Insurance Companies Are Creating an Economy of Extortion

Renee Dudley / ProPublica Aug 29, 2019 Even when public agencies and companies hit by ransomware could recover their files on their own, insurers prefer to pay the ransom. Why? Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )

Chinese Woman Carrying Malware Allegedly Got Into Mar-a-Lago

TERRY SPENCER / The Associated Press Apr 2, 2019 She faces illegal entry charges after allegedly telling agents shifting stories of being a member wanting to swim and an event invitation. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

U.K. and Ecuador Conspire to Deliver Julian Assange to U.S. Authorities

Gareth Porter / Truthdig Nov 26, 2018 What follows is a murky story of a political ploy by the two governments to create a phony rationale for ousting Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

New Cyberattack Wallops Europe; Spreads More Slowly in U.S.

By Raphael Satter and Frank Bajak, Associated Press Jun 28, 2017 Ukraine and Russia appear hardest hit by the ransomware, with Poland, Italy and Germany following in order of countries most affected. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Former NSA Director: Malware Attack ‘Poses a Very Serious Threat to the Future of the Agency’

Staff / Truthdig May 17, 2017 The global cyberattack that hit over 70 countries last week stemmed from National Security Agency software. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

National Security Agency Tools, Built Despite Warnings, Used in Global Cyber Attack

By Nadia Prupis / Common Dreams May 13, 2017 Disruptions have been reported in at least 74 countries, including Russia, Spain, Turkey and Japan, with some reports of U.S. infiltration as well. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

WikiLeaks Publishes Thousands of Documents on Alleged CIA Hacking Techniques

Staff / Truthdig Mar 7, 2017 The whistleblowing organization says that the “Vault 7” leak details how the CIA uses sophisticated technology to hack into smartphones and computers. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

How to Avoid an Unwanted Vacation From the Internet

Tracy Bloom / Truthdig Jul 7, 2012 For perhaps 64,000 computers in the U.S. and 300,000 worldwide, the Internet will go dead starting Monday. The story is rather complicated, but at its bottom is a piece of devilment named the DNS Changer Trojan. Click through below to the jump to find out if your Internet connection is set up for a KO punch and, if so, what you can do to sidestep it. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Malware ‘Worm’ Could Take Down World Internet

Staff / Truthdig Sep 27, 2011 Since sometime in 2008, more than 12 million computers around the world have been infected by a highly encrypted "worm," or self-updating type of malware called Conficker, that allows remote access and control of a network of those computers, essentially creating the most powerful computer in the world. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Die Hard 5: Real Life

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2009 Hollywood has given us many a laptop-wielding hacker who causes explosions, blackouts and mayhem with a few malicious keystrokes, but such scenarios may not be confined to preposterous action flicks anymore. The Wall Street Journal reports that cyberspies from China and Russia have infiltrated the U.S. electrical grid, mapped it and left a little something behind. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

China Denies Connection With Cyber-Spying Network

Staff / Truthdig Mar 31, 2009 The Chinese government has denied having any relationship with "a malware-based cyber espionage network" called GhostNet, an operation revealed Sunday by a Toronto-based research team. GhostNet is suspected of infiltrating a number of military and diplomatic computer systems, including the Dalai Lama's, and is based in China. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )