IT security

Law enforcement cracks down on DroidJack Android snooping malware users

A joint EU/US operation on the DroidJack malware is the latest example of international collaboration between law enforcement officers directed at cyber crime Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

M&S data breach forces retailer to temporarily suspend service

A glitch that allowed online customers to see each others' details forced retailer Mark & Spencer to take its website offline while it resolved the issue Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Lack of data classification very costly to firms, says survey

Most data retained by organisations is not identified or classified and gobbles budget spent on storage, as well as being potentially non-compliant, reveals Veritas-sponsored survey Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Blockchain sparks change in banking industry

In this week's Computer Weekly, we find out why blockchain, the technology that underpins bitcoin, is making waves in the banking sector. EasyJet tells us why digital is increasingly important for airlines. And we look at the forces driving digital disruption and why some sectors are changing faster than others. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

TalkTalk warns customers about personal data breach

TalkTalk has warned customers their personal data may have been compromised in the second cyber attack on the firm in 2015, with some data left unencrypted Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Police and industry to tackle cyber crime together, says TechUK

A TechUK report calls for collaboration between police and industry to raise standards of reporting, recording and responding to cyber crime Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Infosec pros should start preparing for the future, say experts

Information security professionals need to grow their skills, engage with the business, increase security awareness, set business goals and tailor their messages, says a panel of experts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IT giants Dell and EMC unite

In this week's Computer Weekly, Dell's proposed $67bn acquisition of EMC would be the biggest in the history of IT – we assess the implications. £175bn of IT outsourcing contracts come up for renewal in the next three years- what are your options? And we hear from IT leaders about security and the internet of things. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Dow Jones denies it was target of insider trading hack

Dow Jones says there is no information to support reports that it was the target of hackers seeking information for insider trading Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Opera chooses Workday over Oracle as it moves HR to cloud

Browser company Opera opts for slick internal IT as it competes with Apple and Google for skilled technologists Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Investigations Editor

Yahoo announces password-killing Account Key

Yahoo Account Key uses push notifications to provide a fast and secure way to access Yahoo accounts from a mobile device Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

The true cost of a cyber security breach in Australia

The costs of cyber security breaches can quickly add up with fines, reputational damage and overhauls to network security all hitting the coffers. The case of one Australian firm shows why paying a ransom to a hacker might be tempting. Continue Reading

By

• Beverley Head

Cyber security innovation is crucial, says security evangelist

Visibility and automation are key areas of cyber security innovation, but firms should concentrate first on the basics and not overlook the human element of security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Encryption is a double-edged sword, says Blue Coat

Seven more security suppliers join Blue Coat encrypted traffic management programme amid fresh warnings of attackers using encryption to hide malicious activity Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NHS Health Apps Library to close

The NHS Health Apps Library is shutting down after a two-year tenure, shortly after NHS-approved apps were found to leak data Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Europe's data privacy shake-up

In this week's Computer Weekly, after the European Court of Justice ruled the Safe Harbour agreement invalid, we assess the implications for transatlantic data protection. We find out why DVLA has brought its IT back in-house after a 13-year outsourcing deal. And we look at the role of IT in cutting costs in the NHS. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Lack of trust for banks causes NHS rethink over government online identity scheme

NHS trials of the Verify ID assurance system found patients concerned over using banks to allow access to medical data Continue Reading

By

• Mark Ballard

The security dangers of home networks

Most companies take reasonable steps to protect their networks from virus attacks, but one area of vulnerability that is often overlooked is infection from employees’ home networks Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

How to ensure strong passwords and better authentication

Five steps to ensure stronger passwords and better authentication to reduce the threat of business data theft Continue Reading

By

• Peter Wood, First Base Technologies LLP

Apple removes more iOS apps over security concerns

Apple has blocked more apps over security concerns just weeks after ridding the App Store of XcodeGhost malware Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Samsung Pay isolated from LoopPay attack

Hackers who compromised LoopPay’s computer systems had no access to Samsung Pay’s user data or other core information, says Samsung Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Estonian government IT initiative increases virtual population

Estonia is leading the way when it comes to providing easy and secure access to government services for citizens and foreigners alike Continue Reading

By

• Tarmo Virki

Singapore and UK researchers investigate privacy in big data era

Academic organisations in Singapore and the UK collaborate on the privacy questions raised by big data and the cloud Continue Reading

By

• Tao ai Lei

Max Schrems: The man who broke Safe Harbour

Schrems has persuaded a high court judge to confirm that Edward Snowden’s evidence is acceptable in court and that the US is engaged in mass surveillance of European citizens Continue Reading

By

• Kevin Cahill

Aid organisations using technology to help Syrian refugees in the Middle East

Technology is playing a crucial role in supporting humanitarian aid organisations coping with the influx of Syrian refugees in the Middle East Continue Reading

