San Francisco Muni says server data not accessed in ransomware hit
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said late Monday that no data had been accessed from its servers in a ransomware attack on the Muni transit system and the agency has never considered paying the ransom asked by the attacker. The statement by the SFMTA follows reports that the alleged attacker has threatened to dump…
McAfee Labs predicts 14 security developments for 2017
Intel Security released its McAfee Labs 2017 Threats Predictions Report, which identifies 14 threat trends to watch in 2017. “To change the rules of the game between attackers and defenders, we need to neutralize our adversaries’ greatest advantages,” said Vincent Weafer, vice president of Intel Security’s McAfee Labs. “As a new defensive technique is developed,…
Feds provide legal loophole to hacking IoT devices
It was an especially happy Thanksgiving for security researchers, thanks to what they have called long-overdue exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Those exemptions, which took effect Oct. 28, provide a two-year window allowing “good-faith” researchers to break into the software that controls most consumer and commercial Internet of Things (IoT) devices –…
Access Management Resolution in the Digital Era
There seems to be continuing confusion about what access management means. In layman’s terms, accessing an application implies the process of authentication — i.e., opening a browser or accessing a link — where you may be prompted to enter your credentials. If the user provides the right set of credentials, he or she gains access…
Protecting smart hospitals: A few recommendations
The European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) has released a new report to help IT and security officers of healthcare organizations implement IoT devices securely and protect smart hospitals from a variety of threats. We all know that attacks against hospitals are increasing, but according to security experts, ransomware and DDoS attacks…
Microsoft’s EMET Protects Apps Better Than Windows 10, Researcher Says
While packed with a load of new security features, Window 10 doesn’t offer some of the additional protections that Microsoft’s Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) brings, CERT vulnerability analyst Will Dormann warns. Released in 2009, EMET was meant to provide mitigation against certain zero-day software vulnerabilities, filling a gap created by the release of major…
San Francisco’s Muni transit system reportedly hit by ransomware
San Francisco’s Muni transit system was reportedly hit by ransomware since Friday, leading to the message “You Hacked, ALL Data Encrypted” being displayed on the computer screens at stations, according to newspaper reports. The message asked that cryptom27 at yandex.com should be contacted for the key to unlock the data.
Tips to shop safely on Cyber Monday
As consumers gear up for Cyber Monday, the largest online shopping day of the year, cybercriminals are also preparing to take advantage of deal-seekers. IBM X-Force researchers are monitoring malicious activity closely to help organizations and consumers stay safe during the holiday shopping season. Researchers have already seen cybercriminals actively masking malicious malware in emails…
Locky spreading via Facebook, principles for efficient cyber investigations
Here’s an overview of some of last week’s most interesting news, podcasts and articles: A criminal group dubbed Cobalt is behind synchronized ATM heists that saw machines across Europe, CIS countries (including Russia), and Malaysia being raided simultaneously, in the span of a few hours.
Wisconsin to recount US presidential election vote after hack concerns
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has decided to recount the votes in the state in the last U.S. presidential elections, after concerns were raised that the voting systems can be hacked. The recount, which was requested by Jill Stein, candidate of the Green Party for the U.S. presidential election, and Rocky Roque De La Fuente, another…