Plus, do you have a DJI drone? I’ll give you the inside details on a security flaw that reveals your exact location. Fake job listings are running amok online – here’s how to stay safe. Learn how AI is coming to your office, get paid for (fake) online jury duty, and discover 4 ways to know if something has been photoshopped. Finally, I have a great tip on how to clean up your messy phone apps.
MOVEit data breach: Is your info safe?
The companies you trust your data with aren’t the only ones who handle it. Vendors, subcontractors, advertisers and other companies are often in the mix. And when one falls down on the job, everyone is screwed.
That’s precisely what happened when bad guys took advantage of a security flaw in the super-popular MOVEit file transfer system. One estimate puts the total number of victims at 513 organizations and 34,682,156 individuals. Yes, you read that number right.
Wondering if you’ve been impacted and what to do? Keep reading.
MOVEit and lose it
Thousands of organizations worldwide use Progress Software’s MOVEit to encrypt and send files. The hack has impacted over 500 organizations. So far, at least 33 data breach disclosures have affected over 34.5 million people. Yeah, you’re probably one of them.
Who’s behind it?
A Russian-speaking (and likely Russian-based) hacking organization known as Cl0p. They snuck into MOVEit through a flaw Progress Software didn’t know existed. Progress didn’t take long to patch the vulnerability, but not every client updated.
Cl0p pounced and launched ransomware attacks, taking files from companies that hadn’t yet fixed the flaw. Officials are still investigating just how deep this goes.
The hit list
Criminals got their hands on data from a ton of big-name organizations and government agencies. Think:
- 3.5 million Oregon driver’s license holders.
- 6 million Louisiana residents.
- Gen/Norton LifeLock.
- Hotel chain Radisson.
- The U.S. Department of Energy.
- BBC, Aer Lingus and British Airways.
Here’s who’s been impacted by the MOVEit ransomware attack so far:
Update Zoom! Dangerous flaw puts your computer at risk
As people have been transitioning to working from home, so have the meetings. Video conferencing has become the norm across many industries.
And many employers are sticking with video calls for job interviews. If you’re not used to communicating through this medium, don’t worry! Tap or click here for tips on rocking your remote interviews.
TikTok's hot seat in Congress, AI lawyer sued & 4 free alternatives to Microsoft Word
True or false: Macs are immune to malware and viruses
There is a common misconception that Apple’s Mac computers can’t get viruses or malware. The belief is that only Windows-based systems suffer from malicious code and nasty bugs.
There is no consensus on where the claim originated. But it might have been Apple itself. Until 2012, Apple’s marketing for its Mac computers included the line that “a Mac isn’t susceptible to the thousands of viruses plaguing Windows-based computers.”
Update Google Chrome ASAP to patch this severe vulnerability
It has been a lousy month for Google. Early last week, the tech giant rolled out an update for the Chrome browser that plugs a security flaw for its 3.2 billion users. Bad news. Another vulnerability can expose you to hackers.
Have a DJI drone? Beware of this security flaw
DJI radio commands are not encrypted. Drone pilots, here’s what that means for your privacy in this one-minute podcast.
If you see these emojis, your kids are doing drugs
Kids are often more intelligent than we realize. And their advanced knowledge of technology makes it easy for them to hide things from you. Tap or click here to see how kids are getting around parental controls.
Even though many teens think they are mature enough to know what’s right, they don’t. And as a parent, keeping them safe is your number one job.
Correcting this simple mistake could improve your iPhone's battery life
How do you charge your iPhone? It might seem like a ridiculous question, but if you say you plug in the cable (or put it on a wireless charger) and walk away, you’re doing it wrong. Well, that is according to Apple.
Using Craigslist to buy or sell? Beware of this security flaw
Craigslist has been a popular site over the years for people to buy and sell things and look for services. While its user base has steadily been dropping over the last few years, many people still use it. Tap or click here for the best app for finding someone to paint your house, clean up your lawn or take on a bigger renovation project.
Have a Netgear router? 11 models vulnerable to takeover - Here's what to do
Your router is one of the most essential pieces of tech in your home and office. If something goes wrong with it, your internet connection will most likely be lost. In a best-case scenario, you might experience a slow-down.
Use an iPhone, iPad or Mac? You need to update NOW
A few months ago, we learned cybercriminals got their hands on military-grade hacking software called Pegasus, which the Israeli company NSO Group designed. While researching a potential hack of a Saudi activist’s phone, Citizen Lab blew the whistle on this scary security flaw. Allegedly, NSO clients used Pegasus to spy on and hack into the phones of at least 37 journalists.
Google stands behind feature that allows someone to track your every move
Imagine you lend your smartphone to a friend. They sign in to their Google account on your device. A few weeks later, he or she realizes that through the Google Maps Timeline feature, they can track your every movement — even though they signed out of your device.
Just plugging in this mouse can give a stranger complete access to your PC
It seems that a security flaw or software vulnerability is discovered almost daily. Hackers could exploit them, so it’s important to update your system as soon as a patch is released. Tap or click here to stamp out 50 Windows vulnerabilities.
Major security flaw on Mac computers puts your data at risk - Update now
Apple pushed out the highly anticipated iOS 14.5 update for iOS devices this week. Tap or click here to download iOS 14.5 and unlock a powerful new privacy feature. While all the focus was on the iOS update, a security flaw for Mac systems flew under the radar.
Chrome browser vulnerability under attack - Update now
Malware, viruses and data breaches are all serious issues that can strike at any time. You won’t see them coming, and you might not know something is wrong even after your computer or phone was attacked.
You can take various steps to protect yourself, and keeping your browser updated is among the simplest and most important. Tap or click here for instructions on updating some of the most popular browsers.
Speed up your slow Android phone with this one trick
Many factors can slow down your Android phone. In a worst-case scenario, you may have picked up a virus along the way. Tap or click here for details of a serious security flaw that a recent update patched.
But sometimes, what’s causing your device to run slow is something simple, like a full cache. A cache is temporary data storage that apps use, so they don’t have to repeatedly download the same information. It’s useful and can make sites load faster, but clearing out the cache can help speed things up.
Delete this messaging app now! Your photos are at risk
(Updated Dec. 1, 2020 – Despite the app developer working on a fix for this security flaw for over two weeks, the app is still putting users’ personal messages at risk of exposure. We highly recommend deleting this app if it’s on your device.)
Use Chrome for Android? Update now to patch zero-day flaw
Chrome is the most popular browser on the web by a huge margin, so it should come as no surprise that hackers are trying to crack it again.
They’re relying on a zero-day flaw found in the desktop and Android versions of Chrome this time. This comes just days after Google’s Project Zero team discovered a critical flaw in the browser’s sandbox mode. Tap or click here to see how to patch that bug.
Critical' Windows bug prompts emergency warning from government
Have you updated Windows recently and experienced any new bugs? Odds are you aren’t alone, and at this point in time, it almost seems like bugs are part and parcel of using a PC these days.
Why so many bugs? It’s because software updates have to come out fast enough to stay one step ahead of hackers. This means old bugs are sometimes replaced with new ones as the cycle continues. Tap or click here to see just how many bugs were addressed in Microsoft’s latest patch Tuesday update.
Critical flaw puts billions of smartphones at risk of attack – What you need to know
Device security flaws can be a major pain in the neck for both consumers and manufacturers. If one device is affected, thousands of others are also in danger. That’s why it’s in the best interest of device-makers to push out patches and updates as often as possible.