The United States officially announced that the military has the right to retaliate with military force against a cyber-attack. There’s a big debate going on. The question is how secure is the Android operating system. A report came out last week with a report that said mobile malware on Android platforms has climbed 472 percent since July. It apparently was a big payout for one alleged hacker victim. According to court records, the government paid nearly $2,500 for Sarah Palin’s husband, Todd, ...
Nov 25, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cyber crime is taking over according to one cyber security expert. Some believe that you are more likely to be a victim of crime online than in the real world. Cyber crimes are up all over the world, including India. Most cases pertained to forgery, criminal breach of trust or fraud. It may surprise you to know that even the IT and TMT sector are not immune to cyber security breaches. New research shows that 75 percent of those enterprises within the TMT sector have reported a security breach so...
Nov 24, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a frightening thought but cyber criminals may have been responsible for a water pump failure at a public water district in Illinois. Federal officials have confirmed they are investigating the incident. Be careful. That’s the message from Dr. Abdullah al-Mal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT), when it comes to dealing with the crimes perpetrated through the Internet. Ireland has a major problem with organized crime. However it’s n...
Nov 23, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast The well-known hacking group Anonymous has allegedly been at it again. The group claimed to have leaked thousands of private emails that belonged to Fred Baclagan, a retired California cybercrime investigator. The hacking was in response to a recent crackdown on Occupy Wall Street. Cyber crime may be creeping its way onto Facebook according to some cyber experts. Governments around the world will focus on the social networking site as the rise of hacking groups brings an increased threat of cybe...
Nov 22, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you thought the News of the World hacking scandal was over, think again. Some of the victims of the hacking scandal, including celebrities and family members of crime victims, are scheduled to testify at a nationally televised inquiry into media ethics. Technology appears to be an easy target for hackers. According to a report from Deloitte, three quarters of technology, media and telecoms firms have been victims of cyber attacks this year alone. As the year winds down, things are not looking...
Nov 21, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cyber security is quickly climbing up the list of importance for the federal government and apparently with good reason. Hackers have been busy and cyber thieves have cashed in on innocent victims online. Lawmakers are focusing on cyber security. One way to ensure change, they say is to add laws to fight cyber crime. One detective went undercover to prove just how serious cyber crime is and the damage it can do. How did he do it? He went online and did a lot of work on Facebook. Also, check out ...
Nov 18, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lying on the Internet could be against the law. The Department of Justice recently asked Congress to make some changes to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Those changes would make it a crime to break terms of service or violate workplace policies. The United States government says it is ready to fight cyber crime if the government is attacked. The Defense Department says if the President gives an order in response to hostile cyberattacks against the U.S. economy, government or military, it is r...
Nov 17, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast If the Department of Justice has its way, cybercriminals could be prosecuted in a new way. The DOJ hopes to include cyber crime under a racketeering law. The final report is out today. Information from a Congressional advisory panel advising lawmakers on U.S.- China relations showed several things including a new assessment of the malicious cyber activities that hit two U.S. government satellites from 2007 and 2008. According to British police, cyber security helped to make sure the royal weddin...
Nov 16, 2011•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast House lawmakers on Tuesday are slated to mull updating a 1986 anti-hacking law that even ideological opponents agree criminalizes innocent Web surfing. However, when a Senate panel discussed the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in September, Justice Department officials argued that changing the penalties could let legitimate bad guys off the hook. The cost of securing smart grids around the country is expected to skyrocket in just a few years. A report that came out this week titled “Smart Grid Secu...
Nov 15, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast It appears that hackers have gone from targeting others to becoming targets themselves. The major drug cartel Los Zetas is reportedly sending strong messages to both bloggers and hackers. Last week the group took responsibility for gruesomely decapitating a Mexican blogger and dumping his body in public. Recent reports of the computers used to pilot General Atomics AeronauticalSystems' Predator drones being infected with a computer virus -- one that so far has proven impossible to remove -- are ...
