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Archive for the ‘cybercrime/malcode’ category: Page 90

Apr 26, 2022

Microsoft’s $15 billion cybersecurity business is giving investors new reason for optimism

Posted by in categories: business, cybercrime/malcode

Nadella told analysts on an earnings call that the operation had reached $10 billion in annual revenue and was “up more than 40%” year over year. In other words, it was outpacing every other major Microsoft product.

The remarks were revelatory. Nadella was known for reviving Microsoft, overseeing a fivefold expansion in market cap by that point in his seven years at the helm. That growth was largely based on turning Microsoft’s cloud business into a more serious threat to Amazon Web Services in a giant market.

By letting investors in on the enormity of Microsoft’s security business, Nadella was casually uncovering a powerful growth engine. Total revenue across the company was up just 14% from the prior year. And by way of comparison, Palo Alto Networks, one of the largest pure-play security software companies, delivered 21% revenue growth over roughly the same period, on a base smaller than $4 billion.

Apr 26, 2022

Quantum ransomware seen deployed in rapid network attacks

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, encryption, quantum physics

The Quantum ransomware, a strain first discovered in August 2021, were seen carrying out speedy attacks that escalate quickly, leaving defenders little time to react.

The threat actors are using the IcedID malware as one of their initial access vectors, which deploys Cobalt Strike for remote access and leads to data theft and encryption using Quantum Locker.

The technical details of a Quantum ransomware attack were analyzed by security researchers at The DFIR Report, who says the attack lasted only 3 hours and 44 minutes from initial infection to the completion of encrypting devices.

Apr 25, 2022

Hackers say cracking power grid tech was easiest challenge yet

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, energy

During an industrial control systems hacking challenge, a Dutch team won $40,000 for cracking tech used to control the power grid.

Apr 25, 2022

Elon Musk acquires Twitter for roughly $44 billion

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, economics, Elon Musk, information science, robotics/AI

The company’s board and the Tesla CEO hammered out the final details of his $54.20 a share bid.

The agreement marks the close of a dramatic courtship and a sharp change of heart at the social-media network.

Elon Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion on Monday, the company announced, giving the world’s richest person command of one of its most influential social media sites — which serves as a platform for political leaders, a sounding board for experts across industries and an information hub for millions of everyday users.

Continue reading “Elon Musk acquires Twitter for roughly $44 billion” »

Apr 25, 2022

This ‘Tamper-Evident Container’ Snitches on Meddlers and Thieves

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, encryption

The 3D-printed containers keep a log of all break-in attempts, meaning your snail mail just got way safer.


Suppose you want to mail a court document to someone across the country—you don’t want anyone to see the secure information inside, of course. So, you seal it into a container that has special sensors built into its walls, and electronics that monitor the shield of sensors. Now, the container is armed and monitoring.

Continue reading “This ‘Tamper-Evident Container’ Snitches on Meddlers and Thieves” »

Apr 24, 2022

How to Tell if Your Webcam Has Been Hacked

Posted by in category: cybercrime/malcode

There are signs that can tell you if your webcam has been hacked or not. With the increasing cases of data breaches and hacks, there is no surprise if there are people who are concerned if their devices are protected enough from any attack.

Apr 22, 2022

Flaw in Audio Format Exposed Millions of Android Phones to Remote Hacking

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, mobile phones

Google rolled out patches for the flaws in a December security update, so Android users should make sure they’ve updated their mobile OSes.

Apr 22, 2022

Is SpaceX better at parrying Russian cyberattacks than the Pentagon?

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, military, space travel

Apr 22, 2022

Quasiparticles used to generate millions of truly random numbers a second

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, information science, quantum physics

This could lead to a truly random number generator making things much more secure.


Random numbers are crucial for computing, but our current algorithms aren’t truly random. Researchers at Brown University have now found a way to tap into the fluctuations of quasiparticles to generate millions of truly random numbers per second.

Random number generators are key parts of computer software, but technically they don’t quite live up to their name. Algorithms that generate these numbers are still deterministic, meaning that anyone with enough information about how it works could potentially find patterns and predict the numbers produced. These pseudo-random numbers suffice for low stakes uses like gaming, but for scientific simulations or cybersecurity, truly random numbers are important.

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Apr 21, 2022

Researchers break world record for quantum-encrypted communications

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, encryption, internet, quantum physics

Researchers in Beijing have set a new quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) world record of 102.2 km (64 miles), smashing the previous mark of 18 km (11 miles), The Eurasian Times reported. Transmission speeds were extremely slow at 0.54 bits per second, but still good enough for text message and phone call encryption over a distance of 30 km (19 miles), wrote research lead Long Guilu in Nature. The work could eventually lead to hack-proof communication, as any eavesdropping attempt on a quantum line can be instantly detected.

QSDC uses the principal of entanglement to secure networks. Quantum physics dictates that entangled particles are linked, so that if you change the property of one by measuring it, the other will instantly change, too — effectively making hacking impossible. In theory, the particles stay linked even if they’re light-years apart, so such systems should work over great distances.

The same research team set the previous fiber record, and devised a “novel design of physical system with a new protocol” to achieve the longer distance. They simplified it by eliminating the “complicated active compensation subsystem” used in the previous model. “This enables an ultra-low quantum bit error rate (QBER) and the long-term stability against environmental noises.”

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