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Delayed software updates leave IRS computers prone to hackers, auditors say


From: InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 02:50:50 -0600 (CST)

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/534/3103270/Delayed-software-updates-leave-IRS-computers-prone-to-hackers

By Jack Moore
FederalNewsRadio.com
11/1/2012

Thousands of IRS computers could be prone to cyber intruders because officials aren't updating software in a timely manner, according to a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Because hackers often exploit glitches in existing software to gain access to systems, software manufacturers frequently release patches, or fixes, for these bugs once they've been discovered.

Large organizations, such as the IRS, employ a process called patch management to stay on top of when software needs to be updated and to install the patches.

While it sounds mundane, leaving software unpatched is one of the main avenues through which hackers access normally protected systems.

[...]


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