Articles by John P. Mello Jr

A supply chain compromise is a security pro's worst nightmare. The thought of malware being planted on computer devices before they leave the factory sends shivers down a cyberdefender's spine. A disturbing case of such poisoning was reported last week by researchers at TrapX The researchers found advanced persistent threat malware, which TrapX has...

A trade association including Amazon, Google and Netflix on Monday called on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules banning deals by broadband providers for faster delivery of some Internet traffic The Internet Association, in written testimony submitted to the FCC, called for simple "light touch" rules to ensure an open and neut...

Half a dozen companies this week announced a new organization to ensure that the billions of devices that will be added to the Internet in coming years will be able to communicate with each other The Open Interconnect Consortium was launched to define the connectivity requirements and improve the interoperability of some 200 billion devices expecte...

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday mapped out his vision for the company's future, emphasizing cloud and mobile computing, in a letter to all employees. The letter also appeared on the company's website "More recently, we have described ourselves as a 'devices and services' company. While the devices and services description was helpful in sta...

Nearly one-third of the world's computers could be infected with malware, suggests a report released last week by the Anti-Phishing Working Group Malicious apps invaded 32.77 percent of the world's computers, a more than 4 percent jump from the previous quarter's 28.39 percent, the report estimates....

In a move that's bound to raise the power management consciousness of air travelers, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Sunday announced a ban on electronic devices that won't power up before they're carried onto a plane During the security examination conducted by TSA officers before passengers board a plane, travelers may be asked...

It's unlikely that Facebook's psych experiment that turned some 700,000 of its users into involuntary lab rats will hurt its brand or advertising revenue However, Facebook's research on the emotional impact of content in the News Feeds of its members has unleashed a torrent of criticism.

As any Android user knows, the version of the operating system you're using can vary widely because it depends on parties other than Google. That's why nearly two-thirds of users are running a version of Android introduced in 2012 or earlier With Android making the leap to wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT), however, Google is aiming to mak...

Ransomware is a growing problem for consumers and businesses alike. In Symantec's most recent quarterly security report, the company's researchers found all targeted attacks -- including ransomware -- grew 91 percent year-over-year That's raising a big question for those targeted by cyberextortionists: Should the ransom be paid? Security experts in...

Twitter on Thursday announced a new addition to its social-TV arsenal: SnappyTV. SnappyTV is an online service that allows content owners to clip, edit and share video from live broadcasts in near-real time....

I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours That's the idea behind a new photo-sharing app Facebook released Tuesday for Android and iOS devices.

Are threats to people made on social media websites protected under the First Amendment? The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider that issue, announcing Monday that it would review the case of Anthony D. Elonis v. United States....

The Internet of Things has come under attack by pranksters in recent days. The events could signal tumultuous things to come as more and more everyday objects connect to the Internet The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has advised the customers of digital sign maker Daktronics to "take defensive measures" following a series of cyberpranks on t...

In large families, it's common to pass on an older child's clothes to a younger one. The same is true in the Apple product family. It's common to pass on features introduced in the big brother iPhone to the little brother iPad. That appears to be the case with the next-generation iPad Air -- if the latest gaggle of rumors are to be believed "Histor...

Google's acquisition of Skybox may be a small step for the search giant, but it could be a giant leap for the Internet Google on Tuesday announced its intention to buy the satellite imaging startup for US$500 million. The move not only would enhance Google's satellite imaging resources, but also provide it with some top talent for its blue-sky plan...

As if the discovery of the Heartbleed flaw weren't enough woe for OpenSSL, more than half a dozen additional defects have been discovered in the code used to protect communication on the Web Among them is one dubbed "Cupid" by its discoverers. The flaw can be used to compromise enterprise networks....

Instagram, Facebook's popular free mobile app for editing and sharing photos, has never had a reputation for subtlety. It's image-editing tools and filters have had more in common with a palette knife than a fine sable paint brush. That's changed, though, with the latest version of the app.Version 6.0 of Instagram, which has an estimated 200 milli...

If you're a spammer, big news like the recent breach of eBay's computers is like striking oil in your back yard Perpetrators of unwanted email live for headline-grabbing events that they can use to separate gullible Web wanderers from their money, so the eBay breach is a perfect vehicle for the scammers, Cloudmark reported last week....

Hachette -- whose stable of best-selling authors includes J.K. Rowling and James Patterson -- remains at loggerheads with Amazon over renewal of a book distribution deal between the two. The stalemate has slowed the flow of books from the publisher to the online retailer to a crawl Negotiations have been going on for more than a month, but it's onl...

A cyberespionage campaign with links to Iran for at least three years has been targeting U.S. military and congressional personnel, journalists and diplomats, as well as U.S. and Israeli defense contractors and members of the U.S./Israel lobby, according to a report released Thursday by iSight Partners Using more than a dozen phony identities on on...