hackers – News Stories About hackers - Page 28

NZ Teenager Is Alleged Hacker Mastermind

Nov 30, 2007 8:00 AM CST

NZ Teenager Is Alleged Hacker Mastermind

'AKILL' was under 18 when he reportedly led hacks that cost $20M

(Newser) - New Zealand police working with FBI today took into custody an 18-year-old accused of leading a cybercrime network responsible for $20 million worth of damage. Known by the name “AKILL,” the alleged teenaged mastermind wrote software that could control computers and then sold his skills to other hackers....

Hacker Blitz Infects Web Search Results

Nov 29, 2007 10:50 PM CST

Hacker Blitz Infects Web Search Results

Malicious websites may have fooled Google, Yahoo and MSN

(Newser) - Software security firms believe they uncovered a massive hacker effort earlier this week to "booby-trap" web searches, one which could have rendered Windows and Internet Explorer users vulnerable to fraud. Seemingly innocuous and random search terms, like "Christmas gifts" and "infinity," brought results that included links...

Stores Expose Customer Credit Card, Personal Data to Hackers

Nov 16, 2007 1:36 PM CST

Stores Expose Customer Credit Card, Personal Data to Hackers

Major retailers neglect anti-theft encryption

(Newser) - Major US and European retailers routinely transmit sensitive data, including customer credit card and Social Security numbers, over wireless networks wide open to hackers. A recent undercover study by a wireless data security firm found half of stores in major shopping areas either exchanged data without anti-hacking encryption or used...

Banner Ads
Get Nasty

Nov 16, 2007 12:47 PM CST

Banner Ads Get Nasty

Legit sites hijacked by malware that can hack into PCs, even without a click

(Newser) - Some banner ads on legit sites can hack into your PC—even if you don't click on them. The new ads, which have been seen on sites like the Economist's and MLB.com, try to scan your hard drive and download malicious software, Wired reports. DoubleClick, which hosts the ads...

Grade Hackers Face Jail and $250K Fines

Nov 5, 2007 8:50 PM CST

Grade Hackers Face Jail and $250K Fines

Others cheated too; FBI, attorney general on the case

(Newser) - Two ex-undergrads at Fresno State U. have been charged with hacking the school's system to up their grades—and face up to 20 years in jail and $250,000 fines, Computerworld reports. John Escalera, who worked the computer help desk, reportedly hacked the Peoplesoft management system in 2004 to raise...

TJX Data Breach Exposed 94M Credit Cards

Oct 24, 2007 7:15 PM CDT

TJX Data Breach Exposed 94M Credit Cards

Still no arrests after up to $83M is spent with stolen numbers

(Newser) - Cyber thieves have pinched 94 million credit cards from a discount retailer—double the last estimate—and spent up to $83 million as far as Hong Kong and Sweden, the AP reports. Banks are now suing the retailer, TJX Cos., to recover their losses. But those losses keep growing: "...

Hacker Pranks Ann Coulter's Website

Oct 17, 2007 11:11 AM CDT

Hacker Pranks Ann Coulter's Website

Columnist's career 'a sick joke,' says fake confessional

(Newser) - The website of vituperative talking head Ann Coulter suddenly became apologetic when visitors discovered a short letter by the columnist claiming that her entire career was a "sick joke." A few blogs and media outlets picked up on Coulter's amazing mea maxima culpa—until it turned out to...

Porn Hacking Keeps CA
Gov Site Down

Oct 12, 2007 3:26 PM CDT

Porn Hacking Keeps CA Gov Site Down

Marin County trying to secure servers after skin shots reappear

(Newser) - The Transportation Authority of Marin's website, ground zero for last week's porn-related California civic website disruption, remains offline after administrators proved unable to quell the dirty bits prankery. Hidden redirections to porn sites reappeared after TAM officials persuaded US admins to stop shutting down all California websites using the "...

Swipe at Your Own Risk

Oct 7, 2007 5:27 PM CDT

Swipe at Your Own Risk

Retailers often don't protect data, and it's going to cost them $25,000 fines

(Newser) - Think your credit card bill is high? Some businesses may soon have to pay Visa $25,000 for not protecting your credit-card data. Merchants are required to meet standards to keep computer systems safe from hackers. But only 44% of the 327 largest merchants have validated their compliance, reports the...

iPhone Update Enrages Owners

Oct 2, 2007 8:00 AM CDT

iPhone Update Enrages Owners

Apple plays hardball as update shuts down all hacked phones, not just unlocked ones

(Newser) - Apple’s latest firmware update doesn’t just shut down unlocked iPhones as threatened; it shuts down all phone hacks, including homemade applications, ringtones created by third parties, and the ability to use the phone as a drive. Even some unhacked phones have become completely inoperable. That’s enraged...

Hackers to Re-Lock iPhones

Sep 26, 2007 9:10 AM CDT

Hackers to Re-Lock iPhones

Will allow users to cover their tracks, install update, be covered by warranty

(Newser) - When Apple warned Monday that unlocked iPhones would be destroyed by an upcoming software update—and that the hacked phones wouldn't be covered by the warranty—the hackers who made the tools to unlock the phones in the first place got to work. Yesterday the iPhone Dev Team said they...

Russia and China Spying at Cold War Levels, Top Spy Warns

Sep 18, 2007 9:04 PM CDT

Russia and China Spying at Cold War Levels, Top Spy Warns

Patriot Act not enough, he tells lawmakers

(Newser) - China and Russia are spying on the US at nearly cold war levels, the nation's top spy told lawmakers today. Vice Admiral McConnell defended the Patriot Act as necessary for US defense and asked Congress to give intelligence agencies even greater eavesdropping powers. His testimony comes weeks after an alleged...

Data Thieves Smarten Up, Branch Out

Sep 17, 2007 2:41 PM CDT

Data Thieves Smarten Up, Branch Out

More sophisticated hackers chip away at your online security

(Newser) - Hackers are getting smarter, more international, and increasingly well funded, a new report on Internet security reveals. One scam involves gangs acting as middlemen for other would-be criminals; some rip-off artists use social networking sites to research a mark, then send a personalized email to trick the target into giving...

Chinese Military Hackers Hit London, Too

Sep 5, 2007 5:36 PM CDT

Chinese Military Hackers Hit London, Too

A day after Pentagon denial, evidence of cyberattacks in Europe

(Newser) - A day after Beijing denied that Chinese hackers had infiltrated the Pentagon's computer network, the Guardian leads with a story that "cyberwarriors" have targeted British defense and diplomatic ministries. The hackers, believed to be working for the People's Liberation Army, have also directed attacks at American and German government...

China Denies Hacking Pentagon

Sep 4, 2007 8:59 AM CDT

China Denies Hacking Pentagon

Part of network came offline for a week

(Newser) - The Chinese military hacked the Pentagon's computer system in June, bringing part of it down for over a week, the Financial Times reports, but Beijing calls the accusation "groundless." The apparently successful hack raises serious worries about the safety of the network because it shows China has "...