U.S. urged to tighten cyber security to counter Chinese hacking

By Mark Hosenball and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States must beef up cyber security against Chinese hackers targeting a broad range of U.S. interests to raise the cost to China of engaging in such activities, America's top intelligence official said on Thursday.

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Canada government websites taken down in cyber attack

Several Canadian government websites and servers were taken down in a cyber attack on Wednesday, the government said, with the hacking group Anonymous taking responsibility in what it said was retaliation for a new anti-terrorism law passed by Canada's lawmakers. The general website for government services, canada.ca, as well as the site of Canada's spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), were among those affected.

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Moroccan government sues authors of report accusing it of spying: state news agency

By Aziz El Yaakoubi RABAT (Reuters) – The Moroccan Interior Ministry has filed a lawsuit against a group behind a report that allegedly accuses the intelligence services of spying on rights activists and journalists, according to the state news agency MAP. International rights groups condemn curbs on freedom of speech and information in Morocco, where journalists and activists are regularly prosecuted under laws that criminalize defamation of the state or king. MAP did not identify the group in question, nor did it give details of the lawsuit, but the action follows the publication last week of a 40-page report on government surveillance in Morocco, compiled by the UK-based Privacy International.

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‘Threat-sharing’ cybersecurity bill introduced in U.S. House

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee introduced legislation on Tuesday to make it easier for companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government, without the fear of being sued. Prompted in part by high-profile cyber attacks on corporations, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act has significant bipartisan support.

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‘Threat-sharing’ cybersecurity bill introduced in U.S. House

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Leaders of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee introduced legislation on Tuesday to make it easier for companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government, without the fear of being sued. Prompted in part by high-profile cyber attacks on corporations, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act has significant bipartisan support. Representative Devin Nunes, the intelligence panel’s chairman, told reporters

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Court tells Delhi gang rape lawyers to explain documentary remarks

By Suchitra Mohanty NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – India’s top court on Tuesday called on two lawyers to explain comments made in a controversial BBC documentary on the gang rape and murder of a woman on a Delhi bus, after female advocates said the remarks were “inhumane” and “unjustifiable”.

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British spies carry out mass interception of emails, but only read a few: report

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) – British spies carry out mass interception of the public's emails and access large databases with individuals' personal details, but their actions are not indiscriminate or unlawful, a powerful committee of lawmakers said on Thursday. Britain's security agencies have been accused of unfettered snooping on electronic communications since disclosures by U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden indicated spies had been hoovering up emails, text messages and internet communications

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Snapdeal drums up custom in Slumdog’s Dharavi

By Nivedita Bhattacharjee MUMBAI (Reuters) – For viewers of Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”, Mumbai's vast Dharavi slum is a byword for poverty, but to online retailer Snapdeal.com it is a battleground for new customers and, it hopes, a source of better margins. The three are already fighting over India's 300 million-strong urban middle class, who have come to expect price wars and great deals on everything from mattresses to motors, but as competition intensifies, Snapdeal has begun chasing a different demographic. It tied up with remittance provider FINO PayTech in November to set up online shopping services in semi-urban, rural and low-income residential areas across India.

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Britain should turn to middle-aged mums to be spies of the future: report

Britain's security agencies should look to recruit more middle-aged women and mothers to be new spies and should target websites popular with parents to find them, an influential committee of lawmakers said on Thursday. The Intelligence and Security Committee, which oversees the work of Britain's three spy agencies, said it was crucial there was more diversity if the security services were to be able to address the threats facing the country.

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