Facebook privacy – network faces court for ‘reading user messages’
Facebook is to face a class action lawsuit over ‘reading’ its user’s messages, a U.S. judge has ruled.
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Rob Waugh
Independent CorrespondentArticles by author
Biometrics – can your fingerprint be ‘copied’ from a normal photo?
Fingerprint biometrics are entering the mainstream as a security measure, with both Apple and Samsung relying on readers to secure their flagship phones - but biometrics may not be as secure as many believe.
Yik Yak – what security‑conscious users need to know
It's billed as the hottest new messaging app on the planet, and it's rocketed into the top ten in the U.S. in just a year. But how safe are you on Yik Yak?
Webcam security – how to lock down the cameras in your home
Our tips will help you hacker-proof anything from baby monitors to surveillance cameras - and keep your home private.
Facebook hoax – how to tell instantly if a story is fake
Two-thirds of young people first learn about major news events via Facebook - but as cybercriminals cash in with hoax stories and links, it can be difficult to tell 'real' content from fake. Our tips can help.
Identity theft – six tips to help keep yours safe
Private data such as addresses and social security numbers can be just as valuable to cybercriminals as valid credit card details can be to thieves - if not more so. Lock yours down with our tips.
Gamer PCs – how to keep yours clean and mean
Gamers have become major targets for hackers - from large-scale attacks against gaming companies, to small-scale scams carried out via game chat channels. But a few easy security steps should help keep your precious rig at full speed - and safe.
Cyber Monday – 12 tips to help you shop safely online
Technology might evolve, but cyber gangs rely on tried-and-tested tactics. With a bit of care and attention, it’s easy to sort the genuine bargains from the too-good-to-be-true fakes.
Smart home security – how not to be dumb with your devices
It's easy to imagine that ALL connected devices - from fridges to CCTV cameras - are a security nightmare, but there are simple, sensible steps you can take to lock these risks down.
Can e‑cigarettes give you malware?
The long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes - or E-cigarettes - are still open for discussion - but the devices could harm your computer, at least if one report is to be believed.
Week in Security: Grief for gamers, Unicorn spotted – and America wakes up
Cybercriminals once again had gamers in their sights this week, with leaks of multiple account details and a new Steam scam - but there was good news in the form of upgraded security on Whatsapp, and dawning awareness on privacy.
Facebook scams – ‘Naked woman eaten by shark’ is latest bait
The latest salacious video - promising ‘Naked Woman Eaten by a Shark’ - is just one in a long chain of viral video scams spread via Faceboook.
More than half of British firms ‘would consider hiring hackers’
More than half of British firms would consider hiring computer hackers in the face of a severe skills shortage - and more than 50% of executives said that they would consider hiring an expert even if they had a criminal record
Wireless attacks against ‘air gapped’ targets are possible, Israeli team claims
A team of Israeli researchers has demonstrated a way to hack into an ultra-secure air-gapped network, install malware, and retreive information - without using hardware such as USB keys.
Footage from thousands of home webcams found streaming on Russian site
A Russian website is showing off hundreds of feeds of live webcam footage from inside homes and businesses, which have been accessed by hacking into people’s webcams, CCTV systems and monitors.
U.S. State Department shuts down entire email system after suspected attack
The U.S. State Department has shut down its entire unclassified email system after a suspected intrusion - and technicians are now working to beef up email security systems.
Steam gamers targeted with ‘free screensaver’ phishing scam
Gamers on the popular Steam gaming service have been targeted with phishing scams via the service’s popular Marketplace - with apparent ‘bargains’ offering a sting in the tail.
Apple Pay and security – what you need to know
Mobile payments look set to be one of the defining technologies of 2015, as the launch of Apple Pay catalyses a boom in cardless payments - both from Apple’s own system, and rivals playing catch-up.
Google security – how to lock down your Google account
If you use Gmail as your ‘main’ email account - or rely on Google services such as Drive for work - it’s well worth revisiting Google’s Settings menus to give your Google security a boost.
Wearable tech and security – can watches help?
So far, wearable tech has been of interest mainly to fitness fiends - but a new generation of hi-tech wearables comes armed with built-in scanners, biometrics and even 'three-factor security'. Can a watch really keep secrets?
