data security | Breaking Cybersecurity News | The Hacker News

Last week we reported a critical vulnerability in the world's most popular messaging application WhatsApp, that could expose users' GPS location data to hackers  and was discovered by the researchers at UNH Cyber Forensics Research & Education Group. Same Group of researchers reported new set of vulnerabilities in another most popular messaging application ' VIber '. They claimed that Viber's poor data security practices threaten privacy of its more than 150 million active users. Cross Platform messaging app Viber allows registered users to share text messages, images, doodles, GPS Location and videos with each other, along with its popular free voice calling feature which is available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Blackberry and Desktops as well. The researchers found that users' data stored on the Viber Amazon Servers including images and videos are stored in an unencrypted form that could be easily accessed without any authentication i.e.which giv...

Since, we are living in the era where nothing could be possible without the help of the Internet. From every unimportant to every major and important data are stored in our computers and servers, and there is a massive growth in the volume of data all around us. But, computer drives can fail, and usually they give no advance warning. One minute they're working fine, and the next minute they're toasted. Data loss can be very costly, and due to the increase in cyber threat these days, all computer data is at risk from threats or damage. Even with the most reliable equipment and the most secure operating environment, there is always the possibility of something going wrong. So, a solution to all problems is to have a backup of entire data stored on your computer, and for that it is important for you to have a right choice. Want to know - How to backup the server/workstation? Well, there are many options, some are reliable and some are not. Now, at this point, you won...

Hackers are planning to increase data security attacks via applications on social networking websites this Christmas, according to an expert. Earlier this month, IT security firm Sophos traced the history of malware and viruses created over the Christmas period from 1987 until 2009. The blog post revealed that, although some were relatively harmless festive pranks, more cyberattacks over the holidays could have serious repercussions for computer users. Rik Ferguson, senior security analyst at Trend Micro, stated that hackers conduct such attacks annually. "Criminals absolutely do, every year without fail, conduct campaigns designed to take advantage of people's willingness to search for and click on links relating to Christmas activity, whether that's through phishing campaigns or sending social engineering emails masquerading as Christmas cards," he said. Mr. Ferguson added that apps on social networking sites had "come of age as an attack platform" and...

Nearly 100 law enforcement officers recently witnessed how easily an identity thief can steal electronic information. During a UNLV conference, a cybercrime expert used a $30 device to intercept data from their smartphones. Welcome to the dark side of the 21st century. As technology advances, so do the methods of thieves. They now target computers, phones, ATMs, credit card machines, and any device holding personal information. Identity theft is a severe crime. Criminals can quickly wreak havoc by draining bank accounts, taking out loans, and racking up credit card debts. A victim's credit score can be ruined in no time. As reported by Steve Kanigher in the Las Vegas Sun, Nevada has been a hotspot for identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Nevada ranked fifth in the nation for identity theft last year. This is an improvement from 2005 when it was second. Metro Police reported 2,063 cases from January to November 13 this year, down from 2,440 during the same...

The Australian police have arrested a 33-year-old man accused of hacking into nearly 100 online accounts. The Australian Federal Police's high-tech crime unit has been monitoring the suspect since last September. This surveillance began when a local telecom company alerted the authorities to suspicious activity within its network. The man allegedly hacked into private and business Internet accounts, downloading data and engaging in other fraudulent activities. The suspect was arrested yesterday, and police confiscated his computer equipment. He now faces charges related to computer intrusion, including unauthorized access, modification, or impairment with intent to commit a serious offense. Neil Gaughan, the national manager of high-tech crime operations and assistant commissioner, stated that this arrest serves as a reminder for people to protect their online safety. "Anyone can be targeted by criminals online; it's important to be aware of the risks and take appropriate act...

The police have changed their approach to a phone hacking incident that could affect Andy Coulson. Coulson, the media adviser for the Prime Minister, was previously an editor for the News of the World. The police have taken steps to halt the flow of information that could implicate high-ranking journalists at the News of the World. Changes in policy might have significant implications for Andy Coulson. The police have announced they will no longer provide public figures with information about phone hacking. This decision relates to data, computer records, and tapes seized from Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective. It is suspected that the data implicates senior journalists in a phone hacking incident. Allegedly, these journalists instructed Mulcaire to investigate well-known individuals, including politicians and sports stars. Police recently admitted they did not fully investigate the data during their initial inquiry. The police have stated they will not continue investigating ...

WikiLeaks' release of secret government communications should serve as a warning to the nation's biggest companies: You're next. Computer experts have warned for years about the threat posed by disgruntled insiders and poorly crafted security policies that give too much access to confidential data. WikiLeaks' release of U.S. diplomatic documents shows that the group can—and likely will—use the same methods to reveal the secrets of powerful corporations. As WikiLeaks claims it has incriminating documents from a major U.S. bank, possibly Bank of America, there's new urgency to address information security inside corporations. This situation also highlights the limitations of security measures when confronted with a determined insider. At risk are companies' innermost secrets—emails, documents, databases, and internal websites thought to be locked from the outside world. Companies create records of every decision they make, whether it's rolling out new produ...