Baby Steps in Mobility: Pentagon OKs Dell-Only Android

The Defense Department is allowing a second mobile platform to access its networks, but it is not quite yet a “bring your own device” approach.

The Pentagon’s Security Technical Implementation Guide covers Dell’s version of Android 2.2, according to Stars and Stripes. This version is the only Pentagon-approved version. 

Dell’s Venue smartphone is…

Accused AT&T-iPad Hacker in Plea Talks

The Arkansas man accused of hacking into AT&T servers and stealing personal data of over 120,000 Apple iPad users is negotiating a plea agreement. 

Andrew Auernheimer was indicted earlier this month by a Newark, N.J., federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers and one count of identity theft.

Reuters reported this week that U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton put Auernheimer’s case on…

iPad Hype Gives GovCon Firms New Opportunities

The iPad undoubtedly became one of the most-hyped products of last year, with a seemingly never-ending popularity. When legions of government employees embrace what some have dubbed the new BlackBerry for federal workers, government contractors specializing in computer and mobile security have found  themselves increasingly busy with developing new applications and systems to protect the masses of Apple…

Foreign-exchange Students Linked to Vietnamese Cyber-Crime Gang

A federal investigation dubbed Operation eMule has led agents to two foreign-exchange students in Minnesota who are accused of taking part in a cyber-crime ring in Vietnam that stole the identities of countless Americans and pilfered millions of dollars from online retailers.

According to Star Tribune, court documents identified major companies such as eBay, PayPal, Apple and Dell, as targets of the cyber gang. Authorities said stolen…

Massive Phishing Attack Zones in on iTunes Users

PandaLabs has discovered that iTunes has become a major target for hackers looking to steal credit-card data from the millions of users.

Victims receive an email informing them they have made an expensive purchase on iTunes. The user, who has never made the purchase, is concerned by the email and tries to solve the problem by clicking on the…

Apple Fixes Jailbreakme Flaw

Apple has fixed a browse-and-be-hacked flaw in Mac OS X, which was exploited by a website called Jailbreakme.

The flaw was one of 13 fixed in an update released Tuesday, according to The Register.

The iPhone, the iPad and the iPod touch were susceptible to the vulnerability. Jailbreakme allowed users to jailbreak their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch merely by visiting the website and click a slider. The system worked even…

Apple Kills JailBreakMe Exploit

Following the recently revealed exploits by JailbreakMe.com, Apple has released a patch to kill off the exploit which allows the jailbreaking of iPhones, iPods and iPads.

“The iOS 3.2.2 (for iPad) and iOS 4.0.2 (iPhone and iPod Touch) updates correct two flaws — a stack buffer overflow in FreeType’s handling of CFF opcodes, and a privilege escalation issue in IOSurface — that combined to expose Apple’s devices…

Starbucks Staffer Steals Credit Card Info to Buy Apple Products

A Starbucks employee in Indonesia has been arrested for running a credit-card scam after Jakarta police received reports by cardholders of illegal transactions.

According to Tempo Interaktif, the 26-year-old suspect made hundreds of unauthorized transactions using Starbucks customers’ credit cards. The staffer was arrested last Sunday in his home, where police found numerous Apple products and 18 purchase and delivery receipts.

Head of the Cyber Crime Unit under the Special Crime…

Lynn Announces Plans to Facilitate IT Procurement

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn announced plans to facilitate the faster procurement of IT products for the Department of Defense. During the U.S. Strategic Command Cyberspace Symposium, Lynn announced the formation of a task force to speed the procurement process.

The newly formed task force will include DoD experts in acquisition, logistics and…

The All Seeing Eye (or the Camera in your Computer)

One school district in Pennsylvania is using Macbook cameras for a whole new purpose. Parents in this district believe that schools periodically turn on the cameras to monitor the student and their usage of the county issued computer. Parents are outraged and have asked a federal judge to ban the practice.

The school district insists that the technology is only turned on if a laptop is lost or stolen, to…