8 million Android users fell prey to SpyLoan malware on Google Play Store
Android users, do you think apps that you download from the Google Play Store are completely secure and harmless?
Phishing Awareness
ByteDance- the parent company to TikTok to wind up in Canada
On November 7, Canada finally joined the bandwagon and banned ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. The company is to wind down its operations in Canada by the end of 2024. The Canadian government cited national security concerns as the major reason behind this significant move. Authorities will be reviewing the last one-year worth of Canadian operations by TikTok.
What comes as a shock is that the TikTok app itself will continue to be accessible to Canadian users. The Canadian government wants to strike the right balance between tackling national security issues and avoiding abrupt disruption of user experience. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) believes that using a specific app should be completely a matter of ‘personal choice.’
Francois Philippe Champagne, the innovation minister, urges Canadians to embrace safe and healthy cybersecurity practices. He believes that Canadian users must be well-versed with the potential risks related to using certain apps and platforms. They must be aware of how their personal data is being used by these applications. He requests that Canadian citizens refer to cybersecurity guidance offered by the Canadian government.
TikTok versus the global government
Governments across multiple nations believe that TikTok is compelled to share user data and other sensitive details with the Chinese government as per the Chinese Intelligence Law. The application got the limelight back in 2020 when the pandemic restricted people within their houses. Hundreds and thousands of users started using the app actively to create short videos. The world is divided into two parts: one that creates the videos and the other half that consumes the videos.
Since 2020, TikTok has been a bone of contention for global governments, which have been facing a huge dilemma– whether to ban the app owing to security concerns or let millions of users use their favorite application for entertainment, creativity, and whatnot.
The biggest concern is that CCP or the Chinese Communist Party may spy and gather data through TikTok. Experts believe that CCP has humongous capabilities to access sensitive data through its applications and different platforms. The Chinese authorities then use the same data to analyze, evaluate, study, and leverage it for their national interests.
Trump took a significant step back in 2020 by signing executive orders, forcing ByteDance to sell out TikTok to an American company. Next, Biden banned the app on all government devices. Now that Trump has once again won the elections, more stringent actions against TikTok and similar apps are highly likely.
On similar notes, the Canadian government also banned TikTok across all government devices and settings in February 2023. Also, under the 1985 Investment Canada Act, the authorities organized a broader and stricter national security review later in 2023.
Canadian officials believe that the personal data that CCP may access through TikTok can be used illegitimately and that the same can be weaponized, which will further give rise to issues like espionage and other similar malicious purposes.
India, too, banned TikTok and similar Chinese apps back on June 29, 2020, as violence peaked between the two countries at their border. The Indian government cited security concerns and violation of Indian user data by TikTok and proceeded to ban the app completely.
TikTok’s take on Canadian restrictions
A spokesperson from TikTok stated that shutting down ByteDance will result in job loss for hundreds of local employees who work with ByteDance. Also, they mentioned challenging this move in the court. TikTok has been fighting legal battles against multiple countries to fight against the restrictions and bans.
Controversies around the ban
Experts believe that the ban can affect the upcoming elections in Canada. Such a ban would be challenged on the grounds of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To back their claim, the government will have to divulge sensitive data or share the tenuous details about national security concerns pertaining to TikTok. Both instances will prove to be quite tricky for the Canadian government.
Some people argue that the partial ban is ineffective, suggesting it should have been a full ban or not implemented at all. They believe that TikTok’s access to Canadian users still allows China to potentially access sensitive data, raising concerns about phishing protection and data security. Additionally, banning ByteDance’s corporate presence in Canada could worsen the issue, as there would be no accountable entity within Canada to address any harmful actions linked to TikTok.
Canada has introduced C-27, the legislation to combat the TikTok concern. It includes three different Acts- The Consumer Privacy Protection Act, The Electronic Documents Act, and The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act.
Indian Woman loses around $1035 after downloading lounge app at Bengaluru airport!
Are you planning to enjoy the airport lounge facility while you wait for your next flight? Pause for a second! You might end up losing your hard-earned money just like this Indian woman did at Bengaluru airport.
