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Former Yahoo CEO and Equifax CEO’s testify for largest data breaches in history

The former Yahoo CEO and Equifax CEO were grilled over perceived failings surrounding two of the world’s largest data breaches in history.

Hackers easily got through both companies’ security systems and stole personal data belonging to millions of people. For two large organisations like Yahoo and Equifax, you’d think such breaches would never happen at all…

Both former company representatives reportedly started out by saying how they’d “changed” since the breaches, but they apparently also struggled when facing intense questioning.
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Equifax data hack: the damage has only just begun…

“On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of risks to consumers, this is a 10” – says fraud analyst, Avivah Litan on the Equifax data hack.

It has been months since the Equifax hack, but calamity isn’t about to quieten down anytime soon as the hacking exposed confidential information belonging to some 145 million customers, including almost 700,000 in the U.K.

This particular breach is distinct to others because of the wealth of information stolen combined with the company’s somewhat questionable attempts to mitigate the damage…
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All Wi-Fi networks reportedly vulnerable to hacking

Security experts warn that all Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to hacking after a Belgian researcher managed to break through a protective security protocol implemented in most of the world’s routers.

Whilst unsurprising, given all the major hacks that have happened lately (Yahoo, Equifax, HBO), confirming it still makes us all feel a little uneasy.

The researcher, Mathy Vanhoef, was studying the WPA2 security protocol used in wireless networks when he came across the vulnerability, and the result means that all devices that have a Wi-Fi connection could be affected by the weakness.
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Equifax hack compromised 15.2 million U.K. records

The gigantic Equifax data breach that saw 143 million U.S. customers have their sensitive credit information breached also affected 15.2 million U.K. records as well. There are thought to be some 700,000 U.K. victims of the breach who may have had their personal and sensitive information stolen.

Equifax has said they will reach out to victims by post to notify them of the data breach and offer free access to some form of data risk mitigation service.
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‘Reaper’ Botnet the latest threat to internet-connected devices

Warnings over a new hacking botnet called ‘Reaper‘ have been issued. It has been identified as the latest major cybersecurity risk to devices connected to the internet, and first emerged in October 2017.

Cybersecurity company Check Point reports that over a million internet connected devices have already been infected, and it doesn’t look like the botnet will be stopped anytime soon. They warn “our research suggests we are now experiencing the calm before an even more powerful storm. The next cyber hurricane is about to come.”
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Every single Yahoo account has been hacked – that’s three billion accounts!

2016 revealed one of the biggest data hacks in history when a reported one billion Yahoo user accounts were found to have been hacked, with login information stolen.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, it has now been revealed that the epic data breach affected all Yahoo users; tripling the initial number of accounts thought to be affected.

The three billion accounts breached is a number equivalent to almost half of the world’s entire population. Accounts for Yahoo-acquired social media platforms Tumblr, Fantasy and Flickr have also reportedly been compromised in the breach.
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Abbott to recall 465,000 pacemakers to patch up hacking risk

Another cybersecurity risk involving medical devices. These are, of course, very concerning.

Global healthcare and research firm Abbott is reportedly recalling 465,000 of their pacemakers after discovering a security vulnerability that could expose the medical device to malicious hackers. The recalled devices will have software updated to “reduce the risk of patient harm due to potential exploitation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities“, regulators confirm.

According to reports, hackers could “access a patient’s device using commercially available equipment” and “modify programming commands to the implanted pacemaker, which could result in patient harm from rapid battery depletion or administration of inappropriate pacing.”
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Smiths Medical confirms drug pump hacking vulnerability

Manufacturer of Medfusion 4000 drug pumps, Smiths Medical, has confirmed their medical devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks and could be hacked into remotely.

Hackers may be able to take control of the device and stop it from working, therefore preventing lifesaving drugs being administered to patients.

The manufacturer supplies its drug pumps to hospitals across the globe. It is not known how many of these devices are in use here in the U.K.
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HBO to produce multiple endings for Game of Thrones series to throw off leakers

Is this what we have to do nowadays to prevent the problems caused by leaks and hacks? Is this really what we need to stoop to?

It seems so…

The popular HBO network was recently hacked and had an incredible 1.5 terabytes of unreleased footage, scripts and other sensitive documents leaked. In a bid to prevent spoilers from being released, HBO are reportedly creating multiple endings to the popular TV show, Game of Thrones; and who can blame them, I guess?
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Can you stop your Wi-Fi getting hacked?

Experts are suggesting that people should start taking steps to protect their Wi-Fi from being hacked. Because once hackers are in, they’ll have access to any device that’s connected to the Wi-Fi – including your phone, laptop, smart TV, iPad, Tablet, games console… any device at all.

So, what steps should you be taking?

“I” newspaper recently covered this and offered some advice for keeping your Wi-Fi safe from intrusion.
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