News

Hackers and cybercrime prevention

January 16, 2018 16 Jan'18
LeakedSource operator could face up to 10 years in jail

Canadian man accused of selling stolen identities and passwords on website
January 16, 2018 16 Jan'18
Skygofree Android spyware active since 2014, say researchers

Powerful, highly advanced spyware has been targeting Android mobiles for the past four years, security researchers have discovered
January 16, 2018 16 Jan'18
Beware fake Meltdown and Spectre patches

Security experts have warned that cyber attackers will be quick to use the Meltdown and Spectre exploits, but the first attempt to capitalise on them has come in the form of fake updates
January 16, 2018 16 Jan'18
Most UK enterprise mobiles not patched for Meltdown and Spectre

Very few UK enterprise mobile devices have been patched against the recently discovered Meltdown and Spectre exploits and almost a quarter cannot be patched, a study shows

January 15, 2018 15 Jan'18
IT Priorities 2018: Growing interest in hybrid IT in ASEAN

CIOs and IT professionals in Southeast Asia have earmarked hybrid infrastructure as a top priority in 2018, in spite of waning interest across the wider Asia-Pacific region
January 15, 2018 15 Jan'18
London cyber security careers fair highlights opportunities

A cyber security careers fair in London on 17 January 2018 is aimed at anyone thinking of a career in the field, including experienced professionals and students
January 15, 2018 15 Jan'18
Ohio computer programmer faces 16 criminal charges over monitoring thousands of computers

A 28-year-old computer expert has been charged for monitoring thousands of computers, using a form of malware he created
January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
Call for statutory regulation of police number plate cameras amid concerns over accuracy

The UK’s automatic number plate recognition database – one the largest non-military data-gathering systems – records up to 1.2 million false readings of number plates every day. It should be subject to statutory regulation, says an independent ...
January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
Check Point finds AdultSwine malware in Google Play apps

Security researchers have discovered new malware code hidden in game apps, mainly aimed at youngsters
January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
Intel makes security-first pledge

As it scrambles to deal with the Meltdown and Spectre processor exploits, Intel has made a series of security commitments

January 12, 2018 12 Jan'18
F-Secure highlights another critical Intel security issue

As Intel scrambles to issue security updates to address the Meltdown and Spectre exploits, researchers have highlighted another, unrelated, critical security issue that could affect millions of corporate laptops
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Mobile app flaws are a risk to industrial IT systems, says report

Cyber security vulnerabilities in mobile applications could be exploited to compromise industrial network infrastructure, a report warns
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Spyware targets North Korean dissidents via social links, says McAfee

Researchers at security firm McAfee have confirmed that social networks are being used to target North Korean dissidents with spyware
January 11, 2018 11 Jan'18
Nuclear weapons’ cyber attack risk relatively high, says report

With the potential for catastrophic consequences from a nuclear weapons detonation attack, it is crucial to have the most robust nuclear policies in place, says an international affairs think-tank
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
Cyber criminals exploit Oracle WebLogic flaw

Researchers are urging companies to apply a security update to patch a flaw in Oracle’s WebLogic Server component that is being exploited to mine cryptocurrency
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
Margot James takes over as digital minister after government reshuffle

Former minister for business succeeds Matt Hancock after his promotion to secretary of state
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
UAE tech growth prompts firms to review internal IT security

As IT becomes more prominent in the UAE economy, more and more internal connections between people and systems are created, all of which need to be secured
January 10, 2018 10 Jan'18
ICO fines Carphone Warehouse £400,000

Mobile retailer hit with one of the highest fines for putting personal data at risk as UK privacy watchdog warns that more stringent data protection laws will apply from 25 May 2018
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Meltdown and Spectre a big deal for enterprises

Although consumers are relatively unaffected by the recently disclosed security vulnerabilities in most modern processors, enterprises need to take the threat seriously. Computer Weekly looks at how enterprise IT and security professionals should be...
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Cyber attacks in 2017 drive Nordic security efforts

The volume of cyber attacks last year has increased boardroom focus on security in the Nordic region
January 09, 2018 09 Jan'18
Intel to set up new group to focus on hardware security

