Items tagged with Cisco
Technology companies sometimes talk about wanting to move on from passwords in favor of other authentication methods, with biometric security leading the way. But are biometric methods really secure? Researchers from Cisco's Talos division put fingerprint scanning under the microscope, and found some interesting shortcomings. Fingerprint scanners are in lots of places these days. Your smartphone probably has one, assuming it is relatively modern. So do encrypted USB devices, padlocks, and laptops, including Apple's MacBook Pro and a bunch of Windows system equipped with support for Windows Hello (which can include other security methods as well). Now here is what's frightening—in its testing,...
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For organizations that are reliant on Cisco RV320 and RV325 WAN VPN routers, we implore you to -- if you haven't already -- apply two patches that were issued late last week. The patches address the following vulnerabilities: CVE-2019-1652: A vulnerability in the web-based management interface that could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative privileges on an affected device to execute arbitrary commands. CVE-2019-1653: A vulnerability in the web-based management interface that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to retrieve sensitive information. According to BleepingComputer, both vulnerabilities were discovered by German firm RedTeam Pentesting and...
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Given the quick pace that today’s technology progresses, we’re used to seeing products with a few software and even hardware bugs. While software bugs can often be squashed with competent coding, hardware bugs can be a bit more difficult to tame. Such is the case with a bug that afflicts Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series routers. While big iron networking appliance bug reports for hardware issues are not uncommon, it’s Cisco’s explanation of the malady that's causing some consternation in tech and IT circles. Cisco Bug CSCuz62750 is described as causing “partial data traffic loss”, with data loss sometimes even occurring after a CRC (Cyclical Redundancy Check). The kicker here, however, is that Cisco...
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We wrote a couple of days ago about a huge treasure trove of alleged NSA-derived exploits that were hitting the market. That gold mine was accessed by a group calling itself Shadow Brokers, and it's been said that their source was Equation Group, which is believed to be an extension of the NSA. At that time, there was no proof that any of the exploits contained in the collection were still valid. Quickly, some noted that a few of the targets were already patched, leading the rest of us to believe that the entire collection came a bit too late. However, anyone who thought that might have to back it up a wee bit, as Cisco has today confirmed that one of the exploits contained within that collection...
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As part of a restructuring plan, Cisco is laying off 5,500 employees, which represents approximately 7 percent of its global workforce. The announcement comes at the tail end of a successful quarter that saw the networking company post a profit of $2.81 billion, or 56 cents a share, up from $2.32 billion, or 45 cents a share in the same period a year earlier. To understand the planned layoffs, a closer look at the numbers is required. Cisco's bread and butter for the past 31 years has been networking equipment, and things like routers and switches continue to bring in the most revenue. However, sales of such devices have started to slip—its routing business dropped 6 percent in the fourth quarter,...
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Intel is flexing its muscles by partnering with some of the wireless industry’s biggest names to support the transition to 5G technology. Some of those partners include Ericsson, Korea Telecom (Intel will begin 5G wireless trials with KT in 2018), Nokia, SK Telecom and Verizon. In addition, Intel has also announced an alliance with Ericsson and Cisco (all three are members of Verizon’s 5G Technology Forum) to develop next generation 5G router technology that will be deliver high-speed Internet to businesses and residential customers. “This collaboration of industry leaders and 5G pioneers will help to enable secure, ultra-high speed wireless bandwidth,” writes Cisco in a statement. “The solution...
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Where computer security is concerned, it almost seems like unauthorized access can be granted via an unlimited number of ways. While computer security in the home is obviously very important, having good defenses in the enterprise market is paramount. In some cases, slipping up could result in the loss of millions of dollars, and perhaps result in a major mess to clean up. Keeping up on that security is easier said than done, though. As security firm FireEye reports, there are some layers of security that simply get overlooked far too often, but soon enough, they won't be able to be ignored. In particular, routers are often overlooked whenever a security breach goes down, but the reality is,...
