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Experts Propose Standard for IoT Firmware Updates

Bleeping Computer reported that a new proposal submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) defines a secure framework for delivering firmware updates to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Insecure software updates for embedded devices (aka ‘firmware’) have been a frequent source of security lapses on mobile and embedded devices like Internet connected webcams. Filed on October 30, the “IoT Firmware Update Architecture,” establishes security requirements for device makers to implement when designing firmware update mechanisms for connected devices. A familiar list of features The proposed rules include features that have long been recommended by security experts to permit safe handling of software updates. Among them the use of cryptographically signed updates and public key cryptography to provide end-to-end security and verify firmware images, as well as the ability to work with low-power and resource constrained IoT devices. Firmware has been the source of widespread security issues. For example, low-cost […]

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Report details mass digital surveillance, attacks on ASEAN linked to Vietnamese APT group

The security firm Volexity reported on Monday that it uncovered a massive campaign of digital surveillance and web-based attacks directed at ASEAN and other civil society groups in Vietnam, Cambodia and other countries, including ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Volexity researchers discovered malicious code lurking on main website for ASEAN and more than 80 other websites, many belonging to small media, human rights and civil society organizations, as well as individuals who had been critical of the Vietnamese government. The malicious code allowed the hacking group, dubbed OceanLotus, to track, profile and target visitors to the websites, Volexity said. The scope of the campaign was one of the largest the researchers have ever come across, rivaling the so-called “Waterbug” campaign of phishing and watering hole attacks that was described by the security firm Symantec in 2016. Links to Vietnam OceanLotus is believed to be an Advanced Persistent Threat (or […]

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Episode 69: Honor among cyber thieves and dissecting Fancy Bear

Paul Roberts of The Security Ledger speaks with Luca Allodi of The University of Eindhoven in The Netherlands about research on the functioning of dark markets. Also: DUO Security researched the trade in phishing toolkits – you’ll be surprised at what they learned. And we deconstruct a campaign against the citizen journalism website Bellingcat.com to understand how the Russian Group known as Fancy Bear works.

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AP: Russia hackers had targets worldwide, beyond US election

The Associated Press is reporting on a trove of data accidentally leaked by the Russian-backed advanced persistent threat (APT) group known as Fancy Bear that suggests the group conducted a years-long campaign against targets in the US, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Syria. 

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Survey finds Device Makers Security Priorities Often Misplaced

Low-hanging Internet of Things security fruit may be left unpicked, as connected device makers fret about the predation of sophisticated hackers, but balk at simple security fixes, a Security Ledger and LogMeIn survey finds. You can download the full report here in PDF format.

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