Encryption
Flawed reporting about WhatsApp
Cumulative effect of missteps led the Guardian to overstate the potential impact on the security of users’ messaging<p>The Guardian was wrong to report in January that the popular messaging service WhatsApp had a security flaw so serious that it was a huge threat to freedom of speech.<p>But it was right …
WhatsApp'Wrong to report': The Guardian is backtracking on a controversial story about WhatsApp
The Guardian on Wednesday published changes to a controversial story that originally claimed Facebook's popular messaging service, WhatsApp, had a "backdoor" that could give third parties a way to read private messages.<p>The original story has not been taken down, but it has been revised and there is …
SecurityTunnelBear VPN (for Mac)
<b>Pros</b><p>The best overall speed test scores for macOS. Friendly, charming interface. Blocks ads. Excellent privacy policies. Unique features specifically …
SecurityRussia scraps plans to ban Telegram messaging app
MOSCOW – Russia has ditched plans to ban the Telegram messaging app after its owner agreed to register the company in the country, authorities said Wednesday.<p>Telegram, which provides end-to-end encrypted messaging, has prided itself on privacy and has protested the Russian government's demands to …
RussiaHappy 10th birthday iPhone, the nearest thing to a secure pocket computer
It’s common for security experts to regard themselves as necessary critics, guardians against malpractice, and raisers of worst-case scenarios. While …
SecurityTresorit and Realm to deliver end-to-end encryption for reactive, collaborative mobile apps
Tresorit, the cloud encryption company, and Realm, the mobile platform powering the world’s most responsive applications, announced a partnership to …
SecurityNew Token Ring uses fingerprint reader, Bluetooth to securely authenticate wearer
A new ring called Token embeds Bluetooth and a fingerprint reader, and promises to enhance biometric authentication with compatibility across a large …
AppleFive Eyes agree to engage with industry on terrorists’ use of encryption
Officials from five countries including Canada have agreed to “engagement” with communication-service providers on the use of encryption among terrorists and other criminals – which Canadian law enforcement and government agencies have described as an impediment to investigations.<p>Security and …
PrivacyCyberghost CEO: Assume everything online is public until further notice
Ransomware is terrifying for businesses, entire companies could fall without access to important corporate files. It’s no picnic for individuals either; dependence on smart devices and cloud storage make a lot of us easy targets for cyber-criminals.<p>The amount of risk people take, using their …
PrivacySignal tests changes to how users verify secure contacts
Last November, Signal introduced a few changes to how it manages its safety numbers -- the unique code given to each conversation you have on the app. Safety numbers can change because someone gets a new phone and reinstalled the app or because the conversation has been compromised. Typically, …
SecurityThe battle over encryption and what it means for our privacy
<i>Kenneth Roth is executive director of Human Rights Watch</i><p>It is a rare law enforcement officer or intelligence agent who doesn’t want access to more information. Yet total information awareness, to use a term from the George W. Bush administration era, has never been possible. Some people whisper to …
PrivacyAustralia's encryption thwart thought is fraught
It's not an attack on mathematics. Attorney-General Brandis' attack on terrorist encryption is an attack on the very fabric of secure mobile …
SurveillanceOrwl Secure PC Designed For Sensitive Data
If you are searching for the ultimate mini PC to keep your sensitive data secure the new ORWL mini PC may be worth more investigation and has been …
SecuritySchroedinger's Pet(ya)
Ransomware Vulnerabilities and exploits<p>Earlier today (June 27th), we received reports about a new wave of ransomware attacks spreading around the …
Kaspersky LabQuantum Computing Key to Secure Blockchain: Carnegie Mellon Chief Scientist
While Blockchain technology is a relatively new innovation, it has been steadily gaining recognition recently. According to Gregory Shannon, Chief …
Quantum MechanicsTelegram app used in Russian terror plot faces ban
The messaging app, which has over 100 millions users worldwide, was used to plot a suicide bombing that killed 16, Russia's FSB security service said.<p>Russia could soon block Telegram, a messaging app used by 6 million in the country and over 100 million around the world.<p>Terrorists had used Telegram …
Saint PetersburgHow to completely lock down your sensitive PDFs
If you have important documents on your computer, there’s a good chance they’re PDFs. There’s also a good chance you’re not do everything you can to …
SoftwareAustralia announces plan to ban working cryptography at home and in the US, UK, New Zealand, and Canada
The Australian Attorney General and a key Australian minister have published a memo detailing the demand they plan on presenting to the next Five …
SecurityHacker Steals Millions of Accounts from Internet Radio Service 8tracks
The data includes usernames, email addresses, and hashed passwords.<p>Millions of accounts for internet radio service 8tracks are being traded on the digital underground, judging by a set of stolen user details obtained by Motherboard.<p>8tracks is cross between a social network and an internet radio …
SecurityHow Not to Encrypt a File — Courtesy of Microsoft
A client recently sent me a crypto spec which involved some, how do I say, <i>suboptimal</i> use of crypto primitives. They’re .Net users so I decided to …
SecurityThe UK Has a Dirty Secret for Spying on Encrypted Messages: Hacking
Members of the media and some politicians are near-constantly talking about accessing terrorist communications, but are ignoring one of the most viable solutions.<p>After a string of terrorist attacks in the UK this year, members of the government have renewed their pressure on tech companies such as …
SurveillanceRussia threatens to ban Telegram if it doesn’t hand over data
Russia's communications regulator has demanded Telegram turn over information about the messaging app and the company behind it or risk being blocked. Founder Pavel Durov said that Telegram had also been asked to give the Russian government access to decrypt user messages, all in the name of …
RussiaEncrypted chat app Telegram warned by Russian regulator: 'comply or goodbye'
Russia's communications regulator is threatening to lower the boom on popular encrypted messaging application Telegram.<p>It might look like yet another …
SecurityPerils of Back Door Encryption Mandates
(Washington, DC) – The governments that constitute the intelligence partnership known as “The Five Eyes,” will meet on June 26-27, 2017, in Ottawa to …
PrivacyHow safe is iMessage in the cloud?
Of all the problems iMessage has, Apple says it plans to solve a persistent one: having access to all your conversations on every device, instead of …
AppleAustralia wants governments to decrypt terrorists’ secure messages
This week, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand -- the "Five Eyes" alliance -- will meet in Ottawa, Canada, to discuss protecting borders and best practices for combatting terrorism. Yesterday, Australia announced they wanted to add something to the agenda: a push …
SecurityAmazon RDS Enables Encryption at Rest for Additional T2 Instance Types
Encryption on smaller T2 database instances is useful for development and test use cases, where you want the environment to have identical security …
Cloud ComputingWeaker encryption up for debate, SpaceX double launch
In today's tech news, Australian officials push for weaker encryption of social media at "Five Eyes" summit, and UK Parliament email accounts are attacked. Plus, SpaceX pulls off back-to-back launches.
SecurityUK Govt Wants Encryption Backdoors but Can't Even Protect Its Email Servers From a Brute-Force Attack
A "determined" attacker has breached the email system of the UK Parliament over the weekend, according to a statement put out by the UK government on …
Security$18 billion deal for Toshiba's memory division further challenged by Western Digital
Extending the saga even further, Western Digital has notified Toshiba's board of directors that it formally opposes Toshiba's sale of its memory …
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