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Security firms and anti-malware providers sure do have their work cut out for them, a fact that seems to get emphasized every day. As attackers become more creative, researchers have to dig deep in order to understand how malware manages to hide itself so well. It used to be that static scanners would be suitable enough, but that's hardly the case nowadays. Attackers are becoming even more creative, creating almost ninja-like malware. Take Rombertik, for example. This is a piece of malware that was deeply analyzed by Cisco's Talos Security Intelligence and Research Group that at the high level hooks into a user's Web browser to read sensitive information that is then passed along to a remote...
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China has banned several prominent technology brands from its approved purchase list, presumably because it fears that foreign companies are helping the U.S. government with its spying efforts. There are several well-known names on the list, including Apple, Intel, and Cisco, the latter of which is perhaps being hit the hardest by the ban. According to Reuters, Cisco had no less than 60 products on the Central Government Procurement Center's (CGPC) list in 2012, but they've all disappeared by the end of 2014. It's assumed that the ban on these and other products is in reaction to the disclosures of former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden on the U.S. government's widespread...
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The Federal Communications Commission has been considering the implementation of new neutrality rules in an attempt to determine how internet service providers should manage web traffic on their networks. The outcry against the FCC and the concept of “fast lanes,” in addition to treating IPSs more like public utility companies, continues to grow with many network companies and equipment manufacturers going so far as to tell U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker how these policies could hurt the internet and U.S. economy. The latest group to join the protests and outcry are 33 companies that include Intel Corp, Cisco Systems Inc, and IBM. These companies, along with services such...
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Two days after announcing plans to invest $1 billion in an ambitious cloud computing venture, Cisco Systems finds itself having to defend against a lawsuit alleging that some $43 billion in sales over the last five years infringe on patents. The company making the claim is Spherix, which describes itself as an intellectual property development company committed to the fostering and monetization of intellectual property. Spherix alleges that Cisco ran afoul of 11 patents that relate to routers and switches, and all of which were developed by inventors at Nortel, which were then acquired by Spherix in December 2013. "The company believes that the vast majority of Cisco's switching and routing revenue...
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It's often said you have to spend money to make money, and if that's true, Cisco may make a fortune in the cloud space. That's because the networking guru is reportedly planning to invest a king's ransom -- $1 billion, to be precise -- over the course of the next two years building data centers that will help run a new service it's calling Cisco Cloud Services. Cisco specializes in networking hardware, and while that remains profitable, the company is seeing a growing trend where businesses would rather rent computing services in place of buying and maintaining their own equipment, The Wall Street Journal reports. Currently the biggest player in the cloud space is Amazon and its cloud business,...
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Now we’re talking: Cisco is putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to deliver the security solutions necessary to protect the growing wave of connected devices in the Internet of Things. IoT security is a huge deal, both because of the potential disasters that could befall individuals, businesses, and cities with unprotected smart devices and also because to date there are essentially no security measures in place for connected devices that aren’t computers, smartphones, or tablets. (Case in point is the now nearly legendary refrigerator hack. A refrigerator! Hacked!) LG LFX31995ST smart fridge (Note: There's no evidence that an LG fridge specifically was hacked)...
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It's a sue happy society we live in, that's just the way it is. Not only is that true of individuals, but it especially applies to businesses, hence why it's so important to own a robust patent portfolio. Without one, a company is at risk of litigation over patent infringement. It's with that in mind that Cisco and Google today announced that they've entered into a long-term patent cross-licensing agreement. The deal covers a broad range of products and technologies. By inking the deal, both companies are able to extract value from their respective portfolios as well reduce the chances that either one ends up in court over patent infringement claims, at least with each other. That said, financial...
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My, how the tables have turned. Seven years ago, analysts could've likely predicted that BlackBerry was in a position to consider acquiring a great number of rivals in order to stake its claim in the mobile market for the foreseeable future. Now, it's all the more likely that BlackBerry will be sold off in pieces for paltry sums that'll probably make its founders weep. After announcing a deal recently to be taken private for just over $9 per share, Reuters is reporting that a number of larger tech firms are in the running to bid for what's left of the once-powerful smartphone maker. As of now, Google, Cisco and enterprise software outfit SAP are all mulling bids for parts or all of BlackBerry....
