A threats analyst with Trend Micro is reporting that another piece of Android malware – from the Nickispy family – has been spotted in the wild. As with other versions of Nickispy, the malware eavesdrops on users and data sessions on the infected mobile device.

Simwood has launched a defence technology that it claims can be used defend against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

A researcher with ESET says that his firm has identified that the volume and incidence of malware seen on the Android smartphone and tablet platform are increasing. Cameron Camp, from the East European IT security vendor, says malware authors are ramping up their output to account for the take-up of Android devices amongst end users.

The use of secure sockets layer (SSL) virtual private networks (VPNs) opens up networks to security risks, according to a white paper by NCP Engineering.

GFI Software's senior threat researcher has warned about a Russian website that is apparently offering various low-cost versions of the CCleaner PC utility, which is widely used to remove unwanted files, fix problematic registry entries and the like. The only problem with the pirate site is that the software is infected with malware.

Here's an interesting – if cautionary – tale of how an Apple store in Canada apparently refused to hand back a stolen iPhone to a woman, despite police and Apple's database as confirming the hardware was registered to her.

Sophos has warned LinkedIn users of the need to be aware of a change to the business social networking site's privacy policy, apparently allowing the site to use member's names and photos in promotional advertisements. The change, says the IT security vendor, allows LinkedIn to use the information and pictures by default, meaning that users have to opt out of seeing their names and photos in the site's advertisements.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has notified 75,000 students and staff members that their personal information, including social security numbers, may have been compromised as the result of a data breach.

LinkedIn has responded to criticism of its

Prime minister David Cameron has said government will crack down on rioters using social networks to communicate, as Parliament was recalled from its summer recess to discuss the outbreak of violence this week.

A malware-laden autowhaler application unleashed to infect cybercriminals stealing from phishers, and a rogue anti-virus product offering up a fake codec suite for sale after it disables users’ video players, top GFI Software’s list of the most prevalent threats for July 2011.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange was forced to suspend afternoon trading in seven listed companies after the news portion of its website was hit by hackers.