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Showing posts with label Latin America. Show all posts

Friday, 18 August 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - August 18, 2017

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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Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - March 27, 2017

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Foreign governments have the right to spy on Americans by remote control, says a United States Court of Appeals decision. The verdict was in response to the case of Kidane v. Ethiopia, in which Mr. Kidane was monitored by the Ethiopian government in his United States home via computer malware.

Privacy International has found that Kenyan security agencies are violating privacy rights and committing human rights abuses. “Telecommunications operators end up handing over their customers’ data because they largely feel that they cannot decline agencies’ requests, in part due to the vagueness in the law,” acknowledged the report.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Microsoft is opening a cybersecurity center in Mexico. “By opening this Cyber Security Center, we are offering our clients protection from attacks and security risks, as well as ways to detect them and find solutions,” noted Jorge Silva of Microsoft Mexico.

The National University of Singapore now has a cybersecurity facility, which aims to provide a “realistic environment” for research and testing.

The United Kingdom’s GCHQ recently held a cybersecurity summit in response to fears a Russian hack would interfere with the country’s upcoming election. Of particular concern were the security of internal emails and databases of voters’ political views.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Digital Divide: World Cyber Alerts - February 2, 2017

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has promised to arrest anyone who plans chaos in response to this year’s general elections. “I will not allow anyone in Kenya to lose their lives or property because of elections again. The government will legally deal with leaders planning to cause chaos,” reported Kenyatta.

Microsoft is enabling the Thai government to spy on its citizens, says Privacy International. Unlike other operating systems, Microsoft’s Windows is designed to automatically trust the Thai government’s root certificate, which in turn allows the government to install malware on websites or misrepresent websites altogether.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has hired Indian startup Spherical Defense to assist the British spy agency. Spherical Defense will monitor for hacking attempts via its Banking Intrusion Detection System.

It’s Right to Be Forgotten Week in Brazil. The event, hosted by InternetLab, strives to bring attention to an important issue that frequently goes unnoticed. Later this year, the organization will also host InternetLab School 2017, an initiative that invites journalists to explore the intersection of technology and the internet.

Hamilton, New Zealand will host the International Standards Organisation (ISO) conference in April, which will examine the standardization of cybersecurity worldwide. The conference expects attendees from 100 countries, including experts from Interpol and the American National Security Agency.

United States-based National Cyber Security Alliance celebrated Data Privacy Day on January 28. The international celebration focused on Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Ruslan Stoyanov, manager of Kaspersky Lab’s computer incidents investigations unit, has been arrested for hacking. The Russian is accused of treason and is under investigation for actions committed prior to joining Kaspersky Lab.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Friday, 13 January 2017

SumTips: 7 Ways to #StandWithStreep

Earlier this week, American actress Meryl Streep won the Golden Globes’ 2017 Cecil B. DeMille Award for her “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” In accepting the award, Streep turned the audience’s attention to an event unrelated to Hollywood: she referred to American President-Elect Donald Trump’s decision to mock a disabled reporter as an act that “sank hooks in [her] heart.”

In response, she asked for a “principled press to hold power to account” and specifically requested that Hollywood support the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a nonprofit in support of press freedom worldwide.

SumRando has been a longtime fan of CPJ, as well as of the organizations below that support a free and fact-finding press:

IFEX: a global network of organizations connected by a shared commitment to defend and promote freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
International Press Institute: a global network of journalists, editors and media executives, working to defend media freedom and the free flow of news wherever they are threatened.
Afghanistan Journalists Center: a nongovernmental body that works to defend rights of Afghan journalists and ensure freedom of expression in Afghanistan and a member of IFEX.
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility: a Philippine nonprofit working to build up the press and news media as pillars of democratic society through programs that uphold press freedom, promote responsible journalism and encourage journalistic excellence.
Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA): a nonprofit campaigning for genuine press freedom in Southeast Asia.
Instituto Prensa y Sociedad Venezuela: a Venezuelan organization working for the right to freedom of expression, the right to information and a freedom of the press that allows for the scrutiny of power.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA): an organization working to achieve media freedom and free expression for all as an essential part of strengthening democracy in southern Africa.

Support the press, surf secure and stay Rando!

Image credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Monday, 9 January 2017

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - January 9, 2017

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Comando de Defesa Cibernetica (ComDCiber), has been approved by the Brazilian Army as the country’s new cyber defense command. ComDCiber is tasked with protecting Brazil’s online infrastructure.

The Turkish government has plans to recruit hundreds of cybersecurity professionals from universities. In 2016 alone, Turkey experienced 90 million cyberattacks.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister of telecom, IT and law for India, has asked Google to support the country’s cybersecurity efforts: “I want Google to be involved in a more meaningful way. The more digital India becomes, there would be challenges. I would appeal to Google to work more to ensure digital security.”

