Independent – Page 391 – Computer Security Articles

Credit to Author: Michael Horowitz| Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:20:00 -0700

The recent wave of new mesh router systems has brought with it changes besides the obvious increase in Wi-Fi range. For example, these mesh routers are more likely to insist on WPA2-AES encryption, as many have dropped support for the less secure WEP and WPA options. Not all of them, but many.

Here I take a look at another insecure router technology, WPS (Wi-Fi protected setup) and how these new mesh routers deal with it.

WPS is an alternate way of gaining access to a Wi-Fi network that does away with having to know the SSID (network name) and password. Much of what you read about WPS is incomplete, as it supports at least four different modes of operation.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 28, 2017 admin

How seven mesh routers deal with WPS

Credit to Author: Michael Horowitz| Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:20:00 -0700

Here I take a look at another insecure router technology, WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) and how these new mesh routers deal with it.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 28, 2017 admin

Ransomware attacks are taking a bigger toll on victims' wallets

Credit to Author: Michael Kan| Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:26:00 -0700

Hackers spreading ransomware are getting greedier. In 2016, the average ransom demand to free computers hit with the infection rose to $1,077, up from $294 the year before, according to security firm Symantec.

“Attackers clearly think that there’s more to be squeezed from victims,” Symantec said in a Wednesday report.

In addition, the security company has been detecting more ransomware infection attempts. In 2016, the figure jumped 36 percent compared with the prior year.

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Independent Krebs

April 27, 2017 admin

Blind Trust in Email Could Cost You Your Home

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 20:36:44 +0000

The process of buying or selling a home can be extremely stressful and complex, but imagine the stress that would boil up if — at settlement — your money was wired to scammers in another country instead of to the settlement firm or escrow company. Here’s the story about a phishing email that cost a couple their home and left them scrambling for months to recover hundreds of thousands in cash that went missing. It was late November 2016, and Jon and Dorthy Little were all set to close on a $200,000 home in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Just prior to the closing date on Dec. 2 their realtor sent an email to the Little’s and to the law firm handling the closing, asking the settlement firm for instructions on wiring the money to an escrow account.

ComputerWorld Independent

April 27, 2017 admin

IDG Contributor Network: Book Review: Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems

Credit to Author: Sandra Henry-Stocker| Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:45:00 -0700

The overall equation is pretty simple: If you want to understand network traffic, you really should install Wireshark. And, if you really want to use Wireshark effectively, you should consider this book. Already in its third edition, Practical Packet Analysis both explains how Wireshark works and provides expert guidance on how you can use the tool to solve real-world network problems.

Yes, there are other packet analyzers, but Wireshark is one of the best, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is free and open source. And, yes, there are other books, but this one focuses both on understanding the tool and using it to address the kind of problems that you’re likely to encounter.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 27, 2017 admin

Ransomware attacks are taking a bigger toll on victim's wallets

Credit to Author: Michael Kan| Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:26:00 -0700

“Attackers clearly think that there’s more to be squeezed from victims,” Symantec said in a Wednesday report.

In addition, the security company has been detecting more ransomware infection attempts. In 2016, the figure jumped 36 percent compared with the prior year.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

ComputerWorld Independent

April 27, 2017 admin

BlackBerry KeyOne smartphone to launch in U.S. and Canada in late May

Credit to Author: Martyn Williams| Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 03:37:00 -0700

The BlackBerry KeyOne, an Android-based smartphone with a hardware keyboard, will be available in the U.S. and Canada from May 31, the phone’s maker said Thursday.

TCL Communications, the Chinese company that acquired rights to produce BlackBerry-brand handsets, originally had said the phone would go on sale in April, so the delay may disappoint potential users. This could be a bad time to test the patience of potential buyers, as Samsung and LG are both heavily promoting their new flagship handsets, the S8 and G6.

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