‘Devil’s Ivy’ Bug Hits IoT Devices; China Begins VPN Crackdown

Posted July 20th, 2017 at 12:57 pm (UTC-4)
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Today’s Tech Sightings:

FILE - The logo of Axis Communications is shown n Paris, France. (Reuters)

FILE – The logo of Axis Communications is shown n Paris, France. (Reuters)

​Millions of IoT Devices Hit by ‘Devil’s Ivy’ Bug in Open Source Code Library

Cybersecurity experts have been warning about potential risks to Internet of Things (IoT) devices for months. Now, millions of IoT devices, including Axis Communications’ security cameras, are vulnerable to remote attacks because of a flaw in a widely-used open source code library. Researchers with IoT security firm Senrio who discovered the bug, called Devil’s Ivy, were able to use it to reboot the cameras repeatedly, change network settings, and block owners from accessing the video feed.

Amid VPN Crackdown, China Eyes Upgrades to Great Firewall

At least one Chinese telecom carrier has begun implementing Beijing’s directive to curb the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other tools that bypass the country’s Great Firewall. The move allows China’s censors to extend their control beyond the limits of the firewall, which blocks access to overseas websites. But local internet service providers can filter and censor content at home and on smartphones at a more granular level. The country’s state-owned telecom has also warned foreign companies against using VPNs beyond connecting to their headquarters.

ECJ to Rule on Whether ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Can Stretch Beyond EU

After a three-year legal battle between Google and France, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is getting ready to decide whether Google should also delete the search records of Europeans living outside EU confines in order to protect their privacy. France believes the rule is meaningless unless it applies universally. If Google wins, all will be for naught. But Google says extending the rule elsewhere could induce other countries to limit free speech.

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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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