Tag Archive for: save

People are just realising a little-known Wi-Fi hack makes router upgrades less of a nightmare – it’ll save loads of time


THERE’S one issue people complain about time and again when upgrading their Wi-Fi router.

“Do I have to change the network and password on all my devices?”

Changing the password on every device you own is a massive hassle

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Changing the password on every device you own is a massive hassleCredit: Getty

In the early days of Wi-Fi it was fine as you probably owned a handful of gadgets that could use it, such as a laptop.

Today, we own a load of internet-connected devices from TVs, phones, tablets, smart lights, heating systems, you name it.

Going through the settings to change the network it’s connected to and the password is a massive pain.

But there might be a far quicker way to solve it.

One trick is to go into the router’s settings and rename it (known as the SSID), as well as the password, so it matches your old router.

There are some caveats – if you’re upgrading from a really old router that has very dated security protocols it won’t work.

It’s also worth pointing out, your Wi-Fi password should not be simple as this makes it far too easy to hack.

So if you’re currently using a basic password, it’s far better to use this opportunity to go with a new complex password that’s watertight than the dangerously easy one of the past.

You’ll need to access your router’s system settings to do this, so check your box’s instructions on how to do it.

But here’s how to do it on Sky, Virgin Media and BT.

How to change Wi-Fi password on Sky

To change your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password on Sky, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure you’re connected to your new router.
  2. Type 192.168.0.1 into your web browser.
  3. Select Wireless or WiFi.
  4. Type in the default username, which is “admin”.
  5. Enter your password – this will either be “sky” or the Wi-Fi password on the back of your hub, depending on the kit you have, so try both.
  6. In Network Key, enter the password of your old Sky Hub.
  7. Click Apply.

How to change Wi-Fi password on Virgin Media

To change your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password on Virgin Media, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure you’re connected to your new router.
  2. Type 192.168.0.1 into your web browser.
  3. Go to Advanced settings from the left menu.
  4. Click on Wireless.
  5. Click on Security.
  6. Change the network names and password to the exact ones used on your old…

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How network security can save security dollars


For the last twelve years, 100% of CIOs have said that they expect to spend more on IT security, making security the only category that just keeps on absorbing investment. Every year in the last three years, over 80% of enterprises have said that their IT security still needed improvement. So, like death and taxes, is security spending growth inevitable? If we keep on the way we have, it sure seems like it. But what might change?

Let’s start with what’s important to users. External threats, meaning hacking, are a problem for every CIO. Internal threats, from badly behaving employees, are a problem for three out of four. Data theft is a universal fear, and malware that interferes with applications and operations is an important problem for over 90% of CIOs. As far as approaches or targets are concerned, 100% say access security on applications and data is essential and so is regular malware scanning. If you ask CIOs to pick a single thing they think is essential for IT security, it’s access security.

Access security, according to CIOs, is ensuring that applications and data are accessed only by those with the right to do so. If you have it, they believe, then hacking poses little threat because hackers won’t be authorized. Malware that impersonates an authorized user may still have to be addressed, but access security can limit the scope of what malware can do. It’s no wonder that every security vendor offers something in access security, and it’s no wonder that the hottest topic in security, zero-trust security, is a form of access security. Given that access is almost always via a network connection, it’s reasonable to ask whether network security features could enhance access security and zero-trust, and maybe even slow the growth of security spending overall. If you can’t connect to it, you can’t hack it.

Let’s dissect that by starting with a critical statement: Zero-trust doesn’t mean there is no trust, it means that trust is never assumed. That which isn’t assumed is explicit, and that means that all true zero-trust strategies depend on deciding what information connections are valid. One way to do this is to require…

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Ransomware crew claims to have hit Save The Children • The Register


Cybercrime crew BianLian claims to have broken into the IT systems of a top non-profit and stolen a ton of files, including what the miscreants claim is financial, health, and medical data.

As highlighted by VX-Underground and Emsisoft threat analyst Brett Callow earlier today, BianLian bragged on its website it had hit an organization that, based on the gang’s description of its unnamed victim, looks to be Save The Children International. The NGO, which employs about 25,000 people, says it has helped more than a billion kids since it was founded in 1919.

BianLian added that its victim, “the world’s leading nonprofit,” operates in 116 countries with $2.8 billion in revenues. The extortionists claim to have stolen 6.8TB of data, which they say includes international HR files, personal data, and more than 800GB of financial records. They claim to also have email messages as well as medical and health data.

Presumably BianLian intends to leak or sell this info if a ransom demand is not met. The NGO did not immediately respond to The Register‘s inquiries.

We should note The Register has not been able to verify the crooks’ claims. But we tend to agree with VX-Underground, which opined: “BianLian ransomware group needs to be punched in the face.” And while breaking into and extorting a nonprofit whose focus is to make children “healthier, safer and better educated” seems beneath even the most tragic of cyber-criminals, it’s pretty much par for the course with BianLian.

The crew, which has been around since June 2022, has made a name for itself by targeting healthcare and critical infrastructure sectors. 

While BianLian started off as a double-extortion ransomware crew — steal data, encrypt systems, and threaten to leak files and not provide a decryption key unless the victim pays a ransom — earlier this year, they shifted to pure extortion, as before but minus the encryption, according to government and…

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I’m a security expert – never click killer link on your iPhone or Android or ‘it may be too late’ to save you


SCAMMERS have many tricks up their sleeves to try and convince you to click on their malicious links.

One type of link may seem harmless at first sight but can be just as dangerous as a more obvious scam link.

Some scammers will send a shortened version of their estranged link to make it look more convincingCredit: Getty

The link you never want to click was brought to light by cyber security company and tech expert Kaspersky on how URL shorteners work, how they can be used, and the privacy and security threats they pose.

The tech expert highlighted that you want to avoid “disguised malicious links” that show up as shortened links.

Some scammers will send a shortened version of their estranged link to make it look more convincing.

Scam links will usually have tons of weird numbers, symbols, and misspellings but shortening the link can help them bypass that.

Shortening links can be easily done through a URL shortener online.

The shortened link may make cause a victim to overlook the need to rethink if it is a scam link.

Short links make it impossible to catch mistakes in the URL at first glance.

“You can only find out where a link points after clicking. And by then it may be too late — if the attackers exploit a zero-click vulnerability in the browser, the infection can occur as soon as you land on the malicious site,” Kaspersky said.

Another goal of the scam is to catch you at the right moment when you may be paying less attention.

The scam links can lead to websites that will ask for personal information to steal your money.

They can also lead you to a malicious source that puts a virus on your computer.

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