Author: esimantiras

Secret comms in danger as Second Phone Number iOS app leaks user texts

Posted on by esimantiras

Secret comms in danger as Second Phone Number iOS app leaks user texts

source: cybernews.com  |  image: pexels.com

 

A virtual phone number iOS app with millions of downloads in the US has exposed its users’ data, including messages, media, and sender and recipient details.

While there are many reasons to have a virtual phone number, privacy is the most common. This is not lost on Second Phone Number app creators, as its App Store description starts with “Need a second phone number for private calls and texts?”

However, users expecting privacy are in for a surprise. The Cybernews research team has found that the popular iPhone app’s misconfigured Firebase instance exposed user details likely not meant for the outside world. Continue reading “Secret comms in danger as Second Phone Number iOS app leaks user texts” →

Russia is upping hybrid attacks against Europe, Dutch intelligence says

Posted on by esimantiras

Russia is upping hybrid attacks against Europe, Dutch intelligence says

source: nbcnews.com (contributed by FAN, Steve Page)  |  image: pexels.com

 

“We see the Russian threat against Europe is increasing, including after a possible end to the war against Ukraine,” the director of the Dutch military intelligence agency said.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Russia is increasing its hybrid attacks aimed at undermining society in the Netherlands and its European allies, and Russian hackers have already targeted the Dutch public service, Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD said Tuesday.

“We see the Russian threat against Europe is increasing, including after a possible end to the war against Ukraine,” MIVD director Peter Reesink said in the agency’s annual report. Continue reading “Russia is upping hybrid attacks against Europe, Dutch intelligence says” →

That water bottle you’re carrying says a lot more than ‘hydration’

Posted on by esimantiras

That water bottle you’re carrying says a lot more than ‘hydration’

source: apnews.com  |  image: pexels.com

 

If you like to stay hydrated no matter where you go, chances are you’ve got a reusable water bottle or two. Or 10. (The collectors know who they are.)

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, fashion trendsetter, hiker, commuter or just an eco-conscious consumer, there’s a bottle out there for you. There are bottles that sterilize themselves. Bottles that remind you when to drink. Bottles designed for sustainability. And bottles transformed by a paintbox of colors and imagery into mini artworks.

Hydration’s become more than a necessity. It’s got a personality. Continue reading “That water bottle you’re carrying says a lot more than ‘hydration’” →

China Admitted to Volt Typhoon Cyberattacks on US Critical Infrastructure: Report

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China Admitted to Volt Typhoon Cyberattacks on US Critical Infrastructure: Report

source: securityweek.com |  image: pexels.com

 

In a secret meeting that took place late last year between Chinese and American officials, the former confirmed that China had conducted cyberattacks against US infrastructure as part of the campaign known as Volt Typhoon, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The meeting took place at a Geneva summit in December and involved members of the outgoing Biden administration. The US officials who were present were startled by China’s admission, people familiar with the matter told WSJ [paywalled article]. Continue reading “China Admitted to Volt Typhoon Cyberattacks on US Critical Infrastructure: Report” →

CIA Leveraging Digital Transformation Tools in HUMINT Missions

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CIA Leveraging Digital Transformation Tools in HUMINT Missions

source: executivegov.com (contributed by FAN, Steve Page)  |  Image: pixabay.com

 

One of the United States’ most secretive agencies is using digital transformation tools such as AI and human-machine teaming as it tries to solve the nation’s toughest national security problems.

Since the CIA established the Directorate of Digital Innovation, or DDI, in 2015, the agency has increasingly encouraged entwining digital technology into its core human intelligence, or HUMINT, mission, where intelligence is obtained from human sources. Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s deputy director for digital innovation, said every DDI mission is guided by human-machine teaming, which starts with data and is improved with AI before being put to use by CIA agents. Continue reading “CIA Leveraging Digital Transformation Tools in HUMINT Missions” →

No Small Business Is Too Small For Hackers…

Posted on by esimantiras

Why no small business is too small for hackers – and 8 security best practices for SMBs

source: zdnet.com  |  image: pixabay.com

 

Don’t fall victim to the ‘small target illusion.’ Learn how cybercriminals exploit SMBs so you can fix your security gaps before it’s too late.

have given hundreds of cybersecurity-related webcasts and presentations, written hundreds of cybersecurity-related articles, and been involved in hundreds of one-on-one cybersecurity-related meetings with clients.

Someone will always respond, comment, or protest that their business is too small for a hacker’s attention.

Small target illusion

But none of these folks understand the economics of a hack when it comes to small businesses. There isn’t a random guy out there who’s decided to target your business. Continue reading “No Small Business Is Too Small For Hackers…” →

Critical Vulnerability Found in Canon Printer Drivers

Posted on by esimantiras

Critical Vulnerability Found in Canon Printer Drivers

source: securityweek.com  |  image: pixabay.com

Microsoft’s offensive security team has warned Canon about a critical vulnerability affecting some printer drivers. 

According to an advisory published last week by Canon, drivers associated with several production printers, office multifunction printers, and laser printers are affected by an out-of-bounds vulnerability. Continue reading “Critical Vulnerability Found in Canon Printer Drivers” →

Meet the AI Fraud Fighters: A Deepfake Granny+

Posted on by esimantiras

Meet the AI Fraud Fighters: A Deepfake Granny, Digital Bots and a YouTube Star

source: cnet.com  |  image: pexels.com

 

It was almost an hour into our Google Meet call. I was interviewing Kitboga, a popular YouTube scam baiter with nearly 3.7 million subscribers, known for humorously entrapping fraudsters in common scams while livestreaming.

“I assume I’m talking to Evan Zimmer,” he says with a mischievous glance, his eyes exposed without his trademark aviator sunglasses on. We were close to the end of our conversation when he realized that my image and audio could have been digitally altered to impersonate me this whole time. “If I’m completely honest with you, there was not a single moment where I thought you could be deepfaking,” he says.

Continue reading “Meet the AI Fraud Fighters: A Deepfake Granny+” →

A New Era of Attacks on Encryption Is Starting to Heat Up

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A New Era of Attacks on Encryption Is Starting to Heat Up

source: wired.com  |  image: pixabay.com

 

The UK, France, Sweden, and EU have made fresh attacks on end-to-end encryption. Some of the attacks are more “crude” than those in recent years, experts say.

OVER THE PAST decade, encrypted communication has become the norm for billions of people. Every day, Signal, iMessage, and WhatsApp keep billions of messages, photos, videos, and calls private by using end-to-end encryption by default—while Zoom, Discord, and various other services all have options to enable the protection. But despite the technology’s mainstream rise, long-standing threats to weaken encryption keep piling up.

Over the past few months, there has been a surge in government and law enforcement efforts that would effectively undermine encryption, privacy advocates and experts say, with some of the emerging threats being the most “blunt” and aggressive of those in recent memory. Officials in the UK, France, and Sweden have all made moves since the start of 2025 that could undermine or eliminate the protections of end-to-end encryption, adding to a multiyear European Union plan to scan private chats and Indian efforts that could damage encryption. Continue reading “A New Era of Attacks on Encryption Is Starting to Heat Up” →

Cybersecurity officials warn…

Posted on by esimantiras

Cybersecurity officials warn against potentially costly Medusa ransomware attacks

source: apnews.com  |  image: pexels.com

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are warning against a dangerous ransomware scheme.

In an advisory posted earlier this week, government officials warned that a ransomware-as-a-service software called Medusa, which has launched ransomware attacks since 2021, has recently affected hundreds of people. Medusa uses phishing campaigns as its main method for stealing victims’ credentials, according to CISA. Continue reading “Cybersecurity officials warn…” →