Vulnerabilities surge by 43 percent over 2023
Published vulnerabilities have increased by 43 percent compared to H1 2023, with 23,668 vulnerabilities reported in H1 2024 according to a new report from Forescout.
The average number of new CVEs per day is 111 or 3,381 per month, and 20 percent of exploited vulnerabilities affected VPN and network infrastructure.
VPN demand surges in the face of government social media restrictions
Governments, particularly those with a more authoritarian bent, really aren't keen on social media as it threatens their ability to control the narrative.
They especially don't like X since Elon Musk's takeover and stated commitment to free speech. In Venezuela the government recently banned the platform for 10 days. Even in the UK fingers have been pointed at the influence of social media following recent riots.
Proton VPN launches updates to protect free speech
Governments in many countries are imposing internet shutdowns at alarming rates, reaching new milestones each year with 283 shutdowns documented in 39 countries in 2023. Often these are triggered by public protests, active conflict, elections or political instability in order to keep people in the dark.
Proton VPN is announcing three major updates designed to fight censorship and protect free speech around the world.
88 percent of free Android VPNs leak data
New research from Top10VPN has captured and analyzed the network traffic of the 100 most popular free VPNs on Google's Play Store and reviewed their source code.
The findings are rather worrying, showing that 88 percent suffer some kind of data leak (IP, DNS, WebRTC) with 17 percent affected by multiple leaks.
Zero-day vulnerabilities see increased targeting by cybercriminals
Last year saw more mass compromise events arising from zero-day vulnerabilities (53 percent) than from older vulnerabilities for the first time since 2021.
The latest Attack Intelligence Report from Rapid7 also shows mass compromise events stemming from exploitation of network edge devices have almost doubled since the start of 2023, with 36 percent of widely exploited vulnerabilities occurring in network perimeter technologies. More than 60 percent of the vulnerabilities Rapid7 analyzed in network and security appliances in 2023 were exploited as zero-days.
Dark web election posts up almost 400 percent
The number of new posts on dark web forums about elections surged by 394 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, research released this week by cybersecurity firm NordVPN reveals. And in the first two months of 2024 alone, users have already published almost half as many posts.
With more than 60 countries holding national elections in 2024, representing over half of the world's population, this is a significant year in history for global democracy so it's unsurprising that there's an increase in interest.
Proton VPN rolls out new Linux app
Many people choose to browse the internet using a VPN because it offers a number of benefits including privacy and safety, and this is true whatever operating system you use.
With the launch of an all new app for Linux, Proton VPN is offering users of the open source OS greater functionality and a more intuitive interface. The Proton VPN Linux app natively supports Proton VPN's core security and privacy features.
Google has a quixotic plan to make it easier to choose a safe and reliable VPN
If you're in the market for a VPN, you're not short of choice. In fact the sheer number of VPN apps out there can be quite overwhelming, and it's a situation that is hardly improved by the existence of a seemingly endless number of fake tools.
So Google has come up with something of a solution -- albeit one that is only going to be of help to Android users. The company is looking to make Google Play a safer place to inhabit, and as part of this it is going to be highlighting VPN apps that have been independently audited so users know they can be trusted. The likes of NordVPN, Express VPN and Google's own Google One are among the first to get the seal of approval.
Microsoft releases KB5028245 update to fix wide-ranging bugs in Windows 11 21H2
As we approach the end of the month, we reach the time when Microsoft releases preview versions of the updates that will get official launches next Patch Tuesday. This time around, it is the KB5028245 update for Windows 11.
With this cumulative update, Microsoft addresses a series of problems in Windows 11 21H2, including a VPN issue that could lead to excessive ARP requests to the network gateway. Also fixed are a bug that causes incorrect reporting of the L2 cache, and another that prevents the Windows Notification Platform from issuing notifications from apps.
Construction and transport are most targeted by cybercriminals
The construction sector (with an average of 226 incidents annually) is the most targeted by cyber criminals closely followed by transport (167), wholesale trade (138), manufacturing (116) and retailers (105).
A new report from ReliaQuest, based on data from 35,000 incidents affecting its clients, shows the most detected attack technique is the attempted exploitation of exposed remote services, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and remote desktop protocol (RDP).
Summer time and cybersecurity ain't easy
Cybersecurity concerns are likely to go out of the window during the summer months according to a new study which finds that 33 percent of employees in the US and UK are less likely to worry about following best practices while working in the summer.
The research, from API and application protection platform ThreatX, also shows IT teams are struggling to monitor and enforce BYOD policies during summer months when more employees are traveling or working remotely.
Proton launches a family privacy and security plan
Online security and privacy can be difficult to achieve in a household environment, with different people using a range of devices. Proton, the company behind a number of privacy-focused services like Proton Mail and Proton VPN, may have the answer with the launch of a new family plan.
Proton Family offers an all-in-one digital security and privacy solution designed for families. The plan offers up to six family members access to Proton's premium services and features, including end-to-end encryption for emails, calendars, file storage, password management, and VPN protection.
CCleaner boosts the speed of its Kamo VPN by up to 35%
CCleaner has added the WireGuard protocol to the Private Connection mode of its antitrack and online privacy tool, Kamo.
By replacing OpenVPN, the previous default protocol, the company says Kamo users will enjoy improved security, speed and connection reliability.
Striking the right balance between development and security [Q&A]
Developers need access to many devices and internal services in order to build software. But many of these devices and services are exposed to the public web, creating gaps in security.
Add in the challenges of securing remote working and it's clear that there's a tricky balancing act needed to enable development while keeping the organization secure. We spoke to Avery Pennarun, CEO and co-founder of VPN service Tailscale, to find out how this can be achieved.
Microsoft is adding a handy VPN indicator to the Windows 11 taskbar
There have been complaints recently about Microsoft using the Start menu to promote its own OneDrive service as well as suggesting websites, but another upcoming addition to Windows 11 is likely be rather better received.
Hidden among the numerous new features of Windows 11 build 25247, is an update to the network connectivity icon that appears in the notification area of the taskbar. It provides at-a-glance information about whether your VPN is active.
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