Technology

Posted on June 26, 2018 by staff

Cyber Security Briefing: Biometric bank cards are coming

Technology

Chip-and-pin bank cards could soon be a thing of the past as banks are reportedly working behind the scenes to introduce biometric bank cards.

The tech would allow consumers to buy goods using their fingerprints, similar to Apple’s Touch ID iPhone tech.

The fingerprint-scanning tech would make it more difficult for criminals to hack into bank accounts.

Howard Berg, who works at digital security firm Gemalto, told The Sun: “What we’re talking about is a normal-shaped credit or debit card.

“The big difference being on the right-hand side is a little sensor, and that’s designed for you to place your finger or thumb.

“Rather than having to use a PIN, you put your finger on the card and it authenticates the use of the card. It’s the same for contactless.”

Cyber criminals now impersonating Netflix

Spear phishing attacks are on the up – and cyber criminals are now impersonating entertainment giant Netflix to try and dupe people.

There were more than 10,000 unique phishing attempts in May alone, with spear phishing – where criminals attempt to trick people into giving up their login credentials and payment card information by posing as major brands – the most popular form of these attacks.

Cyber security company Barracuda says it has blocked more than 3.2 million phishing emails since May 1, with Netflix, CitiBank and financial services firm Wells Fargo among the firms impersonated.

Often these ‘spear phishers’ will deliberately spell the name of the company in question slightly wrongly – such as ‘Netfliix’ – in the link they are sending people to in order to fool customers.

John McAfee claims ‘enemies’ tried to kill him

McAfee founder John McAfee claims “enemies” tried to kill him recently and vowed to take his revenge.

The anti-virus software pioneer, who claims he was unconscious for two days after his food or drink was spiked, spoke of an alleged death plot on Twitter.

You can see the 72-year-old’s tweets below for yourself.

McAfee reportedly made $100m (£75m) when he sold his shares in the firm in 1994.

Sign up for the Unlocked Security Conference

A variety of experts will tackle the burning issues in security at two conferences in Manchester and London in early July.

Award-winning security blogger Graham Cluley has been confirmed as a speaker for both events with other industry experts also confirmed.

The conferences, to be held from 9am-1pm, will tackle the burning issues in cyber security, from the rise in cyber-terrorism and ransomware to the benefits of ethical hacking and the future of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.

Speakers will offer one-to-one advice on the challenges faced by organisations in the current threat landscape, as well as demonstrating what businesses should do in the event of data breach.

The events will provide attendees with a comprehensive security checklist to help protect their businesses. Attendees will also be eligible for a free PROsecure security protection bundle with an additional £1,000 contribution towards their security solution from the UKFast basefund, which includes DDoSX, CDN & WAF for one Domain (T&Cs apply).

How passwords will work in iOS 12

The next version of Apple’s operating system will allow users to automatically generate strong passwords which are stored in the iCloud Keychain and synced across your devices. This will also work outside its Safari browser.

The new iOS will also warn you about reusing a password across multiple websites and apps and also allow you to share passwords with your nearby Apple devices.

CrowdStrike raises $200 million

Cyber security firm CrowdStrike has raised $200 million in its latest round of funding.

The Silicon Valley-based company has now been valued at more than $3 billion. It said the financing will help accelerate global demand for its Falcon platform, a pioneering cloud-based approach to endpoint security.

“Customers have chosen our technology because it delivers the most value in stopping breaches and flat out works,” said George Kurtz, co-founder and chief executive officer of CrowdStrike.

“We are building the business to support massive sales volume and this round of funding will accelerate the growth of our operations, continued innovation, technology development, and geographic expansion.”

CrowdStrike’s business revenue and headcount has doubled in the last year. The firm now serves more than 16 per cent of Fortune 1000 companies and 20 per cent of Fortune 500 companies.