Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[As Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/smartphones-social-networks-targeted-by-malware/#comments Facebook App As security firms have been warning for some time, malware attacks are now more frequently focused on social networks and mobile devices. In Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report, the company noted that the number of malware attacks delivered through the Web practically doubled from 2009, with 65-percent of malicious links on Facebook arriving in the form of shortened URLs. The company also took special care to highlight the growing field of smartphone-based attacks, in particular those targeting Android. Many of the pieces of Facebook and Android malware rely on the laziness of users. Apps must specifically request permissions, but many people simply click through the notifications without reading them carefully. And as time passes, the attacks will only become more sophisticated.

For now, attacks seem focused on harvesting personal data from profiles and sending text messages to premium services, which earn a commission for the scammer. But as users start turning to their cell phones for mobile banking and shopping more frequently, they're likely to become a much bigger target for digital crooks.

SwitchedAs Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonesscamsecuritySocialNetworkingsymantectopMon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Russia Won't Ban Gmail or Skype Amid Security Concerns]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/russia-wont-ban-gmail-or-skype-amid-security-concerns/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/russia-wont-ban-gmail-or-skype-amid-security-concerns/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/11/russia-wont-ban-gmail-or-skype-amid-security-concerns/#commentsIt looks like Russia won't be banning Skype or Gmail, after all. The Kremlin was reportedly considering blocking both services, along with Hotmail, in response to a major cyberattack that crippled the country's most popular blog and an independent news site. Some within the Kremlin had believed the services posed a major threat to national security, but some critics had thought the government may have just been looking for an excuse to tighten its control over the Web -- ahead of December's parliamentary elections and next year's presidential race.

SwitchedRussia Won't Ban Gmail or Skype Amid Security Concerns originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banCyberAttackemailGmailgooglehotmailkremlinpoliticsrussiasecurityskypetopWebMon, 11 Apr 2011 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Convicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/albert-gonzalez-says-he-committed-credit-card-heist-for-u-s-go/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/albert-gonzalez-says-he-committed-credit-card-heist-for-u-s-go/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/albert-gonzalez-says-he-committed-credit-card-heist-for-u-s-go/#commentsThe hacker who orchestrated the biggest computer crime operation in U.S. history is alleging that the American government authorized him to do so.

Last year, 29-year-old Albert Gonzalez pleaded guilty to hacking into computer systems at TJX, Office Max, Dave & Busters, Heartland Payment Systems and other companies, in order to steal some 130 million credit card numbers. He received a 20-year prison sentence, which he's currently serving at a low-security facility in Michigan.

Continue reading Convicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government

SwitchedConvicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Albert GonzalezAlbertGonzalezcredit cardsCreditCardscybercrimegovernmenthackerlawlawyerspoliticssecret serviceSecretServicesecuritytjxtopFri, 08 Apr 2011 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/facebook-scam-claims-site-is-deleting-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/facebook-scam-claims-site-is-deleting-accounts/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/facebook-scam-claims-site-is-deleting-accounts/#comments Facebook Closing Account Scam
Haven't you ever heard the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"? Well it doesn't just apply to things that are "good" -- it works for just about anything that sounds a bit unbelievable, like that Facebook is going to close all user accounts. It's not gonna happen. That hasn't stopped a new scam from spreading via a rogue app that posts the following message to your wall:
Facebook is closing all accounts today. They can't handle so many accounts. Most of the old accounts are not active, so they are deleting everything. If you want your account alive please confirm your activity. This is the final notice!
At the end of the wall post is a link that asks you to install an app called 'Confirm your activity - Official Application' with the Facebook logo as its icon. If you grant it permission to access your information and post to your wall (which you obviously shouldn't do), it will immediately begin posting links to itself on your wall while distracting you with a scam survey that earns a commission for the conmen (or conwomen) behind it.

Continue reading Latest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts

SwitchedLatest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsfacebookfacebook scamFacebookScamsecuritysocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopFri, 08 Apr 2011 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Gucci IT Employee Faces Serious Jail Time for Hacking Former Employer]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/gucci-it-employee-faces-serious-jail-time-for-hacking-former-emp/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/gucci-it-employee-faces-serious-jail-time-for-hacking-former-emp/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/gucci-it-employee-faces-serious-jail-time-for-hacking-former-emp/#commentsA former Gucci IT worker is facing a 50 count indictment and a wide range of charges (including computer tampering, identity theft, falsifying business records, computer trespass and unauthorized use of a computer) after he broke into the company's systems and wreaked havoc.

While an employee at Gucci, Sam Chihlung Yin created an account with a remote-access security token for a fictional worker, so that he would be able to sign back into the Gucci servers if he were to leave the company. When he was fired last May, Yin allegedly decided to exact revenge by activating the security key fob for his fictional employee, signing into the Gucci servers and deleting everything he found by using administrator passwords he knew from his time with the company. Yin erased virtual servers and e-mail inboxes, and took out large swaths of storage.

Continue reading Gucci IT Employee Faces Serious Jail Time for Hacking Former Employer

SwitchedGucci IT Employee Faces Serious Jail Time for Hacking Former Employer originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeguccigucci itGucciIthackerhackingSam Chihlung YinSamChihlungYinsecuritytopTue, 05 Apr 2011 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Manning Used Data-Mining Software to Obtain Documents, Army Claims]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/bradley-manning-used-data-mining-software-army-claims/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/bradley-manning-used-data-mining-software-army-claims/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/05/bradley-manning-used-data-mining-software-army-claims/#commentsArmy Pfc. Bradley Manning, the man suspected of supplying WikiLeaks with thousands of confidential military documents, used unauthorized data-mining software to obtain the information, according to the Army.

