---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <4E6665B0-D1AB-4965-B226-0DFECE380E00@roscom.com> Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2017 11:51:09 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Wary of Hackers, States Move to Upgrade Voting Systems Wary of Hackers, States Move to Upgrade Voting Systems New equipment and security protocols are part of the response to Russian meddling in 2016. But lack of money is an obstacle. Reacting in large part to Russian efforts to hack the presidential election last year, a growing number of states are upgrading electoral databases and voting machines, and even adding cybersecurity experts to their election teams. The efforts - from both Democrats and Republicans - amount to the largest overhaul of the nation's voting infrastructure since the contested presidential election in 2000 spelled an end to punch-card ballots and voting machines with mechanical levers. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/14/us/voting-russians-hacking-states-.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2BB3C14D-6949-4385-B89B-356728331D8C@roscom.com> Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2017 07:43:04 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: The World Once Laughed at North Korean Cyberpower. No More. The World Once Laughed at North Korean Cyberpower. No More. While the world is fixated on its nuclear missiles, North Korea has also developed a cyberattack program that is stealing millions and unleashing havoc. When North Korean hackers tried to steal $1 billion from the New York Federal Reserve last year, only a spelling error stopped them. They were digitally looting an account of the Bangladesh Central Bank, when bankers grew suspicious about a withdrawal request that had misspelled "foundation" as "fandation." Even so, Kim Jong-un's minions still got away with $81 million in that heist. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/15/world/asia/north-korea-hacking-cyber-sony.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share ------------------------------ Message-ID: <E5F8408D-6062-4F96-A672-F472A334236A@roscom.com> Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2017 03:32:11 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: T-Mobile customer data plundered thanks to bad API T-Mobile customer data plundered thanks to bad API A bug disclosed and patched last week by T-Mobile in a Web application interface allowed anyone to query account information by simply providing a phone number. That includes customer e-mail addresses, device identification data, and even the answers to account security questions. The bug, which was patched after T-Mobile was contacted by Motherboard's Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai on behalf of an anonymous security researcher, was apparently also exploited by others, giving them access to information that could be used to hijack customers' accounts and move them to new phones. Attackers could potentially gain access to other accounts protected by SMS-based "two factor" authentication simply by acquiring a T-Mobile SIM card. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/10/t-mobile-website-bug-apparently-exploited-to-mine-sensitive-account-data/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <9F3E9C9B-3688-4961-8C83-B543B3231C50@roscom.com> Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2017 03:30:34 -0400 From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com> Subject: Comcast found a way to raise other cable companies' prices, rivals say Comcast found a way to raise other cable companies' prices, rivals say Comcast is increasingly making demands in TV programming contract negotiations that would force its smaller rivals to raise their minimum cable TV prices, a lobby group for small cable companies told the Federal Communications Commission yesterday. The American Cable Association (ACA), which represents nearly 800 small and medium-sized cable operators, asked the FCC to investigate the practice and prohibit it under its program access rules. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/10/comcast-found-a-way-to-raise-other-cable-companies-prices-rivals-say/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20171016180311.GA3516@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2017 14:03:11 -0400 From: Bill Horne <bill@horneQRM.net> Subject: Frontier, CenturyLink, Windstream see broadband wireless as a gap filler for CAF-II obligations Editor's Corner - Frontier, CenturyLink, Windstream see broadband wireless as a gap filler for CAF-II obligations, but is it optimal? by Sean Buckley Frontier's recent revelation that it intends to use fixed wireless to address the rural broadband availability problem using the second phase of the FCC's Connect America Fund (CAF-II) program is set on a simple goal: extend broadband to areas where deploying wireline facilities is prohibitive. What's interesting about Frontier is that other than being a supplier of backhaul, the telco is mainly a wireline carrier. Can it effectively overcome engineering and regulatory challenges to complement rural wireline broadband with wireless? https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/editor-s-corner-frontier-centurylink-windstream-see-broadband-wireless-as-a-gap-filler-for -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly) ------------------------------ ********************************************* End of telecom Digest Tue, 17 Oct 2017