Superfish Debacle Lenovo has received public reprimand not once but twice for malicious adware added to their computers. The first exposure was in early 2000’s when Lenovo shipped computers with malicious software, once identified they were restricted for use in the US State department. The second incident was in February 2015, US CERT exposed them for preinstalling Superfish visual discovery software. The visual discovery software tracks images and injects ads on the screen, similar to pop ups, in this process it install its own root certificate which leaves the system infected with a back door for hackers. Lenovo is a Chinese based Company with deep rooted ties to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, identified …show more content…
The preinstalled adware is a common practice for PC makers, only to show they have made very little money. To allow preinstalled adware/bloatware at the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) opens the consumer to numerous threats with the largest being an insider threat from the OEM. Perhaps there is an unidentified intent behind this adware from Lenovo “… (only a dope would consider ad-injecting malware to be “value-add”)” but after the security vulnerability became known to Lenovo, the company should have deemed Superfish more trouble than it’s worth.” (Auerbach 2015) Why is Lenovo so persistent to use Superfish? Does Superfish have a stronghold influence over the Lenovo Corporation? “Lenovo’s negligence is simply off the charts, even if it stemmed from little more than corporate penny-pinching.” (Auerbvach 2015). Could it be possible that Lenovo could be receiving pressure from their …show more content…
Cybersecurity is a serious issue the U.S. faces today, cyberattacks and cybercrimes are national-security threats with the possibility for disastrous consequence. Adam Lowther has identified the properties of cyberspace as unbounded and changes rapidly, a domain that is jurisdictionally complex, and provides a low cost of entry for the adversary as the United States evolves into being asymmetrically dependent on cyberspace (Lowther, 2012), what is the best way to ensure you are not being hacked? With the realization of not being able to achieve cybersecurity, companies should focus their efforts on cyber deterrence. Deterrence offers much more flexibility and increased options while achieving cybersecurity. Cyber deterrence includes options such as taking legal action and making networks invisible, maintaining resiliency. Appling Lowther’s concept of decision-making calculus through assurance and avoidance by reducing the probability of success, increasing the cost to the adversary while reducing the attack surface with agility (Lowther, 2012). These assurance and avoidance techniques should all be applied when attempting to deter the
and their use. In Committee on Deterring Cyber attacks: Informing Strategies and Developing Options (Ed.), Proceedings of a Workshop on Deterring Cyber attacks: Informing Strategies and Developing Options for U.S. Policy. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Cyber activity has increased exponentially while security strategies lack behind. Defence funding identifies Australia’s defence priorities over the last decade highlighting counter-terrorism as the biggest security risk . The 2013 National Security Strategy continues to identify counter-terrorism as its main threat. Concern over cyber crime is apparent with the strategy, encouraging integrated policy development , yet the threat has no substantial counter strategy . In recent years the large-scale information breaches release and published online represent the vulnerability of systems including infrastructure. The case studies of Anonymous and Ransomeware raise the question of the Governments ability to counter cyb...
...rovided the necessary information about the vulnerability and how they are working to prevent the issue from recurring. Just like all of the other papers that have been about this type of malware, they all agree on a few simple solutions to stop the majority of these vulnerabilities. A few examples would be: keeping your firewall, antivirus software, and operating system always updated with the latest patches. Most of the patches released are to keep prevent vulnerabilities from occurring. Unfortunately, this issue could not be prevented by the end user because it was a flaw in the implementation of the software from OpenSSL. Even the users that covered all precautions, could have been attacking by this bug. The article also provided the solution to the vulnerability which had the websites update OpenSSL and to administer the end users’ new keys.
President Obama has realized the seriousness of the upcoming threats and turned the government focus more toward defending the information and communications infrastructure and In May 2009, he issued a request from top to bottom review of the current situation. The report titled the Cyberspace Policy Review includes strategy, policy, and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace. According the white house’s cybersecurity foreign policy, the Cyberspace Policy Review highlighted two objectives and ten near-term actions to support the cybersecurity strategy.
According to CloudEight Security Tips, Spyware and adware are the number one threat to computer users (“Say” 1). Computer users whose computer system or internet connection is slower than normal are a victim of this threat. According to Wikipedia, spyware is any piece of software that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge (Spyware 1). They have also defined malware, a piece of software intended to do harm to a computer, as a classification of spyware. These types of software will unnecessarily load ads, websites you didn’t intend to visit, or collect information thus slowing down your computer system or internet connection. It’s time to search and destroy these little pieces of software off of your computer.
