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
Insurers Cut Cyber Cover as Ransomware Losses Surge
Insurance firms are worried about profits as ransomware gangs become more sophisticated.
From ACM TechNews
BotenaGo Botnet Targets Millions of IoT Devices with 33 Exploits
AT&T researchers found the BotenaGo malware botnet uses 33 exploits to attack millions of routers, modems, network attached storage, and Internet of Things devices...
From ACM News
Apple's Plan to Scan Handset Images Stopped Before It Started
When Apple announced its plan to scan iCloud Photos for child pornography, privacy groups were quick to condemn it.
From ACM News
Another Intel Chip Flaw Puts a Slew of Gadgets at Risk
The vulnerability allows an attacker with physical access to the CPU to bypass the security measures protecting some of its most sensitive data.
From ACM News
Top 200 Most Common Passwords
The list of passwords was compiled in partnership with independent researchers specializing in research of cybersecurity incidents. They evaluated a 4TB database...
From ACM News
Big Data Privacy for Machine Learning Just Got 100 Times Cheaper
Rice University hashing method slashes cost of implementing differential privacy.
From ACM News
Ransomware Hackers Have the Upper Hand
Hackers put companies under intense pressure to pay ransoms quickly to get their computers systems back online.
From ACM TechNews
Researchers Uncover Software Flaws Leaving Medical Devices Vulnerable to Hackers
Researchers say they have discovered over a dozen software vulnerabilities that could be used to crash medical devices and other equipment.
From ACM News
What Caused the Facebook Outage?
Why was the social media service and its related properties out of service for hours, frustrating users and Facebook engineers alike?
From ACM TechNews
True, Untrue Viral News Move Equally Through Twitter
A study found both true and untrue viral news spread through Twitter at the same speed, breadth, and depth.
From ACM News
When Finnish Researchers Took On the Twitter Trolls
A nation's scientists took to social media in response to criticism of their research, with surprising results. Sami Syrjämäki describes what happened.
From ACM News
Andrew Chi-Chih Yao Receives 2021 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology
Yao contributed to cutting-edge research in areas including security, secure computing, and quantum computation.
From ACM News
Bipartisan Bill Takes Aim at Algorithms
The bill would require Internet platforms to let people use a version of their services where content is not selected by "opaque algorithms" driven by personal...
From ACM News
Meta to Remove Thousands of Sensitive Ad-Targeting Categories
Shielding users' interests in topics like race, health, religion, and politics.
From ACM TechNews
Congress Mandates Technologies to Stop Drunk Driving
The U.S. Congress is requiring automakers to develop technologies that prevent drunk driving.
From ACM TechNews
Boxing Body Uses AI Vetting of Judges to Restore Trust
The International Boxing Association used an artificial intelligence system to evaluate judges and referees before clearing them for the current men's world championships...
From ACM TechNews
Identity Verification Technique Offers Robust Solution to Hacking
Scientists have developed a secure identity verification technique based on the precept that information cannot exceed the speed of light.
From ACM News
Biden Administration Orders Federal Agencies to Fix Hundreds of Cyber Flaws
Agencies come under new pressure to close cybersecurity flaws after sometimes balking at such measures in the past.
From ACM TechNews
Tech Companies Push Users to Adopt Two-Factor Authentication
Technology companies are more aggressively urging the use of two-factor authentication by users, with some making the process mandatory.
From ACM News