FCC moves to strengthen internet routing security

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled a proposal aimed at bolstering the security of America's networks against cyberattacks by improving internet routing security.

The new initiative mandates that ISPs produce confidential reports detailing their efforts and plans to address vulnerabilities in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), a fundamental technical protocol used for routing information across the internet.

Under the proposal, the largest broadband...

7 June 2024 | Broadband

Researchers uncover attack to ‘decloak’ VPN traffic

A novel network technique that bypasses VPN encryption has been revealed by security researchers at Leviathan Security. Dubbed "decloaking," the technique allows an attacker to force a target's traffic off their VPN tunnel by exploiting DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) functionality built into operating systems.  

The result is that the user's traffic is transmitted unencrypted, enabling an attacker on the same network to snoop on their activity—despite their...

7 May 2024 | Networks

T-Mobile staff receiving cash offers to help with SIM swap attacks

T-Mobile employees are being propositioned via text messages to partake in illegal SIM swapping activities, with a financial incentive of $300 per swap.

SIM swap attacks take advantage of consumers using SMS as their two-factor authentication (2FA) method. By transferring a number via a SIM swap, an attacker can gain unauthorised access to victims' accounts.

This phenomenon of SIM swapping is a severe concern since it compromises the integrity of what is otherwise a...

16 April 2024 | Security

Chinese telcos given 2027 deadline to ditch foreign chips

To reduce dependence on foreign technologies, Chinese officials have reportedly mandated the country's leading telecom operators – including China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom – to eliminate foreign semiconductors from their networks by 2027.

Beijing’s directive particularly targets chips made by American giants Intel and AMD, which have been a staple in Chinese telecom infrastructure.

Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the...

15 April 2024 | 5G

French municipal services disrupted by cyberattack

Multiple French municipalities have experienced significant disruptions to public services following a "large-scale cyber attack" on shared servers. The ongoing cyber assault has compromised the operational capacity of crucial local government functions, illustrating the growing threat of digital attacks against public infrastructure.

The affected areas – including Saint-Nazaire, Montoir-de-Bretagne, Donges, La Chapelle-des-marais, and Porniche – reported extensive service...

12 April 2024 | Networks

AT&T probes data breach affecting millions of customers

AT&T announced on Saturday that it is investigating a major data breach involving the personal information of over 73 million current and former customer accounts.

The company said a data set containing records on approximately 7.6 million existing AT&T accounts and 65.4 million former accounts was released on the dark web.

According to AT&T's preliminary analysis, the compromised data appears to date back to 2019 or earlier. However, the company stated it...

2 April 2024 | AT&T

Cybersecurity agencies issue warning over Chinese hacking group

Government cybersecurity authorities in the US and allied nations are sounding the alarm bell again over the Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon.

In a joint advisory issued on Tuesday, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), FBI, and eight international partners warned that the Beijing-backed Volt Typhoon gang may be gearing up for disruptive or destructive cyber strikes targeting critical infrastructure...

20 March 2024 | Legislation & Government

French government cyber crisis teams ‘useless’ against DDoS

Several French government websites and networks have been crippled by an intense and ongoing series of cyberattacks over the past day, with pro-Russian hacker group Anonymous Sudan mocking the government's cyber defense capabilities as "useless" against the onslaught.

The French prime minister's office confirmed the disruptive attacks on Monday, stating that "since [Sunday], several government departments have been the subject of cyberattacks whose technical methods are...

12 March 2024 | Security

Viavi to acquire Spirent in $1.2B deal

Viavi Solutions has agreed to acquire Spirent Communications in an all-cash deal valuing Spirent at around $1.2 billion.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Spirent shareholders will receive 175 pence per share—comprising 172.5 pence in cash and a 2.5 pence special dividend. This represents a premium of 61.4 percent over Spirent's closing share price of 108.4 pence on March 4th.

The acquisition will create a combined company that aims to be a global leader in test,...

5 March 2024 | Networks

ASIO chief warns of critical infrastructure sabotage threat

Mike Burgess, Director General of Security at Australia's Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), has raised concerns over the potential for sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.

Speaking at ASIO's annual threat assessment, Burgess emphasised the persistent efforts of adversaries to exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure—with a specific focus on disrupting essential services during critical moments.

"The sabotage threat has receded in recent...

29 February 2024 | Networks