Category: Security

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Google Plugs Incognito Mode Detection Loophole With Chrome 76

Google has announced that with the introduction of Chrome 76 it has plugged a loophole that enabled websites to tell when you were browsing in Incognito mode. Incognito Incognito mode in Chrome (private browsing) is really designed to protect privacy for those using shared or borrowed devices, and exclude certain activities from being recorded in…
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One-Third of Major VPNs Owned By Chinese

A recent survey by VPNpro has revealed that almost one-third of the most popular VPN services are secretly owned by Chinese companies that may be subject to weak privacy laws. VPN A ‘Virtual Private Network’ (VPN) is used to keep internet activity private, evade censorship / maintain net neutrality and use public Wi-Fi securely e.g.…
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Free Ransomware Killers Save £88M in Ransoms

Free downloadable ransomware tools launched by Europol in association with several cybersecurity firms as part of the ‘No More Ransom’ initiative are estimated to have saved businesses £87.6 million. Who / What Is Europol? Europol is the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. No More Ransom ‘No More Ransom’ is the name given to the…
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Vulnerability in Contactless Card Allows Bypassing of £30 Limit

Researchers from security company Positive Technologies have reported found a vulnerability in Visa contactless cards that could lead to your bank account being drained if your card fell into the wrong hands. Device The researchers developed a ‘skimming’ device which was able to intercept communications between a contactless card and payment terminal, thereby allowing the…
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UKCIS Offers Online Safety For All

The government has announced that the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS), which is the successor to the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), has had its scope expanded to improve online safety for all in the UK. Part of Government Commitment The introduction of The UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS) is part of the…
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Commercial Release of BlueKeep Malware Causes Concern

Tech and security commentators have expressed their fears that a version of the BlueKeep malware (that’s been included in a commercial penetration testing toolkit) could prove to be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. What Is BlueKeep? BlueKeep is a kind of malware that can be deployed to exploit a vulnerability in older…
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Lancaster University Was Hit By “Sophisticated and Malicious Phishing Attack”

Lancaster University, which offers a GCHQ accredited cyber-security course and has its own Cyber Security Research Centre was recently hit by what it has described as a “sophisticated and malicious phishing attack”, resulting in the leak of the personal data of new university applicants. 12,000+ Affected? On the University’s website, even though it states that…
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£80,000 Fine For London Estate Agency Highlights Importance of Due Diligence in Data Protection

The issuing of an £80,000 fine by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to London-based estate agency Parliament View Ltd (LPVL) highlights the importance of due diligence when keeping customer data safe. What Happened? Prior to the introduction of GDPR, between March 2015 and February 2017, LPVL left their customer data exposed online after transferring the…
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MPs Call To Stop Police Facial Recognition

Following criticism of the Police use of facial recognition technology in terms of privacy, accuracy, bias, and management of the image database, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has called for a temporary halt in the use of the facial recognition system. Database Concerns Some of the key concerns of the committee were…
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Scientists Discover How To Store Data On Matter Smaller Than DNA

Scientists from Brown University are reported to have discovered how to store data on metabolic molecules, which are pieces of matter that are even smaller than DNA. Storage In Artificial Metabolomes   The results of the recent research announced on the Brown University website and published in the PLOS ONE journal describe how researchers have…
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