Month: January 2015

Forshaw’s Patch

January 8, 2015 — Leave a comment

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There is a busy little cyber bee, who works in Google. One day, we are not quite sure if he was curious or bored, this bee has discovered a serious security flaw in Windows 8.1. This guy works and publish under a nickname Forshaw. So, are you eager to know what went wrong with Windows 8.1?

Apparently, there is a way for you to gain administrator’s privileges, and all of that completely undetected. What can you do with them? Well, it comes without saying that in this case sky is the limit. Literally. Forshaw has done both necessary things in this unfortunate and embarrassing situation.

On the side, he has informed Microsoft directly about his findings. On the other side, he has published his conclusions supported with the proper evidence. So far, Microsoft has been silent on this one. Nevertheless, it is only a matter of time before the new patch hits our cyber shores with a solution.

For what is worth, Microsoft itself has some other troubles on its mind. What is going to happen with the new Windows 10 and how successful it is going to be? This is undoubtedly the mother of all questions for Microsoft at this moment. We sure hope that this bug will not wish to move to the new OS version.

You Can Or Cannot Touch This?

January 7, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The season of bad news for iPhone 6 is far from over. The new trouble has a name, and it is called the fingerprint scan flaw. Although, it has not been fully confirmed, there is a high probability that someone can hack your iPhone by using the fingerprint feature. How? Well, you can make a fake fingerprint.

Again, how? To tell the truth, it is not the rocket science, but it is also not so simple. You need to make high quality pictures of your fingerprint from the different angles. The next thing you know your Touch ID has been hacked, and the silent uninvited guest is passing through your cyber door with no warning at all.

On the other side, you do not have to worry that much. In order for this hacking thing to be fully functional, you have to make those top quality pictures the way you want them. If a proud owner of his or her fingertips allows for this to happen, then we do not have any rights to complain. Right?

Can we really do something about it, when it comes to proper prevention? We cannot use the gloves all day long, can we? Or maybe, Apple should do something about it, in order to improve the Touch ID security features. Either way, we need to change so we can play safe, as it is supposed to be. Right?

Hacker’s Xmas

January 6, 2015 — Leave a comment

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This is definitely not a Christmas story you want to hear at this time of the year. Yet, we have no other choice than to bring this one up. There was an unfortunate and unwanted Christmas break for the gamers on both Sony PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Microsoft and Sony have already apologized.

On the other hand, the Lizard Squad let us know that they are responsible for these attacks. There is no way, who has volunteered to save the day for gamers. The notorious Kim Dotcom has reached one of the most unusual deals in the entire cyber history. The Xbox and the PSN are safe and sound thanks to him.

So, what happened? Well, for what is worth, Kim has promised a free service of his brand new Mega server thing to the Lizard guys. In return, this group will forget about the Microsoft and Sony PlayStation gaming servers for a while or for good. That is not quite sure. The problem is solved. For now.

In the meantime, Sony has offered to give additional five days to the existing accounts to ease the pain. Who knows, maybe this is the fresh start of Kim Dotcom as the most unusual consultant in the matters of the cyber security. What can we say? Nothing but the very best for him and troubled Sony.

Sony Is Going To Make It Up For You

January 5, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Great news, cyber boys and girls. Sony is going to make it up to you for the Christmas trouble. You will get extra five days on your account. We have already written about it. The hacker’s group called the Lizard Squad was responsible for the attacks on both PSN ans Xbox One network. No network. No game.

Do you have any idea, who has saved the day? One of the least likely guys you could have possibly expected. No more and no less, than Kim Dotcom himself had to intervene here. He has reached some kind of a deal with the Lizard Squad members. They will spare the PSN and Xbox One from future attacks.

Is this a complete surprise or what? What happened to a rule that a friend of my enemy is supposed to be my enemy by default? Kim Dotcom is a hero of this story. Maybe, this is the way how Sony should solve its problems with the Interview movie and the North Korean bad boy Kim Jong Un.

One more accidental hero for Sony can be the extremely controversial and influential Dennis Rodman. Perhaps he can change the color of his hair and the mind of his friend Kim Jong Un. Right now, Sony needs all the help it can get right now. No matter how the helping hand is covered in tattoos.

The Internet 2015

January 2, 2015 — Leave a comment

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What is going to happen to the Internet in 2015? What should happen, in the first place? The father of the World Wide Web has spoken one more time. Sir Tim Berners – Lee has some word of advice. The only trouble is that we have to find some careful listeners and quick doers to follow his footsteps.

Let us narrow our ambition to two things only, shall we? The first one is to do something about the 60% of people on our planet, who still live in the Internet darkness. How to ensure them access to the Net? Google will send drones and Facebook balloons. Would that be enough? Let us wait and see.

The second thing is associated directly with our heavily compromised and jeopardized online privacy. Mr. Berners – Lee believes that we desperately need some kind of a Privacy Constitution, which will guarantee the rights, as well as online obligations of all participants in the cyber universe, for real.

Let us forget about our shiny little gadgets and fascinating Internet speed we like to brag around, shall we? Without these two requirements, our good old Internet will remain to be nothing more than a convenient toy in an enlightening package. We hope that Tim will live long enough to see it all happen.  

Facebook 2015

January 1, 2015 — Leave a comment

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This year is definitely going to be a crucial one for Facebook. Why? On the one side, we have a new privacy policy, which is going to shake the ground of social networks, for sure. On the other hand, there is a huge legal trouble on the Facebook horizon. So, what is this supposed to mean for us and Facebook?

Well, if Facebook can hit these two birds with one stone, then the shinning and promising future is guaranteed. On the contrary, if the users are not thrilled with the new privacy policy and the lawsuits against Facebook are to be successful, then Facebook will have to prepare billions of dollars and throw them directly into the fire.

Scanning users’ private messages for the advertising purposes is still not a legal activity in California. That is why all successful lawsuits, which are protecting our privacy, are very likely to be “rewarded” with at least $10K per user. Is this enough for Facebook to be dead worried about the situation?

They can afford it, that is for sure, this way or another. But, Facebook will have to change something about the way it runs its business and treats its users. That could be a good thing to start the new year. Right? Otherwise, Facebook will discover the completely new meaning of the word privacy.