Be on guard today wherever you are. A major web attack that started in Europe is slowing machines and systems down globally. You can thank Spamhaus, a Swiss and British based anti-spam campaign organization and Cyberbunker, a Dutch based company that boasts, “We’ll host anything except for terrorism and child porn!”
The fight between Spamhaus and Cyberbunker is causing the biggest cyber attack in Internet history. It started when Spanyhaus blacklisted Cyberbunker. The?trash talk intensifies. Spamhaus calls Cyberbunker cyber criminals. Cyberbunker claims Spanhaus abuses it’s power by playing Internet Gods. In the eyes of many, Cyberbunker is being blamed for the attack.
According to Spamhaus spokesperson Steve Linford, the?DDoS tactic was used. This tactic floods the victim with traffic to the point it shuts down and clogs up the motor way. Imagine traffic on a highway being so jammed you can’t even get off your intended exit. Now imagine that going on for miles and miles. There’s no telling when you’ll make it home because everything is so clogged.
Though this is happening in Europe, remember has close our world is thanks to the Web. Just liked clogged up roadways keep you from reaching your destination, clogged up Internet roads can keep you from your banking, your work, your emails, your social media or any other aspect of daily life. And Spamhaus has 80 servers around the world. They’re already worried it can slow down emails, entertainment sites, and social media, from Yahoo to Netflix. Couldn’t this spat be solved peacefully? Why should the world have to suffer because of two companies? Have you had trouble with your Web slowing down? If so, I’d love to hear from you.
Hackers get a bad rep. They’re known for breaking into computers, causing a raucous and nuisance at best. In?more extreme cases, they’re known for stealing IDs and account numbers and even, putting whole governments at risk.?Our Dept. of Homeland Security wants to hire these guys.
According to DHS Janet Napolitano, young hackers are just what we need. Foreign organizations have been hacking into that system, stealing and selling secrets, studying infrastructure, and putting us all at risk. That’s why they’re turning to people like 17-year-old Arlen Jaska and his classmate Collin Berman. They’ve taken part in a Virginia high school hacking competition. Out of 700 applicants, Jaska and Berman were two of the 40 who got to go. This convention was created by cyber security expert Allen Paller, who is cooperating with Homeland Security to train up the next generation of hackers.
They’re turning to youth because they know the curiosity kids like Jaska and Berman will have, and they’re eager to learn more. DHS knows if they train them young and get them interested, they will have a cyber security army for decades to come. But the question is, are the Jaskas and Bermans of America buying it. ?The problem with going into the government is you?re going to make a lot less,? said Berman. Jaska follows that up by reminding us you can’t exactly go around bragging about what you’re doing for government.
So is this a good idea? A few years ago, the winner of the cyber competition went on to break into the Pentagon and sent secrets to China, one of the very nations Secretary Napolitano is worried about! That brings up another point: Will these young hackers in training turn against DHS? Will they even want to work for DHS? These are questions I’d like to be?answered.
Earlier today (keep in mind the Koreas are 13 hours ahead of the US east coast), South Korea was a victim of a?major cyber attack. The biggest victims were two major S. Korean banks, three major S. Korean TV stations and LG Uplas, an Internet service provider. Much of the country literally had to be shut down.
Immediately, N. Korea is the main culprit. They were believed to be behind two major cyber attacks in 2009 and 2011. Both targeted S. Korea government, media and banking. You need all of those institutions just to carry out daily life. Look at this last attack. At the banks, people didn’t have access to their own money. Journalists said they couldn’t get important stories on the air. And a time of increasing tensions, media is critical. And we all know where law and order is broken down, that just gives the enemy an open chance to strike. And we all use the Internet to do just about anything these days.?When all these systems are broken down, chaos usually follows. Thank goodness it didn’t this time.
Why do I even report on the Koreas? What does this have to do with us in the good old USA? In the last several weeks, N. Korea has turned the rhetoric up against?America just like with their neighbors. And now they’re suspected of cyber attacking S. Korea? Think about how easy it would be to start conflicts, riots and chaos if?all systems are shut down. The scary part is how easy it is to shut an entire nation down. If N.?Korea allegedly?did this to?S. Korea,?what’s next? Don’t ever think America is too high and mighty that this can’t happen to us. Another reason I address this: Is?to ask what can we do to prevent a major cyber attack?
If you think Apple is totally malware (software intended to damage computer systems) free, think again. A security firm named Skycure is concerned an iOS feature called Configuration Profiles could be used to manipulate and infiltrate other people’s data without their knowledge.
Configuration profiles are small files that?can be added with one tap of any Apple device. They’re used by thousands of businesses and developers as how to guides to alter settings. On the surface, these files are approved by Apple. But if manipulated enough, they can pass your passwords and data to a malicious server. I’ve learned of a couple of ways this malware can start. One is using?infested websites?that offer free access to popular TV shows. Another is to open up an email that offers better battery power. Included is a ?sample picture of a profile?which opens the floodgates of malware.
I guess Apple isn’t as immune as I thought it was. A few days ago, I wrote an article of how malware is infecting Droid devices, but I never said Apple devices are scot free. So I hope Tim Cook and other Apple executives are taking Skycure’s findings seriously. I also encourage Apple users to exercise caution. If it sounds too good to be true…you know the rest. As these devices?become easier to use, and increase in quantity, ?will we become more venerable?
Android is one of the most popular smartphone operating systems in the world today, but why? Is it because of the reasonable prices? Is it because of the cool features? Or?is it because of the venerability it has to malware?
That’s right: Of all the malware attacks (Malware is software intended to? damage, infiltrate, or disable computer systems without users consent.) Android devices were responsible for 79% of them. Now some of you may be asking, “Wouldn’t that deter people from getting Android? That wouldn’t deter hackers and malware creators from getting these devices. They can create all kinds of mayhem, hack into your Android system and take your passwords, account numbers and anything else to their hearts desire.
They also know more people are using Android for profits. According to one chart, 2012 was the first year more Androids were used for profit then for personal uses. Plus, our current society comes into play. A few days ago, I ordered Chinese take out. Instead of paying cash, I gave the delivery man my card, he slid it through?to his Android, and that was it. A week earlier, that’s how I paid for a meat lover’s pizza. I think the bad guys are getting wind of this.
I am by no means saying stop buying Droids! Truly not! In fact, nobody I know has yet had a problem with Android?malware. Security systems like F-Secure insist they put out plenty of warnings on malware threats. I’m willing to buy it. Are you?
In the last year, many email accounts have been hacked, Facebook pages hacked and and eve debit cards hacked.
Recently, one article said Telvent, a company that monitors many a big oil pipeline,?was hacked. Not by a bunch?of?nerds in their mama’s basement, but by China’s?People’s Liberation Army. I also read this hacking group is so strong they can shut down the whole US?oil and power system!?Think about that when?you fill up at the pump or even turn off the lights.?Also, China is our biggest economic competitor, and in a strange way, our biggest economic bed fellow.?I dare you to find anything?computer related device in your home not made?in China.
But not the case with Iran. And their hackers brought down computers and machines?of?Saudi Amaco, the biggest oil producer in the world. They left their calling card with an image of an American flag burning. Wasn’t that nice?of them (I’m being sarcastic, not?treasonous!) This is a nation with nothing to?lose. It’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,?openly said he wants to see entire nations wiped off the map. And they have?hackers?powerful enough to shut down big?international oil?
What are private companies and government entities doing about this possible threat? What can they do about it? Or should I just turn back to my regularly scheduled programming because I’m reading too much into this?
