National Cyber Security By Gregory Evans

As a part of its ongoing AntiSec campaign Anonymous hackers have reportedly breached NATO's cyber security making-off with one gigabyte of stolen data.  Like its previous attacks, the hack was reported on the group's Twitter page. Anonymous has since released two PDFs containing a portion of the data stolen, linking to them via two tweets. The US and India have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on cyber security.  The MOU was signed in New Delhi by Jane Lute, deputy secretary for the US Department of Homeland Security, and the secretary of India's Department of Information Technology, according to U.S. reports. The Arlington-based Air Force Association is continuing its effort to educate young people on the importance of cyber security by meeting students where they are: on Facebook.  On Friday, the nonprofit association's Cyber Patriot office launched a social media game called CyberVille, in which players defend their virtual town from attacks against that town's wired infrastructure, including banks, restaurants, and police and fire departments.

Apple released the latest version of its computer operating system named Lion.  So far, the response has been positive.  Many are saying it is a great leap forward in usability and security.   Apple has changed the computer world in the last few years with their mobile operating systems and Lion represents the beginnings of the merger of touch-based mobile OS and their desktop OS. Google has identified traffic patterns consistent with infection, and it’s letting users know that they need to take action.  The malware in question routes Google traffic through a small number of proxies, according to the official blog entry.  If Google’s search engine detects that you’re coming to them through these intermediaries, it’ll display a banner notification in hopes that you’ll fix the problem. The federal government plans to shut 40 percent of its computer centers over the next four years to reduce its hefty technology budget and modernize the way it uses computers to manage data and provide services to citizens.   The chief information officer for the government, said cloud computing could save the country billions of dollars. We will also have the job of the day.  Make sure you check it out!

The recent rash of hackings may start to slow down soon as law officers continued to crack down on those they believe are responsible.  Sixteen suspected members of "Anonymous" were arrested this morning in states including Florida, New Jersey and California, in what appears to be a nationwide takedown of the notorious hacking group according to reports. Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group told staff to change their passwords and tighten security, sources said on Tuesday, after hackers attacked the website of his tabloid The Sun.  Hackers on Monday redirected The Sun's online readers to a fake page that reported Murdoch had been found dead in his garden. Members of the hacking group LulzSec, who recently announced they had disbanded, took responsibility for the attack in messages posted via the social networking site Twitter and said they were preparing more online assaults. If you’ve seen the movie Minority Report, you might be able to relate to this story The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation have been utilizing advanced computer technology/programs called predictive analysis and geographic profiler to help solve crimes.  Predictive analysis provides law enforcement officials with a time and location regarding the next crime in a probable sequence. Also make sure you tune in for the job of the day.

Superstar Lady Gaga might be singing the blues after her website was hacked.  The group SwagSec allegedly broke into the singer’s website late last month and stole thousands of personal details including e-mail addresses.  Financial details were not stolen according to Universal Music.  Toshiba announced that it was one of the latest victims of hackers also.  The company says a server belonging to its U.S. unit was a target, with hackers getting the information of more than 75 hundred customers.  The stolen information was comprised of a small number of email addresses and other data but information like credit card and social security numbers was not stolen.  The hacking group Anonymous says it doesn’t need Google+ and has decided to start its own social networking site.  Google+ dumped the group from its site for violating its community standards.  Anonymous’ site is under construction now.  So far, it consists of an explanation of how it came to be and a promise to be up and running soon.  We will also have the job of the day.  Make sure you check it out.

Russia and the U.S. are working to reduce chances for a cyber security incident that could damage the countries' relationship, according to the top cyber security adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama.  Howard Schmidt, the White House cyber security adviser, wrote about a recent meeting with Russian officials where the two countries agreed to exchange technical information on problems such as botnets and have "crisis prevention" communications links by the end of the year. Thousands of Sydney, Australia households are placing their personal information at risk and inadvertently protecting fraudsters by not securing their home Wi-Fi networks, a newspaper investigation has shown.  NSW Police have prosecuted individuals for crimes involving fraud and child exploitation material who were using unsecured wireless internet networks to commit offences, said Bruce Van Der Graaf from the NSW Police fraud squad. When being questioned by officers Wednesday, a Lousiana  man told investigators from the Lafayette Police Department that he downloaded more than 100 videos containing inappropriate pictures with a child in the last year.  According to a Affidavit for Warrant of Arrest signed by the LPD, 26 year-old William Patrick D’Arcy confessed to downloading the videos using the search term "13 year old" to find the explicit material. Also, we will have the job of the day.  Make sure you tune in.

