Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 2, 2018

From Kashmir Hill : Facebook is not content to use the contact information you willingly put into your Facebook profile for advertising. It is also using contact information you handed over for security purposes and contact information you didn't hand over at all, but that was collected from other people's contact books, a hidden layer of details Facebook has about you that I've come to call "shadow contact information.

Advertising 278

Advertising Authentication Accountability Adware 278

Krebs on Security

OCTOBER 2, 2018

A ridiculous number of companies are exposing some or all of their proprietary and customer data by putting it in the cloud without any kind of authentication needed to read, alter or destroy it. When cybercriminals are the first to discover these missteps, usually the outcome is a demand for money in return for the stolen data. But when these screw-ups are unearthed by security professionals seeking to make a name for themselves, the resulting publicity often can leave the breached organization

Data breaches 219

Data breaches Passwords Internet Internet 219

Troy Hunt

OCTOBER 2, 2018

I take more pleasure than I probably should in watching the bewilderment within organisations as the technology landscape rapidly changes and rushes ahead of them. Perhaps "pleasure" isn't the right word, is it more "amusement"? Or even "curiosity"? Whichever it is, I find myself rhetorically asking "so you just expected everything to stay the same forever, did you?

Banking 193

Banking Technology Encryption Phishing 193

Adam Levin

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Apple’s iOS 12 update includes a workaround that can allow a hacker to access a device’s photos and contacts without having the passcode to unlock it. It does not, however, allow unauthorized users full access to the device, and executing the workaround isn’t exactly an easy thing to do. Security research Jose Rodriguez recently posted a Youtube video showing how to exploit a bug in Siri, the iPhone’s voice assistant with a relatively convoluted process (it either takes 16 or 37 steps, depending

Hacking 177

Hacking Government 177

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Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Noted conspiracy theorist John McAfee tweeted : The "Presidential alerts": they are capable of accessing the E911 chip in your phones - giving them full access to your location, microphone, camera and every function of your phone. This not a rant, this is from me, still one of the leading cybersecurity experts. Wake up people! This is, of course, ridiculous.

Cybersecurity 262

Cybersecurity 262

Adam Shostack

OCTOBER 4, 2018

A few weeks ago, I talked about “ reflective practice in threat modeling “, thinking about how we approach the problems we face, and asking if our approaches are the best we can do. Sometimes it’s hard to reflect. It’s hard to face the mirror and say ‘could I have done that better?’ That’s human nature. Sometimes, it can be easier to learn from an analogy, and I’ll again go to physical buildings as a source.

Architecture 145

Architecture 145

Security Affairs

OCTOBER 4, 2018

China used tiny chips implanted on computer equipment manufactured for US companies and government agencies to steal secret information. According to a report published by Bloomberg News, China used tiny chips implanted on computer equipment manufactured for US companies and government agencies, including Amazon and Apple, to steal secret information.

Manufacturing 111

Manufacturing Government Advertising Surveillance 111

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Bloomberg is reporting about a Chinese espionage operating involving inserting a tiny chip into computer products made in China. I've written ( alternate link ) this threat more generally. Supply-chain security is an insurmountably hard problem. Our IT industry is inexorably international, and anyone involved in the process can subvert the security of the end product.

257

257

Adam Shostack

OCTOBER 2, 2018

I had not seen this interesting letter (August 27, 2018) from the House Energy and Commerce Committee to DHS about the nature of funding and support for the CVE. This is the sort of thoughtful work that we hope and expect government departments do, and kudos to everyone involved in thinking about how CVE should be nurtured and maintained.

Government 140

Government Information Security 140

WIRED Threat Level

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Major sites using Facebook's Single Sign-On don't implement basic security features, potentially making the fallout of last week's hack much worse.

Hacking 108

Hacking Internet Internet 108

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Security Affairs

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warns of cyber attacks exploiting Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) vulnerabilities. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a widely adopted protocol for remote administration, but it could dramatically enlarge the attack surface if it isn’t properly managed. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the DHS issued a joint alert to highlight the rise of RDP as an attack vector.

Cyber Attacks 111

Cyber Attacks Advertising Internet Internet 111

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 3, 2018

The EU's GDPR regulation requires companies to report a breach within 72 hours. Alex Stamos, former Facebook CISO now at Stanford University, points out how this can be a problem: Interesting impact of the GDPR 72-hour deadline: companies announcing breaches before investigations are complete. 1) Announce & cop to max possible impacted users. 2) Everybody is confused on actual impact, lots of rumors. 3) A month later truth is included in official filing.

CISO 238

CISO Media Hacking 238

Dark Reading

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Risk assessment can be complex, but it's vital for making good decisions about IT security. Here are steps to start you down the path toward a meaningful risk assessment process.

Risk 88

Risk 88

WIRED Threat Level

OCTOBER 4, 2018

A new indictment details how Russian agents camped outside hotels when remote hacking efforts weren't enough.

Hacking 107

Hacking 107

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Security Affairs

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Experts at the Cybaze Z-Lab have analyzed the latest iteration of the infamous GandCrab ransomware, version 5.0. Malware researchers at Cybaze ZLab analyzed the latest version of the infamous GandCrab ransomware, version 5.0. Most of the infections have been observed in central Europe, but experts found evidence that the malicious code doesn’t infect Russian users.

Ransomware 109

Ransomware Encryption Advertising Malware 109

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 1, 2018

Earlier this month, I wrote about a statement by the Five Eyes countries about encryption and back doors. (Short summary: they like them.) One of the weird things about the statement is that it was clearly written from a law-enforcement perspective, though we normally think of the Five Eyes as a consortium of intelligence agencies. Susan Landau examines the details of the statement, explains what's going on, and why the statement is a lot less than what it might seem.

