Cyber Crime

Pierluigi Paganini November 27, 2011
E-Corruption … “who controls the controller?”

The control of information is the main concern of Governments. More or less declared the major players of a precarious global economy have implemented digital surveillance systems, from India to China, passing Russia and USA. The crucial point is the legality of these actions conducted  by Intelligence Agencies in the name of Nations Security abusing the rights of citizens.  To this we must consider another  significant issue , the corruption.  Corruption has no Country and is a cross problem […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 26, 2011
Cloud…a long journey towards a secure paradigm

When I discussed with many colleagues regarding cloud paradigm most of them smiled declaring that we face yet another found marketing to sell a methodology, known for at least a decade, under new and more appealing clothes. Indeed many of the concepts behind the cloud  approach have little innovative, but the evolutionary push to the […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 25, 2011
How much cost malware production? Which are the processes for the production of virus? (Part.1)

It is clear that the question awaits an answer deterministic, but an assessment of the main factors that influence the “final expense”. My idea is to understand what is the magnitude of the phenomenon and the costs related to a not necessarily familiar audience .  The goal is to raise awareness in the process of developing malware, and its costs. What is the purpose of the malware and how it affects the final cost? Is there a direct relationship between cost and purpose? Is there a relationship between the cost […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 25, 2011
ISP can’t be forced to filter transmissions inherent in copyright-infringing content

In recent months it has had discussions about the possibility of blocking sites that somehow support the distribution of pirated software. How to identify these sites? How to find and block communications to the final users. The role of the ISPs is fundamental because it was asked them to monitor the traffic of their customers […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 24, 2011
Water utilities hacked … another SCADA system attack

The SCADA systems at the Water utilities in Illinois were hacked by a malicious attacker. “the SCADA system was powered on and off, burning out a water pump.” This is what the hacker has posted  giving proof of a direct compromise of the SCADA systems at this water utility confirming that there was actual damage. […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 23, 2011
Cyber Threats, high social impact but … which is the level of awareness?

Last week I had the opportunity to discuss with my father of adverse economic situation and in particular of the Italian public spending. I have introduced some reference to the arms and in particular cyber weapons. What are they? What are the threats we face? What is the social cost to fight and mitigate the […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 22, 2011
Massive DNS poisoning: What happened to brazilian ISPs?

What is purpose for DNS cache poisoning attacks? DNS cache poisoning is an  attack methodology used to compromise in the Domain Name System and is made introduceding data artifacts into a DNS name server’s cache database that did not originate from authoritative sources. Consider that the domain name server translates a domain name into an specific […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 21, 2011
Hacking satellites

In a few days we have heard of a couple of satellite attacks by hackers meanwhile surfing on the web I came across more than one occasion in satellite photos reporting strange structures that we asked the real intended use. The successful attacks occurred in 2007 and 2008. The more serious of the two happened […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 20, 2011
Elude control … let’s digitally sign malware code

F-Secure Researchers have discovered a digitally signed malware that has code signed with a stolen government certificate belonging to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. The issue has long been known and this attack methodic has triggered a widespread lack of confidence in the process of trusting based on the use of certificates. The impairment […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 19, 2011
The business of Censorship. Golden Shield Project, but not only …

““If you open the window for fresh air,  you have to expect some flies to blow in” this is the Deng Xiaoping’s phrase, which summarizes the essence of the “Golden Shield Project” also Known as the “Great Firewall of China”. The project is related to the development of the most efficient system of censorship and surveillance in the world of the People’sRepublic of China. The project was started in 1998 and officially began in 2003 driven by the government to operate the control of […]