ethical hacking | Breaking Cybersecurity News | The Hacker News

A former security engineer has been  sentenced  to three years in prison in the U.S. for charges relating to hacking two decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges in July 2022 and stealing over $12.3 million. Shakeeb Ahmed, the defendant in question,  pled guilty  to one count of computer fraud in December 2023  following his arrest  in July. "At the time of both attacks, Ahmed, a U.S. citizen, was a senior security engineer for an international technology company whose resume reflected skills in, among other things, reverse engineering smart contracts and blockchain audits, which are some of the specialized skills Ahmed used to execute the hacks," the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) noted at the time. While the name of the company was not disclosed, he was residing in Manhattan, New York, and  working for Amazon  before he was apprehended. Court documents show that Ahmed exploited a security flaw in an unnamed cryptocurrency exchange's smart contracts to insert "

Details have emerged about a now-patched high-severity security flaw in Apple's Shortcuts app that could permit a shortcut to access sensitive information on the device without users' consent. The vulnerability, tracked as  CVE-2024-23204  (CVSS score: 7.5), was addressed by Apple on January 22, 2024, with the release of  iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3 ,  macOS Sonoma 14.3 , and  watchOS 10.3 . "A shortcut may be able to use sensitive data with certain actions without prompting the user," the iPhone maker said in an advisory, stating it was fixed with "additional permissions checks." Apple Shortcuts is a  scripting application  that allows users to create personalized workflows (aka macros) for  executing   specific tasks  on their devices. It comes installed by default on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS operating systems. Bitdefender security researcher Jubaer Alnazi Jabin, who discovered and reported the Shortcuts bug, said it could be weaponized to create a

The introduction of Open AI's ChatGPT was a defining moment for the software industry, touching off a GenAI race with its November 2022 release. SaaS vendors are now rushing to upgrade tools with enhanced productivity capabilities that are driven by generative AI. Among a wide range of uses, GenAI tools make it easier for developers to build software, assist sales teams in mundane email writing, help marketers produce unique content at low cost, and enable teams and creatives to brainstorm new ideas.  Recent significant GenAI product launches include Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Salesforce Einstein GPT. Notably, these GenAI tools from leading SaaS providers are paid enhancements, a clear sign that no SaaS provider will want to miss out on cashing in on the GenAI transformation. Google will soon launch its SGE "Search Generative Experience" platform for premium AI-generated summaries rather than a list of websites.  At this pace, it's just a matter of a short time befo

A coalition of dozens of countries, including France, the U.K., and the U.S., along with tech companies such as Google, MDSec, Meta, and Microsoft, have signed a joint agreement to curb the abuse of commercial spyware to commit human rights abuses. The initiative, dubbed the  Pall Mall Process , aims to tackle the proliferation and irresponsible use of commercial cyber intrusion tools by establishing guiding principles and policy options for States, industry, and civil society in relation to the development, facilitation, purchase, and use of such tools. The declaration stated that "uncontrolled dissemination" of spyware offerings contributes to "unintentional escalation in cyberspace," noting it poses risks to cyber stability, human rights, national security, and digital security. "Where these tools are used maliciously, attacks can access victims' devices, listen to calls, obtain photos and remotely operate a camera and microphone via 'zero-click&

Section four of the " Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity " introduced a lot of people in tech to the concept of a "Software Supply Chain" and securing it. If you make software and ever hope to sell it to one or more federal agencies, you  have  to pay attention to this. Even if you never plan to sell to a government, understanding your Software Supply Chain and learning how to secure it will pay dividends in a stronger security footing and the benefits it provides. This article will look at three ways to supercharge your  Software Supply Chain Security . What is your Software Supply Chain? It's essentially everything that goes into building a piece of software: from the IDE in which the developer writes code, to the third-party dependencies, to the build systems and scripts, to the hardware and operating system on which it runs. Instabilities and vulnerabilities can be introduced, maliciously or not, from inception to deployment and even beyond.  1: Ke

Network penetration testing plays a crucial role in protecting businesses in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Yet, business leaders and IT pros have misconceptions about this process, which impacts their security posture and decision-making.  This blog acts as a quick guide on network penetration testing, explaining what it is, debunking common myths and reimagining its role in today's security landscape.  What is network penetration testing? Network penetration testing  is a proactive approach to cybersecurity in which security experts simulate cyberattacks to identify gaps in an organization's cyberdefense. The key objective of this process is to identify and rectify weaknesses before hackers can exploit them. This process is sometimes called "pentesting" or "ethical hacking."  Network pentesting checks for chinks in an organization's armor to help mitigate cyber-risks and protect against data, financial and reputational losses.  Differe