Nov 14, 2011•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast File sharing is going to be a bit harder. The Italian police division which handles cybercrime cases announced it shutdown several file-sharing websites. NATO is working to get all its agencies and commands under a single cyber roof by the end of 2012, but lacks a strategy to respond to an all-out assault on civilian critical infrastructure throughout the European Union according to reports. Is letting people cast votes from their home computers is a recipe for chaos? Some cyber experts say yes....
Nov 11, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast The London Metropolitan Police Service's PCeU (Police Central E-Crime Unit), announced the sentencing of a pair of Ukrainian nationals after they were found using a banker's Trojan for stealing money out of several Brits' accounts, the number remaining unknown. Their alleged ring affected millions of computer users around the world but today members of an international cyber ring are behind bars. The FBI announced Wednesday the arrest of six Estonian nationals for their alleged roll in running a...
Nov 10, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Federal law officers made a major arrest spanning 100 countries and millions of computer users. Malware Secretly Re-Routed More Than 4 Million Computers, Generating at Least $14 Million in Fraudulent Advertising Fees for the Defendants You may not be able to keep your personal information on your smartphone safe from hackers. Cyber experts say there’s a bug in Apple’s mobile operating system that allows cyber criminals to take control of your iPhone and iPad apps. With access, hackers can steal ...
Nov 09, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hackers have allegedly targeted the German sportswear and equipment manufacturer, Adidas. The company allegedly had to take its website offline after facing a sophisticated and criminal cyber assault. You might be happy to know that even hackers get hacked too. Some researchers say that hackers have formed gangs and hack each other. Hackers are making big money covering a wide range of targets. Their latest target appears to be smartphones. GetSafeOnline.org is a government backed site that warn...
Nov 07, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Could illegally downloaded information cause a problem for cyber security? That is the answer many cyber security experts are trying to answer. It could be a lot easier than you think to get your information online. It’s something that cyber security experts have known for a while but are working to correct. The threat of cyber-attacks is very real and could potentially be very near-term according to a BrigadierGeneral. The commander goes on to say the nation will demand the military be engaged ...
Nov 04, 2011•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast British police have made a major cyber crime arrest this week. A total of 13 people are behind bars for their alleged role in a sophisticated banking fraud gang that used malware to help steal at least $4.6 million from hundreds of people. The United States points the finger at China and Russia when it comes to cyber security. Cyber-attacks by Chinese and Russian intelligence services, as well corporate hackers in those countries, have swallowed up large amounts of high-tech American research an...
Nov 03, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft Corp says hackers have used a previously unknown bug in its Windows operating system. Company officials say the hackers wanted to to infect computers with the Duqu virus, which some security experts say could be the next big cyber threat. He may be a basketball superstar but even Shaquille O’Neal isn’t immune to hackers. O’Neal claims he hired a computer tech who stole O’Neal’s private emails and sold them for profit. The man even allegedly threatened to use the electronic communicatio...
Nov 02, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chinese hackers have been very busy according to one software company. Symantec helps consumers secure and manage their information-driven world. Well, they are saying that Chinese hackers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to cyber crime. It appears that Facebook needs plenty of security. The company says that it receives 600,000 logins to the social networking website from imposters every 24 hours. Those imposters attempt to access users’ messages, photos and other personal information. So...
Nov 01, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast They may be at it again. Earlier this month, Anonymous allegedly named its next target. Believe it or not, they appear to be taking on the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas. New cyber threats are creating new approaches from countries around the world. Countries are defending themselves by using the public’s help. The sharing of information between nations is seen as a critical aspect in narrowing down on cyber culprits across borders. Working together seems to be the global theme. Today Britain and...
Oct 31, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hackers were close yet so far away. According to government officials, American infrastructure was a target for hackers numerous times and came very close to shutting down critical parts of it. Human error is still one of the biggest problems when it comes to cyber security. The Coon Rapids Police Department has one more tool to fight cyber security. The police department now has the ability to handle computer forensics investigations. The department now has $30,000 in software and hardware equi...
Oct 28, 2011•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. government is pointing the finger at China once again. Computer hackers, possibly from the Chinese military, interfered with two U.S. government satellites four times in 2007 and 2008 through a ground station in Norway, according to a congressional commission. Australia may not be prepared when it comes to a cyber attack. Cyber experts say Australia's lack of data breach notification laws and the consequent failure of companies to take basic security measures is hurting the country's re...
Oct 27, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast The government is stepping up its efforts to stop hackers. The National Security Agency now provides Wall Street banks with intelligence on foreign hackers. Some experts believe that is a sign of growing U.S. fears of financial sabotage. Is your privacy at risk? According to privacy watchdogs, it may be in danger if you use Facebook. Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner began an onsite investigation following accusations that the company is creating extensive “shadow profiles” of non-users. Ap...
Oct 26, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some of the things that have taken place in the cyber world may make you think that it came from a sci-fi movie. But experts say threats are very real and often times easy to do. Hackers have been on a roll. They have targeted small businesses, the government and even everyday Americans. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans to fight this cyber war with a new tool to at least help businesses develop a cybersecurity plan. A Virginia county is giving a computer the task of keeping cyber...
Oct 25, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast The FBI has some pretty strong words about the security on the Internet. FBI officials say the way Internet security is now is not designed with enough security in mind to meet today’s threats. They also suggest that engineers and policymakers should consider developing an alternate version. Skype users can’t hide because of a reported flagrant security flaw in the service. The organization that helped to make hacking popular is having some financial problems. WikiLeaks announced it is temporari...
Oct 24, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Whenever there’s big news, scammers try to cash in and the death of Moammar Gadhafi is no different. Today a computer security firm warned that cyber criminals were trying to exploit photos of the slain Libyan dictator in an email scam. News International, publisher of the now-defunct News of the World newspaper in Great Britain, will hand over millions of dollars to the family allegedly at the center of the scandal. The company agreed to pay $3.2 million - to the family of British teen Milly Do...
Oct 21, 2011•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Department of Homeland Security tapped a new man to work with cybersecurity partners across the country. Mark Weatherford will discuss issues that affect the federal government. This year has been a very busy year for hackers. You may remember Anonymous and LulzSec wreaking havoc on the federal government and businesses alike. Sony, PBS and websites around the world were easy targets and cyber security experts say the attacks probably won’t stop anytime soon. Two Maryland men will spend plen...
Oct 20, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Members of the ATM Industry are working to better protect themselves from cybercrimes. The association is highlighting reverse engineering and targeting of ATM software as a new way to prevent fraud. The FBI wants you to be on the lookout for yet another scam. This latest scam involves making you believe you have received a traffic ticket. If you think it, you may see it on your computer. That’s possibly the way of the future if researchers get their way. This week a scientist suggested that the...
Oct 19, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Britain says it’s better to be safe than sorry. The country says it is prepared to strike first to defend itself against a cyber attack from an enemy state. The Foreign Secretary made the statement today and gives an indication that the UK has developed new weapons for the online battlefield. It used to be a minor domestic crime but organized cybercriminals have turned ID trafficking into a global problem. The information they steal is so valuable to some criminals looking to cash in on your ide...
Oct 18, 2011•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast It seems that even Sesame Street is not safe from hackers. And unfortunately they used very graphic images to prove their point. Cyber crime is up and security experts are blaming smartphones. The problem is the smartphone is too useful and too user friendly. If you were one of the many people affected by the recent BlackBerry outages, there’s some good news and some bad news. The good news is you may be able to get free apps to make up for the inconvenience. The bad news is you won’t get any ca...
Oct 17, 2011•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast It is an open secret that Chinese hackers have been lurking in the cyber world for years. They have allegedly targeted the American government and businesses. And now they may be responsible for yet another attack, this time on NationalCyberSecurity.com. The Air Force is trying to downplay the recent hacking of its war drones. The virus that recently infected the remote cockpits of its fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles operating over war zones was swiftly and easily contained according to Air Fo...
Oct 14, 2011•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