Chip maker is reportedly planning to form a new group to focus on hardware security as it scrambles to limit the impact of recently discovered security flaws in chip designs
January 08, 2018 08 Jan'18
Sweden steps up cyber defence measures

Sweden is tightening up its cyber security defences as part of a wider national security strategy
January 08, 2018 08 Jan'18
Florida warns 30,000 medical records may have been exposed

The health agency in the US state of Florida has warned that the records of up to 30,000 Medicaid patients may have been exposed when the agency’s IT systems were breached
January 05, 2018 05 Jan'18
Patch systems against Meltdown and Spectre, urges ICO

UK’s data protection watchdog is calling for organisations to apply security updates to mitigate against exploits of microprocessor flaws as soon as possible to safeguard personal data
January 05, 2018 05 Jan'18
2018 could be year of critical infrastructure attacks, says report

The coming year is likely to see an increase in the number of cyber attacks on critical national infrastructure (CNI), according to a report based on experts’ forecasts
January 05, 2018 05 Jan'18
Apple confirms all devices affected by Meltdown and Spectre

Apple has confirmed that all iPhones, iPads and Mac computers are affected by the recently discovered microprocessor exploits as the financial services industry assesses the risk
January 04, 2018 04 Jan'18
Meltdown and Spectre: AWS, Google and Microsoft rush to patch cloud chip flaws

Amazon, Google and Microsoft rush to fix chip flaws that could leave cloud customers at risk of having their data accessed or stolen by other users
January 03, 2018 03 Jan'18
Critical Intel security patch will slow PCs, servers and Macs

AMD shares rise on news that the performance of millions of Windows PCs, Linux servers and Apple Macs is to be impacted by critical updates for a recently discovered security flaw in Intel chips manufactured in the past 10 years
January 03, 2018 03 Jan'18
IoT botnet DDoS attacks predicted after exploit code published

Security researchers are urging businesses to ensure they are prepared for large-scale DDoS attacks following the online publication of code to exploit a vulnerability in Huawei HG532 routers
January 03, 2018 03 Jan'18
Top IT priorities for Nordic CIOs in 2018

Nordic CIOs tell Computer Weekly about their intentions for the year ahead
January 02, 2018 02 Jan'18
Ransomware to hit cloud computing in 2018, predicts MIT

Ransomware targeting cloud services is one of the six biggest cyber threats likely to face organisations in 2018, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
December 28, 2017 28 Dec'17
Top 10 stories on state surveillance, technology and the law in 2017

In 2017, the government faced multiple legal challenges over the legality of mass surveillance of the population, most of whom pose no threat, in cases that will set the parameters between individual freedom and state intrusion
December 27, 2017 27 Dec'17
The CW500 Club in 2017

Computer Weekly’s CW500 Club attracts the top IT leaders in the UK to talk to their peers. We present coverage of the 2017 events, including articles and video interviews
December 25, 2017 25 Dec'17
Top 10 Australia IT stories of 2017

Australia capped the year with a slew of game-changing technology initiatives, from bolstering its supercomputing infrastructure and productivity of police officers to outlining an ambitious space programme
December 21, 2017 21 Dec'17
Top 10 ASEAN stories of 2017

ASEAN countries have been forerunners in driving digital transformation through various smart city initiatives and industry transformation roadmaps
December 21, 2017 21 Dec'17
Top 10 IT security stories of 2017

Here are Computer Weekly's top 10 IT security stories of 2017
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Top 10 enterprise IT in the Middle East stories in 2017

Countries in the Middle East are putting digital transformation high on their priority lists and are already leaders in areas such as smart city development
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
Top 10 cyber crime stories of 2017

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 cyber crime stories of 2017
December 20, 2017 20 Dec'17
UK government blames North Korea for WannaCry cyber attack

The UK and US governments say a North Korean group was responsible for the ransomware attacks that hit the NHS and other organisations globally this year
December 19, 2017 19 Dec'17
Australia to focus on cyber security and IT outcomes in 2018

