malware – Page 13 – SSL and internet security news

Hacking a Phone Through a Replacement Touchscreen

August 28, 2017 infossl

computersecurity, hardware, keylogging, malware, phones, Security technology, spyware

Researchers demonstrated a really clever hack: they hid malware in a replacement smart phone screen. The idea is that you would naively bring your smart phone in for repair, and the repair shop would install this malicious screen without your knowledge. The malware is hidden in touchscreen controller software, which is trusted by the phone. … Read More “Hacking a Phone Through a Replacement Touchscreen” »

Hacking a Gene Sequencer by Encoding Malware in a DNA Strand

August 15, 2017 infossl

academicpapers, computersecurity, dna, hacking, malware, Security technology

One of the common ways to hack a computer is to mess with its input data. That is, if you can feed the computer data that it interprets — or misinterprets — in a particular way, you can trick the computer into doing things that it wasn’t intended to do. This is basically what a … Read More “Hacking a Gene Sequencer by Encoding Malware in a DNA Strand” »

Turning an Amazon Echo into an Eavesdropping Device

August 10, 2017 infossl

amazon, eavesdropping, hacking, malware, physicalsecurity, Security technology

For once, the real story isn’t as bad as it seems. A researcher has figured out how to install malware onto an Echo that causes it to stream audio back to a remote controller, but: The technique requires gaining physical access to the target Echo, and it works only on devices sold before 2017. But … Read More “Turning an Amazon Echo into an Eavesdropping Device” »

GoldenEye Malware

July 4, 2017 infossl

malware, ransomware, Security technology

I don’t have anything to say — mostly because I’m otherwise busy — about the malware known as GoldenEye, NotPetya, or ExPetr. But I wanted a post to park links. Please add any good relevant links in the comments. Powered by WPeMatico

The Future of Ransomware

May 23, 2017 infossl

backups, extortion, internetofthings, malware, nsa, patching, ransomware, Security technology

Ransomware isn’t new, but it’s increasingly popular and profitable. The concept is simple: Your computer gets infected with a virus that encrypts your files until you pay a ransom. It’s extortion taken to its networked extreme. The criminals provide step-by-step instructions on how to pay, sometimes even offering a help line for victims unsure how … Read More “The Future of Ransomware” »

Did North Korea Write WannaCry?

May 16, 2017 infossl

malware, northkorea, nsa, ransomware, Security technology

The New York Times is reporting that evidence is pointing to North Korea as the author of the WannaCry ransomware. Note that there is no proof at this time, although it would not surprise me if the NSA knows the origins of this malware attack. Powered by WPeMatico

Jumping Airgaps with a Laser and a Scanner

April 28, 2017 infossl

academicpapers, airgaps, drones, malware, Security technology

Researchers have configured two computers to talk to each other using a laser and a scanner. Scanners work by detecting reflected light on their glass pane. The light creates a charge that the scanner translates into binary, which gets converted into an image. But scanners are sensitive to any changes of light in a room … Read More “Jumping Airgaps with a Laser and a Scanner” »

The DEA Is Buying Cyberweapons from Hacking Team

April 20, 2017 infossl

cyberweapons, dea, foia, hacking, malware, Security technology, zeroday

The US Drug Enforcement Agency has purchased zero-day exploits from the cyberweapons arms manufacturer Hacking Team. BoingBoing post. Powered by WPeMatico

Research on Tech-Support Scams

April 12, 2017 infossl

academicpapers, malware, scams, Security technology

Interesting paper: “Dial One for Scam: A Large-Scale Analysis of Technical Support Scams“: Abstract: In technical support scams, cybercriminals attempt to convince users that their machines are infected with malware and are in need of their technical support. In this process, the victims are asked to provide scammers with remote access to their machines, who … Read More “Research on Tech-Support Scams” »

New Destructive Malware Bricks IoT Devices

April 11, 2017 infossl

denialofservice, internetofthings, malware, Security technology

There’s a new malware called BrickerBot that permanently disables vulnerable IoT devices by corrupting their storage capability and reconfiguring kernel parameters. Right now, it targets devices with open Telnet ports, but we should assume that future versions will have other infection mechanisms. Slashdot thread. Powered by WPeMatico