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NVIDIA's more than two-year long search for a Chief Financial Officer has finally ended with the hiring of Colette Kress, a 24-year veteran of the tech industry who will serve both as CFO and executive vice president of the GPU maker, the company announced. Kress, 46, will report directly to NVIDIA presdient and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang. "We have searched extensively for the right candidate and are thrilled to have Colette join us," said Huang. "She brings fantastic experience, excellent financial management skills and deep industry knowledge to NVIDIA. Colette will be a great asset as we work to extend our global leadership in visual computing, mobile and the cloud." Karen Burns had been acting as...
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Cisco has never been bashful about acquiring companies even though it doesn't always work out (after acquiring Linksys, it was later sold to Belkin, for example). In it's latest move to beef up its portfolio, Cisco today announced its intention to acquire Whiptail for $415 million in cash. Whiptail primarily focuses on software to manage cloud-based flash storage. In a press release, Cisco said the acquisition will strengthen its Unified Computing System (UCS) strategy and enhance application performance by integrating scalable solid state memory into the USC's fabric computing architecture. "We are focused on providing a converged infrastructure including compute, network and high performance...
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Networking giant Cisco has agreed to purchase Sourcefire, a leader in intelligent cybersecurity solutions, for what amounts to $2.7 billion (Cisco will pay $76 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Sourcefire and assume outstanding equity awards), Cisco announced today. The deal has been approved by the board of directors of both companies Cisco will use Sourcefire's technologies and resources to extend its threat protection across the entire attack continuum, including before, during, and after an attack, and from any device to any cloud, the company said. The benefit for consumers is continuous security in more places across the network. Image Source: Flickr (ketmonkey) "The notion...
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TiVo has won more than its share of patent disputes pertaining to its DVR technology over the last few years, winning settlements from AT&T ($215 million), Dish Network and EchoStar ($500 million total), and Verizon ($250.4 million). The latest companies to lose against TiVo are Cisco and Google-owned Motorola Mobility. (Motorola made lots of set-top boxes for the likes of Time Warner Cable.) According to BusinessWeek, Cisco and Google (which inherited Motorola’s legal troubles when it bought the company) will have to fork over a combined total of $490 million to TiVo, with Cisco being responsible for $294 million of that amount. In the wake of the settlements, TiVo enters licensing...
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Cisco's stock is up slightly today following an announcement that it plans to acquire Ubiquisys, a privately held firm based in the U.K., for approximately $310 million in cash and retention-based incentives. Ubiquisys is a leading provider of intelligent 3G and long-term evolution (LTE) small-cell technologies, and the planned acquisition will further bolster Cisco's portfolio for mobile carriers. Small cell networks are viewed as a cost-effective way to increase capacity and make better use of spectrum assets. Traffic that gets offloaded to small cell networks ends up traveling faster, offering more consistent voice and data transmissions in an increasingly crowded mobile landscape. "Cisco...
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Maybe in another 10-15 years we'll press our finger to our tablet or smartphone to have our temperatures taken and to record other vitals, which will then be uploaded to a doctor who will email us his or her prognosis. It sounds terribly impersonal, but then again, what's so great about sitting in a waiting room for an hour, just to be called in to have to wait another 45 minutes before you're actually seen by a doctor? Regardless of what the future holds, there appears to be strong interest in virtual doctor visits. Cisco on Monday announced at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference the results of the Cisco Customer Experience Report. It focused on the perceptions...
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A new report conducted by Cisco underscores the magnitude of the mobile movement we currently find ourselves in. With everyone toting smartphones, tablets, phablets, and even Ultrabooks and ultra-thins, mobile traffic is exploding, having grown 70 percent in 2012. On a global scale, mobile users accounted for 885 petabytes of data traffic in December 2012, up from 520 petabytes per month at the end of 2011. That's nearly twelve times the total global Internet traffic in 2000 (75 petabytes per month). Mobile video traffic accounted for just over half at 51 percent, made possible by the fact that mobile network connection speeds more than doubled in 2012, Cisco says. Image Source: Flickr (woodleywonderworks)...
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