Editor's News

The end of support for XP by Microsoft will see a rise in the adoption of “bring your own device” policies.   According to EY, with 20-30 per cent of the world still running XP, despite Microsoft ending support in a month, BYOD could be a quick solution to the problem. Mark Brown, director of information security at EY, said: "Hackers will use this as an opportunity to take advantage of those organisations that have...

Following the breach which affected tens of millions of users, the CIO of American retailer Target has resigned.   According to media reports, Beth Jacob is the first high-level executive to leave the company following the breach of 70 million records after six years in the position. Target said that it will replace Jacob, but with an external hire, and the position will be “elevated” to CISO as part of its plan to tighten its...

To commence with this article, I would like to make it clear that I am not grumpy by intention, and that my current mood is attributed to what is at times, a failing of the Security Profession, and more the case, some of those who are associated with it in their various capacities, and guises - please allow me to elaborate. To set the scene, I wish to take you back to a Gartner event...

CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today released Fraudscape: a report that analyses fraud recorded by over 300 organisations during 2013. While overall fraud levels decreased in 2013 by 11% compared with 2012, analysis in Fraudscape reveals trends, including increases in card, mortgage and loan fraud and a decrease in bank account fraud. Identity related crimes – frauds where criminals misuse the personal data of victims – still accounted for over 60% of all...

Economic crime against financial services organisations continues to rise around the world. Some 45% of financial services respondents to PwC's 2014 Global Economic Crime Survey say they have been victims of economic crime. And 39% say they have been victims of cybercrime, as fraudsters increasingly turn to technology as their main crime tool. Around half who have experienced economic crime during the survey period report an increase in the number of occurrences and the financial...

Many mobile device users are still not aware that they are just as vulnerable to cybercrime on their smartphones as they are on their PCs. in response, Kaspersky Lab has today launched the free Kaspersky Safe Browser for Windows Phone app to safeguard web surfing on smartphones running Microsoft’s mobile OS. The application is now available for download from Windows Phone Store. The new browser boasts protection against phishing, a widespread threat that affects PCs...

Much greater collaboration between governments, industry and academics will be needed to counter the next generation of cyber security threats, a reception for the Cyber Growth Partnership was told at RSA Conference this week. The event was attended by some of the world’s foremost security experts from the public and private sector, including representatives from Microsoft, ARM, BAE Systems and the Director of the UK Office of Cyber Security James Quinault. Speaking at the reception,...

Researchers at US cyber security firm, Hold Security LLC, have discovered stolen credentials from 360 million accounts that are available for sale on cyber black markets. Alex Holden, chief information security officer of Hold Security LLC, said in a statement that his firm obtained the data over the past three weeks, meaning an unprecedented amount of stolen credentials is available for sale underground. 'The sheer volume is overwhelming,' said Holden, whose firm last year also...

More than 1,000 secondary school pupils have said they are inspired to consider a career in cyber security after participating in a series of careers workshops and online learning activities delivered by employers and supported by e-skills UK. The workshops, part of the Secure Futures programme, have two aims: they teach young people how to stay secure online; and they make the link between techniques used to ensure students’ own safety, and those used by...

Could it be the end for Bitcoin- a mere five years after its conception? In latest developments, it appears that the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world, MtGox, has simply disappeared along with the CEO, Mark Kepeles who resigned this week. Furthermore, a leaked crisis strategy draft for MtGox, reveals that large amounts of Bitcoin have gone missing. "At this point 744,408 BTC are missing due to malleability-related theft which went unnoticed for several years....