For anyone with interest in  cybersecurity , learning Python is a must. The language is used extensively in white hat hacking, and professionals use  Python  scripts to automate tests. It also has a use in the "soft" side of cybersecurity — like scraping the web for compromised data and detecting bugs.  Featuring nine full-length video courses,  The Complete 2022 Python Programmer Bundle  helps you come to grips with this powerful programming language. The included training is worth $1,791 altogether. But thanks to a special price drop, readers of The Hacker News can  get the bundle today for just $39 . Special Offer — This library of Python video training includes 46 hours of content, and you can get lifetime access today  for just $39 ! When each new year of computer science talent arrives at MIT and Stanford, one of the first languages they learn is Python.  Why? Well, it's relatively easy to read. But just as importantly, it's super versatile and plenty powerful. If you have

Cyber-attacks keep increasing and evolving but, regardless of the degree of complexity used by hackers to gain access, get a foothold, cloak their malware, execute their payload or exfiltrate data, their attack will begin with reconnaissance. They will do their utmost to uncover exposed assets and probe their target's attack surface for gaps that can be used as entry points. So, the first line of defense is to limit the potentially useful information available to a potential attacker as much as possible. As always, the tug of war between operational necessity and security concerns needs to be taken into account, which requires a better understanding of the type of information typically leveraged. What information are hackers looking for during recon? When running recon on an organization, hackers – whether white or black hats - are "casing a joint." To plan their attack, they will try and uncover as much information as possible about: Your infrastructure The types

The greatest threat facing most nations is no longer a standing army. It's a hacker with a computer who can launch a crippling cyber attack from thousands of miles away—potentially taking down everything from server farms to entire power grids with a few lines of code. So it should come as no surprise that virtually every major company in both the public and private sector—as well as national security teams and government agencies—are looking for talented and trained professionals who can help them evade these cyber threats. Although it may seem a bit counterintuitive, the only person who can fight back against a hacker is another hacker. Known as ethical or "white hat" hackers, these intrepid cyber warriors are the first and most important line of defense against these nefarious hackers, and they're being paid handsomely for their services. The Complete White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle will teach you everything you need to know in order to join their r

We've got some really exciting news for you... Offensive Security has released an official version of Kali Linux for Raspberry Pi 4—the most powerful version of the compact computer board yet that was released just two weeks ago with the full 4GB of RAM at low cost and easy accessibility. Based on Debian, Kali Linux has always been the number one operating system for ethical hackers and penetration testers, and Raspberry Pi always has a gold standard for inexpensive single-board computing, designed to let people experiment with building software and hardware. Due to the popularity of Kali Linux on previous versions of Raspberry Pi, Offensive Security says that the developers want to get Kali supported on the latest version of the Pi right away. Now with the release of Raspberry Pi 4, Offensive Security is really excited to launch a new build of Kali Linux that takes advantage of everything the Raspberry Pi 4 has to offer including: A more powerful CPU Options for 1,

Memorial Day has come and gone, but you still have time to land some of the best deals on some of the best apps and tech training bundles around. Whether you're looking for a world-class VPN or want to begin a career as a high-paid ethical hacker or IT pro, this list of ultra-discounted apps and course bundles has you covered. Ethical Hacking A to Z Training Bundle MSRP: $1273 - Sale Price: $39 — Memorial Day Sale Price: $15.60 with coupon code WEEKEND60 Although it may sound counterintuitive, the only person who can stop a hacker is another hacker. Known as ethical or "white hat" hackers, these intrepid cyber warriors are in high-demand throughout countless industries, and this training will teach you how to join their ranks through 8 courses and over 45 hours of instruction. The Complete 2019 CompTIA Certification Training Bundle MSRP: $3433 - Sale Price: $69 — Memorial Day Sale Price: $27.60 with coupon code WEEKEND60 There's never been a bet

Many of you might have this question in your mind: "Is it illegal to test a website for vulnerability without permission from the owner?" Or… "Is it illegal to disclose a vulnerability publicly?" Well, the answer is YES, it's illegal most of the times and doing so could backfire even when you have good intentions. Last year, Hungarian police arrested a 20-year-old ethical hacker accused of finding and exploiting serious vulnerabilities in Magyar Telekom, the largest Hungarian telecommunication company, who is now facing up to 8 years in prison. According to local Hungarian media , the defender first discovered a severe vulnerability in Magyar Telekom systems in April 2018 and reported it to the company officials, who later invited him to a meeting. Reportedly, the hacker then traveled to Budapest for the meeting, which didn't go well as he expected, and apparently, the company did not permit him to test its systems further. However, the man conti

With the rise in cyber-crimes, ethical hacking has become a powerful strategy in the fight against online threats. In general terms, ethical hackers are authorised to break into supposedly 'secure' computer systems without malicious intent, but with the aim of discovering vulnerabilities to bring about improved protection. Ethical Hackers are now kind of becoming the alchemists of the 21st century. More and more organisations are being targeted in cyber-attacks, and they must get to know their enemy if they are to protect vital networks. Meet the professional, ethical hacker. Despite this, the common belief among many at-risk companies is that 'to outwit a hacker, you need to hire one'. With so much at stake, even technology providers are turning to those with hacking skills to find the flaws in their products and fix them before the baddies can exploit them. Infamous Apple Hacker Turned Ethical; Hired by Facebook 23-year-old George 'GeoHot' Ho