The FBI has shut down a botnet run by Chinese hackers: The botnet malware infected a number of different types of internet-connected devices around the world, including home routers, cameras, digital video recorders, and NAS drives. Those devices were used…
Tag: Schneier on Security
Remotely Exploding Pagers
Wow. It seems they all exploded simultaneously, which means they were triggered. Were they each tampered with physically, or did someone figure out how to trigger a thermal runaway remotely? Supply chain attack? Malicious code update, or natural vulnerability? I…
Python Developers Targeted with Malware During Fake Job Interviews
Interesting social engineering attack: luring potential job applicants with fake recruiting pitches, trying to convince them to download malware. From a news article These particular attacks from North Korean state-funded hacking team Lazarus Group are new, but the overall malware…
Legacy Ivanti Cloud Service Appliance Being Exploited
CISA wants everyone—and government agencies in particular—to remove or upgrade an Ivanti Cloud Service Appliance (CSA) that is no longer being supported. Welcome to the security nightmare that is the Internet of Things. This article has been indexed from Schneier…
Upcoming Speaking Engagements
This is a current list of where and when I am scheduled to speak: I’m speaking at eCrime 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The event runs from September 24 through 26, 2024, and my keynote is at 8:45 AM ET…
Friday Squid Blogging: Squid as a Legislative Negotiating Tactic
This is an odd story of serving squid during legislative negotiations in the Philippines. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: Friday Squid Blogging: Squid as a Legislative Negotiating Tactic
Microsoft Is Adding New Cryptography Algorithms
Microsoft is updating SymCrypt, its core cryptographic library, with new quantum-secure algorithms. Microsoft’s details are here. From a news article: The first new algorithm Microsoft added to SymCrypt is called ML-KEM. Previously known as CRYSTALS-Kyber, ML-KEM is one of three…
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Reward Modeling of Generative AI Systems
New research evaluating the effectiveness of reward modeling during Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF): “SEAL: Systematic Error Analysis for Value ALignment.” The paper introduces quantitative metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of modeling and aligning human values: Abstract: Reinforcement Learning…
New Chrome Zero-Day
According to Microsoft researchers, North Korean hackers have been using a Chrome zero-day exploit to steal cryptocurrency. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: New Chrome Zero-Day
Australia Threatens to Force Companies to Break Encryption
In 2018, Australia passed the Assistance and Access Act, which—among other things—gave the government the power to force companies to break their own encryption. The Assistance and Access Act includes key components that outline investigatory powers between government and industry.…
Live Video of Promachoteuthis Squid
The first live video of the Promachoteuthis squid, filmed at a newly discovered seamount off the coast of Chile. Blog moderation policy. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: Live Video of Promachoteuthis Squid
YubiKey Side-Channel Attack
There is a side-channel attack against YubiKey access tokens that allows someone to clone a device. It’s a complicated attack, requiring the victim’s username and password, and physical access to their YubiKey—as well as some technical expertise and equipment. Still,…
Long Analysis of the M-209
Really interesting analysis of the American M-209 encryption device and its security. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: Long Analysis of the M-209
Security Researcher Sued for Disproving Government Statements
This story seems straightforward. A city is the victim of a ransomware attack. They repeatedly lie to the media about the severity of the breach. A security researcher repeatedly proves their statements to be lies. The city gets mad and…
List of Old NSA Training Videos
The NSA’s “National Cryptographic School Television Catalogue” from 1991 lists about 600 COMSEC and SIGINT training videos. There are a bunch explaining the operations of various cryptographic equipment, and a few code words I have never heard of before. This…
SQL Injection Attack on Airport Security
Interesting vulnerability: …a special lane at airport security called Known Crewmember (KCM). KCM is a TSA program that allows pilots and flight attendants to bypass security screening, even when flying on domestic personal trips. The KCM process is fairly simple:…
Adm. Grace Hopper’s 1982 NSA Lecture Has Been Published
The “long lost lecture” by Adm. Grace Hopper has been published by the NSA. (Note that there are two parts.) It’s a wonderful talk: funny, engaging, wise, prescient. Remember that talk was given in 1982, less than a year before…
Matthew Green on Telegram’s Encryption
Matthew Green wrote a really good blog post on what Telegram’s encryption is and is not. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: Matthew Green on Telegram’s Encryption
The Present and Future of TV Surveillance
Ars Technica has a good article on what’s happening in the world of television surveillance. More than even I realized. This article has been indexed from Schneier on Security Read the original article: The Present and Future of TV Surveillance
US Federal Court Rules Against Geofence Warrants
This is a big deal. A US Appeals Court ruled that geofence warrants—these are general warrants demanding information about all people within a geographical boundary—are unconstitutional. The decision seems obvious to me, but you can’t take anything for granted. This…