iOSecurit9

June 15, 2015 — Leave a comment

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What is the use of the new OS, if there are no security improvements? This is a golden, and yet unwritten rule, in the mobile world. With this shiny thought in mind, what can we expect from the new iOS 9? Well, for what is worth we are going to make a few wild guesses, based on some serious rumors.

For the time being, we have a fingerprint scanner and a four-characters-code at our disposal. These 10,000 possible combinations are obviously not enough for the busy little bees in Apple. How about a million of potential combinations of a new six-character-code? This sounds like a plan.

Sometimes is good to have your reputation at stake. Why? Because, you will work really hard to create one hell of a tough system for hackers to crack. Yes, you care about your users, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to your shiny logo, which you need to protect at all costs.

OK Apple, you have certainly caught our attention. You want us to feel safe and invulnerable. Then, we have no other choice than to put your name to the rigorous tests. We will see what was this, an intriguing ad or a serious decision to set new standards in the cyber security field.

USA Patriot Act vs USA Freedom Act

June 12, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The busy little bees in the Congress are not going to be bored this summer, that is for sure. The clash of the legal titans USA Patriot Act and US Freedom Act is far from over. In addition, all the voices calling Edward Snowden to come back home are perhaps still premature despite their noble intentions.

From what we know for sure, the most decisive battle is going to be fought over the phone records. The NSA has a couple of months left to do what it wants with our phone records. After the moment the USA Freedom Act reaches its full legal power, a court order would be an absolute must in this field.

Either way, this is a tricky situation, and there are no winners here. Our privacy is incurably lost between our need for the flawless security and our desire to be left alone, from time to time. You cannot have it both, can you? One side of this story has to suffer, either our privacy or our safety.

The President Obama is going to have more than one sleepless night. His signature will set the beginning of this legal war. We sure hope that a new devastating terrorist attack is not going to be required to determine a winner. Maybe, it is simply impossible to enjoy your privacy and safety at the same time.

The Four-Million Super-Hack

June 11, 2015 — Leave a comment

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No one knows for sure, what has actually happened. Maybe, we are too embarrassed to admit it. Yet, for what is worth, some 4 million federal employee data were stolen. Does it mean that all federal data are compromised? How many federal employees, we have in the first place?

Or, let us ask the right question. Who is to blame? It turns out that all eyes are on Chinese hackers, for the moment. Although, it is not quite clear, what are you supposed to do with these federal data. Can you sell them? Are these people more attractive to people, because they have reliable sources of income?

The black-cyber-markets can be very generous for these types of data. On the other hand, this is a huge blow straight in the face of the federal cyber security. If the US government cannot protect its own employees, then what is going to happen to the so-called ordinary citizens?

You can rest assured that this cyber embarrassment is not going to disappear so easily. We are going to write and read much more about the aftermath of this hack attack of epic proportions. Can you hack an entire country? Now, under these circumstances, this question does not sound crazy at all.

Capture The DARPA’s Flag

June 10, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The DARPA stands for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), or in plain English, one of Fox Mulder’s most favorite non-secret government agencies. You dream about it, they make it. The most unimaginable and crazy weapons among other things.

However, this time the DARPA’s men in black have decided to borrow some of Defcon’s strategies. If you want to earn two million dollars in two days, here is what you have to do. You or your team have to come up with a software, which has mastered the skill of superior self defense.

The intention is more than clear with this one. No price is too big to pay for the state-of-the-art software, which can withstand the most sophisticated cyber attacks. In addition, the DARPA is aiming high with this one. How high you may ask? Let us put it in this more understandable way.

The perfect software according to DARPA’s rigorous criteria is supposed not only to successfully defend itself, but also to strike back with all the power of a cyber vengeance. This is a true win-win the busy little bees in the DARPA are trying to achieve with this challenging contest.

You’re In The Army Buddy

June 9, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The Israeli army has new rules related to the proper use of social networks, while you are in the uniform. You are free to use Facebook and Twitter, including other similar media, but with the certain reasonable restrictions. Why all of this trouble with the armed social networks?

Well, you have probably heard that one reckless IS member had sent an invitation to US bombs with his reckless selfie. What you are going to do in your own free time is your thing. However, you should not jeopardize your unit’s position, including the complex and sensitive defense mechanism.

It is also worth mentioning that the same social networks can be used as a weapon. The Israeli army has one of the most sophisticated units for the cyber warfare in the world. That is why, we find a great deal of controversy in this specific do-or-not-do on social networks list.

We shall wait and see, how these newly imposed limitations are going to work for the cyber boys and girls in the Israeli army. Yet, there is some reason in it. You just cannot believe how many top military secrets we are ready to reveal so easily for a perfect selfie. Beware, because the enemy is watching.

