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Equifax hack compromised 15.2 million U.K. records

The gigantic Equifax data breach that saw 143 million U.S. customers have their sensitive credit information breached also affected 15.2 million U.K. records as well. There are thought to be some 700,000 U.K. victims of the breach who may have had their personal and sensitive information stolen.

Equifax has said they will reach out to victims by post to notify them of the data breach and offer free access to some form of data risk mitigation service.
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‘Reaper’ Botnet the latest threat to internet-connected devices

Warnings over a new hacking botnet called ‘Reaper‘ have been issued. It has been identified as the latest major cybersecurity risk to devices connected to the internet, and first emerged in October 2017.

Cybersecurity company Check Point reports that over a million internet connected devices have already been infected, and it doesn’t look like the botnet will be stopped anytime soon. They warn “our research suggests we are now experiencing the calm before an even more powerful storm. The next cyber hurricane is about to come.”
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Every single Yahoo account has been hacked – that’s three billion accounts!

2016 revealed one of the biggest data hacks in history when a reported one billion Yahoo user accounts were found to have been hacked, with login information stolen.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, it has now been revealed that the epic data breach affected all Yahoo users; tripling the initial number of accounts thought to be affected.

The three billion accounts breached is a number equivalent to almost half of the world’s entire population. Accounts for Yahoo-acquired social media platforms Tumblr, Fantasy and Flickr have also reportedly been compromised in the breach.
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Abbott to recall 465,000 pacemakers to patch up hacking risk

Another cybersecurity risk involving medical devices. These are, of course, very concerning.

Global healthcare and research firm Abbott is reportedly recalling 465,000 of their pacemakers after discovering a security vulnerability that could expose the medical device to malicious hackers. The recalled devices will have software updated to “reduce the risk of patient harm due to potential exploitation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities“, regulators confirm.

According to reports, hackers could “access a patient’s device using commercially available equipment” and “modify programming commands to the implanted pacemaker, which could result in patient harm from rapid battery depletion or administration of inappropriate pacing.”
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Smiths Medical confirms drug pump hacking vulnerability

Manufacturer of Medfusion 4000 drug pumps, Smiths Medical, has confirmed their medical devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks and could be hacked into remotely.

Hackers may be able to take control of the device and stop it from working, therefore preventing lifesaving drugs being administered to patients.

The manufacturer supplies its drug pumps to hospitals across the globe. It is not known how many of these devices are in use here in the U.K.
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HBO to produce multiple endings for Game of Thrones series to throw off leakers

Is this what we have to do nowadays to prevent the problems caused by leaks and hacks? Is this really what we need to stoop to?

It seems so…

The popular HBO network was recently hacked and had an incredible 1.5 terabytes of unreleased footage, scripts and other sensitive documents leaked. In a bid to prevent spoilers from being released, HBO are reportedly creating multiple endings to the popular TV show, Game of Thrones; and who can blame them, I guess?
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Can you stop your Wi-Fi getting hacked?

Experts are suggesting that people should start taking steps to protect their Wi-Fi from being hacked. Because once hackers are in, they’ll have access to any device that’s connected to the Wi-Fi – including your phone, laptop, smart TV, iPad, Tablet, games console… any device at all.

So, what steps should you be taking?

“I” newspaper recently covered this and offered some advice for keeping your Wi-Fi safe from intrusion.
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Security flaw leaves cars vulnerable to being hacked

Researchers say they’ve discovered a security flaw that can affect any vehicle featuring “controller area network” systems – AKA a “CAN bus” – which is basically the network that interconnects components in a car. The “CAN bus” interconnects things like parking assist features, electric windows, and engine control units.

Researchers say hackers can access the connection and bombard it with error messages until the system shuts down to protect its other components. An attacker can therefore theoretically switch off safety features like airbags, ABS brakes, power steering or perhaps even lock someone out of their car.
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Hackers release names of professional footballers who allegedly failed drug tests

Hackers have reportedly released information on professional footballers who have allegedly failed drug tests registered by UK Anti-Doping (UKad) agency, as well as information about which footballers have been given Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for otherwise banned medications during the 2010 World Cup.

Famous names include ex-Premier League players Carlos Tevez, Dirk Kuyt and Gabriel Heinze.

Another 21 professional footballers were named as having TUEs.
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Equifax admits hacking may have exposed 145 million customers’ personal information

Consumer credit reporting agency, Equifax, has been subject to a hacking that may have led to vital information being stolen, including the following: Full names; Birth dates; Postal addresses; Social Security details; Driver’s Licence numbers.

Reuters reports that some 209,000 consumers’ credit card information may have been accessed.

This is a breach on a monumental scale, and legal action will no doubt follow the incident. This breach is all over the news, and has been deemed as “one of the largest data breaches” to have occurred.
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