Federated Networks

6 New Technologies That Could Be a Target For Cyber Attacks

LS — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:42:29 +0000

With the arrival of new technologies and the improvement of older technologies, more and more devices are going to be online and connected to the Internet. Which also means, they will be more and more vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Here are 6 existing and new technologies that could be a target for cyber attacks:

Tablets

With so many tablets being produced by different companies, with different software and different operating systems, some tablet computers might have different vulnerabilities than others. So before you buy your next tablet, be sure they have a lot of different options for security, whether they are built in or can be downloaded. It’s in important to always update security applications and core operating system to make sure you back up everything and keep things operating the safest they can operate.

Phones

Recently text message spam has been going around for receivers of these messages to ‘win a new Apple product’. A lot more of these messages are likely to happen in the future. If they are convincing enough, they might result in a mobile virus that might be tough to delete off of your system.

Applications:

Applications have always been a threat, you download an app from the app store, open it up and on the rare case, there has been a virus. Other websites offer applications that you download and upload separately to your system. Be wary of these types of applications, be sure you research about an application you are about to download, or it could end badly.

Gaming Systems

Games played on any recent gaming systems usually are connected to the Internet, which brings a whole new element to the game, online. You can face your friends and other people in your network, but because they are connected to the Internet and possibly your account is connected to your bank account, it could have consequences. Like the Sony story from last year, with more than 1 million passwords leaked. < http://www.informationweek.com/security/attacks/sony-hacked-again-1-million-passwords-ex/229900111>

So more and more gaming systems coming out in the near future will be more connected to the Internet, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and try to disconnect your personal and banking information from your profiles.

Smart TVs

Smart TVs are some of the biggest trends in technology right now, like the Samsung Smart TV being released earlier this year, bringing a new experience to your living room. It allows you to connect, communicate and chat with people in real time while you are watching TV. This should definitely provide a strong dynamic for the Television industry and change the way people watch TV. More and more apps will be downloaded and will increase the threat of cyber attack on your system.

Home Electronics

One of the biggest underestimated technologies is the electronic system that control appliances like your fridge or lighting. If hackers are able to hack into your appliance’s system through your computer, they could potentially turn off the appliance. Causing food to go bad, energy bills to fluctuate.

Who knows how smart these hackers are, they could be working on the next new threat to technology that is coming in the in the next few years. So with new technology, there could be new problems. It’s best to do your research, invest in trusted and secure software that can provide you with protection against cyber attacks.

How many different electronic devices do you own that are connected to the Internet?

In the News

LS — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:45:35 +0000

With elections coming into swing again in the United States, cyber security seems to be one of the hot topics. The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 was unable to come to fruition, which causes worries for civil infrastructure like nuclear power and electrical power plants. With amendments and other technicalities getting in the way, it now puts the United States more at risk when it comes to cyber warfare. And now the fact that other countries now know that the Bill didn’t pass, it brought light to the United State’s vulnerabilities, which could cause even more potential problems.

Read more: Cybersecurity too important to leave to the politicians? Starting to look that way!

http://cnet.co/N0nC4p

Patrick Morley, the CEO of Bit9 says that there needs to be “a new approach is required” to cyber security. According to Morley, the Flame malware that was affecting computers worldwide was unable to be stopped by 43 Antivirus programs. Bit9’s strategy is to have software from companies that can be trusted be run to monitor any suspicious activities on servers and computers. Morley explains that the cyber security game is all about trusting the software that you use, and mistrust can equate to bigger consequences. Is Antivirus software enough? It doesn’t seem to be, maybe it is time we rethink our strategies for cyber security.

Read more: The Future of Cybersecurity: It’s a Matter of Trust, Says Bit9’s CEO

http://bit.ly/N3RWVX

Changing directions to a different topic, cyber bullying, it’s something we take seriously along with cyber security. Cyber bullying is something that has been a big issue and that has been affecting youth and even adults. But, Dan Olweus of the University of Bergen, Norway, said recently, “There is very little scientific support to show that cyberbullying has increased over the past five to six years, and this form of bullying is actually a less frequent phenomenon.” So, cyber bullying is actually becoming less prevalent over time. But it does still exist and it can cause low self-esteem, depression or much worse. Olweus, “It is therefore important also to take cyberbullying seriously both in research and prevention.”

Read more: Cyberbullying Not as Common as Regular Bullying [STUDY]

http://on.mash.to/NZUIB5

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In the Headlines

LS — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:02:13 +0000

A couple of months ago, hackers successfully penetrated the networks of several natural gas pipeline operations, which worried a lot of people, especially in the US government. It was rare that hackers would target such a civil infrastructure but it provokes the question, what else could they attack? Could there be a digital 9/11?

