Security News

Kia Motors America experiences massive IT outage across the US
2021-02-16 19:24

Kia Motors USA is experiencing a nationwide outage affecting IT servers, self-payment phone services, dealer platforms, and phone support. The outage started Saturday when the Kia Owners Portal went offline and began displaying an error message stating that Kia was "Experiencing an IT service outage that has impacted some internal networks."

US Cyber Command Valentine’s Day Cryptography Puzzles
2021-02-15 20:50

The US Cyber Command has released a series of ten Valentine’s Day “Cryptography Challenge Puzzles.” Slashdot thread. Reddit thread. (And here’s the archived link, in case Cyber Command takes the...

US Court system demands massive changes to court documents after SolarWinds hack
2021-02-12 20:50

Senators are now demanding more information about the attacker's infiltration of the US court system, which has already been forced to make changes in how documents are filed as a result of the attack. "Highly sensitive documents should be stored in a secure paper filing system or a secure standalone computer system that is not connected to any network, particularly the internet. The AO will provide courts with model language for a standing or general order as well as advice and guidance on how to establish and securely maintain a standalone computer system if a court chooses that option."

Scammers target US tax pros in ongoing IRS phishing attacks
2021-02-12 20:15

The Internal Revenue Service has warned US tax professionals of identity thieves actively targeting them in a series of phishing attacks attempting to steal Electronic Filing Identification Numbers. Scammers started this ongoing phishing campaign right before the US tax season with the end goal of stealing both client data and tax preparers' identities.

Google: Gmail users from US most targeted by phishing attacks
2021-02-12 18:50

Google has revealed earlier this week that Gmail users from the United States are the most popular target for email-based phishing and malware attacks. After inspecting phishing and malware campaigns blocked by Gmail within five months, Google found that 42% of all targets were from the US, with the next two most targeted users being from the UK and Japan.

Report Highlights Cyber Risks to US Election Systems
2021-02-12 13:19

Election systems in the U.S. are vulnerable to cyber intrusions similar to the one that hit federal agencies and numerous businesses last year and remain a potential target for foreign hacking, according to a report released Wednesday. The report by the Center for Internet Security, a nonprofit that partners with the federal government on election security initiatives, focuses on how hardware and software components can provide potential entryways for hackers.

Biden Team Asks Court to Pause Move to Ban TikTok in US
2021-02-11 14:16

President Joe Biden's administration has asked a US federal court to pause proceedings aimed at banning TikTok to allow for a fresh review of the national security threat from the popular Chinese-owned video app. The Trump administration move to ban downloads of TikTok and its presence on online networks had been stalled amid legal challenges.

US Coast Guard orders maritime facilities to report SolarWinds breaches
2021-02-10 20:47

Image: USCG. The U.S. Coast Guard has ordered MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels using SolarWinds software for critical functions to report security breaches in case of suspicions of being affected by the SolarWinds supply-chain attack. "Reporting malicious cyber activity enhances maritime domain awareness and allows us all to be better postured to prevent and respond to cyber incidents that could disrupt commerce or jeopardize national security."

COVID-19 Is Requiring Us to Implement Cyber Distancing (Part 2)
2021-02-10 19:08

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we discussed the concept of "Cyber distancing" for employees asked to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. While working from home or even while at work for that matter, follow these steps to avoid behaviors that may let the bad guy in.

Eight Brits arrested after probe into SIM-swapping scam targeting US celebs
2021-02-10 16:15

Brit cops have cuffed eight men in England and Scotland amid a probe into SIM-swapping attacks on high-profile US targets - including sports stars, musicians, and "Influencers" - that had money and personal data stolen. Last year unauthorised third parties took over the Twitter accounts of 130 celebrities including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and former US president Barrack Obama.