DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Kaspersky: Biden administration preparing to prevent Americans from using Russian-made software over national security concern
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

US government agencies are already banned from using Kaspersky Lab software but action to prevent private companies from using the software would be unprecedented. It’s the latest US government effort to use its vast regulatory powers to prevent Americans from using popular technology that US officials consider a national security risk. A Kaspersky Lab spokesperson did not respond to questions about a potential prohibition or about how big the company’s market share is in the US. Commerce Department officials have to carefully consider how practical any such regulation would be for the department to enforce and for users to comply with. But the expected move from the Biden administration would go a step further by using Commerce Department authorities to prevent private companies from using Kaspersky Lab software.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kaspersky, Trump, ”, ” Henry Young, Young, Eugene Kaspersky, ” Kaspersky, hasn’t, Harold Martin, ” CNN’s Zachary Cohen, Phil Mattingly, Evan Perez Organizations: CNN, Commerce Department, Kaspersky, Commerce, Trump, Emergency Economic, Street, Companies “, Business Software Alliance, Department, McAfee, Symantec, Lab, —, Russian Ministry of Defense, West, National Security Agency, Politico, NSA, Wall Street Locations: Russian, America, Commerce, Moscow, Russia, Israel, Eugene, Ukraine

☆ A finance professional fired over watching pornography at work said it was because his computer was infected by a Trojan virus
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA financial services worker in Shanghai who was fired for browsing pornographic websites at work has sued his former employer, blaming a virus that infected his computer. Yang had worked for five years under his employer and earned about $2,360 a month until he was fired in August 2022, per the Shanghai High Court. Yang's employer said that Yang had breached his contract — which prohibits employees from consuming pornography at work — by accessing "little movies" on his work computer. But Yang submitted company records that showed his colleagues often downloaded movies or shows on their work computers outside business hours. He said that this may have caused his computer to become infected by Trojan malware, per the court.

Persons: —, Yang, Kaspersky Organizations: Service, Business, Shanghai High Court Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ Moscow airport claims to have AI-powered radar system that can jam drones, but developer says it's not true
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Moscow's international airport is reportedly setting up an AI-powered radar, according to state media. Sheremetyevo International Airport says the system can spot and jam drones. AdvertisementMoscow is setting up an AI-powered radar system in its international airport that can detect and jam drones, according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS. In a Telegram post, Sheremetyevo International Airport said the defense system, dubbed Yenot-SD, can detect low-flying drones, flocks of birds, and ground perimeter violations. AdvertisementRussia's Federal Air Transport Agency and Sheremetyevo International Airport didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comments.

Persons: it's, —, Kaspersky, Mikhail Vasilenko Organizations: Sheremetyevo, Service, TASS, Kaspersky, Sheremetyevo International, Media, Moscow's Sheremetyevo, Business, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Air Transport Agency, CNN, Russia's Ministry of Defence Locations: Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Canada bans China’s Wechat from government devices citing security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Canada has banned Chinese super-app WeChat on official government devices citing cybersecurity risks, following similar action taken against short-form video app TikTok earlier this year. CNN has reached out to Tencent, the owner of Wechat, and Kaspersky Lab for comment. In February, the Canadian government banned TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, from government-issued mobile devices in light of cybersecurity concerns. Relative to TikTok, Wechat has been a less prominent target of global governments over the past year in part because it is much more popular among Chinese speakers. In August 2020, then-US President Donald Trump tried to ban Wechat along with TikTok by issuing executive orders.

Persons: Yintao Yu, Wechat, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Kaspersky, Treasury Board of Canada, CNN, Facebook, Twitter, PayPal, Chinese Communist Party, Trump Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Canada, Russian, China, Beijing, California

☆ Canada bans WeChat, Kaspersky applications on government devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Canada on Monday banned Chinese messaging application WeChat and Russian antivirus program Kaspersky on government-issued mobile devices due to privacy and security risks, but said government information had not been compromised. WeChat and Kaspersky did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "The decision to remove and block the WeChat and the Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that government of Canada networks and data remain secure and protected and are in line with the approach of our international partners," the statement said. The applications will be removed from government-issued mobile devices on Monday, and users will be blocked from downloading them in the future. Canada in February banned TikTok, the short-video app owned by Chinese company Bytedance, from government-issued devices due to similar privacy and security concerns.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kaspersky, TikTok, Ismail Shakil, Yuvraj Malik, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, HK, Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Canada, Moscow, Ottawa, Bengaluru

