MasterCard's solution to against cyber hacking of banks and processors

MasterCard unveiled SafetyNet, a global tool designed to reduce the risk of cyber hacking of banks and processors.

SafetyNet is designed to use the power of MasterCard’s global network, to identify potential attacks before they start and in some cases before the bank or processor is even aware. Leveraging a multi-layer defence we are working to ensure our partners stay one step ahead of large scale attacks, which use increasingly sophisticated ways to compromise account data and security defenses.

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Apple said to be investigating celebrity photo theft connection to iCloud

News broke earlier today of stolen private celebrity photos that were hacked from their various personal accounts and then leaked to newsgroups.

According to various reports, private photos including nudes taken from actresses and models were stolen in a massive security breach encompassing various private online accounts. The hackers then placed the photos up on newsgroup 4Chan, possibly to bait buyers to pay for the stolen and potentially scandalous private photos.

It was insinuated that the breach involved various online services including Apple's iCloud, which synchronizes and backup files from user's mobile devices and desktops.  An Apple spokesperson said today that the company is actively investigating if there was indeed a breach to its user's accounts. "We take user privacy very seriously and are actively investigating this report." The FBI is also on the case, tracking how this breach of personal privacy took place and affected dozens of celebrities.

Hacking celebrity accounts, whether on online services or on celfones is nothing new. Various starlets and actors have been victim to getting their personal information and photos stolen. More salacious material such as sexy or nude selfies are often the target of these security breaches. Stay tuned for more developments in this story.

Source: AppleInsider

Modified charger can hack into any iOS device

Give a hacker one of these modified chargers and they can push any software they want into your Apple gadget within a minute of it being plugged in. Georgia Institute of Technology researchers warn that all users are at risk because this device doesn’t need any interaction and can hide the apps it installs from your device’s app list. It isn’t clear yet if it can upload malicious codes since iOS devices, by default, can only run and install properly signed apps.

While it is considered a worrying breakthrough, the charger itself doesn’t look like a regular iPhone or iPad charger. Since it is based on a credit card-sized BeagleBone Linux PC, its circuitry won’t seem to fit into one at the moment. The hack and the charger’s capabilities will be showcased at the Black Hat security conference in July.  

Image source: Adafruit