Remember how the Mac OS is a fortress of security and impervious to all potential malware attacks? Well, not so much any more. Apple now officially recommends that Mac users protect their systems with antimalware protection of some sort. As noted in this CNet article though, it is not so much a matter of the operating system itself being vulnerable as it is a recognition of the reality that malware threats are trending toward being web-based and operating system agnostic.

I realize there will probably be a flurry of comments from Mac zealots letting me know that their operating system is still impervious, or at least that it is infinitely superior to the security offered by the Microsoft Windows operating system. Let me state preemptively- "don't shoot the messenger". It is the tribal elders from Cupertino who have issued the declaration. I am just relaying the news to increase awareness. If you wish to heed Apple's advice, check out the Mac Antivirus Software Reviews from About.com's Antivirus Software Guide, Mary Landesman.

I haven't verified this, but based on the media hype, the marketing, and the general buzz everywhere, I may be the last person on Earth who has not seen any of the High School Musical movies. Actually- I can vouch for my wife and kids as well. They have also managed to escape being assimiliated into the HSM 'Borg' machinery.

For those less fortunate though...those of you who have seen all three movies (multiple times). Those of you who have the soundtracks, the Wii video game, the HSM dollhouse, and the HSM messenger bag- you may fall victim to a recent computer security threat.

According to a recent press release from Panda Security, their "malware analysis and detection laboratory, has reported that numerous downloadable songs and videos related to the hit movie “High School Musical” are being used by cyber-crooks to disguise malware (viruses, worms, Trojans, etc.). The infected files are distributed through popular peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks such as eMule, eDonkey, etc. and when users search for files related to “High School Musical” using these programs, some of the results include files infected with malware."

To protect your computer system and your data, use caution when downloading files (especially files of questionable ethical or legal standards) from anywhere. Pay particular attention to being safe while using peer-to-peer (P2P) networking sites, and make sure you are using an updated antimalware program, such as Norton Internet Security 2009, to identify and block malware threats.

This past Friday was Black Friday- the biggest shopping day of the year and the official launch of the holiday shopping season. That means that tomorrow is Cyber Monday. The reason there is no Cyber Friday or Cyber Saturday is that people wait to do their 'cyber' shopping until they return to work on Monday. Expect productivity to be down and network bandwidth to be up as employees return to work on surf the web in search of tremendous holiday deals.

Assuming that online shopping is approved, or condoned, or at least accepted, the loss of some productivity may be OK. But, there are still potential security implications of online shopping. The following suggestions from security vendor GFI can help administrators to secure their networks during the holiday shopping season. Many of the tips can also be applied for home networks as well.

• Educate users. Users need to know exactly what kinds of threats are out there. Uneducated computer users are often those who fall victim to viruses, spyware, and phishing attacks, all of which are designed to corrupt systems or leak personal information to a third party without the user's consent.
• Monitor user’s activity 24 x 7. Utilize web monitoring tools to control employees' web browsing activities and to ensure that any files downloaded are free of viruses and other malware.
• Implement Security Policies Implement a clearly defined, and not complicated, security policy. Back it up with clear communication. Security policies also need to be updated regularly to take into account new threats, developments within the organization and changes in processes.
• Limit access. In SMEs, it is not uncommon that there is a high level of trust between management and employees. Access to the Internet should be given only to those who need it, even it that person happens to be your cousin or the boss’s son.
• Invest in technology. Security should not be considered an expense but a cost of doing business in an online age. Vulnerability management, event logging and proper archiving software are essential tools to combat security vulnerabilities and help administrators secure their network.
• Update virus detection software. What is the use of having virus and spyware scanners if they're not updated? Up-to-date scanners ensure that the latest malicious software is detected immediately. Security holes exist in your operating system and no software is perfect. Once vulnerability is found, it's usually exploited within a very short period of time.

Symantec has long held a position as one of the major players in antivirus and PC security products. One complaint users have about computer security software, but particularly with Symantec, has been the size of the install and the way it bogs the system down. Often the trade-off of performance is not considered worth it to protect the computer and users simply disable or remove the protection.

Symantec has taken those issues to heart in creating Norton Internet Security 2009- it is smaller, and faster, and yet still offers all of the protection of its predecessors and then some. NIS 2009 includes a comprehensive suite of protection against a wide variety of computer threats, but is it worth the investment? Take a look at my review of Norton Internet Security 2009 to learn more about the product and my opinion of it.