NYT: How My Mom Got Hacked - NYTimes.com

NYT: How My Mom Got Hacked - NYTimes.com: "By ALINA SIMONEJAN. 2, 2015"

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/opinion/sunday/how-my-mom-got-hacked.html?emc=edit_th_20150104&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45685287 

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2015/01/nyt-how-my-mom-got-hacked-nytimescom.html

MY mother received the ransom note on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It popped up on her computer screen soon after she’d discovered that all of her files had been locked. “Your files are encrypted,” it announced. “To get the key to decrypt files you have to pay 500 USD.” If my mother failed to pay within a week, the price would go up to $1,000. After that, her decryption key would be destroyed and any chance of accessing the 5,726 files on her PC — all of her data — would be lost forever.

Sincerely, CryptoWall.

CryptoWall 2.0 is the latest immunoresistant strain of a larger body of viruses known as ransomware. [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/opinion/sunday/how-my-mom-got-hacked.html?emc=edit_th_20150104&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45685287 

Is there any other way to get rid of it besides paying the ransom? No — it appears to be technologically impossible for anyone to decrypt your files once CryptoWall 2.0 has locked them. (My mother had several I.T. professionals try.)

But should you really be handing money over to a bunch of criminals? According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the F.B.I. and the National White Collar Crime Center, this answer is also no. “Ransomware messages are an attempt to extort money,” one public service announcement helpfully explains. “If you have received a ransomware message do not follow payment instructions and file a complaint.” Right. But that won’t get you your files back. Which is why the Sheriff’s Office of Dickson County, Tenn., recently paid a CryptoWall ransom to unlock 72,000 autopsy reports, witness statements, crime scene photographs and other documents... [...]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/opinion/sunday/how-my-mom-got-hacked.html?emc=edit_th_20150104&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45685287 

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“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

NSA knew about, exploited Heartbleed for years: Bloomberg report.

NSA knew about, exploited Heartbleed for years: Bloomberg report.: By Lily Hay Newman

"It just doesn't end. Bloomberg is reporting that, according to “two people familiar with the matter,” the NSA has known about the Heartbleed vulnerability for at least two years—and was using it to collect information about people instead of, you know, telling someone about it and getting it fixed.

With millions of websites compromised, people all over the world changing their passwords for protection, the Canadian government suspending electronic tax filing, and people speculating about whether Heartbleed is the “worst vulnerability ever,” this could end up looking pretty bad for the agency. Good thing it already has a sparkly-clean public image, or it might be in trouble.

According to Bloomberg, it doesn’t seem that the NSA created Heartbleed—it just  found the bug and used it. " http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/04/11/nsa_knew_about_exploited_heartbleed_for_years_bloomberg_report.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=67b8a19711&mc_eid=b27361148d

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PCWorld.com: Bugs & Fixes: The Moon Worm slinks by Linksys E-series routers - by Jon L. Jacobi

Bugs & Fixes: The Moon Worm slinks by Linksys E-series routers

Jon L. Jacobi Mar 5, 2014 7:00 AM http://www.pcworld.com/article/2104020/bugs-and-fixes-the-moon-worm-slinks-by-linksys-e-series-routers.html#tk.nl_secur

Labels: Technology, Technology Computers, Technology Internet, Technology viruses cyber threats, Technology Wi-Fi - See more at: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2014/03/pcworldcom-bugs-fixes-moon-worm-slinks.html#sthash.h28Lv1Vt.dpuf

A slimy piece of malware called the moon worm has managed to slither past the login for Linksys E-series routers. Read more: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2104020/bugs-and-fixes-the-moon-worm-slinks-by-linksys-e-series-routers.html#tk.nl_secur

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For agency, a loss of technology has had down- and upsides - The Washington Post

For agency, a loss of technology has had down- and upsides - The Washington Post: "By Lisa Rein, Monday, April 9, 6:00 AM

The virus struck in an e-mail 80 days ago, flagged by a federal team that monitors cyber threats. The target was a small job-development bureau in the Commerce Department. The infiltration was so vicious it put Commerce’s entire computer network at risk.

To avert a crisis, the Economic Development Administration unplugged its operating system — and plunged its staff into the bureaucratic Dark Ages." http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-agency-a-loss-of-technology-has-had-down--and-upsides/2012/04/08/gIQAvpAY5S_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

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