Cybercrime & Hacking – Computer Security Articles

Credit to Author: Ryan Francis| Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 14:53:00 -0700

BOSTON — Retired Gen. Michael Hayden held nothing back when speaking to cybersecurity pros today at the ZertoCon business continuity conference.

It’s been more than a decade since he led the National Security Agency (NSA), but that didn’t stop Hayden from asserting that the Russians were involved in last year’s U.S. presidential election. His view: Only two presidents doubt that the Russians were involved in the 2016 election — Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

“They [the Russians] had an affect on the election, there is no question that this happened,” Hayden said. “The question is if there was collaboration with the campaign.”

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ComputerWorld Independent

IDG Contributor Network: Wikileaks reveals potent Windows malware from the CIA

May 23, 2017 admin Cybercrime & Hacking, Malware & Vulnerabilities, Security

Credit to Author: Andy Patrizio| Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 14:00:00 -0700

A few days ago, Microsoft’s top lawyer took the NSA to task over WannaCry, saying that problem was the agency’s creation because it built and stockpiled such malware for its own use.

Now WikiLeaks has revealed more government-created malware and this one is a nasty piece of work.

Codenamed “Athena,” the spyware targets all version of Windows from Windows XP to Windows 10, and was released in August 2015. It was created in part by a private New Hampshire-based cyber security firm called Siege Technologies.

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ComputerWorld Independent

Windows Defender does not defend Windows 7 against WannaCry

May 21, 2017 admin cyberattacks, Cybercrime & Hacking, Malware & Vulnerabilities, Security, Windows PCs

Credit to Author: Michael Horowitz| Date: Sun, 21 May 2017 17:37:00 -0700

Thanks to Kaspersky, we now know that 98% of the Windows machines infected by WannaCry/WannaCrypt were running Windows 7. Since, once it gets a foothold, the malware can infect an entire network, most of the attention was focused on LAN based attacks. My previous blog was about using the Windows firewall as a defensive measure.

But any malware can spread in multiple ways so there is always a need for anti-malware software on Windows PCs. The May 12th blog post, Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks, in which Microsoft announced the release of a bug fix for Windows XP, mentioned that

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ComputerWorld Independent

The ransomware epidemic: How to prep for a shakedown

May 19, 2017 admin Cybercrime & Hacking, Security

Credit to Author: Ryan Francis| Date: Fri, 19 May 2017 13:37:00 -0700

wannacry ransom screenshot — ‘Know your enemy’ – understanding what to prepare for

ComputerWorld Independent

The Windows firewall is the overlooked defense against WannaCry and Adylkuzz

May 19, 2017 admin Cybercrime & Hacking, Malware & Vulnerabilities, Networking, Security, Windows PCs

Credit to Author: Michael Horowitz| Date: Fri, 19 May 2017 09:25:00 -0700

Despite all the attention currently focused on Windows computers being infected with WannaCry ransomware, a defensive strategy has been overlooked. This being a Defensive Computing blog, I feel the need to point it out.

The story being told everywhere else is simplistic and incomplete. Basically, the story is that Windows computers without the appropriate bug fix are getting infected over the network by WannaCry ransomware and the Adylkuzz cryptocurrency miner.

We are accustomed to this story. Bugs in software need patches. WannaCry exploits a bug in Windows, so we need to install the patch. For a couple days, I too, ascribed to this knee-jerk theme. But there is a gap in this simplistic take on the issue. Let me explain.

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ComputerWorld Independent

IDG Contributor Network: Who you gonna call?: Getting ready for the next cyber disaster

May 19, 2017 admin cyberattacks, Cybercrime & Hacking, IT Skills & Training, Security

Credit to Author: Sandra Henry-Stocker| Date: Fri, 19 May 2017 06:03:00 -0700

Are you ready for the next cyber disaster? You may not ever be fully ready. Given the ever-increasing number and variety of threats out there, it’s hard to imagine the many ways in which you could be hit. Twenty years ago, who would have imagined 9/11 or ransomware or the sophistication of today’s social engineering techniques? But even if you can’t be fully prepared, you can avoid being totally unprepared.

There are many things that you can do to be more likely to recover from a major attack or limit how hard it hits you. Being more in touch, more aware, and more prepared are key. Given the proliferation and variety of the threats today, avoiding disaster is a big deal and limiting impact a worthy goal. What are those who deal these issues everyday trying to tell us and how can we put their insights to good use?

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ComputerWorld Independent

IDG Contributor Network: FTC to crack down on bogus ‘tech support’ lines

May 17, 2017 admin Cybercrime & Hacking, Security

Credit to Author: Andy Patrizio| Date: Wed, 17 May 2017 11:30:00 -0700

In an extremely fortunate bit of timing, I visited my parents just as my father nearly fell for one of the worst scams floating around on the Internet. He had inadvertently clicked on a bogus link that popped up an equally bogus blue screen claiming his computer had been compromised and he needed to call a toll free “Microsoft” support line to get help.

Of course it wasn’t Microsoft and the pop up was fraudulent, but he didn’t know that. I practically screamed “hang up!” at him and explained why after he did.

These tech support scams have always been growing in frequency and severity, and the fact that they have an 800 number (or some derivative) not only gives them validity and makes people more willing to call, but also shows they are flying under the radar and using legitimate means against their victims.

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ComputerWorld Independent

Hackers reportedly hold Disney's newest Pirates of the Caribbean film for ransom

May 17, 2017 admin Cybercrime & Hacking, Security

Credit to Author: Darlene Storm| Date: Wed, 17 May 2017 07:57:00 -0700

While some people are still fretting about WannaCry ransomware and possible variants of it, hackers are reportedly threatening to release Disney’s upcoming Johnny Depp film if Disney doesn’t pay a ransom.

Although Disney would not confirm that the stolen film is the fifth in the Pirates franchise, it doesn’t intend to bow to extortion. The ransomed movie is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, according to Deadline; it is scheduled to hit theaters on May 26.

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