McAfee: Lock Gate And Scan Zip Files Against Ransomware

Companies and organizations that want to protect themselves against ransomware are wise to block Tor and some files and staff to continuously train. This enables anti-virus company McAfee in a new quarterly report ( pdf ). In the first three months of this year the number of new ransomware variants with 165% and also for the future expected the virus fighter many new ones.

To protect themselves against ransomware can companies do take various measures. Besides making backup is recommended to block Tor. "Blocking Gate frequent the ransomware can get the RSA public key of the control server, which will block the encryption process of ransomware," the researchers said.

Furthermore, companies are advised to use a spam filter to block certain file types. Most ransomware generally starts with an e-mail containing a link or attachment. When it comes to unusual formats like .scr is it is easy to block those. In case companies do not block zip files is recommended to scan at least on two levels.

Users

Finally it is advisable to keep users continuously train. "Most ransomware attacks start with phishing emails, awareness of users is essential and necessary. For every ten emails sent to attackers statistics show that at least one will be successful," said the researchers. Which therefore advise not to open any e-mail or attachments from unknown or unverified senders.

VPN Service Hola Used For DDoS Attack On 8Chan

The popular free VPN service Hola has recently been used to carry out a DDoS attack on the 8Chan website. Hola is as an extension for Google Chrome easy to install and use, which besides being free explains the popularity. In order not to pay for the traffic of users makes the VPN service using a P2P system where the traffic of users is through the connection of other users.

What many users do not know is that the company behind the VPN service sells the users of bandwidth via a service called Luminati. Luminati gives people to pay for access to the Hola network, for example, to commercial traffic anonymous routing.In this way Hola remains free to users. Via Luminati However, it is also possible to use the bandwidth of Hola users for DDoS attacks.

On May 24 was Luminati used as botnet to attack the 8Can website, so let investigator Nikoloz Kokhreidze Monday already know. The founder of 8Chan, Fredrick Brennan, then placed a warning on the website that users Hola better not use. "Hola is the most unethical VPN've ever seen," he observes. In a response to Business Insider Hola let know that the party that the DDoS attack conducted could use any VPN service. In addition, it should also be obvious to users how Hola works, but is there because of all the fuss surrounding private details are put on the website.

Tor Is Looking For Students Who Want To Develop Privacy Tools

After years of having participated in a Google initiative where students were paid to the development of open source software, have the Tor Project, known from the Tor anonymizing network, and the American civil rights movement EFF now decided to launch an initiative in which students from all over the world are paid for the further development of the Tor privacy tools.

From 2007 to the Tor Project participated last year in the Google Summer of Code . Google paid for several months, students who wanted to contribute to open source software projects. So the students could gain practical experience, while the open source projects could benefit from the extra programming power. The size of the Google initiative has been adjusted, allowing Gate and the EFF not participate this year.

It was then decided to start his own initiative, called Tor Summer of Privacy . Students from all over the world, also from the Netherlands can apply for one of the available spots. For every student is a grant of $ 5,000 available. The idea is that students, under the supervision of a mentor, existing Tor privacy tools or develop their own ideas to improve the software.Registration is possible until April 17th. On 25 May, the Summer of Privacy start to finish then on 1 September.

Tor-Flyer For Police And Citizens On The Internet Anonymously

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people using the Tor network to protect their online identity and privacy. Yet there is still much confusion about how the Tor network and the importance of online anonymity. Therefore, the Tor Project has several informative flyers ( pdf ) made ​​for police and citizens explaining the operation of the Tor network and the importance of anonymous internet.

Through the Tor network users can hide their IP address such as "hidden" visit websites that are only accessible through the Tor network. In recent months, several of these sites by the authorities off the air. The most Tor users are ordinary citizens who want to keep control over their privacy, so the Tor Project has announced in the flyer for police and investigative services.

The network is also used by journalists, activists and people in countries with totalitarian regimes or internet censorship. It is also handy for police and undercover operations. So use investigative services also the Tor network for their research."Because of the identity and location of hiding researchers Tor can be a valuable tool for successful online undercover operations," so let the flyer.

There is created a flyer for citizens showing the importance of anonymous Internet and online freedom is explained. According to the Tor Project is anonymity under fire as never before, allowing the ability to share free information on the Internet is undermined. "Countries monitors on each other and their citizens, block websites, watching the contents of traffic and reduce important world news." Organizations that deal with internet freedom can also order the flyers.