Social security numbers exposed in National Public Data breach

Social security numbers exposed in National Public Data breach

National Public Data, a background check service, has fallen victim to hackers. The company's database was sold on the internet, making the crucial data available for anyone.

According to BleepingComputer, the compromised database includes extensive personal data, featuring millions of people's social security numbers, as well as their cell and home phone numbers, among other details.

The company disclosed that the potentially breached information includes names, email...

21 August 2024 | Networks

DDoS attacks surge by 46% in H1 2024

A new report from Gcore reveals a large increase in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks during H1 2024, with the number of incidents rising by 46% compared to the same period last year.

Gcore’s research shows that the number of attacks reached 445,000 in the second quarter of 2024 alone. The surge in attacks represents a 34% increase from the previous six months (Q3-Q4 2023), indicating a worrying trend.

While the volume of attacks has risen dramatically,...

14 August 2024 | Networks

Kursk region hit by cyberattack amid Ukrainian counter-incursion 

The Kursk region of Russia was hit with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Thursday, coinciding with a counter-incursion by Ukrainian forces.

Regional officials confirmed the “massive” cyberattack in a statement, with state media reporting that government and business websites, as well as key infrastructure services, were temporarily disrupted.

Internet monitoring service NetBlocks corroborated the reports, stating that their data showed “sporadic...

9 August 2024 | Networks

NATO funds satellite backup for subsea internet cables

A NATO-backed initiative is looking to bolster the internet's resilience against disruption by quite literally taking things to the next level: space.

The ambitious £2 million project – dubbed HEIST (Hybrid Space/Submarine Architecture Ensuring Infosec of Telecommunications) – received the greenlight on 31 July 2024, with partial funding coming from NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme.

The goal of the project is to create a space-based safety net...

7 August 2024 | Broadband

Ofcom tightens rules to combat foreign scam calls

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has introduced new measures to protect consumers from scam calls originating overseas. The strengthened industry guidance, announced today, requires phone companies to block calls from abroad that falsely display UK landline numbers.

This move aims to tackle a common tactic used by fraudsters who 'spoof' trusted phone numbers to deceive victims. By imitating numbers from reputable organisations or government departments, scammers increase...

30 July 2024 | 5G

France hit by coordinated attacks on telecom infrastructure

France has been targeted by a new wave of sabotage attacks, this time focusing on telecom operators. The incidents occurred on Sunday night and have affected fibre optic networks across six regions of the country.

French authorities have confirmed that installations belonging to major telecom providers SFR and Bouygues Telecom were vandalised. The attacks appear to be well-coordinated, with damage reported in southern France and near the Luxembourg border, as well as in areas...

29 July 2024 | Broadband

Berlin’s 5G shift: Germany to phase out Huawei and ZTE components

In the wake of mounting global concerns over national security, Germany has become the latest nation to join the ranks of countries restricting Chinese technology in critical infrastructure. Following in the footsteps of the US, Britain, Sweden, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, Europe's largest economy has announced plans to bar components from Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE in core parts of its 5G networks.

This decision marks a significant shift for...

19 July 2024 | 5G

AT&T data breach affects 109 million US customers

Data breach at AT&T affects 109 million U.S. customer accounts

AT&T has disclosed a significant cybersecurity incident that has sent ripples through the security and tech communities.

The breach, which occurred in April, resulted in the unauthorised access and download of data from approximately 109 million customer accounts, primarily consisting of call and text records from 2022.

Scope and nature of the breach

According to Reuters, the scale of this breach is particularly alarming, affecting nearly all of AT&T's...

16 July 2024 | AT&T

Apple issues spyware warnings to iPhone users across 98 countries

Apple issues new spyware warnings to iPhone users across 98 countries

So far, Apple has issued a new round of threat notifications to iPhone users in 98 countries, informing them that mercenary Pegasus spyware may be used on their phones.

This is the second such notification campaign from the tech giant this year, following a similar effort in April that reached users in 92 countries.

As per a support document on Apple's website, the company has been regularly issuing these notifications since 2021, and they have resonated with users in...

15 July 2024 | Security

Germany prolongs banning Chinese 5G equipment

Germany has announced plans to ban critical components made by Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks, citing security concerns. The decision – revealed by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Thursday – will be implemented in two phases starting in 2026, with a longer timeline than initially expected.

Under the new agreement, critical components from Huawei and ZTE will be barred from 5G core networks by the end of 2026, a year later than previously envisaged....

11 July 2024 | 5G