The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

How a hacker network turned stolen press releases into $100 million

Posted on by Robin Edgar

At a Kiev nightclub in the spring of 2012, 24-year-old Ivan Turchynov made a fateful drunken boast to some fellow hackers. For years, Turchynov said, he’d been hacking unpublished press releases from business newswires and selling them, via Moscow-based middlemen, to stock traders for a cut of the sizable profits. Oleksandr Ieremenko, one of the Read more about How a hacker network turned stolen press releases into $100 million[…]

Android data slurping measured and monitored – scary amounts and loads of location tracking

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google’s passive collection of personal data from Android and iOS has been monitored and measured in a significant academic study. The report confirms that Google is no respecter of the Chrome browser’s “incognito mode” aka “porn mode”, collecting Chrome data to add to your personal profile, as we pointed out earlier this year. It also Read more about Android data slurping measured and monitored – scary amounts and loads of location tracking[…]

Bitcoin mining now apparently accounts for almost one percent of the world’s energy consumption

Posted on by Robin Edgar

According to testimony provided by Princeton computer scientist Arvind Narayanan to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, no matter what you do to make cryptocurrency mining harware greener, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the overall network’s flabbergasting energy consumption. Instead, Narayanan told the committee, the only thing that really determines Read more about Bitcoin mining now apparently accounts for almost one percent of the world’s energy consumption[…]

Huawei reverses its stance, will no longer allow bootloader unlocking – will lose many customers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In order to deliver the best user experience and prevent users from experiencing possible issues that could arise from ROM flashing, including system failure, stuttering, worsened battery performance, and risk of data being compromised, Huawei will cease providing bootloader unlock codes for devices launched after May 25, 2018. For devices launched prior to the aforementioned Read more about Huawei reverses its stance, will no longer allow bootloader unlocking – will lose many customers[…]

Oi, clickbait cop bot, jam this in your neural net: Hot new AI threatens to DESTROY web journos

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Artificial intelligent software has been trained to detect and flag up clickbait headlines. And here at El Reg we say thank God Larry Wall for that. What the internet needs right now is software to highlight and expunge dodgy article titles about space alien immigrants, faked moon landings, and the like. Machine-learning eggheads continue to Read more about Oi, clickbait cop bot, jam this in your neural net: Hot new AI threatens to DESTROY web journos[…]

Facebook Wanted to Kill This Investigative People You May Know Tool

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Last year, we launched an investigation into how Facebook’s People You May Know tool makes its creepily accurate recommendations. By November, we had it mostly figured out: Facebook has nearly limitless access to all the phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, and social media handles most people on Earth have ever used. That, plus its Read more about Facebook Wanted to Kill This Investigative People You May Know Tool[…]

It’s either legal to port-scan someone without consent or it’s not, fumes researcher: Halifax bank port scans you when you visit the page

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Halifax Bank scans the machines of surfers that land on its login page whether or not they are customers, it has emerged. Security researcher Paul Moore has made his objection to this practice – in which the British bank is not alone – clear, even though it is done for good reasons. The researcher claimed Read more about It’s either legal to port-scan someone without consent or it’s not, fumes researcher: Halifax bank port scans you when you visit the page[…]

Critical OpenEMR Flaws Left Medical Records Vulnerable

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Security researchers have found more than 20 bugs in the world’s most popular open source software for managing medical records. Many of the vulnerabilities were classified as severe, leaving the personal information of an estimated 90 million patients exposed to bad actors. OpenEMR is open source software that’s used by medical offices around the world Read more about Critical OpenEMR Flaws Left Medical Records Vulnerable[…]

Facebook: We’re not asking for financial data, we’re just partnering with banks

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Facebook is pushing back against a report in Monday’s Wall Street Journal that the company is asking major banks to provide private financial data. The social media giant has reportedly had talks with JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and US Bancorp to discuss proposed features including fraud alerts and checking account balances via Messenger. Elisabeth Read more about Facebook: We’re not asking for financial data, we’re just partnering with banks[…]

The cashless society is a con – and big finance is behind it

Posted on by Robin Edgar

All over the western world banks are shutting down cash machines and branches. They are trying to push you into using their digital payments and digital banking infrastructure. Just like Google wants everyone to access and navigate the broader internet via its privately controlled search portal, so financial institutions want everyone to access and navigate Read more about The cashless society is a con – and big finance is behind it[…]

Anti DRM software programmer Arrested For Cracking Denuvo Anti-Piracy Tech

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Denuvo’s notorious anti-piracy tech used to be seen as uncrackable. It held up against hackers’ best efforts for years, contorting itself into obtuse new shapes every time anybody broke through. In 2016, a Bulgarian hacker calling himself Voksi came along with a breakthrough that revitalized the whole Denuvo cracking scene. He’s been a pillar of Read more about Anti DRM software programmer Arrested For Cracking Denuvo Anti-Piracy Tech[…]

Work less, get more: New Zealand firm’s four-day week an ‘unmitigated success’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The New Zealand company behind a landmark trial of a four-day working week has concluded it an unmitigated success, with 78% of employees feeling they were able to successfully manage their work-life balance, an increase of 24 percentage points. Two-hundred-and-forty staff at Perpetual Guardian, a company which manages trusts, wills and estate planning, trialled a Read more about Work less, get more: New Zealand firm’s four-day week an ‘unmitigated success’[…]

Windows 10 now uses machine learning to stop updates installing when a PC is in use

