Dell acknowledges security hole in new laptops

Major U.S. computer company Dell Inc [DI.UL] said on Monday a security hole exists in some of its recently shipped laptops that could make it easy for hackers to access users’ private data. A pre-installed program on some newly purchased Dell laptops that can only be removed manually by consumers makes them vulnerable to cyber intrusions that may allow hackers to read encrypted messages and redirect browser traffic to spoofs of real websites such as Google or those belonging to a bank, among other attacks.

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EU steps up controls on bitcoin, pre-paid cards to curb terrorist funds

The European Union will increase controls on pre-paid cards, money remittances and bitcoin in a bid to curb terrorism funding after the attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. EU interior and justice ministers agreed on Friday in Brussels to tighten checks on payment methods that may be conducted anonymously and might be used by terrorist organizations to finance attacks

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South Korea seeks China’s cooperation in probe into cyberattack on nuclear operator

By Meeyoung Cho SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea is seeking the cooperation of Chinese authorities in a probe into a cyberattack on its nuclear power plant operator after tracing multiple Internet addresses involved to a northeastern Chinese city near North Korea, a prosecution official said on Wednesday. The location of the Internet addresses, which were used to connect to networks in South Korea for the attacks, did not prove the source of the hack was either China or North Korea, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. …

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China says reports it helped cut off North Korea’s Internet ‘irresponsible’

BEIJING (Reuters) – Reports that China was involved in cutting off North Korea’s Internet are “irresponsible”, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily news briefing.

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Australia PM warns of ‘chatter’ as memorials held for siege victims

By Jane Wardell SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday security officials had intercepted a heightened level of “terrorist chatter” in the aftermath of the Sydney cafe siege. As memorial services were held for the two victims of the 16-hour siege a week ago, Abbott warned that the public needed to remain alert as the country headed into Christmas and New Year celebrations. “The national security agencies today indicated that there has been a heightened level of terrorist chatter in the aftermath of the Martin Place siege,” Abbott told reporters in Sydney.

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