The Pentagon said today that a foreign government was behind a cyber attack that led to 24,000 files being stolen from military computers. William Lynn, the deputy secretary of defense, disclosed that attack during a speech outlining the Defense Department's cyber security strategy. Googlelaunched an entirely new user interface for its mobile platform Tuesday, completely changing the layout of the application portal.  The new Market client is designed to better showcase top apps and games, engage users with an improved UI, and provide a quicker path to downloading or purchasing your products. Sprint Nextel will confirm its network-sharing agreement with LightSquared in conjunction with its earnings announcement on July 28, according to people familiar with the situation.  The agreement, in which Sprint's network will be used as the infrastructure backbone to LightSquared's upcoming 4G Long-Term Evolution network, will shed some light on where Sprint wants to head with its own 4G ambitions.

A U.S. man who hacked into his neighbors' Wi-Fi network and tried to frame them with threatening emails to the U.S. vice president has been sentenced to 18 years in jail.  U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank sentenced Barry Ardolf, 46, on Tuesday after listening to the tearful testimony of the victim. Hacker group Anonymous on July 11 released a trove of military email addresses and passwords it claimed to have plundered from the network of U.S. defense consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.  Anonymous made available a file containing more than 90,000 email addresses and other information it said in online messages that it stole from an unprotected server at Booz Allen. Verizon Wireless will hit the century mark with its 4G LTE next week, covering 100 markets with its speedy next-generation network.   Tulsa, Okla., will be the 100th market covered by Verizon's new network, which will officially be announced on July 21.

The U.S. is taking a much harder look at cyber warfare and how it can affect the U.S. and how such attacks can be stopped. The Department of Defense is set to release the unclassified version of its cyber war-fighting strategy this week. The strategy was finalized months ago and has multiple goals to thwart attacks. The plan calls for the treatment of cyberspace as a domain which the military needs to protect and defend U.S. interests inside. For U.S. Army troops, smart phones could become requisite field gear, along with boots, guns and ammunition.  The Army is wrapping up a six-week program to test the viability of using touch screen phones and tablets in combat. The pilot program began on June 6 within the White Sands and Fort Bliss training areas in New Mexico and Texas.  This dry run has proved so encouraging that Army officials say they expect the first wave of smart phone-equipped soldiers could be shipped overseas later this year. Rhode Island officials on Monday unveiled a new team of law enforcement, emergency planners, academics and private businesses aimed at taking down threats to cyber security and tackling cyber attacks when they happen.  Members of the new Rhode Island Cyber Disruption Team said the partnership is a model for other states trying to pool resources from inside and outside of government to address cyber-security problems.   Make sure you listen in.  We will also have the job of the day.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown believes journalists from The Sunday Times and The Sun newspapers tried to obtain private information from his financial records and telephone voice messages, a source close to Brown told reporters.  The efforts date back 10 years, and include periods when Brown was prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer, the source confirmed. A Department of Homeland Security official worries that components used in computing devices could be infected with spy components from foreign manufacturers. Many of the chips that make e-devices work come from overseas manufacturers. Here's the latest Apple rumor: The company reportedly is working on a new iPad, due out later this year, that will have a higher-resolution screen.   The new iPad is said to be a “pro” that could be used for high-end video editing and photography.  And as always, we will have the job of the day.  Make sure you listen.

