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What Happens When Anonymous Gets a Bank?

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 12:18:07 +0000

“The same people who brought you Wikileaks are back, and this time, they’ve created a virtual currency called Bitcoin that could destabilize the entire global financial system. Bitcoin is an open-source virtual currency generated by a computer algorithm that is completely beyond the reach of financial intermediaries, central banks and national tax collectors. Bitcoins could be used to purchase anything, at any time, from anyone in the world, in a transaction process that it is almost completely frictionless. Yes, that’s right, the hacktivists now have a virtual currency that’s untraceable, unhackable, and completely Anonymous.

And that’s where things start to get interesting. Veteran tech guru Jason Calacanis recently called Bitcoin the most dangerous open source project he’s ever seen. TIME suggested that Bitcoin might be able to bring national governments and global financial institutions to their knees. You see, Bitcoin is as much a political statement as it is a virtual currency. If you think there’s a shadow banking system now, wait a few more months. The political part is that, unlike other virtual currencies like Facebook Credits (used to buy virtual sock puppets for your friends), Bitcoins are globally transferrable across borders, making them the perfect instrument to finance any cause or any activity — even if it’s banned by a sovereign government.”

Source: What Happens When Anonymous Gets a Bank? | Endless Innovation | Big Think

US intelligence to set up cyber-focused office in Estonia

admin — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:45:14 +0000

“US intelligence is to open an office in the Estonian capital Tallinn to help boost the fight against cyber-crime, the US embassy in the Baltic state announced Wednesday.

‘Estonia was selected as the site for the new secret service office due to both the investigative nexus it provides in combating cyber and financial crimes, as well as the opportunity it provides the agency in the fulfillment of its protective duties within the region,’ embassy spokesman James Land told AFP.

The office, due to be opened Friday, will have a staff of four.

‘Tallinn will also serve as a prime location from which to engage counterparts in Russia and throughout the Nordic region,’ Land added.”

Source: AFP: US intelligence to set up cyber-focused office in Estonia

Texas Spends $1.8 Million on Data Breach As Lawsuits Loom

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:45:05 +0000

“The Texas state comptroller’s office has already spent $1.8 million to mitigate the yearlong data breach in which names and Social Security numbers were exposed. The total cost is expected to be even higher as the lawsuits start rolling in.

Personal information belonging to approximately 3.5 million people in Texas was accidentally exposed on a publicly accessible FTP server for a full year before it was detected, Texas comptroller Susan Combs disclosed on March 31. Since then, the comptroller’s office has spent $1.2 million to mail letters to those affected and $393,000 for a call center to handle calls from people looking for information and assistance. Another $290,000 went to Deloitte Consulting and Gartner for services related to assessing the damage and improving IT security in the comptroller’s office.”

(Texas Spends $1.8 Million on Data Breach As Lawsuits Loom – Security – News & Reviews – eWeek.com)

Cyberattack in South Korea Hits 40 Web Sites

admin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:52:10 +0000

” Forty Web sites in South Korea came under attack by a computer virus on Friday, including the presidential Blue House, the Foreign Ministry, the country’s biggest bank, the two largest search engines, a major online auction house and some American and Korean military sites.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but the National Police Agency was investigating the assault, which was discovered by AhnLab, a leading Internet security firm in Seoul. “

Source: Cyberattack in South Korea Hits 40 Web Sites – NYTimes.com

HBGary Federal CEO Aaron Barr Quits Due to Anonymous Attack

admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:56:09 +0000

“The embattled CEO of HBGary Federal has resigned his post three weeks after Anonmyous hacked into the company’s network and stole thousands of e-mail messages. The ease Anonymous conducted the attack left the company that provides security services to the federal government red-faced.

CEO Aaron Barr told Threatpost on Feb. 28 that he’s stepping down to help the company regain its reputation and to improve his own.”

Source: HBGary Federal CEO Aaron Barr Quits Due to Anonymous Attack – Security – News & Reviews – eWeek.com

Continued Evolution of DoD Cyber Policy

admin — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:26:12 +0000

“The deputy secretary of Defense, the Honorable William J. Lynn III, delivered remarks at the RSA conference that captures a snapshot of DoD cyber policies.

This is consistent with the continually improving path the department has been on for the last several years. I recommend a good read of the remarks and hope you share my excitement over the great work here.”

Source: CTOvision.com – Continued Evolution of DoD Cyber Policy

CIA Director Leon Panetta Warns of Possible Cyber-Pearl Harbor

admin — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:25:19 +0000

“‘The potential for the next Pearl Harbor could very well be a cyber-attack,’ he testified on Capitol Hill Thursday before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper also appeared, telling the committee, ‘This threat is increasing in scope and scale, and its impact is difficult to overstate.’ “

(CIA Director Leon Panetta Warns of Possible Cyber-Pearl Harbor – ABC News)

Oil Firms Hit by Hackers From China, Report Says

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:43:10 +0000

“Hackers who appear to be based in China have conducted a ‘coordinated, covert and targeted’ campaign of cyber espionage against major Western energy firms, according to a report expected to be issued Thursday by cybersecurity firm McAfee Inc.

Law-enforcement agencies said they are investigating the incidents, which McAfee said have been going on at least since late 2009 but may have started as early as 2007. The company said the attacks, which they dubbed ‘Night Dragon,’ were still occurring.

McAfee said the hackers targeted five multinational firms, but wouldn’t identify the companies by name because some of them are clients. McAfee said it was sharing the findings ‘to protect those not yet impacted and to repair those who have been.’ Asked if they were victims of the hacking, BP PLC and ExxonMobil Inc., among other large oil companies, declined to comment. Chevron Corp. said it wasn’t aware of any successful hacks into the company’s data systems by Night Dragon. “

Source: Oil Firms Hit by Hackers From China, Report Says – WSJ.com

Homeland Security Seizes Spanish Domain Name That Had Already Been Declared Legal

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:33:28 +0000

“It appears that Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, and their incredibly sloppy domain seizure operations, have moved on to the next phase — as was promised by both ICE boss, John Morton, and IP Enforcement Coordinator, Victoria Espinel. The timing on this one is particularly bizarre — and politically stupid. “

Source: Homeland Security Seizes Spanish Domain Name That Had Already Been Declared Legal | Techdirt

Iran announces launch of new cyber police units

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:57:00 +0000

“Iran’s state TV says the country has launched its first cyber police unit in the latest attempt by authorities to gain an edge in the digital world.

The Internet has been a key outlet for Iran’s political opposition since the disputed presidential election in 2009. Iran also has been trying to boost its web defenses after the Stuxnet computer worm made its way into computers involved with its nuclear program.”

Source: Iran announces launch of new cyber police units – Boston.com