Provided by CommunityDNS, the information in this post consists of news items in the security-based Internet community.

Infected PCs Contain Average Of Three Different Types of Malware

An anti-virus firm changed its site to examine the files of any user who visited the site. The results indicated that, on average, PCs are infected with 3 different types of malware. Being that malware can infect other files it was also discovered that of the PCs that visited the site, they contained an average of 13 infected files.

Among its customers they found that 3.3% of all machines covered are hit by at least one threat each day. For an organization with 1,000 computers that equates to 33 computers having to fend off malicious files that reside on the Internet, receive a malicious e-mail or are targeted with a worm.

Click here for more information.

SQL Vulnerability Leaves Passwords In The Clear, Researchers Say

Administrators using SQL Server 2000 or 2005 can, when reviewing its process memory, see all of the passwords on in the database. While more difficult to do in SQL Server 2008 the passwords are still viewable.

While the vulnerability provides greater exposure to internal breaches, it still provides opportunity to hackers out on the net who can seize control through SQL injection attacks.

With the propensity for people to reuse their passwords on other accounts, such a leak allows a hacker (internal or external) to gain access to a user’s account on other systems, including systems completely separate from one’s own organization of employment.

Click here for more information.

ISPs unite over government plans to disconnect file sharing users

Regarding the UK debate over disconnecting users from the Internet who illegally violate creative copyrighted material, 6 of the UK’s ISPs unit in sending a letter to the Times criticizing Lord Mandelson’s plans. The letter cites the following objections:

• ISPs having to pay the majority of costs for the program used to disconnect people from the Internet due to creative copyright infringement.

• A process that would deny an alleged abusers right to be able to defend themselves within a court of law.

• Defendants being seen as innocent until proven guilty.

• Limits the person’s expression of freedom.

The letter also states a similar policy in the US is no longer pursued, especially after the failure of 30,000 lawsuits tied with the policy.

Click here for more information.

Global Mobile Broadband Users to Consume 1.3 Exabytes of Video by 2017

Mobile broadband users, using their laptops and netbooks, will account for 1.3 exabyte’s of video content per month by the year 2017; a figure 60 times the amount used today.

Asia/Pacific will account for 53% of the global video traffic followed by Europe with 26%. The US will trail with 14%.

As for overall consumption of broadband traffic by portable users, the Asia/Pacific region will account 46% of the traffic, Europe follows with 26% and 15% from North America. The next two regions are 8% for South America and 5% for the Middle East and Africa.

In Europe, citizens are dissatisfied with the speeds currently received.

Click here for more information.

Internet providers seek low broadband

With Obama’s stimulus of $7.2 billion dollars dedicated for broadband expansion, the nation’s largest ISPs are calling for a conservative definition of broadband, one that defines broadband speeds of 0.768 mbps downstream and 0.200 mbps upstream.

A 2008 study showed the US ranked 19 with an advertised rate of 9.6 mbps. The study identified Japan at the number 1 spot with 92.8 mbps, South Korea coming in at number 2 with 80.8 mbps, followed by France with 51 mbps.

Click here for more information.