Cybercrime

A secret technology which relied on radio transmissions has allowed the National Security Agency to spy on computers disconnected from the internet - a security measure known as an ‘air gap’, and commonly used to protect machines containing highly sensitive data.

Computer users often feel bombarded by warnings about malware - particularly in internet browsers, which often repeatedly warn about risky sites - but tricks used by cybercriminals can help stop this, a new paper claims.

Major international cyber attacks follow a pattern - and attacks such as Stuxnet, which targeted Iran's nuclear plant can be predicted by a mathematical model, University of Michigan researchers have claimed.

Malicious software was installed in tills in Target stores across the U.S. and went undetected for weeks, the chain has admitted, harvesting information from the magnetic stripes on customer cards during transactions.

A survey of 22,762 consumers conducted by the British government found that less than half took the most basic steps to protect themselves online, the government revealed as part of a new campaign aimed at consumers and small businesses.

High-end retailer Neiman Marcus has admitted that thieves had accessed its systems and made unauthorized charges on customers’ credit cards over the holiday period.

Retailer Target has announced that the breach affecting the company was even bigger than thought - and 70 million credit card details may have leaked.

Patrick Garratt is a 15-year veteran of the gaming industry, having been behind the launches of major news sites such as Eurogamer and VG247 - but in the DIY, anything-goes world of PC gaming, even he still falls for a scam or two. Is it REALLY his fault, though?

Players of the hit game have been targeted with a Trojan disguised as a semi-official add-on client for the game, made by Curse - but it is fake, laced with a Trojan which steals passwords, account emails and authenticator information at once, Blizzard said.