Beware of Vacation Cyber Frauds These Summer Holidays
Are you all set to enjoy your summer holidays? Can’t wait to go out and finally enjoy your time off along a dreamy beachside? If yes, then you definitely need to see this!
Spike in Tax Phishing Scams: SMBs and Self-Employed Under Siege!
Social Security Numbers are of paramount significance and help establish identity in a more proficient way. However, these Social Security Numbers are being exploited by threat actors to make quick money. The primary targets of this tax phishing and Social Security Numbers scam are self-employed filers and small business owners.
Developing An Anti-Phishing Strategy For Businesses: A Thorough Guide
Even though businesses are bracing up for cyberattacks by embracing advanced security measures, threat actors somehow manage to stay ahead of the race by adopting smart, malicious tactics.
Cyber Crimes Intensify In The Holy Month Of Ramadan: Know The Whys and Hows!
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a time frame when the Muslim community practices fasting, works towards spiritual development, and organizes communal gatherings. However, Ramadan brings along an uncanny threat of increased cyber crimes.
Phishing v/s Smishing v/s Vishing- The 3 Notorious Cyber Attacks You Must Be Aware of!
Cybercrime instances have been increasing at an exponential rate in the past couple of decades. The expense of cybercrime is expected to go as high as $10.5 trillion by 2025!
Microsoft 365 Being a Soft Target for Scammers- Email Do’s and Don’ts You Need to Keep In Mind!
Microsoft, the software giant, has time and again been exposed to cybercrime activities. It’s one of the top picks among phishing actors. The immense popularity of Microsoft across professional and personal setups makes it an absolute favorite among threat actors.
Screensharing Fraud: Latest Favorite Among Phishing Actors!
Threat actors have time and again proved their agility when it comes to devising new phishing tactics. They are always the first ones to hop onto the latest trends to exploit naive users. One such phishing activity that breaks into the bank accounts of innocent users is screensharing fraud.
Scam Alert- Decoding the Rise of WhatsApp Phishing Scams!
WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging apps, has once again become the target for phishing experts.
LinkedIn Smart Links are Getting Abused Again
LinkedIn, one of the biggest professional networking and personal branding platforms, has once again become the center of attraction. And this time, the reason is phishing attacks!
A Mariott Hotel Guest Got Scammed In the Name of Discounted Rates!
The dream to relax and rejuvenate in a Mexican boutique hotel soon turned into a nightmarish experience for a traveler when they got scammed in the name of discounts!
How to Send Automatic Emails in Outlook?
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, where time is a precious commodity, email automation emerges as a powerful tool: it streamlines operations by automating repetitive email tasks, allowing employees to focus on strategic efforts like boosting sales and enhancing customer service, thus improving overall efficiency.
Navigating the Unseen: Accessing Your iPhone’s Spam Text Messages Folder
With the introduction of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, TextNow, and Messenger, the use of text messages has gone down, but not as much. As per a study conducted by SMS comparison, 95% of text messages are read and responded to as early as within 3 minutes of being received. It’s also surprising to find out that the average open rate for an SMS is 98%, whereas that for an email is 20% (almost 5 times more probable).
Why is Phishing Awareness Training Important For Employees?
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As cyber threats evolve, phishing remains a persistent and increasingly potent threat to organizations and individuals. Therefore, your organization’s urgent need to cultivate an informed and vigilant workforce cannot be overstated.
How to Defend Against Voice Phishing
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Vishing, or voice phishing, can appear in various garbs, and strict adherence to cybersecurity best practices is required for its prevention.
What is a Zero Transfer Phishing Scam?
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Zero transfer phishing scams are among the latest attack vectors in the cyber threat landscape and have already started to stir the cryptocurrency realm.
Sorillus Remote Access Tool and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting Abilities
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Malicious actors have become more innovative by exploiting Google Firebase Hosting service to launch Sorillus RAT and phishing attacks on unsuspecting networks.
Stay Alert During Amazon Prime Day: Threat Actors Set Up Scams Targeting Shoppers
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With the Amazon Prime Day shopping event driving shoppers crazy, malicious actors have already set shopping traps to exploit unsuspecting buyers. Therefore, it is vital to draw your line of defense against possible phishing attempts that might catch you unawares.