Robert MacMillan

Articles By Robert MacMillan

Adobe Shockwave bug targets Mac and Windows PCs

Adobe Shockwave bug targets Mac and Windows PCs

Adobe warned Thursday of a critical bug in its Shockwave Player that affects both Windows and Macintosh PCs.The bug, which was publicly disclosed Thursday, "could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker

Published on: October 25th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
Human error blamed for Microsoft network hack

Human error blamed for Microsoft network hack

Microsoft blamed human error after two computers on its network were hacked and then misused by spammers to promote questionable online pharmaceutical websites. Microsoft launched an investigation Tuesday, after the problem was first

Published on: October 15th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
East European gang ‘responsible’ for two-thirds of phishing attacks

East European gang ‘responsible’ for two-thirds of phishing attacks

A new report blames a single Eastern European gang for about two-thirds of all phishing attempts conducted in the last half of 2009.The phishing group -- named Avalanche by security researchers because of

Published on: May 14th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
Hacker offers up 1.5 million Facebook IDs for sale

Hacker offers up 1.5 million Facebook IDs for sale

A hacker named Kirllos has a rare deal for anyone who wants to spam, steal or scam on Facebook: an unprecedented number of user accounts offered at rock-bottom prices.Researchers at VeriSign's iDefense group

Published on: April 26th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
Microsoft introduces Kin phones to lure Facebook, Twitter users

Microsoft introduces Kin phones to lure Facebook, Twitter users

Editor's note: Kin phones are not yet available in Canada. However, a Microsoft Canada spokesperson has reportedly stated that the device will travel north of the border some time next year. Hoping to

Published on: April 14th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
What Hollywood tells you about hackers

What Hollywood tells you about hackers

Quick: What's a hacker? A pimply faced teenager in a dark bedroom trying to start World War Three, or a thirty-something professional with mad computer skills?Although today's hacker is more likely to be

Published on: February 26th, 2010 Robert MacMillan
Restaurant owner sues point-of-sales vendor following hack attack

Restaurant owner sues point-of-sales vendor following hack attack

When Keith Bond bought a computerized cash register system for his Broussard, Louisiana, restaurant, he thought he was modernizing his restaurant. Today, he believes he was unwittingly opening a back door for Romanian

Published on: December 3rd, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Banking fraudsters target Internet phone systems at SMBs

Banking fraudsters target Internet phone systems at SMBs

Cybercriminals have found a new launching pad for their scams: the phone systems of small and medium-sized businesses across the U.S.In recent weeks, they have hacked into dozens of telephone systems across the

Published on: November 2nd, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Banking trojan victims transformed into hapless mules

Banking trojan victims transformed into hapless mules

A sophisticated Trojan horse program designed to empty bank accounts has a new trick up its sleeve: It lies to investigators about where the money is going.First uncovered by Finjan Software last week,

Published on: October 7th, 2009 Robert MacMillan
700,000 potential victims notified – months after hacking incident

700,000 potential victims notified – months after hacking incident

Nearly a year after being hacked by computer extortionists, pharmacy benefits management company Express Scripts now says hundreds of thousands of members may have had their information breached because of the incident.Last November,

Published on: October 2nd, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Man pleads guilty in fake Wal-Mart credit cards scam

Man pleads guilty in fake Wal-Mart credit cards scam

A Sacramento, California, man has pleaded guilty to charges for his role in an international scam that netted sensitive information on tens of thousands of Internet users and then used that data to

Published on: September 14th, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Security guard nabbed for trying to launch ‘Devil’s Day’ attack on hospital systems

Security guard nabbed for trying to launch ‘Devil’s Day’ attack on hospital systems

The grainy video shows a bleary-eyed young man in a hoodie inside the Carrell Clinic in Dallas. As he hits the elevator button, the theme music from Mission Impossible plays in the background.

Published on: July 3rd, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Hacker uses Trojan to steal account numbers, swindle $112,000

Hacker uses Trojan to steal account numbers, swindle $112,000

A Hampton, New Hampshire, man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges for his role in a scheme to empty brokerage accounts by installing malicious Trojan horse software on victims' computers.According to court documents,

Published on: June 10th, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Spam plummets 15 per cent after plug pulled on Pricewert

Spam plummets 15 per cent after plug pulled on Pricewert

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's recent takedown of an Internet service provider thought to be a safe haven for spammers has reduced spam volumes, but not dramatically. According to e-mail security vendor Marshal8e6,

Published on: June 10th, 2009 Robert MacMillan
Deadly online attacks subvert search results on infected computers

Deadly online attacks subvert search results on infected computers

A new attack that peppers Google search results with malicious links is spreading quickly, the Computer Emergence Response Team in the U.S. warned Monday. The attack, which has intensified in recent days, can

Published on: May 20th, 2009 Robert MacMillan