Apple's phone scanning discussion escalates, and other security & privacy news
Privacy
The big news last week was the fallout from Apple’s photo scanning announcement. Here’s
Why Apple's child safety updates are so controversial. The discussion kept Apple pretty busy: Apple Will Keep Clarifying This CSAM Mess Until Morale Improves
Apple pushes back against child abuse scanning concerns in new FAQ
Apple to refuse government demands of expanding scanning beyond child abuse
Apple clarifies its sex abuse scans would look for 'images flagged in multiple countries'
Craig Federighi says Apple’s child safety scanning will have ‘multiple levels of auditability’
Apple: Anti-Child Porn System Won't Trigger Until at Least 30 Images Are Detected
Everything clear now? For additional insight, see this article: A 38-year-old charity will be integrated into Apple’s newest operating system
There was quite a bit more news about phone privacy, or the lack thereof.
Google Bans Location Data Firm Funded by Former Saudi Intelligence Head
A 5G Shortcut Leaves Phones Exposed to Stingray Surveillance
United Nations calls for moratorium on sale of surveillance tech like NSO Group's Pegasus
Facebook’s blocking of researchers’ access to their statistics caused Senators to Demand Answers From Zuckerberg Over Suspended Researchers. After suspending Facebook data, Facebook shut down German research on Instagram algorithm, researchers say. Stonewalling all around!
There was news about other privacy invasions as well
Uber asked contractor to allow video surveillance in employee homes, bedrooms
Senators ask Amazon how it will use palm print data from its stores (updated)
Amazon may monitor employee keystrokes to protect customer data, using one kind of privacy invasion in the name of preventing another kind.
Not satisfied with their in-house surveillance, Homeland Security may use companies to find extremism on social media, and NYPD secretly spent $159 million on surveillance tech
With all the discussion swirling around Huawei, Huawei accused of pressuring US firm into installing a data backdoor
Security
The biggest hack announced last week turned out to be a curious story: Poly Network hackers potentially stole $610 million: Is Bitcoin still safe? But then Hacker returns more than $260 million in cryptocurrency after Poly attack
In other hacks
Business email compromise: 23 charged over 'sophisticated' fraud ring
Lockbit ransomware attack didn't affect ops, claims Accenture amid lurid payoff rumours
T-Mobile Reportedly Investigates Data Breach Affecting Up to 100 Million People
As usual, we see escalating vulnerabilities
Microsoft warning: This unusual malware attack has just added some new tricks
Ransomware: Now attackers are exploiting Windows PrintNightmare vulnerabilities
Microsoft Discloses Yet Another Windows Print Spooler Security Flaw
This 'unique' phishing attack uses Morse code to hide its approach
One big ransomware threat just disappeared. Now another one has jumped up to fill the gap
On the business side of the attacks
Hackers netting average of nearly $10,000 for stolen network access
Coalition: Average ransom demand increased nearly 170% in the first half of 2021
Intrusion: 52% of IT decision-makers report experiencing a data breach in the past
SynAck ransomware group releases decryption keys as they rebrand to El_Cometa
After initially threatening the digital side of businesses, the attacks are starting to go after the industrial and physical side as well
Attacks against industrial networks will become a bigger problem. We need to fix security now
Hacker Says He Found a ‘Tractorload of Vulnerabilities’ at John Deere
Being a major target, Microsoft announces new ransomware detection features for Azure
Regulation
In regulation, the big news was that Senate bill would stop Apple and Google’s complete control over in-app payments leading even to some hyperbole: A new Senate bill would totally upend Apple and Google’s app store dominance. Really?
In other news