Search This Blog
Powered by Blogger.

Blog Archive

Labels

Load More
Trendy Right Now

Popular Posts

Showing posts with label US Citizens. Show all posts
User Security
Chinese App Ban Cyber Security Cyberwarfare Data Privacy US Citizens User Security

Chinese-Designed Apps Pose Greater Privacy Risks to Americans

 

As the US Congress considers a ban on the Chinese social media app TikTok over security concerns, millions of Americans continue to download Chinese-designed apps that pose even greater privacy risks. Despite this, there has been no outcry from lawmakers or regulators about these apps.

Chinese apps have been growing in popularity in the US, with many of them collecting vast amounts of user data. Unlike TikTok, which has faced scrutiny over its data privacy practices, these apps have largely flown under the radar. 

One such app is WeChat, a messaging app that has become a popular way for Chinese-Americans to stay in touch with friends and family in China. WeChat has been accused of monitoring users’ conversations and sharing data with the Chinese government. 

Another app that has raised concerns is Zoom, a video-conferencing app that has seen a surge in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom has been criticized for its lax security practices and for sharing user data with third-party companies. 

Despite these concerns, many Americans continue to use these apps without fully understanding the risks involved. This is partly due to a lack of awareness about the potential dangers of Chinese-designed apps, as well as a lack of viable alternatives.

While the US government has taken steps to restrict the use of Chinese technology in certain industries, such as telecommunications, it has yet to take action against Chinese-designed apps. This has left Americans vulnerable to potential privacy breaches and other security risks. 

In conclusion, the debate over TikTok has brought attention to the potential privacy risks posed by Chinese-designed apps. However, it is important for lawmakers and regulators to also consider the risks posed by other apps, and to take steps to protect American consumers from these risks.
Read more »
US Citizens
Data Breach Data Leak FBI Marketplace US Citizens

Feds Take Down SSNDOB Marketplace for Selling Private Data of 24 Million US Citizens

 

SSNDOB, an illicit online marketplace that sold private details of nearly 24 million US citizens, has been taken down following an international law enforcement operation conducted by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice, and Cyprus Police. 

The feds seized four domains hosting the SSNDOB marketplace as part of this operation: "ssndob.ws," "ssndob.vip," "ssndob.club," and "blackjob.biz." 

According to the DOJ, the leaked details included names, dates of birth, SSNs and credit card numbers and generated more than $19 million in revenue. 

"A series of websites that operated for years and were used to sell personal information, including the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers belonging to individuals in the United States. The SSNDOB Marketplace has listed the personal information for approximately 24 million individuals in the United States, generating more than $19 million USD in sales revenue," DOJ stated. 

While the website also sold UK citizens' birth dates, it was primarily used to sell the private data of US people for as little as $0.50. 

According to cybersecurity firm Advanced Intel, most of the data was stolen via healthcare and hospital data breaches. Subsequently, the attackers used the information to launch a financial scam. 

"SSNDOB was one of the largest crime shops offering a collection of personally identifiable information for fraudsters and played an integral part in fraud schemes. The majority of the customers used the shop data for various types of scams from tax to bank fraud," AdvIntel CEO Vitali Kremez explained. 

Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis firm, published its own report on the SSNDOB incident revealing that the marketplace received approximately $22 million worth of Bitcoin across over 100,000 transactions since April 2015, though the marketplace is believed to have been operating since at least 2013. 

However, one of the most interesting details researchers identified was a link between SSNDOB and Joker's Stash, which shut down its operations voluntarily in January 2021 due to increased pressure from law enforcement agencies, disruptions due to COVID-19, and the decreasing quality of stolen credit cards. 

"Perhaps most interesting of all though is the activity we see between SSNDOB and Joker’s Stash, a large darknet market focused on stolen credit card information and other PII that shut down in January 2021," explains Chainalysis' report. Between December 2018 and June 2019, SSNDOB sent over $100,000 worth of Bitcoin to Joker’s Stash, suggesting the two markets may have had some relationship to one another, including possibly shared ownership."
Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)