The Army alleges that Manning installed the software on computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRN), which is believed to be the source of the 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 field reports that WikiLeaks has published. Officials say Manning installed the code once between February 11th and April 3rd, 2010, and a second time around May 4th -- the day he was demoted after getting into a spat with another soldier.

Continue reading Manning Used Data-Mining Software to Obtain Documents, Army Claims

SwitchedManning Used Data-Mining Software to Obtain Documents, Army Claims originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armyBradleyManningcrimecybercrimeDataMiningdocumentshackingmilitarypoliticssecuritysoftwaretopWikileaksTue, 05 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Photoshop Scam Spreading Like Wildfire]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/facebook-photoshop-scam-spreading-like-wildfire/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/facebook-photoshop-scam-spreading-like-wildfire/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/facebook-photoshop-scam-spreading-like-wildfire/#comments Facebook Photoshop Scam
Share
Clicking on Facebook links is dangerous business. At least a few of aren't aware of this sad fact; otherwise, the latest scam Facebook app wouldn't be spreading at the alarming rate of almost 90,000 clicks per hour.

M86 Security labs reported the latest link hoax, which spreads quickly via Facebook Chat. It starts with a message from a friend that reads, "hey, I just made a photoshop of you, check it out :p" with a link attached. Clicking the link brings up a prompt, which asks you to install a Facebook app that requests access to Chat. Of course, it then immediately begins spamming your friends with the same message. It keeps you distracted by redirecting you to a blog featuring "45 Strange and Funny Photoshop Manipulations" such as a person's face on a dog. Needless to say, none of them feature your face.

Continue reading Facebook Photoshop Scam Spreading Like Wildfire

SwitchedFacebook Photoshop Scam Spreading Like Wildfire originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsfacebookfacebook photoshop scamfacebook+photoshop+scamfacebookphotoshopscamphotoshopscamscamssecuritytopwebMon, 04 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massive Data Breach Leaks Customer Names, Email Addresses]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/epsilon-data-breach-hits-email-citigroup-capital-one-jp-morgan/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/epsilon-data-breach-hits-email-citigroup-capital-one-jp-morgan/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/04/epsilon-data-breach-hits-email-citigroup-capital-one-jp-morgan/#commentsA cyber-attack on an online marketing firm has impacted a wide array of companies and customers in what could be the largest data breach in U.S. history.

The online marketer, Epsilon, sends out more than 40 billion email ads and offers each year, typically to users who register with a company's website, or give their email addresses while shopping online. On Friday, Epsilon announced that a hacker had gained access to its clients' customer files, which contain personal information on individual consumers.

Continue reading Massive Data Breach Leaks Customer Names, Email Addresses

SwitchedMassive Data Breach Leaks Customer Names, Email Addresses originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attackcitigroupcybercrimedata breachDataBreachemailemail breachEmailBreachEpsilonepsilon+dataepsilon+data+breachepsilon+emailepsilondataepsilondatabreachepsilonemailhackerJP MorganJpMorganmarketingsecuritytopWebMon, 04 Apr 2011 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Confirms Your Long UberSocial DM's Might Be Public]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/twitter-confirms-your-long-ubersocial-dms-might-be-public/#comments saftey tweet Twitter has issued a warning to all UberSocial and Twitroyd users after discovering that some direct messages sent via the apps have become publicly visible. Twitter's Trust and Safety Team confirmed the vulnerability yesterday, explaining that it could affect any direct messages exceeding 140 characters in length, sent via "d username." Twitter says it has notified the apps' developer and is working to bring both UberSocial and Twitroyd "into compliance w/our privacy policies."

SwitchedTwitter Confirms Your Long UberSocial DM's Might Be Public originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsprivacysafetysecuritySocialNetworkingtoptwitroydtwitterubersocialWebFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Witness' Security Program Lets You Watch as Thieves Steal Your Mac]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/01/witness-security-program-mac-laptop/#comments

These days, would-be thieves steal gadgets at their own risk. While yesteryear's TVs and stereos resulted in big money, today's laptops and smartphones -- what with their GPS tracking and Web connectivity -- typically result in quick arrests. And, thanks to a new program called Witness (which turns your Mac into an Internet-connected security camera), you can watch somebody stealing the computer you'll inevitably get back the first time he logs onto Facebook.

Switched'Witness' Security Program Lets You Watch as Thieves Steal Your Mac originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscrimemacmacbooksecuritythieftopwitnessFri, 01 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World Backup Day Urges You To Save Yourself from Data Disaster]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/world-backup-day-urges-you-to-save-yourself-from-data-disaster/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/world-backup-day-urges-you-to-save-yourself-from-data-disaster/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/world-backup-day-urges-you-to-save-yourself-from-data-disaster/#comments World Backup Day Today is World Backup Day, another awareness-raising holiday that urges you to do something you should already be doing. Tonight, backup your data before something terrible happens (e.g., flood, fire, Rapture) and it's lost forever. Use Dropbox, Time Machine, or an external hard drive -- doesn't matter. Just do it now. After all, tomorrow is April Fool's Day and someone might think it's hilarious to trash your PC.

SwitchedWorld Backup Day Urges You To Save Yourself from Data Disaster originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backupsecuritytopworld backup dayWorldBackupDayThu, 31 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA['Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/creepy-app-uses-photo-data-to-pinpoint-your-location/#comments cree.py Ever wonder how easy it would be for someone to track your every move? You can now find out with a new app called 'Creepy.'

