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Showing posts from August 12, 2018

Philippines: Former MILF Rebels Start Decommissioning of Firearms

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Cyber security news round up

Hackers could falsify flatlines, research shows McAfee has identified a means by which hackers could falsify patients’ vitals signs by manipulating data on hospital networks. Research  from the security software firm demonstrates how hackers could exploit unencrypted communications protocols between patient monitoring systems and hospitals’ central monitoring station. Using equipment purchased on eBay, McAfee researchers were able to modify the vitals sign data in real time and provide false information to make it look like a patient was flatlining. Commenting on the research, Garrett Sipple, managing consultant at  Synopsys , said: “This is another example of recognising the importance of security as it plays a role in maintaining the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. “Medical devices often move through long product development cycles that can make them slow to react to new cyber security threats, especially if cyber security wasn’t even a key consideration in

Cybersecurity: Threats in a digital age

Drawing upon his experience of the airport IT security culture and how getting it right can not only enhance efficiency but also ensure security, Mahmood AlSeddiqi from Bahrain Airport Company, reveals his seven-step approach to cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is one of the hottest topics in the world today. What was once a problem for IT departments is now a national issue, effecting companies across the globe. For airports, it’s a particularly pressing problem. An airport setting is unique in that there are multiple stakeholders – airlines, ground handlers, government agencies, telecom providers, security personnel, etc. – all using a common platform. This enhances the risk, as if a common use platform is breached it effectively becomes an ‘attack one, effect all’ situation. Source:  https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/73899/cybersecurity-threats-in-a-digital-age/

‘Drug lords give money to NPA rebels’

BACOLOD CITY:  An adviser of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has revealed that members of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in northern Negros are receiving money from drug lords in the Visayas. Mayor Magdaleno Peña of Moises Padilla town early this week said some big-time drug dealers are enjoying the protection of the communist rebels in the area and, perhaps, this is the reason why “illegal drugs are proliferating in that part of Negros Occidental.” “That is probably why the regional center of the rebels is in the north with Fr. Frank Fernandez in there because [they]enjoy getting support from the drug lords…,” Peña added. He was referring to Fernandez, who is said to be the recognized leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA on Negros island. Northern Negros or the First District is composed of the cities of San Carlos and Escalante and the towns of Calatrava, Toboso and Salvador Benedicto. The mayor said local politicians and police off

Left wing extremism: CPP-NPA terrorist dies in Bukidnon clash

CAMP OSITO BAHIAN, Malaybalay City, August 10 (PIA)--A combatant of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) under Section Committee 89 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee was killed in a gunfight with elements of Bukidnon Provincial Mobile Force Company on Wednesday, August 8, around 9:35 a.m at the outskirts of Impasugong, Bukidnon. The clash ensued after the 403rd Infantry Brigade (403Bde) and Bukidnon Police Provincial Office launched a joint Focused Military Operations in the area. The firefight lasted for about five minutes resulting to the death of a male CPP-NPA rebel fighter; the recovery of one improvised rifle; and wounding of several rebels with the bloodstains seen by troops in the battleground. The identity of CPP-NPA rebel who died during the clash is yet to be determined. The focused operation was launched based on the residents’ repeated reports and complaints about the presence of armed men who blatantly extorted

Ex-hacker launches blockchain powered cyber security solution

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British start-up, Uncloak.io, promises to forecast future hacks using AI, blockchain and bug bounties while making cybersecurity affordable to businesses of all size. Uncloak brings together both pioneering technology such as advanced AI and blockchain 3.0, as well as the human expertise of a network of ethical hackers to create next-generation cyber security threat management. Ex-hacker turned security expert, Tayo Data has launched a blockchain powered cyber security solution. Much like a weather forecast, the firm promise to identify future hacks and allow organisations to be prepared for threats before they arrive. Uncloak  brings together both pioneering technology such as advanced AI and blockchain 3.0, as well as the human expertise of a network of ethical hackers to create next-generation cyber security threat management. >See also:  Will blockchain solve the cyber security skills crisis? With Uncloak, blockchain provides a decentralised marketplace to create a p

13 NPA rebels surrender in Batangas

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Thirteen members of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Cavite and Batangas have decided to return to the government fold after experiencing hardship, starvation and false hope under the terrorist group. They officially laid down their arms on August 14 at the Office of the Presidential Adviser in Tanauan, Batangas and enrolled in the administration’s Enhanced Comprehensive Localalized Integration Program (E-CLIP). Under the program, former rebels will be given livelihood and scholarship for their children to help them start a new life Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said past administrations had reintegration efforts as well, but were unable to sustain them. “Kaya nagkaroon ng sama ng loob yung mga nagbalik loob. Yung iba sa kanila baka bumalik sa bundok dahil hindi natupad ng pamahalaan ang kanilang pangako,” explained Lorenzana. (The rebel returnees felt bad. Some of them may have returned to the mountains because the government back then did not fulfill its p

