Tag Archives: Security

Credit card security is broken. Here’s how Bitcoin could help fix it.

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“Initially, the Internet was dramatically inferior to conventional communications networks, but over time Internet applications became increasingly sophisticated. Today, the Internet’s capabilities are much greater than those of the conventional services overseen by the ITU.  Bitcoin applies the same philosophy to payment networks. Rather than trying to build every feature into the core protocol, the creator of Bitcoin defined a simple, flexible way to transmit money. The system leaves it to others, like Bitpay, Coinbase and firms that haven’t been founded yet, to build secure, user-friendly payment applications on top of that basic infrastructure. It’s impossible to predict what those services will look like.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/30/credit-card-security-is-broken-heres-how-bitcoin-could-help-fix-it/

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Backdoor gives attackers admin access to DSL modems/routers

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“A hacker has uncovered a backdoor to combination wireless router/DSL modems that could allow an attacker to reset a machine’s configuration and gain access to the administrative control panel. The attack, confirmed to work on several Linksys and Netgear devices, exploits an open port accessible over the wireless local network. Confirmations that the backdoor works with other models of Linksys and Netgear wireless DSL modems came flooding in. A commenter on Hacker News noted that the backdoor might affect wireless routers with DSL modems from SerComm, which manufactured many of Linksys’ older DSL modems.”

http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/01/backdoor-gives-attackers-admin-access-to-dsl-modemsrouters/

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Google, Yahoo back doors to US intel agencies: Ex-security official

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“Richard A. Falkenrath, a former US Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, said in a Tuesday interview with Bloomberg television that the ‘US government has too much access to the privacy’ of Internet users.  Falkenrath said the progress in information technology (IT) and computer servers has in recent years been significantly beyond the imagination of US policymakers.   He said confidential documents have recently revealed that the US government and its intelligence organizations have extensive access to the encoded data and communications of people through companies providing email services.”

http://presstv.com/detail/2013/12/25/341863/us-internet-firms-invade-user-privacy/

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Encrypted chat service Cryptocat for iPhone rejected by Apple

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“Developer Nadim Kobeissi took to Twitter today to blast the iPhone and iPad maker for unjustly rejecting Cryptocat for iPhone, software that was announced earlier this month. Cryptocat made waves for offering a simple way to let two people chat while using end-to-end encryption. The service gained international attention (and some notoriety) in light of government eavesdropping, and its use in countries where free speech was limited. That’s come with some costs: Kobeissi says he’s gone through extra security screenings when traveling; and fearing intrusion from the Canadian government earlier this year, he moved Cryptocat’s entire network to a Swedish nuclear bunker.”

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/27/5249402/encrypted-chat-service-cryptocat-for-iphone-rejected-by-apple

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The NSA Actually Intercepted Packages to Put Backdoors in Electronics

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“The NSA’s Tailored Access Operations (TAO) division, aka premier hacking ninja squad,  has a catalog of all the commercial equipment that carries NSA backdoors. And it’s a who’s who of a list. Storage products from Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor and Samsung have backdoors in their firmware, firewalls from Juniper Networks have been compromised, plus networking equipment from Cisco and Huawei, and even unspecified products from Dell. TAO actually intercepts online orders of these and other electronics to bug them.  SPIEGEL notes that the documents do not provide any evidence that the manufacturers mentioned had any idea about this NSA activity.”

http://gizmodo.com/the-nsa-actually-intercepted-packages-to-put-backdoors-1491169592

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NSA can hack WiFi devices from eight miles away

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“The NSA may have the ability to intercept data from around the world, but we now know that it has some impressive (and intimidating) equipment for snooping on nearby targets. The NSA’s big box of tools includes Nightstand, a custom device that can compromise WiFi networks for the sake of inserting spy software. The Linux-powered device can exploit Windows systems from up to eight miles away; it’s unlikely that you’ll catch agents wardriving in the parking lot. Nightstand may not see significant use today given that it dates back to 2008, but its existence suggests that the NSA also has newer, more advanced WiFi surveillance gear at its disposal.”

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/30/nsa-can-hack-wifi-devices-from-eight-miles-away/

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The NSA Reportedly Has Total Access To The Apple iPhone

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“Der Spiegel reported on the NSA’s access to smartphones and, in particular, the iPhone back in September. Today, these reports expand to the NSA’s apparent ability to access just about all your iPhone data through a program called DROPOUTJEEP.  The NSA apparently claims a 100% success rate in installing the malware on iPhones.  Of course, Apple is hardly the only smartphone maker targeted by the NSA. According to Der Spiegel, Android and even Blackberry have been cracked by the agency, though perhaps not so thoroughly. Taken as a whole, each of these revelations and reports paint a grim portrait of government overreach.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/12/30/the-nsa-reportedly-has-total-access-to-your-iphone/

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Cash machines robbed with infected USB sticks

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“The thefts came to light in July after the lender involved noticed several its ATMs were being emptied despite their use of safes to protect the cash inside.  After surveillance was increased, the bank discovered the criminals were vandalising the machines to use the infected USB sticks.  Once the malware had been transferred they patched the holes up. This allowed the same machines to be targeted several times without the hack being discovered.  Analysis of software installed onto four of the affected machines demonstrated that it displayed the amount of money available in each denomination of note and presented a series of menu options on the ATM’s screen to release each kind.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25550512

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Bitcoin use spreading despite security concerns

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“‘The thing that’s really exciting about bitcoin is that, here in South Florida, we have a half billion people to the south of us who do not have access to a banking system that works well, capital markets, credit – things that we take for granted,’ said Charles Evans, business professor at Florida Atlantic University and one of the founders of the Miami International Bitcoin conference.  ‘I fully expect that Miami could become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of small-scale international finance,’ said Evans, who will speak at the conference.  ‘I defy anybody to do business in South Florida without doing international business.'”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/bitcoin-use-spreading-despite-vulnerability/story-e6frgakx-1226792056293

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Switzerland reported just 20 cases of Internet wiretapping in 2012

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“There are two primary elements that appear to buttress the argument that storing data in Switzerland is a great idea: firstly, the Swiss Criminal Procedure Code puts strict limits on what type of digital surveillance may or may not be used. Swiss law enforcement is not allowed to use a given technique unless it is specifically authorized and regulated under the law. By comparison, American law enforcement tends to take the attitude that it will use whatever tools are at its disposal until that tool is reined in.  Further, it’s a crime for corporate representatives or law enforcement agents to access data on an unauthorized basis, punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 Swiss francs or three months in prison.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/12/switzerland-wont-save-you-either-why-e-mail-might-still-be-safer-in-us/

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