Created by 26-year-old Yiannis Kakavas, 'Creepy' is a software package that allows users to pinpoint anyone's location, using geographic data embedded within shared photos. All you have to do is type in a person's Twitter or Flickr username, and hit the 'Geolocate Target' button. The app will then gather all the geographic information available online, via photos that the 'target' has shared online.

Continue reading 'Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location

Switched'Creepy' App Uses Photo Data to Pinpoint Your Location originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appscree.pycreepycreepy appcreepy+appcreepyappflickrgeolocationLocationmapsphotosprivacysecuritySocialNetworkingsoftwaretoptwitpictwitterWebyfrogThu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[No, Samsung Isn't Installing Keyloggers on Laptops]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/samsung-keylogger-was-false-positive/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/samsung-keylogger-was-false-positive/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/samsung-keylogger-was-false-positive/#comments You might have heard yesterday that Samsung was installing keyloggers on its laptops, triggering a massive outcry from the blogosphere. Turns out it's not true. The software used to detect the keylogger was fooled by a language-support folder related to Microsoft's Live apps. The detector, VIPRE, was triggered by an empty folder folder called "SL" in the Windows directory. We think the Internet owes Samsung an apology.

SwitchedNo, Samsung Isn't Installing Keyloggers on Laptops originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>keyloggerlaptopssamsungsecuritytopThu, 31 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Malicious Android App Will Steal Your Data, Make You Feel Bad About It]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/walk-and-text-android-app-swipes-your-data-guilt-trips-you/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/walk-and-text-android-app-swipes-your-data-guilt-trips-you/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/31/walk-and-text-android-app-swipes-your-data-guilt-trips-you/#comments walk and text fake app Android users should be on the lookout for a malicious little app that's circulating around some file-sharing sites. The app, called 'Walk and Text,' advertises itself as a legitimate app of the same name, which uses a smartphone's camera to help guide texters as they walk. Unlike the real 'Walk and Text,' though, the fake app is available for free, and offers version 1.3.7 (which doesn't exist, yet).

Once the bogus app is downloaded and running, it'll suddenly display a dialog box, informing the user that the software has been compromised. Once that box pops up, however, the app will start collecting all the user's personal information stored on the phone, including usernames, phone numbers, and ID numbers that are unique to each device. That data will then be sent to an external server, according to Symantec.

Continue reading Malicious Android App Will Steal Your Data, Make You Feel Bad About It

SwitchedMalicious Android App Will Steal Your Data, Make You Feel Bad About It originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappsdatamalwarepiracyRoguesecuritysmartphoneTextingtopwalk and textWalkAndTextThu, 31 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Efforts to Stop 'Likejacking' Fall Flat]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/facebooks-likejacking-approach-is-weak-sauce/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/facebooks-likejacking-approach-is-weak-sauce/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/30/facebooks-likejacking-approach-is-weak-sauce/#commentsAfter an increasing number of "likejackings," Facebook has finally started to address the problem. But the solution is haphazard at best, say security experts. Likejacking -- the process spammers use to make users click a "like" button hidden beneath some especially tantalizing linkbait -- has become more prevalent. If your Facebook friends seem to be "liking" far too many embarrassing things of late, blame linkbait (unless they just have bad taste). To combat the problem, Facebook has set up a system that looks for strange "like" patterns; when it finds one, it demands extra confirmation from a user. (Basically, "Are you sure you like this?")

But it doesn't exactly work.

Continue reading Facebook Efforts to Stop 'Likejacking' Fall Flat

SwitchedFacebook Efforts to Stop 'Likejacking' Fall Flat originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clickjackclickjackingfacebookFacebookLifejackinglikeLikeButtonlinkbaitlinkjacklinkjackingsecuritytopWed, 30 Mar 2011 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: U.S. Companies Helped Censor Internet in Middle East]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/us-companies-helped-censor-internet-in-middle-east/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/us-companies-helped-censor-internet-in-middle-east/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/28/us-companies-helped-censor-internet-in-middle-east/#commentsWhen the Middle East erupted in revolution earlier this year, many regimes responded to the upheaval by ramping up their online censorship efforts. And, according to the Wall Street Journal, a lot of them had help from American software companies.

Throughout the region, governments have been using technologies and tools developed by U.S. firms to clamp down on the Web. McAfee reportedly supplied filtering software to ISPs in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with Blue Coat Systems providing supplementary hardware to the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. A forthcoming report from OpenNet shows that ISPs in at least nine Middle East countries have used "Western-made tools for the purpose of blocking social and political content, effectively blocking a total of over 20 million Internet users from accessing such websites."

Continue reading WSJ: U.S. Companies Helped Censor Internet in Middle East

SwitchedWSJ: U.S. Companies Helped Censor Internet in Middle East originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlueCoatSystemscensorshipFreedomOfSpeechInternetJonathan ZittrainJonathanZittrainmcafeeMiddleEastpoliticsprotestsecuritysoftwareStateDepartmenttopWebMon, 28 Mar 2011 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Hacker Goes to Prison for Broadcasting Porn on Moscow Billboard]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/igor-blinnikov-gets-jail-for-moscow-billboard-porn-hack/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/igor-blinnikov-gets-jail-for-moscow-billboard-porn-hack/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/igor-blinnikov-gets-jail-for-moscow-billboard-porn-hack/#comments garden ring road Last year, a hacker named Igor Blinnikov infiltrated a video billboard, and used it to broadcast porn above a busy road in Moscow. Though the 40-year-old prankster eventually confessed to the crime, calling it a "bad joke," he wasn't able to avoid his legal comeuppance. Today, Blinnikov was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Blinnikov reportedly hijacked the billboard from the comfort of his own home, in a city more than 700 miles from Moscow. The hacker told reporters that he downloaded the pornographic video from the Web, and randomly chose to stream it across a billboard above a major thoroughfare in Moscow. He wouldn't provide any more details on the operation, however, claiming that "[it] would take too long to explain."

