boot13A new version of Chrome fixes four security vulnerabilities and includes the latest version of Flash.
Category Archives: Security
aka infosec
Flash 14.0.0.125 fixes security issues
Another new version of Flash was released today. Version 14.0.0.125 closes six security vulnerabilities found in previous versions.
If Flash is enabled in your web browser, you should update it as soon as possible.
As usual, the embedded Flash in Internet Explorer on Windows 8.x is updated via Windows Update, while the embedded Flash in Chrome will update itself automatically.
Microsoft Patch Tuesday for June 2014
This month there are seven bulletins, with related patches affecting Internet Explorer, Windows and Office. A total of sixty-six security vulnerabilities are fixed with these updates.
Note that Microsoft is recommending upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer. IE 11 contains security features not found in previous versions and is therefore somewhat more secure than those older versions. Anyone still using Internet Explorer would do well to follow this advice.
Note also that this is the last set of updates that will be available for Windows 8.1 installations without Update 1. In other words, if you’ve held off on installing Update 1, you won’t get any updates next month or after that.
Related links
Microsoft: advance notification for June updates
This month there will be seven bulletins and associated updates for Windows, Office and Internet Explorer. Two are rated Critical.
One of the updates will fix the recently-discovered vulnerability in Internet Explorer 8.
The official advance warning bulletin has all the technical details.
More flaws found in critical security software
Two new vulnerabilities were recently discovered in widely-used security software OpenSSL and GnuTLS.
The OpenSSL vulnerability is not as dangerous as the infamous Heartbleed bug, but can allow attackers to pull private information from communications between unpatched systems, including passwords.
The GnuTLS vulnerability can be used by malicious persons to execute arbitrary code on devices accessing specially-crafted web pages.
As with Heartbleed, these vulnerabilites mainly affect servers, although client software and operating systems that use the GnuTLS and OpenSSL libraries are also at risk. Patches are expected to be made available soon.
Google breaks numerous Chrome add-ons
In an effort to reduce the problems caused by buggy, incompatible, and malicious Chrome add-ons, Google now only allows add-ons from its Chrome Web Store to be installed. In addition, add-ons based on the old NPAPI technology will no longer install in Chrome.
While this is generally seen as a good idea, many users who were running older or unofficial add-ons are annoyed at this change.
Web browsers can reveal browsing history
Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer can be tricked into revealing your browsing history by unscrupulous web site owners.
The new vulnerability is similar to one that was discovered, then patched, in the major browsers several years ago. The new technique uses a different approach to accomplish the same thing.
Browser developers are working on fixes for this vulnerability, but in the meantime, anyone concerned about their browser history potentially being revealed should get into the habit of clearing their history frequently. Alternatively, you could switch to a privacy-oriented browsing solution such as the Tor Browser Bundle.
Widely-used WordPress SEO plugin is vulnerable
Anyone using the All in One SEO Pack plugin on their WordPress site should update the plugin to the most recent version (2.1.6) as soon as possible.
Security researchers recently discovered a flaw in the plugin that can make sites using it vulnerable to hijacking.
Gameover botnet targeted in takedown effort
An international law enforcement project to disrupt the Gameover botnet is underway.
Gameover, aka Gameover Zeus or GOZ, is currently installed on up to a million computers worldwide. The botnet is rented out for malicious purposes, including harvesting private information, sending spam email, denial of service (DoS) attacks, extortion, and distribution of various kinds of malware, including the awful CryptoLocker [1,2] ransomware.
This effort to disrupt GOZ has already been very successful: the botnet’s owners are no longer able to control clients. As for Cryptolocker, newly-infected machines can no longer communicate with their controlling servers, which means they are safe, at least for now. Infected machines that are already encrypted are not affected and must still pay the decryption ransom or lose all encrypted information.
Brian Krebs provides additional details on his Krebs on Security blog.
Update 2014Jun09: Brian Krebs has a behind-the-scenes look at what went into this takeover. To this point, the takeover seems to have been 100% effective, but the botnet developers may have more moves left.
Tools to reduce browser-based tracking
The search engine DuckDuckGo has received a lot of attention because of its attitude towards user privacy. Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo doesn’t store your search queries. Their motto is ‘The search engine that doesn’t track you.’
Not everyone cares whether their online activities are tracked. But for those who do, DuckDuckGo’s Fix Tracking! page is an excellent source of information. Once you’ve selected your web browser, you’ll be presented with a list of tools and techniques that can help to reduce the amount of tracking that is done when you use that browser.
The Fix Tracking! page also contains a section describing Common Tracking Methods. Recommended reading.