Owning a vehicle with keyless entry is often a convenience: Forget your key? Just enter a code. But for the owners of more than 100 million Volkswagen vehicles, that convenience has been turned into a doorway for hackers. [More]
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Vulnerability In Acer Store Exposed More Than 34,000 Credit Card Numbers
By 6.20.16
If you found yourself in the market for a new computer or other electronic device and made a purchase through Acer’s online store in the last year, you might want to watch your credit card statement. The technology company says it was the victim of a data breach for nearly a year, exposing the credit card information of more than 34,000 customers. [More]
Google Pays $550K To People Who Found Security Issues With Android
By 6.17.16
One year after Google launched its Android Security Rewards program that aimed to compensate researchers who discovered vulnerabilities in the company’s products — software, tablets, and phones – the tech giant announced the program was a success, divvying out more than $550,000.
[More]
Twitter Looking Into Rash Of High-Profile Hackings
By 6.7.16
Days after the king of the modern internet — Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg — found several of his social media accounts in the hands of hackers, similar attacks have befallen the NFL and other high-profile Twitter accounts, leading the social network to investigate. [More]
10-Year-Old Receives $10K Facebook Bug Bounty For Finding Instagram Comment Flaw
By 5.4.16
Since Facebook launched its bug bounty program in 2011, the social media company has divvied up more than $4.3 million, including the $10,000 recently awarded to a 10-year-old who found a vulnerability in Facebook-owned Instagram. [More]
Card Reissued Because Of A Breach? Good Luck Finding Out Where The Hack Happened
By 4.27.16
When a massive data breach happens at a retailer like Target or Home Depot, there’s little mystery as to why your bank is rushing you a new credit or debit card. But when your card is being replaced because of a lower-profile cybercrime, the odds are against you ever finding out why. [More]
Apple Fixes iPhone Flaw That Allowed Siri Twitter Search To Access To Photos, Contacts
By 4.6.16
No one likes a snoop. That’s why Apple says it has fixed a security flaw in the iOS operating system that allowed the Siri virtual assistant to search Twitter on locked iPhones, leading to the unauthorized access of photos and contacts.
[More]
FBI To Carmakers, Owners: Your Vehicles Are “Increasingly Vulnerable” To Hackings
By 3.18.16
Nearly a year after the very public hacking of a Jeep that eventually led to the recall of more than 1.4 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles, federal law enforcement and vehicles safety officials are warning carmakers and owners that their vehicles are “increasingly vulnerable” to hackings. [More]
Accidentally Typing “.om” Instead of “.com” Puts Your Computer At Risk For Malware
By 3.15.16
We’ve all done it: typed too quickly and gone to Amazonco.m, Netfli.xcom, or countless other incorrect URLs. These goofs often lead to harmless dead ends, but cybersquatters are increasingly using these URLs to spread malware. [More]
Snapchat Employee Falls For CEO Email Scam, Reveals Some Employees’ Personal Info
By 2.29.16
Last week, we warned readers that the so-called “CEO email scam” was back (did it ever really go away?) with a tax season twist: asking employees to hand over files of employee information, such as a W-2 form. The folks at Snapchat apparently didn’t get the memo, as the photo sharing company announced that it was the victim of a phishing scam that led to ne’er-do-wells getting their hands on the personal information of some employees. [More]
Nissan Disables Electric Car App Over Security Flaw That Allows Other Users To Control Vehicle Temps
By 2.25.16
If you own a Nissan Leaf and you’ve been unsuccessfully trying to use the NissanConnect EV app to control your car’s heating and cooling systems, there’s nothing wrong with your car or your phone. Nissan has disabled the app after researchers found a flaw that left the vehicle vulnerable to hackers. [More]
Lawmaker Questions Airlines, Plane Manufacturers On Cybersecurity Measures
By 12.2.15
Eight months after a government report found that airplanes with WiFi connections may be vulnerable to cyber attacks and seven months after a hacker claimed to have commandeered a United Airlines flight via the plane’s in-flight entertainment system, one lawmaker wants to know just what airlines are doing to protect their computer systems — and passengers. [More]
Target Agrees To Pay Banks $39.4M For Expenses Resulting From 2013 Data Breach
By 12.2.15
Target continues to put the disastrous 2013 holiday-season data breach behind it, agreeing today to pay $39.4 million to banks claiming they lost money during the hack. [More]
Tech Company Central To Samsung Pay’s System Breached, Consumer Info Not Targeted
By 10.8.15
Mobile payment software company LoopPay – which provides much of the nuts and bolts for Samsung Pay – announced Wednesday that it became the victim of a hack attack back in March. Despite the breach, Samsung and its smaller subsidiary assured users of its mobile payment system their information was never at risk. [More]
Android Bug Can Let Basically Anyone Bypass Your Lock Screen If You Use A Password
By 9.16.15
It is just not a great year for Android security, it seems. Researchers in Texas have discovered that some devices running Android version 5 (Lollipop) can be unlocked and accessed basically by just mucking around with buttons on the lock screen long enough. [More]
Senators Ask Automakers For Update On Cybersecurity Protection Measures
By 9.16.15
Following a string of high-profile incidents in which researchers were able to hack into – and in some cases take control of – a vehicle through its entertainment systems, lawmakers have renewed their push to ensure car manufacturers are adequately protecting consumers from such attacks. [More]
Target To Face Class-Action Lawsuit From Banks Over Data Breach
By 9.16.15
A month after Target agreed to pay financial institutions that issue Visa-branded credit cards $67 million related to its massive 2013 data breach, a federal judge gave the go-ahead for other banks to pursue a class-action lawsuit against the retailer. [More]
Target Won’t Face SEC Charges Over Breach
By 8.26.15
Nearly two years after a massive data breach at Target left millions of consumers’ personal information at risk, the company announced it won’t face enforcement action from at least one government agency. [More]
