Ransomware at IT Services Provider Synoptek

Synoptek, a California business that provides cloud hosting and IT management services to more than a thousand customers nationwide, suffered a ransomware attack this week that has disrupted operations for many of its clients, according to sources. The company has reportedly paid a ransom demand ...

Facebook Alleges Company Infiltrated Thousands for Ad Fraud

Facebook has sued a Chinese company that it alleges used malware to compromise hundreds of thousands of user accounts – and then used them to run “deceptive ads” promoting counterfeit goods. The company in question is Hong Kong-based ILikeAd Media International Company Ltd., which was incorporate...

Top 5 Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Predictions for 2020

We distilled 30 independent reports dedicated to cybersecurity and cybercrime predictions for 2020 and compiled the top 5 most interesting findings and projections in this post. Compliance fatigue will spread among security professionals Being a source of ongoing controversy and debate, the...

Top 5 Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Predictions for 2020

We distilled 30 independent reports dedicated to cybersecurity and cybercrime predictions for 2020 and compiled the top 5 most interesting findings and projections in this post. Compliance fatigue will spread among security professionals Being a source of ongoing controversy and debate, the...

IoT bills and guidelines: a global response

You may not have noticed, but Internet of Things IoT rules and regulations are coming whether manufacturers want them or not. From experience, drafting up laws which are hopefully sensible and have some relevance to problems raised by current technology is a time-consuming, frustrating process...

California's Domino Effect on U.S. Privacy Regulation

LAS VEGAS – The California Consumer Privacy Act CCPA, which goes into effect in January 2020, will implement strict requirements for companies to create more transparency about how user data is being used and disseminated. Microsoft’s acknowledgement this week that it will extend CCPA to all of i...

Microsoft to Apply California’s Privacy Law to All U.S. Users

Microsoft is extending a California law aimed at protecting users privacy to all of its users in the United States, an unexpected move supporting tougher requirements to disclose exactly how the company uses the consumer data it collects. The California Consumer Privacy Act, known as CCPA, is...

Anti-Deepfake Law in California Is Far Too Feeble

Opinion: While well intentioned, the law has too many loopholes for malicious actors and puts too little responsibility on platforms...

WhatsApp Sues NSO Group

WhatsApp is suing the Israeli cyberweapons arms manufacturer NSO Group in California court: WhatsApp's lawsuit, filed in a California court on Tuesday, has demanded a permanent injunction blocking NSO from attempting to access WhatsApp computer systems and those of its parent company, Facebook. I...

Key Compliance Concepts for Financial Services

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act SOX was introduced following a number of financial scandals involving huge conglomerates and obliges companies to establish internal controls to prevent fraud and abuse, holding senior managers accountable for the accuracy of financial reporting. The financial crisis in 200...

A week in security (October 7 – 13)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs, we peered into the possible future of cybersecurity insurance, described the process for securing today’s managed service provider, and provided an in-depth explainer on the business espionage tactic known as “war shipping.” Further, in considering the intersection...

California Bans Deepfakes in Elections, Porn

California has passed a law that bans the use of deepfake technology in political speech, and for non-consensual use in adult content. Deepfakes are a manipulation of images and recordings, created by artificial intelligence technology, that make it appear as if an individual is doing or saying...

Former Yahoo Employee Admits Hacking into 6000 Accounts for Sexual Content

An ex-Yahoo! employee has pleaded guilty to misusing his access at the company to hack into the accounts of nearly 6,000 Yahoo users in search of private and personal records, primarily sexually explicit images and videos. According to an press note released by the U.S. Justice Department, Reyes...

California Passes Bill to Ban Police Use of Facial Recognition

The California Senate has passed a bill in a 22-15 vote that would ban the use by law enforcement of body cams that use facial recognition. The move will send AB 1215, already passed by the California Assembly back in May on a 45-17 vote, to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom to be signed into law. Th...

Understanding CCPA: It's Time to Action a Plan for Compliance

Notice to all procrastinators: The final countdown to the California Consumer Privacy Act CCPA has begun. On January 1, 2020, companies or organizations that do business in California will be required to comply with the state's strict new privacy legislation that establishes a legal and enforceab...

Default Password for GPS Trackers

Many GPS trackers are shipped with the default password 123456. Many users don't change them. We just need to eliminate default passwords. This is an easy win. EDITED TO ADD 9/12: A California law bans default passwords starting in 2020...

License Plate "NULL"

There was a DefCon talk by someone with the vanity plate "NULL." The California system assigned him every ticket with no license plate: $12,000. Although the initial $12,000-worth of fines were removed, the private company that administers the database didn't fix the issue and new NULL tickets ar...

Bluetana App Quickly Detects Hidden Bluetooth Card Skimmers at Gas Pumps

In recent years, gas stations have become one of the favorite targets for thieves who are stealing customers' credit and debit card information by installing a Bluetooth-enabled payment card skimmers at gas stations across the nation. The media has also reported several recent crimes surrounding...

Meet Bluetana, the Scourge of Pump Skimmers

"Bluetana," a new mobile app that looks for Bluetooth-based payment card skimmers hidden inside gas pumps, is helping police and state employees more rapidly and accurately locate compromised fuel stations across the nation, a study released this week suggests. Data collected in the course of the...

This Week in Security News: Ransomware Campaigns and Cryptocurrency Miners

Welcome to our weekly roundup, where we share what you need to know about the cybersecurity news and events that happened over the past few days. This week, learn about continuing cybersecurity attacks targeting small governments. Also, read how XDR, Trend Micro’s newest solution, is more...