Communications of the ACM
An edited collection of advanced computing news from Communications of the ACM, ACM TechNews, other ACM resources, and news sites around the Web.
From ACM TechNews
Hackers Got Past Windows Hello by Tricking Webcam
Researchers uncovered a security feature bypass vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows Hello system that permitted them to manipulate a USB webcam to unlock a Windows...
From ACM TechNews
Chinese Phone Games Now Require Facial Scans to Play at Night
Chinese video game publisher Tencent has added a facial recognition system to more than 60 of its China-specific smartphone games.
From ACM TechNews
Microsoft's Emergency Patch Fails to Fix Critical 'PrintNightmare' Vulnerability
Researchers warn a Microsoft software patch did not fully correct a flaw in the Windows operating system that allows hackers to commandeer infected networks.
From ACM News
Chipmaker Says It Will Ramp Up Production of Older 28nm Chips
Fourth-largest contract chipmaker aiming at supply problems for carmakers, others.
From ACM News
New Android Malware Found with Full Range of Spying Capabilities
Despite its sophistication, the app can be easy for more experienced users to spot.
From ACM TechNews
The Bitcoin Blockchain Is Helping Keep a Botnet From Being Taken Down
Researchers found that a botnet they have been following disguised one of its IP addresses in the bitcoin blockchain to guard against a command-and-control server...
From ACM TechNews
Kazakhstan Spies on Citizens' HTTPS Traffic; Browser-Makers Fight Back
Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Microsoft are partnering to stop Kazakhstan's government from decrypting and reading HTTPS-encrypted traffic between citizens and...
From ACM TechNews
Up to 3 Million Devices Infected by Malware-Laced Chrome and Edge Add-ons
Researchers warned Wednesday that up to 3 million devices have been infiltrated by malware-impregnated Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browser extensions that...
From ACM News
'A Damn Stupid Thing to Do'—the Origins of C
Today, C may be a lingua franca among programmers. This is its (abridged) history.
From ACM TechNews
FBI/DHS: Government Systems Face Threat From Zerologon Exploits
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security have detected attackers exploiting a Windows vulnerability against state and local...
From ACM TechNews
This Device Keeps Voice Assistants From Snooping on You
An international team of researchers has developed a Raspberry Pi-based device that eventually may be able to warn users when Amazon's Alexa and other voice assistants...
From ACM TechNews
Supply-Chain Attack Hits RubyGems Repository with 725 Malicious Packages
ReversingLabs researchers found more than 725 malicious packages in RubyGems, the official channel for distributing programs and code libraries for the Ruby programming...
From ACM TechNews
Ransomware Forces Hospitals to Turn Away All but Most Critical Patients
Ransomware has crippled hospitals in Alabama and Australia, blocking admission for all but the most critical new patients.
From ACM TechNews
Microsoft Warns Wormable Windows Bug Could Lead to Another WannaCry
Microsoft warns a serious vulnerability in Windows Remote Desktop Services could be exploited to launch a WannaCry-level attack against Internet-connected computers...
From ACM TechNews
'RobbinHood' Ransomware Takes Down Baltimore City Government Networks
A "RobbinHood" ransomware attack earlier this week crippled networks used by Baltimore's city government.
From ACM News
They Didn't Buy the DLC: Feature that Could've Prevented 737 Crashes Was Sold As an Option
The crashed Lion Air 737 MAX and the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX aircraft had more in common than aircraft design and the apparently malfunctioning flight system...
From ACM TechNews
A DNS Hijacking Wave Is Targeting Companies at an Almost nprecedented Scale
Federal authorities and private researchers are warning companies about a wave of domain hijacking attacks.
From ACM News
What’s in the Sweeping Copyright Bill Just Passed by the European Parliament
Legislation now goes to a three-way negotiation within the EU.
From ACM News
Critical PGP and S/MIME Bugs can Reveal Encrypted Emails—ninstall Now
The flaws can expose emails sent in the past and "pose an immediate threat."
From ACM News