Author: Asad Yaseen

The number of identity theft reports filed with US consumer protection authorities doubled over the past year thanks to the impact of the pandemic. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in an update yesterday that it received 1.4 million such reports last year, twice the number filed in 2019. The surge in cases coincided with the country’s slip into recession and soaring unemployment rate as COVID-19 took hold early last year, the FTC claimed. “After the…

Tripwire’s January 2021 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities from Microsoft, Dnsmasq and Oracle. First on the patch priority list this month are patches for Dnsmasq related to the seven so-called “DNSpooq” vulnerabilities. Dnsmasq is an open-source DNS forwarding application, and systems using this software should patch as soon as possible. Up next on the patch priority list this month are patches for Microsoft Edge, Excel, Office and Word. These patches resolve over…

Public 5G networks, private 5G networks, broader attack surfaces, and more complex environments add extra layers of vulnerability, expert says. TechRepublic’s Karen Roby spoke with Curtis Simpson, CISO of Armis, an Internet of Things (IoT) security company, about security concerns with 5G. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation. Karen Roby: We talk a lot about 5G, of course, and all different facets of the technology. We talk a lot about security as…

5G: More speed adds more vulnerabilities, IoT security expert says Length: 10:56 | Feb 1, 2021 CISOs need to be more vigilant about building cybersecurity into projects from the beginning, one CISO says. Source link

Used for offensive and defensive purposes, a penetration testing device can be configured to perform automated checks on network security and more. Image: iStock/M-A-U Penetration testers and threat actors (hackers) share a lot in common when it comes to the methods and tools used to test a network’s defenses, identify vulnerabilities, and compromise systems. The similarities far outweigh the differences except in authorized access. SEE: Zero trust security: A cheat sheet (free PDF) (TechRepublic) Note: The aim…

Police in Greece are to be issued new devices that will allow them to carry out real-time facial recognition and fingerprint identification while out on the beat.  The plan to disseminate the new technology is part of the 4.5 million euro “Smart Policing” project announced in 2017 that aims to identify and verify the identity of citizens when stopped by the police. Most of the project costs (75%) are being covered by the Internal Security Fund (ISF)…

A professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan has been charged with first degree sexual misconduct. Peter Chen was arraigned on January 27 and given a personal recognizance bond. The 55-year-old professor has taught at the university for 27 years. Dean of the College of Engineering, Alec Gallimore, announced to students and faculty that Chen had been placed on paid administrative leave on Thursday. Ann Arbor police launched an investigation into the professor…