Independent – Page 401 – Computer Security Articles

Credit to Author: Lucian Constantin| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 13:43:00 -0700

Attackers are exploiting a vulnerability patched last month in the Apache Struts web development framework to install ransomware on servers.

The SANS Internet Storm Center issued an alert Thursday, saying an attack campaign is compromising Windows servers through a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2017-5638.

The flaw is located in the Jakarta Multipart parser in Apache Struts 2 and allows attackers to execute system commands with the privileges of the user running the web server process.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 6, 2017 admin

U.S. trade lobbying group attacked by suspected Chinese hackers

Credit to Author: Grant Gross| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 11:02:00 -0700

A group of what appears to be Chinese hackers infiltrated a U.S. trade-focused lobbying group as the two countries wrestle with how they treat imports of each other’s goods and services.

The APT10 Chinese hacking group appears to be behind a “strategic web compromise” in late February and early March at the National Foreign Trade Council, according to security vendor Fidelis Cybersecurity.

The NFTC lobbies for open and fair trade and has pledged to work with U.S. President Donald Trump to “find ways to address Chinese policies that frustrate access to their market and undermine fair trade, while at the same time encouraging a positive trend in our trade relationship.” Trump will meet with China President Xi Jinping in Florida this week.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 6, 2017 admin

F-Secure buys Little Flocker to combat macOS ransomware

Credit to Author: Lucian Constantin| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 08:07:00 -0700

With attacks against Mac users growing in number and sophistication, endpoint security vendor F-Secure has acquired Little Flocker, a macOS application that provides behavior-based protection against ransomware and other malicious programs.

Little Flocker can be used to enforce strict access controls to a Mac’s files and directories as well as its webcam, microphone and other resources. It’s particularly effective against ransomware, spyware, computer Trojans and other malicious programs that attempt to steal, encrypt or destroy files.

F-Secure plans to integrate Little Flocker, which it calls “the most advanced security technology available for Macs,” into its new Xfence technology. Xfence is designed to add behavioral-based protection to its existing endpoint security products for macOS.

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Independent Krebs

April 6, 2017 admin

Self-Proclaimed ‘Nuclear Bot’ Author Weighs U.S. Job Offer

Credit to Author: BrianKrebs| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:22:55 +0000

The author of a banking Trojan called Nuclear Bot — a teenager living in France — recently released the source code for his creation just months after the malware began showing up for sale in cybercrime forums. Now the young man’s father is trying to convince him not to act on a job offer in the United States, fearing it may be a trap set by law enforcement agents.

ComputerWorld Independent

April 6, 2017 admin

Top 5 email security best practices to prevent malware distribution

Credit to Author: Ryan Francis| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 06:29:00 -0700

ComputerWorld Independent

April 6, 2017 admin

Smackdown: Office 365 vs. G Suite management

Credit to Author: Galen Gruman| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:43:00 -0700

When you choose a productivity platform like Microsoft’s Office 365 or Google’s G Suite, the main focus is on the platform’s functionality: Does it do the job you need?

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(Insider Story)

ComputerWorld Independent

April 6, 2017 admin

Six in 10 people believe their lives will improve with autonomous vehicles

Credit to Author: Lucas Mearian| Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2017 03:00:00 -0700

Six in 10 people believe connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will improve their quality of life, according to a new study by Strategy Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The study, commissioned by the U.K.-based trade association Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, also found half of drivers age 17 to 24 would use a connected, autonomous vehicle (CAV) today.

Among all those surveyed, the biggest benefit from CAVs would be stress-free driving, with cars that brake and park themselves as top attributes.

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ComputerWorld Independent

April 5, 2017 admin

U.S. may expand laptop ban to more airports

Credit to Author: Michael Kan| Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2017 18:09:00 -0700

The U.S. might add other airports to its ban restricting passengers from bringing laptops and other electronics into the cabin for certain flights from the Middle East.

“We may take measures in the not too distant future to expand the number of airports,” said Homeland Security secretary John Kelly on Wednesday during a congressional hearing.

Last month, the U.S. announced the ban, which affects ten airports, all of which are in Muslim-majority countries. Passengers flying to the U.S. are barred from bringing any electronic devices larger than a smartphone into a plane’s cabin, and must instead check them in as baggage.

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