Professionally designed ransomware Spora might be the next big thing

Security researchers have found a new ransomware program dubbed Spora that can perform strong offline file encryption and brings several innovations to the ransom payment model.The malware has targeted Russian-speaking users so far, but its authors have also created an English version of their decryption portal, suggesting they will likely expand their attacks to other countries soon.Spora stands out because it can encrypt files without having to contact a command-and-control (CnC) server and does so in a way still allows for every victim to have a unique decryption key.Traditional ransomware programs generate an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) key for every encrypted file and then encrypts these keys with an RSA public key generated by a CnC server.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Professionally designed ransomware Spora might be the next big thing

Security researchers have found a new ransomware program dubbed Spora that can perform strong offline file encryption and brings several innovations to the ransom payment model.The malware has targeted Russian-speaking users so far, but its authors have also created an English version of their decryption portal, suggesting they will likely expand their attacks to other countries soon.Spora stands out because it can encrypt files without having to contact a command-and-control (CnC) server and does so in a way still allows for every victim to have a unique decryption key.Traditional ransomware programs generate an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) key for every encrypted file and then encrypts these keys with an RSA public key generated by a CnC server.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Your Windows 10 PC may soon lock itself when you walk away

Windows 10 Insider previews are sometimes just full of surprises. An unmentioned feature in Build 15002 was recently uncovered by Windows Central that appears to be a complementary feature to Windows Hello, the biometric login system that automatically unlocks your PC when you sit in front of it.Dubbed Dynamic Lock, this newly discovered feature is designed to automatically lock down your computer when Windows detects that you’re away. It’s not clear if the feature is working yet and Microsoft has yet to discuss it publicly. For that reason it’s unknown what Dynamic Lock actually does. Though Windows Central says Microsoft’s internal name for the feature is “Windows Goodbye,” which indeed suggests a close relationship with Windows Hello.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Your Windows 10 PC may soon lock itself when you walk away

Windows 10 Insider previews are sometimes just full of surprises. An unmentioned feature in Build 15002 was recently uncovered by Windows Central that appears to be a complementary feature to Windows Hello, the biometric login system that automatically unlocks your PC when you sit in front of it.Dubbed Dynamic Lock, this newly discovered feature is designed to automatically lock down your computer when Windows detects that you’re away. It’s not clear if the feature is working yet and Microsoft has yet to discuss it publicly. For that reason it’s unknown what Dynamic Lock actually does. Though Windows Central says Microsoft’s internal name for the feature is “Windows Goodbye,” which indeed suggests a close relationship with Windows Hello.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Verizon Uses SD-WAN Monitoring Software from SevOne

Paradox: SD-WAN makes some things simpler, but others more complicated.

You won’t have to hear about the Galaxy Note7 on flights anymore

Since its launch in September, the Galaxy Note7 went from being the phone to beat to the one you couldn’t take on airplanes. Even with a global recall in place and a series of software updates designed to brick any remaining devices, the FAA continued its ban on Samsung’s phablet, and frequent travelers grew accustomed to hearing about the warning before take-off.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

68% off Etekcity 4 Pack Portable Outdoor LED Camping Lantern with 12 AA Batteries – Deal Alert

Whether used for camping, trick or treating, or power outages, this lantern will provide up to 12 hours of bright omnidirectional LED lighting to see your surroundings. When the battery power of the lantern runs low, the brightness will dim to an energy saving mode to provide longer lasting illumination (up to 4 hours of low power usage). It's lighter, brighter and more portable than most flashlights while still featuring the rugged durability to withstand the outdoors. The military grade exterior is water resistant for more practical use in a high range of environments. Ideal for children, the lantern needs no setup or prepping with fires and oil. The design provides full omnidirectional lighting for clear vision no matter where you may turn. The fold-out collapsible handles make for easier portability and hanging.  This lantern averages 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon (read reviews) and the 4 pack's list price of $79.99 has been reduced 68% to $25.99. Check it out on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Samsung boss to testify in South Korea bribery case

Jay Y. Lee, the current head of the Samsung Group, will be questioned by a special prosecutor Thursday as part of an investigation into a wide-ranging corruption scandal in South Korea that has reached all the way to the country’s president.The case centers on allegations that Samsung, among other businesses, paid millions of dollars to a mysterious associate of President Park Geun-hye in exchange for favorable government decisions. That associate, Choi Soon-sil, is accused of accepting payments for her daughter’s competitive equestrian career as bribes.+ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD: US Intel report: Russia allegedly obtained 'compromising' info on Trump + Amazon Alexa ‘wins’ CES, but how well does the virtual assistant really perform?To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Trump: It was probably Russia that hacked the DNC, Clinton campaign

Russia was likely behind the hacks of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has finally acknowledged. In his first news conference in about six months, Trump also said Wednesday that cybersecurity will be a top priority for his administration. He wants proposals on new hacking defenses within 90 days. "We get hacked by everybody," he said. Trump's new found belief that Russia was responsible for cyberattacks during the presidential campaign comes after months of doubting U.S. intelligence reports that blamed Russia. But Trump also suggested U.S. intelligence may have leaked a 35-page dossier that accuses his campaign of working with Russian intelligence.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Trump: It was probably Russia that hacked the DNC, Clinton campaign

Russia was likely behind the hacks of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has finally acknowledged. In his first news conference in about six months, Trump also said Wednesday that cybersecurity will be a top priority for his administration. He wants proposals on new hacking defenses within 90 days. "We get hacked by everybody," he said. Trump's new found belief that Russia was responsible for cyberattacks during the presidential campaign comes after months of doubting U.S. intelligence reports that blamed Russia. But Trump also suggested U.S. intelligence may have leaked a 35-page dossier that accuses his campaign of working with Russian intelligence.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IDG Contributor Network: Security fatigue—or how I learned to overcome laziness and use a password manager

