44 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• Are you allowed to set up an out-of-office message at your company?

  Mark posted an interesting comment on my post regarding " Outlook 2007's Out of Office " feature stating that "several companies and government departments that prevent such messages from passing the corporate firewall". Does your organisation allow the... Posted Jul 06 2007, 05:22 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Security Systems, Information Security, Social Engineering

• How to become a Security Guru - do you seek perfection or good enough?

  Errata Security includes an interesting post titled " How to become a security guru " which discusses the the tendancy for "guru's" to seek perfect rather than "good enough" solutions to problems thereby alienating themselves from those they seek to influence... Posted Jun 25 2007, 10:55 AM by TechNet Blogs Filed under: Security, Information, Information Security, How to Articles, Social Engineering