Security researchers at BitSight (AnubisNetworks) have found a backdoor that affects 3 million budget Android devices. The backdoor makes the phones vulnerable to a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack and could allow attackers to remotely execute commands to take complete control of a device.
Drones have conquered the world: they are used to hunt down tax evaders and illegal hunters, help suppress wildfires, find victims after natural disasters… They even serve as flying cameras to assist in filming movies and for aerial photography.
Online retail giant Amazon, for example, is planning on using drones for commercial delivery in order to fly purchases right to customers’ front doors. Despite being originally developed for military purposes, drones are slowly finding their place into our everyday lives. However, just as with every other technology, these unmanned aerial vehicles can pose a serious threat if they fall into the wrong hands.
Among other things, drones can be used as highly effective spies. Their ability to get close to almost any place where confidential data is stored (for example, an office) without being seen, makes them the perfect spy. Not only because of their ability to carry cameras and capture images through windows, but also because they can make the perfect weapon to carry out sophisticated cyber-attacks.
Drones can be used by cyber-criminals to easily get their malicious tools close to their target without having to overcome the physical barriers that the potential victim may have in place (security guards, access control systems, biometric sensors, surveillance cameras, etc.).
A drone could hide, for example, a jammer, a malicious hotspot, a device to launch attacks via Bluetooth or NFC, etc. The number of ways in which these aerial devices can be used to spy on victims and steal confidential information is almost endless.
Such is the risk that there are countries such as Sweden that have ruled that camera drones qualify as surveillance cameras, banning their use unless the drone operator has the necessary permit.
However, a cyber-criminal that wanted to use a drone to carry out an attack would still have another option: to take control of someone else’s device. Unfortunately, many of today’s models have vulnerabilities that could allow a remote attacker to take control of them.
Drone manufacturers have the responsibility to increase the security of their aircrafts to mitigate the security and privacy concerns raised by them. As this technology becomes ever more present in our lives, it is clear that the notion of safety and security in IT systems cannot be limited to computers and smartphones, but should also reach other high-flying devices. In this respect, having the cyber-security protection that best adapts to your needs is absolutely essential.
The post Camera drones: A flying spy is peeping into your window appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
When cell phones appeared on the market they were meant to be used for talk and text. However, things have changed and cellular operators no longer stress about the amount of minutes or texts you are using, but for the amount of data you burn through. That’s because people don’t make that many calls anymore – these days your cell phone is being used as a small pocket computer that allows you to connect with your friends and business partners, be up to speed with what is happening around the world and of course entertain yourself by watching videos and playing games.
The devices are no longer about you being able to call someone; it’s about you being connected to the world on a variety of platforms. What makes cell phones such an important tool? Well, they are mobile. It is as simple as that! You can use them almost anywhere and take them with you everywhere. There’s an app for almost anything that keeps to mind. Now while mobility can be an advantage in many ways it can also be perceived as a disadvantage.
cell phones are powered by a battery and this battery can often let us down. The laws of the modern world say: Your cell phone battery will most probably die on you the moment you need it most. It is said that should Apple manufacture a car, it will most likely run out of juice every day at about 4pm, just as you’re trying to go home from work. We are so dependent upon cell phones we can no longer execute simple everyday tasks without them. There are reported cases of people unable to get home as their phones have stopped working. How do you get home without the GPS on your device? Let’s admit it – we have become so used to having that cell phone in our pocket we cannot function without it.
Phones tend to die in the most unexpected moments so we recommend that you always have a portable power station with you, or at least a cable that will allow you to charge your phone in case of need. Just look at Starbucks as an example. They know people want their devices charged up so they installed wireless chargers at their coffee stores to attract more customers. While this can be the case in some stores, in 9 out of 10 cases, stores that don’t have wireless chargers will be happy to get your phone charged a bit behind the counter while you shop.
There are many options on the market that allow you to have your phone charged while on the go. Have you seen all of these people with phones connected with a cable to something in their backpack or purse? They are Pokémon hunters who want to ‘catch’em all’. You cannot catch all the Pokémon if you don’t have a portable charger – your phone won’t make it without a recharge. While this is a common practice amongst Pokémon hunters, regular people take advantage of it just as much. Having a juice pack is a must in this busy world.
Just go out there and get yourself a car charger. You will never run out of battery if your phone is charging while you are commuting. Unless you live in New York, here in the USA most people travel to and from work for at least 30 minutes a day. Some phones such as Motorola Droid 2 or Google Pixel allow you to use your phone for up to 8 hours with only 15 minutes charge. This is incredible, take advantage of the fast charging options available for your mobile device.
We know in 2016 these are rarity but you can always find a smartphone that allows you to change its battery. Having a bad battery life should not mean you have to buy a brand new device or spend tons of money on external chargers, this means you may just have to replace your battery. Phones such as the latest LG V20 allow you to do exactly that.
Sometimes the solution is not to constantly charge up your phone. It is more about finding out what drains it and eliminating it. All smartphones have the capability of monitoring battery usage and determining what causes the short or inconsistent battery life of your device. If you see an app that uses up the majority of your battery but you barely use, just delete it – it clogs up your phone’s memory and drains your battery. You don’t need this kind of negativity in your life. Many times apps have background processes that use not only your battery life but your data – always keep an eye on the ‘Settings > Battery’ section of your mobile device.
The post 5 Tips to make your Cell phone battery last longer. appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
A pre-installed backdoor on more than 700 Android devices was discovered by Kryptowire. The backdoor allows a Chinese company called Adups to transmit information like text messages, contact lists, and IMEI numbers without users’ knowledge or consent – every 72 hours.
A phishing campaign is targeting some of the 22 million victims of the massive United States Office of Personnel Management breaches of 2014 and 2015.
Google’s November Android Security Bulletin patched 15 critical vulnerabilities, but only a supplemental patch for the Dirty Cow Linux vulnerability.
Cisco Talos identified the Sundown exploit kit as an up-and-coming contender that may soon rival RIG in terms of size and volume.
A variant of the Android banking Trojan GM Bot is now targeting customers of more than 50 banks around the world, including Citibank, ING, and Bank of America. In the last three months, our mobile users encountered GM bot more than 200,000 times.
In a move to bolster security for the Chrome browser, Google sets a date for making Certificate Transparency mandatory for website owners.
Apple addressed vulnerabilities in iTunes and iCloud for Windows, and Xcode Server on Thursday.
