Collaborate Disseminate
The FTC announced the IoT Home Inspector Challenge, a contest with the goal of coming up with a patching solution fit for consumer-grade connected devices used in the home. Continue reading FTC Issues Public Challenge to Improve IoT Patching
One of the biggest cybersecurity stories of 2016 was the surge in online attacks caused by poorly-secured “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices such as Internet routers, security cameras, digital video recorders (DVRs) and smart appliances. Many readers here have commented with ideas about how to counter vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software in IoT devices, so why not pitch your idea for money? Who knows, you could win up to $25,000 in a new contest put on by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Continue reading The FTC’s Internet of Things (IoT) Challenge
Commission settlement officially $17.5 million, but fine reduced due to inability to pay. Continue reading Hacked cheating site Ashley Madison will pay $1.6 million to FTC for breach
Each year, several million people fall for tech support scams and according to Microsoft, in 2015 alone crooks walked away with an estimated $1.5 billion. Malwarebytes has been actively engaged in the fight against tech support scammers overseas, but a… Continue reading Report: The Anatomy of Tech Support Scams
A complaint filed with the FTC alleges unfair and deceptive practices on the part of WhatsApp, which has decided to share phone numbers and data with Facebook. Continue reading Privacy Groups File FTC Complaint over WhatsApp Data Sharing with Facebook
Consumer groups urge the feds to crack down on Facebook’s latest privacy breach. Continue reading Facebook Slapped With FTC Complaint Over WhatsApp Data Grab
Identity thieves have perfected a scam in which they impersonate existing customers at retail mobile phone stores, pay a small cash deposit on pricey new phones, and then charge the rest to the victim’s account. In most cases, switching on the new phones causes the victim account owner’s phone(s) to go dead. This is the story of a Pennsylvania man who allegedly died of a heart attack because his wife’s phone was switched off by ID thieves and she was temporarily unable to call for help. Continue reading A Life or Death Case of Identity Theft?
Contrary to what you’ve been told, frequent changes can be counterproductive. Continue reading Frequent password changes are the enemy of security, FTC technologist says
The FTC closes roughly 70 percent of the investigations it opens and is weighing how to better handle PCI-DSS and other standards, an agency official said this week. Continue reading FTC Closes 70 Percent of Data Breach Investigations, Weighing PCI-DSS Standard
A mobile advertising company that settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission this week will pay nearly $1M after it was determined the company tracked customers – including children – without their consent. Continue reading Mobile Advertising Firm Found Tracking Users To Pay $950K