I admit it: I sometimes suffer from “security fatigue,” and I bet you do, too.If you’ve ever reused a password for a new site login, thinking the site isn’t that important, you suffer from it. If you’ve clicked on a tempting email offer or social media request, even if it looked sketchy, you’ve got it. And if you’ve sent a business document to your private email so you can keep working on it at home, you’ve definitely got it.+ Also on Network World: The CSO password management survival guide + You’re not alone. Security fatigue is a bug the majority of us have. A NIST study recently reported that most people don’t do the right thing when it comes to cybersecurity because they are too lazy, too hurried, or not convinced that they are a target for cybercrime.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IDG Contributor Network: Security fatigue—or how I learned to overcome laziness and use a password manager

I admit it: I sometimes suffer from “security fatigue,” and I bet you do, too.If you’ve ever reused a password for a new site login, thinking the site isn’t that important, you suffer from it. If you’ve clicked on a tempting email offer or social media request, even if it looked sketchy, you’ve got it. And if you’ve sent a business document to your private email so you can keep working on it at home, you’ve definitely got it.+ Also on Network World: The CSO password management survival guide + You’re not alone. Security fatigue is a bug the majority of us have. A NIST study recently reported that most people don’t do the right thing when it comes to cybersecurity because they are too lazy, too hurried, or not convinced that they are a target for cybercrime.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Worth Reading: The FTC’s IoT challenge

One of the biggest cybersecurity stories of 2016 was the surge in online attacks caused by poorly-secured “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices such as Internet routers, security cameras, digital video recorders (DVRs) and smart appliances. Many readers here have commented with ideas about how to counter vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software in IoT devices, so why not pitch your idea for money? Who knows, you could win up to $25,000 in a new contest put on by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). —Krebs on Security

The post Worth Reading: The FTC’s IoT challenge appeared first on 'net work.

Greenpeace’s naughty and nice list of the most – and least – green tech vendors

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace is out with its latest report card judging internet companies on use of renewable energy and while Apple, Google and Facebook continue to score the highest marks, the market’s leading IaaS public cloud vendor Amazon Web Services is called out with failing grades. +MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: No honor among thieves: Crooks seeking ransom for MongoDB data someone else stole | Oops, this Redditor accidentally deleted his Microsoft Azure DNS +To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IDG Contributor Network: Intuition Robotics debuts a robotic companion for the aged

This week, Intuition Robotics, a formerly stealth Israeli startup, is debuting ElliQ, a kind of robot, kind of personal assistant that it classifies as an artificial intelligence-based robot companion. What that means in plain English is that this device is a kind of hub where information, internet services and connectivity combine and are delivered in a (hopefully) accessible way to the intended audience: in this case, the aged. While In Israel last month, I met with Dor Skuler, CEO and founder of Intuition Robotics, to get the low down on what the company is doing and what the rationale is.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

44% off Logitech G700s 910-003584 Rechargeable Gaming Mouse – Deal Alert

For gamers who know there is no such thing as “over-prepared”, the G700s is a must-have. Precise? Check. Customizable? 13 programmable buttons will perform complex macros at your command. Full-speed wireless? With the lightning-fast report rate of a wired gaming mouse, you won’t believe it’s not plugged in. The G700s Gaming Mouse is highly rated on Amazon with 4 out of 5 stars from over 2,400 customers (read reviews). Right now its list price has been reduced a generous 44% to just $55.53. See it now on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Pentagon tested world’s largest swarm of autonomous micro-drones

Have you ever seen a starling murmuration as the flock twists and turns in fantastic aerial acrobatics as if the mass shares one brain? Next time you think you see one, look again. It might not be a swarm of birds, but a swarm of 3D-printed, autonomous micro-drones.The U.S. Department of Defense announced a successful test of 103 Perdix drones. Granted, the drones are not a beautiful product of nature like starlings, but the swarm does act like a “collective organism” that shares a single brain for decision making.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Pentagon tested world’s largest swarm of autonomous micro-drones

Have you ever seen a starling murmuration as the flock twists and turns in fantastic aerial acrobatics as if the mass shares one brain? Next time you think you see one, look again. It might not be a swarm of birds, but a swarm of 3D-printed, autonomous micro-drones.The U.S. Department of Defense announced a successful test of 103 Perdix drones. Granted, the drones are not a beautiful product of nature like starlings, but the swarm does act like a “collective organism” that shares a single brain for decision making.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Best Buy responds to Geek Squad snooping case

Best Buy offered its response to claims its Geek Squad repair technicians snoop through PCs brought in for repair, making a claim that is fairly obvious, given its situation. It stems from my last blog post, "Why you shouldn't trust Geek Squad ever again," which in turn was inspired by an Orange County Weekly article that claimed the FBI was paying Geek Squad staffers a $500 reward for any incriminating evidence they find in a device brought in for repair.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Best Buy responds to Geek Squad snooping case

Best Buy offered its response to claims its Geek Squad repair technicians snoop through PCs brought in for repair, making a claim that is fairly obvious, given its situation. It stems from my last blog post, "Why you shouldn't trust Geek Squad ever again," which in turn was inspired by an Orange County Weekly article that claimed the FBI was paying Geek Squad staffers a $500 reward for any incriminating evidence they find in a device brought in for repair.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here