Apple Malware; Biometrics; Super Cookies; CES

Posted January 8th, 2015 at 2:00 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings:

New Undetectable Apple Malware Can Infect Any Thunderbolt Device

Using a new exploit called Thunderstrike, hackers can infect an Apple Thunderbolt peripheral with malware, then load it into a system’s firmware interface using the Thunderbolt device’s Option ROM.

Robot Comforts Children Through Chemotherapy

The robot, MEDI, short for Medicine and Engineering Designing Intelligence, which is equipped with facial recognition, cameras and can speak 20 languages, comforts children in doctor’s offices as they undergo medical procedures.

Best Trends of CES 2015 That Tackle Real World Problems

A look at some of the most promising products on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada that tackle real world problems.

Twitter Still Fails to Get Rid of Violent Harassment

Writer T.C. Sottek says Twitter has taken positive steps toward countering cyberharassment, but has so far failed to protect its users against repeated violent threats after they are blocked.

How the FBI Traced the Sony Hack to North Korea

U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey says investigators traced the digital footprints of the hackers who attacked Sony Picture Entertainment’s computer systems last year and leaked data online through emails and IP addresses used by North Korea’s government.

Why You Still Shouldn’t Trust FBI Claims on North Korean Sony Hacking

Security experts say the FBI chief’s new assertions that the evidence leads to North Korea are unlikely to withstand scrutiny because of the risks of basing attribution on IP addresses.

Fingerprint Theft Is Just a Shutter Click Away

Everything, including Biometrics, can be hacked. Last year, German hackers lifted and recreated prints from the surface of Apple’s Touch ID. Other hackers used digital photography to do the same. The lesson is that biometrics should not be the sole method of ID verification.

Researcher: ‘Super Cookies’ Can Track You Even in Private Browsing Mode

Sam Greenhalgh of U.K.-based RadicalResearch says Super Cookies can track users browsing the Internet privately by using the HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) that restricts browsing to encrypted connections. He says data stored by HSTS about visited sites can be used to fingerprint and track the browser, regardless of the privacy mode.

Sony to Delay Sale of PlayStation 4 in China

Sony’s Computer Entertainment division says the launch of its PlayStation 4 gaming console, which was scheduled for release in China on January 11, has been delayed, partially due to prolonged negotiations with Chinese authorities.

Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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