The Chinese nation-state group dubbed Alloy Taurus is using a Linux variant of a backdoor called PingPull as well as a new undocumented tool codenamed Sword2033. . That's according to findings from Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, which discovered recent malicious cyber activity carried out by the group targeting South Africa and Nepal. Alloy Taurus is the constellation-themed moniker assigned to a threat actor that's known for its attacks targeting telecom companies since at least 2012. It's also tracked by Microsoft as Granite Typhoon (previously Gallium). Last month, the adversary was attributed to a campaign called Tainted Love targeting telecommunication providers in the Middle East as part of a broader operation referred to as Soft Cell. The link for this article located at The Hacker News is no longer available. . Investigations from San Jose indicate that Alloy Leo is focusing on countries employing the Unix ConnectDrop exploit and Diamond2021 software.. Alloy Taurus, Linux Malware, Telecom Cyber Threats. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
The net neutrality debate is divided into two camps: Fighting against net neutrality are the telecom companies and cable providers, who provide Internet access to consumers. Opposing them are content providers like Google, Amazon, and non-profits like MoveOn.org and the National Religious Broadcasters. But what are they fighting about? . The link for this article located at HowStuffWorks.com is no longer available. . The link for this article located at HowStuffWorks.com is no longer available.. neutrality, debate, divided, camps, fighting, against, telecom. . Benjamin D. Thomas
COMMENTARY--Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) looks to be the next big deal, a business disrupter that could change everything in the telecoms world. The first service offerings have been launched and customer . . .. The first service offerings have been launched and customer take-up has been rapid. Of course, the big selling point is a 10-fold price reduction over the telephone offerings of the incumbents. Other benefits include the end of charging based on distance and service, more customer control and choice and a bevy of new services not currently available from telcos. But like so many new developments, all is not necessarily as advertised on the box. It is easy to criticize the telcos for being slow, ponderous, expensive, backward looking and controlling, though they have one redeeming quality that is the envy of IT--reliability. Over 100 years of continual engineering development have led to performance standards from telcos that have yet to be attained by other industries. The transmission quality and call completion rate are monitored and maintained globally to a very high standard. And the established reliability of a local switch is the fabled 5 x 9s, or 99.999 per cent uptime--that's a yearly downtime of less than five minutes. This is an impressive number that is not easily achieved without the duplication of switching and control circuits and power supplies. Contrast this with other technologies that we enjoy and you will see what I mean. Such performance has led to the notion that you can always rely on the telephone no matter what. This is not something that can be said of mobile networks or indeed VoIP, where I sometimes think it would be nice to see reliability figures exceeding 9 x 5s (55.5555555 per cent). The link for this article located at Peter Cochrane, Silicon.com is no longer available. . VoIP is transforming telecommunications through swift user engagement, innovative options, and enhanced offerings; discover its effects today.. VoIP, Telecom Innovation, CommunicationServices. . Anthony Pell
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has asked telecommunications companies to make changes in their state-of-the-art networks to make it easier for the FBI to conduct surveillance, according to a report. The FBI, which hopes to gain the same access to voice . . . . The Federal Bureau of Investigation has asked telecommunications companies to make changes in their state-of-the-art networks to make it easier for the FBI to conduct surveillance, according to a report. The FBI, which hopes to gain the same access to voice communications that it has gained with e-mail through use of its controversial Carnivore snooping technology, made the request in a 32-page document sent to telecom companies earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The FBI's request was in the works before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to the report, but those events have lent new credence to the issue. Expanded law enforcement capabilities have been a priority since the attacks, with the new Patriot Act giving law enforcement broad powers amid criticism from civil libertarians. The link for this article located at ZDNet is no longer available. . The Federal Bureau of Investigation has asked telecommunications companies to make changes in their . federal, bureau, investigation, asked, telecommunications, companies, changes, their. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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