Continue reading Hacker Goes to Prison for Broadcasting Porn on Moscow Billboard

SwitchedHacker Goes to Prison for Broadcasting Porn on Moscow Billboard originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Billboardhackerigor blinnikovIgorBlinnikovlawmoscowpornprisonrussiasecuritytopvideoWebThu, 24 Mar 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[E.U. Facing Cyberattack as Summit Approaches]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/eu-hit-by-cyberattack-before-g20-summit/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/eu-hit-by-cyberattack-before-g20-summit/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/eu-hit-by-cyberattack-before-g20-summit/#commentsThe E.U. is facing a cyber-attack of unprecedented proportions, a spokesman for the European Commission said yesterday. The attack began earlier this week, as the Commission prepared for a summit during which a military response in Libya, among other topics, is expected to be discussed.

This ain't exactly the E.U.'s first time at the cyber-attack rodeo; E.U. computers are attacked frequently. Still, it's seldom to this degree. Just three weeks ago, France admitted to having faced a similar attack in the time leading up to the G20 summit.

Continue reading E.U. Facing Cyberattack as Summit Approaches

SwitchedE.U. Facing Cyberattack as Summit Approaches originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attackCyberAttackcybercrimecybersecurityeuropeEuropeanComissionEuropeanUnionIransecuritystuxnettopThu, 24 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[China Ramps Up Online Censorship, To No One's Surprise]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/china-online-censorship-ramps-up/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/china-online-censorship-ramps-up/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/china-online-censorship-ramps-up/#comments internet cafe in beijing China has always maintained tight control over what its citizens read and write online. But according to the New York Times, the Leviathan of governmental censorship seems to be digging its tentacles even deeper into the lives of mainland Web surfers.

In the wake of the Middle East protests, the Chinese regime has only ratcheted up its surveillance and censorship of electronic communications in an attempt to quell even the slightest hint of anti-government sentiment. On Sunday, Google accused the government of blocking or disrupting its Gmail service within the country, and of blaming the interruption on technical errors. (China, for what it's worth, says Google's claims are "unacceptable.")

Continue reading China Ramps Up Online Censorship, To No One's Surprise

SwitchedChina Ramps Up Online Censorship, To No One's Surprise originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorshipchinachineseCommunistgooglemonitoringpoliticsprotestsecuritysurveillancetopWebTue, 22 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Kicks Out 20,000 Underage Users Every Day, Privacy Chief Claims]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/facebook-boots-20-000-underage-users-every-day/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/facebook-boots-20-000-underage-users-every-day/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/22/facebook-boots-20-000-underage-users-every-day/#comments kid on computer It's no secret that Facebook has plenty of underage users, but, according to a report from the Daily Telegraph, the social network is doing its best to keep them out.

Facebook's chief privacy adviser, Mozelle Thompson, confirmed yesterday that the site bans about 20,000 underage users every day, as part of its campaign to tighten its 13-and-older age limit. Speaking to a Parliamentary cyber-safety commission in Australia, Thompson added that the site has adopted mechanisms to detect when kids lie about their ages, but acknowledged that they're still "not perfect."

Thompson went on to say that the company would soon hire a local safety expert in Australia, in order to more efficiently handle local security issues.

SwitchedFacebook Kicks Out 20,000 Underage Users Every Day, Privacy Chief Claims originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiacybersecurityfacebookkidspolicysafetysecuritySocialNetworkingtopunderageWebTue, 22 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA['GhostExodus' Hacker Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ghost-exodus-hacker-william-mcgraw-sentenced-prison/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ghost-exodus-hacker-william-mcgraw-sentenced-prison/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ghost-exodus-hacker-william-mcgraw-sentenced-prison/#commentsIn June 2009, federal authorities arrested William McGraw (alias "GhostExodus") on charges of hacking into 14 computers at W.B. Carrell Memorial Clinic in Dallas, where he worked as a security guard. According to prosecutors, McGraw gained access to the network as part of his plot to attack Anonymous on or before the Fourth of July -- which he called "Devil's Day."

His master plan, however, never came to fruition. Last May, McGraw pleaded guilty to two counts of transmitting a malicious code, and reportedly confessed that he intended to launch a distributed denial of service attack against Anonymous's website. Last week, he finally received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle: more than nine years in federal prison.

Continue reading 'GhostExodus' Hacker Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison

Switched'GhostExodus' Hacker Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymouscrimecybercrimedallasghostexodushackerhackinghospitalpatientsecuritytopWebMon, 21 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[British Hacker Gets Two Years for Laundering Zynga Credits]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ashley-mitchell-jailed-stealing-7m-from-zynga/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ashley-mitchell-jailed-stealing-7m-from-zynga/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/ashley-mitchell-jailed-stealing-7m-from-zynga/#commentsEarlier today, a British hacker was sentenced to two years in prison for five counts of hacking and theft. Ashley Mitchell, 29, hacked into Zynga (the game giant behind 'FarmVille' and 'Texas HoldEm Poker'), stole more than $11 million in credits, and laundered a third of them through Facebook.

