White House calls for improved laptop security
Just friendly advice
Posted in Enterprise Security, 28th June 2006 19:56 GMT
Webcast: Building Applications for the 21st Century
In Brief Information security breaches over recent months have prompted the White House to issue recommendations calling for the encryption of data on laptops. New policy guidelines from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) also call for agencies to introduce two-factor authentication in securing access to databases within 45 days. Government bodies will also be required to keep a log of information downloaded from databases and verify that redundant data is purged after 90 days.
The policy initiative is designed to protect the personal data of millions of citizens held by federal agencies following a spate of data thefts and disclosures involving federal agencies, such as the theft of a laptop containing the personal details of millions of veterans in May and the loss of a portable computer containing social security numbers of IRS workers and job applicants in June. The guidelines are recommendations rather than mandatory instructions, the Washington Post reports. ®

The Register Guide to Extended Validation
LDAP Injection [3-2APZ1KL]
Preventing Google Hacking [3-2APYMGU]
Web application security [3-2APYM3X]
Building Web Application Security into Your Development Process [3-2APYMBV]

Inmate hacked prison network, broke into employee database
Miscreants hijacking machines via (freshly patched) Adobe flaw
Martial law planned for Craigslist's red-light district
Cocaine addicted IT manager hacks ex-employer's mail servers