By

• Andy Favell

Researchers find credential-stealing webmail server APT attack

Security researchers have discovered a new and unique advanced persistent threat (APT) technique that involves a malicious module loaded onto a webmail server Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Facebook ruling not only landmark data protection case in Europe, say experts

A landmark ruling against Slovakia-based website Weltimmo could impact the Max Schrems case against Facebook and new European data protection rules currently being finalised Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Europe – October 2015

Access to vast amounts of educational resources via the cloud promises much for education. But like in the business world there are fears associated with the cloud. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

David Jones online customers hit by data breach

Hackers have accessed the personal details of an unknown number of David Jones online customers, but the retailer says payment details and passwords are not affected Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How technology is helping deliver aid to Syrian refugees in the Middle East

The Syrian refugee crisis has engulfed the Middle East, but technology is proving to be an essential tool to help aid organisations support displaced people Continue Reading

By

• Andy Favell

Medical devices must be secure by design, say industry experts

The information security industry is calling for medical device manufacturers to design and build cyber security into all internet-enabled devices after thousands are found to be hackable Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

120-day patching gap puts many firms at risk of cyber attack, study shows

The probability of a vulnerability being exploited hits 90% between 40-60 days after discovery, but many firms are taking up to 60 days beyond that to patch, while others are failing to patch at all, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Keeping app pirates at bay

In this week's Computer Weekly, we look at how digital piracy is affecting app developers – and what they can do about it. The man behind the controversial NHS Care.data project has quit – what will it mean for the troubled programme? And we find out how digital disruption is affecting the insurance market. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

How to fully test IT networks for vulnerabilities

Making sure a company network is secure is a very important task, and one that should be scheduled regularly Continue Reading

By

• Steve Evans

Is Microsoft Office 2016 reliable enough for business?

A day after a major Skype outage, Microsoft unveils Office 2016, which, ironically, offers tight integration with Skype Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

How cloud technology helps kittens

In this week's Computer Weekly, we talk to the CIO at the UK's leading animal charity, the RSPCA, about how her cloud-first strategy is helping animal welfare. Microsoft is ending support for older version of Internet Explorer – we assess the implications. And we ask the experts about the best practice in mobile security. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Department for Culture, Media and Sport takes over responsibility for data protection policy

Government transfers responsibility for data protection policy and ICO oversight from Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Health chief 'should be held to account' for whistleblow errors

Former nurse and clincial commissioner Bernie Rochford claims unfair dismissal after blowing the whistle on IT problems which put patient care at risk Continue Reading

By

• Julia Gregory and Bill Goodwin

Public-private co-operation in the Nordics tackles growing cyber crime threat

Nordic governments and businesses are putting cyber security at the centre of their planning as threats increase Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

BT launches ethical hacking service for bankers

BT introduces a certified Crest Star ethical hacking test service for financial services customers Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Most DDoS attacks hiding something more sinister, Neustar warns

Smaller DDoS attacks can be more dangerous than a powerful attack that knocks a company offline but does not install malware or steal data, warns Neustar Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NHS trust denies bullying and intimidation of IT whistleblower

Managers were already aware of whistleblower's concerns about the accuracy of NHS Southwark's data, tribunal hears Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin and Julia Gregory

RSA Group flags ID theft risk to Lloyds Bank customers following datacentre storage theft

International insurance group has seen 500 customers take up offer of identity theft protection in wake of datacentre theft Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Security industry welcomes GCHQ password guidelines

GCHQ's guidance on password policy covers some of the most pressing issues facing UK businesses and employees today, according to Skyhigh Networks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

DD4BC cyber extortion gang adds social media to arsenal

Cyber extortion gang DD4BC is using social media campaigns to garner more attention for its ability to create service disruptions by publicly embarrassing large organisations Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Europe – September 2015 edition

Find out the winners of the Computer Weekly European User Awards 2015. The awards aim to shine a light on businesses across Europe that have excelled in their approach to using technology. You can find a full list of winners in this issue and we have highlighted a few through in-depth case studies. Continue Reading

Researchers discover Android PIN locker ransomware

Researchers say LockerPIN is a self-defending, aggressive piece of ransomware currently targeting Android devices, mainly in the US Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

US health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield hit by data breach

Forensic investigation reveals a data breach at US health insurer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield exposing up to 11 million records 21 months after the first intrusion Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cloudian boosts object storage HyperStore compliance features

Distributed object storage software maker Cloudian upgrades HyperStore with added granularity of data protection features that can help meet compliance requirements Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Security pros failing to address digital certificate risks, survey shows

