hackers

Sexism and the single hacker: Defcon's feminist moment

Defcon isn't your typical tech conference. Happening in the heat of Las Vegas every summer, it attracts throngs of hackers -- 15,000 this year -- who are eager to learn about, and test out, the latest methods of breaking into computer networks, hacking phones, and general slaying of any type of security system imaginable.

Security professionals and researchers give highly technical talks, but the event is known as much for its side-show theatrics, hacking contests, and DJ and booze-filled parties as it is the sessions. Black t-shirts and jeans predominate among the mostly young adults, though many have … Read more

Apple responds to journalist's iCloud hack

After former Gizmodo reporter Mat Honan's entire digital presence was hacked via a loophole in AppleCare, Apple now says it is looking into how users can reset their account passwords to ensure that their data is protected.

It all began when Honan took to his Tumblr blog on Friday, detailing the events that led to his online life being sabotaged -- with his Google and Twitter accounts being deleted and his MacBook, iPad, and iPhone being wiped clean. He blamed an AppleCare technician for allowing his accounts to be hacked, as well as the tech blog's official feed.… Read more

The 404 1,103: Where our crime is that of Curiosity (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Sol Republic introduces headphones for cats.

- Digipacking: what to put on your emergency flash drive.

- Literally the worst word on the planet.

- How to use psychological tactics to avoid strangers on the bus.

- eBay testing same-day delivery service for iOS called eBay now.

- One percenter turns home theater into Nolan's Batcave.… Read more

Journalist blames Apple tech for allowing iCloud hack

Former Gizmodo reporter Mat Honan is blaming an AppleCare technician for allowing his personal e-mail and Twitter accounts to be hacked, as well as the tech blog's official feed.

The Gizmodo breach, apparently perpetrated by a person or group of people calling themselves Clan W3, was brief but resulted in racist and offensive tweets being sent to the tech blog's 415,000 followers on Friday. Gizmodo initially blamed its former reporter for the tweets and quickly regained control of its account.

But Honan, who currently works for Wired, was not so fortunate. He described in a blog post … Read more

Hackers accused of stealing data from 9M Korean mobile users

Hackers who allegedly stole information from almost 9 million telecom customers in Korea are now in police custody.

One suspect, identified by the name Choi, and another as yet unnamed suspect have been accused of selling the data to telemarketers, the National Police Agency's cyberterror response team told the Korea Times.

The two suspects reportedly took in around $877,000 by selling the contact information and plan details of 8.7 million KT subscribers, almost half of the carrier's total customers.

Seven other people accused of buying the data were arrested but not detained.

The hacking started in … Read more

Hackers build private 'Ninja Tel' phone network at Defcon

Hackers who spent their teen years phone-phreaking -- breaking into telephone networks and making free calls -- have created their own GSM network at Defcon and are using creative and silly apps on highly customized Android phones.

The Ninja hacker group is giving the phones away to people who have contributed to the community, and to their lucky friends. The phones and accompanying lanyards serve as "badges" that provide entrance to the annual Ninja party tonight. (Defcon attendees can also get in by donating blood or signing up to donate bone marrow, or donating money to the Electronic … Read more

Defcon 20: Skillz, thrills for the whole hacker family

LAS VEGAS - You might not think that a hacker conference in Sin City in the summer is the best place to take the kids. But if you want them to learn some skills, know their digital rights and have some fun, I can't think of any place better. Oh, and there's some stuff for us big kids too.

Defcon, which turns 20 this year, runs Friday through Sunday, following the more corporate Black Hat conference, the newsy parts of which are tomorrow and Thursday.

Black Hat organizers had a rocky start to their week with a security … Read more

Yahoo gives all clear after hack attack

This doesn't rate up there with "Resumegate," but when it comes to Yahoo, the fun never ends. The company finally gave the all clear this morning in the aftermath of a massive password leak that exposed more than 450,000 Yahoo log-in credentials.

The company says it has since deployed "additional security measures" and "enhanced our underlying security controls" as it goes about notifying affected users.

From Yahoo's latest missive:

Yahoo recently confirmed that an older file containing approximately 450,000 e-mail addresses and passwords was compromised. The compromised information was provided … Read more

Hackers post 450K credentials pilfered from Yahoo

Yahoo has been the victim of a security breach that yielded hundreds of thousands of login credentials stored in plain text.

The hacked data, posted to the hacker site D33D Company, contained more than 453,000 login credentials and appears to have originated from the Web pioneer's network. The hackers, who said they used a union-based SQL injection technique to penetrate the Yahoo subdomain, intended the data dump to be a "wake-up call."

"We hope that the parties responsible for managing the security of this subdomain will take this as a wake-up call, and not as … Read more