Besides transforming themselves through AI and automation, businesses down under will keep a closer eye on cyber security and the outcomes of their technology investments
December 19, 2017 19 Dec'17
Kaspersky Lab appeals US ban

Russian security software giant appeals US government's decision to ban the use of its products in federal agencies
December 14, 2017 14 Dec'17
Top cyber security predictions in APAC in 2018

Cyber criminals will ramp up efforts to mine cryptocurrencies, while mobile malware will rear its ugly head across the APAC region in 2018
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Cyber security skills shortage can be addressed, says (ISC)2

The shortage of cyber security skills can be addressed, starting with training anyone who is unemployed, according to information security professional training and certification body (ISC)2
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Dutch IT expert takes an ethical hacking sabbatical

Ethical hacker discovered nearly 1,000 vulnerabilities after taking a year off from his job in the Netherlands government to set up a hack group
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Bitfinex restored after DDoS attack

Bitcoin exchange Bitfinex says its systems have been restored after the company was hit by a second denial of service attack in just over a week
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Banks forced to be open about major security and operational incidents

New FCA rules aim to give consumers more information about current accounts beyond interest rates and charges
December 13, 2017 13 Dec'17
Singapore’s defence ministry starts bug bounty programme

Bug bounty programme will offer rewards of up to S$20,000 for identifying loopholes in internet-facing systems used by defence and military personnel
December 12, 2017 12 Dec'17
Researchers find trove of 1.4 billion credentials

Security researchers have discovered what is believed to be the largest aggregate database found in the dark web to date, prompting fresh calls for improved identity management
December 11, 2017 11 Dec'17
Innovation key to halt cyber attacks

In the light of the number of cyber breaches taking place, innovative security systems are required, according to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
December 11, 2017 11 Dec'17
Perth airport security plans stolen by Vietnamese hacker

Australian authorities have named a Vietnamese hacker they say was able to break into the IT systems at Perth International Airport and steal security information
December 10, 2017 10 Dec'17
Russian-speaking hackers targeting financial institutions

A Russian-speaking cyber criminal gang is targeting financial institutions in the UK, US and Russia, a Moscow-based security firm reports
December 08, 2017 08 Dec'17
Second GCHQ Cyber Accelerator kicks off

Nine cyber security firms have been chosen to take part in the second GCHQ Cyber Accelerator, which is aimed at helping UK startups take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems
December 08, 2017 08 Dec'17
Hackers steal nearly $80m in bitcoin

Hackers have stolen nearly $80m worth of bitcoin from a bitcoin mining service as the cryptocurrency’s value continues to skyrocket
December 07, 2017 07 Dec'17
Digital identity needs to be priority in 2018, says FireEye

Protecting digital identity, gaining data visibility and protecting employees are key challenges for the year ahead, according to the 2018 security predictions report by security firm FireEye
December 07, 2017 07 Dec'17
Uber hacked by a 20-year-old man in the US

Uber was reportedly hacked by a 20-year-old man living with his mother in a small home trying to help pay the bills, according to various unnamed sources
December 07, 2017 07 Dec'17
Ransomware up nearly 2,000% in two years as “cyber mafia” hit business

Cyber attacks on businesses in 2017 grew in frequency, sophistication and malice, a report on the new age of organised cyber crime reveals
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Australian businesses need to up their game in cyber security

With threat actors becoming more innovative, businesses must start getting their security fingers into every system they buy or build, experts say
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Next-gen Mirai botnet sparks calls for more secure IoT design

News of a 100,000 device strong IoT botnet that could cripple the internet has sparked a fresh call for manufacturers of IoT devices to do more to ensure they cannot be hijacked for malicious purposes
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Andromeda mastermind Sergey Jarets jailed, say security researchers

Security researchers say they believe that a hacker arrested by Belarus police is Andromeda botnet mastermind Sergey Jarets
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
Lines blurring between state-sponsored and criminal cyber attacks

The lines between nation-state sponsored attack groups and cyber criminals continue to blur, according to the latest incident response report by security firm CrowdStrike
December 06, 2017 06 Dec'17
BlackBerry calls for stricter internet of things security standards

