Andrew Blake
Articles by Andrew Blake
China stole data from 600 American cyber targets, says NSA
The Chinese government has successfully stolen data from the computer systems of more than 600 American targets during the course of the Obama administration, including private sector and military entities. Published July 31, 2015
OnStar exploit gives hackers access to car engine, locks
GM's OnStar system is supposed to make being behind the wheel all the more easier, but a hacker has found a flaw that could cause chaos for millions of drivers. Published July 31, 2015
Commerce Dept. dumps plans for software exports after outcry
An uproar over proposed export restrictions on software used to break into computers and smartphones has caused the Department of Commerce to go back to the drawing board. Published July 30, 2015
Senate panel wants DHS to control .gov domains
A Senate committee is quickly moving forward on a proposal that gives the U.S. Department of Homeland Security more authority in protecting government websites. Published July 30, 2015
Anti-spy browser tool combats monitoring of behavioral biometrics
You can learn a lot about a person by the websites they visit, but what can be inferred by the speed of their keystrokes? Two privacy-minded security experts have released a tool that they say obscures the digital footprints left not by metadata, but behavioral biometrics. Published July 30, 2015
Russia to blame for stealthy cyber campaign that uses Twitter, security firm says
Security experts suspect that hackers working on behalf of the Russian government are behind a sophisticated cyber campaign in which infected computers are controlled through hidden messages embedded within image files shared over Twitter. Published July 30, 2015
David Vincenzetti, Hacking Team CEO, says terrorists and criminals are benefiting from breach
The CEO of a recently hacked spyware vendor says the attack against his company has made it easier for criminals and terrorists to operate, but privacy advocates say the breach has been instrumental in propelling an international discussion on surveillance tech. Published July 29, 2015
CISA, or Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, likely delayed until fall
Consideration of a controversial cybersecurity bill that encourages private companies to share data with the federal government is now expected to be delayed until the fall, with opponents attributing the holdup to their grassroots efforts aimed at derailing the act. Published July 29, 2015
Florida cop accused of treating inmate like animal, caught on camera
A Florida police officer is under investigation after a local newspaper obtained jailhouse footage of the cop tossing peanuts into the mouth of a homeless man and reportedly barking "dog commands" at him. Published July 28, 2015
NSA bulk-collected phone records to be purged in November
Historic phone records collected in bulk by the National Security Agency are poised to be purged from the NSA's database later this year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said this week. Published July 28, 2015
Stephen Leber, Mass. detective, caught on video threatening to ‘put a hole’ in driver’s head
A veteran Boston-area police detective is under investigation after video surfaced of him threatening to "put a hole" in a motorist's head after a minor traffic infraction. Published July 28, 2015
Cyber bill opponents fight CISA with the power of fax
Activists opposed to an information sharing proposal about to be brought back up in the Senate are asking others to fax their complaints to Capitol Hill. Published July 27, 2015
Satanic Temple unveils statue in Detroit, says Arkansas State House is next
The Satanic Temple of Detroit has successfully unveiled a 9-foot-tall bronze sculpture of the hooved goat-headed figure Baphomet in the Motor City, notwithstanding efforts to quash a weekend event that organizers had billed as the "largest Satanic ceremony in history." Published July 27, 2015
Chief Keef rap concert shut down near Chicago: ‘Anti-cop, pro-gang and pro-drug use’
Rapper Chief Keef's benefit concert outside of Chicago was shutdown by police minutes after it started after he appeared in the form of a hologram from a remote location. Published July 27, 2015
Cleveland police pepper-spray protesters at ‘Black Lives Matter’ rally
A "Black Lives Matter" rally held in Cleveland over the weekend briefly turned tumultuous when local police discharged pepper spray at participants while attempting to disperse a crowd of protesters. Published July 27, 2015
CDC warns of dangers of marijuana edibles
Government health experts warn in a new report that the risks of consuming marijuana-infused edibles like weed brownies and other snacks mustn't be understated following the suicide last year of a man whose death has been blamed on pot. Published July 26, 2015
YouTube risks being blacklisted, Russia warns
YouTube has been warned by Russia that the video-sharing portal could soon end up on the Kremlin's growing list of banned websites due to a recent copyright infringement spat. Published July 24, 2015
Fiat Chrysler: 1.4 million autos recalled over hacker threat
Fiat Chrysler is recalling roughly 1.4 million automobiles after security researchers successfully demonstrated that certain high-tech cars can be remotely hacked and commandeered. Published July 24, 2015
Marijuana in edibles not risk-free, holds ‘potential danger,’ CDC says
Government health experts warn in a new report that the risks of consuming marijuana-infused edibles like weed brownies and other snacks mustn't be understated following the suicide last year of a man whose death has been blamed on pot. Published July 24, 2015
Census Bureau database breached by hackers
Hackers have breached a computer network used by the U.S. Census Bureau and have made off with "non-confidential" information from a government database that has since been published online, the agency admits. Published July 24, 2015
