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Steve Gibson, the man who coined the term spyware and created the first anti-spyware program, creator of SpinRite and ShieldsUP, discusses the hot topics in security today with Leo Laporte.
Records live every Tuesday at 4:30pm Eastern / 1:30pm Pacific / 20:30 UTC.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
22 hours ago
SN 941: We told you so! - NSA hacked Huawei? MS big AI data blunder, ValiDrive update
* Apple has quietly removed support for Postscript in macOS Ventura over security concerns with the outdated interpreter language.
* China has formally accused the NSA of hacking and maintaining access to Huawei servers since 2009, based on documents from Edward Snowden.
* A misconfigured Azure Shared Access Signature token resulted in 38TB of sensitive internal Microsoft data being exposed, including employee backups with passwords.
* The Signal messaging platform has added a post-quantum encryption protocol called PQXDH, combining its existing X3DH with the believed quantum-resistant CRYSTALS-Kyber system.
* A zero-day iOS exploit chain was used to target Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Eltantawy, redirecting his traffic to install spyware after visiting a non-HTTPS site.
* Steve gave an update on the status of his forthcoming ValiDrive USB validation utility, explaining delays due to challenges working at the USB level under Windows.
* A blog post argued that the complexity of modern web browsers has made it impossible to create competitive new browsers from scratch.
* An emailer claimed to have a mathematical algorithm that can generate truly random numbers.
* Another emailer asked whether encrypting and deleting a hard drive could substitute for overwriting with random data.
* There was an explanation of how public key encryption can be used bidirectionally for both encryption and authentication.
* Listener questions whether all stolen LastPass vaults will eventually be decrypted.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-941-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Ant Pruitt
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT
* GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT
* Melissa.com/twit
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Sep 19, 2023
SN 940: When Hashes Collide - Secure-wipe best practices, browser identity segregation, bye bye Twitter (X)
* Last week's news about evidence of LastPass vault decryption targeting cryptocurrency keys, and the UK's backing down on its encryption monitoring legislation.
* How hardware security modules (HSMs) allow cryptographic operations like code signing without exposing private keys.
* Browser identity segregation using multiple profiles rather than separate browsers.
* Requirements and best practices for securely wiping data from modern solid state drives.
* A countdown clock for the 32-bit UNIX time rollover in the year 2038.
* Steve's plan to move off Twitter and onto email lists for Security Now communication.
* A deep dive into cryptographic hash collisions, using fewer hash bits, and balancing anonymity with statistical meaning.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-940-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* bitwarden.com/twit
* joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT
* drata.com/twit
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Sep 12, 2023
SN 939: LastMess - Online Safety Bill, Microsoft Outlook breach details, auto brand data privacy
* UK government appears to back down on demands to break encryption in Online Safety Bill
* Microsoft reveals how China-based hackers acquired secret key used to breach Outlook accounts
* Multiple flaws allowed key to improperly leave highly secure environment
* Mozilla research finds all major auto brands fail on privacy protection
* Evidence suggests LastPass encrypted vault data is being decrypted
* Researchers tie $35M in crypto thefts to compromised LastPass accounts
* Brute force feasible on old low iteration count passwords
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-939-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Jason Howell
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* cs.co/twit
* GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT
* panoptica.app
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Sep 5, 2023
SN 938: Apple Says No - Topics coming to Android, Apple security research, browser extension vulnerabilities
* Steve provides an update on ValiDrive, his new freeware utility for testing USB drives. It identifies bogus mass storage drives and performance differences between drives.
* There has been another sighting of Google's Topics API, this time on Android phones. It allows apps to get information about users' interests based on recent app usage.
* Apple has opened up their iPhones to security researchers through their Security Research Device program since 2019. Researchers get access to customize kernels, entitlements, and other low-level features without compromising security.
* Research reveals vulnerabilities in browser extensions that allow them to steal plaintext passwords from a website's HTML source code. Even sites like Google, Facebook, Amazon, IRS, and Capital One are affected.
* Feedback from listeners on topics like Apple's stance on scanning iCloud data for CSAM, Microsoft's broken TLS timestamp implementation, using VirusTotal to check downloaded files, ReadSpeed limitations, and downloading malware for VirusTotal checks.
* Apple publicly shares a letter from a CSAM activist demanding they implement scanning to detect child abuse images in iCloud Photos. Apple responds clearly stating they will not compromise user privacy and security to do so.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-938-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* drata.com/twit
* panoptica.app
* canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT
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Aug 29, 2023
SN 937: The Man in the Middle - WinRAR v6.23, fake flash drives, Voyager2 antenna, Google Topics
* Picture of the Week: Steve shares a funny "what we say vs what we mean" image about tech support conversations.
* WinRAR v6.23 fixes: Steve explains that updating to the latest WinRAR is more important than initially thought, with two critical vulnerabilities being actively exploited by hackers since April to install malware.
