Information

The Not-so-True People-Search Network from China

It’s not unusual for the data brokers behind people-search websites to use pseudonyms in their day-to-day lives (you would, too). Some of these personal data purveyors even try to reinvent their online identities in a bid to hide their conflicts of interest. But it’s not every day you run across a US-focused people-search network based in China whose principal owners all appear to be completely fabricated identities. Responding to a reader inquiry concerning the trustworthiness…

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A prescription for privacy protection: Exercise caution when using a mobile health app

Privacy Given the unhealthy data-collection habits of some mHealth apps, you’re well advised to tread carefully when choosing with whom you share some of your most sensitive data Phil Muncaster 19 Mar 2024  •  , 5 min. read In today’s digital economy there’s an app for just about everything. One area that’s booming more than most is healthcare. From period and fertility trackers to mental health and mindfulness, there are mobile health (mHealth) applications available…

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Healthcare still a prime target for cybercrime gangs – Week in security with Tony Anscombe

Video Healthcare organizations remain firmly in attackers’ crosshairs, representing 20 percent of all victims of ransomware attacks among critical infrastructure entities in the US in 2023 15 Mar 2024 More than 20 percent of ransomware attacks that hit critical infrastructure organizations in the United States in 2023 were aimed at the healthcare sector, according to the 2023 Internet Crime Report of the FBI’s (Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). More specifically, IC3 received 1,193 reports of…

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Threat intelligence explained | Unlocked 403: A cybersecurity podcast

Video We break down the fundamentals of threat intelligence and its role in anticipating and countering emerging threats Alžbeta Kovaľová 14 Mar 2024 The threat landscape is becoming ever more complex and perilous by the day. Adversaries, ranging from state-aligned advanced persistent threats (APTs) to opportunistic cybercriminals, are well-funded, adaptable and relentless, targeting various chinks in organizations’ cyber armors and often catching organizations off guard. Against this backdrop, cyber treat intelligence is becoming increasingly more…

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CEO of Data Privacy Company Onerep.com Founded Dozens of People-Search Firms

The data privacy company Onerep.com bills itself as a Virginia-based service for helping people remove their personal information from almost 200 people-search websites. However, an investigation into the history of onerep.com finds this company is operating out of Belarus and Cyprus, and that its founder has launched dozens of people-search services over the years. Onerep’s “Protect” service starts at $8.33 per month for individuals and $15/mo for families, and promises to remove your personal information…

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How to share sensitive files securely online

How To Here are a few tips for secure file transfers and what else to consider when sharing sensitive documents so that your data remains safe Phil Muncaster 13 Mar 2024  •  , 4 min. read Our lives are increasingly lived in the digital world. And while this comes with a host of benefits, it also exposes us to the threat of data theft. Whether it’s sensitive personal, medical or financial information, anything the bad…

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Election cybersecurity: Protecting the ballot box and building trust in election integrity

Critical Infrastructure What cyberthreats could wreak havoc on elections this year and how worried should we as voters be about the integrity of our voting systems? Phil Muncaster 12 Mar 2024  •  , 4 min. read This year, billions of people will go to the polls to decide their next political leaders. From India to the US, the outcomes of these and other elections could shape geopolitics for the coming years. With so much at…

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Patch Tuesday, March 2024 Edition

Apple and Microsoft recently released software updates to fix dozens of security holes in their operating systems. Microsoft today patched at least 60 vulnerabilities in its Windows OS. Meanwhile, Apple’s new macOS Sonoma addresses at least 68 security weaknesses, and its latest updates for iOS fixes two zero-day flaws. Last week, Apple pushed out an urgent software update to its flagship iOS platform, warning that there were at least two zero-day exploits for vulnerabilities being…

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Incognito Darknet Market Mass-Extorts Buyers, Sellers

Borrowing from the playbook of ransomware purveyors, the darknet narcotics bazaar Incognito Market has begun extorting all of its vendors and buyers, threatening to publish cryptocurrency transaction and chat records of users who refuse to pay a fee ranging from $100 to $20,000. The bold mass extortion attempt comes just days after Incognito Market administrators reportedly pulled an “exit scam” that left users unable to withdraw millions of dollars worth of funds from the platform.…

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APT attacks taking aim at Tibetans – Week in security with Tony Anscombe

Video Evasive Panda has been spotted targeting Tibetans in several countries and territories with payloads that included a previously undocumented backdoor ESET has named Nightdoor 08 Mar 2024 This week, ESET researchers released their analysis of how an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group targeted Tibetans via watering hole and supply-chain attacks. The cyberespionage campaign – which ESET attributed with high confidence to the China-aligned Evasive Panda group – leveraged a religious gathering known as the…

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