Encryption 236

Encryption 236

Dark Reading

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Netherlands expels four of the suspects trying to break into an organization investigating a chemical used in the recent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain.

Hacking 81

Hacking 81

WIRED Threat Level

OCTOBER 3, 2018

While the presidential text that hits your phone Wednesday will be the first of its kind, it's part of a decades-long lineage of official government Doomsday alerts.

Government 86

Government 86

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In a recent study, IDC found that 64% of organizations said they were already using open source in software development with a further 25% planning to in the next year. Most organizations are unaware of just how much open-source code is used and underestimate their dependency on it. As enterprises grow the use of open-source software, they face a new challenge: understanding the scope of open-source software that's being used throughout the organization and the corresponding exposure.

Risk

Security Affairs

OCTOBER 1, 2018

Facebook has revealed additional details about the cyber attack that exposed personal information of 50 million accounts. Last week, Facebook announced that attackers exploited a vulnerability in the “View As” feature that allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens of 50 Million Users. The “View As” feature allows users to see how others see their profile, it was implemented under the privacy section to help users to check that only intended data is visible for their public profile.

Accountability 108

Accountability Hacking Advertising Cyber Attacks 108

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Brian Krebs is reporting on some new and sophisticated phishing scams over the telephone. I second his advice: "never give out any information about yourself in response to an unsolicited phone call." Always call them back, and not using the number offered to you by the caller. Always.

Scams 235

Scams Phishing 235

Threatpost

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Foxit Software has patched over 100 vulnerabilities in its popular Foxit PDF Reader. Many of the bugs tackled by the company include a wide array of high severity remote code execution vulnerabilities. Foxit on Friday released fixes for Foxit Reader 9.3 and Foxit PhantomPDF 9.3, which addressed a whopping 124 vulnerabilities. It’s important to note […].

Software 77

Software 77

WIRED Threat Level

OCTOBER 3, 2018

By only checking a file's code signature when you install it—and never again—macOS gives malware a chance to evade detection indefinitely.

Malware 90

Malware 90

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Security Affairs

OCTOBER 3, 2018

A joint technical alert from the DHS, the FBI, and the Treasury warning about a new ATM cash-out scheme, dubbed “FASTCash,” used by Hidden Cobra APT. The US-CERT has released a joint technical alert from the DHS, the FBI, and the Treasury warning about a new ATM cash-out scheme, dubbed “ FASTCash ,” being used by the prolific North Korean APT hacking group known as Hidden Cobra (aka Lazarus Group and Guardians of Peace).

Banking 107

Banking Retail Advertising Malware 107

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 5, 2018

Interesting research paper: " Fear the Reaper: Characterization and Fast Detection of Card Skimmers ": Abstract: Payment card fraud results in billions of dollars in losses annually. Adversaries increasingly acquire card data using skimmers, which are attached to legitimate payment devices including point of sale terminals, gas pumps, and ATMs. Detecting such devices can be difficult, and while many experts offer advice in doing so, there exists no large-scale characterization of skimmer technol

Technology 212

Technology 212

Dark Reading

OCTOBER 2, 2018

As boards learn the importance of cybersecurity, certain issues arise on a regular basis. These tips can help you address them.

CISO 92

CISO Cybersecurity 92

WIRED Threat Level

OCTOBER 4, 2018

A blockbuster report from Bloomberg says that China has compromised servers used by major US companies. It's a problem that experts have long feared, and still don't know how to resolve.

Hacking 75

Hacking Cybersecurity 75

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Cybersecurity

Security Affairs

SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

Estonian sues Gemalto for 152 million euros following the security flaws in the citizen ID cards issued by the company that caused their recall in 2017. Estonian authorities sue the security firm Gemalto for 152 million euros following the security flaws in the citizen ID cards issued by the company that caused their recall in 2017. “Estonian police are seeking to recover 152 million euros ($178 mln) in a lawsuit filed on Thursday against digital security firm Gemalto, following a recall l

Manufacturing 106

Manufacturing Identity Theft Government Advertising 106

Schneier on Security

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Interesting article on terahertz millimeter-wave scanners and their uses to detect terrorist bombers. The heart of the device is a block of electronics about the size of a 1990s tower personal computer. It comes housed in a musician's black case, akin to the one Spinal Tap might use on tour. At the front: a large, square white plate, the terahertz camera and, just above it, an ordinary closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Computers and Electronics 209

Computers and Electronics Technology 209

Dark Reading

OCTOBER 3, 2018

FireEye details how this money-stealing operation it now calls APT 38 has emerged in the past four years and how it operates.

Banking 92

Banking Hacking 92

Thales Cloud Protection & Licensing

OCTOBER 2, 2018

Some might say the month of October is the official kickoff to the Holiday Season. There is one holiday this month which we are particularly passionate about (and it’s not Halloween). This October marks the 15 th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) – an initiative to raise awareness around the importance of cybersecurity. Since its inception, NCSAM has grown exponentially, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized business, corporations, educational institutions and young peop

Cybersecurity 70

Cybersecurity Education Risk 70

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Within the past few years, ransomware attacks have turned to critical infrastructure, healthcare, and government entities. Attackers have taken advantage of the rapid shift to remote work and new technologies. Add to that hacktivism due to global conflicts and U.S. elections, and an increased focus on AI, and you have the perfect recipe for a knotty and turbulent 2024.

Cybersecurity