NSA limits its surveillance program in the US
The US National Security Agency (NSA) has reduced the extent of surveillance programs it runs on the US soil, following outcry from citizens, privacy activists and digital businesses. From Sunday onwards, the agency will no longer collect mobile communication metadata indiscriminately and in bulk. Instead, it will have to target particular individuals and get […]
David Cameron’s proposed encryption ban would ‘destroy the internet’
A highly respected cryptographer and security expert is warning that David Cameron’s proposed ban on strong encryption threatens to “destroy the internet.” Last week, the British Prime Minister told Parliament that he wants to “ensure that terrorists do not have a safe space in which to communicate.” Strong encryption refers to the act of […]
IRS blames Russia for ‘$50 million’ hack
Remember when the IRS website was hacked and around 100,000 people had their tax data stolen? Officials are now pointing accusatory fingers in the direction of Russia, at least according to CNN. The revelation was made by Illinois Representative Peter Roskam, who is believed to have gotten the information straight from IRS chief John […]
Chinese oppose US ‘cyber retaliation’ strategy
China’s Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng says the United States is worsening tensions over cyber-security with its updated cyber-strategy – whereby the US military is now able to retaliate against hackers with cyber-weapons. Reuters reports Geng saying: “This will further exacerbate contradictions and up the ante on the Internet arms race. We are concerned and […]
The mysterious internet mishap that sent data for the UK’s nuclear program to Ukraine
The information superhighway got diverted last week when a Ukrainian internet service provider hijacked routes used by data heading for websites in the United Kingdom, according to a company that monitors and optimizes internet performance. The action could be a mere glitch—or something more sinister in an era of geopolitical cyber conflicts. The issue at […]
Ukraine is recruiting Internet soldiers to fight Russian trolls
“Many fronts have opened against us, and one of the crucial ones is the information front,” said Ukraine’s information minister Yuri Stec. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine last year, and has been hit with Western sanctions for supporting armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. “Now is the time to fight back against the Russian invaders on […]
Hacked again? Russian hackers still inside Sony Pictures’ network, security firm says
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) might have a second security breach on its hands, or maybe the hackers from November’s scandalous attack are still inside the company systems, according to a security firm that claims to have seen evidence of Russian hackers having access to SPE internal data. The hackers accessed SPE’s Culver City, California network […]
Samsung outs the Galaxy Premier, launches in Russia first
After a couple of leaks and rumors, the Samsung Galaxy finest is now respectable. The telephone will probably be available beginning November with Russia being one of the first countries to obtain the software and different areas to apply. Pricing details are still unknown. The Samsung Galaxy Premier (I9260) sports looks similar to the Galaxy […]
110,000 PC-strong Kelihos botnet sidelined
Researchers use specially crafted code to direct infected computers to their servers instead of servers run by the criminals who have been using the botnet to distribute spam. A new version of the Kelihos spamming botnet has been sidelined by using the peer-to-peer distribution mechanism to basically hijack it, researchers announced today. The botnet, which […]
Bacardi Ltd names Edward Shirley as new CEO
Bacardi Limited on Friday named the former vice chairman of Procter & Gamble’s Global Beauty & Grooming division as the new president and chief executive of the global liquor business. Edward Shirley, 55, who retired from P&G last July, will start his job on Monday based at Bacardi headquarters in Bermuda. Shirley replaces Seamus McBride, […]
Turning the Homeless Into 4G Hotspots at SXSW
It sounds like a headline from The Onion, but it’s true: A project called “Homeless Hotspots” is turning homeless Austin residents into mobile wireless hotspots outside the South by Southwest convention center. It’s part marketing stunt, part genuine charitable initiative — and it’s generating lots of double-takes and chatter from those who pass by. “I’m […]