Do you own a Google Home? If so, you probably find it to be indispensable. It's a powerful, genuinely helpful piece of technology, but there's a catch. It's so good and so useful because it listens constantly for voice commands from you. Those commands get recorded.
Apple Turns Off Mac OS Feature For Security Concerns
Apple is in the news again, but not for anything good.
Jonathan Leitschuh, a security researcher, recently unearthed a serious security flaw that allowed a hacker to activate a Mac computer's webcam without alerting the computer's owner.
The problem is a program called Zoom.
Android Devices May Soon Get New Fast Sharing Feature
Google's first attempt at making it possible for Android users to share files with each other was called Android Beam.
While it was functional, it left a lot to be desired, and never really caught on. That fact prompted the company to announce that it would be calling a halt to further Beam development in preference for a new tool.
Android Malware Can Replace Real Apps With Fake Apps
Security researchers at Check Point have discovered a disturbing new strain of Android malware that's as ingenious as it is disturbing. It is effective because it is designed to replace a rapidly expanding number of apps with poisoned copies.
The app copies still retain their core functionality, making the malware notoriously difficult to detect.
Unsecured Database May Have Exposed Some Big Companies
An UpGuard research team recently discovered several unsecured Amazon S3 buckets belonging to the Israeli IT Services firm Attunity.
The company left the buckets unsecured, exposing more than a terabyte of sensitive information belong to a number of prominent companies including Ford, TD Bank and Netflix.
SmartHome Device Vendor Data Leak Includes User Information
Orvibo is a Chinese manufacturer of smart home solutions. These are devices that allow owners to manage connected smart appliances in their home, remotely control lighting, security, HVAC and home entertainment devices, as well as monitor energy usage.
Protecting Utilities From Cyber Threats Is One Step Closer
The US government took another important step toward protecting the nation's vulnerable electrical infrastructure with the passage of the SEIA bill in the Senate. The bill would mandate the use of analog or manual technologies on US power grids as a fallback in the event of a cyber-attack against the grid.
Personal Medical Devices Recalled For Hacking Risk
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to patients and healthcare providers that certain Medtronic MiniMed some insulin pumps carry cybersecurity risks.
The alert reads, in part, as follows:
"The FDA has become aware than an unauthorized person (someone other than a patient, patient caregiver, or health care provider) could potentially connect wirelessly to a nearby MiniMed insulin pump with cybersecurity vulnerabilities and change the pump's settings to either over-deliver insulin to a patient, leading to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or stop insulin delivery, leading to high blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis.
Windows Update May Not Work On Some Dual Boot Macs
Windows 10 version 1903 is out. However, if you're a Mac user running Windows 10, you may not be able to get the latest from Microsoft. According to Microsoft's official statement on the matter:
"Macs introduced before 2012 or newer Mac devices with older versions of Apple Boot Camp or Windows Support Software drivers installed will not be able to install the May 2019 Windows 10 Feature Update.
IP Camera Hacking Attempts Are Rising
Recently, Trend Micro published some statistics that just about everyone should find disturbing. According to their latest statistics, the security company has blocked more than five million cyber-attacks against IP cameras, just in the past five months.