Posted on by Robin Edgar

One of the more frustrating aspects of Windows 10 is the operating system’s ability to start installing updates when you’re in the middle of using it. While Microsoft has tried to address this aggressive approach to updates with features to snooze installation, Windows 10 users continue to complain that updates reboot devices when they’re in Read more about Windows 10 now uses machine learning to stop updates installing when a PC is in use[…]

Kremlin hackers ‘jumped air-gapped networks’ to pwn US power utilities

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Department of Homeland Security is once again accusing Russian government hackers of penetrating America’s critical infrastructure. Uncle Sam’s finest reckon Moscow’s agents managed to infiltrate computers networks within US electric utilities – to the point where the miscreants could have virtually pressed the off switch in control rooms, yanked the plug on the Read more about Kremlin hackers ‘jumped air-gapped networks’ to pwn US power utilities[…]

UK snooping ‘unlawful for more than decade’ – but seemingly (and amazingly) responsible

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The system that allowed spy agency GCHQ access to vast amounts of personal data from telecoms companies was unlawful for more than a decade, a surveillance watchdog has ruled. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal said that successive foreign secretaries had delegated powers without oversight. But it added there was no evidence GCHQ had misused the system. Read more about UK snooping ‘unlawful for more than decade’ – but seemingly (and amazingly) responsible[…]

Hackers Breached Virginia Bank Twice in Eight Months, Stole $2.4M

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Hackers used phishing emails to break into a Virginia bank in two separate cyber intrusions over an eight-month period, making off with more than $2.4 million total. Now the financial institution is suing its insurance provider for refusing to fully cover the losses. According to a lawsuit filed last month in the Western District of Read more about Hackers Breached Virginia Bank Twice in Eight Months, Stole $2.4M[…]

Bluetooth security: Flaw could allow nearby attacker to grab your private data

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A cryptographic bug in many Bluetooth firmware and operating system drivers could allow an attacker within about 30 meters to capture and decrypt data shared between Bluetooth-paired devices. The flaw was found by Lior Neumann and Eli Biham of the Israel Institute of Technology, and flagged today by Carnegie Mellon University CERT. The flaw, which Read more about Bluetooth security: Flaw could allow nearby attacker to grab your private data[…]

On Highway Noise Barriers, the Science Is Mixed. Are There Alternatives?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Engineers and acousticians have known for years that the sound barriers bracketing America’s urban and suburban highways are only marginally useful, and that a variety of better technologies could be developed. The problem: Nobody has an incentive to get them on the road. “Walls are not a very effective solution,” said Robert Bernhard, vice president Read more about On Highway Noise Barriers, the Science Is Mixed. Are There Alternatives?[…]

Fur, Feathers, Hair, and Scales May Have the Same Ancient Origin

Posted on by Robin Edgar

New research shows that the processes involved in hair, fur, and feather growth are remarkably similar to the way scales grow on fish—a finding that points to a single, ancient origin of these protective coverings. When our very early ancestors transitioned from sea to land some 385 million years ago, they brought their armor-like scales Read more about Fur, Feathers, Hair, and Scales May Have the Same Ancient Origin[…]

AI can untangle the jumble of neurons packed in brain scans

Posted on by Robin Edgar

AI can help neurologists automatically map the connections between different neurons in brain scans, a tedious task that can take hundreds and thousands of hours. In a paper published in Nature Methods, AI researchers from Google collaborated with scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology to inspect the brain of a Zebra Finch, a Read more about AI can untangle the jumble of neurons packed in brain scans[…]

The SIM Hijackers: how hackers take your phone number and then all of your accounts

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In the buzzing underground market for stolen social media and gaming handles, a short, unique username can go for between $500 and $5,000, according to people involved in the trade and a review of listings on a popular marketplace. Several hackers involved in the market claimed that the Instagram account @t, for example, recently sold Read more about The SIM Hijackers: how hackers take your phone number and then all of your accounts[…]

Top Voting Machine Vendor Admits It Installed Remote-Access Software on Systems Sold to States

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Remote-access software and modems on election equipment ‘is the worst decision for security short of leaving ballot boxes on a Moscow street corner.’ The nation’s top voting machine maker has admitted in a letter to a federal lawmaker that the company installed remote-access software on election-management systems it sold over a period of six years, Read more about Top Voting Machine Vendor Admits It Installed Remote-Access Software on Systems Sold to States[…]

Blue Origin pushed its rocket ‘to its limits’ with another succesful high-altitude emergency abort test

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Update July 18th, 11:35AM ET: Blue Origin pulled off another successful test launch today, landing both the New Shepard rocket and capsule after flight. The company ignited the capsule’s emergency motor after it had separated from the rocket, pushing the spacecraft up to a top altitude of around 74 miles — a new record for Read more about Blue Origin pushed its rocket ‘to its limits’ with another succesful high-altitude emergency abort test[…]

Robocall Firm Exposes Hundreds of Thousands of US Voters’ Records

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Personal details and political affiliations exposed The server that drew Diachenko’s attention, this time, contained 2,584 files, which the researcher later connected to RoboCent. The type of user data exposed via Robocent’s bucket included: ⬖  Full Name, suffix, prefix ⬖  Phone numbers (cell and landlines) ⬖  Address with house, street, city, state, zip, precinct ⬖  Read more about Robocall Firm Exposes Hundreds of Thousands of US Voters’ Records[…]