Edward Please Go Back Home

June 9, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act. Are you confused with this sentence? In order to ease this task for you, we have bolded the most important letters. Your job is to get something meaningful out of it. Do you need more help?

How about the USA Freedom Act? Oh dear, it sounds so lovely and inspirational. What is it supposed to do? Well, for what is worth, this shiny document is supposed to work against the good men in black, who are doing bad things to our privacy. Is it going to be effective and enough?

We only wish that Edward Snowden was here to witness one of the very few acts, which aims directly at the NSA operations. This is an obvious acknowledgement that Snowden has been absolutely right all of this time. However, this is not going to save him from prison.

The world’s most famous whistleblower may never come back home. It is a hard thing to say, but that is not the most important thing. We believe that Snowden would have appreciated a hypothetical situation of not being able to recognize his home country thanks to this and similar acts.

Don’t Apple Watch And Drive

June 7, 2015 — Leave a comment

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One driver had to pay a $120 ticket. What for? He was using his Apple Watch while driving. Obviously, the police does not like to see you look for a favorite song while being stuck in traffic. So, what is the moral of this story? New technologies brought us new troubles?

One of the police officers was a little bit more thoughtful in this matter. His word of advice is that we have to catch up with the new devices in terms of appropriate laws and regulations. We do not want reckless drivers on our streets. However, we also do not want to pay a huge price for our precious cyber-pets.

For the time being there is no acceptable middle ground for both parties. We are pretty much convinced that the authorities are exaggerating. On the other hand, the police officers on the field believe that the new smart devices strongly contribute to the reckless and dangerous behavior behind the wheel.

It seems that we have to come up with a new series of smart devices, which will be safe-drive-friendly. Until then, we should think twice before pressing shining buttons while driving. We do not want for smart devices put us in the dumb situations, do we? Do not Apple Watch and drive!

Bill & Ted’s Deep Web Adventure

June 5, 2015 — Leave a comment

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If you are a huge Bill & Ted fan, then you definitely appreciate each and any rare opportunity to see Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter together. Yet, how about a documentary? Can this work for you? At the same time, we have not quite used to see these hilarious team in some more serious roles.

Here is an unprecedented surprise for these two. Alex Winter took care of organizing a mind blowing documentary about the so-called Deep Web. On the other side, Keanu Reeves narrated the whole thing. The final results were really impressive. They went deep into the Deep Web, that is for sure.

As soon as you hear Keanu’s voice-over, you will get this unpleasant and cold Matrix feeling. When it comes to the Deep Web aka Dark Net, you cannot make a movie with a happy end. Nevertheless, it is unreasonable to treat this invaluable part of the World Wide Web with superstition and fear.

Our hats off to these two most unlikely cyber heroes. We loved them when they used to entertain us. We should appreciate when they are trying to warn us. Our ignorance is the worst enemy of both worlds the real and the virtual one. What is the Matrix? What is the Deep Web?

Spinning Out Of The Nuclear Control

June 5, 2015 — Leave a comment

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There is one more than one serious rumor that the NSA messed up with the Iranian nuclear program, for real and with a success. All of that, thanks to the special stuxnet-style virus. Can you really hack someone’s nuclear facilities? Apparently you can. Do not forget the North Korea.

Do you really believe that the men-in-black in the NSA have not tried to take control over the North Korean nuclear reactors? Then, how come they have failed to “play” with the centrifuges of their reactors, just like they did in Iran? Well, being isolated has some interesting positive consequences.

How can you possibly launch a virus in the country, where there is no Internet, almost literally? The answer is, forget about it, because it is not going to work. On the other side, we have to say that this is a dangerous and reckless game played by the NSA busy little cyber bees. Why is that?

Do you also believe that the notorious North Korean Bureau 121 is not going to try to strike back? When you look at the things in this way, then the USA can look as a true candyshoop for the North Korean hackers. We do not even dare imagine the worst case scenario. How about you?

Hey Congress, This Is A Blackout

June 2, 2015 — Leave a comment

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It seems that someone has just had enough of laws with lovely names for the media, but with the devastating consequences for the already compromised privacy. All cyber-eyes are on Congress right now. What is going to happen with a few quite notorious surveillance laws?

Both Freedom and Patriotic Act, in the name of our freedom and rights, ask from us to give up our privacy more or less, directly or indirectly. On the other hand, there are more than 1,000 websites and even more people behind them, who strongly believe that the days of greatest dangers are gone.

We have seen all kinds of protests. Some of them were quite simple and obvious, while others were surprisingly creative and complex. Can you protest with a code? This is exactly what is happening right now. Some busy little bees have come up with a brilliant idea to “block” the Congress.

Here is the catch. All users working or “coming” from the Congress will not be able to access quite a few websites. The only thing they will be able to see is a blackout message. Will it work? Time will tell, and in the meantime, this blackout protest is spreading like a wildfire all over the Internet.