Hackers have apparently been at it again.  This time they targeted the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory which is a U.S. energy laboratory.  It’s another, attack on governmental targets, while authorities struggle to crack down on cyber-crimes and prevent further damage.  The Washington Post also felt the wrath of hackers.  Thursday the Washington Post said the database of its jobs site had been breached by hackers who stole about 1.27 million users' ids and email addresses.  The company said on its website that the Washington Post company’s jobs website was breached twice last month. Top U.S. officials are looking into the government having its own internet in an effort to protect it from cyber attacks.  Former CIA Director Michael Hayden, along with several lawmakers are considering the idea of creating a secure domain where fourth amendment rights to privacy are voluntarily foregone in order to keep that portion of the internet free of cyber criminals. 

Tabloid News of the World in Britain will shut down after Sunday's issue.  The announcement follows accusations that the paper illegally eavesdropped on the phone messages of murder and terror victims, politicians and celebrities.  News International chairman James Murdoch said the scandal "sullied" the newspaper and "has no place in our company". Lawmakers in Virginia are cracking down on cyber criminals.  Starting this month, the state enacted what some are calling the nation’s first law that criminalizes phishing schemes.  Phishing occurs when someone sends out bulk e-mail messages designed to trick consumers into revealing bank account passwords, social security numbers and other personal information.  Facebook is getting into face to face interaction. The social networking giant introduced a video-calling feature on Wednesday in partnership with Skype, the popular internet video-chat provider. 

Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. have been slammed with a lawsuit accusing them of violating a Louisiana company's patent covering mapping technology that helps computer users see locations in three dimensions, according to reports. Russia and the United States are co-sponsoring a resolution to pre-empt cyber attacks that an influential international body is expected to adopt this week. The proposal calls for member nations to exchange information about the way they intend to deploy cyber technology during military conflicts.  A new study finds that kids can predict the future of technology. Researchers asked kids across the world to draw what they would like their computers or the internet to do that it can't do right now.   The goal of the study was to catch a glimpse into possible futures for technology as seen by people who have always used some form of technology. As always we will have our job of the day.  So, make sure you tune in.  

The Fox News Politics’ twitter account has been hijacked and used to post fake reports about President Obama being assassinated.  The attack began with a message from the hacker that said: “Just regained full access to our twitter and email. Happy 4th.” Soon afterwards, the first Obama announcement was posted claiming that @barackobama has just passed. Hackers have not been slowing down at all.  This latest attack targeted Apple.   According to reports… the group, Antisec, posted a message to twitter on Sunday claiming to have gained access to private data from an Apple Inc. server. The fight against cyber crime needs to be stronger  and have international legal framework according to one British official.  The Minister for Crime and Security, James Brokenshire, says having that framework will enable perpetrators outside of the country of their victims to be tracked down and punished.     Also, make sure you listen to hear the job of the day.

It seems that no place is safe when it comes to hackers,  not even the church.  St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa says that hackers swiped $680 thousand from them.  They planned to use the money to help the homeless and abused women.  German federal police say the country saw a nearly 20 percent rise in cyber crime last year, causing $89 million in damage.  Federal criminal police officers say that the number of cyber crime incidents rose to 59,839 in 2010 from 50,254 in 2009.  The increase is linked to greater consumer use of the internet for banking and purchases.  Lockheed Martin is selling its military and intelligence expertise to electric utilities as the world’s largest defense contractor tries to exploit a U.S. push to guard power grids from terrorists and hackers. Lockheed plans to enter the projected $1.3 billion market for utility cyber security next month with Palisade, a software program developed in partnership with American electric power Co. Of Columbus, OHIO. And as always we will have the job of the day so make sure you tune in.  

There’s plenty happening in the cyber world today.  Twice in as many weeks the Arizona State Police were the target of hackers. Officials are reviewing the information released by a group called AntiSec.  The hackings just seem to keep coming, this time allegedly from Turkish hackers.  The latest attack targeted the Plain Township website along with others around the world.   Those who visited the website this morning saw a white screen with the word "hacked". And it was a game to one hacker but police were not laughing after invading a Florida home.  Apparently, a Canadian hacker got access to the X-Box in the home and used a handicapped line claiming someone had been stabbed and the parents and other people in the home were being held hostage at the house.   However… it was a hoax. Also, we will have the job of the day.  Make sure you tune in.