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 News
A Vaccine Passport Is the New Golden Ticket as the World Reopens
Companies and countries that depend on travel or large gatherings are counting on a totally unproven concept.
From ACM TechNews
Hackers Breach Thousands of Security Cameras, Exposing Tesla, Jails, Hospitals
Hackers say they have compromised data from as many as 150,000 surveillance cameras, including footage from electric vehicle company Tesla.
From ACM TechNews
Swiss Company Says It Found Weakness That Imperils Encryption
Swiss technology company Terra Quantum said that it used quantum computers to expose vulnerabilities in commonly used encryption, which could threaten the confidentiality...
From ACM TechNews
The Algorithm That Could Get You Back in the Office
As company offices reopen, some are using software to help them shuffle employees, schedule meetings, map office hot spots, and practice social distancing.
From ACM TechNews
Hackers Infiltrated Many Washington State Agencies
At least 13 of Washington State's departments and commissions reportedly have been hit by a sophisticated malware attack.
From ACM TechNews
Hacker Accessed Network of U.S. Agency, Downloaded Data
The U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency says an unnamed federal agency has been the victim of a cyberattack in which a hacker accessed its network...
From ACM TechNews
National Security Agency Exposes Tool Used by Russian Hackers
The U.S. National Security Agency last week accused Russian hackers of exploiting a software vulnerability in Linux computers.
From ACM TechNews
France Says Apple Bluetooth Policy Is Blocking Virus Tracker
France said Apple's Bluetooth policy is delaying a government contact-tracing application designed to contain the coronavirus.
From ACM News
Silicon Valley Is Listening to Your Most Intimate Moments
How the world's biggest companies got millions of people to let temps analyze some very sensitive recordings.
From ACM News
Tesla’s Autopilot Could Save the Lives of Millions, But It Will Kill Some People First
The complicated ethics of Elon Musk's grand autonomous vehicle experiment.
From ACM TechNews
Louisiana Target of Attempted Ransomware Hack, Governor Says
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said attackers targeted the state with ransomware that impacted certain state servers, forcing initiation of security protocols...
From ACM TechNews
Microsoft Says Iran Tried Hack of U.S. Presidential Campaign
Microsoft says a hacker group connected to the Iranian government has tried to compromise email accounts of a U.S. presidential campaign, current and former U.S...
From ACM TechNews
Virtual Caucus at Risk After DNC Experts Hacked Conference Call
The Democratic National Committee warned its Rules and By-Laws Committee that virtual caucusing via teleconferencing may be untenable, as experts successfully hacked...
From ACM TechNews
WhatsApp Flaws Could Allow Hackers to Alter Messages
Cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies found three potential ways to alter conversations in Facebook's WhatsApp messaging app.
From ACM TechNews
Microsoft Data Shows Hackers Still Targeting U.S. Elections
A recent blog post from Microsoft indicates that nearly 10,000 state-sponsored attacks have been detected globally in the past year.
From ACM TechNews
Barr Warns Time Is Running Out for Companies to Open Encryption
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said time may be running out for major technology companies to voluntarily provide law enforcement officials access to the encrypted...
From ACM TechNews
Microsoft Wants More Security Researchers to Hack Into Its Cloud
Microsoft is encouraging security researchers to try hacking its flagship Azure cloud-computing service, so the company can find and correct vulnerabilities.
From ACM TechNews
Google Will Give sers More Control Over Who Tracks Them Online
Google is modifying its Chrome Web browser to give users more control over parties who track their online habits.
From ACM TechNews
China's Mass Surveillance More Sophisticated Than Thought
Some of China's biggest technology companies are helping the government operate a mass surveillance system.
From ACM TechNews