G's Reading List for March 19, 2017

Virtual machine escape fetches $105,000 at Pwn2Own hacking contest [updated]
by Dan Goodin @ Arstechnica.com

Using 3 different exploits in Microsoft Edge browser, Windows 10, and then VMWare contestants were able to escape a virtual machine to compromise the host the VM was running on. Impressive.
Link: https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/hack-that-escapes-vm-by-exploiting-edge-browser-fetches-105000-at-pwn2own/

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Malwarebytes teams up with Cybersecurity Factory
by Malwarebytes Labs

Malwarebytes is proud to support Cybersecurity Factory, a 10-week summer program for early-stage cybersecurity companies. This program runs in collaboration with Highland Capital Partners provides teams with a $35,000 convertible note investment, office space, and dedicated security mentorship from industry leaders at leading companies throughout the United States...

Link: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2017/02/malwarebytes-teams-up-with-cybersecurity-factory/
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WikiLeaks to Share CIA Hacking Data with Tech Companies
by Marissa Lang, San Francisco Chronicle

WikiLeaks will release the code showing how the CIA managed to break into phones, work around encrypted messaging apps and avoid detection by software designed to defend against cyberattacks.

Link: http://www.govtech.com/security/WkiLeaks-to-Share-CIA-Hacking-Data-with-Tech-Companies.html

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Google Points to Another POS Vendor Breach
by Brian Krebs @ Krebs on Security

Another good thing about Google's site warnings.

Link: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2017/03/google-points-to-another-pos-vendor-breach/

In the category of 'This is News?'

Two recent news stories invoked a 'this is new news?' reaction from me.  More like 'this is OLD news.'

The one article is about Russians perpetrating cyber-espionage against American companies and the other is about online cyber-gangs hacking online companies.  The victim of the latter news story is eBay (link here to story).  Those of us in the information security industry who investigate compromises/breaches and track attackers are not surprised by any of this.  We've seen Chinese and Russian attackers going after American company's systems, applications, data, etc. for many many years.

And it's not getting any better...they aren't letting up and neither are we.  Keep fighting the good fight!

References:
FBI threatens to go after Russian hackers
http://rt.com/usa/161132-fbi-russian-hackers-china/

eBay hacking: online gangs are after you
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/10849689/eBay-hacking-online-gangs-are-after-you.html