Independent – Page 396 – Computer Security Articles

Credit to Author: Darlene Storm| Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2017 08:21:00 -0700

Since the emergence of Mirai, you may have wondered if your IoT device has ever been infected with malware; you even may have rebooted the device which would remove the infection. But if your IoT device becomes infected with BrickerBot, you will know because the malware will “brick” it. Just the same, some people will believe the hardware failed.

Radware security researchers previously said BrickerBot malware was responsible for permanent denial of service attacks (PDoS) that would “destroy” the infected devices. PDoS, also known as “phlashing,” is “an attack that damages a system so badly that it requires replacement or reinstallation of hardware. By exploiting security flaws or misconfigurations, this type of cyberattack can destroy the firmware and/or basic functions of system.”

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Independent Krebs

April 18, 2017 admin

InterContinental Hotel Chain Breach Expands

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2017 01:35:39 +0000

In December 2016, KrebsOnSecurity broke the news that fraud experts at various banks were seeing a pattern suggesting a widespread credit card breach across a large number of the 5,000 hotels worldwide owned by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). In February, IHG acknowledged a breach but said it appeared to involve only a dozen properties. Now, IHG has released data showing that cash registers at more than 1,000 of its properties were compromised with malicious software designed to siphon customer debit and credit card data.

Independent Securiteam

April 18, 2017 admin

SSD Advisory – Ubuntu LightDM Guest Account Local Privilege Escalation

Credit to Author: Maor Schwartz| Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:00:24 +0000

Vulnerability Summary The following advisory describes a local privilege escalation via LightDM found in Ubuntu versions 16.10 / 16.04 LTS. Ubuntu is an open source software platform that runs everywhere from IoT devices, the smartphone, the tablet and the PC to the server and the cloud. LightDM is an X display manager that aims to be lightweight, … Continue reading SSD Advisory – Ubuntu LightDM Guest Account Local Privilege Escalation

Independent Securiteam

April 18, 2017 admin

Know your community – Yasser Ali

Credit to Author: Maor Schwartz| Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:05:29 +0000

Today we have the honor to interview Yasser Ali! “Hall of Fame” member in PayPal / Ebay / Microsoft / Sony / Facebook and more, Security Manager at BugBountyHQ ‏(Bug Bounty Platform company), Senior Security Specialist at Deloitte and well known researcher. Questions Q: How many years have you been involved in the security field, … Continue reading Know your community – Yasser Ali

ComputerWorld Independent

April 18, 2017 admin

Experts contend Microsoft canceled Feb. updates to patch NSA exploits

Credit to Author: Gregg Keizer| Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:06:00 -0700

Microsoft delayed its February security update slate to finish patching critical flaws in Windows that a hacker gang tried to sell, several security experts have argued.

“Looks like Microsoft had been informed by ‘someone,’ and purposely delayed [February’s] Patch Tuesday to successfully deliver MS17-010,” tweeted Matt Suiche, founder of Dubai-based security firm Comae Technologies.

MS17-010, one of several security bulletins Microsoft issued in March, was just one of several cited Friday by the Redmond, Wash. developer when it said it had already patched most of the vulnerabilities exploited by just-leaked hacking tools.

Those tools — 12 different Windows exploits — had been included in a large data dump made April 14 by a hacker group dubbed Shadow Brokers, which is believed to have ties to Russia. The exploits, as well as a trove of documents, had been stolen from the National Security Agency (NSA), Shadow Brokers claimed.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 18, 2017 admin

How one personal cyber insurance policy stacks up

Credit to Author: Evan Schuman| Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2017 04:00:00 -0700

As cyber insurance slowly moves from corporate to consumer coverage, some interestingly comprehensive policies have been introduced. One, introduced this month by AIG, puts a strong emphasis on services to prevent attacks rather than merely paying for them once they happen. We decided to dive into the fine print to see how much wiggle room the insurer gave itself.

The new policy, called Family CyberEdge, is designed as a supplement to existing homeowner’s insurance and will cost an extra $597 for $50,000 limits for each key area, consisting of cyber extortion, data restoration, crisis management and cyber bullying, with no deductibles beyond a flat $1,000 for data restoration. Bump the coverage limit up to $100,000 and the annual premium rises to $972, or go for the maximum coverage of $250,000 and the annual premium comes in at $1,723.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 17, 2017 admin

IDG Contributor Network: Most of the Windows zero-day exploits have already been patched

Credit to Author: Andy Patrizio| Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2017 12:46:00 -0700

Late last week, a hacker group known as The Shadow Brokers released a trove of Windows exploits it claims to have obtained from National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) elite hacking team. The group released the tools and presentations and files claiming to detail the agency’s methods of carrying out clandestine surveillance on Windows server software dating back to Windows XP and set off a mild panic for what was otherwise a slow Friday.

There’s just one problem: Microsoft says it has already issued patches for the majority of exploits, with some of them coming out as recently last month. The MSRC team made a blog post on Friday, the same day Shadow Brokers released the exploits, pointing this out. It was a remarkably quick response.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 17, 2017 admin

Microsoft confirms it's patched most of the NSA's Windows exploits

Credit to Author: Gregg Keizer| Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2017 12:05:00 -0700

Microsoft on Friday said it had patched most of the Windows vulnerabilities purportedly exploited by the National Security Agency (NSA) using tools that were leaked last week.

The Windows flaws were disclosed by the hacking gang Shadow Brokers in a large data dump earlier Friday. The group has released several collections of documents about the internal operations of the NSA, and the code it allegedly has used to compromise computers and other devices worldwide.

“Most of the exploits that were disclosed fall into vulnerabilities that are already patched in our supported products,” Phillip Misner, a group manager in the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), wrote in a post to a company blog.

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