cyber security - itbusinessdirect

Old Windows malware may have tampered with 132 Android apps

March 15, 2017April 21, 2017

Google has removed 132 apps from its Play store following a malicious coding flaw that was found possibly because the developers were using infected computers with malware, according to security researchers. The 132 apps were found generating hidden iframes, or an HTML document embedded inside a webpage, linking to two domains that have hosted malware, according to security firm Palo Alto Networks. Google investigation indicates that the developers of these infected apps are not to blame, but are more likely victims themselves. “We believe it is most likely that the…

WikiLeaks announces tech firm cooperation

March 10, 2017April 21, 2017

The anti-secrecy platform WikiLeaks has said it would work with tech firms to fix security flaws before publishing them. Customers’ trust in firms like Google and Apple has already been eroded by the Snowden leaks. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and other major tech companies have been faced with new dilemmas by the latest WikiLeaks release. The “Vault 7” dump of CIA files has exposed a number of security breaches in their software, which US intelligence has exploited and kept secret so that it can continue to hack into smartphones, computers,…

Amid cyberattacks, ISPs try to clean up the internet

February 24, 2017March 3, 2017

Antivirus software is not what it used to be. The sneaky, sophisticated security threats your PC faces now have gone far beyond what traditional software can do. The future of protecting your PC will require a multi-pronged approach involving vigilant updates, bug bounties, and artificial intelligence. If your computer’s been hacked, Dale Drew might actually know something about that. Dale Drew, the chief security officer at a major internet backbone provider that’s routinely on the lookout for cyberattacks on the network level has led the company to linked more than…

Tech devices in your home could be spying on you

February 21, 2017March 3, 2017

We’re living in a digital world where being connected is critical to almost everything we do. Some of the tech devices inside homes could be spying on you and tracking every move you make, but there are some things you can do to stop it. Tech experts say technology today is watching, copying, and even sharing that information and you may not realize it. From teapots to toasters to refrigerators, is your technology spying on you? Jerry Irvine, a member of Homeland Security’s Cyber Task Force says home technology is…

New York unveils final cybersecurity regulations

February 17, 2017March 3, 2017

Cybercriminals can cause significant financial losses for business entities as well as for consumers whose private information may be revealed and/or stolen for illicit purposes. The financial services industry is a significant target of cybersecurity threats. The New York Department of Financial Services unveiled the final cybersecurity regulations, which includes certain regulatory minimum standards while encouraging firms to keep pace with technological advances. New York is the financial capital of the world, and it’s critical that we do everything in our power to protect consumers and our financial system from the…

Smart TV company accused for massive privacy violation

February 7, 2017March 3, 2017

A top smart TV manufacturer will pay state and federal authorities $2.5 million to settle claims it illegally tracked and sold data on customer’s viewing habits without their consent, reports IT News. Vizio, which was acquired by Chinese electronics maker LeEco last year, has agreed to pay the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New Jersey Divsion of Consumer Affairs a total of US$2.5 million (A$3.27 million) for the privacy violation, US$300,000 of which was suspended. Authorities claim that the company sold televisions loaded with software that, by default,…

Use of Ad-Blocking Software Rises by 30% Worldwide

February 1, 2017March 3, 2017

People are increasingly using the technology on their mobile devices and computers to block intrusive advertisements while surfing the web. Facebook has tried to ban it. Google has attempted to outsmart it. But no matter what these tech giants do, people’s use of software to block digital advertising — often the lifeblood of companies’ online business models — keeps gaining traction worldwide. According to New York Times, roughly 11 percent of internet users globally relied on ad blockers to avoid some form of digital advertising last year when surfing the…

Google Gets Rid of 1.7 Billion Bad Ads

January 31, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Google has reported that it removed 1.7 billion bad advertisements from its various sites in 2016, more than double the prior year’s totals. The firm took several steps to crack down on the deceptive advertising, including updating its policies to protect users from “misleading and predatory offers.” It also beefed up its technology to help identify misleading ads and remove them, according to Scott Spencer, Google’s director of product management, sustainable ads. The director noted that free and open Web is a vital resource for individuals and businesses around the…

Big data can drive the future of cyber security

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017

Data science experts and big data enthusiasts are excited and prepared for a future that’s becoming increasingly connected to the web. Some techniques used to harness this raw information, such as data mining, help give us an insight into the future of cybersecurity and what areas may pique interest moving forward. A major benefit that big data provides in the realm of cybersecurity is the ability to monitor and track systems, usually contained within the cloud, for irregularities and potential breaches. Cloud Security Information and Event Management (CSIEM) allows users…

Internet of Things based DDoS attacks to rise in 2017

January 17, 2017 Dianne Jacobs

Cyber criminal networks are increasingly taking advantage of the Internet of Things era to spread malware and create zombie networks, or botnets, unbeknownst to their device owners. According to the Indian express the cyber-criminals will use the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in 2017 to extend their reach as there are now several Internet of Things (IoT) devices containing outdated codes and operating with well-known vulnerabilities as reported by a global security firm. The writer says that the criminals will use ever more sophisticated and convincing targeted attacks to lure…