In 1984, the same year that Compaq introduced a PC that included Intel’s new and more powerful 80386 class of microprocessors, beating IBM to market and Michael Dell began building IBM compatible computers in his college dormitory, Lenovo was form as a shop in a small concrete bungalow in Beijing with a mandate to commercialize the Academy’s research and use the proceeds to further computer science research.
Every year, cybercrime costs businesses $400 billion and by 2019, cybercrime will have cost the global economy 2.1 trillion dollars (Morgan 1). But, economic loss isn’t the only problem caused by weak cybersecurity; weak cybersecurity measures could allow hackers to collect data on citizens, cause widespread death, and destroy entire nations. Despite the massive threat the problem poses, no one has yet to institute an effective solution. Although government regulation and website blocking attempt to eliminate cybercrime and cyberwarfare, an ideal solution exists in government guidance and collaboration with the private sector.
This gathered information is then transmitted across the internet to the author of the spyware, who then uses the newly gained information to determine which ads should target... ... middle of paper ... ...and more anti-spywares that protect your computers from viruses, and better care taken by individuals (McGuire), Americans can begin to protect themselves from the privacy predators, and hopefully start a trend that will eventually put an end to the vicious cycle of technology vs. privacy. Works Cited McGuire, David. "FTC Sues Spyware Suspects." Washingtonpost.com Apr 2004.
In regards to business practices, incentives are common tool used in negotiations. With that being said, Intel, a technology conglomerate, gave huge incentives to its customers for using computer-chip. Many would argue that Intel was wrong, while others would say Intel business practices were fair game. Below is a detailed report, discussing Intel actions.
While many people don’t realize it, there is always a risk when you use the internet. You must be able to know how to defend yourself against these attacks, or you risk losing it all. References Denholm, Martin. The. The Number One Threat to America's National Security."
The ability to conduct warfare through technological methods has increased information security awareness and the need to protect an entities infrastructure. Subsequently, cyber warfare produces increased risk to security practitioners that employ technology and other methods to mitigate risks to information and the various systems that hold or transmit data. A significant risk to information lies in the conduct of electronic commerce, hereinafter called e-commerce. E-commerce is the purchasing or selling of goods and/or services through the internet or other electronic means (Liu, Chen, Huang, & Yang, 2013). In this article, the researcher will discuss cyber warfare risks, present an evaluation on established security measures, identify potential victims of identity theft, and present an examina...
One of the largest technology company in the world, Lenovo had a humble beginning as a small Chinese firm founded in 1984. The company showed modest growth throughout the rest of the 20th century. It wasn’t until the company’s acquisition of IBM’s personal computer business in 2005 (Martin, 2014) that the company began to gain prominence in the technology industry. Lenovo’s innovation and strategic decision making has allowed the company to evolve on a global platform and enabled it to become one of the leading technology companies in the market today.
The nation has become dependent on technology, furthermore, cyberspace. It’s encompassed in everything we deliver in our daily lives, our phones, internet, communication, purchases, entertainment, flying airplane, launching missiles, operating nuclear plants, and implicitly, our protection. The more ever-growing technology empower Americans, the more they become prey to cyber threats. The United States Executive Office of the President stated, “The President identified cybersecurity as one of the top priorities of his administration in doing so, directed a 60-day review to assess polices.” (United States Executive Office of the President, 2009, p.2). Furthermore, critical infrastructure, our network, and internet alike are identified as national assets upon which the administration will orchestrate integrated cybersecurity policies without infringing upon and protecting privacy. While protecting our infrastructure, personal privacy, and civil liberties, we have to keep in mind the private sector owns and operates the majority of our critical and digital infrastructure.
The world is in another cold war, except this time countries are battling for cyber supremacy. Cyberspace is a massive land of ever-changing technology and personal interaction (McGuffin and Mitchell 1). Cyberspace is not only a place where people post pictures and update their profile, but it also plays an enormous role in running a country. Advanced countries use computers to guide their military, keep track of citizens, run their power grids, and hold plans for nuclear devices and nuclear power. Risks to commercial and government concerns are now being noticed and many countries are taking actions to prevent such threats (McGuffin and Mitchell 1).
There are different groups, from law enforcement agencies to the U.S. Secret Service, that are attempting to combat the problem through cooperation and preemptive efforts. If these groups combined with the public to protect themselves and the country from criminals that commit cybercrime, the nation’s network and technology servers would be much safer for technology users. Clearly, cybercrime is a problem because it puts internet users at risk of being taken advantage of or harmed. The advantages of technology and the internet have led more criminals to use cyberspace to commit crimes. The threat of cybercrime is increasing as globalization continues to spread across the world.