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
Developers: Intel's Automated Debugging Tool ControlFlag Now Open Source
ControlFlag can automatically detect anomalies in software code - and it could spare developers hours of tedious work.
From ACM News
Notorious Ransomware Group REvil Knocked Offline, According to Report
REvil was hacked and forced offline this week in a multiple-country effort, according to Reuters.
From ACM News
FTC Calls Out Internet Providers for Amassing User Browsing Data
Six major ISPs collect far more user data than consumers realize, the FTC warns, including data grouping those consumers by race and sexual orientation.
From ACM TechNews
Gaming-Related Malware on the Rise on Mobile, PCs
Analysts warn that popular online games are helping to spread malware on PCs and mobile devices.
From ACM News
Commerce Department Announces Rule Aimed at Stemming Sale of Hacking Tools to Russia, China
The rule is not intended to keep American researchers from working with colleagues overseas to find software flaws.
From ACM TechNews
Popular Student Monitoring Software Could Have Exposed Thousands to Hacks
The McAfee Enterprise Advanced Threat Research team found a bug in the Netop Vision Pro Education software used by about 3 million teachers and students worldwide...
From ACM TechNews
Privacy Fears as Moscow Metro Rolls Out Facial Recognition Pay System
Privacy activists warn the Moscow metro's Face Pay facial recognition payment system constitutes a sinister move by Russia to monitor and control its people.
From ACM News
Facebook Researchers Collect Thousands of Hours of First-Person Video to Train AI
The solution to machine learning problems is generally either more or better data.
From ACM TechNews
Cybersecurity Experts Sound Alarm on Apple, EU Phone Scanning Plans
Over a dozen cybersecurity experts have criticized proposals by Apple and the European Union to scan phones for illegal content.
From ACM TechNews
AI-Generated Deepfake Voices Can Fool Humans, Smart Assistants
Freely available voice-mimicking software can deceive people and voice-activated tools like smart assistants, according to University of Chicago scientists.
From ACM News
Apple Warns of Cybercrime Risks if EU Forces it to Allow Others' Software
An Apple analysis of the threats of side-loading warned of malicious apps migrating to third-party stores and infecting consumer devices.
From ACM TechNews
Study Reveals Scale of Data-Sharing from Android Phones
Vendor-customized Android variants transmit significant amounts of data from mobile phones to the operating system developer and third parties.
From ACM TechNews
Singapore Inks Pact with Finland to Mutually Recognize IoT Security Labels
Singapore and Finland have agreed to recognize each other's cybersecurity labels for Internet of Things devices.
From ACM News
'Potentially Disastrous' Data Breach Hits Livestreaming Site Twitch
A spokesman for Check Point said it was the company's "strong suspicion" that Twitch's code had truly been leaked, which was "potentially disastrous."
From ACM TechNews
Venice, Overwhelmed by Tourists, Tries Tracking Them
The leaders of Venice, Italy, are gathering the cellphone data of tourists and are using it, along with surveillance cameras, to monitor them.
From ACM TechNews
Google to Pay Developers to Make Open Source Projects More Secure
Google is investing $1 million in the Linux Foundation's Secure Open Source pilot program to make open source projects more secure.
From ACM TechNews
Trust Still at Heart of NHS COVID App Reluctance
A survey of more than 1,000 U.K. residents showed high compliance among the half of participants who had downloaded the National Health Service App.
From ACM News
Google Pledges $1 Million to Secure Open Source Software
Google's Open Source Security Team is starting with a $1-million investment, and plans to expand the program's scope based on community feedback.
From ACM News