☆ Google is making big changes to prevent Gmail spam
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google will make it harder for spammers to send messages to Gmail users, the company said Tuesday. The company said it will require emailers who send more than 5,000 messages per day to Gmail users to offer a one-click unsubscribe button in their messages. Google says it has signed up Yahoo to make the same changes, and they'll come into effect in February 2024. The moves highlight the ongoing fight between big tech companies and spammers who use open systems such as email to send fraudulent messages and annoy users. About half of all emails sent in 2022 were spam, according to an estimate from Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Persons: they'll, Neil Kumaran Organizations: Google, Yahoo, Kaspersky

☆ Latin Americans fall prey to more online scams as cybersecurity lags
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Online scams in Brazil jumped 65% last year to over 200,000, according to data from the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook published last month. And across Latin America, online frauds and cyberattacks are at an "all-time high," says cybersecurity company Tenable, posing an urgent problem for a well-connected region. "Latin America is a priority target because it has a very connected population, which means that they are always exposed," said Claudio Martinelli, managing director for Latin America for Kaspersky. In a ranking of 93 countries on cyberthreat risks compiled by fraud prevention software SEON, nine of the 10 Latin American countries were ranked in the bottom half. Three Latin American countries - Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela - were seen among the 10 countries with the highest risks for cyberthreats.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gabriella Batalha didn't, Batalha, Kerry, Ann Barrett, Barrett, Claudio Martinelli, SEON, Tenable, Ransomware, Marcos Simplicio, Carolina Pulice, Brendan O'Boyle, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, YouTube, Brazilian Public Security, International Telecommunication Union, Organization of American States, America, Kaspersky, Costa, University of Sao, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Instagram, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, America, Latin America, Caribbean, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, University of Sao Paulo

☆ Modern romance: falling in love with AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

AI is infiltrating the dating app space – sometimes in the form of fictional partners, sometimes as advisor, trainer, ghostwriter or matchmaker. You’re taking existing content, and you’re repurposing it to connect with somebody,” Dmitri Mirakyan, co-founder of AI dating conversation app YourMove.AI, told CNN. Founders and designers of these apps say people find starting and keeping conversations going the most challenging part of the process. Teaser.AI is a new stand-alone dating app from the makers of viral camera app Dispo, and it adds an unusual twist. These startups offer an array of AI potential matches, digital girlfriends and boyfriends that users can chat with.

Persons: New York CNN — Alexandra, “, he’s, Alexandra, Cyrano de Bergerac, Djordje Krstic, ” Dmitri Mirakyan, Kaspersky, ”, Mirakyan, ” Mirakyan, Delmaine, Teaser.AI, Daniel Liss, They’re, Aimm, Iris, Kevin Teman, ” Teman, COVID, Rita Popova, Mona Lisa, Nefertiti, Tanya Grypachevskaya, RomanticAI Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, AIs Locations: New York

☆ Russia moves to ban iPhones for government officials after claiming they were hacked by the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian government ministries are beginning to ban officials from using Apple iPhones. Russia's trade ministry will impose a ban starting Monday, the Financial Times reported. Beginning July 17, employees at Russia's trade ministry will no longer be allowed to use iPhones on the job, the Financial Times reported. In March, the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products, citing fears they were vulnerable to US hacking. Following the Russian claims, Apple announced patches to its iOS software, crediting researchers at the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab with identifying vulnerabilities.

Persons: Apple Organizations: Apple, Financial Times, Service, Kremlin, iOS, Washington Post, Federal Security Service Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Ukraine

"The FSB has uncovered an intelligence action of the American special services using Apple mobile devices," the FSB said in a statement. The FSB said the plot showed "close cooperation" between Apple and the National Security Agency (NSA), the U.S. agency responsible for cryptographic and communications intelligence and security. The FSB provided no evidence that Apple cooperated with, or had any awareness of, the spying campaign. "The hidden data collection was carried out through software vulnerabilities in U.S.-made mobile phones," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said all officials in the presidential administration knew that gadgets such as iPhones were "absolutely transparent."

