Google Challenges Hackers to Exploit Chrome Browser

Google has so much confidence in the security of its Chrome web browser that it is willing to pay $20,000 to anyone who can hack into it.

Those interested in stepping up to the challenge will get their chance at the Pwn2Own contest at next month’s CanSecWest conference in Vancouver, Canada. Contestants will receive $20,000…

Anonymous Shifts Focus, DDoS Attacks from Egypt to Yemen

Following cyber attacks on government websites in Tunisia and Egypt, the self-described online gathering Anonymous has shifted its focus to Yemen as part of its fight for greater web freedoms, AFP reported.

The website of Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, presidentsaleh.gov.ye, was down yesterday after members of  Anonymous had called for attacks on the site.

Luis Corrons, the technical director at PandaLabs, told AFP Anonymous…

Hackers Take Down Site Offering Egyptians Censor-busting Tools

A Morocco-based website offering Egyptian users a program to bypass online censorship fell victim to a complex cyber attack that made it inaccessible, AFP reported.

Dr. Francesco Landogna, CEO of the site Wall5.com, told AFP someone had brought down his site early Friday morning.

“Someone got into the site about four o’clock this morning and destroyed its means of access to the global web,” Francesco Landogna said.

Wall5 had set…

FTC Slams Companies for Failure to Adopt Cybersecurity Measures

Three companies reselling consumers’ credit reports have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they did not take adequate measures to protect consumers’ personal information, failures that allowed hackers to access that data.

In an announcement posted on its website, FTC said the settlements require the companies to strengthen their data security procedures and submit to…

Report: Australia’s Cybersecurity ‘Weak’

A new report has concluded Australia is increasingly unprepared to handle cyber attacks on the country’s energy, water, transport and communications systems, and the threat is poorly understood by politicians, business people and the general public.

The “Optimising Australia’s Response to the Cyber Challenge” report by security think tank

27 Brooklynites Charged with Cyber Crime Scam

Twenty-seven Brooklyn residents are suspected of masterminding a scam that used stolen credit card information purchased from overseas vendors and other websites that specialize in identity theft to buy Apple products and then resell them for profit, according to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Vance said the cyber crime scheme was allegedly run by Shaheed Bilal, his girlfriend Ophelia Alleyne and his brothers, Ali Bilal…

Minister: No Internet ‘Kill Switch’ for Australia

The Australian government does not support and will not participate in actions similar to the Egyptian government, which shut down Internet access to prevent protesters from communicating with others and the outside world, an Australian official has said.

Speaking at the launch of a new HP data center in Sydney, Australian Communications Minister Stephen…

Telcordia SVP Jim Payne Joins AFCEA Cyber Committee

Telcordia Senior Vice President and General Manager of National Security and Cyber Infrastructure James “Jim” F. X. Payne has been named to the AFCEA International Cyber Committee for a three-year term, according to a company announcement.

The Cyber Committee coordinates the organization’s outreach to the cyber community, working with…

UK Hacker Steals Virtual Poker Chips Worth $12 Million

A British man has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $12 million worth of poker chips from an online gaming company before getting caught, according to media reports.

BBC reported that Ashley Mitchell of Paignton, Devon, admitted to hacking into online gaming site Zynga Poker to steal the chips. He then transferred 400 billion chips into the multiple Facebook accounts he had opened to avoid getting caught.

Mitchell reportedly…

UK Implements Cyber Crime Directive

The U.K. government will participate in a European Union directive aimed at taking action against cyber criminals operating overseas, a member of the Parliament said, UKPA reports.

The EU Directive on Attacks Against Information Systems will allow British police to closely collaborate with foreign agencies to identify suspects, gather…