Reading view

Burner phones and lead-lined bags: a history of UK security tactics in China

Starmer’s team is wary of spies but such fears are not new – with Theresa May once warned to get dressed under a duvet

When prime ministers travel to China, heightened security arrangements are a given – as is the quiet game of cat and mouse that takes place behind the scenes as each country tests out each other’s tradecraft and capabilities.

Keir Starmer’s team has been issued with burner phones and fresh sim cards, and is using temporary email addresses, to prevent devices being loaded with spyware or UK government servers being hacked into.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Simon Dawson/Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street

© Photograph: Simon Dawson/Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street

© Photograph: Simon Dawson/Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street

  •  

Hacking Wheelchairs over Bluetooth

Researchers have demonstrated remotely controlling a wheelchair over Bluetooth. CISA has issued an advisory.

CISA said the WHILL wheelchairs did not enforce authentication for Bluetooth connections, allowing an attacker who is in Bluetooth range of the targeted device to pair with it. The attacker could then control the wheelchair’s movements, override speed restrictions, and manipulate configuration profiles, all without requiring credentials or user interaction.

  •  

1980s Hacker Manifesto

Forty years ago, The Mentor—Loyd Blankenship—published “The Conscience of a Hacker” in Phrack.

You bet your ass we’re all alike… we’ve been spoon-fed baby food at school when we hungered for steak… the bits of meat that you did let slip through were pre-chewed and tasteless. We’ve been dominated by sadists, or ignored by the apathetic. The few that had something to teach found us willing pupils, but those few are like drops of water in the desert.

This is our world now… the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn’t run by profiteering gluttons, and you call us criminals. We explore… and you call us criminals. We seek after knowledge… and you call us criminals. We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias… and you call us criminals. You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it’s for our own good, yet we’re the criminals.

Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for.

  •  

Six out of 10 UK secondary schools hit by cyber-attack or breach in past year

Hackers are more likely to target educational institutions than private businesses, government survey shows

When hackers attacked UK nurseries last month and published children’s data online, they were accused of hitting a new low.

But the broader education sector is well used to being a target.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: MBI/Alamy

© Photograph: MBI/Alamy

© Photograph: MBI/Alamy

  •  

Hackers reportedly steal pictures of 8,000 children from Kido nursery chain

Firm, which has 18 sites around London and more in US, India and China, has received ransom demand, say reports

The names, pictures and addresses of about 8,000 children have reportedly been stolen from the Kido nursery chain by a gang of cybercriminals.

The criminals have demanded a ransom from the company – which has 18 sites around London, with more in the US, India and China – according to the BBC.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: solarseven/Getty Images/iStockphoto

© Photograph: solarseven/Getty Images/iStockphoto

© Photograph: solarseven/Getty Images/iStockphoto

  •  

Legal aid cyber-attack has pushed sector towards collapse, say lawyers

Barristers report going unpaid and cases being turned away amid fears firms will desert legal aid work altogether

Lawyers have warned that a cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency has pushed the sector into chaos, with barristers going unpaid, cases being turned away and fears a growing number of firms could desert legal aid work altogether.

In May, the legal aid agency announced that the personal data of hundreds of thousands of legal aid applicants in England and Wales dating back to 2010 had been accessed and downloaded in a significant cyber-attack.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

  •  

What to do if you can’t get into your Facebook or Instagram account

How to prove your identity after your account gets hacked and how to improve security for the future

Your Facebook or Instagram account can be your link to friends, a profile for your work or a key to other services, so losing access can be very worrying. Here’s what to do if the worst happens.

If you have access to the phone number or email account associated with your Facebook or Instagram account, try to reset your password by clicking on the “Forgot password?” link on the main Facebook or Instagram login screen. Follow the instructions in the email or text message you receive.

If you no longer have access to the email account linked to your Facebook account, use a device with which you have previously logged into Facebook and go to facebook.com/login/identify. Enter any email address or phone number you might have associated with your account, or find your username which is the string of characters after Facebook.com/ on your page. Click on “No longer have access to these?”, “Forgotten account?” or “Recover” and follow the instructions to prove your identity and reset your password.

If your account was hacked, visit facebook.com/hacked or instagram.com/hacked/ on a device you have previously used to log in and follow the instructions. Visit the help with a hacked account page for Facebook or Instagram.

Change the password to something strong, long and unique, such as a combination of random words or a memorable lyric or quote. Avoid simple or guessable combinations. Use a password manager to help you remember it and other important details.

Turn on two-step verification in the “password and security” section of the Accounts Centre. Use an authentication app or security key for this, not SMS codes. Save your recovery codes somewhere safe in case you lose access to your two-step authentication method.

Turn on “unrecognised login” alerts in the “password and security” section of the Accounts Centre, which will alert you to any suspicious login activity.

Remove any suspicious “friends” from your account – these could be fake accounts or scammers.

If you are eligible, turn on “advanced protection for Facebook” in the “password and security” section of the Accounts Centre.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: bigtunaonline/Alamy

© Photograph: bigtunaonline/Alamy

© Photograph: bigtunaonline/Alamy

  •  

Getting Started with AI Hacking: Part 1

Getting Started with AI Hacking

You may have read some of our previous blog posts on Artificial Intelligence (AI). We discussed things like using PyRIT to help automate attacks. We also covered the dangers of […]

The post Getting Started with AI Hacking: Part 1 appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Wi-Fi Forge: Practice Wi-Fi Security Without Hardware 

In the world of cybersecurity, it’s important to understand what attack surfaces exist. The best way to understand something is by first doing it. Whether you’re an aspiring penetration tester, […]

The post Wi-Fi Forge: Practice Wi-Fi Security Without Hardware  appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Satellite Hacking

by Austin Kaiser // Intern Hacking a satellite is not a new thing. Satellites have been around since 1957. The first satellite launched was called Sputnik 1 and was launched […]

The post Satellite Hacking appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

How to Install LineageOS on Your Android Device 

Hey guys, my name is Connor. I am a web developer here at BHIS who also loves hacking phones. Particularly, Android phones! Today, I am going to show you the basics […]

The post How to Install LineageOS on Your Android Device  appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Field Guide to the Android Manifest File

Every Android application has a “manifest.xml” file located in the root directory of the APK. (Remember APKs are just zip files.) The manifest file is like a guide to the application.

The post Field Guide to the Android Manifest File appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Start to Finish: Configuring an Android Phone for Pentesting

Jeff Barbi // *Guest Post Background Unless you’re pentesting mobile apps consistently, it’s easy for your methodologies to fall out of date. Each new version of Android brings with it […]

The post Start to Finish: Configuring an Android Phone for Pentesting appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Phishing Made Easy(ish)

Hannah Cartier // Social engineering, especially phishing, is becoming increasingly prevalent in red team engagements as well as real-world attacks. As security awareness improves and systems become more locked down, […]

The post Phishing Made Easy(ish) appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Introducing LoRa (Long Range) Wireless Technology – Part 1

Ray Felch // This write-up is the first of a multi-part series, providing an introduction to LoRa wireless technology and the LoRaWAN, low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). Interestingly, I came across […]

The post Introducing LoRa (Long Range) Wireless Technology – Part 1 appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  

Understanding Zigbee and Wireless Mesh Networking

Ray Felch // Preface: Recently, I acquired a few home automation devices, so that I might research Zigbee and get a better understanding of how this very popular wireless technology […]

The post Understanding Zigbee and Wireless Mesh Networking appeared first on Black Hills Information Security, Inc..

  •  
❌