Security news10 October 2007
Microsoft security holes revealed, but NAC defends companies Network Access Control helps firms protect their networks against unpatched PCs
Four of the security bulletins have been rated as critical by Microsoft.
IT security and control firm Sophos has advised companies to consider the benefits of Network Access Control (NAC) in light of the announcement of a number of new critical security patches from Microsoft.
As part of its monthly "Patch Tuesday" schedule Microsoft has issued six new bulletins (four of them described as "critical") about a number of different security vulnerabilities in its software including Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Mail and Microsoft Word. The vulnerabilities cover a number of different versions of the Windows operating system, including Vista.
Sophos recommends that organizations roll-out the patches as a matter of urgency, as some of them could enable hackers to access data on a vulnerable PC or run malicious code such as a worm.
Network Access Control enables companies to control who and what is allowed onto their network; blocking unauthorized users, controlling guest access, and ensuring compliance with a business's security policy. By implementing NAC firms reduce the risk of unauthorized, guest, non-compliant, or infected systems compromising the network, ensuring that only correctly secured computers gain network access.
"Having the latest security patches in place is a must for businesses and home users alike, or you run the gauntlet of being the victim of a hacker attack," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Network Access Control can help organizations enforce security policies, ensuring that any non-compliant device is locked down and unable to jeopardize the network."
Home users of Microsoft Windows can visit update.microsoft.com to have their systems scanned for Microsoft security vulnerabilities.
Sophos suggests that every IT manager responsible for security should consider subscribing to vulnerability mailing lists such as that operated by Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/notify.mspx.
Sophos continues to recommend companies protect their desktops and servers with automatically updated protection against viruses, spyware, hackers, and spam.
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About Sophos
More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos as the best protection against complex threats and data loss. Sophos is committed to providing security and data protection solutions that are simple to manage, deploy and use and that deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. Sophos offers award-winning encryption, endpoint security, web, email, and network access control solutions backed by SophosLabs - a global network of threat intelligence centers. With more than two decades of experience, Sophos is regarded as a leader in security and data protection by top analyst firms and has received many industry awards.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.
