Threatpost News Wrap Podcast For Feb. 1

Data privacy dominated the week of news ending Feb. 1. News headlines included both Facebook and Google finding themselves in hot water over distributing data-sucking apps on iOS devices. A severe flaw was also found in kid-tracking IoT smartwatches that could expose sensitive information for...

Google Pulls Data-Chugging App From iOS Devices

Google has found itself in hot water for a research app that may have violated Apple’s policies by collecting user data in exchange for gift cards. The tech giant said it has now disabled Screenwise Meter“audience measurement” app – which voluntarily collects data from users’ phones, browsers and...

Facebook Hires Up Three of Its Biggest Privacy Critics

Can a trio of privacy advocates effect change from within Facebook—or will they be stifled by corporate bureaucracy?...

Attackers Can Track Kids' Locations via Connected Watches

Despite ongoing warnings about connected watches and toys endangering kids’ privacy and potentially their physical safety, makers of these Internet of Things gadgets continue to turn out products that do just that. The latest concern is a gamut of kids’ GPS-tracking watches, which were found to b...

Apple Blasts Facebook Over Data-Sucking 'Research' App

Apple has revoked Facebook’s enterprise iOS developer certificate on the heels of a “Facebook Research” VPN app that was being distributed to consumers; the app paid teens and Millennial users in exchange for being able to track their phone and web activity, and has been available since 2016. App...

CVE-2019-5767

Insufficient protection of permission UI in WebAPKs in Google Chrome on Android prior to 72.0.3626.81 allowed an attacker who convinced the user to install a malicious application to access privacy/security sensitive web APIs via a crafted APK...

Facebook Paid Teens $20 to Install 'Research' App That Collects Private Data

If you are thinking that Facebook is sitting quietly after being forced to remove its Onavo VPN app from Apple's App Store, then you are mistaken. It turns out that Facebook is paying teenagers around $20 a month to use its VPN app that aggressively monitors their smartphone and web activity and...

iCloud Possibly Suffered A Privacy Breach Last Year That Apple Kept a Secret

Late last year when an unknown group of hackers stole secret access tokens for millions of Facebook accounts by taking advantage of a flaw in its website, the company disclosed the incident and informed its affected users. Similarly, when Twitter was hit by multiple vulnerabilities 1, 2, 3 in the...

iCloud Possibly Suffered A Privacy Breach Last Year That Apple Kept a Secret

Late last year when an unknown group of hackers stole secret access tokens for millions of Facebook accounts by taking advantage of a flaw in its website, the company disclosed the incident and informed its affected users. Similarly, when Twitter was hit by multiple vulnerabilities 1, 2, 3 in the...

Mozilla Releases Security Update for Thunderbird

Mozilla has released a security update to address vulnerabilities in Thunderbird. An attacker could exploit one of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system. The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center NCCIC, part of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure...

iPhone FaceTime Vulnerability

This is kind of a crazy iPhone vulnerability: it's possible to call someone on FaceTime and listen on their microphone -- and see from their camera -- before they accept the call. This is definitely an embarrassment, and Apple was right to disable Group FaceTime until it's fixed. But it's hard to...

Apple’s FaceTime privacy bug allowed possible spying

Social media caught fire yesterday as the news of a new Apple bug spread. It seemed that there was a flaw in FaceTime that allowed you to place a call to someone, but listen in on their microphone if they didn't pick up. Worse, as the news spread, it turned out that there was also a way to captur...

Mozilla Firefox 65 Ups the Ante on Privacy with Anti-Tracking Efforts

Mozilla has unveiled new anti-tracking policies and redesigned privacy controls in tandem with the release of Firefox 65 on Tuesday. The company announced a new set of redesigned controls for the Content Blocking section, where users can choose their desired level of privacy protection. These are...

Apple Disables Group FaceTime Following Major Privacy Glitch

Apple has made Group FaceTime temporarily unavailable following a major flaw discovered on Monday evening. The bug allows anyone with iOS to FaceTime other iOS users and listen in on their private conversations – without the user on other end rejecting or accepting the call. The bug makes use of ...

Researchers Allege 'Systemic' Privacy, Security Flaws in Popular IoT Devices

Researchers are highlighting the insecure nature of Internet of Things devices in a report released Tuesday alleging a bevy of popular consumer connected devices sold at major retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy are riddled with security holes and privacy issues. In analyzing 12 different IoT...

New FaceTime Bug Lets Callers Hear and See You Without You Picking Up

If you own an Apple device, you should immediately turn OFF FaceTime app for a few days. A jaw-dropping unpatched privacy bug has been uncovered in Apple's popular video and audio call app FaceTime that could let someone hear or see you before you even pick up your call. The bug is going viral on...

New FaceTime Bug Lets Callers Hear and See You Without You Picking Up

If you own an Apple device, you should immediately turn OFF FaceTime app for a few days. A jaw-dropping unpatched privacy bug has been uncovered in Apple's popular video and audio call app FaceTime that could let someone hear or see you before you even pick up your call. The bug is going viral on...

Mozilla Releases Security Updates for Firefox

Mozilla has released security updates to address vulnerabilities in Firefox and Firefox ESR. An attacker could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system. The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center NCCIC, part of the Cybersecurity and...

iPhone FaceTime call vulnerability alerts-a vulnerability alert-the black bar safety net

Recently, 360CERT monitor to iPhone FaceTime calls appear privacy disclosure vulnerability. The vulnerability allowed the attacker in the victim to answer the FaceTime call before to get murdered in the audio, resulting in user privacy leakage. Currently, Apple has suspended the FaceTime service,...

Google Releases Security Updates for Chrome

Google has released Chrome version 72.0.3626.81 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This version addresses multiple vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit to take control of an affected system. The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center NCCIC, part of the Cybersecurity and...