Items tagged with security
Terrible news, everyone: There’s a coding error in the OpenSSL cryptographic software library that allows anyone with the right tools and a little know-how to access secret encryption keys, usernames, passwords, and even content on sites using OpenSSL for protection. That includes roughly two-thirds of the...
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After so much waiting, it's almost hard to believe that the day of XP's death is upon us. At this point, if you're still running Windows XP, you're either incredibly loyal to the OS, or don't surf the Internet too much. Given the fact that this April 8th date has been known about since 2009, it's truly amazing that...
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For those of you who have been holding onto Windows XP for the past decade, it may seem surreal to stare down at its long overdue expiration date. You might have even been secretly (or openly) hoping Microsoft would issue a last minute stay of execution. Hey, it's been a good run, but now it's time to face reality...
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Sometimes it's helpful to have a visual aid to better understand something, and with that in mind, security vendor Kaspersky Labs has launched an interactive cyber threat map that lets viewers see cyber security incidents as they occur around the world in real time. It includes malicious objects detected during...
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We don't want to get all pre-Y2Kish and surmise how the world is going to come to an end once Microsoft drops support for Windows XP -- the world will keep spinning, we assure you -- but if you're still hanging tight to the legacy operating system, you should prepare yourself for life after support. After April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer...
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As both the general public and CEOs of Internet companies seethe in the wake of NSA spying allegations, some researchers at MIT are working on a tool called Mylar that they claim would essentially spy-proof web applications. The pain point, according to the team, is the server. Every web application relies on servers for processing and storing...
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Security outfit Trend Micro is warning Android users that a recently discovered vulnerability in Google's open-source platform could allow cybercriminals to do "substantial damage" on smartphones and tablets. By exploiting the vulnerability, a hacker could effectively put an Android device in an endless reboot loop...
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Wireless security has always been something of a problem. Basic WEP encryption, for example, has been beaten so soundly that it’s a wonder device makers even offer it as a security option anymore. Fortunately, we’ve had WiFi protected access 2 (WPA2) keeping our networks safe--but perhaps no longer. According to Phys.org, researchers...
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As soon as Google announced its Glass digital eyewear, the world went nuts with speculation; pros and cons simply flooded the Web. Since then, a lot of people have been left without a solid conclusion, no doubt thanks to the number of walls Glass has hit. We've learned of bars that have banned the device from being...
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For all the ire the NSA’s spying practices have fomented among users and Internet companies alike, the revelations are prompting some positive changes. For Gmail users, those changes are coming in the form of better encryption on Google’s part. Although it’s been the default option since 2010, Google...
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The good news for Target and its customers is that the retailer’s robust IT system detected the massive holiday season hack that affected tens of millions of accounts before it ever happened. The bad news is that Target failed to act on that detection, and the rest is history. According to Bloomberg, Target’s security tools detected...
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It's with panels like Glenn Greenwald's that makes me regret not making it down to the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. At this particular event, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was broadcast from Russia to answer a number of questions that Twitter users had for him, and in the end, one of the biggest things to take...
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We're coming up on the second Tuesday of the month, which is when Microsoft rolls out a collection of security updates for Windows and Internet Explorer. Otherwise known as "Patch Tuesday," the one that's coming up tomorrow will be relatively light compared to previous ones as it contains only five security bulletins...
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Believe it or not, malware for Android exists, and the best way to avoid it is by only downloading apps from trusted sources, such as Google Play. That said, you're still not immune to threats, and according to security firm Avast, makers of self-titled antivirus software, the newest threat to the Android platform is...
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As unfortunate as it is, DDoSing is as easy to pull off as it is frustrating. With enough computers at their disposal, anyone could force enough traffic to a website in order to take it down, and even massive services are not immune. A perfect example of this is ongoing, with popular social networking site Meetup...
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Now we’re talking: Cisco is putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to deliver the security solutions necessary to protect the growing wave of connected devices in the Internet of Things. IoT security is a huge deal, both because of the potential disasters that could befall individuals...
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Earlier this week, we talked about Geeksphone's Blackphone, a smartphone that puts privacy and security front and center. In some ways, the goals of that phone might sound a little overkill for some, but after learning about Boeing's upcoming offering, it will seem like child's play. Boeing's phone doesn't seem to...
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Kaspersky released its Safe Browser for Windows Phone, months after putting out the same product for iOS and days after making a similar one for Android. The app does exactly what you think it does, by blocking access to potentially dangerous sites with a warning page to protect against phishing attacks. Designed for both personal and corporate...
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When it comes to mobile payments, security is an obvious concern. In fact, even the more standard forms of payment are facing all sorts of new security issues these days. In a bid to help things, MasterCard and Syniverse have partnered to test out a new mobile payment methodology that would tap into a phone's GPS in...
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Google's known for a lot of things, but where privacy's concerned, those things are not too kosher for a lot of people. In fact, Google mines so much data on us - sometimes even if we're nameless - that some would rather avoid anything that has to do with the company. Of course, pulling that off is easier said than...
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If you own an iOS device, there's a security update you should be aware of. As Apple explains it, without the patch "an attacker with a privileged network position may capture or modify data in sessions protected by SSL/TLS." This means if you're connected to an unsecured network, an attacker can peek at the data...
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The presence of a zero day security flaw in Internet Explorer 10 and Internet Explorer 9 has caught the attention of Microsoft, which decided to release a temporary patch rather than let it loom until next month's Patch Tuesday. According to Microsoft, the vulnerability doesn't exist in Internet Explorer 11, nor does...
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