Security Stop Press : Surge in Phone Thefts Warning
The rising demand for second-hand smartphones has fuelled a 150 per cent spike in phone thefts across the UK, particularly street snatch thefts. Crime Survey for England and Wales figures show that between March 2023 and March 2024, an estimated 78,000 phones or bags were stolen, with many devices quickly sent abroad, some reportedly reaching […]
Security Stop Press : Snapchat Photo Scam Targeting Teen Boys
Police and the US Charity National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have warned of a nude photo Snapchat scam targeting teen boys that could cause emotional trauma. The Snapchat ‘online sextortion’ scam involves scammers befriending teenage boys online by posing as teenage girls, sharing nude photos of a girl with them, and asking for […]
Security-Stop-Press : Snake Keylogger Malware Being Spread In PDF Files
Online security experts are warning people to take extra care when downloading PDF files after PDFs were recently used in campaigns to deliver Snake Keylogger malware. Snake Keylogger, which is eighth place in Check Point’s Global Threat Index, records a user’s keystrokes and transmits the collected data to cybercriminals. The advice is to use a […]
Security Stop-Press : Signed Malicious Windows Drivers Used In Ransomware Attacks
It’s been reported that kernel-mode hardware drivers that have been certified (signed) by Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Developer Program have been used maliciously in post-exploitation cyber attacks, i.e. where the attacker had already gained administrative privileges on compromised systems. The attacks have been linked to known ransomware and SIM swappers. It is understood that Microsoft has […]
Security Stop-Press : SharkBot Infesting Google Play (Again)
It has been reported that the banking trojan malware called ‘SharkBot’ was recently discovered hiding in 6 different fake antivirus apps in the Google Play Store. The malware, which steals credentials and banking information, was previously discovered in apps in the store back in October. Google has confirmed that SharkBot has now been wiped off on […]
Security Stop-Press: Shadow AI Tools Pose Security Risk for UK Businesses
Nearly half of UK workers admit to using non-approved AI tools at work without their employer’s knowledge, according to Owl Labs’ latest State of Hybrid Work report, raising alarm among IT and security leaders. This trend of “shadow AI” or “bring your own AI” (BYO-AI), is particularly prevalent among younger employees, with 63 per cent […]
Security Stop Press : Sextortion Scams Get Even More Personal
Researchers at cybersecurity firm Barracuda have revealed that cybercriminals are now supercharging sextortion scams by using victims’ personal information, such as home addresses and Google Maps images, to make their threats more convincing and increase pressure to pay ransoms. These scams, designed to extort money from victims, account for around 3 per cent of targeted […]
Security Stop Press : Severe Browser Security Flaw Receives Emergency Updates
A severe browser security flaw, tacked as CVE-2023-4863 and then CVE-2023-5129, has led to emergency updates in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla’s Firefox, and Apple’s Safari browsers. The vulnerability, in the libwebp image format, which was made by Google to provide better image compression than e.g., JPEG or PNG, leaves any program using it, such […]
Security-Stop-Press : Securing Staff In Summer Holidays (P1)
In this first instalment of a three-part look at how staff can maintain the right level of security when using their devices in the summer holidays: – Secure Your Devices. Ensure that all your devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) are password-protected and have the latest security updates installed. This includes your operating system, antivirus software, and […]
Security Stop Press : Scammers Exploiting Landline Switchover to Steal Payments
Consumer champion Which? has warned that telephone fraudsters posing as BT are exploiting the UK’s digital landline switchover, tricking consumers into sharing payment details under false threats of disconnection. Which? says the scam callers have been telling victims the switchover requires immediate payments or confirmation of financial details, using the now-defunct January 2025 deadline to […]