Daily Security News

• Hacker makes mobile phone snooping affordable (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100801/tc_afp/usitinternettelecomsoftwaredefcon"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100801/capt.photo_1280644076998-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=98&q=85&sig=9An3AdhuhIxf6_JtTSM84g--" align="left" height="98" width="130" alt="A hacker has brought mobile phone snooping to the modestly financed, showing how to build a call-catching system for about 1,500 dollars (US).(AFP/File/Stan Honda)" border="0" /></a>AFP - A hacker has brought mobile phone snooping to the modestly financed, showing how to build a call-catching system for about 1,500 dollars (US).</p><br clear="all"/>
• Hacker builds $1,500 cell-phone tapping device (AP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100801/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_hacker_conference_tapping_cell_phones"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100731/capt.122c43e592b34182adf9eeac9c75995e-122c43e592b34182adf9eeac9c75995e-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=tWcQgavol.PuPAXNYsCBdw--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="In this July 30, 2010 photo, hacker Chris Paget sets up a long range RFID reading devise at the DefCon hacker conference in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)" border="0" /></a>AP - A computer security researcher has built a device for just $1,500 that can intercept some kinds of cell phone calls and record everything that's said.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Hack attack hits ATM jackpots (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100731/tc_afp/usitinternetbanksoftwarecrimedefcon"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100731/capt.photo_1280614697115-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=XQNbh89se3hqXLxPSK5Z3A--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="People take cash at an ATM machine in Bangkok. Banks use "remote management" software to monitor and control their ATMs, and a computer security researcher used a weakness in that kind of code to take control of machines by way of the Internet.(AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Computer security researcher Barnaby Jack jokes that he has resorted to hiding cash under his bed since figuring out how to crack automated teller machines remotely using the Internet.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Hacker Snoops on GSM Cell Phones in Demo (PC World)
  PC World - Despite concerns that federal authorities might fine or arrest him, hacker Chris Paget went ahead with a live demonstration of mobile phone interception at the Defcon hacking conference Saturday.
• Smooth-talking hackers test hi-tech titans' skills (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100731/ts_alt_afp/usitinternethackerpsychologycrimedefcon"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100731/capt.photo_1280558268003-1-0.jpg?x=87&y=130&q=85&sig=o2Q2Z8lTyUrvaN_4Wi.MOQ--" align="left" height="130" width="87" alt="Hackers at the infamous DefCon gathering held in Las Vegas are proving that old-fashioned telephone smooth talk is an effective rival to slick software skills when it comes to pulling off attacks on computer networks.(AFP/File/Joel Saget)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Hackers at an infamous DefCon gathering are proving that old-fashioned smooth talk rivals slick software skills when it comes to pulling off attacks on computer networks.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Software released for attacking Android phones (Reuters)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100730/wr_nm/us_hackers_android"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20100730/i/r3938152622.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=m29z018i1bWayl_ZvAQShA--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="A model demonstrates the Nexus One smartphone, the first mobile phone Google will sell directly to consumers based on its Android platform, after a news conference at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California January 5, 2010. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith" border="0" /></a>Reuters - Two security experts said on Friday they released a tool for attacking smartphones that use Google Inc's Android operating system to persuade manufacturers to fix a bug that lets hackers read a victim's email and text messages.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Smartphones tempting new targets for hackers (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100730/ts_alt_afp/usitinternettelecomcrimeblackhat"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100730/capt.photo_1280497960647-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=88&q=85&sig=3AB6xCRrY85ca3CMItEOcw--" align="left" height="88" width="130" alt="A shopper looks at a smartphone at a shop in Taipei on July 19. Software security experts warn that mobile phones are tempting targets for hackers in a world where people eagerly invite strange applications onto handsets packed with personal data.(AFP/File/Patrick Lin)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Software security experts warn that mobile phones are tempting targets for hackers in a world where people eagerly invite strange applications onto handsets packed with personal data.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Slovene police, FBI hail ties in cyber crime probe (AP)
  AP - An FBI official said Friday a two-year-long multinational investigation led them to nab a 23-year-old Slovenian, who allegedly created a malicious software code that infected 12 million computers worldwide.
• Attacking the edges of secure Internet traffic (AP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100730/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_hacking_conference_online_security"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100728/capt.9fa7f79184fc43998e9af51c33c0eb0e-9fa7f79184fc43998e9af51c33c0eb0e-0.jpg?x=130&y=82&q=85&sig=viQuLiPR8Q7riR4LjfpxrA--" align="left" height="82" width="130" alt="A man passes a logo of the Black Hat technology conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)" border="0" /></a>AP - Researchers have uncovered new ways that criminals can spy on Internet users even if they're using secure connections to banks, online retailers or other sensitive Web sites.</p><br clear="all"/>
• McAfee 2Q profit rises (AP)
  AP - Computer-security software maker McAfee Inc. said Thursday that its second-quarter profit rose 38 percent, helped by growth in its corporate and consumer businesses.
