The CEO of Trustico, a TLS certificate reseller based in the United Kingdom, finds himself at the center of a controversy that raises a number of disturbing questions about browser-trusted security certificates. The email in question was sent to Jeremy Rowley, an executive Vice President at DigiCert. The catalyst that prompted the fateful email was that officials at Trustico notified DigiCert that 50,000 certificates originally issued by Symantec and resold by Trustico had been compromised … Read more
Another 2.4 Million Users Hacked In Equifax Breach
It looks like it's going to be another bad month for Equifax. The company just can't seem to get out of its own way. In 2017, the company announced a massive data breach that (it initially claimed) impacted some 140 million users. Several months after the official announcement, the company was forced to revise the number of impacted users upward, as the forensic investigation into the breach continued. Now, the company has announced a further upward revision of 2.4 million, bringing the … Read more
New Android OS To Improve Lower End Phones
Google has another new product out. A slimmed down, streamlined version of the Android OS called "Go." Unfortunately, it's release didn't gather as much press as you'd expect when a new OS is released. The reason for that is simple. The new, slimmer, sleeker Android Go was designed for low-end phones with limited storage capacity, which don't typically get much press either. Despite the relative lack of fanfare, Android Go is an interesting app that deserves some attention, even if you … Read more
Mi-Cam Baby Monitor Video Feeds Vulnerable To Hacking
Do you have a Mi-Cam in your home? Even if you don't have kids, you may have one. They're a highly popular, inexpensive means of keeping tabs on the comings and goings inside your home when you're not around. As with so many such devices these days, users have the option of installing either an Android or iOS app on their phones so they can peek in remotely, any time they like, and therein lies the problem. It's no secret that the IoT is filled with "smart" devices that don't live up to … Read more
Intel Releases New Patch For Spectre Chip Issue
By now, you've probably heard more than you ever wanted to hear about the critical Intel security flaw known as "Spectre." The flaw is massive in scope and scale, impacting every chip that Intel has released over the past decade, and if exploited, would allow a hacker to take complete control over the vulnerable system. Needless to say, once discovered, the company got to work right away on a fix for the issue. Unfortunately, there were problems. Whatever form the fix ultimately took, it … Read more
High Speed Wireless Coming To Laptops Next Year
If you're in the market for a new laptop but can milk a little more life out of the one you've got, 2019 will be the year to buy. The reason? 5G. AT&T is slated to become the first carrier to offer 5G network connectivity to small segments of its customer base this year (starting in Atlanta, Dallas, and Waco, and then slowly spreading to other areas). While they'll be the first, it's not hard to imagine that their competitors will be hot on their heels, and all the major PC and laptop … Read more
5G Cellular Service Is Beginning To Roll Out
AT&T has big plans for their future and yours. If they're your carrier of choice, and if you live in the cities of Dallas, Atlanta, or Waco, then you stand to be on the cutting edge of the changes the company has in store. Those locations have been selected to be the first to receive AT&T's 5G network upgrade. Often, whenever a new technology is touted, you hear the phrase "this changes everything" associated with it. However, after listening to an AT&T spokesman talk at length … Read more
Android Ransomware Infections Declined in 2017
Android users have a reason to cheer. According to the latest report by ESET, the number of ransomware attacks targeting Android devices declined in 2017. The decline represents a bit of an anomaly, given that in 2017, the most common type of malware attack (by a wide margin) was ransomware. Given that security researchers can't name a particular reason for the decline, it's important not to read too much into the data. Whether there are declining figures or not, ransomware attacks still … Read more
Sim Cards Can Now Be Built Into Processors
SIM cards have long been a source of frustration for equipment manufacturers. With the relentless drive to produce smaller and smaller devices, the SIM card is a hurdle to be overcome. It's relatively large, and when you account for the necessary housing, it becomes quite the design challenge. That challenge seems to have been met, however. ARM, a prominent chip design firm, has recently announced the development of the iSIM. The iSIM is built into the processor, and according to the … Read more
New Apple Update Available for Character Bug Solution
Recently, another "exotic character" bug was found in iOS. If someone sends this particular character (a special character that's part of the Indian language pack) to your phone via any messaging app, it will not only crash your phone, but cause a variety of messaging apps to stop functioning. When the bug was initially reported, Apple treated it as a somewhat low priority item and announced their plan to fix it with the release of iOS 11.3 later this spring. The company's loyal user base, … Read more
