Five Web Application Security Myths (Part 2)

Many Companies fail to Make the First Step Towards Security because of Misconceptions and Security Myths Protecting your website from hackers is tough. The battle between the good guys (you) and the bad guys (the hackers) is an ever escalating war where a misstep on your part may mean a breached site. Last week we touched on the first two of these myths. Get ready for the last three … Read More »

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Changing Grades – One Student’s Dream

As the current Fall semester comes to a close, a young geek’s dreams turn towards… No, not girls, why bother to even think about the impossible? The great geek dream is the hacking of the registrar’s database to fix a few grades. How many movies and TV shows have we all seen where the geek makes a few grade changes; maybe helping out that cute girl in his class … Read More »

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Anonymous, Lulz Security and WikiLeaks – True Activist or Hackers Looking for A Justification?

Activism in America has a rich and vibrant history and the actions of American activists have resulted in sometimes dramatic and far-reaching social, government and industrial changes. By declaring themselves activists, hactivist groups Anonymous, LulzSec and WikiLeaks have entered a lofty arena full of history and significance. In order to better understand the nature of hacktivism, it is important to consider this concept in a broader context. However, before … Read More »

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The RSA Breach – Back in the News

As you may remember RSA, the vendor the SecurID authentication tokens, was hacked in March 2010. The  resulting data breach affected many of RSA’s 25,000 global customers who use over 40 million of these devices. The SecurID is one half of a “two-factor” authentication method. “Two-factor” indicates the user must successfully login using a memorized password or PIN, as well as a six-digit code found on the SecurID; with … Read More »

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Hacker Payback: Dox

The world of computer security is full of slang. And while the media has made a number of different hacker terms, such as “hacktivism” and “malware,” more mainstream, there are still a number of terms that remain relatively unused by the average reporter. As a result, though being “doxed” is nothing new, you may have never heard the term. Doxed, or being doxed, is Internet slang for releasing personal … Read More »

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Hacktivism: An Introduction

Internet attacks on highly visible corporations and government agencies have flooded the media over the past year. These attacks are often sensationalized (as is the goal of the media) and just as often misunderstood by the public because of the reasons for and methods of attack. Media reports of attacks on major corporations such as Sony, Lockheed and PBS, as well as government entities like the Department of Defense … Read More »

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Famous Hackers: Anonymous

Remember when “anonymous” was simply a placeholder for an unnamed author in your English literature class? How about when “anonymous” was just someone who was being interviewed and wished for their name not to be used in print? Today, the word “anonymous” isn’t reserved for the unnamed. Just Google the word and you’ll find an entirely different meaning. The days of “anonymous” being someone who has chosen to stay … Read More »

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Don’t Mess Around with the Feds: Dumb Hackers Target NBC’s Twitter Account

“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape You don’t spit into the wind You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger And you don’t mess around with” the Feds - Jim Croce (slight change by Alan) We were all young, and perhaps even stupid, at some point in our lives. Those of us lucky enough to make it to adulthood, do so in spite of the odds against … Read More »

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How to Get a Job at Facebook & Other Associated Hacks

To some, George Hotz may seem like just a kid, but when it comes to hacking, this 21-year-old has already made quite a name for himself. After unlocking the iPhone, allowing it to be used by wireless carriers other than AT&T, Hotz hacked the PlayStation 3 and ended up at the center of a Sony lawsuit and an Anonymous protest. Hotz might not have been the first person to … Read More »

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Staying Safe on Social Networks

From malware to hijacked accounts – when it comes to protecting yourself online, social networks can be a dangerous place. Both Facebook and Twitter provide recommended actions for keeping accounts secure, and though the two networks have different features, the ways they advise users to keep accounts safe are very similar. Here are four security tips anyone using a social network should know: 1. Watch out for suspicious links … Read More »