Strava heatmap loophole may reveal users' home addresses

Researchers at NC State University have outlined potential privacy issues with popular fitness app Strava which could lead to users' homes being pinpointed. The researchers' findings are detailed in a paper called Heat marks the spot: de-anonymising users' geographical data on the Strava heat map...

A week in security (May 22-28)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Update now: 9 vulnerabilities impact Cisco Small Business Series ChatGPT: Cybersecurity friend or foe? Webinar recap: EDR vs MDR for business success Identity crisis: How an anti-porn crusade could jam the Internet, featuring Alec Muffett: Lock and Code S04E11...

Google to pay $40m for "deceptive and unfair" location tracking practices

Google is going to pay $39.9 million to Washington State to put to rest a lawsuit about its location tracking practices which has been in play since last year. Google was accused of "misleading consumers" by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. From the AG press release: Attorney General Bob...

The vulnerability of the TCC subsystem in operating systems macOS, iOS, and iPadOS allows a perpetrator to gain unauthorized access to protected information.

The vulnerability of the TCC subsystem in operating systems macOS, iOS, and iPadOS is related to insufficient protection of sensitive data. Exploiting this vulnerability can allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to protected information by tracking the user’s location...

Google adds unwanted tracker detection to Find My Device network

Last week we reported that Google and Apple were looking for input on a draft specification to alert users in the event of suspected unwanted tracking. Apple and Google said other tracker makers like Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed interest in their draft. Now,...

Google to Pay $29.5 Million to Settle Lawsuits Over User Location Tracking

Google has agreed to pay a total of $29.5 million to settle two different lawsuits brought by Indiana and Washington, D.C., over its "deceptive" location tracking practices. The search and advertising giant is required to pay $9.5 million to D.C. and $20 million to Indiana after the states sued t...

Another Event-Related Spyware App

Last month, we were warned not to install Qatars World Cup app because it was spyware. This month, its Egypts COP27 Summit app: The app is being promoted as a tool to help attendees navigate the event. But it risks giving the Egyptian government permission to read users emails and messages. Even...

Google to Pay $391 Million Privacy Fine for Secretly Tracking Users' Location

Internet giant Google has agreed to pay a record $391.5 million to settle with 40 states in the U.S. over charges the company misled users about the collection of personal location data. "Google misled its users into thinking they had turned off location tracking in their account settings, when, ...

Experts Uncover Two Long-Running Android Spyware Campaigns Targeting Uyghurs

Two long-running surveillance campaigns have been found targeting the Uyghur community in China and elsewhere with Android spyware tools designed to harvest sensitive information and track their whereabouts. This encompasses a previously undocumented malware strain called BadBazaar and updated...

Gas, a positive social network for teens (no, really)

A new social network is currently in the news, billed as a positive space for teens to enjoy themselves. Im all for positive spaces online, but what is it, and will teens really be happier there than say Instagram, or even just hanging out in WhatsApp groups? Pump the gas Launched in August of th...

Threat Source newsletter (Oct. 6, 2022) — Continuing down the Privacy Policy rabbit hole

As I wrote about last week, Ive been diving a lot into apps privacy policies recently. And I was recently made aware of a new type of app I never knew existed -- family trackers. There are countless mobile apps for parents to track their children or other family members based on their location,...

Police Across US Bypass Warrants With Mass Location-Tracking Tool

Plus: An unsecured database exposed face recognition data in China, ‘Cuba’ ransomware knocks out Montenegro, and more...

How to protect yourself and your kids against device theft

In no time at all, kids will be going back to school or starting college. And while gearing up for this, it’s very important to be aware of the threat from device loss in the school environment. Maybe you are away at university for the first time and have a new place to live, or maybe your kids...

How to protect yourself and your kids against device theft

In no time at all, kids will be going back to school or starting college. And while gearing up for this, its very important to be aware of the threat from device loss in the school environment. Maybe you are away at university for the first time and have a new place to live, or maybe your kids ha...

Researchers Find Bluetooth Signals Can be Fingerprinted to Track Smartphones

A new research undertaken by a group of academics from the University of California San Diego has revealed for the first time that Bluetooth signals can be fingerprinted to track smartphones and therefore, individuals. The identification, at its core, hinges on imperfections in the Bluetooth...

Coffee app in hot water for constant tracking of user location

A mobile app violated Canadas privacy laws via some pretty significant overreach with its tracking of device owners. The violation will apparently not bring the app owners, Tim Hortons, any form of punishment. However, the fallout from this incident may hopefully serve as a warning to others with...

Your Tim Hortons Coffee App Knew Where You Were at All Times

The Canada-based company illegally collected “vast amounts of location data,” such as every time a person entered or left their home, workplace, or another coffee shop...

Google Urged to Stop Tracking Location Data Ahead of Roe Reversal

Lawmakers argue Android phone data could be “weaponized against women” if the US Supreme Court officially overturns abortion protections...

Lumos System Can Find Hidden Cameras and IoT Devices in Your Airbnb or Hotel Room

A group of academics has devised a system that can be used on a phone or a laptop to identify and locate Wi-Fi-connected hidden IoT devices in unfamiliar physical spaces. With hidden cameras being increasingly used to snoop on individuals in hotel rooms and Airbnbs, the goal is to be able to...

iPhone Malware that Operates Even When the Phone Is Turned Off

Researchers have demonstrated iPhone malware that works even when the phone is fully shut down. t turns out that the iPhone’s Bluetooth chip­--which is key to making features like Find My work­--has no mechanism for digitally signing or even encrypting the firmware it runs. Academics at Germany’s...