Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
23rd November 2011 Issue no. 98
Your industry news - first
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International News
Products Godrej Locks sees overseas buys as key to growth
Kentec orchestrates fire protection at the Harpa
India shuts server linked to Duqu computer virus Indian authorities seized computer equipment from a data center in Mumbai as part of an investigation into the Duqu malicious software that some security experts warned could be the next big cyber threat. Full Story
New generation Biometric Reader from Colson
Skype security flaw, IP addresses and torrent activity traced Researchers at New York City University have uncovered a security flaw in Skype that allows hackers to track users' locations and view peer-to-peer file sharing activity. The problem isn't just related to the Skype service either, but also other VOIP applications. Full StoryResearcher finds major security flaw in Facebook The issue could allow hackers to send malicious software to people who aren't their friends, reports Computerworlduk and according to an article in the Daily Telegraph this happens up to 600,000 times per day. www.telegraph.co.uk Nathan Power, a senior security penetration tester at technology consultancy CDW, discovered the vulnerability and publicly disclosed it Thursday on his blog. The flaw was reported to Facebook on 30 September, which acknowledged the issue on Wednesday, he wrote. Full Story |
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Comment: While much of the world is concerned about cyber security, whether it's on our computers, smartphones or tablets, accidental or deliberate (US and Norwegian attacks are reported below), the major security lapses do appear to be with people. In this country we've had ministerial papers dumped in park litter bins, CDs loaded with data turning up on rubbish dumps, laptops left on trains, and lost keys to prison cells. But potentially the most damaging security lapse appears to be that of the US presidential itinerary turning up in a Canberra street (more on this below). The consequences of this type of thing falling into the wrong hands are harrowing and have the potential to alter world history. Meanwhile, thieves continue to target any bit of metal they can get their hands on, including power cables (the sound of fizz... bang! is merely natural justice at work here) and the lead off of roofs (always a favourite). All we can say is watch out if you have brass door furniture! The upside is, each well-publicised theft just underscores the fact that every property is at risk 24/7 and represents an opportunity for locksmiths to position themselves locally as an information and advisory source to existing and potential customers. Be honest and fair and your reputation will grow along with the extra business. If you enjoy reading Locks and Security News so do others! If you have company news, stock clearances, distributor or product information tell us. Just email news This Week's News
Cyber-attack claims at US water facility US homeland security and FBI officials are investigating an apparent cyber-attack on a water utility near Springfield, Illinois. The attack may have been the cause of a water pump shutdown, and could be the first case of foreign hackers successfully targeting a US industrial facility. Full StoryMilestone launches XProtect Mobile Mobile application gives access to XProtect platform using smartphones and tablets. Milestone Systems, the open platform company in IP video management software (VMS), has announced the launch of XProtect Mobile, a new mobile application for XProtect VMS users. Security personnel, business owners, residential users or video surveillance installers who need to monitor installations can now view Milestone XProtect video from anywhere on an Android smartphone or tablet with the new XProtect Mobile. XProtect Mobile is a free application that works seamlessly with all recent XProtect VMS products and will be available as a download from the Android Market on December 1, 2011. Obama visit itinerary found in Canberra street A Classified booklet containing President Barack Obama's Australian schedule down to the minute, as well as details of his security convoy and the mobile phone numbers of dozens of senior US and Australian officials was found in a Canberra street last week. The booklet, Overall Program and Orders of Arrangements, for Mr Obama's visit, was found by a reporter in a gutter about 100 metres from the front entrance to Parliament. One of Australia's top national security analysts said the find represented a ''significant security breach.'' Full StoryUAP TradeLocks have a strong defence A leading security and locksmith tool expert has developed one of the strongest ever defences against lock bumping - and it could save you money! UAP TradeLocks is proud to announce the arrival of the new and improved UAP+ Zero Lift Kitemark Cylinder which offers consumers enhanced security against lock bumping at no extra cost. 'No security scan, no fly' policy to remain in force at UK airports The "no security scan, no fly" policy at British airports is to remain in place despite EU demands that passengers be allowed a pat-down search instead, ministers have said, according to a report published in The Guardian. The transport secretary, Justine Greening, said the refusal to allow passengers to opt-out from scanning was justified by the security threat to Britain and would be imposed through powers under the Aviation Security Act. "Those passengers selected for scanning will therefore not be able to fly if they are not willing to be scanned," Greening said. Full StoryPeabody balances security and access control with Mul-T-Lock Mul-T-Lock's patented MT5 Security Range is being fitted to properties belonging to Peabody by DES Locksmiths, to solve the issue of allowing easy access for contractors and safe homes for residents, as part of the housing association's Quality Homes Programme. Security takes a backseat on Android in update shambles The majority of Android smartphone users are walking around with insecure devices running out-of-date OS builds, leaving personal and business data at greater risk of attack, says The Register. The latest figures from Google's Android developer web site show that 44.4 per cent of users have the latest version of Android (Android 2.3 or later installed) on their devices. A further 1.9 per cent are running developer builds. Full StoryKey-free access to entrance doors Hardware specialist VBH now offers affordable key-free door access from stock in the shape of Yale Keyfree, an exciting new development in entrance door security.
