USAToday stories
Trust in the Internet falters after DigiNotar, Comodo hacked
September 28, 2011
The keepers of the Internet have become acutely concerned about the Web’s core trustworthiness.
A hacker cracked into digital certificate supplier DigiNotar this summer and began issuing forged digital certificates for hundreds of web pages published by dozens of marquee companies.
Unable to cope with the fallout, the Dutch firm, a division of Vasco, filed for bankruptcy on 20Sept2011 and abruptly closed up shop. Two other digital certificate …More
Apps, social networks pose rising danger to kids online
September 7, 2011
By Byron Acohido, USA TODAY, 07Sept2011, P3B
There is a rising threat to kids who habituate the Internet: the likelihood that a popular mobile app or social-networking service will invade their privacy.
The Federal Trade Commission last month announced a $50,000 settlement with app maker W3 Innovations for collecting and dispersing information of kids under 13 in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act, or COPPA.
Earlier …More
Surge of SpyEye attacks begins, as free, cheap hacking toolkits circulate
August 21, 2011
By Byron Acohido, USA TODAY 22Aug2011, p1B
SEATTLE — The odds that a cybergang will stealthily turn your PC into a bot this summer and use it to carry out all manner of cyberattacks just notched notably higher.
That’s the upshot of a premier hacker’s toolkit, called SpyEye, recently being made accessible to cybercriminals of all stripes.
Security analysts anticipate a surge in SpyEye attacks the rest of this year.
“Every …More
Mass SQL hacking attacks takes aim at smaller online businesses
July 5, 2011
By Byron Acohido, USA TODAY, 5 July 2011, p 1B
Criminals who infect websites are making the Internet much riskier for small business owners.
Since early June, one gang has been using a uniquely insidious type of automated attack to inject malicious code on some 20,000 to 30,000 sites, many of them small businesses that rely on the Internet to reach customers, says Wayne Huang, chief technical officer at website …More
LulzSec declares hacktivist war on corporations & governments
June 20, 2011
By Byron Acohido
USA TODAY, 20June2011, P1B
LulzSec, the upstart hackitivist group, was busy over the weekend. First, it disavowed responsibility for the hacking of video game company Sega. In fact it added a new twist by offering to help Sega (once long ago a big name in video games) track down the perpetrators.
And this morning, the group announced that it was partnering with the …More
Disclosure of IMF, Google hacks support cybersecurity legislation
June 15, 2011
By Byron Acohido, USA TODAY, 15June2011, P1B
The recent rash of disclosures about cyberspying — aimed at undermining the United States — comes as the White House is making its third attempt to push through a historic federal cybersecurity law.
The timing is no coincidence, some cybersecurity analysts say. After two previous bills went nowhere, the White House needs to garner public support for a new law …More
Androids, iPads, iPhones are creating panoply of corporate risks
May 31, 2011
By Byron Acohido, USA TODAY, 31May2011, P1B
Companies are grappling with unforeseen security, privacy and legal conundrums introduced by a host of cool mobile devices flooding into the workplace.
Executives eager to sport the hottest tech gear and workers accustomed to mixing social and work activities on the go are multitasking on personally owned mobile devices in record numbers.
Workers are bringing mobile devices to work at such a scale …More
keep looking »