• Verizon: Data Breaches Often Caused by Configuration Errors (PC World)
  PC World - Hackers appear to be increasingly counting on configuration problems and programming errors rather than software vulnerabilities in order to steal information from computer systems, according to a new study from Verizon.
• Internet upgraded to foil cyber crooks (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100729/ts_alt_afp/usitinternetsoftwarecrimeicannblackhat"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100729/capt.photo_1280363434715-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=91&q=85&sig=XXBfo_fOcSp08164GLYTIw--" align="left" height="91" width="130" alt="The Internet has undergone a "critical" upgrade that promises to stop cyber criminals from using fake websites that dupe people into downloading viruses or revealing personal data.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Justin Sullivan)" border="0" /></a>AFP - The Internet has undergone a key upgrade that promises to stop cyber criminals from using fake websites that dupe people into downloading viruses or revealing personal data.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Bunker-busting ATM attacks show security holes (AP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_hacker_conference_hacking_atms"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100728/capt.0c9d2a2ffa614520a1d63ea6489a2734-0c9d2a2ffa614520a1d63ea6489a2734-0.jpg?x=130&y=81&q=85&sig=pRM5dDQFpHdno85N.Gau7g--" align="left" height="81" width="130" alt="Barnaby Jack demonstrates an attack on two automated teller machines during the Black Hat technology conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. The attacks demonstrated Wednesday targeted standalone ATMs. But they could potentially be used against the ATMs operated by mainstream banks. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)" border="0" /></a>AP - A hacker has discovered a way to force ATMs to disgorge their cash by hijacking the computers inside them.</p><br clear="all"/>
• DHS Exec Takes Hard Questions on Cybersecurity (PC World)
  PC World - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent its highest-ranking official ever to speak at the Black Hat conference this week, and its Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute ended up fielding a few tough questions from skeptical computer security professionals in attendance.
• Suspected 'Mariposa Botnet' creator arrested (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100728/pl_afp/usspainsloveniaitcomputersecuritycrimeinternet"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100728/capt.photo_1280337183351-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=90&q=85&sig=_91lloJoCIb7v7mjXAtceQ--" align="left" height="90" width="130" alt="US, Spanish and Slovenian law enforcement authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of the suspected creator of the notorious "Mariposa Botnet" used by criminal hackers around the world. The suspect, a 23-year-old Slovenian citizen identified only as "Iserdo," was arrested by Slovenian police last week, the FBI, the Slovenian Criminal Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil said.(AFP/File/Mandel Ngan)" border="0" /></a>AFP - US, Spanish and Slovenian law enforcement authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of the suspected creator of the "Mariposa Botnet," a vast network of virus-infected computers used by criminal hackers.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Software rivals turning to allies to battle cyber crime (AFP)
  <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/security/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100728/tc_afp/usitcomputersecuritycrimeinternetmicrosoftblackhat"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100728/capt.photo_1280334903318-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=84&q=85&sig=su7TTMQF5zvlsrkrGcJ4kw--" align="left" height="84" width="130" alt="An attendee tries an interactive display at the Microsoft booth at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 2010. As a major computer security conference kicked off here Wednesday, Microsoft announced that teamwork between technology rivals is paying off in the perpetual arms race with hackers.(AFP/File/Robyn Beck)" border="0" /></a>AFP - As a major computer security conference kicked off here Wednesday, Microsoft announced that teamwork between technology rivals is paying off in the perpetual arms race with hackers.</p><br clear="all"/>
• Kerry Prepping Online Privacy Bill (PC Magazine)
  PC Magazine - Sen. John Kerry said Tuesday that he will join his House colleagues and take a crack at privacy legislation.
• Fake Firefox Update Page Pushes Malware (PC Magazine)
  PC Magazine - Thanks to F-Secure for revealing the latest in rogue anti-malware: A fake Firefox "Just Updated" page which pushes you to install an update to Flash.
• APNewsBreak: FBI says mastermind of botnet nabbed (AP)
  AP - International authorities have arrested a computer hacker believed responsible for creating the malicious computer code that infected as many as 12 million computers, invading major banks and corporations around the world, FBI officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
• UK Launches Computer Security Training Exercises (PC World)
  PC World - The U.K.'s Cyber Security Challenge began accepting registrations Monday for a series of computer security exercises designed to spur interest in the field.