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
Hacker Releases Georgia County Election Data After Ransom Not Paid
A computer hacker publicly released election-related files from Hall County, GA, after county officials failed to pay a ransom.
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
Website Predicts Likelihood of Cyberattacks Between Nations
Computer scientists have created a database that aims to predict the likelihood of cyberattacks between nations.
From ACM News
Officials Warn of Cyberattacks on Hospitals as Virus Cases Spike
Government officials warned that hackers were seeking to hold American hospitals' data hostage in exchange for ransom payments.
From ACM TechNews
National Guard Called in to Thwart Cyberattack in Louisiana Weeks Before Election
The Louisiana National Guard has been called in to investigate a series of cyberattacks aimed at small government offices across the state.
From ACM News
Ransomware vs WFH: How Remote Working is Making Cyberattacks Easier to Pull Off
This year has forced organizations to adapt quickly to enabling employees to work from home. That's creating 'chaos with no control' - which cyber criminals are...
From ACM TechNews
Singapore Tightens Security Requirements for Home Routers
Beginning next April, home Wi-Fi routers sold in Singapore must meet new security requirements.
From ACM News
Russians Who Pose Election Threat Have Hacked Nuclear Plants and Power Grid
The hacking group, Energetic Bear, is among Russia's stealthiest. It appears to be casting a wide net to find useful targets ahead of the election, experts said...
From ACM News
The U.S.-China Conflict Over Chips Is About to Get Uglier
Politics is roiling the semiconductor business model, sparking a drive for more autonomy from the U.S. to China, Europe and Japan.
From ACM TechNews
Cybersecurity Company Finds Hacker Selling Info on 186 Million U.S. Voters
Cybersecurity company Trustwave says it discovered a hacker selling personally identifying information on 245 million Americans, including voter registration data...
From ACM TechNews
The Police Can Probably Break Into Your Phone
Washington DC-based nonprofit Upturn found law enforcement officials regularly break into encrypted smartphones, and police in all U.S. states have phone-hacking...
From Communications of the ACM
Terahertz Networks Move Closer to Reality
The desire for faster, higher-frequency wireless networking is a constant. Terahertz technology could deliver large gains.
From ACM TechNews
Cyber Command Sought to Disrupt World's Largest Botnet, Hoping to Reduce Its Potential Impact on the Election
U.S. Cyber Command (CyberCom) has launched a campaign to temporarily disrupt the world's largest botnet, in order to mitigate its potential interference in the...
From ACM TechNews
Hackers Targeting IoT Devices With a P2P Botnet Malware
Qihoo 360's Netlab security team has discovered the HEH Botnet, which hijacks Internet-connected smart devices to carry out nefarious tasks.
From ACM TechNews
Experts: Florida Voting Machines Ripe for Foreign Hackers
Computer scientists have expressed concerns about the security of voting machines used in 49 Florida counties.
From ACM TechNews
Visa, JPMorgan Already Preparing for Potential Quantum Cyberattacks
Researchers at Visa Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are developing new processes to try to thwart eventual quantum computing cyberattacks.
From ACM TechNews
Buenos Aires Using Facial Recognition System That Tracks Child Suspects, Rights Group Says
Human Rights Watch says Buenos Aires is using a facial recognition system connected to a database that includes child suspects and is publishing warrants for their...
From ACM News
Split-Second 'Phantom' Images Can Fool Tesla's Autopilot
Researchers found they could stop a Tesla by flashing a few frames of a stop sign for less than half a second on an Internet-connected billboard.
From ACM TechNews
Undocumented Backdoor That Covertly Takes Snapshots Found in Kids' Smartwatch
Researchers at Norwegian security company Mnemonic found an undocumented backdoor in the X4 smartwatch marketed by children's watch vendor Xplora.
From ACM TechNews