Gopeka Nair writes: Recent developments in practical quantum computers could pose a threat to encryption techniques that secure online data, including banking and medical information. Ohio Wesleyan University alumnus Taimur Islam ’13 is working to keep such data safe. […] Currently, digital information that’s transmitted is encrypted so it is unintelligible to hackers. The data…
Category: Commentaries and Analyses
Atlanta spent at least $2.6 million on ransomware recovery
Zack Whittaker reports: Atlanta spent more than $2.6 million on recovery efforts stemming from a ransomware attack, which crippled a sizable part of the city’s online services. The city was hit by the notorious SamSam ransomware, which exploits a deserialization vulnerability in Java-based servers. The ransom was set at around $55,000 worth of bitcoin, a…
Government’s Response to Malware Defendant’s Constitutional Challenge Falls Short
Alexander Berengaut writes: Last summer, Marcus Hutchins, the security researcher who stopped the “WannaCry” malware attack, was arrested and charged for his role in allegedly creating and conspiring to sell a different piece of malware, known as Kronos. As we have previously discussed on this blog, however, the indictment was notable for its lack of…
Study exposes murky ecosystem of ransomware payments
This is interesting. Yhumi Tsun reports: Researchers have exposed the murky ecosystem of ransomware payments wherein they have revealed how hackers prefer Russian Bitcoin exchange and how South Koreans are among the most targeted victims. Researchers are optimistic their work could help law enforcement track cyber criminals. Ransomware attacks, which encrypt and hold a computer…
Australia, your privacy has been breached — we reveal the biggest health data leaks
Sue Dunleavy reports: The sensitive health data of Australians is subject to a data breach every two days and the organisations and governments that fail to protect it are facing no financial penalties. As outrage builds over Facebook’s failure to protect privacy, a News Corp investigation has uncovered health data that shows if Australians have…
Businesses are using injunctions to stop hackers publishing secrets – or they’re trying to!
Matt Burgess reports: “Do not pretend that I do not exist, do not ignore me or break the deadlines,” was the message from one unknown hacker to a British company targeted in February 2018. The person stole a “very large quantity of data”. Both the hacker and the hacked company are the subject of a…