Tag Archive for: paid

Free and Paid Options 2024

Android devices without a VPN are more vulnerable to online threats, such as eavesdropping on your data and online activities, identity theft, and much more. The best VPN for Android should have a large server fleet, good speeds, and a set of strong security features. While there are free Android VPNs that can offer some of these things, they usually come with limitations. For those searching for budget-friendly options, we recommend premium Android VPNs with free trials and money-back guarantees.

A reputable VPN offers top-notch security for your device. Such a provider also performs at fast speeds and provides access to its full features. And if you want to try it for free, it’s better to opt for a premium VPN that offers a free trial and money-back guarantee. Our top recommendation for your Android phone is NordVPN, which provides a free 7-day trial along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Leading free VPN alternative

NordVPN is a top premium option, with all the best VPN features, and no compromises. Try it for free now – and get a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee.

To help you pick a reliable VPN, we have tested and selected the top free and premium VPNs for Android that you can trust. These Android VPNs ensure reliable protection, great performance, excellent mobile apps, and more.

Top 5 best Android VPNs: free and paid

Is it worth having a free VPN on Android?

Whether it’s worth having a free VPN for Android heavily depends on what you need. First and foremost, you have to keep in mind that free VPNs have certain limitations related to data usage, speed, features, and country selection. This means that a free VPN will most likely be suitable only for occasional browsing.

However, if you’re planning to double down and use a VPN for streaming, torrenting, or unblocking content in very specific countries, it’s better to look into paid services.

For this, you can upgrade any of the…

Source…

Hacking Victims Paid $1.1bn In Ransoms Last Year


New research has revealed the scale of extortion being carried out by cyber criminals against ransomware victims in 2023.

New York-based blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis in its ‘2024 Crypto Crime Report’, found that ransomware payments exceeded $1bn in 2023, which was a record high.

It comes after a similar report from Chainalysis in February 2022 found that roughly 74 percent of all ransomware payments in 2021 had been sent to Russian-linked cyber-criminals.

2022 vs 2023

The latest Chainalysis report found that while 2022 saw a decline in ransomware payment volume, the overall trend line from 2019 to 2023 indicates that ransomware is an escalating problem.

In 2022 the report suggested that several factors had likely contributed to the decrease in ransomware activities two years ago, such as geopolitical events like Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukrainian.

This Ukraine war not only disrupted the operations of some cyber actors, the report stated, but also shifted their focus from financial gain to politically motivated cyberattacks aimed at espionage and destruction.

Last December the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) had warned that Russian intelligence services, namely Centre 18 of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), were carrying out a “sustained” attack on UK politics and the democratic process in this country.

And the Chainalysis report noted that 2023 marks a major comeback for ransomware, with record-breaking payments and a substantial increase in the scope and complexity of attacks.

Watershed year

The Chainalysis report found that in 2023, ransomware actors intensified their operations, targeting high-profile institutions and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies.

Indeed, major ransomware supply chain attacks were carried out exploiting the ubiquitous file transfer software MOVEit, impacting companies ranging from the BBC to British Airways.

As a result of these attacks and others, ransomware gangs reached an unprecedented milestone, surpassing $1 billion in extorted cryptocurrency payments from victims, the report found.

Chainalysis called 2023 a watershed year for ransomware.

Conservative…

Source…

The Best Android VPN in 2024: Free & Paid


Key Takeaways: What Is the Best VPN for Android?

  1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Android with unparalleled streaming performance. 
  2. NordVPN — Affordable Android VPN with solid security and fast speeds. 
  3. Surfshark — Pocket-friendly Android VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections.
  4. Proton VPN — Best free VPN for Android with unlimited data.
  5. CyberGhost — Budget-friendly VPN for Android with automated WiFi protection.

Android’s security model is so robust that, in most cases, attackers don’t exploit the operating system but the user themselves. Many Android users fall victim to SMS phishing (smishing), phishing voice calls (vishing) and tapjacking, a case where an attacker hijacks what you tap on your smartphone. The best VPN for Android helps you sidestep these threats.

A virtual private network (VPN) adds an extra layer of security, keeping your personal information and identity safe as you surf the internet or make payments online. The best VPN also enables you to access movies and TV shows that are unavailable in local libraries and watch them on your Android smartphone without interruption. 

Our professional testers took a bunch of VPNs for a spin and recommended five services that work best on Android devices. In this guide, we’ll reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the best VPNs for Android to help you find one that suits your needs and preferences. 

Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: ExpressVPN

Our thorough hands-on testing shows that ExpressVPN is the best Android VPN. Beyond flawless compatibility with Android 5.0 and later, the app is intuitive and easy to use for beginners. Its solid security, fast connection speeds and unmatched unblocking ability make it the best all-around VPN apt for streaming, torrenting, bypassing censorship or…

Source…

One paid out, one did not • The Register


Feature The same cybercrime crew broke into two high-profile Las Vegas casino networks over the summer, infected both with ransomware, and stole data belonging to tens of thousands of customers from the mega-resort chains.

But despite the similar characters and plots, these two stories have disparate endings — and seem to suggest two very different takeaways to corporations confronted with extortionists’ demands and the question of paying or not paying a ransom.

The first, Caesar Entertainment, owns more than 50 resorts and casinos in Las Vegas and 18 other US states, disclosed the intrusion in an 8-K form submitted to the SEC on September 7.

In its report to the financial watchdog, Caesars cited a “social engineering attack on an outsourced IT support vendor,” which we now know was Okta, and said the crooks stole its customer loyalty program database, which contained a ton of personal information.

The casino owner also noted, in the filing, that it had “taken steps to ensure that the stolen data is deleted by the unauthorized actor, although we cannot guarantee this result.”

These steps are widely assumed to include paying a ransom — which was reportedly negotiated down to $15 million after an initial demand for $30 million.

Caesars did not respond to The Register‘s inquiries for this or previous stories about the ransomware infection.

What happens in Vegas…

From the outside, at least, it appears that Caesars suffered minimal pain and business disruption primarily because it decided to pay the ransom. Meanwhile, as Caesar’s breach became public, its neighboring resort and casino on the Vegas Strip entered its fourth day of inoperable IT systems and casinos following a “cybersecurity issue.”

That other company, of course, is MGM Resorts, which owns 31 hotel and casino locations globally. Like Caesars, MGM was also an Okta customer that fell victim to phishing attempts targeting its IT service teams.

Scattered Spider, the crime gang believed to be responsible for both intrusions, reportedly bragged that all it took to break into MGM’s networks was a 10-minute call with the help desk.

But unlike Caesars, MGM did not pay the ransom. MGM Resorts CEO Bill…

Source…