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Cybersecurity Investments for the Information Age
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Scott Charney
Posted by Scott Charney
Corporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing
Last summer, I testified before the House Science and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation about the need for government to develop security strategies to address the full spectrum of risks in the Information Age. Last week, the House passed The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, H.R. 4061, which represents an important step to better address those risks. In recognition of the long-term nature of this challenge, the bill appropriately aims to drive strategic investments toward the development of the skilled workers and advanced technologies we will need to improve our nation’s cybersecurity. Promoting and resourcing innovative approaches will help government and industry to have the necessary skills, capabilities, techniques, and tools to counter evolving cyber threats and continue to grow and lead in the connected world.
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‘Maga No Need Pay’: Nigeria Gets Creative to Fight Cyber Scams
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
This week, a new pop song hits the airwaves in West Africa with a highly unusual message: Don’t be seduced by cybercrime.
Cybercrime is a global issue, but perhaps no form of cybercrime has been more associated with a region than the advance fee fraud collectively known as “Nigeria” or “419” scams (419 is the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud). Through schemes such as fake lotteries, bogus inheritances, romantic relationships, investment opportunities or – infamously – requests for assistance from “officials,” scammers promise an elusive fortune in exchange for advance payments.
West Africa is by no means the only source of these scams, but the region is stepping up to address their impact in a variety of creative ways.
419 scams have taken root in Nigeria’s popular culture. Scammers enjoy a rebellious, “cool” mystique, even producing songs and music videos that celebrate their own audacity. At the same time, 419 scam victims around the world are often stigmatized as naïve or gullible, which discourages many from coming forward.
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Microsoft Celebrates Data Privacy Day
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Posted by David Bowermaster
Administrator, Microsoft on the Issues
Protecting privacy online and securing personal data are major priorities for Microsoft. So, to commemorate Data Privacy Day in the U.S. (and Data Protection Day in Europe), the company has been sharing its latest thinking on privacy policies and technologies in a variety of forums.
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Microsoft & Internet Freedom
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Posted by Steve Ballmer
Chief Executive Officer
(Cross-posted from The Microsoft Blog)
Over the last few weeks, there has been much said about issues of security, privacy, and censorship as it relates to the Internet in China and around the world. I want to reinforce the comments made by Craig Mundie last week, in response to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s important speech on Internet freedom.
Microsoft is committed to protecting and advancing free expression throughout the world, even as we work to comply with local laws in the 100+ countries in which we operate. In many countries throughout the world, Internet and technology companies must comply with laws that impact privacy and freedom of expression, particularly peaceful political expression.
In January 2006, Brad Smith announced on behalf of Microsoft a formal set of principles on how our company would address freedom of expression on the Internet, in a speech to European government leaders in Lisbon, Portugal. Over the past four years, we have consistently adhered to these principles promoting freedom of expression. Microsoft's executive leadership and Board of Directors have consistently supported these principles and remain fully committed to them today.
Similarly, we are proud to be co-founders of the Global Network Initiative, an organization dedicated to advancing Internet freedom, along with other leaders from industry, human rights organizations, academics, and socially responsible investors. We hope that other technology companies will join this effort. While individual GNI member companies may make different business decisions, we are united in our commitment to these principles and are working together to support and grow the important work of the GNI.
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The Recent Cyber Attacks
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Posted by Mike Reavey
Director, Microsoft Security Response
(Cross-posted from The Microsoft Blog)
Unfortunately cyber crime and cyber attacks are daily occurrences in the online world. We condemn these attacks and the recent attacks against Google and other companies.
Based on our investigations into these attacks, as well as the investigations of others, we recently became aware that a vulnerability in Internet Explorer appears to be one of several attack mechanisms that were used in highly sophisticated and targeted attack against several companies.
At this time, we have no indication that Microsoft’s corporate network or our mail properties were attacked as part of these attacks.
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Public Service Ads Alert Bing Users to Online Scams
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
Two weeks ago you heard from me about Microsoft’s enforcement efforts to curb malvertising; today I want to tell you about another approach we are taking to help protect consumers online.
Along with using the legal system to help stop online criminals and fraud, my team does a lot of work with other groups at Microsoft and with public and private organizations around the world developing novel ways to actively prevent and disrupt online threats. In the realm of Internet advertising, we’re not only working to promote the safety and integrity of the online ad platform, we’re using that ad platform to directly fight fraud more generally across the Web.
Microsoft – in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Postal Inspection Service and Western Union – today launched a series of online public service announcements within our Bing search engine to remind consumers to be alert for common online financial scams. When consumers search using keywords that could expose them to credit repair, mortgage foreclosure, or fake lottery scams, the sponsored ad results in Bing will include educational information to help consumers protect themselves.
Here’s an example of how it will look:
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Office Team Steps Up Efforts to Protect Customers from Pirated Software
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Posted by Keith Beeman
General Manager, Genuine Software Initiative
As part of Microsoft’s on-going commitment to combat the spread of pirated and counterfeit software, and to protect our customers and partners, the Office team today made two important announcements.
First, we expanded the Office Genuine Advantage Notifications program into 13 more countries, upping the total to 41 countries where the voluntary program offers end users enhanced protection against the risks of using non-genuine copies of Office, such as viruses and malfunctioning code.
In addition, we announced that Office 2010 will offer technology managers new tools, built on our Software Protection Platform (SPP), to better control how volume-licensing keys are activated and used as they roll out Office 2010 in their organizations. The introduction of SPP into Office 2010 will also make it harder for counterfeiters to defraud consumers by selling inferior, bogus copies of Office, as the product will have technical features that make the program harder to pirate.
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Constructing an Information Age Model for Federal Cybersecurity
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Posted by Scott Charney
Corporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing
As I blogged last month, the increasing quantity and sophistication of cyber attacks requires a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
Today I had an opportunity to continue the discussion while testifying before a congressional hearing on “Assessing Cybersecurity Activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Homeland Security,” convened by the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
As I explained to the committee, the complexity and breadth of national governments, and the wide array of constituents they serve, require a careful and thoughtful approach to managing government-wide cybersecurity.
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An Important Step in Advancing Cybersecurity
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Posted by Scott Charney
Corporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing
Today I had the privilege of attending an event at the White House where President Barack Obama announced the results of the 60-day cybersecurity review and highlighted the steps the United States Government would be taking to help ensure the security of our nation’s computer networks. This is an important step in ensuring we have a comprehensive and coordinated national strategy for cybersecurity.
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Working Together to Fight Fraud Online
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Posted by Tim Cranton
Associate General Counsel
Earlier today the Federal Trade Commission kicked off a two-day “Fraud Forum” in Washington, D.C., that is bringing together regulators, law enforcement officers, consumer advocates, academics and business leaders to swap ideas and advance cooperation to combat illegal online activities that cost citizens and businesses millions of dollars each year.
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