Digital Forensics & Cyber Security Blog
Digital Forensics & Cyber Security Blog
It Only Took 9 Seconds to Guess a DoD Weapons System Password
The first step in solving any problem is admitting there is one. But a new report from the US Government Accountability Office finds that the Department of Defense remains in denial about cybersecurity threats to its weapons systems. Specifically, the report concludes that almost all weapons that the DoD tested between 2012 and 2017 [...]
California Passes a Law That Bans Default Passwords in Connected Devices
California has passed a law banning default passwords like “admin,” “123456” and the old classic “password” in all new consumer electronics starting in 2020. Every new gadget built in the state from routers to smart home tech will have to come with “reasonable” security features out of the box. The [...]
These Phone Cases are a Tragedy Waiting to Happen
In February, a 15-year-old student from DeLand High School in Florida was spotted walking around with the accessory, leading someone to call police on him for carrying a weapon. School officials placed the building on lockdown until officers realized the boy was carrying a phone cover that resembled a firearm. “It makes [...]
Google+ Will Shut Down After Failing to Disclose User Data Breach
This March, as Facebook was coming under global scrutiny over the harvesting of personal data for Cambridge Analytica, Google discovered a skeleton in its own closet: a bug in the API for Google+ had been allowing third-party app developers to access the data not just of users who had granted permission, [...]
Bark, The App That Sees All Your Kids’ Sexts, Has Scanned Over 2 Million Phones
Child monitoring apps are marketed to keep kids safe, but experts say many raise privacy concerns. Bark, a firm that sells parental smartphone-monitoring software, claims to have scanned more than a billion messages from 2 million children since it launched in 2016. The app, which monitors kids’ devices for dangers [...]
12 Year Old Cybersecurity Expert Reuben Paul
One hacker from Texas is also raising awareness about growing cyber threats. And he's only 12 years old. Reuben Paul is a sixth grader from Austin. The self-proclaimed "Cyber Ninja" has a second-degree black belt in Kung Fu. Paul hacks household items to demonstrate how they can be exploited to spy on or [...]
The Food and Drug Administration is Taking Steps to Make Sure Companies Defend Against Hacking
After a series of computer security problems in medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to make sure companies do as much as possible to defend against hacking and other threats. FDA staff members are examining companies’ preparations for potential computer-hacking threats to devices that millions of [...]
Gov. Scott announces education initiatives to develop cybersecurity careers
Barre, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Agency of Education announced this week the start of two major initiatives to develop state-wide career pathways in advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Agency of Education is working in close collaboration with employers, regional CTE centers, high schools and colleges in [...]
17 Years Later
September 11th is always will always been a somber day as we think about all the lives lost and changed forever in the horrific attack on the United States. The events of that terrible day and the weeks, months and years that followed are never forgotten, nor are the memories [...]
Apple is Creating an Online Portal for Law Enforcement Data Requests
The tech giant is also upgrading its program that trains law enforcement in digital forensics. Apple and law enforcement have had a contentious relationship, frequently butting heads over what level of access Apple should provide officials when approached. The issue came into a rather public spotlight in 2016 when the FBI took Apple to court over [...]