Tag Archive for: send

Scientists send data wirelessly using nuclear radiation • The Register

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Boffins from the UK’s Lancaster University and the Jožef Stefan Institute in Slovenia have transmitted and received data wirelessly using nuclear radiation.

The Register assumes that readers understand that the wireless tech used in phone networks, WiFi, Bluetooth, TV transmissions and the like employ electromagnetic radiation, which is rather safer and less controversial than nuclear radiation.

But in a study titled Wireless information transfer with fast neutrons, scientists and engineers used nuclear radiation emitted by Californium-252 instead.

“Several examples of pertinent information, i.e., a word, the alphabet and a random number selected blindly, have been encoded serially into the modulation of the neutron field,” the paper states.

The boffins did so because “Fast neutrons propagate significant distances and interact with materials in ways that are complementary to those of electromagnetic radiation. However, their consideration as a potential means of wireless communication has been limited to date despite this complementarity with the electromagnetic medium of choice for both near-and far-field communication systems.”

Fast neutrons have been left to their own devices – or should that be left out of devices – because sources of fast neutrons are “highly regulated for reasons of security and exposure risk”. That risk comes from the fact they can penetrate most matter and do very nasty things to the human body.

But the authors of the paper have spotted a research paper titled Novel Surface-Mounted Neutron Generator that describes a “pulsed neutron generator packaged in a flat computer chip shape”. That invention, the authors write, “suggests the prospect of integrating sources of neutrons into intelligent systems which could, hypothetically, design out issues of security and risk”.

Their research doesn’t directly address the risk issues associated with fast neutrons, but does find they can carry…

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Wormhole promises to be a better longer-living Firefox Send alternative

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Wormhole is a new file sharing service that promises to be a better longer-living version of Firefox Send, a file sharing service that Mozilla discontinued some time ago. Does Wormhole live up to the promises that it makes? Let’s find out.

First, the basics: Wormhole can be used by anyone to send files with a total size of up to 10 Gigabytes. The service uses end-to-end encryption, and that means that the owners of Wormhole as well as the Internet Service Provider or network listeners, don’t know the content of the files that are shared using the service.

wormhole file transfer

To use it, visit the Wormhole website and either use drag & drop to add files to the send queue or use the file/folder browser instead. Wormhole works in all modern web browsers.

You get options to copy the link to the cloud copy of the files and a share link right away, even before the actual upload has started; this is one distinguishing factor as most file sharing services display share links and options only after a successful transfer. Wormhole calls this “instant file streaming”, and recipients may start downloading files even before the upload completes.

wormhole files

You may copy the link to share it with others, or use the share option to use sharing options provided by the operating system. Recipients may download all files or only select files.

One interesting option that Wormhole supports is the direct sharing via WiFi or Bluetooth; these may offer faster transfer speeds as local networks are utilized when possible.

The encrypted files are stored for 24 hours in the cloud before they are deleted automatically.

The Wormhole security page reveals information about the implemented security techniques. Besides end-to-end encryption, Wormhole promises that it does not display advertisement or will load trackers. The service’s key management and other security features are outlined on the page as well.

Firefox Send did support a number of features and options that Wormhole does not support at the time of writing, including password protection of files, download limits, or different storage limits.

Wormhole does not require an account at the time of writing, has a large file size limit, and supports local area network sharing. The features could…

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Claim about an insurrectionist trying to send a Pelosi laptop to Russia hasn’t been proven :: WRAL.com

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By Daniel Dale

CNN — Arguing that the Capitol insurrection damaged US national security, one of the House impeachment managers, Rep. Joaquin Castro, spoke Thursday about the theft of a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.

“At least one of the insurrectionists may have intended to steal information and give it to a foreign adversary. According to charging documents, Riley Williams allegedly helped steal a laptop from Speaker Pelosi’s office to ‘send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service,'” Castro said.

Facts First: Castro appropriately hedged his claim by saying “may,” but it’s still worth emphasizing that the allegation that Williams intended to send the Pelosi laptop to Russia has not been proven. While the FBI has alleged that Williams had a role in the theft of the laptop, the FBI said in a January court document that that the claim that she had a desire to send the laptop to Russia “remains under investigation”; the FBI explained that this claim was made by a tipster who said they were a former romantic partner of Williams. A lawyer for Williams told a court in January that claims about Williams and the laptop “came in part from a former abusive boyfriend” who has “threatened” her.

Williams, a Pennsylvania woman in her early 20s, faces multiple charges over the insurrection, including aiding/abetting the theft of government property. She has not been charged with stealing the laptop herself.

The FBI said in a court document that the former romantic partner of Williams alleged that “the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons” and that Williams “still has the computer device or destroyed it.” Williams has denied the accusations against her.

It is unclear how much intelligence value the laptop might have to Russia. Pelosi deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill tweeted in January that a computer was stolen from a conference room and that it “was only used for presentations.”

According to the FBI, a video taken by Williams during the insurrection shows an HP laptop on a desk in Pelosi’s…

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Subway marketing system hacked to send TrickBot malware emails

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Subway phishing

Subway UK has disclosed that a hacked system used for marketing campaigns is responsible for the malware-laden phishing emails sent to customers yesterday.

Starting yesterday, Subway UK customers received strange emails from ‘Subcard’ about a Subway order that was placed. Included in the email were links to documents allegedly containing confirmation of the order.

Subway UK phishing email
Subway UK phishing email
Source: Twitter

After analyzing these phishing emails, it was discovered that they were distributing malicious Excel documents that would install the latest version of the TrickBot malware.

TrickBot is a nasty malware infection that allows attackers to steal saved browser passwords, spread throughout a network, steal browser cookies, steal RDP, VNC, and PuTTY Credentials, and much more. Even worse, TrickBot may eventually provide access to the Ryuk or Conti ransomware operations.

As these emails contained a customer’s name and were using email addresses that some users created specifically for Subway, it caused suspicion that Subway had been breached somehow.

When we contacted Subway yesterday about this phishing campaign, we received a response that alluded to a ‘disruption’ of some sort on their email systems.

“We are aware of some disruption to our email systems and understand some of our guests have received an unauthorised email. We are currently investigating the matter and apologise for any inconvenience. As soon as we have more information, we will be in touch, until then, as a precautionary measure, we advise guests delete the email,” a Subway spokesperson told BleepingComputer.

Subway confirms a hacked server used in attack

After sending multiple emails to Subway about the ‘disruption’ seen on their system, the company disclosed that a server responsible for their email campaigns had been hacked to send out the phishing emails.

“Having investigated the matter, we have no evidence that guest accounts have been hacked.  However, the system which manages our email campaigns has been compromised, leading to a phishing campaign that involved first name and email. The system does not hold any bank or credit card details.”

“Crisis protocol was initiated and compromised systems…

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