Worst security snafus of 2012

Some of the worst online security problems of 2012 came in the form of DDoS attacks, cloud outages and political unrest

The first half of 2012 was pretty bad -- from the embarrassing hack of a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard to a plethora of data breaches -- and the second half wasn't much better, with events including Symantec's antivirus update mess and periodic attacks from hactivists at Anonymous. For a complete look at security snafus from the first half of the year, go here. Read on for a look at the rest of the year.

CATCH UP: Worst security snafus of 2012 - so far

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• Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, who keeps an office at the Naval Institute, is cooperating in an investigation undertaken by the FBI that involves suspected foreign cyber-espionage on his computer, according to The Wall Street Journal.

• The International Telecommunication Union's meeting in Dubai to discuss its role in the Internet was disrupted by hactivist group Anonymous, which attacked an ITU server and cut off access to information the group made available for the meeting. Anonymous said it instructed its adherents to attack the website because it opposes the ITU, the United Nations standards-setting body for global telecom, from taking any control over Internet regulation.

Ellen Messmer is senior editor at Network World, an IDG publication and website, where she covers news and technology trends related to information security. Twitter: @MessmerE. Email: emessmer@nww.com.

Read more about security in Network World's Security section.