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Wireless

Feds warn of booby-trapped hotel Wi-Fi connections

Dan Kaplan May 09, 2012

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) on Tuesday issued a warning to travelers to be on the lookout for malware on their hotel's wireless connection.

Twitter turns on HTTPS by default to protect Wi-Fi users

Dan Kaplan February 14, 2012

Twitter has joined a short-list of major web brands that have turned on the secure browsing capability, HTTPS, by default.

Don't let Wi-Fi hotspots get the best of you

Swen Baumann, product manager, NCP Engineering February 06, 2012

Securing wireless connectivity for roaming employees is not as simple as instituting corporate policy. It also requires the education of both administrators and end-users -- and some technology help.

The next remote access challenge: Seamless VPN roaming

Patrick Oliver Graf, general manager, NCP engineering • January 19, 2012

In today's mobile world, it's not uncommon to be faced with a multitude of connection types on any given day.

Security firm releases tool to brute force routers

Dan Kaplan December 29, 2011

A Maryland security firm has released an open-source tool that can be used to exploit a vulnerability that permits the brute force hacking of wireless routers, connected using the WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) standard, to retrieve passwords.

Vulnerability allows brute force hacking of wireleless routers

Dan Kaplan December 28, 2011

A computing standard than enables users to easily stand up an encrypted wireless network suffers from a design weakness that could enable attackers to gain router access, according to US-CERT.

FCC to release free protection tool for small businesses

Dan Kaplan October 25, 2011

As small businesses increase their dependence on the internet, one federal agency is helping to pave the way for them to conduct secure operations.

Seattle men indicted on hacking, fraud charges

Angela Moscaritolo September 22, 2011

Three men in their 30s used low- and high-tech means to install malware to steal banking credentials and credit numbers from dozens of businesses, according to federal prosecutors.

Google, FTC settle over faulty privacy in Buzz

Dan Kaplan March 31, 2011

Google and the FTC have settled over the internet giant's admitted privacy missteps in its Buzz social networking service.

Schumer asks Twitter, Yahoo, Amazon to adopt HTTPS

Dan Kaplan March 01, 2011

A federal lawmaker is calling on a number of high-profile websites to adopt a more secure web protocol to prevent wireless hackers from hijacking their users' data.

Google and Connecticut reach stipulation over Street View data

Dan Kaplan February 02, 2011

Google and the state of Connecticut have avoided a potential courtroom showdown after reaching an agreement over the search giant's accidental collection of personal Wi-Fi data. The two parties signed a stipulation Friday that allows them to begin negotiations without having to enforce a subpoena, which was issued in December after Google refused to provide access to its data so an investigation could confirm whether it had gathered private information and the collection's frequency, according to a statement from Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. Google now stipulates that it collected "payload data," including URLs of requested pages and emails, from unprotected wireless networks while its Street View cars captured photos for Google Maps and Earth. - DK

Stoddart: Handle data in "thoughtful, systematic" way

Dan Kaplan November 17, 2010

The privacy commissioner of Canada, who has led investigations into the data-handling practices of Google and Facebook, offered a keynote Tuesday at SC Congress Canada in Toronto.

Firefox add-on allows session hijacking of popular sites

Angela Moscaritolo October 26, 2010

A computer researcher has released a plug-in for the Firefox web browser that lets anyone scan open Wi-Fi networks and hijack, for example, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Google data collection scandal reveals careless security at Wi-Fi access points

Gert Hansen, vice president of product management, Astaro August 23, 2010

The criticism being levied at Google for its collection of Wi-Fi data is misguided.

Burgeoning mobile Wi-Fi hotspots present risks to enterprises

Ajay Gupta, tech lead of engineering, AirTight Networks July 23, 2010

While most people are familiar with traditional Wi-Fi hotspots, organizations must recognize the security ramifications presented by growing numbers of mobile hotspots.

Connecticut leads probe into Google Wi-Fi data collection

Angela Moscaritolo June 22, 2010

After already being hit with at least three lawsuits over its admitted collection of information from unprotected Wi-Fi networks, Google now is being subject to a multistate investigation into the privacy blunder.

Google sued for data collection via Wi-Fi

Angela Moscaritolo May 26, 2010

Google this week was hit with a third class-action lawsuit over its collection of information from unprotected Wi-Fi networks.

Wireless adware threat uses "carrier" computer to spread

Dan Kaplan May 24, 2010

Surfing the web on an unsecured public connection may soon yield adware, researchers at the University of Calgary have predicted.

Venting our security anger

Lysa Myers, director of research, West Coast Labs April 19, 2010

In this month's "Five Stages of Employment" column, the author illustrates the things that get her blood boiling when it comes to information security.

TJX hacker sentenced to five years, fined

Dan Kaplan April 16, 2010

The sixth and final U.S. person charged two years ago with breaking into the computer networks at discount retail parent TJX was sentenced Thursday. A U.S. District Court judge in Boston sentenced Damon Patrick Toey, 25, to five years in prison and fined him $100,000. Toey pleaded guilty in September 2008 to wire fraud, credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. He also is connected to a number of other major heists at retailers and payment processor Heartland Payment Systems. The ring's orchestrator, Albert Gonzalez, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison. Some of Gonzalez' Eastern European-based co-conspirators remain at large. — DK

13 years in prison cometh for the "Iceman" hacker

Dan Kaplan February 16, 2010

A San Francisco-based hacker accused of stealing and then selling hundreds of thousands of credit card numbers must spend 13 years behind bars, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. House to toughen internal cybersecurity policy

Dan Kaplan December 16, 2009

For the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives will require its staff and members to take part in an annual IT security training program -- one of the mandates under new policy set to take effect next year.

TJX settles for $525K with four banks over breach

Dan Kaplan September 03, 2009

TJX, which announced a then-record data breach in January 2007, has settled with the final four banks suing the discount merchant.

Wireless flaw could let hackers breach wired network

Dan Kaplan August 25, 2009

Cisco's wireless LAN platform suffers from a vulnerability that could lead to a "full breach," according to wireless security firm AirMagnet.

Fluke snares AirMagnet

Dan Kaplan August 13, 2009

Everett, Wash.-based Fluke Networks, which installs, tests, certifies and monitors networks used by enterprises and telecommunications carriers, announced Thursday that is has acquired AirMagnet, provider of wireless LAN security solutions. The deal -- terms of which were not disclosed -- is expected by some industry observers to make Fluke a leader in Wi-Fi testing. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AirMagnet is best known for its WLAN security and performance management offering. — DK

PCI clarifies procedures to secure Wi-Fi

Angela Moscaritolo July 17, 2009

With a new guidance document, the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council aims to clarify what retailers must do to secure their Wi-Fi networks.