Palo Alto Networks

file sharing

Lessons Learned from Baidu Collection of Japanese Information

In my previous blog entry on the Baidu practice of collecting information on Japanese users, I discussed the security risks associated with using Baidu IME (Input Method Editor). There are so many applications that use the cloud, so today I want to expand the risk discussion to other cloud-based applications commonly used by businesses.

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Application Advisory/Analysis

Cloud Computing

Cybersecurity

Feb 13, 2014

By Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

Products and Services

Partners

Uncategorized

Three Ways Social Media Can Put Enterprises at Risk

In a recent post for ReadWriteWeb (3 Ways Social Media Can Put Enterprises at Risk), I outlined a few IT security “blind spots” that many companies are currently trying to address when dealing with social media...

Feb 06, 2012

By Rene Bonvanie

Uncategorized

I am a Social Media Fanatic...

I confess. I am a social media fanatic. I have even been called other words – ones rather unsuitable for this blog. But I love social media; I love how it gives me the ability to stay connected and keep up to date – both personally and professionally. So you can imagin...

Jan 31, 2012

By Rene Bonvanie

Uncategorized

Workers of the World Unite (and be Social)

While our resident research analyst and long-standing author of the Palo Alto Networks Application Usage and Risk Report, Matt Keil, is out speaking at one of our European User Group Conferences this week, I wa...

Jan 26, 2012

By Matt Keil

Uncategorized

Browser-based Filesharing Usage: Work or Entertainment?

For some time now, we have been watching the browser-based filesharing market which has expanded to where we saw 65 different application offerings in the latest Application Usage and Risk Report. A large numb...

Jan 18, 2012

By Matt Keil

Uncategorized

“Active” Social Networking Up 300%; Twitter Skyrockets 700%

In last week’s blog entry, Rene’ aptly termed 2011 as the Year of Me; the year when social media and a wide range of other personal applications were used in abundance on corporate...

Jan 17, 2012

By Matt Keil

Uncategorized

2011: The Year of Me.

Yes, the year of me. The year of: I will use whatever app I want and you can’t stop me. Social networking, Google apps, streaming media, web mail, instant messaging, and file sharing of all types – are all running rampant on our networks – right beside SAP, Jive, salesf...

Jan 13, 2012

By Rene Bonvanie

Uncategorized

Browser-based Filesharing: Next-Generation P2P?

Since we began tracking the use of browser-based file sharing applications in the March 2008, they have evolved to the point where there are now several distinct use cases. As described in the latest Applicatio...

Oct 21, 2010

By Matt Keil

Uncategorized

Putting BitTorrent Under the Spotlight

We have added a new video that introduces the key security concerns swirling around BitTorrent and specifically how to manage the risks that this incredibly popular application brings to your networks. We will cover how BitTorrent has evolved to avoid detection by tradi...

Sep 02, 2010

By Palo Alto Networks

Uncategorized

Mariposa: How Exposed Are We?

The Application and Threat Research Team has done a great job of provide insight into what the Mariposa threat as well as how to quickly analyze their networks to see if Mariposa is present via the WireShark plugin. Based on the applications that Mariposa uses to spread...

Nov 01, 2009

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Online file transfer - the next P2P?

ANALYSIS – In recent months, new online file transfer and storage applications have popped up with increasing frequency and the latest, Docstoc makes concerted efforts to simplify the upload process by installing an applet on your desktop. Docstoc differentiates...

Jun 11, 2008

By Matt Keil

Firewall

P2P Networks: A Treasure Trove of Data

ANALYSIS – Music and video are not the only things you can find on P2P networks. Sure, everyone has heard about the massive loss of employee data caused by P2P usage but what about the less publicized loss of personal documents, billing information, and corporate...

Apr 15, 2008

By Matt Keil

Firewall

File Sharing Sites On the Rise

ALERT – FileDropper is yet another online file sharing site that allows users to upload files, in this case, up to 5 GB to a site and receive a URL which they can send to anyone. Joining the many other file sharing sites like Megaupload, RapidShare and MediaMax, t...

Mar 23, 2008

By Matt Keil

Firewall

A Deal With the Devil?

ANALYSIS – This article is downright humorous. Here we have two networking companies, each with security products or at a minimum, security features, who have indirectly endorsed the same application category (P2P) that has been the source of some of the largest d...

Jan 10, 2008

By Matt Keil

Firewall

LimeWire Claims: We're #1!

ANALYSIS – This article highlights the fact that even with the negative publicity, the risk of lawsuit or loss of personal information, P2P applications remain extremely popular. The application is supposedly installed on 36.4% of all PCs -approximately 1.66 mill...

Dec 26, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Comcast wants to block BitTorrent... How about you?

ANALYSIS – Comcast, the Internet Service Provider, has allegedly been throttling traffic for subscribers who are using peer-to-peer (p2p) applications such as BitTorrent. Comcast has justified this actio...

Nov 28, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Another Subtle Reminder on the Risks of P2P...

ANALYSIS – In this Wall Street Journal article, the author does a great job of highlighting the hidden risks of P2P applications. With more than 450 Million copies of P2P software deployed, 12 million of which...

Nov 12, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

P2P Strikes Again!

ALERT – Peer-to-peer (P2P) software continues to cause security risks for users and corporate networks with private data being accidentally shared across file sharing networks. ABN Amro (CitiGroup-owned mortgage company) recently reported that a former employee had exposed a couple of spreadsh...

Sep 27, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Meebo Adds File Sharing Service

ALERT – Meebo, the web-based instant messaging service, has now added a file transfer feature that allows users to share files with IM contacts regardless of which IM network they are on. Utilizing Amazon's S3 (Simple Storage Service), Meebo provides a 2-step file...

Sep 20, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Yet Another Reason To Block P2P?

ANALYSIS - This article shows how hackers can add insult to injury by releasing a Trojan that laughs at you while it erases your files. Originally developed as part of the Usenix network, P2P has become a poster child for bad network behavior - bandwidth consuming, malw...

Sep 05, 2007

By Matt Keil

Firewall

Create a Conscious Policy Around Web-based File Sharing

ALERT – Think your users don't get around email attachment restrictions? Think again. Attachment limitations, while possibly useful for managing resource utilization on an over-burdened mail server, encou...

Aug 14, 2007

By Matt Keil

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