Experts crack Petya ransomware, enable hard drive decryption for free

Security experts have devised a method that allows users to recover data from computers infected with the Petya ransomware program without paying money to cybercriminals.Petya appeared on researchers' radar last month when criminals distributed it to companies through spam emails that masqueraded as job applications. It stood out from other file-encrypting ransomware programs because it overwrites a hard disk drive's master boot record (MBR), leaving infected computers unable to boot into the operating system.The program replaces the drive's legitimate MBR code, which normally starts the operating system, with code that encrypts the master file table (MFT) and shows a ransom note. The MFT is a special file on NTFS volumes that contains information about all other files: their name, size and mapping to hard disk sectors.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Experts crack Petya ransomware, enable hard drive decryption for free

Security experts have devised a method that allows users to recover data from computers infected with the Petya ransomware program without paying money to cybercriminals.Petya appeared on researchers' radar last month when criminals distributed it to companies through spam emails that masqueraded as job applications. It stood out from other file-encrypting ransomware programs because it overwrites a hard disk drive's master boot record (MBR), leaving infected computers unable to boot into the operating system.The program replaces the drive's legitimate MBR code, which normally starts the operating system, with code that encrypts the master file table (MFT) and shows a ransom note. The MFT is a special file on NTFS volumes that contains information about all other files: their name, size and mapping to hard disk sectors.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

How To Build Your Certification Roadmap

Certifications happen when you break them down into their component parts and take them on one at a time. This 11-point methodology helped me complete several certifications. I hope it might help you too.

The post How To Build Your Certification Roadmap appeared first on Packet Pushers.

How To Build Your Certification Roadmap

Certifications happen when you break them down into their component parts and take them on one at a time. This 11-point methodology helped me complete several certifications. I hope it might help you too.

The post How To Build Your Certification Roadmap appeared first on Packet Pushers.

NANOG 67 Social Information

 

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Sponsored by: EdgeConneX

Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm

Location: Howl at the Moon

Address: 26 West Hubbard Street Chicago, IL 60654

Transportation: Sponsor to provide motor coach transportation to and from the venue.  Meet in Autolobby (B2 Level). 

 **NANOG Badge required for entry**

  

IDG Contributor Network: 7 potential security concerns for wearables

Wearables are rapidly invading the workplace in much the same way that smartphones did. Fitness trackers, smartwatches, head-mounted displays and other new form factors are beginning to capture the public imagination. Sales of wearable electronic devices topped 232 million in 2015, and Gartner forecasts they’ll rise 18.4% this year, when another 274.6 million devices are sold.These wearable devices represent some appealing opportunities for businesses to increase efficiency and gather data, but in the rush to win market share, security concerns are taking a backseat for many manufacturers and app developers. The potential ramifications of unchecked wearable device usage within the enterprise are alarming.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Embedded malware shipped on surveillance system sold via Amazon

There’s nothing particularly new about new products being shipped with malware, but if you are in the market for surveillance cameras and are looking for a good deal, then a security researcher warned that even products sold on Amazon come with embedded malware.Security researcher Mike Olsen found a decent deal on an outdoor surveillance CCTV setup, specifically six Sony HD IP cameras and recording equipment which are being sold on Amazon by a seller with “great ratings.”To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Embedded malware shipped on surveillance system sold via Amazon

There’s nothing particularly new about new products being shipped with malware, but if you are in the market for surveillance cameras and are looking for a good deal, then a security researcher warned that even products sold on Amazon come with embedded malware.Security researcher Mike Olsen found a decent deal on an outdoor surveillance CCTV setup, specifically six Sony HD IP cameras and recording equipment which are being sold on Amazon by a seller with “great ratings.”To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Welcome to NANOG 67!

IDG Contributor Network: Wi-Fi-based positioning improves access point security

Imagine if your router could detect a user’s location to within a few inches? For one thing, hotspot password protection becomes redundant because geographic authentication takes over—the router can be configured to only allow access from within a location, an apartment, say. In-café users could be allowed access without passwords, yet freeloaders on the street get blocked.Researchers think they’ve worked out how to do it.The system “locates users by calculating the ‘time-of-flight’ that it takes for data to travel from the user to an access point,” says Adam Conner-Simons in a recent MIT News article. And it does it with a single access point. That’s unlike other setups that require four or five access points for triangulation-like measuring. One access point determining a user’s position means costs should be lower, and individuals or small businesses can take advantage of the tech.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IDG Contributor Network: Wi-Fi-based positioning improves access point security

Imagine if your router could detect a user’s location to within a few inches? For one thing, hotspot password protection becomes redundant because geographic authentication takes over—the router can be configured to only allow access from within a location, an apartment, say. In-café users could be allowed access without passwords, yet freeloaders on the street get blocked.Researchers think they’ve worked out how to do it.The system “locates users by calculating the ‘time-of-flight’ that it takes for data to travel from the user to an access point,” says Adam Conner-Simons in a recent MIT News article. And it does it with a single access point. That’s unlike other setups that require four or five access points for triangulation-like measuring. One access point determining a user’s position means costs should be lower, and individuals or small businesses can take advantage of the tech.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Consumers want more value from home IoT products

