The Weekly Cypher is specially curated to keep you up-to-date on the latest in cybersecurity, biometrics, and related news and innovations. Here are a few of the headlines you might have missed this week.
No Worry or No Hope? Americans Less Concerned About Online Security | U.S. Census Bureau
Despite a seemingly endless torrent of news about data breaches, Americans are less concerned about online security and privacy risks than they were in 2015, according to new Census Bureau data released by the technology policy arm of the Commerce Department.
- The proportion of online households reporting privacy and security concerns fell from 84 percent in 2015 to 73 percent in the fall of 2017
- And just 33 percent in 2017 said privacy concerns stopped them from doing certain online activities, like posting on social media or making purchases online — down from 45 percent in 2015.
However, this drop shouldn’t obscure the fact that consumers are, overall, still aware of the risks of being online. Almost 75 percent of households reported significant concerns about online privacy and security, and about 20 percent said they’d experienced an online security breach, identity theft or similar crime during the past year. [Read More]
Facebook Informs 4 Million Users About Yet Another Data Leak | Variety
Facebook’s privacy nightmare is far from over: The social networking giant announced an app called myPersonality had siphoned personal data from 4 million users off Facebook and then shared it with researchers and third-party companies.
“Today we banned myPersonality — an app that was mainly active prior to 2012 — from Facebook for failing to agree to our request to audit and because it’s clear that they shared information with researchers as well as companies with only limited protections in place,” wrote Facebook’s VP of product partnerships Ime Archibong in a blog post published late Wednesday afternoon by the company.
The revelation may seem like a deja vu to some of the affected users: Earlier this year, Facebook was in the headlines for another personality quiz, which stole data from up to 87 million Facebook users on behalf of Cambridge Analytica, a data consultancy that was used by Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign. [Read More]
Report: Hackers Steal More Than $1M From Global Economy Every Minute| The Hill
Hackers are able to steal more than $1 million from the global economy in a single minute, according to a report by cybersecurity firm RiskIQ.
Approximately 1,861 people fall victim to cyber attacks in a span of 60 seconds, while some $1.14 million is stolen. The project aimed to show the magnitude of the issue of global cybercrime by framing it in terms of an “Evil Internet Minute.”
Using proprietary and third-party research, researchers found hackers used a variety of tactics to extract money digitally, including malware, phishing, and supply chain attacks targeting third parties. In addition, cybercriminals issued roughly 1,274 pieces of unique malware each minute. [Read More]
Netflix, HBO GO, Hulu passwords found for sale on the Dark Web | Naked Security
Your best friends may not be the only ones sharing your Netflix account: A new report found that thieves are selling account data from popular streaming services HBO GO account on the Dark Web.
The report from Irdeto found hackers are selling hundreds of stolen logins for popular “over-the-top” (OTT) services such as pay TV and video on demand on Dark Web marketplaces.
Besides HBO GO credentials, the company spotted listings for logins to 42 services, including Netflix, DirecTV, and Hulu. All told, during the month of April, Irdeto spotted 854 sets of credentials, listed by 69 separate vendors on 15 marketplaces. On average, an account’s credentials are fetching $8.71 for one-time use. Some Dark Web sellers are also selling bundles of credentials for several services at higher prices. [Read More]
Texas School District Will Use Biometrics To Track Hourly Workers | GovTech
San Benito school district in Texas is purchasing a fingerprint software system to track the time and attendance of its hourly employees from identiMetrics and hopes to have the technology deployed to all of its schools and work sites by October.
“We looked for a system whether it was biometric or otherwise to feed into our payroll system so we could cut back on the paperwork and be more efficient,” says district Superintendent Nate Carman. “Using this type of clocking in and out will eliminate some paper and it will eliminate supervisors having to go manually approve overtime.”
The district’s plan is to use this biometric finger scanning software only for its hourly paid employees. That means teachers won’t be using it. However, the biometric program has a variety of uses schools can utilize.
With this scanning technology, schools are “able track daily and tardy attendance, identification to food service point of sale for breakfast and lunch programs, library check-outs, employee time clock and safe entrance to dances and athletic events.” [Read More]