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Last February’s theft of $81 million from Bangladesh’s central bank is now thought to have been an inside job. Bangladesh Police Deputy Inspector General, Mohammad Shah Alam, believes bank IT technicians created the conditions that provided access to hackers.

SumTips

Make 2017 Your Most Cybersecure Year Yet

In 2016, news worldwide shifted from headlines of massive security breaches to those of initiatives taken by countries, companies and consumers to prevent future disruptions. Start the new year off right by joining the security bandwagon. If you haven't found a lasting new years resolution yet, here's one: commit to logging into SumRando VPN every time you use the internet in 2017.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

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Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Friday, 30 December 2016

SumTips: 11 Countries Where Journalism Still Threatens Personal Safety

In August, we reported the deaths of 27 journalists since the beginning of 2016. Now, the year closes with a total of 48 journalist lives lost: 18 murdered, 26 killed in crossfire or combat, and 3 killed on dangerous assignments. The Committee to Protect Journalists’ list has grown to include:

Syria – 6 more journalists killed (14 total)

Mohsen Khazaei, an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Agency (IRIB) reporter, was killed in November by shrapnel. He had been reporting on fighting in western Aleppo.

Abdul Salam Kanaan, an Al-Jisr TV photographer, was killed in October by shrapnel from a missile. He had been recording Syrian airstrikes on Zafraneh at the time.

Taha Shawkat Al-Halou, freelance photographer and former photographer and reporter for the Daret Ezza Media Center, was killed in August by a missile. He was returning from covering airstrikes in Aleppo.

Ahmad Hallak, an Al-Buraq Media Institution correspondent, was killed in August by an airstrike. Hallak had been en route to report on fighting in Aleppo.

Mohammed Sayyed Hassan, an All4Syria reporter and Al-Nabaa Media Center founder, was killed in August by an airstrike. Hassan had been reporting on Russian airstrikes on Atareb at the time.

Abdullah Mohammad Ghannam, a correspondent for the Shahba Press Agency, was killed in July by an airstrike. He had been filming the fallout of a previous airstrike.

Iraq – 4 more journalists killed (6 total)

Ali Risan, an Al-Sumaria TV channel cameraman, was killed by a sniper’s bullet in October. Risan had been covering fighting between government security forces and Islamic State forces in the Al-Shura area.

Ahmet Haceroglu, a Turkmeneli TV manager, was shot and killed by a sniper’s bullet in October. He had been covering fighting between Kurdish security forces and Islamic State forces in Kirkuk.

Mustafa Said, a Kurdistan TV cameraman, was killed in August by mortar fire. He had been covering fighting between Kurdish security forces and Islamic State forces near Mosul.

Ali Mahmud, an Al-Ghadeer TV cameraman, was killed in July by a heat-seeking missile. He had been covering fighting between Kurdish security forces and Islamic State forces near Mosul.

Yemen – 2 more journalists killed (6 total)

Awab al-Zubiry, a freelance photojournalist and communications student, was killed in November by explosives. He had been reporting on fighting between pro-government and rebel forces in Taiz.

Mubarak al-Abadi, president of the Nabaa Media Foundation, was killed in August by mortar shell. He had been reporting on fighting between pro-government and rebel forces in al-Jawf province.

Afghanistan – 2 more journalists killed (4 total)

Naimatullah Zaheer, a reporter for Ariana News Television Networks, was killed by a roadside bomb in November. Zaheer had been en route to Lashkar Gah, where the Afghan military and the Taliban had fought the night prior.

Mohammad Nasir Mudasir, editor-in-chief of Melli Paigham Radio and founding member of the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association, was shot and killed by unknown gunmen outside his office in December. Mudasir had frequently received threats from the Taliban.

Libya – 1 more journalist killed (3 total)

Jeroen Oerlemans, a freelance photographer from the Netherlands, was killed in October while covering a battle in Sirte. He had been shot while running across a street to capture an image of the front line.

Somalia – 3 journalists killed

Mahad Ali Mohamed, a Codka Mudug Radio journalist, was shot and killed after leaving his house in November. A stray bullet from ongoing fighting was responsible for his death.

Abdiaziz Ali, a Radio Shabelle journalist, was shot and killed in September by two men on motorbikes. Ali had recently contributed to a series about Somalis forced to flee their homes.

Sagal Salad Osman, a Radio Mogadishu producer and presenter, was shot and killed in June on her university campus. The police believe Al-Shabaab to be responsible.

Pakistan – 2 journalists killed

Mehmood Khan and Shehzad Ahmed, cameramen for DawnNews and Aaj News, respectively, died in August in a Quetta suicide attack that killed more than 70. Khan and Ahmed were in attendance to film a group assembled to mourn the loss of Bilal Kasi, the murdered president of the Baluchistan Bar Association.

Guinea – 1 journalist killed

El-Hadj Mohamed Diallo, reporter for Guinée7 and Afrik, was shot and killed in February during unrest outside a meeting of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, the country’s main opposition party. Diallo was in attendance to report on the events.

