While one might think that there cannot possibly still be anyone out there who would use incredibly easy-to-guess passwords like, for example, “123456,” one would be wrong: according to a new study, that’s still the most popular password in the world. Sigh. [More]
security
Got An Idea On How To Make ‘Internet Of Things’ More Secure? You Could Win $25,000
By 1.5.17
Internet-connected (“smart”) devices are becoming ubiquitous, but they have this persistent problem: they’re internet-connected. A huge number are extremely vulnerable to being taken over by bad actors, for a whole host of reasons. And so, before your fridge becomes part of the next record-breaking botnet, the Federal Trade Commission wants to give someone cold, hard, cash money for coming up with a way to prevent it. [More]
Will Massive Data Breaches Lead Verizon To Dump Yahoo?
By 12.28.16
While Yahoo has been grabbing headlines lately for its most recent data breach — one that affected more than one billion users — what about that other big story involving Yahoo, the one where Verizon Communications was preparing to buy the company’s internet business? [More]
Netflix’s Twitter Account Apparently Hacked Briefly
By 12.21.16
UPDATE: The same hacking group that hit Netflix earlier today is also claiming responsibility for compromising several Marvel Twitter accounts. [More]
Minnesota Cities Claim Walmart Is Using Local Police As Unpaid Security Guards
By 12.16.16
Across the country, local governments are speaking out about how their police departments are subsidizing security at their local Walmart stores, with officers dispatched there more often than competing discount and grocery stores. Now state legislators from two cities in Minnesota say that they’re working on possible solutions to the issue. [More]
Malicious Android Apps Have Taken Over More Than 1M Google Accounts
By 11.30.16
Is there something lurking in your phone that shouldn’t be? Malware designed to look like real Android apps has taken control of more than a million Google accounts since August, according to a new report from security researchers. [More]
Office Depot Allegedly Diagnosing Computers With Nonexistent Viruses To Meet Sales Goals
By 11.16.16
Retailers upselling customers on services they don’t need is nothing new, but a new report claims that some Office Depot employees are falsely claiming computers are infected with viruses in order to meet sales goals. [More]
Shazam For Mac Is Always Listening For Tunes, Which Means Your Microphone Is Always On
By 11.15.16
Are you comfortable having your computer’s microphone on constantly? Shazam, a program that identifies the sound in songs, commercials, and TV shows for you, is always listening through your computer’s microphone in the program’s version for Mac computers. Is that a good or bad thing? It doesn’t necessarily mean that the app is listening in on you 24/7, but the idea may make you kind of uneasy. [More]
Senator Asks Federal Agencies For Information On Massive Internet Of Things Breach
By 10.25.16 — Updated: 10.31.16
A massive denial of service attack last week has already resulted in the recall of a number of webcams that may have been used to aid hackers in taking popular sites like Twitter, Github, Reddit, and others offline throughout the day. Now, lawmakers are asking federal agencies what else can be done to prevent future attacks. [More]
Researchers Figure Out How To Put Invisible Backdoor In Common Internet Encryption
By 10.11.16
Even consumers who aren’t necessarily very technically-minded have at least a vague sense that an encrypted site is safer to use than one that isn’t. But encryption, alas, is never a permanent cure-all. And that’s why it’s troubling that new research has found it’s easier than anyone thought to put a backdoor into internet encryption that could let any big, surveillaince-minded entity (good morning, NSA) have a listen. [More]
Watch Out For Card Skimmers On Gas Pumps In Arizona (And Everywhere Else, Too)
By 9.29.16
Going to an actual attendant and paying cash for gas is something fewer and fewer of us do every year. But for all the problems of cash, it might be less risky than sticking your credit card in any old gas pump, where a skimmer can grab and steal your data with very little effort. And those skimmers are everywhere. Case in point? Arizona. [More]
Apple Patents Tech To Record & Scan Fingerprints Of Suspected iPhone Thieves
By 8.26.16
For the past two years, some smartphone manufacturers have been adding so-called “kill switches” software to phones that allow them to be turned off remotely if they fall into the wrong hands. Now, Apple is taking things a bit further, by patenting a new system that will take photos, record video, and capture fingerprints of ne’er-do-wells who snatch iPhones. [More]
Use an iPhone? Install The New Security Update Right Now.
By 8.25.16
Apple’s pushing a major iOS security update today that iPhone users will want to download and install as soon as they can. [More]
United Airlines Updates Login Protections With Pre-Selected Security Question Answers
By 8.25.16
Earlier this year a man was accused of hacking United Airlines in order to steal travel vouchers from some frequents fliers. In an attempt to better protect loyal customers’ vouchers, mileage points, and other information, the carrier recently unveiled a slew of updates to its website, including employing a security question section with pre-selected answers. Wait, what? [More]
Beware: Video-Jackers Can See Everything You Type On Your Smartphone
By 8.12.16
In a great example of the fact that not every USB charging station is as innocent as it looks, security researchers have identified a new, easy way for attackers to digitally eavesdrop on your smart phone when you think you’re charging it — and watch everything that appears on your screen while you’re doing it. [More]
Why Was My Netflix Account Commandeered From Ecuador?
By 8.11.16
From time to time, Netflix customers share their passwords with friends and family members, even some that may live in other countries. In those cases, it’s not unusual to see activity on your account from a device in, say the U.K., streaming the latest episode of Game of Thrones. But Consumerist reader Niki doesn’t know anyone in Ecuador, and she certainly didn’t give out her password to someone living there. Yet, she’s repeatedly seen activity in that country, despite changing passwords and email addresses associated with the account. [More]
Walmart Customers Report Barrage Of Password Reset Requests
By 8.5.16
Getting an email from a retailer telling you to reset your password because you may have been the victim of a data breach is alarming enough. Imagine you’re one of the Walmart.com shoppers who say they have received dozens of emails directing them to reset their login credentials.
[More]
How To Avoid Shady Third-Party Apps Piggybacking On Popularity Of Pokémon Go
By 7.12.16
Amid the crowds of roving Pokémon Go players out there following virtual monsters around with their phones, there are likely some who might be interested in downloading third-party or ancillary apps to help you in your quest. But like with any popular tech phenomenon, there could be dark forces lurking out there, shady apps that you should avoid. [More]
