The Late Late Tech Show… So late it’s Monday morning.
Volume 11: Private conversations, hacking 2 billion devices, and oh… those pesky robocalls are a lot more dangerous than you thought.
A tech fun fact to let the coffee kick in…
Email in space!
On August 9th, 1991, astronauts sent the very first email from space! The astronauts used an Apple Macintosh laptop in order to communicate with NASA’s communications systems via the AppleLink online service. Their message felt like it came from the Terminator too…
The Tech Topics
Microsoft is listening
While it is no surprise to people now that companies are profiting off all of our private information, it may shock some to find out that companies like Microsoft are admitting to listening in to our conversations. Regardless if permission is given to record data, sometimes the outside agencies that work on projects to advance this technology catch something that they weren't supposed to hear while doing research. Companies such as Apple and Google are now currently suspending some work on this tech, and are also being investigated.
VxWorks flaw exposes millions
Researches have found about 11 flaws within the VxWorks network. Triggered by attacks that could be sent out by network packets, the flaws enable hackers to remotely take over devices. These flaws have been dubbed as URGENT/11. Currently, there are about 2 billion devices in the world that are run on the VxWorks software. It is frightening to think of the capabilities that these flaws could have upon all those devices.
Robocalls are the least of your worries…
For those of you who are consistently hit with 15 robocalls during a single meeting, we understand. Unfortunately, robocall blocker apps are the next best place to have your personal information exploited. Recently reviewing the iOS App Store, the information assurance firm, NCC Group, found that the top robocall blocker app, TrapCall, was sending out people’s phone numbers to analytics companies without permission. As a result, they have now changed their policy to explicitly say what their intent is with users information. With one worry out the door as a result of fewer robocalls, comes another with the risk of losing your personal information to corporations.
In other Tech news…
3fun isn't fun for everyone
Dating app, 3fun, has gone under scrutiny after researchers have found that 1.5 million users personal information can be easily compromised and leaked. Research firms have come out to advise 3fun on the vulnerabilities in their dating app software, and the company has released a statement saying that these issues have been addressed and will continually be updated in the future. Surprisingly, some of the information that was leaked about users showed that some of the locations listed were the White House, US Supreme Court, and 10 Downing Street. Wonder what was going on there…
NYFD lost some PII
A New York Fire Department EMS employee has put 10,000 patients personal information at risk. The employee lost an external hard drive last March, that contained personal information including the social security numbers of about 3,000 of those patients. It wasn't until this week that all the patients were notified of the breach.
Till next time…
Come back in two weeks to see Volume 12 of The Late Late Tech Show! Until then, what do you think the answer to the following is?
In cybersecurity,
XSS is abbreviated as ______________?:
a) Extreme Secure Scripting
b) Cross-Site Security
c) X Site Scripting
d) Cross-Site Scripting
Questions can be found from Sanfoundry.com!