All internet-linked devices should support software updates, though things that are prone to safety risks when hacked, such as connected cars, should adhere to higher security standards, says BlackBerry CSO
December 05, 2017 05 Dec'17
Bitcoin industry enters top 10 DDoS targets

The bitcoin industry has become one of the top 10 industries most targeted by distributed denial of service attacks, a report has revealed
December 05, 2017 05 Dec'17
Researchers warn of new support scam malware

Security researchers have identified a new strain of support scam malware and a way of clearing up infected machines
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
The Dutch government defines cyber threat actors

The Dutch government commissions the creation of a scientific classification of individuals and groups involved in cyber crime
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
Malicious insiders and DDoS attacks cost UK business the most

In 2017, the most costly or damaging cyber attacks for UK businesses have been malicious insiders and denial of service, research has revealed
December 04, 2017 04 Dec'17
Barclays Bank stops offering Kaspersky software to new users

Bank is no longer offering customers Kaspersky anti-virus software after UK security agency issues warning
December 01, 2017 01 Dec'17
‘Sound policy’ to prosecute hackers in UK, says former DPP in Love case

The former director of public prosecutions (DPP), Ken Macdonald, said in written evidence in Lauri Love’s extradition case that it is normal practice to prosecute hackers accused of attacking US servers in the UK – rather than extradite them to the ...
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
Security community urges caution on offensive cyber defence

Some Nato countries are reportedly considering responding to cyber attacks with offensive cyber strikes, but security industry commentators warn of dangers
November 30, 2017 30 Nov'17
Top IT predictions in APAC in 2018

A “mega cloud” that weaves together multiple private and public clouds, along with the use of AI to perform data-driven “thinking tasks”, could emerge next year
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
Uber breach affected 2.7 million Britons

Last year’s data breach, which saw the details of 57 million accounts compromised, affected about 2.7 million accounts in the UK
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
Lauri Love would face ‘medieval’ conditions in US prison if extradited over hacking charges

Engineering student Lauri Love should be tried in the UK, court hears, as new evidence is presented on the “medieval” conditions in US jails for people with medical problems
November 29, 2017 29 Nov'17
Adversarial machine learning tops McAfee’s 2018 security forecast

McAfee forecasts developments in adversarial machine learning, ransomware, serverless apps, connected home privacy and privacy of child-generated content in 2018
November 28, 2017 28 Nov'17
Data breach an opportunity to build trust

In the light of the high number of data breaches, organisations should embrace the inevitable and ensure they can build better trust if they are breached, an information security professional advises
November 28, 2017 28 Nov'17
Businesses need to balance user experience, privacy and security

Balancing user experience, privacy and security for the connected consumer is a key challenge for online businesses, according to KuppingerCole
November 28, 2017 28 Nov'17
Fintech is increasing operational risk to banks

European Banking Association report reveals fear of greater operational risk because of increased take-up of fintech in financial services sector
November 27, 2017 27 Nov'17
Australian IT landscape maturing amid budget cuts

Australia has matured in its use of technology in 2017, but more investment is needed for it to continue its good run and to combat cyber threats
November 23, 2017 23 Nov'17
Work needed to ensure positive tech revolutions, says researcher

The first technology revolution was brought about by all computers going online, but care must be taken that in the second and third tech revolutions, the good outweighs the bad, a cyber security researcher warns
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
GDPR could ramp up cyber extortion demands, warns researcher

The ransom demanded for stolen or encrypted data is likely to rise after the General Data Protection Regulation compliance deadline in May 2018, according to a cyber security researcher
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
US charges Iranian man with HBO hacking

The US has charged an Iran-based hacker with accessing HBO's computer systems, stealing data and attempting to extort millions of dollars
November 22, 2017 22 Nov'17
Uber recognises need for consumer trust after breach cover up

New Uber leadership has recognised the importance of consumer trust and that they never should have attempted to cover up a 2016 data breach that affected millions of customers and drivers
November 21, 2017 21 Nov'17
Cyber security requires man and machine, says F-Secure