There are some potentially interesting ramifications to this case. The court ignored the defense's argument that, because Zynga can produce limitless chips, the theft couldn't be assigned a specific dollar amount. Lawyers had argued for leniency, noting that Mitchell was addicted to online games, and was gambling upwards of $1,500 per day when he committed the theft in 2009. Sort of like wearing a name tag to a bank heist, Mitchell was identified because he was logged into his own Facebook profile during one of the attacks.

SwitchedBritish Hacker Gets Two Years for Laundering Zynga Credits originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionbritaincrimeenglandfacebookfarmvillegamblinggaminginternetsecuritytopwebzygnaMon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese Government Messing With Gmail, Google Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/china-gmail-glitches-due-to-government-google-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/china-gmail-glitches-due-to-government-google-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/china-gmail-glitches-due-to-government-google-says/#comments google in china Having trouble with your Gmail in China? Google politely requests that you blame the government, not the company. For several weeks now, users in China have been complaining about glitches within the popular mail program. When Google's engineers looked into the issues, they discovered that the Chinese government was the source of the problem. "Relating to Google there is no issue on our side... This is a government blockage carefully designed to look like the problem is with Gmail," a Google spokesperson told The Guardian.

Strangely enough, the news comes almost a year to the day after Google announced that it would start redirecting Google.cn users to Hong Kong Google, having discovered that the Chinese government had hacked into a number of human rights activists' accounts. This latest activity comes on the heels of a Chinese Internet crackdown meant to control the information relating to the popular uprisings in the Middle East. Skype, meanwhile, has been blocked since December. With the recent launch of a state-owned search engine, perhaps it's not inconceivable that Google will be the next to go.

SwitchedChinese Government Messing With Gmail, Google Says originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorshipchinaChinaGmailChineseGovernmentGmailgooglegoogle.cnhackHumanRightspangusopoliticstopMon, 21 Mar 2011 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[FBI Investigating Hacking Ring Responsible for Swiping Nude Celeb Pics]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/19/fbi-investigates-celebrity-nude-pics-hacking-ring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/19/fbi-investigates-celebrity-nude-pics-hacking-ring/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/19/fbi-investigates-celebrity-nude-pics-hacking-ring/#comments jessica alba, selena gomez and scarlett johansson It ain't a nice time to be a female star. The FBI is investigating a hacking ring it believes is responsible for swiping "sensitive" material from the e-mail accounts and phones of dozens of stars. According to TMZ, 50 celebrities (including Selena Gomez, Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson) have been targeted, with nude photos and embarrassing videos allegedly stolen. Supposedly, all the attacks can be traced to a single ringleader who is motivated by the sheer thrill of the chase. (Sure, why not? Do your job for the love of the work, man.)

This is hardly the first time hackers have targeted celebrities. In 2008, a 19-year-old hacker made headlines for leaking racy images of Miley Cyrus, which were stolen from her e-mail account. But if this is indeed the work of a single entity, it would certainly be the biggest attack. And, it's worth adding that, whatever the intention, the focus on only female celebrities -- some of them not out of their teens -- just adds an extra layer of insidiousness.

SwitchedFBI Investigating Hacking Ring Responsible for Swiping Nude Celeb Pics originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebrityfbihackhackinginternetjessica albaJessicaAlbaJosh HollyJoshHollyMiley CyrusMileyCyrusprivacyscarlett johanssonScarlettJohanssonsecurityselena gomezSelenaGomeztmztoptrainreqwebSat, 19 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/twitter-profile-views-scam/#comments twitter scam A scam that seems tailor-made for Facebook is worming its way across Twitter.

According to Sophos, thousands of Twitter users have already fallen for the scam, which is luring people in with tweets that read: "My profile was viewed ### times JUST TODAY! Click here to see how many views you got! http://tiny.cc/" Clicking on the link will prompt you to grant account access to a rogue application, which will generate a random number of profile views, and automatically post the exact same message to your Twitter page.

Continue reading 'Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users

Switched'Profile Views' Scam Hits Twitter, Affecting Thousands of Users originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applicationprofileprofile viewsProfileViewsscamsecuritySocialNetworkingtoptwitterWebFri, 18 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Corporate Mainstay SecureID Suffers a Sophisticated Security Breach]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/secureid-security-breach/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/secureid-security-breach/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/secureid-security-breach/#comments SecureID Tokens RSA, the company behind the tiny SecureID tokens that have been a mainstay of corporate and government offices for decades, suffered a major security breach on Thursday, which could have compromised many of the company's products. For those unfamiliar with SecureID, it's a multi-factor identification system that requires users to enter a constantly changing key displayed on a token unique to that user. The company gave few details about the breach, saying only that it was "extremely sophisticated" and that the hacker (or hackers) successfully stole data that could compromise the effectiveness of its security products. Though there is no evidence that the information gathered has been put to use yet, the company speculated it could be used in a broader attack against its customers and systems.

In a statement, RSA chairman Art Coviello assured customers that only SecureID products were affected by the attack, and that the company was working swiftly to defend against future attacks and minimize any impact from the compromised data.