If the cyber attacks continue attacking important infrastructure like the power grid, it can cause huge damages and power outages, affecting people and businesses. “I believe that people will not truly get this until they see the physical implications of a cyber attack,” said Former FBI cyber cop, Shawn Henry.
Read more: Former FBI cyber cop worries about digital 9/11

http://cnnmon.ie/Rh373J

Last week, 5 US senators released a new version of the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, which is designed to protect American networks from hackers and cyber attackers. This, in turn, will be a large step in the right direction to protect the civil liberties and information of the American people. This new act will include tighter restrictions and new sweeping surveillance program and backdoor wiretapping. The Act also encourages companies to scale back on the massive emails they send with lots of people’s personal information.

Read more: New Cybersecurity Bill Provides Significantly Improved Privacy Safeguards

http://huff.to/T64zV4

Last week, President Obama wrote and op-ed in the Wall Street Journal to describe the risk of cyber security attacks to the American people, and why the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 is worth passing. David Gerwitz compares cyber security to Star Trek transporters, which if bad guys (hackers) are still able to ‘transport’ themselves into your home and steal your personal belongings and ‘beam’ out, which is correct analogy when it comes to protecting your computer from cyber attacks. The fact that cyber attacks can affect your personal information being stolen, but it also can affect operations like train stations, or anything basically controlling something that is connected to a network. So with this new act, it restricts, but is it enough to protect?

Read more: How cybersecurity is like Star Trek’s transporter

http://zd.net/QrKTMr

In The Headlines

LS — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:24:59 +0000

In news across the world, it seems like Iran is having their fair share of cyber attacks as a espionage campaign is found out to be targeting Iran. This ongoing attack is also targeting other Middle Eastern countries and for the first time the hackers are using communication tools written in Persian. Apparently, there was over 800 victims in the operation, and it is said that multiple gigabytes of data has been acquired from their targeted machines.

In The Headlines

LS — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:17:40 +0000

What are big businesses doing to rival hackers?

With big businesses like Linkedin getting hacked, it reminds us that it could happen to any business at any time. A lot of businesses, professionals, and organizations have been locking down on hackers and putting up more secure cyber security protection to combat the massive amounts of cyber attacks made on large websites.

So with that in mind, IBM hopes to put up higher walls with cyber security and improve their firewall protection. With cloud computing being the wave of the future with the transfer of files and file storage, there has been an explosion of cyber threats made on this new technology. IBM has even introduced an IBM Security Systems division made up of 3000 technical experts and 700 sales people to fight the good fight against cyber security. ** That said, the same old methods and people WILL NOT have much effect. Cloud security is a very real and growing market need and in need of a strong solution,

3 Take-aways from the Recent Linkedin Leak

LS — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:14:35 +0000

Anything could happen when it comes to cybersecurity, and it can happen unexpectedly, and without any warning. Take Linkedin for example, 6.5 million passwords were leaked and they are still having problems finding the leak and how it happened. But this leak to Linkedin, is your information getting out to the public, and maybe to the wrong hands. Based on this latest news, there are some takeaways that users should consider when dealing with large social networking sites, with lots of personal information you post up.

1. Anything could happen

With big companies, you never know if they are a target or not, apparently over 500,000 attempts to hack Facebook happen everyday. With that much personal information, where people work, their interests, groups they are in, and other information about demographics. It becomes like a vault in a bank full of money, that robbers (or hackers) want to attack, to get the big prize. So the bigger the company is, the more they are a target for large scale attacks, or in this cause, 6.5 million accounts leaked in one day.

2. Don’t trust spin-offs

There are some programs that are made specifically for crisis’s like this like the Leak.org site, which checks if your account is safe. These are made to capitalize on the large amount of people and the relevancy of the attack. People use these spin-offs to draw traffic, although some can be useful tools, they could also be not as safe and secure as one would think. So be weary when you submit your information to these help sites. Check the website’s blog first for the latest news about what is happening with the story, instead of working with people

3. Watch your third party apps

With social networks being more involve with each other, and other social networks providing their API for other people to use to build more programs, apps, and so on. Your account might be linked to other accounts like Twitter, Facebook, or some other pages that could.

Be sure to keep refreshing your accounts with new passwords, know what sites like Linkedin are connected to (via third party apps), and remember, just because they are a big company, they are a target, which also means, your information can be targeted as well!

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Ways YOU Can Increase Your Privacy Online

LS — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:08:25 +0000

Online privacy is a huge security issue, if your personal information becomes accessed and public, it could result in terrible consequences. But there are ways to prevent this from happening. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to read and implement these 9 ways of increasing your privacy online below.

