SecurityWatch
The online world is a sketchy place. Here's what you need to know to stay safe.
Latest Stories
Stop What You're Doing and Update Google Chrome
Google Chrome Security and Desktop Engineering Lead Justin Schuh says users should install the latest version of the browser – 72.0.3626.121 – right away.
Internet of Things Devices Have a Serious Security Problem
Your household is full of internet-aware devices, and most of them are woefully insecure, to the point where a hacker could take over the entire network by reaching in through your baby cam.
Need a Reservation? Google Duplex Can Do It in 43 States
Google's artificial intelligence-powered Duplex feature for its virtual Assistant can now call in your restaurant reservations in most US states on Pixel phones.
Huawei Sues the US Government
Huawei files a complaint with a US federal court seeking to allow US government agencies to buy the company's products and services.
Is Facebook Doing Enough to Stop Information Warfare?
When asked how the US might regulate Facebook and Twitter, executives from the two companies focused on transparency, as opposed to sweeping changes to content moderation or user accounts.
When Fighting Nation-State Hackers, Move Fast, Experts Warn
Russian actors can move across a victim's corporate network within 20 minutes of first gaining access; North Korean hackers take two hours and Chinese hackers take about four.
NSA Debuts Reverse-Engineering Tool, Insists It's Not a Backdoor
Internally, the NSA uses GHIDRA to examine all kinds of software. Now, the agency wants to 'give back,' so GHIDRA is available for download on the NSA's website. Robert Joyce, an NSA senior advisor, tells the RSA crowd that it's legit.
How to Protect US Elections Before It's Too Late
At RSA, a panel of experts reveal what exactly needs to be done to protect US elections before 2020. Spoiler: it won't be easy or cheap.
Zuck Wants to Turn Facebook Into a 'Privacy-Focused' Platform
Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges that 'we don't currently have a strong reputation for building privacy protective service,' but Facebook plans to 'rebuild' itself around more secure and private principles in the next five years.
'Save the Internet' Bill Tries to Revive Net Neutrality Rules
The Save The Internet Act of 2019 would put net neutrality rules back on the books and revives the seemingly never-ending back and forth over who should police the web.
Keep Critical IoT Networks Safe
The irony of an operational technology (OT) network with industrial IoT devices is that it represents your single biggest area of vulnerability while also being the network you think about least. That can be critically dangerous.
Is Russia a Threat to US Elections? 'Yes, Absolutely,' FBI Director Says
FBI Director Chris Wray confirms that Russia remains a threat to US presidential elections, and outlines steps the FBI and other agencies are taking to combat the problem.
New FBI Director, Same Message on Encryption
FBI Director Christopher Wray reiterates that law enforcement should have access to encrypted data, but acknowledges that privacy advocates are not trying to weaken national security.
Home Security Sales Are Rising Swiftly—but How Safe Are We?
Smart security devices can turn their cameras on a customer's neighbors and even on customers themselves.
At RSA, Feds Call Out China as the Major Hacking Threat
Although Russia may be getting most of the headlines for hacking crimes, China may end up posing the larger threat, according to NSA cybersecurity senior advisor Rob Joyce.
DHS: China's Influence on Supply Chain, 5G a Key Concern
Chinese technology vendors should brace for more pushback from the US government, but DHS doesn't necessarily plan to target individual vendors, an agency official said today.
College Kids Are Using Campus Electricity to Mine Crypto
College campuses are the second biggest miners of virtual currencies behind the energy and utilities sector, according to security researchers at Cisco.
Vaak AI Spots Shoplifters Before They Steal
Japanese company Vaak developed software that uses artificial intelligence to detect body language suggesting someone intends to shoplift and alerts staff so they can intervene.
How Google's Sister Firm, Chronicle, Handles Privacy
Although the Alphabet-owned cybersecurity startup is a sibling company to Google, the two entities are effectively separate businesses, according to Chronicle's CEO Stephen Gillett. 'We are firewalled off. We have a separate building,' he said.
Alphabet to Give Businesses the Backstory on How They Got Hacked
Backstory is a cloud service from Google parent Alphabet that can process a company's network data for signs of malicious activity.
