Editor's News

Cyber is the only area of the National Security Strategy to show efficient evidence of defence spending.   According to the Government’s six-monthly Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), funding decisions on conventional defence and cyber capabilities must reflect the need for deterrence.   The report claimed that after cyber security was deemed to be a tier one risk in 2010, and with a 20 year timescale for the National Security Strategy, spending on climate...

A fresh SSL vulnerability has been detected, which allows attackers to intercept HTTPS connections.   Name FREAK (Factoring attack on RSA-EXPORT Keys), it intercepts vulnerable clients and servers and forces them to use ‘export-grade’ cryptography, which can then be decrypted. Specifically vulnerable are Apple and Google browsers, according to researchers who uncovered the flaw.   With many Google and Apple devices vulnerable and a patch due from Apple next week, the details of the flaw...

The top ten UK companies in the FTSE 100 are struggling with rogue and bogus social media accounts.   According to research from Proofpoint, of the top ten UK FTSE 100 brands, they have twice the amount of unauthorised accounts to contest with, and four of every five (80 per cent) of the associated Facebook accounts are unauthorised.   Also, two of every five (40 per cent) of Twitter accounts are unauthorised. Of these posts,...

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is inviting members of the public to send data protection subject access requests over an insecure HTTP connection.   According to a blog by Jon Baines, chair of the National Association of Data Protection Officers (NADPO), as well as access requests, copies of proof of identity, such as passports or bank statements, are also requested to be sent over the HTTP connection.   “This is almost certainly in...

GCHQ is to open a summer school offering a six-week cyber course in the north of England.   Named Northern Exposure 2015, the summer school will offer a “stimulating learning experience” for 30 students who have a natural curiosity about technology and an interest in the latest gadgets.   Running from 13th July to the 21st August in Scarborough, it is open to UK nationals aged 18 and over, those selected will not only learn...

The subpoena issued by Uber has been revealed to be to code repository Github. In the original story, Uber managing counsel of data privacy Katherine Tassi said a “John Doe” lawsuit had been filed in order that can gather information that may lead to confirmation of the identity of the third party who accessed a database of 50,000 driver details. In the subpoena, hosted by the Register, Uber attorneys ask to produce documents, information or objects...

GCHQ is to launch a ten-week cyber training summer programme for first or second year university students who have an interest in cyber.   Aimed at those who are skilled in at least one computer language or who have an interest in cyber beyond that of their university studies, the Cyber Insiders Summer School will run from 6th July – 11th September 2015 and will be located in Cheltenham.   The school will feature targeted...

A database of drivers who work with the Uber app was accessed last May, resulting in the possible theft of information on 50,000 drivers.   In a statement, Uber managing counsel of data privacy Katherine Tassi said that it identified access to the database by “an unauthorised third party” and a small percentage of current and former Uber driver partner names and driver’s license numbers were contained in the database.   “Immediately upon discovery we...

Iran has been named as the perpetrator of an attack on a Las Vegas casino last year. After the Sands hotel and casino chain was attacked in February 2014, James Clapper, US director of national intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the attack was by Iranian attackers which hit many of the systems which help run the $14 billion operation. According to Bloomberg, Clapper said that the destructive attacks demonstrate that Iran is...

Internet service provider TalkTalk has admitted that it suffered a major breach of user information, including customer names, addresses, phone and account numbers. As reported by The Register, in an email to customers TalkTalk said that it first saw a big increase in malicious scammers claiming to be from TalkTalk at the end of last year. Following an investigation it said some customer information could have been illegally accessed, with scammers quoting these details to customers....