Hackers Can Access Your Mobile and Laptop Cameras
Yes, it's as scary as it sounds, so cover up your phone and laptop cameras right now! With "camfecting", hackers take control over your cameras remotely, disabling the LED which indicates that the camera is active, so you'll never know it happened. Cyber criminals launch these attacks by searching the web for known software vulnerabilities, and then running applications which will try to break into people's computers and/or smartphones. Fortunately, placing a piece of black tape over the camera will stop hackers in their tracks.
Still on Windows 7? Say “Bye Bye” to Your Digital Life
I really liked Windows 7. I didn't like Windows 8 that much, though. But truth be told, I really like Windows 10! Since official support for Windows 7 ended in January 2020, people who continue to use it won't get access to any security patches and bug fixes from now on. Hackers can successfully attack computers that run unpatched software, getting access to their files (think online banking accounts, etc). So, if you've got a PC which runs Windows 7 and is connected to the Internet, you should upgrade its O.S. as soon as possible.
Computer Security: What is a Firewall and How Does it Work?
If you've ever wanted to understand the inner workings of a firewall, Newslanes has got an easy to understand article for you. Basically, a firewall is a device or software application which acts as a gatekeeper, blocking unwanted Internet traffic that is generated by unrecognized sources. Firewalls create virtual barriers between devices and the networks they're connected to. The good news is that most modern operating systems include software firewalls. A hardware-based firewall will add an extra layer of security, though.
Nasty malware steals banking passwords and 2FA codes
Most people spend a lot of time on their phones, so it's no wonder that cyber criminals build mobile malware which is often able to bypass conventional cyber security measures. While it is true that most of these bad applications can be found on unofficial app stores, others manage to find their way in the official stores as well. Unfortunately, a new piece of Android malware has been built with banking apps and cryptocurrencies in mind, stealing account login/password combinations and two-factor authentication codes.
Best Antivirus in 2020: Free Antivirus and Paid Software
Tom's Guide has recently created an article which highlights the best antivirus applications of the year. While Windows' built-in security program has improved a lot, it's no match for some of the best industry products, such as Kaspersky Total Security, Bitdefender Antivirus or Norton 360 Deluxe. Security suites like these include ransomware protection modules, file shredding and system optimization utilities, etc. The best free antivirus software is Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, according to the authors of the article.
New Android Malware Called xHelper is not Removable
A new piece of malware may get installed on Android smartphones and won't disappear even after a full system reset. Igor Golovin, security researcher at Kasperksy Labs, has stated that more than 55,000 Android devices in the entire world have been infected with the virus so far. xHelper targets Android phones that run older versions of the O.S, especially v6 and v7. Once that the malware is installed, it downloads a few other components, including one which gives it root access, and thus makes it impossible to remove it.
Microsoft and Intel Project Converts Malware into Images
The two companies have joined their forces to create a project which makes it easier to detect and classify malware. STAMINA (STAtic Malware-as-Image Network Analysis) converts potential malware to greyscale images, and then searches the resulting bitmaps for patterns which are specific to malware. First of all, the input file is converted into a binary data stream. The raw pixel data is then converted into a 3D image, which is sized down to increase processing speed, and then fed to a pre-trained deep neural network.
Cloudflare Has Launched a New Version of its Free DNS
The company has rolled out a new service called Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for Families, which can block adult content and malware before it reaches your devices. The service works by comparing the incoming I.P. addresses with a known list of bad websites. While other applications try to block dangerous elements after they have been loaded, Cloudflare's DNS-based service will prevent bad content from reaching your computer or mobile device. The article shows how to set up the service on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS.
