National Cyber Security By Gregory Evans

A SWEDISH company has created eye-control computer technology that could spell the end of the traditional mouse. The Tobii Gaze enables users to operate Windows 8 by looking where they want to click. Yesterday in federal court, a 49-year-old Carver man pleaded guilty to producing inapropriate images of a child.  Randy Davies Anderson specifically pleaded guilty to one count of production of those images by using his computer. Also check out the job of the day.

Voters in many states will have an easier time casting their ballots in 2012, as elections officials are now allowing some people vote via email or iPad devices. They're also using technology to help count ballots faster and keep track of ballot boxes. Passwords could become a thing of the past for Apple iPhone and iPad users; the tech company recently revealed a patent application for what it is calling “Low Threshold Face Recognition,” a tool that would allow users to unlock their phones by simply picking up the device and pointing it at their face. Also check out the job of the day!!

Evidence collected by computer forensics teams has recently become admissible in US and Canada court systems. U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Eugene DeBerger, 59, of Rochester, N.Y., was charged by criminal complaint with knowing infringement of copyright for purposes of private financial gain. Also check out the job of the day!!

Cyber bugs are big trouble for many websites, mostly those sites frequently accessed by users. Most companies have their own ways to tackle bugs and pay a good amount of money to bug hunters. Facebook, however, has found a unique way to reward its bug hunters. Also check out the job of the day!

It follows a hack attack which led to the theft of personal details of 45m Chinese customers of various banks. The Chinese government is taking steps to crack down on domestic cyber criminals who steal online banking details. An official of Iran’s Judiciary announced new limitations on using cyber space and content publishing on the Internet ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, said young people’s reading and conversational skills were being put at risk by overexposure to modern technology. Also check out the job of the day!!

Computer hackers plan to take the Internet beyond the reach of censors by putting their own communication satellites into orbit. A federal grand jury has indicted six foreign nationals on charges related to an Internet sales scheme that allegedly defrauded Americans who attempted to purchase automobiles and other vehicles on the Internet through websites that included eBay Motors, Auto Trader, Yahoo Auto, Edmunds.com and Craigslist.   Mobile device users continue to be lax about installing security software or using strong pass codes to protect data saved on their mobile devices, behavior that can have an impact on enterprises. Also check out the job of the day!!

A report from bug identification specialist TippingPoint indicates that Microsoft remains a leader in an unwelcome category: The software giant is one of the most sluggish responders when it comes to patching bugs in its programs. New York Assemblywoman Jane Corwin announced Tuesday she has authored and introduced landmark legislation to create the crime of cyber-bullying in New York state. With the “License” app for Apple iPhones and iPads, making a realistic fake ID has never been easier; to prevent this app from falling into the wrong hands that would use it for nefarious purposes, Senator Bob Casey (D -- Pennsylvania) recently requested that Apple remove the app from its online store. Also listen for the job of the day.

The Controls Systems Security Program (CSSP) at DHS and Idaho National Laboratory have created a series of training programs for managerial and technical people in the critical infrastructure sector that are packed with up-to-date information on cyber threats and mitigations for vulnerabilities Detectives from UK’s top cyber crime unit have spotted out various websites, which are targeting Olympic visitors by using Olympic images. SEN. Edgardo Angara is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 2796, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act, to bolster the capacity of the country’s two main law-enforcement agencies, the National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Also check out the job of the day!

A Law Firm is branching out into a digital forensic lab, a move to capitalize on the computer crime phenomenon and offer integrated legal and technical consulting services. An Indian man is in hot water for allegedly changing someone's email information to steal money and deposit that cash into his account. Also check out the job of the day!

The loosely-associated band of hackers known as Anonymous claims to have targeted the global intelligence think tank Strategic Forecasting. As we approach 2012, we’ve seen plenty of predictions on what types of security threats to expect in the coming months. If the predictions are correct, expect your mobile device to be under attack, no matter which OS you use. Also check out the job of the day.

People in poorer countries send text messages more often than those in wealthier countries. Men in Spain and Germany access the Internet on their phones twice as much as women do.   Italy's Finmeccanica and U.S. company Northrop Grumman have joined to help NATO boost its ability to quickly detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.   Bloomington police’s cybercrime unit is getting some high praise from federal prosecutors.   Also check out the job of the day!!

Identity theft can be easy for thieves preying on holiday travelers, whether through low-tech tactics like snooping or as a result of stolen or left-behind electronics. Malware has become very sophisticated in its entry, infection and damage mechanisms – and 2011 saw a dramatic increase in attacks. In the UK, the information commissioner reported that data security breaches were up 58% in 2011/12 so far. Also check out the job of the day!!

