Security News

Experian API Leaks Most Americans’ Credit Scores
2021-04-29 18:42

A researcher is claiming that the credit scores of almost every American were exposed through an API tool used by the Experian credit bureau, that he said was left open on a lender site without even basic security protections. Demirkapi was surprised and decided to take a peek at the code, which showed that an connection to an Experian API was behind the tool, he said.

Experian API Exposed Credit Scores of Most Americans
2021-04-28 20:47

Big-three consumer credit bureau Experian just fixed a weakness with a partner website that let anyone look up the credit score of tens of millions of Americans just by supplying their name and mailing address, KrebsOnSecurity has learned. Peering at the code behind this lookup page, he was able to see it invoked an Experian Application Programming Interface or API - a capability that allows lenders to automate queries for FICO credit scores from the credit bureau.

Experts uncover a new Banking Trojan targeting Latin American users
2021-04-06 22:38

Researchers on Tuesday revealed details of a new banking trojan targeting corporate users in Brazil at least since 2019 across various sectors such as engineering, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, finance, transportation, and government. "These pop-ups contain fake forms, aiming to trick the malware's victims into entering their banking credentials and personal information that the malware captures and exfiltrates to its servers," ESET researchers Facundo Muñoz and Matías Porolli said in a write-up.

Hornetsecurity acquires Zerospam to extend its reach in the North American market
2021-03-28 23:15

Zerospam is a fast-growing business that serves more than 4,000 small, midsized and enterprise customers worldwide via an ecosystem of 400+ partners focused primarily on Canada and the US. It is a recognized leader in providing cloud-based email security solutions to the SMB market across North America, helping them block unwanted emails and combat cybercriminals. "Becoming part of the Hornetsecurity Group is a critical step in Zerospam's progression, as we believe it will greatly benefit our customers and partners, as well as our entire team."

Proposed Bill Would Allow Americans to Sue Foreign Cyber-Actors
2021-03-10 16:03

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives this week could allow United States citizens to seek monetary damages if cyber-attacks by foreign threat actors harm them in any way. Per the bill, Americans would be able to make claims in federal or state courts if they are in any way affected by cyber-attacks that foreign states have conducted against them.

Disruptions at Pan-American Life Likely Caused by Ransomware Attack
2021-03-08 13:45

Recent service disruptions at the Pan-American Life Insurance Group were likely caused by a cyberattack conducted by a threat actor known for using the REvil ransomware. The official website of PALIG currently only displays some contact information and the following message: "Pan-American Life Insurance Group is currently experiencing a disruption to some of our services and we are working to restore them. To facilitate communication during this time, we have created temporary email accounts as an official communication channel."

Hit block caller: 75% of Americans were targeted by scammers
2021-02-10 11:00

While it's logical to assume seniors would be primary targets, a new report revealed that millennials were actually the most targeted demographic group of the more than 50 billion spam calls made in 2020. The increase in calls has enabled scammers to go ham on the unsuspecting, as they steal money and damage trust.

How much is your info worth on the Dark Web? For Americans, it's just $8
2021-02-08 15:29

A Comparitech report found that Japan and the UAE have the most expensive identities available on illicit marketplaces at an average price of $25. Personal information from US citizens found on the Dark Web-ranging from Social Security numbers, stolen credit card numbers, hacked PayPal accounts, and more-is worth just $8 on average, according to a new report from tech research firm Comparitech. "After a data breach or successful phishing campaign, much of the stolen personal information is sold on black markets. Many such marketplaces reside on the dark web. The median credit limit on a stolen credit card is 24 times the price of the card. The median account balance of a hacked PayPal account is 32 times the price on the dark web," Comparitech's Paul Bischoff wrote.

Politics and online privacy: How American Republicans and Democrats differ, and where they agree
2021-01-19 18:08

A report from NordVPN finds disagreement on which political leader does better on privacy issues, whether disinformation should be banned, and what the biggest cyberthreat is. VPN service provider NordVPN has released the results of a Politics and Digital Privacy Study conducted on US citizens, finding party line divisions on many issues, but general agreement on others, such as whether Big Tech should be liable for its use of personal data or whether a policy similar to the proposed EU Digital Services Act should be enacted in the US. The study surveyed 1,000 American adults and focused on questions about privacy issues and disinformation on the internet with the aim of determining opinions on who should regulate those issues in the American market.

Trump bans China-linked apps for collecting Americans’ data
2021-01-06 09:44

United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning eight Chinese apps considered to be a threat to US national security, economy, and foreign policy. Moving to ban the apps is designed to secure the country's information and communications technology, as well as the services supply chain which is considered a national emergency according to Executive Order 13873, signed on May 15, 2019.