Month: October 2013

Originally published in ZDnet. A significant number of Apple users have lost Wi-Fi functions after its glitch-ridden iOS 7 update. Ignored since September, Apple Support Communities members are now watching their solutions be deleted by Apple. And according to Lawrence Lessig, Apple is also preventing its users from posting innocent questions about the deletions. Mr… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. Image: Violet Blue/ZDNet KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Russian security researcher Vladimir Katalov analyzed Apple's secretive iCloud and Find My Phone protocols to discover that neither are protected by two-factor authentication, and iCloud data can be downloaded remotely without a user ever knowing. In "Cracking and Analyzing Apple’s iCloud Protocols," presented to a… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. Image: Violet Blue/ZDNet KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Hackers this week showed security conference attendees findings and demonstrations directly contradicting Apple's public claim that it can't read iMessages. Even though the messages are encrypted end-to-end as Apple claims, according to QuarksLab researchers showed a packed room at Hack In The Box Kuala Lumpur, due to… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. This morning in Malaysia notorious security conference Hack In The Box readies to open its doors and offer a juicy talk schedule to attending hackers, security researchers, corporate spies, law enforcement, and more.  They’re letting a few journalists in, too. ZDNet is here Kuala Lumpur to bring you highlights as they happen.… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. For Yahoo Mail's 16th anniversary, the company surprised its users with a complete inbox and mail redesign implemented on October 8 — and users think it's a disaster. Six days later, thousands upon thousands of furious Mail users are telling Yahoo they are enraged at the removal of key functions, and many… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. Next week in Malaysia security conference Hack in The Box Kuala Lumpur is set to make headlines in its 11th year with talks on hacking airline systems, getting iCloud data access, and the Microsoft bounty winner. Hack in The Box has a reputation for featuring explosive talks from security researchers whose findings… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. In September, Serbia's city of Novi Sad hosted the first-ever official hacker conference in the Balkans, BalCCon: First Congress (First Contact). I attended the conference and quickly learned that to understand Balkan hacker culture is to know Balkan history. Serbia, as it was explained to me one night over beers by… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet.   When online black market Silk Road boss Ross Ulbricht was arrested last week the FBI seized around 26,000 in Bitcoin — now revealed, the FBI's Bitcoin "wallet" address is the target of small bitcoin payments with snarky messages. At the FBI's Silkroad Seized Coins address, an increasing number of payments to… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. One man made an awesome browser plugin called Social Fixer, which allowed users to create exactly the Facebook experience they wanted. Facebook didn't like it so removed his Facebook page under dubious circumstances — and has now menaced him with legal issues unless he guts Social Fixer's functionality. Social Fixer announced yesterday it is giving in… Read more…

Originally published in ZDnet. U.S. Department of Justice Image: Wikimedia Commons This week the US Department of Justice surprised no one when it rejected the formal request of Google, Facebook and other Internet giants to share government user data requests with the public. Featured Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs. Motorola Razr Ultra: Which clamshell… Read more…