General Elections to Have Increased Cyber Security

                                            Image Credit: networkworld.com

In light of the Russian hacking scandal that placed a dark cloud over the United States 2016 Presidential election, political party heads are receiving recommendations on how to protect their parties from cyber attacks. The National Cyber Security Centre, gave brief overviews to the potential threats and case studies on recent attacks to help reduce risks and respond it an attack should occur. In my opinion, I feel as if this should have already been a priority. These actions seem a lot more reactive to recent events, and if these precautions were in place already, there may not be a scandal to talk about.

Source Article: msn.com

Someone Could Still Have Access to That "New" Home or Car

                                         Image Credit: techlicious.com

Buying a new car or home with smart technology can be a wonderful experience, but what if they weren't technically new. There have been reported cases where the previous owners of cars or smart device homes still had remote access. This means if you purchased a "new" car or smart home someone else could unlock your doors, turn up your thermostat or start your car without keys. This is a growing concern as we rely more on smart devices to make our lives easier, not cause a security risk. Always make sure to have all smart devices and car features fully reset, and change passwords immediately. You never know who still may be in charge.

Source Article: nbcnews.com

AIG to Offer Personal Cyber Security Insurance

 

Image Credit: keyword-suggestions.com

In a move that they hope will pay off, AIG will offer security insurance plans to individual clients. It seems AIG is looking to cash in on those individuals afraid of having their personal security information stolen or their bank accounts compromised. No doubt they will be targeting high income people with a lot more to lose than your average Joe. I think this is a good move, as the chance of becoming a victim of a cybercrime increases, the more you have to lose. Only time will tell if AIG is successful with this new direction of cyber security insurance coverage.

Source Article: Fortune.com

Your Private Information up for Sale

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Apparently Congress does not care about your online privacy protection, or should I say a large majority Republican Congress. The current online broadband privacy protection policy has been repealed, which means we have been sold out by the very people we (wait not me, I'm independent), voted into office. The already rich beyond their wildest dreams, internet service providers will have free reign, to sell all of our private data to the highest bidder if this law is signed by the President. From a cyber security perspective this also means that with more information out there to be sold and exploited, cybercriminals will be looking to hack and steal as much of this information as possible. This is a sad time in our country that our privacy would come second to the interests of big businesses looking to add another zero to their profits. 

Source Article: us news.com

Has The U.S. Become The Land of No Privacy?

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On Wednesday March 9th, James Comey, the Director of the FBI , stated that absolute privacy is something we no longer have in the United States. He went on to say that some day the government could request details of private conversations with spouses, attorneys, or even clergy members, and that no place in America is out of judicial reach. This statement coming from the Director of the FBI is a very alarming one. As Americans, privacy is something that is of the upmost importance, and for Comey to make a statement like this tells me that no matter who you are, nothing you do is private anymore.

Source Article: usnews.com

Suspects Charged in The Yahoo Hacking Case

Four suspects have been charged by the United States in the Yahoo hacking case. Of the four suspects, two of them are members of the Russian Federal Security Service, and the other two are criminal hackers. One of the hackers, Karim Baratov, has been arrested in Canada, but the other three, Dmitry Dokuchaev, Igor Sushchin, and Alexsey Belan remain at large. The claim is that Dmitry Dokuchaev and Igor Sushchin, of the RFSS, hired and directed criminal hackers to obtain sensitive information in the United States and other places. Although these indictments have come down, all suspects are said to be innocent until proven guilty.

Source Article: U.S.News.com

Symantec Aims to Help Cybersecurity Startups

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Symantec announced the creation of a new venture arm that will assist cybersecurity startup companies. This venture will not just contribute funds to these startups, but also help to reduce expenses that will allow them to speed up their time to market. Symantec has also promised to grant access to their integrated cyber defense and digital safety technology to get them started. This venture is huge for many startup companies, as they help with the fight against cyberterrorism. This will give them opportunities to create their products more efficiently and get them to market faster. This move by Symantec shows their dedication to cybersecurity and  how much they are willing to invest to fight this ever growing problem.

Source Article: ZDNet