Ramifications of Trump revoking Obama’s cyber offense order

WEAPONS FREE —  The Trump administration this week took a major step toward empowering the military to conduct more cyberattacks. President Donald Trump  rescinded  Presidential Policy Directive 20, an Obama-era document that required high-level discussions between many agencies before the military could conduct significant cyber operations. The  change  gives the military freer rein to deploy its advanced hacking tools without pushback from the State Department, the Commerce Department and the intelligence community. U.S. Cyber Command can now conduct attacks based on the administration’s strategic decisions without needing to get White House sign-off on individual digital strikes — just like other combatant commands do in the kinetic world. The move is the latest example of Trump’s desire to push decision-making authority down the chain of command. “There’s a large degree of unhappiness  in DoD and in Cyber Command with the interagency process and the structure set up by PPD-20 t

Cyber security threat to Britain’s oil and gas sites as attack could cause ‘unprecedented damage’

Former spy boss Brian Lord OBE warns industry figures to take heed of the threat posed by hostile states By Jack Peat THE oil and gas industry needs to wake up to the cyber threat posed by hostile states, the former Deputy Director of GCHQ has warned. Brian Lord OBE says a successful attack on its infrastructure could cause “unprecedented damage” and “unrest across the world”. Getty Images - Getty 3 Britain's oil and gas industries are at risk of a cyber attack from hostile states With a complex ecosystem of computation, networking, and physical operational processes spread around the world the industry has a large attack surface with many attack vectors. A typical large oil and gas company uses half a million processors just for oil and gas reservoir simulation and stores petabytes of sensitive and competitive field data as well as sharing and drilling and production control systems across geographies, fields, vendors, service providers, and partners. The topic

Cyber security: Cost should not be an inhibiting factor, says Urjit Patel

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The payment systems in India are not only comparable to any system, anywhere in the world, they also set standards and good practices for others to emulate, Urjit Patel said. RBI Governor Urjit Patel (File Photo) Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel Thursday asked financial sector players to ensure adequate importance to cyber security and reminded them that “costs should not be an inhibiting factor to this critical area”. The payment systems in India are not only comparable to any system, anywhere in the world, they also set standards and good practices for others to emulate, Patel said while launching the Unified Payments Interface 2.0 (UPI 2.0) developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). He outlined the need for ensuring adequate importance to be ascribed to cyber security, stating that all efforts need to be channelled to this area and that costs should not be an inhibiting factor to this critical area. Earlier this week, Pune-based Cosmos Co-operative

Nigeria: Nimasa to Domicile Maritime Data On Single Platform

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that the agency is pushing for a single data window system of all activities in the Nigerian maritime sector in such a way that data required will be available on a single platform, as a maritime data bank to help engender the country's rapid economic growth. Peterside who stated this in Lagos yesterday at an interactive session with journalists also noted that the Nigerian maritime sector, which currently provides over 100,000 direct jobs with multiplier effects of over two million jobs, deserves adequate mention in the statistics released monthly by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). "We are pushing for a single data window system in the maritime sector, whereby NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant government agencies in the sector will share a common

Brazil becomes the 33rd nation to join Combined Maritime Forces

Brazil has been welcomed to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) family to become the 33rd nation to join the team.   Brazil are no strangers to CMF, having had a number of liaison officers work over the years within the organization to develop skills and understanding of how CMF works, Combined Maritime Forces said on 12 August. Commander Joao Prudencio Enes of the Brazilian Navy becomes the first officer to act as the Senior National Representative with Brazil in active membership. A spokesperson for the Brazilian Navy said: “On July 30th, the Brazilian Navy answered the invitation letter from the CCFM accepting the affiliation as a full member of the CMF. The Brazilian Navy considers this kind of event an excellent opportunity to reinforce ties of friendship, as well as to promote cooperation and mutual respect among the participating Navies.” The addition of Brazil to the CMF coalition means that they now have representation on every inhabited continent and have become a global mari

Africa’s chance to boost maritime security in the Indian Ocean

South Africa could make the Indian Ocean Rim Association the top platform for achieving maritime security. By Timothy Walker and Denys Reva for ISS TODAY This year the Indian Ocean has seen a drop in piracy risks and an increase in maritime development and attention to the blue economy. This is largely thanks to improving maritime security.  Africa will benefit from efforts to further secure and develop the Indian Ocean. In its role as chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA),  South Africa  is making the forum the most relevant and promising organisation on maritime security and the blue economy.  The 18 th meeting of the Council of Ministers – IORA’s top decision-making authority – takes place in November and will mark one year since South Africa assumed the chair.  IORA was formed in 1997, but was inconspicuous for many years. It was revived under India’s lead from 2011-13, Australia from 2013-15 and Indonesia from 2015-17. These countries re-established it as a pr