Keyfree allows a door to be locked and unlocked electronically, either by remote control using a sender in a key fob (similar to that used with cars) or by typing in a user defined PIN code on the inbuilt keypad. Norwegian energy and defence industries security breach Data from Norway's oil and defence industries may have been stolen in what is feared to be one of the most extensive data espionage cases in the country's history, security officials have said in a report by the Associated Press. Industrial secrets from companies were stolen and "sent out digitally from the country," the Norwegian National Security Authority said, though it did not name any companies or institutions that were targeted. Full StoryKeep construction machinery protected, warns BSIA Following the latest reports regarding two incidents in Ashford and Snodland, Kent, where criminal gangs employed mini diggers to rip out ATMs, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) warns construction sites, plant hire companies and insurance providers of the importance of keeping costly machinery secured at all times. In the UK, stolen equipment such as plant and construction machinery is increasingly being caught up in the wider web of organised crime, being used as a means to break into buildings to commit robberies, or to rip ATM machines straight from the walls of banks and supermarkets, often under cover of darkness. For this reason, the BSIA's Cash and Valuables in Transit (CVIT) section has been working hard to reduce the threat and impact of such incidents, highlighting Canadian businesses 'unprepared' for internet threats Canadian businesses are increasingly being targeted by hackers but are also less prepared for such Internet threats, new reports have found. According to the Vancouver Sun reaches of Canadian publicly traded companies jumped an "alarming" 50% in 2011, says a joint study released by Telus Corp. and the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. The annual study said public companies in Canada were hacked an average of 18 times this year, compared with an average of 12 attacks suf-fered in 2010. Overall, the study says, attacks on businesses and government offices were down nearly 50% from last year, to an average of 7.6 breaches in 2011 from 14.6 in 2010. Full StoryNew full-colour expiring badges New full-colour expiring badges have been added to the Visitor Pass Solutions product line of Data Management Inc. These self-adhesive labels can be used by organisations to print visitor badges in full colour, including colour photos and colour coding (to help control access to different parts of a facility).
"This latest innovation has three main advantages," says DMI's Vice President of Product Development, Richard Reed. "One, it allows users who are already printing self-adhesive badges in black and white to now print them in colour. Two, for users who are considering plastic badges because of their professional appearance, it gives them a comparable-looking alternative that can be more efficient and economical. And, three, for anyone who already has invested in a colour inkjet or laser Locks and Security News Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of Locks and Security News. If you would like to run a search of the Locks and Security News web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. News in Brief Lockdecoders had a successful open day in Swanley over the weekend, held to launch their new MiraClone Transponder cloning and eeprom machine. Visitors came from the UK, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, and even from Australia! Readers may download the PDF from the Lockdecoders ad at the top of the page, or contact [email protected] for more information. How to contact us at Locks and Security News:
Newsdesk News If you would like Locks and Security News to feature your product information, case studies, or company news, just email as above. Ideally a Word doc + jpeg images. Remember, we can take copy up to 5pm on any Tuesday for Wednesday transmission. Want a link from Locks and Security News to your web site? Just ask for details. The views or claims expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no liability for errors in this publication. John Austen
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Cell locks replaced in Birmingham prison keys' mystery Work on replacing locks at Birmingham's newly-privatised prison has commenced following the mystery disappearance of a set of keys. Prisoners at the jail in Winson Green were placed in lockdown for almost 24 hours last week after the keys, including one to open every cell door in the 1,450 capacity prison, went missing. Full Story |