The Internet Cannon that China is touting is a technology most hackers have been using since 2010. LOIC, or the Low Orbiting Ion Cannon, is a DDoS tool. It was originally just a stress testing tool, then was converted to a DoS (Denial of Service) tool, now with it’s option to connect to a botnet (or hive), it can DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service).
China has been ‘marketing’ that any website that China does not approve of, in the name of censorship, will be blasted with the Internet Cannon.
AT&T data breaches exposed about 280,000 U.S. customers’ names and full or partial Social Security numbers.
The breaches occurred at call centers used by AT&T in Mexico, Colombia, and the Philippines when employees accessed sensitive customer data without adequate authorization. Those corruptible employees took payment from third parties who were interested in customer names and Social Security numbers so they could unlock stolen cell phones for sale on secondary markets. The breach in Mexico lasted 168 days, from November 2013 to April 2014. The investigation revealed that three call center employees were paid by third parties to obtain customer information, specifically, names and at least the last four digits of customers’ Social Security numbers, that could then be used to submit online requests for cellular handset unlock codes where 290,803 handset unlock requests through AT&T’s online customer unlock request portal.
AT&T is terminating some of its vendor sites “as appropriate.”
AT&T will pay a $25 million civil payment, will be required to notify all customers whose accounts were improperly accessed, pay for credit monitoring services for all affected customers, hire a compliance manager who will conduct a privacy risk assessment, and implement an information security program, prepare an appropriate compliance manual, and regularly train employees on the company’s privacy policies.
Organizations that do not have security awareness programs – particularly, training for new employees – report significantly higher average financial losses from cybersecurity incidents.
Companies without security training for new hires reported average annual financial losses of $683,000, while those do have training said their average financial losses totalled $162,000, according to the US State of Cybercrime by PwC.
Of course, while dramatized for prime time audiences, the CSI: Cyber series, starting with episode 1 does have great information that is all too real. The show is available online right now here.
I first wrote about baby monitors getting hacked last year, and it was very eye-opening and it’s pretty scary for parents.
This found Facebook post has great awareness tips.
This is what it’s like explaining password complexity to normal people.
I believe I found my father and my half-brother who is named after his grandfather, Sebastian.
Five Things to Know: The Administration’s Priorities on Cybersecurity
The President issued a notice on April 1st, to those who pose significant threats to our security or economy by damaging our critical infrastructure, disrupting or hijacking our computer networks, or stealing the trade secrets of American companies or the personal information of American citizens for profit.
Read all about it here.
Criminals have been calling taxpayers and insisting they must “immediately give up their personal information or make a payment,” Don’t fall for it! It’s a scam! The I.R.S. will never call as their method is to send old fashioned mail.
Social engineering by way of telephone has been on the rise lately. The population is not expecting criminals and con-artists to be so brazen and confident.
Read more here http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Warns-of-Pervasive-Telephone-Scam
Please share this with family and friends.
Recent reports of people receiving unsolicited fraudulent credit cards in the mail.
“At this time we believe that it may be part of the personal information breach involving insurance companies operating in Georgia,” the agency said in a news alert. “Do not activate these cards or destroy them.”
It’s important to not just cut them up and throw them away, Officers will use the cards as evidence when they zero in on the culprit.
More information here.
It’s Pat’s birthday and mom came out to visit (but if you ask me, more to see Beau than to see Pat! :) )
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