SwitchedCorporate Mainstay SecureID Suffers a Sophisticated Security Breach originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporate securityCorporateSecurityhackRSAsecureidsecuritytopFri, 18 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rustock Botnet Reportedly Taken Down, as Spam Volumes Plummet]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rustock-botnet-reportedly-taken-down-as-spam-volumes-plummet/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rustock-botnet-reportedly-taken-down-as-spam-volumes-plummet/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rustock-botnet-reportedly-taken-down-as-spam-volumes-plummet/#commentsKrebs on Security is reporting that a huge drop in the volume of e-mail spam circulating worldwide on Wednesday was the result of a planned takedown of the Rustock botnet, which, at one point, was the most prolific purveyor of spam in the entire world. According to the Composite Spam Blocklist (CBL), which measures global spam volumes, Rustock spam (usually ads for online pharmacies and male enhancement pills) vanished at around 10:45 EST on Wednesday. Another Rustock watchdog, SecureWorks director of malware research Joe Stewart, told Krebs that none of the 26 Rustock networks he'd been watching were responding on Wednesday afternoon either. "It looks to me like someone has gone and methodically tracked these [addresses] and had them taken out one way or the other," Stewart said. It isn't clear, however, exactly who is behind this takedown, if that's the case.

This isn't the first time it's Rustock has gone quiet. The problem is that Rustock has infected about 815,000 PCs around the world, according to an estimate from the CBL. As long as these machines are active, the zombie network can be reanimated through a preexisting algorithm that tells the bots to visit a website that contains software updates and new instructions for spreading spam. That's why we'd put our money on this drop-off being temporary rather than permanent. But it doesn't mean we can't (and won't) enjoy our less congested inbox for the few days or weeks that Rustock remains offline.

SwitchedRustock Botnet Reportedly Taken Down, as Spam Volumes Plummet originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botnetbotnetsemailinboxphishingrustocksecurityspamtopvolumeWebThu, 17 Mar 2011 14:50:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S. Not Adequately Prepared To Meet Cyber Attacks, Says General]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/general-keith-alexander-us-not-prepared-cyber-attacks/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/general-keith-alexander-us-not-prepared-cyber-attacks/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/general-keith-alexander-us-not-prepared-cyber-attacks/#comments Gen. Keith Alexander Despite improvements made in recent years, the U.S. is still highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, the head of the military's cyber-forces warned yesterday.

"To put it bluntly, we are very thin, and a crisis would quickly stress our cyber forces," General Keith Alexander told the House Armed Services Committee. Alexander noted that the Pentagon is working on building up its network defenses, which he said currently deserve only a "C" rating. The government has shown an increased focus on cyber-defenses the past few years (starting with the appointment of a cyber-security chief and moving on to a widespread cyber-security initiative) but much remains to be done. Meanwhile, malware like Stuxnet and even smaller incidents should be reason enough for a robust cyber-security force.

SwitchedU.S. Not Adequately Prepared To Meet Cyber Attacks, Says General originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congresscyber securitycyber warfarecybersecurityCyberWarfaredefensegeneral keith alexanderGeneralKeithAlexanderkeith alexanderKeithAlexandermilitarynewsnewsmainpentagonsecuritytopThu, 17 Mar 2011 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[RIM: Disable JavaScript on Your BlackBerry for Security]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/rim-disable-javascript-blackberry-security-vulnerability/#commentsResearch in Motion is urging BlackBerry users to disable JavaScript on their smartphones after a major vulnerability was exposed at this year's Pwn2Own hacker challenge. According to the company, the security hole could allow a hacker to gain access to the device's data if a user stumbles upon any "maliciously designed" websites.

The vulnerability only exposes data stored on a user's media card and built-in storage (meaning that e-mails and contact information remain secure), and it only affects phones running BlackBerry OS 6. RIM says it hasn't received any reports of hackers exploiting the vulnerability outside of a test environment, but is nonetheless encouraging IT departments to exercise caution until the hole is patched.

SwitchedRIM: Disable JavaScript on Your BlackBerry for Security originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlackBerrycellphoneshackeros 6Os6Pwn2OwnRIMsecuritysmartphonestopvulnerabilityThu, 17 Mar 2011 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Beware Scammers Offering Shares in Facebook, Government Warns]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/beware-facebook-scammers-offering-shares/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/beware-facebook-scammers-offering-shares/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/16/beware-facebook-scammers-offering-shares/#commentsfacebook loginFacebook has yet to go public, and it's still unclear whether it even will. But that hasn't stopped some con artists from using the specter of a Facebook IPO to rip off gullible investors.

The scams are popping up, in various forms, across YouTube and the blogosphere. But they all follow the same general formula: visitors are offered the chance to invest in Facebook and other social media companies before they go public by giving some of their cash to rogue companies. While some pre-IPO offerings may be legitimate, the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is urging investors to exercise caution.

Continue reading Beware Scammers Offering Shares in Facebook, Government Warns

SwitchedBeware Scammers Offering Shares in Facebook, Government Warns originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>con artistsConArtistsfacebookFacebook IPOFacebookIpoInvestmentmoneyscamsecuritySocialNetworkingtopwebWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[41% of Facebook Users Willing to Serve Up Personal Info to Complete Strangers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/41-of-facebook-users-willing-to-serve-up-personal-info/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/41-of-facebook-users-willing-to-serve-up-personal-info/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/15/41-of-facebook-users-willing-to-serve-up-personal-info/#comments Freddi Staur
Security firm Sophos has proven once again that, despite most of the attention and scorn being focused on companies like Facebook and Google, you are your own worst enemy when it comes to online security. The company ran an experiment in which it sent an invite to 200 randomly selected accounts to befriend one Freddi Staur -- an anagram for "ID fraudster." Of those 200 people 82 accepted the request and revealed at least some personal data to the fake account. Of those 82, an alarming number shared e-mail addresses (72-percent), dates of birth (84-percent), home address (78-percent) and phone numbers (23-percent). One user even revealed his mother's maiden name. All of this information could easily be used to steal a person's identity.
Sophos senior security analyst Ron O'Brien told AllThingsD that while "collecting 'friends' is encouraged by social-networking and business-networking sites... people need to be more selective about whom they provide information to." As always, the key to protecting your privacy online is a healthy dose of caution and skepticism. Even if you can't bring yourself to reject friend requests from strangers, the least you should do is review your privacy settings on social networks like Facebook, and make sure your most personal data is hidden even from friends. Or, if you feel it necessary to keep your contact information available for those who know you, create a white list by using the "customize" option on your privacy page to create a group of people who are allowed to view your information. By default, your personal data will be hidden from anyone not explicitly added to the list.

