Activists want to fight sex trafficking by changing a key Internet law
Submitted by l33tdawg on Wed, 2017-09-06 12:47
Many technology companies consider Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to be a foundation of the Internet economy. The 1996 law gives website owners broad immunity for content submitted by users. Advocates say that allows websites to host a wide variety of user-generated content without worrying about getting sued.
Android 8.0 Oreo, thoroughly reviewed
Submitted by l33tdawg on Wed, 2017-09-06 12:47
Android 8.0 Oreo is the 26th version of the world's most popular operating system. This year, Google's mobile-and-everything-else OS hit two billion monthly active users—and that's just counting phones and tablets. What can all those users expect from the new version? In an interview with Ars earlier this year, Android's VP of engineering Dave Burke said that the 8.0 release would be about "foundation and fundamentals." His team was guided by a single question: "What are we doing to Android to make sure Android is in a great place in the next 5 to 10 years?"
Hackers Gain ‘Switch-Flipping’ Access to US Power Grid Control Systems
Submitted by l33tdawg on Wed, 2017-09-06 12:45
In an era of hacker attacks on critical infrastructure, even a run-of-the-mill malware infection on an electric utility’s network is enough to raise alarm bells. But the latest collection of power grid penetrations went far deeper: Security firm Symantec is warning that a series of recent hacker attacks not only compromised energy companies in the US and Europe but also resulted in the intruders gaining hands-on access to power grid operations—enough control that they could have induced blackouts on American soil at will.
An Instagram Bug Let Celebrity Private Info Slip
Submitted by l33tdawg on Mon, 2017-09-04 00:33
This week in security, we took a long look at a long-running scam: A man who hacked his way into at least 78 hotel rooms over the course of several years, thanks to a known bug that let him slip in and out like a ghost. Or if you're into something a little more whimsical, we found what very much appear to be the Amazon Wish Lists of several of Donald Trump's inner circle. Something for everyone! And there's so much more.
Taking Stock of Trump's Cybersecurity Executive Order So Far
Submitted by l33tdawg on Mon, 2017-09-04 00:33
By the time President Trump signed his Cybersecurity Executive Order on May 11, it had taken on a mythic air. The administration had produced a series of drafts soon after the inauguration that leaked, circulated, provoked criticism, and motivated refinements. While the months-long wait for the final product felt Godot-like, it ultimately received bipartisan praise for its thoughtfulness. But now, more than 110 days since the clock started, eight deadlines have passed, with eight more quickly approaching.
