This week, we reports that Signal has continued with Controversial Cryptocurrency Integration. All users of the encrypted messaging app now have access to MobileCoin, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that US exchanges have yet to offer. The purpose is to provide the same currency transactions protection from the surveillance Signal gives messages. But skeptics worry that introducing a financial element will introduce unwanted complexity and regulatory scrutiny to Signal, an app that millions already trust.
In hacking news, the criminal campaign that has hit thousands of victims in over a hundred countries is not exactly unusual in itself. However, Microsoft fixed the vulnerability that attackers were exploiting almost a decade ago. Problem: The patch is optional and most users wouldn’t know where to get it even if they wanted to. If anything, it’s surprising how long it took someone to take advantage of it.
The new year is a new year, which means it’s a great time to add some knowledge on how to stay safe online. We looked at how to send messages automatically disappear on different chat apps. And we’ve shown you some ways to remove you from the internet completely, if the occasion calls for it.
Be a part of this year Virtual WIRED HQ at CES, we had a Extensive conversation with former congressman Will Hurd about the future of cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies, the metaverse, and more.
And that’s not all! Each week, we compile all the WIRED security news not covered in depth. Click on the title to read the full story.
Norton, what are you doing! A few months ago, the anti-virus giant sneaked a cryptocurrency miner into its consumer software, as author and digital rights activist Cory Doctorow noted earlier this week. The advantage is that you can choose to allow Norton to mine cryptocurrency on your computer while you’re not using it; The software will even set up a secure wallet for you, all with a 15% cut of the proceeds. Just to be clear, you absolutely shouldn’t do this. Mining not only depletes the environment, but also introduces complexity and potential security problems for users who likely don’t know what they’re getting into. Some of Norton’s customers also reported problems with disabling the feature once they opt-in.
For years, the publishing world has been rocked by a wave of sophisticated hacks that has resulted in the theft of hundreds of unpublished manuscripts. This week, the FBI made an arrest in the case, charging 29-year-old Filippo Bernardini with phone fraud and aggravated identity theft. Bernardini himself once worked as the rights coordinator for publishing giant Simon & Schuster UK, a role that provided him with insider knowledge that allegedly helped him craft convincing phishing emails. than.
Nearly a thousand schools were hit by ransomware in 2021 alone. But in 2022, 5,000 school websites were shut down, after ransomware operators hit third-party website provider FinalSite. The company has used many of those sites offline first to prevent the spread of malware, and losing access to the online portal for a few days isn’t nearly as bad as having to pay ransomware online. next. Still, it’s another reminder of how much damage ransomware gangs can do when they attack widely used software-as-a-service companies rather than individual targets.
A wave of NFT theft has underscored the tension in decentralized markets. Platforms like OpenSea can help victims in some cases, but only through mechanisms that show how centralized things really are. In other words, web3’s promises don’t actually play out as advertised, but Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike more clearly than anyone here. Short story: Meet the new web again, just like the old web.
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