Ukraine – 1 journalist killed

Pavel Sheremet, a writer for Ukrainska Pravda and recipient of CPJ’s 1998 International Press Freedom Award, was killed in July when the car he was driving exploded. Sheremet had been on his way host a show at Radio Vesti.

Myanmar – 1 journalist killed

Soe Moe Tun, a reporter for Daily Eleven, died in December in an attack that left bruises on his face and head. He regularly reported on sensitive subjects.

Brazil – 1 journalist killed

João Miranda do Carmo, editor of the confrontational SAD Sem Censura (Santo Antonio do Descoberto Uncensored) was shot and killed outside his house in July. Prior to the attack, he had received death threats and witnessed his car set on fire.

Be safe, surf secure and stay Rando!

Image credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

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SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Monday, 5 December 2016

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - December 5, 2016

Policy

their legislation today could be yours tomorrow

A panel of Thailand’s National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has proposed that cybersecurity policy and operation be handled by the nation’s military and police officers. The proposal, part of a larger cybersecurity study, was approved by the NRSA, 141-1.

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service has received $160 million USD to crack the encryption of messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Said Chancellor Angela Merkel, “We can not afford to put our hands in our lap and trust in the efforts of others.”

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

The Jamaican Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology recently conducted a cybersecurity training for 80 information and communications technology (ICT) experts. “This increased use of technology, not only brings increased opportunities for economic development and growth, but also increased opportunities for cybercrime,” acknowledged Trevor Forrest, senior advisor to the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology.

An open letter to the United States Congress has requested an investigation into reports of hacking by foreign powers, especially Russia, and its potential effect on the results of the recent American presidential election. The letter was drafted by scholars of cybersecurity, national defense, authoritarian regimes and free and fair elections.

This week’s Internet Governance Forum in Mexico will focus on human rights and encryption, the 8th topic covered by the UNESCO Series on Internet Freedom. The research presented will provide insight into the connection between encryption and human rights, especially as it pertains to media and communications.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!

Thursday, 27 October 2016

Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts - October 27, 2016

Privacy, Surveillance and Censorship

government isn't always on your side

Earlier this month, Ethiopia began a six-month shutdown of mobile internet to limit dialogue regarding anti-government protests. Now, the government has also banned the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. “This is a typical textbook example of repression,” reported an Ethiopian Zone 9 blogger.

Research and Initiatives

making your world a more cybersecure place

Project Shield was officially presented earlier this month at the Inter American Press Association General Assembly in Mexico City. The project, developed with the support of Google technology, strives to protect news sites and freedom of expression organizations from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

Microsoft launched a Cybersecurity Engagement Centre (CSEC) in India on Friday. Reported Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik, “We believe security of critical information is imperative for our corporate customers, just as it is vital to ensure security and privacy of citizen data and transactions.” The company has also begun Microsoft Secure, a campaign to increase cybersecurity awareness across India.

Microsoft opened its first Latin American Transparency Center in Brazil. Reported Microsoft’s Cesar Cernuda, “Microsoft is committed to providing a trusted cloud and our unique threat intelligence innovations and trusted cloud ecosystem offers powerful protection against security threats. We also empower governments to investigate, disrupt and prosecute global cybercriminal networks.”

Arbor Networks’ Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report acknowledged that cyberattacks in the Middle East are outpacing those elsewhere. In 2016 alone, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait have been the top targets for large distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in the region.

Cyberattacks

the threats we all face

Earlier this month, the United States government formally accused Russia of hacking in order to sway the results of upcoming national elections. More recently, Christopher Porter of FireEye reminded us that this is not an isolated incident: “Their only limit is what the [Russian] Government is willing to do. They are among the best in the world. This is not a new activity. It is new only in the US.”

A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on Domain Name System provider Dyn led to the inaccessibility of services such as Netflix, Twitter and The New York Times on Friday, beginning in the United States and eventually including parts of Europe and Asia. Now, the United Arab Emirates is being warned that a similar attack could be headed its way.

Chinese hackers recently used malware to gather military maneuvers and command system, control system and policy issue information from foreign government personnel who had boarded a United States aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. Whether the attack was successful remains unclear.

ATM network malware has compromised more than 3.2 million debit cards in India. In response, users have been advised to change their security codes or replace their debit cards altogether; regardless, Indians now have yet another reason to continue to prefer cash to electronic payments.

Chinese users excited to have government censor-bypassing access to Twitter should question their good fortune. Malware known as the “Dual Instance” Twitter app has been found guilty of stealing users’ Twitter credentials when logging them in.

All images credit of BOLDG/Shutterstock.com.

Want more emerging economy cyber alerts? Read on!

Want Emerging Economy Cyber Alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletter ("Security Tips and News" at bottom of page).

Have valuable insight to share from your part of the world? Write for us!

SumRando Cybersecurity is a Mauritius-based VPN, Web Proxy and Secure Messenger provider. Surf secure and stay Rando!