What the Hack? Podcast
What the Hack? Podcast
What the Hack? Podcast
What the Hack? Podcast

Data Security

The latest on data breaches and cybersecurity and data security by Adam K Levin.

seized domains
Law enforcement agencies from the United States and Europe seized domain names and servers belonging to a virtual private network (VPN) provider long linked to online cybercrime. In a press release issued December 22, U.S.  Attorney Matthew Schneider announced the action, called “Operation Nova,” which disrupted the activities of a so-called “bulletproof hosting service” in coordination with Europol and law...

12 Online Resolutions for 2021

online resolutions
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected--and do the best we can in a rapidly changing world. That’s always the case when it comes to cybersecurity. Here are 12 New Year Resolutions for a safer and more secure digital you in 2021: Think before you click that email link: 2020 was a record-breaking year for ransomware,...
Russian hack
The email systems of several government agencies including the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce were breached and monitored by foreign actors most likely connected to the Russian government, the Trump administration acknowledged December 13, 2020. “Highly sophisticated” threat actors were apparently able to compromise authentication protocols used by Microsoft’s Office suite of applications, including Word, Outlook, and Excel, according...
Fireeye
FireEye is a global leader in cybersecurity. The company disclosed this week that a data breach had occurred, announcing that “a highly sophisticated threat actor” compromised their systems and stole tools the company used to simulate cyberattacks and data breaches.  Here’s what you need to know: The threat actors responsible have yet to be identified.  While the identities of the...
Shirbit
The personal information of thousands of Israeli citizens has been compromised as the result of a cyberattack on Shirbit, a leading insurance company.  The attack was disclosed in a joint announcement by the Capital Markets Authority and the Israel National Cyber Directorate, which confirmed that customer information had also been leaked online. Both organizations are currently investigating the incident. Data compromised...
Holiday cybersecure
Retailers around the world are anticipating less foot traffic in their shops this holiday season, with more than 75% of consumers expected to do most of their shopping online due to the pandemic. And if there was any doubt as to this proposition, Black Friday certainly proved the point. While that will certainly keep consumers safer when it comes to...
Brazil data leak
The personal information of over 243 million Brazilians was left accessible online for at least six months. The data leak was discovered by the Brazilian newspaper Estadao and has been attributed to web developers leaving the password to a government database in the source code of a publicly accessible website. The potentially exposed data included full names, addresses, telephone numbers, and...
Minecraft
Android users trying to install mods for the wildly popular game title Minecraft may be unintentionally installing adware and malware to their devices. According to new research from cybersecurity and anti-virus company Kaspersky Lab, over twenty apps available to download on Google’s Play store claiming to add additional content to the game were “malvertising,” which launches unwanted popup ads on...
Cybersecure holidays
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for scammers and hackers. Shoppers and philanthropists are both easier targets during the busy holiday season. The Covid-19 pandemic has meant increased virtual visits with loved ones, and of course remote work. The number of people willing to use their personal devices for holiday shopping has also increased as a result of the...
Holiday scam
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, especially for scammers. Consumers are typically spending more, doing it quickly and not paying as much attention to who they’re buying it from because of the rush. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many shoppers will make the bulk of their purchases online, which means this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday...