Today’s Tech Sightings: Android Malware Infects Millions of Devices, Earns Its Creators $300,000 a Month HummingBad is a malicious piece of software that has infected millions of Android devices around the world. The malware earns the hackers who created it around $300,000 a month as a result of false advertisements and fake apps that end […]
Chinese Malware Hits Android Devices; the New Face of Cybercrime
Millions of Twitter Accounts Hacked; Malware Plagues Cloud Apps
Today’s Tech Sightings: Russian Hacker Claims to Be Selling Millions of Twitter Accounts A Russian hacker known as Tessa88 allegedly is in possession of the email addresses, passwords and usernames of 379 million Twitter accounts – more than 10 percent of Twitter’s monthly active users. Breach notification website LeakedSource received the database from the seller. […]
Floppy Disks Control US Nukes; Microsoft Retracts Malware-like Ploys
Today’s Tech Sightings: Floppy Disks Control US Nukes and Missiles? An IBM Series/1 computer introduced in 1976 controls some of the United States’ ballistic missiles and nuclear bombers, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The 40-year-old machine, which sends and receives emergency action alerts, still stores data on nearly-obsolete […]
Foxconn Nabs Nokia Dumbphone Brand; LinkedIn Data Posted for Sale
Today’s Tech Sightings: Why a Taiwanese Company Is Paying $350 Million to Build Nokia Dumbphones Microsoft announced Wednesday it is selling its featurephone Nokia brand to Foxconn, a Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer best known as the manufacturer of iPhones. Old fashioned featurephones, also known as dumbphones, are still very popular around the world and show no […]
Spy Hacking Group Targets Asia; Elderly Find Refuge in Technology
Today’s Tech Sightings: Spy Hacking Group Targeting Asian Governments Spotted Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report says hackers have been spying on Asian governments since 2009. Dubbed PLATINUM, this particular hacking group has carried out a number of cyber espionage campaigns against government and private targets in Asia, according to Tim Rains, security editor of the […]
Asia Mobile Banking Apps Riddled With Malware
Mobile users are more likely to fall victim to cyberattacks in Asia than in any other region, in part because the continent’s Android mobile banking system is riddled with malware, thanks to a lack of awareness and the proliferation of third-party software. While cybercriminals are likely to attack wherever they can get a foothold, the […]
Robot Joins Search for Loch Ness Monster; Facebook’s Bots Are Coming
Today’s Tech Sightings: Robot Finds ‘Monster’ Film Prop In Loch Ness Munin, an underwater robot, has been making an in-depth exploration of Scotland’s famous Loch Ness. Scientists undertook the mission to investigate an underwater trench said to house the nest of the fabled Loch Ness monster. So far, it has managed to find some film […]
Apple Encryption Battle Could Boost Security; Tor Users Treated Differently
Today’s Tech Sightings: Apple Encryption Fight Could Speed Development of Government-proof Devices Apple’s refusal to obey a court order to decrypt an iPhone belonging to a California mass shooter faces some public opposition, but also has the support of many like-minded tech firms. But the showdown has already triggered a move toward developing more secure […]
Hospital Hacked; Malware Remotely Erases Android Devices
Today’s Tech Sightings: Hollywood Hospital Held to Ransom by Hackers Hackers have taken control of computer systems at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and are now demanding $3.6 million in ransom. The hospital has been crippled by the attack, with staff having to revert to pen and paper for their records. The attackers are […]
USBs Fight N. Korea’s Media Ban; Facebook’s Dilemma in India
Today’s Tech Sightings: Old USB Drives Fight North Korea’s Media Ban The New York-based Human Rights Foundation and Silicon Valley nonprofit Forum 280 have launched a new initiative to collect USB flash drive donations and then ship them to the Koreas. Once activists in Seoul, such as the non-profit North Korean Strategy Center, receive the […]