Persons: Russia Apple, NSA Kaspersky, Apple, Eugene Kaspersky, Igor Kuznetsov, Kaspersky, Dmitry Peskov, Guy Faulconbridge, Raphael Satter, James Pearson, Zeba Siddiqui, Mark Potter, Andrew Heavens, Matthew Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: NSA, Apple, Federal Security Service, FSB, Apple Inc, Soviet, National Security Agency, Twitter, Reuters, NATO, Harvard University's, Federal Guards Service, Kremlin, Kommersant, San, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW, Soviet Union, U.S, Israel, Syria, China, States, United Kingdom, Australia, Washington, London, San Francisco

☆ RESTRICT Act explained: proposed TikTok ban is 'a PATRIOT Act for the digital age,' some lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The RESTRICT Act, a bill that could ban TikTok nationwide, was introduced in the Senate last month. GOP Senator JD Vance of Ohio called the bill proposal "a PATRIOT Act for the digital age." But the RESTRICT Act — touted as a way ban TikTok nationwide — would do far more than prevent users from accessing an app known for its viral dance routines and conspiracy theory videos. "This will directly improve our national security as well as safeguard Americans' personal information and our nation's vital intellectual property." Even those who support a TikTok ban, such as Senator JD Vance of Ohio, don't see the RESTRICT Act as an appropriate solution.

☆ North Korean hackers breach software firm in significant cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Suspected North Korean hackers infiltrated a software firm that claims hundreds of thousands of customers around the world in a cyberattack that shows Pyongyang’s advanced hacking capabilities, private investigators said Thursday. But it’s the latest evidence that North Korean hackers are pulling out all the stops to break into organizations to steal or spy on them in support of dictator Kim Jong Un’s strategic interests. A recent CNN investigation found a rampant effort by North Korean hackers to steal cryptocurrency and launder it into hard cash that might help fund the regime’s weapon’s programs. Trading Technologies has not been able to verify Mandiant’s findings yet because the company just became aware of the issue last week, a spokesperson for Trading Technologies told CNN on Thursday. “What we do know with certainty is that 3CX is not a vendor or a customer of Trading Technologies,” the Trading Technologies spokesperson said.

☆ Biden Administration Weighs Action Against Russian Cybersecurity Firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( John D. Mckinnon | Dustin Volz | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab has denied that it works with Russia or any government to facilitate cyber espionage. WASHINGTON—President Biden’s Commerce Department is weighing an enforcement action under its online-security rules against Kaspersky Lab, a Russian cybersecurity company that has long faced accusations of posing a threat to the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter. The action—if it materializes—could become a test case for the Commerce Department’s growing role in policing threats online, according to some of the people, who said the U.S. might deploy the same online-security rules against Chinese-controlled technologies, possibly including TikTok.

☆ TikTok banned from school-owned devices on all Florida state universities
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Chris Boyette | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

“Data privacy, particularly concerning student data and faculty research, is a critical priority for the State University System of Florida,” the Board of Governors said in a statement to CNN. Bans and regulations of Tik Tok in particular, and of social media sites in general, have been mounting. Utah also regulating useLate last month, the governor of Utah signed a bill which requires teens to get parental approval to use social media. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office, which regulates data, fined Tik Tok for a number of breaches of data protection law. CNN has reached out to each for comment.

☆ US weighs action against Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab -WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Commerce is weighing an enforcement action against Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing people familiar with the matter. President Joe Biden's administration is looking at an enforcement action against the company under its online security rules, the report said. The administration ramped up its national security probe into Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software last year as fears grew about Russian cyberattacks after Moscow invaded Ukraine. Kaspersky Labs did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The reported enforcement action on Kaspersky follows the introduction of a new U.S. legislation that would allow the White House to ban China based TikTok or other foreign-based technologies if they pose a national security risk.

☆ Republican Senator Rand Paul blocks bid to ban Chinese-owned TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul on Wednesday blocked a bid to fast-track a ban of popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, which more than 150 million Americans use, citing concerns about free speech and uneven treatment of social media companies. Republican Senator Josh Hawley had sought unanimous consent for a TikTok ban bill. We're going to be just like China and ban speech we're afraid of?" Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a TikTok video on Friday opposed a TikTok ban, calling it "unprecedented" and said Congress has not gotten classified TikTok briefings. Then President Donald Trump's attempts in 2020 to ban TikTok were blocked by U.S. courts.

☆ Republican Senator Rand Paul opposes TikTok ban push in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - Republican Senator Rand Paul on Wednesday opposed efforts in Congress to ban popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, which is used by more than 150 million Americans. Republican Senator Josh Hawley said this week he hoped to get unanimous consent for a TikTok ban bill. TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew appeared before Congress last week and faced tough questions about national security concerns over the ByteDance-owned app. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a TikTok video Friday opposed a TikTok ban, calling it "unprecedented" and said Congress has not gotten classified TikTok briefings. Last week, three Democrats in the House of Representatives opposed a TikTok ban, as do free speech groups like the American Civil Liberties Union.