Switched41% of Facebook Users Willing to Serve Up Personal Info to Complete Strangers originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookidentity theftIdentityTheftprivacysecuritysocial networkingSocialNetworkingsophostopTue, 15 Mar 2011 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyber-Crooks Have Their Act Together This Tax Season]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/tax-season-e-mail-scams/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/tax-season-e-mail-scams/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/tax-season-e-mail-scams/#commentsAs if tax season weren't enough of a headache, security experts are warning that this year may be an unusually perilous one for those who file online. Between realistic-looking sites and e-mails, cyber-criminals have been on the malware warpath. Download a phony IRS form, and you may begin unwittingly sharing your Social Security number, address and other personal data.

Jeff Horne, Webroot's director of threat research, told the Wall Street Journal that an e-mail account he set up as bait in November has received more than one million fake tax-related e-mails. The Journal notes a number of commonsense ways to protect yourself, like don't download documents that are supposedly from the government, and wipe your hard drive of sensitive material. Maybe it's just time to spring for an accountant.

SwitchedCyber-Crooks Have Their Act Together This Tax Season originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>malwarenewsmainsecuritytaxestopwebrootMon, 14 Mar 2011 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Brains Behind 'Brain,' World's First PC Virus]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/pc-brain-virus-tracked-down-mikko-hypponen/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/pc-brain-virus-tracked-down-mikko-hypponen/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/pc-brain-virus-tracked-down-mikko-hypponen/#comments brain virus The world's first PC virus, known as 'Brain,' was brought to life 25 years ago by two brothers in Pakistan. Mikko Hypponen, a researcher at F-Secure, was among the first to analyze Brain, and, after reverse engineering the virus, eventually discovered a hidden nugget of information. Buried within Brain's code was a short block of text, which revealed the phone number and address of the place where Brain was created, along with the names of its authors: Basit and Amjad Farooq.

Last month, Hypponen decided to track down the Farooq brothers and ask them about their groundbreaking work. Amazingly enough, the brothers are still working at their company, Brain Telecommuncations, which is still headquartered at the same Pakistan address listed in the virus code.

Continue reading The Brains Behind 'Brain,' World's First PC Virus

SwitchedThe Brains Behind 'Brain,' World's First PC Virus originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braindocumentaryf-secureinterviewlahorepakistanpcsecuritytopvideovirusWebMon, 14 Mar 2011 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Anonymous Leaks Bank of America E-Mails, Alleges 'Corruption and Fraud']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/anonymous-leaks-bank-of-america-emails-alleges-corruption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/anonymous-leaks-bank-of-america-emails-alleges-corruption/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/14/anonymous-leaks-bank-of-america-emails-alleges-corruption/#commentsEarly this morning, Anonymous released a collection of internal e-mails sent between employees at Bank of America, in an attempt to expose what the group calls widespread "corruption and fraud."

The e-mails, allegedly obtained from a former bank employee, document discussions among workers at Balboa Insurance, a Bank of America subsidiary that offers mortgage and car insurance to banks and home insurance to consumers. Anonymous claims that the leak provides clear evidence that the bank foreclosed on homes without having the documentation required to do so.

Continue reading Anonymous Leaks Bank of America E-Mails, Alleges 'Corruption and Fraud'

SwitchedAnonymous Leaks Bank of America E-Mails, Alleges 'Corruption and Fraud' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymousBank of AmericaBankOfAmericaemailfinanceForeclosuresfraudleakpoliticssecuritytopWebWikileaksMon, 14 Mar 2011 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[No, Charlie Sheen Isn't Dead. It's Just a Facebook Scam.]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/charlie-sheen-is-dead-facebook-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/charlie-sheen-is-dead-facebook-scam/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/charlie-sheen-is-dead-facebook-scam/#comments charlie sheen scam His acting career may be on life support, but Charlie Sheen, believe it or not, is still not dead. And any Facebook post that says otherwise is just a silly virus. The scam is spreading through posts that begin with attention-grabbing headlines like, "Exclusive Video," "RIP!" or "Breaking News," followed by "Charlie Sheen found Dead at his House!", or something equally sensational. Accompanying the post is a link which, if clicked, will only lead to a fake YouTube page. If you attempt to play the video, you'll be prompted to fill out a survey, which earns money for the spammers, and you'll also infect your computer with malware. That's definitely not "winning."

SwitchedNo, Charlie Sheen Isn't Dead. It's Just a Facebook Scam. originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebritiescharlie sheencharlie+sheen+deadcharlie+sheen+found+deadCharlieSheencharliesheendeadcharliesheenfounddeaddeathlikejackingmalwarescamsecuritySocialNetworkingtopvirusWebyoutube+charlie+sheenyoutubecharliesheenFri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Introduces New Tools to Combat Cyberbullying]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/facebook-tools-to-fight-cyberbullying/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/facebook-tools-to-fight-cyberbullying/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/facebook-tools-to-fight-cyberbullying/#comments Facebook is expected to unveil a new set of anti-bullying tools today at the White House Conference for Bullying Prevention in Washington, D.C.