Even though 90% of security professionals believe a leading CA will be compromised in next two years, only 13% have existing automation to deal with that happening Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Conventional security measures hit productivity, study shows

Most IT professionals say context-aware security would improve productivity without compromising security, a survey from Dell reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security vulnerability management more than patching, warns Secunia

Keeping track of what makes an IT environment vulnerable is an ongoing and complex task, according to Secunia Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

US State Department plans cyber security playbook

The US State Department issues a request for information to determine the capabilities of commercial industry to provide and maintain a cyber security playbook Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

DDoS attack on NCA highlights need to be prepared, says Barracuda Networks

A Lizard Squad DDoS attack the NCA says is a fact of life highlights the need for organisations to be prepared, according to Barracuda Networks Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Use 2FA to mitigate KeyRaider iOS malware, says Rapid7

KeyRaider iOS malware targeting iPhone users in China and 17 other countries including the UK has raised enterprise security concerns Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Police arrest six UK teenagers for using DDoS cyber attack tool

Police arrest six UK teenagers on suspicion of using a DDoS attack tool targeting a national newspaper, a school and online gaming companies and retailers Continue Reading

Rapid7 calls on router makers to eliminate backdoors

Until manufacturers stop using default passwords, we will continue to see opportunistic attacks on home and small business routers, says Rapid7's Tod Beardsley Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Many firms not getting to grips with third-party data security risk

Supply chain data security risk is pervasive, but being unable to deal with it is down to basic failings, says a cyber risk expert Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Sans Institute identifies top UK cyber talent

The cream of UK cyber security talent selected from 24,000 candidates are set to begin eight weeks of intensive training in the first-ever intake at the Sans UK Cyber Academy Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Life’s a breach: How to handle the press after a hacking attack

Emily Dent, specialist in crisis PR, offers some advice to organisations that unexpectedly find themselves in the headlines Continue Reading

By

• Emily Dent

Computer Weekly – 25 August 2015: Coping with a crisis

In this week’s Computer Weekly, IT leaders discuss their experiences of dealing with disaster and the importance of planning to ensure business continuity. Jaeger’s CIO talks about bring the iconic fashion brand into the digital age. And we look at the issues around writing supplier contracts for agile software development. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Spotify to update privacy policy after user protest

Some Spotify users are unhappy about new privacy policies that allow access to users’ photos, video, mobile device location, voice controls and contacts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

ICO orders Google to remove links to right to be forgotten takedowns

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says Google must remove newer links that reveal the same details as previously removed links Continue Reading

Broadband Stakeholder Group to review UK net neutrality policy

The Broadband Stakeholder Group commissions an independent review into the UK’s industry-led approach to net neutrality and the open internet Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mumsnet suffers multi-vector cyber attack

Mumsnet has been hit by a DDoS attack, its admin hacked and data stolen, and then a hoax call sent armed police to the home of the organisation's co-founder, Justine Roberts Continue Reading

Premiership Rugby scores security and efficiency with Intralinks

By setting access controls, Premiership Rugby can ensure that its partners get quick access only to role-appropriate content Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

AT&T a key NSA partner in internet spying Snowden docs show

The NSA considered its relationship with AT&T to be unique and especially productive, leaked documents show Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Mobile phone users at risk as hackers bug and track victims

An investigation by Australian TV show 60 Minutes demonstrates how hackers based thousands of miles away in Germany were able to record the calls of an Australian senator and track his movements Continue Reading

By

• Ross Coulthart, 60 Minutes Australia

FBI uncovers cyber insider trading gang

Nine suspects are expected to be charged in the US with insider trading based on corporate press releases stolen by hackers before they had been made public Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

BlackHat 2015: Industrial hacking - the untold story

Hackers have been penetrating industrial control systems for at least a decade for extortion, yet little is known about how they gain access Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Carphone Warehouse data breach hits 2.4 million UK customers

Carphone Warehouse confirms the authorities have been notified about the breach, and urges customers to take steps to protect themselves Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

CW Europe – August 2015

Data is a valuable thing nowadays, and more businesses are collecting it for exactly that reason. However, with the collection of data also comes concern for consumers and governments over where the data is stored and what companies will do with it. This issue of CW Europe investigates the different cultural attitudes towards data management ethics. Continue Reading

Cyber risks hit the road

In this week's Computer Weekly, after hackers took remote control of a Jeep Cherokee, we assess the security concerns for internet-connected cars. With the growth of digital banking, is there a need for high-street branches anymore? And we examine whether email overload is hindering the UK's economic productivity. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Why the time is ripe for security behaviour analytics

Recent months have seen an uptick in announcements by security suppliers around behavioural analytics, but what is driving this trend? Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Commercial software more secure than open source, finds report

A study has found that commercial code is more compliant than open source code with security compliance standards, such as the Owasp top 10 and the CWE top 25 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

