Tag Archives: False Sense Of Security

Resist mass cracking by US law enforcement

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“Law enforcement could request warrants allowing mass cracking of thousands of computers at once. The Supreme Court, which oversees the Rules, submitted the changes to the US Congress in April. This is an unprecedented, broad government cracking authorization, and it is dangerous to the privacy and security of all Internet users. The changes to Rule 41 target Internet users who take steps to protect their online privacy — this could discourage use of privacy tools, and even weaken their effectiveness by exploiting vulnerabilities in such tools rather than helping to fix them.”

https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/protect-your-privacy-resist-mass-cracking-by-us-law-enforcement

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After being hacked again, IRS shuts down e-File PIN service

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“The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the abolition of its PIN tool due to the platform being hacked.  Under the now abolished electronic filing PIN tool (e-File PIN), people dealing with the IRS were able to use a PIN number to access services on IRS.gov or by toll-free phone call.  The agency cited ‘additional questionable activity’ as the impetus for the change.  According to Sophos, 800 cases of identity thefts were identified earlier this year causing the PIN system to be partially suspended in March, although at the time the IRS told taxpayers who already had a PIN to continue using the service to file their tax returns as they normally would.”

http://siliconangle.com/blog/2016/06/27/after-being-targeted-successfully-by-hackers-again-irs-shuts-down-e-file-pin-service/

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Botnet formed of 25,000 malware-riddled surveillance cameras

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“The unusual 25,000-strong botnet was apparently spotted by US security outfit Sucuri when it investigated an online assault against an ordinary jewelry store.  The shop’s website was flooded offline after drowning in 35,000 junk HTTP requests per second. When Sucuri attempted to thwart the network tsunami, the botnet stepped up its output and dumped more than 50,000 HTTP requests per second on the store’s website.  When the security biz dug into the source of the duff packets, it found they were all coming from internet-connected CCTV cameras – devices that had been remotely hijacked by miscreants to attack other systems.”

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/28/25000_compromised_cctv_cameras/

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Thieves using laptops to hack into and steal cars

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“Houston police told the WSJ that this method may have been used in the theft of four other late-model Wranglers and Cherokees in the city.  Security researchers have been able to take over cars remotely because automakers don’t always do a good job at limiting how car systems interact with wireless communications.  What’s more, even cars that aren’t internet-enabled can be taken over via third-party devices that introduce connectivity, such as through the diagnostics port.  Remote exploits have included taking over a 2014 Jeep Cherokee, controlling the car’s brakes, accelerator, steering and more by wireless connection”

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/07/08/thieves-using-laptops-to-hack-into-and-steal-cars/

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How the Top 5 PC Makers Open Your Laptop to Hackers

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“As bad as Acer was, however, Asus was worse. Its updater was so bad the researchers called it ‘remote code execution as a service’—essentially a built-in service for hackers to do remote-code execution. Asus transmits unsigned manifests over HTTP instead of HTTPS. And although the manifest file was encrypted, it was encrypted with an algorithm known to be broken, and the key to unlock the file was an MD5 hash of the words ‘Asus Live Update.’ As a result, attackers could easily intercept and unlock the list to make changes. Asus update files weren’t signed, either, and they were also transmitted via HTTP.”

https://www.wired.com/2016/05/2036876/

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Trump in Line to Receive Top U.S. Intelligence Secrets

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“Trump has at times questioned the U.S. role in NATO, called Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘a strong leader,’ and said he’s ‘in that camp’ that believes torture yields valuable information from detainees.  The Democratic front-runner, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is a veteran recipient of government secrets, although Republicans contend she broke the law because classified information was included in messages on her private e-mail system. The FBI is investigating the matter.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-09/talkative-trump-in-line-to-receive-top-u-s-intelligence-secrets

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Mark Nestmann: They’ve spit on the Bill of Rights yet again

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“[The Wisconsin Supreme Court] recently ruled that police do not need a search warrant to forcibly open locked doors in a private home.  It’s bad enough that a citizen can be fined and imprisoned for possession of a plant with medicinal properties. But with this decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has declared that so long as police have permission to enter a home with or without a warrant, once they’re inside, they can conduct a protective sweep. Police then have the right to rifle through your belongings, break down locked doors, and seize evidence that can later be used against you.”

http://www.nestmann.com/theyve-spit-on-the-bill-of-rights-yet-again

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Italy bank runs: the ‘Northern Rock’ signal of global financial meltdown?

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“On Jan. 21, the oldest surviving bank in the world, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, reported that depositors have been initiating a series of bank runs which have put the financial institution on the precipice of collapse, with all attempts to calm account holders having so far failed.  Since last Monday the share price of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA has fallen over 46%.  Back in 2007, bank runs on the British financial institution known as Northern Rock ushered in the start of the global financial crisis that culminated in a collapse that would require taxpayer bailouts, and tens of trillions in central bank liquidity.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/italy-bank-runs-could-be-the-northern-rock-signal-of-global-financial-meltdown

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The Cost of Terror in Brussels

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“This prolonged state of insecurity has had a negative impact on the economic and social life of the capital. The most overt statistics pertaining to touristic activities, social outings, and public gatherings show a general change in the perception of the city and an overall evolution in the local mood.  The enhanced presence of military personnel in the streets of Brussels as well as the ongoing discourse over the current will of terrorist organisations to target the capital led to a mood change among the local population. The fear of potential attacks is playing as a long-term obstacle to private expenditures, tourism and the participation in major public social events.”

http://globalriskinsights.com/2016/01/the-cost-of-terror-in-brussels/

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Desert Storm Anniversary Reminds Us That Even Victorious Wars Are Problematic

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“Even tumultuous military victories can lead to unfortunate unplanned future disasters. Even after one of the most one-sided victories in American history, Desert Storm demonstrated this effect. The impetus for bin Laden to begin his war on the United States, which later became a catastrophic threat to the American homeland on September 11, 2001, was his anger at the U.S. military presence on soil of Saudi Arabia—the Muslim holy land—before, during, and after Desert Storm in the 1990s. One of the U.S. government’s primary reasons for being is to protect its citizens and territory from external attack; on 9/11, it failed to do so from a threat that it helped create and motivate.”

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=8645

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