OPERATING SYSTEMS
WINDOWS: Remember WannaCry? It’s Not Too Late to Update Your Windows Systems. The WannaCry ransomware relied on a flaw in Windows code to infect and then paralyze computers, which the hackers promised to unlock for payment in bitcoin. If you run a PC, especially an older one that uses an operating system that Microsoft no longer regularly updates, it’s key to make sure you have a patch for this flaw. Here’s what to do to protect yourself. Read more
[USATODAY.COM]
APPLE: Releases Fix to Security Flaw in Mac Operating System. Apple released an update to its latest operating system for Mac computers and said it’s changing development practices after a significant security flaw was disclosed Tuesday that allowed people to log in without a password, potentially making private user data vulnerable. The issue, discovered in the macOS High Sierra operating system for laptops and desktops that was released in September, would let anyone enter the word “root” when prompted for a username, and provide no password when logging on to the device. That would permit unfettered access to the file system for a Mac, exposing private documents on that particular computer. One user reported the ability to also access the computer using the root login remotely. Read more
[CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM]
QUESTION: What is a Hypervisor? A hypervisor is a process that separates a computer’s operating system and applications from the underlying physical hardware. Usually done as software although embedded hypervisors can be created for things like mobile devices. The hypervisor drives the concept of virtualization by allowing the physical host machine to operate multiple virtual machines as guests to help maximize the effective use of computing resources such as memory, network bandwidth and CPU cycles. Read more.
[NETWORKWORLD.COM]
LINUX: AT&T Wants White Box Routers with an Open Operating System. AT&T says it’s not enough to deploy white box hardware and to orchestrate its networks with the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) software. “Each individual machine also needs its own operating system,” writes Chris Rice, senior vice president of AT&T Labs, Domain 2.0 Architecture, in a blog post. To that end, AT&T announced its newest effort — the Open Architecture for a Disaggregated Network Operating System (dNOS). Find out more
[LINUX.COM]
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IT SECURITY SUPPORT: Blue Mountain Data Systems is actively involved in implementing FISMA and NIST standards with Federal Civilian Agencies. Due to our extensive experience in this area, Blue Mountain has developed processes and organizational techniques to help ensure security deliverables are completed on time, and performed in the most efficient manner possible. We ensure that NIST-800-53 control requirements are treated consistently during definition, analysis, implementation, auditing, and reporting phases of a system. Find out more about Blue Mountain Data Systems IT Security Support Services. Call us at 703-502-3416.
NOW ON SLIDESHARE: Tech Update Summary from Blue Mountain Data Systems November 2017 https://www.slideshare.net/BMDS3416/tech-update-summary-from-blue-mountain-data-systems-november-2017.
BLUE MOUNTAIN DATA SYSTEMS HAS THE EXPERIENCE: 1994 to Present – U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Responsible to the Office of Technology and Information Systems for information systems architecture, planning, applications development, networking, administration and IT security, supporting the enforcement of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act — ERISA. Within the EBSA, Blue Mountain is responsible for design, development and support for its various enforcement database management systems, as well as all case tracking and customer service inquiry systems. Blue Mountain also provides IT security services to the EBSA, in the form of FISMA Assessment and Authorization, System Security Plans, Risk and vulnerability assessments, monitoring and investigation support. Read more.
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