Items tagged with security
We already know about that hackers are able to steal credit and debit card details at gas pumps by using skimmers, which are devices that slip over the payment slot and, for the most part, look legitimate (they're found on ATMs as well). However, skimmers are not the only threats. Visa's Payment Fraud Disruption (PFD)...
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Facebook has been fighting with the U.S. government and the governments of other countries over end-to-end encryption plans that would block anyone, Facebook included, out of chat conversations on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. The Federal government doesn't like that as it says that encrypting...
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Qualcomm has pulled the covers off a new ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner that is an improvement over its predecessor that was introduced in the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 families. The new sensor is called 3D Sonic Max, and it has a significantly larger surface area for scanning. While the original...
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Security researchers say millions of Android phones are susceptible to a newly discovered vulnerability that, if exploited, could allow an attacker to spy on users through the phone's microphone, take photos with the phone's camera, read and send SMS text messages, make and record phone conversations, phish login...
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Pretty much all new TVs these days have smart functionality built into them. This can vary by model—some are simply loaded up with streaming apps, like Netflix and Hulu, while others offer voice control. Some even have built-in cameras, both for facial recognition and to utilize apps like Skype. In response to these...
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Google began rolling out its new SMS text messaging protocol earlier with month, with features powered RCS by (Rich Communication Services). This is intended to deliver a richer messaging experience. And it does, though the rollout is not going without a hitch. Unfortunately, telecoms are doing a poor job implementing...
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Nearly two years ago, OnePlus announced that it had experienced a security breach that resulted in the credit card details of roughly 40,000 customers being stolen. "We are also working with our current payment providers to implement a more secure credit card payment method, as well as conducting an in-depth security...
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Many computer users know that Microsoft doesn't email you about Windows updates, but many people unfortunately still fall for spam tricks. There is a new malicious spam campaign going around that tells users to download a critical Windows update. If users install the attached file, Cyborg ransomware is then loaded on...
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Several white hat hackers in China spent the weekend infiltrating some of the top web browsers and other applications, as part of the Tianfu Cup. Similar to Pwn2Own, hackers attempt to exploit various software in ways that have not been discovered before, with prizes and bragging rights on the line (as well as better...
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Microsoft is having a "Do'h!" moment, though not in the bumbling, Homer Simpson sense. Quite the opposite, actually. In a blog post, Microsoft announced its Windows Core Networking team is working on improving user privacy by implementing DNS over HTTPS, or DoH for short, into a future build of Windows 10.
From...
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Anyone who uses WhatsApp—and many people do, with the developers claiming 1.5 billion monthly active users—should make sure they have the latest version installed. Otherwise, they could be susceptible to a critical vulnerability that could allow hackers to infiltrate their text messaging conversations, pictures, and...
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As Black Friday bargains start to arrive, you may want to shop for a new wireless router, depending on old your current one is and whether it supports WPA2 (or later) encryption. Otherwise, you may soon find yourself unable to connect. Microsoft posted a list of features it plans to deprecate in Windows 10, and one of...
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Intel has disclosed another speculative side execution vulnerability affecting many of its processors, including its latest 10th generation mobile CPUs. Fortunately, there are already mitigating patches available, at least for users who are running Windows 10, Windows 8.1 (and Windows RT 8.1), Windows 7, and various...
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Facebook is a company that is no stranger to controversy, privacy lapses, or downright bizarre behavior that has drawn the ire of users and politicians on Capitol Hill. The company's latest misstep is likely to further tarnish the company, which just hasn't been able to catch a break during 2019.
There is...
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How much does a ransomware or data breach attack affect hospital services? A recent study determined that hospitals who had been hit by a cyber attack witnessed increased death rates among patients with heart issues. Cyber attacks and the remediations that follow frequently increase the amount of time a patient waits...
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Malware is getting sneakier, as Kaspersky researchers just discovered “Titanium”, a trojan backdoor malware. This malware is very difficult to detect and includes various stages.
Titanium is currently being used by the Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor “Platinum”. Platinum is considered one of the most...
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Mobile users can mitigate the risk of falling prey to malware by only downloading apps from reputable app stores. The Play Store is one of them, and it is the largest around for Android, though the risk is not by any means non-existent. Google realizes this, and has forged an App Defense Appliance with ESET, Lookout...
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Facebook continues to be unable to keep data on its users safe from developers who shouldn't have access to that information. The social network notes that since April of 2018, it has been reviewing the ways that developers can use Facebook to share data with outside companies. Since that time, it has removed or...
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It's bad enough we have to worry about sharks with frickin' laser beams attached, but now we have to be vigilant against the threat lasers present to smart home speakers and other devices with digital assistants. How so? Security researchers at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo and at the University of...
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Well, this is an unfortunate turn of events. Back in July, security researchers at Sophos created a proof-of-concept demonstration showing on how easy it would be for an unpatched RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) server to be compromised by BlueKeep, a wormable Windows bug. Fast forward to today, and it's been discovered...
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If you rely on Google's Chrome browser to get around the web, be aware that an update is available that addresses a couple of "High" security threats. One of those—labeled CVE-2019-13720—is a zero-day vulnerability that is known to be actively exploited in the wild, though it is not clear to what extent nefarious...
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The United States Interior Department is home to one of the largest fleets of aerial drones in the US government, with more than 800 of them in the agency's employ. However, every single one of them has reportedly been grounded. They are not defective, and instead this is said to be a precautionary measure over...
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