1. Look both ways before crossing

Before giving up your name and information, make sure you know where it’s going. Sometimes when you fill out a contact form on a website, some information might be required, but then again, some might not be. Don’t fill out information in this contact forms or profiles that you don’t need to fill out! Furthermore, be sure to know where your information is going and where it is going to be displayed!

2. Try not to use your real name or phone number unless it’s needed

When singing up for eNewsletters or website contact forms that don’t require someone’s personal information, don’t give up your name or number. It can help you stay protected and increase your privacy online.

3. Try not to use your primary email for sign-ups

If there is a situation where you don’t need to use your primary email, whether it’s an email subscription or just signing up for updates for a website. Don’t use your primary email, use an old one or make one specific for those websites.

4. Make sure your software is up-to-date

If you run security programs on your computer’s operating system, internet web browser, or mobile phone, be sure to update it regularily. This can help prevent both current and future cyber attacks on your devices.

5. Clear that cache and cookies

It’s imperitive to make sure you are cleaning out your internet browser from it’s built up information, like it’s web browsing cookies and cache. This built up information could potentially be filled with bad files that could slow your website browser down or result in a computer virus. Be sure to clean out your cache and delete your web browser’s cookies by finding those options on your internet browser’s settings.

6. Use Https:// whenever possible

If you are accessing the internet in a public place, then be sure to use https:// whenever possible. This ensures that it’s a safe connection and it’s not vulnerable to potential attacks.

7. Use more complicated passwords

By using more complicated passwords, it gives you added protection when accessing your personal information. If you have a password similar to your username for that site, it makes the ability to access that site a lot easier. So if you make your password, long, complicated and even full of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and even symbols, it can all help protect your personal information being accessed.

8. Keep your eye on the news

Today, over 6.5 million Linkedin account passwords were leaked, that could be your personal and private information getting out to the public. People now are being prompted to change their password immediately. Be sure to look out for stories like these around the internet, because they could help keep your information safe.

There are many different ways you can improve your online privacy, from making your passwords longer, not giving out information unless it’s required, cleaning out your inbox and your web browser, and even watching the news for the latest. Be sure to implement these ways and you can increase your privacy online.

Stay tuned with more helpful tips on how you can ensure your safety online!

Tweet us @fednetworks

Privacy on the Mind

LS — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:04:02 +0000

Well, early week start and we nhave online privacy on the mind.

“On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog…” This clever service announcement recently posted by @mashable, reminds us that online privacy has been a hot debate since the early ‘90’s.

Humours, clever, and still rings true some 18 years since its conception.
Review: http://on.mash.to/N5CGvW

If the facebook co-founder is worried about his online privacy, don’t you think you should be also?

In a recent article, Eduard Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, expressed his anxieties over sharing too much online. He goes on to explain how important it is to limit pictures and personal information on such social platforms.

In the Headlines

LS — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:00:14 +0000

How much are cyber attacks costing your business? Well, according to SC Magazine, the result of poor security efforts will cost companies more than $200 000. The expenses are associated with “forensic investigation, investments in technology and brand recovery costs.”

According to 65 percent of respondents, financial fraud is believed to be the primary motive for targeted threats, followed by customer data theft and disruption of business operations, which could lead to monetary gain for the attackers.

Cyber Security

LS — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:56:50 +0000

Do you ever wonder while you online shop, or travel abroad for summer holidays just HOW safe you are and HOW protected your important private online data is?

According to USAtoday.com, the FBI has just issued a warning for travelers, since recently hackers have tried to hack into their hotel room connections via pop up windows.

“The FBI recommends that all government, private industry and academic personnel who travel abroad take extra caution before updating software products on their hotel Internet connection.”

To read more: http://usat.ly/JBey0C

Cybercrime in Canada is not a quiet issue, the incidents are on the rise, and the attacks are skyrocketing. Canadian servers are being hacked, and at a rapid rate! Canada’s spike in hacker attacks, is part of a worldwide trend, wheras malicious content was typically hosted in Eastern Europe, now criminals focus on Canada, US and France.

To read more: http://bit.ly/K0RiKB

Private Data aside, do you know where your money is going online? Internet crime is costing consumers $500 million dollars due to online scams, according to Inverstors.com.

“There is always some spectacular dollar loss tied to cyberfraud; it is a big problem and it’s happening more frequently than ever,” he said. “It just follows the trends in online digital life — more commerce, financial services, banking is all moving online and the fraud moves with it.”

To read more: http://bit.ly/JBoEyl

A supreme court will hear the case of a teenage girl from Nova Scotia, Canada, who claims she was cyberbullied on Facebook.

A growing problem, in Canada 19% of youth are being cyber bullied. The impacts on victims of cyberbullying tend to be stronger than traditional bullying,” Canada.com,” …and can include depressive symptoms, anxiety, social isolation and substance abuse.”

To read more: http://bit.ly/KNMlBL