Hacking Contest Offers $100,000 for Smartphone Hacks

An annual hacking contest that has broken security on both pcs and macs is now offering a $100,000 prize for smartphone and browser hacks. The Pwn2Own competition will offer various cash prizes for carrying out various exploits on different mobile phone systems including the iPhone, Blackberry and Android.

In an announcement of the rules this year, ZDI’s Aaron Portnoy wrote “The increased presence and capabilities of smart phones…

Russians Arrest Hacker for Transmitting Porn

Russian authorities have arrested a 40-year-old unemployed hacker in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk who broadcast pornography over a large television screen outside in Moscow, according to an article on TheRegister.co.uk. Individuals walking or driving in the area were ‘treated’ to two minutes of pornographic material featuring “a white male and a black female having sex”.

At 11 pm on January 14, a large video screen display in…

Former DHS Cyber Official Joins Information Security Forum

The Information Security Forum, a leading authority on information security, has announced that Greg Garcia has joined ISF as Strategic Advisor for North America. Garcia is the former DHS Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications, serving from 2006-2008.

In his new role, Garcia will help to support the effort to bring more companies…

World Leaders Meet to Develop Cybersecurity Plan

Yesterday, the Bipartisan Policy Center hosted a cybersecurity war game, called Cyber ShockWave, which showcased some of the challenges that policy makers would face in the event of a cyber attack. The event highlighted the need for greater international cooperation and understanding in the cyber realm.

Today in Brussels, 500 delegates from 25 countries are meeting at a conference…

Featured Job- Cyber Capture Director with CSC

Do you have strong capture planning and coordination abilities? Do you have a proven track record of developing and assessing alternative markets and business models within the Commercial and Federal Government information technology services sectors? If so, you might be the person we are looking for!

CSC’s North American Public Sector (NPS) has a need for a Cyber Capture Director to join the team of our newly created new…

More Must Be Done to Prepare US for Cyber Attack

The United States has experienced a widespread cyber attack, infecting telecommunications and other IT structures throughout the U.S. infrastructure. The attacks have left the U.S. telecom and IT infrastructure virtually disabled throughout the country.

While this is fortunately just a war game, the results are equally scary. Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center hosted a mock cyber attack called Cyber…

French Accuse Cyclist of Hacking Anti-Doping Lab

Authorities in France have issued an arrest warrant for cyclist Floyd Landis amid accusations that he hacked into the computer networks of the anti-doping lab.He is accused of hacking into the Chatenay-Malabry laboratory computer systems in an effort to discredit them.

In 2006, Landis was stripped of the Tour de France title after he tested positive for high levels of testosterone, strongly suggesting the use of performance enhancing drugs. Landis…

Iceman Sent to the Cooler

Former security researcher-turned-hacker was sentenced to 13 years in prison for hacking financial institutions and stealing credit-card information.

Max Ray Butler, aka Iceman, was sentenced late last week to charges of identity theft and wire fraud.

In addition to the 13 years in prison, he will also face a five-year period of supervised release and face a fine of $27.5 million, which will be paid to his victims as restitution. This…

DoD Looks to Set New Rules for Information Sharing with Contractors

The Department of Defense has issued new policy changes to ensure cyber security when working with companies in the defense industrial base (ie government contractors). The policy does three things:

1) Increases situational awareness among DoD and government contractors to the present nature of the threats

2) Establishes a comprehensive approach for protecting information and networks

3) Creates a cyber…

Report Claims US Has Made Little Progress in Cybersecurity

The National Security Cyberspace Institute has released a report saying despite all the talk and money thrown at cybersecurity, the United States has actually made little progress in making U.S. networks more secure.

“Despite the numerous studies and recommendations, ongoing planning, increased spending, and a host of other activities over the last several years, there has been little significant…