Google's 'No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA' makes it easier to prove you're not a robot
The CAPTCHA is a truly annoying creation. It prevents robots and scripts from pulling content from websites, or spamming them, which is great for website owners and hosts, but irritating for site visitors because it forces them to "prove they are human" by solving a challenge. This usually involves reading and entering some distorted text into a box, although there are other variations.
I personally find them hugely irksome as sometimes they fail to recognize when you get the words right, and sometimes they let you through when you get the words wrong. More importantly, they waste your time. Thankfully, the days of the CAPTCHA are numbered, as Google has come up a human-friendly solution.
Dropbox for Business API set to woo corporate customers with secure cloud apps
While Dropbox for Business is nothing new, there's no getting away from the fact that Dropbox is seen essentially as a consumer level tool. Part of the reason for this -- apart from the occasional security slip-up -- is the fact that it has not been possible to use Dropbox in conjunction with third party tools at an enterprise level. Now this changes thanks to the arrival of the Dropbox For Business API.
The API is yet to be officially announced -- although rumors have been circulating for a little while -- but internal documentation obtained by TechCrunch shows that the launch is imminent, possibly as early as tomorrow (Wednesday December 3rd). Once launched, developers will be able to use the API to produce their own secure Dropbox-based apps and services.
Twitter improves harassment reporting and blocking to boost safety
Over the years Twitter has come in for a lot of flak for the level of abuse that runs rife on the social network. Now the site is taking action by making improvements to the existing blocking features as well as refining the harassment-reporting facility. With the likes of #gamergate and various other high profile cases, Twitter users have found themselves on the receiving end of vitriol, hatred and abuse.
Today's updates aim to clamp down on these activities, making it easier for users to report problematic tweets and easier for Twitter to respond quickly to problems. There is a particular focus on making life easier to users of mobile versions of Twitter, and the blocking feature is now more prominent in apps.
Global Airport Action initiative targets credit card fraudsters
Global law enforcement agencies and the airline, travel and credit card industries have joined forces in a major concerted action to combat online fraud.
The operation, organized via three coordination centers at Europol, in The Hague, Interpol in Singapore and Ameripol in Bogota, and involving over 60 airlines and 45 countries at more than 80 airports across the world, saw 281 suspicious transactions reported and 118 individuals arrested.
Sony hack leads to unreleased movies leaking online
A number of unreleased movies, as well as some confidential data, has been leaked online following a massive hack at Sony Pictures that happened last week.
In the Reddit thread covering the issue it says that, movies aside, confidential data including visa and passport information of cast and crew members working on different Sony projects, email inboxes and other important documents were leaked.
Microsoft Research thinks Haven might be the answer to cloud storage security problems
Storing your data in the cloud requires you to place trust in a company and its service. Whether you're talking about Dropbox, Google Drive or an enterprise level solution, security is of paramount importance. There have been numerous high profile cases in recent months in which data breaches have occurred and private data has been accessed by unauthorized people -- including the NSA et al. It's little wonder that many people are wary of moving entirely to the cloud.
But Microsoft Research may have a solution. A small team of researchers came up with the idea of Haven, a cloud system that introduces the idea of shielded execution. This is a platform designed not just for storing data, but also to securely run cloud-based applications, including those based on legacy code.
Does your company need an Intrusion Detection System?
Unauthorized access to networks is currently one of the most serious threats to the hosting business. Intruders and viruses present the two biggest security threats to the industry. Let us examine three key definitions: intruders (or hackers), intrusion, which is a formal term for describing the act of compromising a network or system, and Intrusion Detection Systems, which help business detect when they are vulnerable to an attack.
Intruders can be external or internal and their intents may vary from benign to serious. Statistically 80 percent of security breaches are committed by internal users and these are by far the most difficult to detect and prevent. These intruders create a significant issue for network systems and IT equipment. Intruders come in a variety of classes with a varying level of competence -- an external user without authorized access to the system will want to penetrate the system to exploit legitimate user accounts to access data, programs or resources with a purpose of misuse. Intruders may even use compromised systems to launch attacks.
Consumers warned to be on the alert for Cyber Monday scams
Cyber Monday is once again set to break records for online sales and web traffic, but there’s a darker side to the day too.
Social risk management company ZeroFOX has released the results of some research into the risks associated with the Cyber Monday spending spree.
Permission-free post-loading lets carriers push crap apps to Android handsets
It used to be that you'd buy a new PC or laptop and have to spend the first hour or so removing all of the crap that the manufacturer had installed. The same idea carried across to mobile phones, particularly in the case of Android handsets, but the key difference is that -- at least without rooting -- many carrier apps can be all but impossible to remove. Now, thanks to "post-loading" the problem is about to get worse.
As the term suggests, post-loading makes it possible for a carrier to push apps to handsets and install them secretly. This is all thanks to Digital Turbine's Ignite system, and the likes of Vodafone, Verizon, T-Mobile and more are listed as clients. Of course, it's all about money or, as Digital Turbine puts it, "maximizing the efficiency of pre and post loading applications on smartphones for more advertising revenue".
East-Tec Eraser 2015 debuts 'intelligent Risk Monitor'
East-Tec has released East-Tec Eraser 2015, the latest edition of its comprehensive PC privacy tool.
This version introduces the Risk Monitor, which warns you of potential privacy risks as soon as they happen, removing them with a click.
You better watch out -- online retailers' security practices under the spotlight
This time of year sees a spike in online shopping activity, but that also means added worries about how well our information is being looked after when we buy online.
Password management company LastPass has put together an infographic 'naughty and nice' list looking at how online retailers store information when we shop.
Cloud-based tracking creates an internet of lost things
Electronic tags to help stop you losing stuff are nothing new. But usually they rely on Bluetooth or similar to sound an alarm when an object goes out of range.
A new solution from Canadian company Linquet mixes the cloud and the sharing economy to track tagged devices in a kind of internet of lost things.
Are you scared to shop online for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? You're not alone
For many of us, online shopping is now second nature. We've been at it for years. Hell, I try to buy most of my stuff from retailers like Amazon.
With that said, many people are still afraid of online shopping, and it is not a phobia that is totally devoid of logic. When buying on the web, your credit card number could be compromised; especially if the retailer is not trustworthy, or simply not focused on security. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost here, so the results of a new study are quite timely -- 77 percent of people in the world do not feel safe shopping online.
GreatFire.org and BBC punch uncensored news through the Great Firewall of China
The Great Firewall of China is renowned for the restrictions it places on what Chinese citizens can access online. Free speech advocates have long called for the Chinese government to allow access to the wider web, so people in China can get a better idea of what is going on elsewhere in the world. Now GreatFire.org, working with the BBC, has found a way to deliver uncensored Chinese language news to those on the wrong side of the firewall.
GreatFire.org is an anti-censorship group that monitors web blocking in China and campaigns against censorship. Various techniques for getting around the Great Firewall of China have been publicized in the past, but they have relied on VPNs and other tools that can be complicated to set up. The latest method requires no special tools.
CryptoLocker: the comeback -- malware reemerges ready to steal your money
CryptoLocker has now been around the block a few times -- it's been locking people's data and demanding money for sometime. The threat finally (mostly) disappeared. However, it seems to be experiencing a resurgence, as a new strain of the virus has been detected.
If you aren't familiar, and honestly, you don't want to be, CryptoLocker encrypts the files on your computer and then holds you for ransom -- pay or lose your data.
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