Last week cyber security experts gathered at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas for the 9th annual Black Hat conference. While the major media focus was on the connected car vulnerabilities I discussed in a previous post, there were many other important subjects covered. Let’s look at some of the highlights. Android Fingerprint Sensor… Read More »
Stagefright Bug Takes Center Stage On 950 Million Android Devices
A series of bugs and security loopholes in the Android operating system could allow hackers to take control of up to 95% of Android smartphones simply by sending an MMS message with malware attached. What is the Stagefright bug? Stagefright is the name of the Android operating system’s media library, which the bug is named… Read More »
Teachers Have New Enemy In War On Cheating
Back in the days before the Internet, ethically-challenged students could make a quick buck by selling copied test questions to other students who still needed to take the test. Now students are trading copied tests on the Internet using social media instead of in the hallways. In the old days, most tests were not standardized… Read More »
These Are Your Must-Have Secure Mobile Messaging App Features
When you send a text or MMS from your phone the normal way, you can’t control what happens to the information once it leaves your device. Wireless carriers are required to save messages for a certain length of time to assist authorities in criminal investigations. The recipient can save the message indefinitely, or send… Read More »
Android & PC Tie For First Place In Malware
A report published last week by Alcatel-Lucent revealed malware on mobile devices has caught up to the infection rate on traditional PCs. The report was created by the telecommunications company’s Motive Security Labs and used data compiled from fixed and mobile networks using their Motive Security Guardian software. The software is deployed in networks around… Read More »
My Phone Is Held Hostage By Ransomware, Now What?
Ransomware is a type of malware that holds your data hostage. It has been a problem with computers for many years, but it’s only recently started showing up on mobile devices. When you activate the program or app, it blocks you from accessing the data on the device and displays a message demanding payment by… Read More »
How Can You Fight Big Wireless Carrier Cramming?
Today, Sprint and Verizon announced that they will collectively pay out $158 million to settle customer cramming complaints. AT&T recently paid out too. But what is “cramming” and how can you be sure you are safe from it? Cramming is the term for adding an unauthorized charge on your phone bill. It’s most common on… Read More »
Has Apple Pay Put An End To Credit Card Security Issues?
All across America today, retailers have begun to accept Apple Pay purchases using secure encryption, Touch ID and Apple iPhones. So is cash still king or have we crowned a new form of payment winner? Apple’s new smartphones and iPads use an NFC wireless module to communicate to a merchant’s payment terminal. Once connected, a… Read More »
