Tag: hacking | Page 159

Security camera hacking: Here’s how to stop it from happening to you

August 29, 2021/in Internet Security

Installing an internet-connected security camera in your house won’t necessarily bring a wave of hackers to your Wi-Fi network — but losing privacy resulting from a device’s security shortcomings is surprisingly common. Last year, an ADT home security customer noticed an unfamiliar email address connected to her home security account, a professionally monitored system that included cameras and other devices inside her home. That simple discovery, and her report of it to the company, began to topple a long line of dominoes leading back to a technician who had spied, over the course of four and a half years, on hundreds of customers — watching them live their private lives, undress and even have sex.

ADT says it has closed the loopholes that the technician exploited, implementing “new safeguards, training and policies to strengthen … account security and customer privacy.” But invasions of privacy are not unique to ADT and some vulnerabilities are harder to safeguard than others.

Whether you’re using professionally monitored security systems such as ADT, Comcast Xfinity or Vivint, or you just have a few standalone cameras from off-the-shelf companies like Ring, Nest or Arlo, here are a few practices that can help protect your device security and data privacy.

Is my security system vulnerable?

Before jumping into solving the problems of device insecurity, it’s helpful to understand how vulnerable your devices really are.

Major professionally monitored security systems — and even individually sold cameras from reputable developers like Google Nest and Wyze — include high-end encryption (which scrambles messages within a system and grants access through keys) almost across the board. That means as long as you stay current with app and device updates, you should have little…

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Northumbria Police cyber officers feature in three-part podcast by Ladies Hacking Society

August 22, 2021/in Computer Security

Claire Vandenbroecke and Charlotte Knill, from the force’s Cyber Crime Unit, usually deliver bespoke training to businesses across the area on keep systems secure and work with young people.

Now, they’re sharing their expertise on a much larger platform via a new podcast produced by the Ladies Hacking society.

The series covers everything from why you should use two-factor authentication on apps, to how tricks and jokes adopted by gamers could see them falling foul of the law.

Charlotte Knill and Claire Vandenbroecke from the Northumbria Police Cyber Crime Unit.

Charlotte said: “The best way we can tackle cybercrime is to prevent the offences from taking place in the in first instance.

“This is why our roles are vital and are heavily centred on educating people about the risks which are out there, and then arming them with the right tools and advice to protect themselves, their systems and devices.

“A large part of my role is working with young people and getting them to understand that cybercrime is not a victimless crime – an attack on a small business for example could be devastating and have serious consequences for the owner’s livelihood.

“Steering teenagers away from cybercrime and showing them the vast array of jobs in the industry is a simple but effective way of preventing them using their skills in an unethical and teaching them about the Computer Misuse Act.”

And in Claire’s world of Cyber Protect and Prepare, businesses, organisations and charities are being issued with practical advice to block an unsolicited attempts to gain access.

“If you knew your front door didn’t lock properly, then you would get it fixed to keep your home safe – so why should your online security be any different,” Claire explained.

“A lot of what I cover in the podcast is what I’m sharing with businesses on a daily basis.

“They’re really simple and straightforward tips from making sure your passwords are strong – we advise using three random words or a password generator which you can find online, to use two-factor authentication for your apps, as well as basic house-keeping like ensuring all your systems…

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New York Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Hacking, Stealing Nude Photos From College Students

August 20, 2021/in Computer Security

A New York man has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to stealing dozens of nude photos from college students.

U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced 25-year-old Nicholas Faber, of Rochester, to 36 months behind bars on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice. Faber was also sentenced to three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence and ordered to pay over $35,000 in restitution to the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh. He pleaded guilty to charges of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft on February 8.

Between 2017 and 2019, Faber and co-conspirator Michael Fish illegally accessed the email accounts of dozens of women who were students at SUNY Plattsburgh. The duo used information from the email accounts to gain access to the social media accounts of the women, going on to steal nude photos and videos that they later traded online. In online conversations with each other, Faber and Fish described obtaining the stolen images as “wins,” said The Press-Republican.

The email accounts were accessed after Faber and Fish correctly guessed the answers to password reset questions. They attempted to cover their tracks by using a virtual private network but were quickly tracked down during an investigation that was initiated after one of the victims noticed suspicious activity on her accounts. SUNY Plattsburgh spent over $35,000 to investigate and fix security issues after the criminal scheme was uncovered.

Nicholas Faber Sentenced Stealing Nudes Cybercrime College — Nicholas Faber was sentenced to 36 months in prison on Thursday after admitting to stealing nude photos and videos from female college students at SUNY Plattsburgh between 2017 and 2019. This undated file photo shows a person using a laptop computer in a darkened room.
Chainarong Prasertthai/Getty

Faber and Fish are both graduates of SUNY Plattsburgh and knew some of their victims personally. The university contacted the women to let them know that their accounts may have been compromised. Graduate Katie Lein, who knew Fish but not Faber, told SUNY Plattsburgh student paper Cardinal Points that she was shocked to learn of the security breach even though she had not placed much trust in Fish, who…

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