The changes, designed to "create a culture of respect" among Facebook users, are focused on two main areas: a revamped safety center, and a broader array of more social mechanisms for reporting offensive or threatening content. The social network's new safety center will now feature more multimedia resources, including "new educational videos, external resources from renowned experts, downloadable materials for people to share and discuss." The company will also directly solicit teens for their feedback on enhancing the site's safety.

Continue reading Facebook Introduces New Tools to Combat Cyberbullying

SwitchedFacebook Introduces New Tools to Combat Cyberbullying originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bullyingCyberBullyingfacebookharassmentsafetysecuritySocialNetworkingsupportteenstoptyler clementiTylerClementiWebThu, 10 Mar 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Number of Malware-Infected Sites Has Doubled Since Last Year, Study Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/dasient-malware-sites-doubled-since-last-year/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/dasient-malware-sites-doubled-since-last-year/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/dasient-malware-sites-doubled-since-last-year/#comments infected websites from dasient Well, this is discouraging. According to new statistics from security firm Dasient, the number of websites infected with malware has doubled since last year, with more than one million sites compromised during the fourth quarter of 2010. Malware-filled advertising, or 'malvertising,' is on an even more meteoric rise. Dasient detected three million malicious ads per day during the fourth quarter of 2010 -- a 100-percent increase over the third quarter. The volume of malware is so high, in fact, that after just three months of web browsing, the average Internet user has a 95-percent chance of encountering an infected page.

Dasient's somber announcement comes on the heels of a report released this week from WhiteHat Security, which examined the security of some 3,000 sites across 400 organizations. WhiteHat found that a full 44-percent of those sites suffered from serious vulnerabilities at all times, and that 26-percent were frequently vulnerable during an average of at least 270 days per year. Just 16-percent were deemed secure at all times.

The bottom line, then, is that the Internet is a scary, dangerous place. So be careful out there.

SwitchedNumber of Malware-Infected Sites Has Doubled Since Last Year, Study Says originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingdasientInfectedmalwarereportsecuritystatisticstopWebWed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers Develop Technique to Identify Anonymous E-Mail Authors]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/researchers-identify-anonymous-email-authors/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/researchers-identify-anonymous-email-authors/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/researchers-identify-anonymous-email-authors/#commentsIP addresses may help identify the source of anonymous and malicious e-mails, but they can only tell authorities where the message originated, without providing many details on the individual who authored them. Using some pretty innovative analytics, researchers at Concordia University have just come up with a new technique that could help investigators determine the precise identity of these rogue agents.

Led by Prof. Benjamin Fung, the team developed a method based on pattern identification techniques used in speech recognition and data mining. The first step involves analyzing a suspect's e-mails by identifying patterns in other messages that he or she has sent. Once these patterns are identified, investigators can filter any trends that appear in e-mails sent by other suspects.

Continue reading Researchers Develop Technique to Identify Anonymous E-Mail Authors

SwitchedResearchers Develop Technique to Identify Anonymous E-Mail Authors originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisauthorbenjamin fungBenjaminFungconcordia universityConcordiaUniversitycourtcybercrimedataemailidentitylawresearchsciencesecuritytopWebWed, 09 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Student Charged With Hacking Grades on School Computers for Money]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/tyler-coyner-faces-grade-hacking-charges/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/tyler-coyner-faces-grade-hacking-charges/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/08/tyler-coyner-faces-grade-hacking-charges/#commentsPolice in Nevada have arrested a 19-year-old college student, accusing him of hacking into his high school's computer system and inflating students' grades in exchange for money.

The suspect, Tyler Coyner, allegedly obtained the password to Pahrump Valley High School's network, giving him the ability to change students' grades. Coyner, who is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Nevada, is believed to have led a group of 13 other students involved in the operation, all of whom now face charges of conspiracy, theft and computer intrusion. When police raided the 19-year-old's dorm room, they found a stolen LCD TV, as well as equipment used to print fake driver's licenses.

Continue reading Student Charged With Hacking Grades on School Computers for Money

SwitchedStudent Charged With Hacking Grades on School Computers for Money originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrestcollegecrimeGPAgradeshackinghigh schoolHighSchoolnevadaschoolsecuritystudentstoptyler coynerTylerCoynerTue, 08 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/07/twitter-facebook-reluctant-to-join-global-network-initiative/#comments Three years ago, some of the world's leading tech companies agreed to participate in the Global Network Initiative (GNI) -- a code of conduct designed to protect online speech and privacy around the world. The initiative was originally launched in response to brewing tensions in China, where some Internet companies were accused of complying with government censorship policies in order to pursue profit-driven agendas. Today, the GNI can count corporations like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo among its prized members, but there are still some glaring omissions -- including Facebook, and Twitter.

According to its code of conduct, all initiative participants are required "to avoid or minimize the impact of government restrictions on freedom of expression," while doing their best to protect user privacy whenever government regulations "compromise privacy in a manner inconsistent with internationally recognized laws and standards." All companies and organizations are subject to evaluations from independent auditors, who determine whether or not their policies comply with the initiative's objectives.

Continue reading Twitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative

SwitchedTwitter, Facebook Still Reluctant to Join Free Speech Initiative originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>freedom of speechFreedomOfSpeechglobal network initiativeGlobalNetworkInitiativegovernmentmiddle eastMiddleEastpoliticsprivacyregulationsecuritySocialNetworkingtopWebMon, 07 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST