NSA
Computing
NSA tools are still letting hackers take over unpatched systems
Hackers are using the NSA's hacking tools in new and dangerous ways to target PCs previously protected behind routers on unpatched networks. Firmware and OS updates are a must to protect yourself.
Emerging Tech
Exploding phones, data breaches, and other tech scandals that shook the world
The tech industry isn't immune to controversy or scandal. But what are the biggest scandals to have shaped the history of high tech as we know it? Here are seven of the most infamous.
Business
New WannaCry ransomware tool Wanakiwi can save more people's data
Cybersecurity firm Avast reported on a massive ransomware attack that hit more than 200,000 victims. While most of the targets were located in Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan, other victims have been identified in Europe.
Computing
Top Microsoft lawyer slams government for ‘stockpiling’ vulnerabilities
Microsoft chief legal officer Brad Smith has criticized the NSA for "stockpiling" vulnerabilities in the wake of last weekend's WannaCry ransomware incident, saying the practice puts people at risk.
Web
Congress again pushing NSA to reveal number of Americans under surveillance
The NSA has been tapping phones and internet connections for a long time now, but we still don't know how many Americans may have been caught up in its dragnet-style surveillance program.
Computing
Edward Snowden’s lawyers are trying to find asylum for him in the EU
Edward Snowden’s asylum in Russia will expire in 2020 and his lawyers are speaking with EU officials to see if it would be possible for an EU country to grant asylum for the whistleblower and protect him from U.S. prosecution.
Trending Right Now
Computing
Ultra private email provider Lavabit is back online
The ultra-private email provider Lavabit went offline in 2013 rather than comply with government access requests. Now Edward Snowden's email of choice is back, with enhanced privacy tweaks.
Mobile
Superthin and sleek webcam cover helps protect your privacy in style
The Intelligent Security Camera Cover (ISCC) claims to be the "the world's thinnest, most ergonomic, and seamless mechanical webcam privacy cover.” After browsing the many mechanical camera covers out there, we’re inclined to agree.
Mobile
The NSA and GCHQ can see data from your phone when you're 10,000 feet in the air
Journalists still parsing through the collection of data leaked by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden have found documents proving that international skies are hardly safe from snooping government agencies.
Mobile
Report: A mysterious NYC skyscraper owned by AT&T was a key NSA surveillance site
Turns out that a mysterious building in New York City known as the AT&T Long Lines Building was actually one of the NSA's most valuable assets and was involved in mass surveillance programs, according to a report from The Intercept.
Computing
Edward Snowden to discuss Donald Trump's potential impact on privacy issues
On Thursday, Edward Snowden will be holding a live question-and-answer session starting at 1:30 p.m. (PT) where he will discuss his views on the potential impact on privacy issues with a Donald Trump presidency.
Computing
Hacking group says list features servers infiltrated by National Security Agency
Shadow Brokers, the hacker group that allegedly breached the National Security Agency, has posted a list of details about servers from around the world that it claims were hacked by the NSA. The data has been met with skepticism from…
Mobile
AT&T’s spying practices may be larger than previously thought, report says
It looks like AT&T's citizen-spying practices are far more wide-reaching than was previously thought. Not only that, but the company could be making a profit by spying on its customers, according to a report from The Daily Beast.
Web
Yahoo responds to allegations that it scanned emails for U.S. spy agencies
It hasn't been a great month for Yahoo. First we hear about a big data breach in 2014, and now apparently Yahoo secretly spied on millions of Yahoo Mail users, searching their incoming emails on behalf of U.S. spy agencies.
Computing
Tech giants distance themselves from Yahoo-style surveillance allegations
Following the explosive report on Yahoo's mass surveillance collaboration with the NSA, Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft have all released statements denying that they’ve ever carried out any similar sorts of surveillance.
Computing
Hackers demand a $600M ‘reward’ to spill more secret NSA docs
The Shadow Brokers, a new hacker group, has released a series of documents allegedly exposing NSA hacking tools, and now it’s demanding a "reward" in Bitcoin to release more documents that are “better than Stuxnet.”
Emerging Tech
Snowden developing iPhone battery case with hidden spy tool
To detect revealing mobile transmissions that could be used to locate journalists, Edward Snowden and hacker Andrew “Bunnie” Huang are developing a spy monitoring tool that doubles as a battery case.
Computing
NSA labels Linux Journal readers and Tor and Tails users as extremists
Linux Journal readers and users of Tor and Tails are labelled as extremists by the NSA. Members of the Tor community and users who searched Tails or Tor had IP addresses flagged for surveillance.