Policy
their legislation today could be yours tomorrow
The United Kingdom has a new data protection bill: “The new data protection bill will give us one of the most robust, yet dynamic, sets of data laws in the world. It will give people more control over their data, require more consent for its use, and prepare Britain for Brexit” reported digital minister Matt Hancock. The bill, which includes a ban on the reidentification of anonymized individuals, would protect journalists and whistleblowers, but not researchers.
Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship
government isn't always on your side
Chinese social media platforms Weibo, WeChat, and Baidu Tieba are under investigation for potential violations of cybersecurity laws. The Cyberspace Administration alleges that users are “spreading violence, terror, false rumours, pornography and other hazards to national security, public safety, [and] social order.”
Research and Initiatives
making your world a more cybersecure place
The United Arab Emirates plan to protect the government from “advanced persistent threats” with the Federal Network (FEDNet), an advanced cyber security network that will service 35 federal entities. The technology is the UAE’s response to WannaCry and Petya, viruses that hit government bodies earlier this year.
The United States’ Palo Alto Networks has become the first cybersecurity company to engage in a Data Exchange Agreement (DEA) with INTERPOL. Sean Duca of Palo Alto Networks acknowledged, “This collaboration marks a mutual commitment to information sharing, which is necessary for preventing successful cyberattacks. Together with INTERPOL, we can continue to raise awareness and educate business leaders and reduce the collective cybersecurity risk over time.”
United Nations special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression has pushed back against Apple’s decision to comply with China’s request to remove Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from its app store. Kaye requested “that Apple states a point of view and speaks up in the context of restrictions on fundamental rights.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has spoken out against Australia’s proposal to require device and internet companies to provide “appropriate assistance” to government agencies in accessing encrypted communications. Said Elaine Pearson of HRW Australia, “Unfortunately, Prime Minister Turnbull’s proposal could undermine cybersecurity and human rights worldwide.”
Cyberattacks
the threats we all face
The Mamba ransomware is back. In 2016, it took over 2,000 computers belonging to San Francisco’s municipal railway; now, it is after Brazilian and Saudi corporations.
Russian hackers are using the American government-made exploit ETERNALBLUE to spy on hotel guests in the Middle East and Europe. ETERNALBLUE was leaked online in April; the campaign marks its first live use.
IT systems of an Indian infrastructure company were recently compromised by Chinese hackers. The goal of the attack was to “just observe” while gaining access to sensitive information.
An investigative study has revealed that CopyKittens, an Iran-backed cyber-espionage group, is increasingly focused on attacks in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Germany, and the United States. The group targets governments and institutions in support of Tehran, Iran.
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All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.
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