Latest

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

The Debate Over Trump 'Ban' of TikTok, WeChat

Doug Olenick  •  August 7, 2020

President Donald Trump's executive order banning the Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat apps could prove to be unenforceable, some privacy and security specialists say. But some Republican lawmakers hailed the move, citing the national security risks posed by the apps.

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Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

Using Machine Learning to Fight Money Laundering

Suparna Goswami  •  August 7, 2020

Machine learning can play a significant role in mitigating money laundering risks, says Andy Gandhi, managing director, data risk and compliance at the consultancy Alvarez and Marsal.

Application Security

Analysis: Hijacking of Twitter Hacker's Virtual Hearing

Anna Delaney  •  August 7, 2020

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report analyzes the hijacking of a virtual court hearing in the Twitter hacking case. Also featured: Why network segmentation is more important than ever; update on Windows print spooler vulnerability.

Cybercrime

Exploring the Forgotten Roots of 'Cyber'

Mathew J. Schwartz  •  August 7, 2020

One day, you may drive your Tesla Cybertruck on Cyber Monday to your cybersecurity job, backed by a cyber insurance policy as you safeguard cyberspace against the threat of cyberwar. Or cyber whatever, since we've obviously entered the era of "maximum cyber." But what does cyber even mean?

Endpoint Security

Twitter Rushes to Fix Flaw in Android Version

Chinmay Rautmare  •  August 6, 2020

Twitter rushed out a fix for a flaw in the Android version of its social media platform that could have allowed hackers to access user data, including within the direct message feature. The news comes as more details have emerged about a recent Twitter hacking incident.

Account Takeover

Screams, Porn Interrupt Virtual Hearing for Twitter Suspect

Jeremy Kirk  •  August 6, 2020

Chaos ensued when miscreants interrupted a virtual bail hearing on Wednesday for the suspected Twitter hacker, hijacking the feed with screams, chatter and, for a few brief seconds, pornography. The meeting details were public, and the meeting had not been password protected.

Endpoint Security

Garmin Reportedly Paid a Ransom

Doug Olenick  •  August 5, 2020

Garmin, a fitness tracker and navigation device firm, apparently paid a ransom to recover from a July 23 security incident that encrypted several of its systems, according to two news reports as well as expert analysis. The company says it's still experiencing 'temporary limitations" on services.

Endpoint Security

How WastedLocker Evades Anti-Ransomware Tools

Prajeet Nair  •  August 5, 2020

WastedLocker, a ransomware strain that reportedly shut down Garmin's operations for several days in July, is designed to avoid security tools within infected devices, according to a technical analysis from Sophos.

Governance & Risk Management

A Flaw Used by Stuxnet Wasn't Fully Fixed

Jeremy Kirk  •  August 5, 2020

Vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows print spooler, an aging but important component, will be discussed at the Black Hat security conference on Thursday. The vulnerabilities are rooted in patches that Microsoft created to fix issues exploited by Stuxnet, the malware that hampered Iran's nuclear program.

Biometrics

Behavioral Biometrics: Avoiding Mistakes

Suparna Goswami  •  August 5, 2020

Too many companies that are implementing behavioral biometrics to combat fraud lack a complete understanding of how to make the most of the technology, says David Lacey, managing director at IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand's not-for-profit national identity and cyber support service.

Application Security

Why Flash Player Removal Should Be a Priority

Doug Olenick  •  August 4, 2020

Adobe Flash Player, which has been patched hundreds of times during its lifetime to address vulnerabilities, will no longer be supported after Dec. 31, leaving an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors unless it's removed. That's why eliminating all instances of Flash Player is so urgent.

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Cybercrime

Top Cybersecurity Challenge: 'More Capable Threat Actors'

Mathew J. Schwartz  •  August 3, 2020

The pace of online crime hasn't been flagging, as "more capable threat actors" - criminals and nation-states alike - have been bringing more advanced tools and tactics to bear on victims, says Raj Samani, chief scientist at McAfee.