☆ Apple pays $12.1 mln fine for alleged app market abuse in Russia - Antimonopoly Service
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. tech giant Apple has paid a 906 million rouble ($12.12 million) fine in a Russian antitrust case alleging abuse of its dominance in the mobile apps market, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said on Monday. "Apple has paid a 906 million rouble antitrust fine," the FAS said in a statement on its Telegram channel. Apple had appealed the decision at various stages, but had been unsuccessful and ultimately complied with the order, the FAS said. Apple paused all product sales in Russia a year ago, after Moscow despatched its armed forces to Ukraine, and limited its Apple Pay service in Russia.

☆ Kentucky bans TikTok from government-owned devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Kentucky is joining more than 20 U.S. states in banning the popular video app TikTok on government devices citing cybersecurity concerns. On Thursday, the governors of Wisconsin and North Carolina signed orders banning TikTok on government devices. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks. Wray flagged the threat that the Chinese government could harness the app to influence users or control their devices. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law a government funding bill that included a ban on federal employees from using or downloading TikTok on government-owned devices.

☆ Wisconsin governor signs order banning TikTok from state devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Thursday signed an order banning use of the popular video app TikTok on government-owned and managed devices. In addition to banning Chinese-owned TikTok from state devices, the Democratic governor said he is was banning vendors, products and services from nine companies, including Huawei Technologies, Hikvision (002415.SZ), Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ) and Kaspersky Lab. More than 20 other states have also banned TikTok from state devices. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wisconsin governor bans TikTok from state devices on security concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 12 (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Thursday signed an order banning TikTok on government-owned and managed devices due to cyber security concerns, joining other states and the federal government in prohibiting the use of the popular video app. In addition to banning Chinese-owned TikTok from state devices, the Democratic governor said he is was banning vendors, products and services from nine companies, including Huawei Technologies, Hikvision (002415.SZ), Tencent Holdings (0700.HK), ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ) and Kaspersky Lab. More than 20 other states have also banned TikTok from state devices including Ohio, New Jersey and Arkansas earlier this week. Republican governors have led the charge to ban TikTok from state devices and some Democratic governors have been slower to do so. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks.

☆ Ohio and New Jersey ban Tiktok on government devices over Chinese surveillance fears, joining over 20 other states
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New Jersey and Ohio are the latest states to ban TikTok on government-owned devices. New Jersey's governor Phil Murphy announced a cybersecurity order on Monday, to "prohibit the use of high-risk software and services," on government owned devices. "The proactive and preventative measures that we are implementing today will ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and safety of information assets managed by New Jersey State government. A growing number of states have banned TikTok from government devices since December including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and more. An analysis by website Government Technology, published before the New Jersey and Ohio bans were announced, shows more than 20 states have banned TikTok on government devices.

☆ New Jersey, Ohio join other states in banning TikTok from state devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - New Jersey and Ohio said on Monday they were joining other states in banning use of the popular video app TikTok on government-owned and managed devices. Murphy's office said "there have been national security concerns about user data the Chinese government might require ByteDance to provide." On Friday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said he planned to join other states in banning use of the popular video app that has more than 100 million U.S. users. Republican governors have led the charge to ban TikTok from state devices and some Democratic governors have been slower to do so. Calls to ban TikTok from government devices gained steam after U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in November it poses national security risks.

☆ The benefits and risks of using a password manager to protect your online identity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But there are some key decisions to make in choosing, and using, a password manager. Most web browsers have some type of password manager, which are convenient and user-friendly. For more robust security and features, security professionals say a dedicated password manager is a better choice. How to choose a strong master passwordMake sure you have a strong master password, one that's not easily guessable. What happens if you lose online accessThe master password is your entry to the password manager.

☆ Maryland governor bans use of TikTok on state devices
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an emergency directive on Tuesday prohibiting the use of Chinese-owned short-video sharing app TikTok on state government devices and networks, the latest U.S. Republican to crack down on TikTok. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem last week signed an executive order barring state employees and contractors from installing or using TikTok on state-owned devices and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday asked a state agency to ban TikTok from state government phones and computers. Maryland executive branch agencies must remove the products from state networks and prevent access. TikTok said the concerns prompting state bans were largely fueled by misinformation. TikTok executive Vanessa Pappas told lawmakers in September that TikTok was making progress toward a final agreement with the U.S. government.

Search resuls for: "Kaspersky"

25 mentions found