When biologists synthesize DNA, they take pains not to create or spread a dangerous stretch of genetic code that could be used to create a toxin or, worse, an infectious disease. But one group of biohackers has demonstrated how DNA can carry a less expected threat—one designed to infect not humans nor animals but computers.
Continue reading… “Malware encoded into strand of DNA by biohackers”
The situation with spam has been the same for many years now and 2014 was no exception. Useless emails are still abundant, annoying, and wasteful. There was one change that happened in the last quarter, however: China eclipsed the U.S. as the biggest source of spam.
Continue reading… “China overtakes the U.S. as the biggest source of spam”
Business travelers beware of Darkhotel.
There are a lot of reasons not to use Wi-Fi in a hotel. It’s often expensive, sluggish, and unreliable. Sometimes it seems like nobody knows the network password, and when trouble arises it’s hard to convince the front desk that there’s a problem with their network, not one with your devices.
Continue reading… “Darkhotel tricks hotel Wi-Fi users into downloading malicious software”
Apple HomeKit
The battle between Google and Apple is moving from smart phones to smart things, with both companies vying to provide the underlying architecture that networks your appliances, utilities, and entertainment equipment. Earlier in June, at its annual developer conference, Apple announced HomeKit, a new software framework for communications between home devices and Apple’s devices. Meanwhile, Nest, a maker of smart thermostats and smoke alarms that was bought by Google earlier this year for $3.2 billion, recently launched a similar endeavor with software that lets developers build apps for its products and those from several other companies.
Continue reading… “Devices for smart homes need to get a lot smarter”
Der Spiegel based on internal NSA documents, reports that the signals intelligence agency’s elite hacking unit (TAO) is able to conduct sophisticated wiretaps in ways that make Hollywood fantasy look more like reality. The report indicates that the NSA, in collaboration with the CIA and FBI, routinely and secretly intercepts shipping deliveries for laptops or other computer accessories in order to implant bugs before they reach their destinations.
Continue reading… “NSA installed spy malware on laptops purchased online”
The teenager used malware to create a network of computers which diverted money illegally from accounts.
Buenos Aires, Argentina police have taken a 19-year-old man into custody on charges of orchestrating a hacker ring that stole $50,000 a month. The teenager, who has been dubbed a “superhacker” by the press and faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.
Continue reading… “Argentina teen ‘superhacker’ has been arrested for stealing $50,000 a month”
Android is the world’s most popular smartphone platform — with nearly 70 percent of the market.
In 2012, nearly 80 percent of all mobile malware found was written for phones running Google’s mobile Android operating system, according to a report from security firm F-Secure.
Continue reading… “80% of mobile malware on Android phones”
Facebook became involved in the fight after botnets also targeted the social network.
According to an announcement this week, the FBI arrested 10 people associated with the a crime ring pushing the malware Yahos. The malware has affected over 11 million people. Facebook’s security team helped the FBI by identifying both the criminals and the victims.
Continue reading… “Facebook helps FBI bust botnet crime ring”
A new version of the widely prevalent SpyEye Trojan horse swaps out banking Web pages, preventing account holders from noticing that their money is gone.
Checking your bank accounts diligently is the best way to protect yourself from an online financial scam. At least, until now.
YIKES!
Malware sucks. In the best-case scenario, it craps up your system with unwanted files and occasionally makes itself known in the form of a persistent pop-up window or annoying browser-based toolbar. In the worst-case scenario, malware completely takes over your desktop or laptop and ruins your life.
Your system slows it to a crawl. You can’t even boot into Windows in the time it takes you to walk to the kitchen and back. Your data gets sent off to a faraway Internet land or, worse, your actual keystrokes are recorded for some unsavory individual to see. Malware locks down you browser, making you unable to actually do any browsing without being carted off to some bogus domain. You can barely run a program in Windows without getting bombarded by fake advertisements, programs, and dancing people on your desktop.
We can’t make this stuff up…
Continue reading… “Scrub Your PC clean: remove Malware in four easy steps”
225 billion emails were sent per day in July 2010.
There was a whole lot less spam sent today than there was a year ago. The graphic above illustrates how there were more than 225 billion spam emails sent per day in July, 2010. It also shows in June, 2011, that number has dropped to approximately 40 billion. That’s an 82.22% decrease in spam over a year.
Continue reading… “Spam decreases 82% since last year”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.