APPLE CONFIRMS INFECTED APPS

This recent week, another case of hacking has occurred. It seems a never-ending topic. There will always be some article on the news talking about cyber attacking. However, why this time is every newspaper talking about this new case? Because the affected company was Apple. And there were quite a bit consumers who still thought that Apple devices never get viruses. Now they will have to change their minds.

40 to 300 apps available on the App store have been affected by a malicious code created by hackers, the majority of the apps were created in China. 40 apps do not seem as much compared to the thousands of apps available at the app store. However, this incident may affect millions of users around the world, furthermore some of the apps were very popular such as Angry Birds 2.

The apps created with the malicious software have been removed from the Apple Store. However, once the app has been used, it opened other websites to infect the device with viruses. Moreover, the Apple password was also asked to steal its user information.

Some of the popular apps infected.       Source: tecnologia.elpais.com

Other hacking cases will occur in the future. No device is safe from these attacks. Apple do suffers too, although it was thought of as having better security. However, I would like to note that it was not due to a lack of security in Apple's software. Hackers took advantage of the Chinese Xcode which is used to create the apps. Yes, Apple products get viruses too, at least it seemed that they didn't have as many as other devices. Maybe we have to reconsider that.

SYNFUL KNOCK HITS CISCO'S ROUTERS

Internet is considered as one of Humanity’s best inventions. However it is increasingly seen as a threat to our own privacy. Our opinion towards internet is turning negative. Ashley Madison among others have recently suffered from cyber attacks. Another recent case was Cisco, the worldwide leader in IT. Are these cases changing the way we use Internet?

A new form of malicious software (SYNful Knock), has been implanted in 79 Cisco’s routers in 19 countries. The hackers could use this spying tool to access important  and useful data. SYNful Knock avoids firewalls, anti-virus, or any other form of detection and security tool used to safeguard data.

Photo credit: http://arstechnica.com

Cisco, has defend its reputation by claiming that this is not due to the reliability of its software. Actually, the hackers entered the routers by stealing valid network administration credentials. To mitigate the problem, Cisco explained to their customers how to increase the security of its network and how to avoid, detect and solve the SYNful Knock attack.

It is alarming the amount of information we are sharing on internet and the ease with whom it can be stolen. Even a big company such as Cisco is never 100% safe from these attacks. We are taking privacy more seriously. In fact, only about a fifth of people surveyed by the European Commission trusted online businesses. Surprisingly, we are using internet more than ever. Internet usage in USA is nearly 90%, and it’s even higher in some Scandinavian countries.

In conclusion, although we are not changing the way we use internet at all, this cases should be taken seriously by companies. Companies with an online presence which can’t protect their customer’s data and provide their customers with a strong feeling of security, have the risk of loosing customer’s reliance on the firm and therefore, loosing online sales and its reputation.

INTRODUCTION

Hello,

I'm Sandra, a student from ESADE Business School in Barcelona - Spain.

I'm doing a one semester exchange program 6000km away from home! At McGill University - Desautels Faculty of Management, Montreal - Canada.

I'm passionate about Marketing and Tourism and I have done a full-time internship at Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Barcelona for 6 months.

Now, I want to broaden my knowledge in the area of e-business and technologies as it has become crucial in today's world. It is constantly evolving and it has developed and increased my interest in that area. For that reason I have registered for an E-Business course at McGill (among others).

I will be posting one entry per week about a technology topic and its impact in the business world. I will share with you my opinion about these topics as well as relating it to what I learn in the E-Business course.

Welcome to my blog!