Counter surveillance tech – can gadgets spy‑proof your life?
Over the past few years, counter surveillance gadgets which might have been the preserve of secretive government departments a decade ago have suddenly hit mainstream shops - from Mission Impossible-stlye self-destructing drives to some rather eerie counter-surveillance masks.
Privacy online – what you can do (and what you can’t)
Many of us have moments when we need, or want, to be more private online - when searching for a new job, for instance, or when having a private business conversation.
‘Major’ Smart TV vulnerability could allow mass wireless attacks
A vulnerability in the way interactive apps work on many so-called Smart TVs could allow teams of relatively unskilled hackers to attack thousands of devices at once, a team of Columbia University researchers claims in a new paper.
Oculus Rift used to create “3D battlefield” for cyber defense
Pentagon officials showed off a virtual reality battlefield, using the Oculus Rift motion-sensing 3D VR headset, which turns cyber attacks into 3D visions where defenders can “look around” using the gadgets’s built in accelerometers.
Technology giants join forces to battle tech support phone scams
Google, Facebook, Twitter and AOL have joined forces to stamp out fake tech support services where customers are fooled into calling bogus technical support lines, where they are encouraged, not to fix their comptuer, but to install malware - or give away details crucial for identity theft.
Smart TVs can be infected with spyware – just like smartphones
‘Smart’ televisions with built-in microphones could be used as bugging devices by corrupting the devices with malware, according to software specialists NCC Group, as reported by The Register.
No credit card required – Swedish shops let you pay in blood
At 15 payment machines dotted around the Swedish city of Lund, people can buy items without needing a card - or a phone equipped with a “Near Field” chip. All that’s required are the correct veins.
Microsoft Internet Explorer zero day flaw will be even worse for XP users
Microsoft announces a zero-day security flaw in many versions of Internet Explorer, the first to hit Windows users since XP support was terminated on April 8, potentially crippling IE on XP systems.
Cybercrime evolves as criminal gangs join forces with spies – report
Hackers targeting sensitive information or stealing from retailers work at such speed that customers often notice data breaches first - and for the first time, cybercriminals are ‘teaming up’ with spies, according to a new report.
‘Heartbleed thingumajig’ man suffers heartbleed hackers revenge
Man challenges hackers to break into accounts after complaining Heartbleed was “overhyped” – and has online life destroyed in minutes.
Heartbleed bug: worse than feared and could affect “billions”
The full scope of the Heartbleed bug came to light in a series of reports by researchers and white-hat hackers, with some claiming a billion smartphones may be at risk, as well as a statement allegedly from the US government over its use of the bug.
Heartbleed encryption flaw leaves millions of sites at risk
The Heartbleed bug – a flaw in an encryption technology used to protect major websites including Yahoo – has left a huge amount of private data at risk - and internet giants are scrambling to find fixes for a problem which could leave customer data exposed to criminals.
Cisco offers $300,000 for “visionary” solutions to defend ‘Internet of Things’
Networking giant Cisco has launched a “grand challenge” to invent a security solution for the “internet of things” - a broad term used to describe connected devices from industrial equipment to cars to smart home appliances.
Most small‑office routers have ‘critical’ vulnerabilities as mysterious ‘Moon’ worm spreads
A large majority of routers used in small offices are plagued with security vulnerabilities - with up to 80% of small office/home office models having critical security weaknesses, according to a survey by Tripwire.
Two‑thirds of couples ‘share passwords to online accounts’, Pew research finds
Couples who have been in a long-term relationship indulge in risky online behaviour, such as sharing passwords for online accounts, with two-thirds of married couples sharing at least one password, a new study by Pew Internet has found.
Personal email and cloud storage pose ‘biggest threat’ to corporate data, report claims
Nearly two-thirds of employees - 63% - use personal email to transfer work files, potentially leaving workplaces exposed to hacks against their accounts - and more than half of employees regularly transfer files by insecure channels.
Two‑factor authentication: What is it – and why do I need it?
Over the past two years, many online services have started to offer ‘two-factor authentication’ - an extra security measure which often requires a code from an app, or an SMS message, as well as a password. Our guide explains how, why and when to use '2FA'.