A third of employees will sell company data if the price is right, study reveals

For £5,000, a quarter of employees polled said they would sell confidential company data, and risk both their job and criminal convictions Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Technology experts warn of dangers of artificial intelligence arms race

An open letter signed by more than 12,000 technology experts calls for a ban on artificial intelligence (AI) to manage weapons “beyond meaningful human control” Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

SaaS criteria to track for business outcomes

Organisations should evolve their SaaS selection criteria to focus on newer metrics that are better indicators of supplier performance Continue Reading

By

• Liz Herbert

Contactless card fraud highlights need for 2FA

A Which? report on contactless card fraud highlights the need for multi-factor authentication for payments, say security experts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GDS targets three million new users of Gov.uk Verify service in next 12 months

Roll-out of the system for logging in to digital public services is taking longer than expected, but user numbers are expected to grow significantly in 2015 Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Jeep hack raises questions about responsibility for security

The hack of a Jeep raises the question whether users or car manufacturers should be responsible for protecting against cyber attackers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Information security governance maturing, says Gartner

Increasing awareness of the impact of digital business risks, coupled with high levels of publicity regarding cyber security incidents, is making IT risk a board-level issue, says Gartner Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK considers 10-year jail sentences for online piracy

The UK government is considering new measures to increase the sanctions for criminals who infringe the rights of copyright holders for large-scale financial gain Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Hackers threaten to expose ALM’s dating and cheating site users

A hacking group, calling itself The Impact Team, claims to have compromised Avid Life Media’s user databases, source code repositories, financial records and email system Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

United Airlines begins bug bounty payouts

United Airlines has paid out the maximum award to two hackers, which means the flaws are likely to be remote code execution vulnerabilities Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK man arrested for hacking into US government computers

Briton Lauri Love is accused of hacking into various US agencies, including the US army, Nasa, the federal reserve and the environmental protection agency Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Anyone still running Windows Server 2003 is now at risk

Businesses still running Windows server 2003 are vulnerable to attack from hackers looking to exploit security holes Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Vodafone scheme to help SMEs get online

Vodafone is to trial a series of digital workshops for SMEs aimed at equipping them with a stronger online presence Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Land Rover praised for recall over software security bug

BT Security head Mark Hughes says Land Rover's recall of vehicles to fix a software security flaw is a sensible step to address evolving criminal threats Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Symantec bets on simplicity, cloud and mobile

Symantec is not trying to be all things to all people, but is instead focusing on threats and protecting information in the mobile and cloud environments Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

UK sales teams are the most exposed to cyber attacks, study reveals

UK sales staff, callcentre agents and customer services teams are among the most highly targeted by cyber attacks, yet few firms give these groups IT security training, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Symantec uncovers Morpho cyber espionage operation

A cyber espionage group has targeted high-profile technology, internet, commodities and pharmaceutical companies in the US, Europe and Canada, reports Symantec Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

MtGox chief Mark Karpeles arrested for fraud

Former chief Mark Karpeles is under arrest on suspicion of $1m fraud and involvement in the disappearance of 650,000 bitcoins Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Dashlane bullish about the future despite LastPass hack

Password management firm Dashlane is confident its business model will evolve and continue to be relevant even if passwords eventually disappear Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Europe – July 2015 Edition

The economy in central and eastern Europe (CEE) is starting to recover, which means investment in IT across the region is also starting to return. This issue of CW Europe investigates how the boost in IT is changing the role of the CIO, from supporting the business to driving its growth. Continue Reading

The IT behind Angry Birds

In this week's Computer Weekly, we talk to the CIO of Rovio Entertainment, the company behind the gaming phenomenon Angry Birds, about how he supports a global business with a five-person IT team. We assess your options for moving off Windows Server 2003 now support is ending. And our buyer's guide looks at log management. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

The internet of things could save the honeybee from extinction

Gemalto’s M2M unit is developing an ambitious project with agricultural science firm Eltopia and the University of Minnesota. The objective: to save the honeybee from extinction Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Italy’s Hacking Team gets hacked

Unknown hackers have posted a torrent file-sharing link to more than 400GB of Hacking Team data, including source code, internal documents and emails that could reveal the identity of customers Continue Reading

Wi-Fi enhances guest experience and profitability for Belgian theme park

Bobbejaanland, one of the largest theme parks in Belgium, is using a Fortinet Wi-Fi network to offer visitors access on the go, and improve its management capabilities Continue Reading

By

• Xavier Mertens

How Deutsche Telekom plans to challenge AWS and Google in the cloud

German telco Deutsche Telekom wants to evolve into the public cloud and plans to beat sector giants such as Amazon and Google at their own game Continue Reading

By

• Anne Morris