U.S. consumers are slow to embrace home-based Internet of Things products, with many wary of their cost and usefulness, according to a new survey.Many consumers are skeptical about the value proposition behind home IoT products, according to the survey from market research firm IDC.Reliability was the top concern among those people who expressed interested in home IoT devices. On a one to 10 rating scale, reliability rated nearly a nine when people were asked what home IoT issues needed to improve before they would purchase a system.Following close behind were concerns about cost, with equipment costs, ongoing costs, installation costs, overall value, all scoring above 8.75. Ease of use and security or privacy concerns were also major concerns.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

IDG Contributor Network: Sysdig and Mesosphere partner to monitor all of those containers

A new partnership being announced today sees Sysdig and Mesosphere getting cozy to enable a more consistent way of developing and delivering applications.These are two interesting vendors in different spaces. Sysdig calls itself a "container visibility company." Essentially what that means is that it offers a container-specific monitoring solution. One can think of it like New Relic and Boundary but with containers as a primary focus. Mesosphere, on the other hand, is the company that commercializes the Mesos open-source project to help scale and automate applications. Mesosphere offers the data center operating system (DCOS), which delivers a simpler administration model for data center operators.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Network Break 82: Brocade Buys Ruckus, Cisco Sells 10 Million Nexus 3000 Ports

Take a Network Break and dive into our tasty selection of tech news, including Brocade's purchase of Ruckus Wireless, Cisco's latest milestone with its Nexus 3000 line, our debate on whether Apple should build its own cloud, and more!

The post Network Break 82: Brocade Buys Ruckus, Cisco Sells 10 Million Nexus 3000 Ports appeared first on Packet Pushers.

Network Break 82: Brocade Buys Ruckus, Cisco Sells 10 Million Nexus 3000 Ports

Take a Network Break and dive into our tasty selection of tech news, including Brocade's purchase of Ruckus Wireless, Cisco's latest milestone with its Nexus 3000 line, our debate on whether Apple should build its own cloud, and more!

The post Network Break 82: Brocade Buys Ruckus, Cisco Sells 10 Million Nexus 3000 Ports appeared first on Packet Pushers.

Ahead of Google I/O, Google previews new Android N Multi-Window support

Google released more information about Android N (referring to N as Not the real name). The preview of the mobile operating system gives the impression of a more in-depth system and user-level polish that has been Google’s obsession since Android 4.4 Kitkat.Multi-Window Support Multi-Window support stands out as the most important feature for users, consumers and developers. It allows apps to be opened in two separate windows and used on a split-screen display. User interest in Multi-Window has become increasingly important as mobile devices replace PC apps with mobile apps. When work moves to a mobile app, users want many of the same PC features, keyboards, split screens, drag and drop, etc.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Introduction to Network Complexity at NANOG on the Road

I will be speaking at NANOG on the road tomorrow—the topic is “An Introduction to Network Complexity.” If you’re in the Raleigh area, this is well worth taking the time off to come to, as the speaker lineup is fantastic.

The post Introduction to Network Complexity at NANOG on the Road appeared first on 'net work.

Serial numbers how I love thee…

5 things you should know about the blockchain

Talk of blockchain technology is everywhere, it seems -- but what is it, and what does it do?1. Don't call it "the" blockchainThe first thing to know about the blockchain is, there isn't one: there are many. Blockchains are distributed, tamper-proof public ledgers of transactions. The most well-known is the record of bitcoin transactions, but in addition to tracking cryptocurrencies, blockchains are being used to record loans, stock transfers, contracts, healthcare data and even votes.2. Security, transparency: the network's run by usThere's no central authority in a blockchain system: Participating computers exchange transactions for inclusion in the ledger they share over a peer-to-peer network. Each node in the chain keeps a copy of the ledger, and can trust others’ copies of it because of the way they are signed. Periodically, they wrap up the latest transactions in a new block of data to be added to the chain. Alongside the transaction data, each block contains a computational "hash" of itself and of the previous block in the chain.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

5 things you should know about the blockchain

Talk of blockchain technology is everywhere, it seems -- but what is it, and what does it do?1. Don't call it "the" blockchainThe first thing to know about the blockchain is, there isn't one: there are many. Blockchains are distributed, tamper-proof public ledgers of transactions. The most well-known is the record of bitcoin transactions, but in addition to tracking cryptocurrencies, blockchains are being used to record loans, stock transfers, contracts, healthcare data and even votes.2. Security, transparency: the network's run by usThere's no central authority in a blockchain system: Participating computers exchange transactions for inclusion in the ledger they share over a peer-to-peer network. Each node in the chain keeps a copy of the ledger, and can trust others’ copies of it because of the way they are signed. Periodically, they wrap up the latest transactions in a new block of data to be added to the chain. Alongside the transaction data, each block contains a computational "hash" of itself and of the previous block in the chain.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here