* HTTPS for local networks: Responding to listener email, Steve agrees HTTP is fine for local network devices like routers but notes risks in larger corporate networks.
* Portable domains for email: Steve endorses a listener suggestion to purchase your own domain and use third-party services, retaining control if a provider shuts down.
* Google Topics and monopolies: Steve and Leo debate whether Topics favors large advertisers with greater reach to get user targeting data.
* Voyager 2 antenna analysis: A listener calculates the antenna beam width mathematically, showing 2 degrees off-axis may not be as remarkable as it sounded.
* Windows time settings: Steve clarifies the STS issue does not impact end users changing Windows clock settings, it's enterprise server-side.
* Unix time in TLS handshakes: The hosts discuss why Unix time stamps are sent but not required for TLS, tracing back to early nonce generation.
* Fake flash drives: Steve warns of a slew of fake high-capacity thumb drives flooding the market, explaining how SpinRite tests detected the flaw.
* Man-in-the-middle attacks: While agreeing HTTPS helps prevent malicious injection, Steve examines MITM attack practicality, arguing they are difficult for hackers to pull off.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-937-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* kolide.com/securitynow
* canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT
* Building Cyber Resilience Podcast
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Aug 22, 2023
SN 936: When Heuristics Backfire - OpenSUSE, SanDisk and Western Digital, 8Base, TSSHOCK
* OpenSUSE goes private.
* Android to get satellite comms.
* SanDisk and Western Digital in hot water.
* You're asking for it: YouTube children's privacy.
* Whoopsie! 8Base.
* Where the money is.
* The TSSHOCK vulnerability.
* BitForge.
* A Quantum resilient security key.
* Removed Chrome extensions notifications.
* HTTPS by default?
* WinRAR 6.23 final released.
* Closing the Loop.
* When Heuristics Backfire.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-936-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* panoptica.app
* kolide.com/securitynow
* joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT
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Aug 15, 2023
SN 935: "Topics" Arrives - Firefox multi-account containers, DuckDuckGo email alias, satellite crowding
* Picture of the Week.
* Security Now!'s 18th birthday!
* Closing the Loop.
* Firefox Multi-Account Containers.
* A question about Full Disk Encryption on SSD's.
* Should I run SpinRite before I back up my drives to a NAS?
* Overly complex password rules.
* DuckDuckGo's email alias.
* The new Russian Astra Linux based OS can not legally be possible.
* Regarding satellite crowding: The skies won't be darkening anytime soon.
* This is what came to mind on the Voyager 2 segment with the shout.
* Can you please share the name of the session manager that you use in Firefox?
* The numbers behind the Voyager recorrection.
* "Topics" Arrives.
* How Topics Works.
Show Notes: https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-935-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* cs.co/twit
* Building Cyber Resilience Podcast
* bitwarden.com/twit
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Aug 8, 2023
SN 934: Revisiting Global Privacy Control - Voyager 2, MS Security, keyboard acoustic side-channel attacks
* Picture of the Week.
* NASA "shouted" at Voyager.
* Another view of Microsoft.
* What about this Chinese attack?
* AI meets Keyboard Acoustic Side-Channel attacks.
* Closing the Loop.
* Revisiting Global Privacy Control.
Show Notes: https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-934-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT
* canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT
* cs.co/twit
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Aug 1, 2023
SN 933: TETRA:BURST - Satellite Turla, Android tracker tech, VirusTotal 2023 report, open source in Russia
* Picture of the Week.
* Satellite Turla: APT Command and Control in the Sky.
* OS 17 to further crack down on device fingerprinting.
* Android to start warning of "unknown trackers".
* The 7th branch of the US military.
* Russia criminalizes open source project contribution.
* VirusTotal's 2023 report.
* Closing the Loop.
* TETRA:BURST.
Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-933-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* Building Cyber Resilience Podcast
* bitwarden.com/twit
* drata.com/twit
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Jul 25, 2023
SN 932: Satellite Insecurity, Part 2 - Apple vs UK, Cyber Resilience Act, Web Environment Integrity
* Picture of the Week.
* R.I.P. Kevin Mitnick.
* Apple says: "Thanks, but we'd rather leave."
* Web Environment Integrity.
* Web Analytics under the spotlight.
* More progress on the IoT security front.
* The "Expeditionary cyber force".
* Ransomware payouts being made much less often.
* MOVEit Update.
* TikTok + Passkeys.
* Closing the Loop.
* SpinRite.
* Satellite Insecurity, Part 2.
Show Notes: https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-932-Notes.pdf
Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.
Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit
You can submit a question to Security Now! at the GRC Feedback Page.
For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6.
Sponsors:
* drata.com/twit
* GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT
* bitwarden.com/twit
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