Lawyers for the Army intelligence analyst blamed for the biggest national security leak in American history rested their case today, with closing arguments ahead before Pfc. Bradley Manning learns whether he will face a court-martial. A group of hackers in China breached the computer defenses of America's top business-lobbying group and gained access to everything stored on its systems, including information about its three million members, according to several people familiar with the matter. Malware targeting devices cell phone devices jumped 37 per cent since last quarter.  Mobile security threats have become a reality. Malware growth for 2011 is set to exceed last year's, with the Android operating system emerging as the main target. Also check out the job of the day!!

Phishers, credit-card cloners and identity thieves will be busy today, searching for ways to take advantage of interest in the life and sudden death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. Adobe has warned users of a critical vulnerability in its Flash Player that could potentially allow an attacker to take remote control of the compromised system. The biggest draw in television is entering the cyber world.  The Super Bowl will be streamed online and to phones for the first time, the NFL announced today. Also check out the job of the day!!

You’ve probably heard that saying before, what goes around comes around.  Well, it seems that’s exactly what’s happening to Attrition.org founder Brian Martin also known as Jericho.  For years now, Brian Martin has used his site to target cyber security experts he deemed unworthy to join the field.  He typically went after them claiming plagiarism, fake credentials, among other things. Cybercrime is a huge cost for the Indian population. The country loses billions of dollars to Internet fraud every year.  Even worse, very few victims come forward according to government officials. While you are doing your holiday budget, you might want to account for the cyber criminal waiting to take advantage of you.  Those crooks lurking online are expected to steal over $10 million this holiday season. Also check out the job of the day!

Cyber crooks will target small businesses, social media attacks will be more common, and mobile security threats will reach an all-time high in 2012. The Manhattan district attorney’s office plans on Friday to announce the indictment of 55 people who it said stole over $2 million as part of a cybercrime ring. Maria José Morgado, director of Portugal’s criminal investigation department, has this week called for greater political priority to be attributed to tackling cybercrime. Also check out the job of the day!

There’s been an email circling the Internet.  It’s about the creator of attrition.org, Brian Martin.  The email claims to expose him as a fraud, even though that’s what Martin claims to do of others in the cyber security industry. In 2011 Hi-Tech Crime Solutions gained over 100,000 new customers between it’s products such as SPOOFEM.COM, LocatePC and AmIHackerProof.com; its books like How To Become The Worlds No. 1 Hacker; and websites and services like NationalCyberSecurity.com, National Cyber Security Radio, Nerds N Style, Stolen Computer Alert and iSpy uSpy. It seems that Latin American gangs are turning to the web to continue their crime sprees.  That surge has analysts warning that organized crime in the region is developing an increasingly sophisticated understanding of information technology, and the ways to make money from it. Also check out the job of the day!

The number of Anonymous members could be shrinking.  Tuesday the FBI announced the arrest of a Connecticut man with ties to the Internet hacking group. California Attorney General Kamala Harris unveiled a new statewide cybercrime unit in Silicon Valley on Tuesday aimed at investigating and prosecuting such misdeeds as the ATM-skimming scheme that recently fleeced more than 500 Lucky supermarket customers.  On Tuesday, San Francisco prosecutors got a badly needed boost to their ability to investigate high-tech crimes.  The Board of Supervisors approved a $200,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant for the District Attorney’s Office to pay for a senior investigator, forensic equipment and training for the office’s high-tech crimes unit. Also check out the job of the day!

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found there are some serious problems for government agencies.  After an audit, the GAO discovered that there’s a problem in effectively developing or implementing a cyber security workforce planning strategy.  There have also been issues in filling cyber security positions, especially those requiring specialized skills. Sen. Edgardo Angara renewed his call for the establishment of a legal framework for investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting cybercriminals, as he defended on Tuesday the Cybercrime Prevention Act also known as Senate Bill 2976. California is cracking down on cyber security.  California Attorney General Kamala Harris is set to announce the creation of a new criminal unit to investigate and prosecute identity theft, cybercrimes and other criminal activity involving technology. Also check out the job of the day!!!

Scammers have a new target and they are hoping to cash in big if you fall for their trap.  They latest scam involves the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC). That organization is warning banks of another strand of phishing attacks claiming to come from the FDIC. Cyber Crime or E-crime is on the rise among middle-aged people, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Bulgarian authorities have a big arrest under their belts.  Law officers there arrested three men on charges of being part of an international cybercriminal gang that targeted U.S. bank customers. Also check out the job of the day!!