Like other cyber security firms, Finland’s F-Secure is building an artificial intelligence capability into its products and services, but says this is no replacement for cyber security professionals
November 21, 2017 21 Nov'17
Ransomware rages on with no signs of abating

The rampant digital extortion facilitated by ransomware in 2017 will continue next year, with healthcare and industrial systems expected to be new prime targets
November 21, 2017 21 Nov'17
UK cyber defenders set to build on existing capability

UK national cyber attack response and investigation is a well-defined and rehearsed process, but the responsible agencies say they are building more capability and closing the gaps
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
MPs press Theresa May to explain why alleged hacker Lauri Love is being extradited to US

MPs question the attorney general and prime minister about why alleged hacker Lauri Love is to be extradited to the US, when at least 13 other hackers have been tried for US hacking offences in the UK
November 20, 2017 20 Nov'17
Australian broadcaster hit by data breach

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is the latest organisation to fall prey to misconfigured Amazon S3 storage buckets, exposing database backups and sensitive data such as login credentials
November 17, 2017 17 Nov'17
Business crucial to cyber crime fight, say UK cyber cops

Business has a crucial role in fighting cyber crime in terms of intelligence sharing and pursuing cyber criminals, according to the country’s top cyber cops
November 17, 2017 17 Nov'17
Computer science student wins 2017 UK Cyber Security Challenge

Cyber attack simulation challenge sees 22-year-old computer science student crowned UK amateur cyber security champion
November 16, 2017 16 Nov'17
Europe not ready for imminent cyber strikes, say infosec professionals

Information security leaders in Europe believe a major breach of critical infrastructure is coming and that data breaches in their own organisations are imminent – yet most are not ready
November 16, 2017 16 Nov'17
Free Quad9 internet threat protection launched

IBM, Packet Clearing House and the Global Cyber Alliance join forces to protect businesses and consumers from internet threats free of charge
November 15, 2017 15 Nov'17
How the biggest cyber security disasters could have been avoided

The headline-grabbing breaches that hit Accenture and Equifax in 2017 could have been averted had basic cyber hygiene been in place
November 15, 2017 15 Nov'17
Banks ideally placed to fill identity void, says consultant

Current approaches to identity are too backward looking and need revision, according to a UK-based business management consultant
November 14, 2017 14 Nov'17
Business in digital world demands considered approach

Companies need to think carefully about their approach to doing business in a complex, connected, digital world, according to a Belgian risk specialist
November 14, 2017 14 Nov'17
£115 constructed mask bypasses iPhone X Face ID verification

A security company has used a 3D-printed mask to trick the face recognition technology on Apple's new iPhone X
November 13, 2017 13 Nov'17
Cyber and physical security are inseparable

Biometrics and pattern recognition, coupled with data from internet of things sensors, will provide the fabric of future smart ecosystems
November 13, 2017 13 Nov'17
IT leaders failing to prepare for cyber attacks, despite fears

Organisations are over-confident about their ability to defend against major cyber attacks, despite fears that they will be hit in the coming year, a survey has revealed
November 13, 2017 13 Nov'17
Muslim hactivists hack “unhackable” IS news site

A Muslim hacktivist group has hacked into Islamic State’s news site and published thousands of subscribers’ details just hours after the site claimed it was impenetrable
November 13, 2017 13 Nov'17
Nordic states deepen cyber defence collaboration

Nordic and Baltic government leaders discuss pooling technologies and competences to counter hybrid threats within the cyber security domain
November 10, 2017 10 Nov'17
UK calls for more anti-terror tools in social media

The UK is calling on social media campaigns to do more to detect and remove “militant messaging” automatically, while former MI5 head issues another caution against tampering with encryption
November 10, 2017 10 Nov'17
WikiLeaks publishes code and analysis of CIA hacking tool

Security experts are questioning the wisdom of WikiLeaks releasing more source code for US intelligence agency hacking tools
November 09, 2017 09 Nov'17
ISPs can play unique role in cyber security, says BT CEO

Internet service providers are perfectly positioned to make a significant contribution to cyber security for everyone, BT’s Gavin Patterson believes