Here are two stories that really caught my attention this week.
An anonymous malware researcher inadvertently helped stop the spread of a global cyberattack that hit at least 150 countries.
The 22-year-old researcher, who goes by the name MalwareTech, has become an internet hero for their efforts to stem the spread of the WannaCry ransomware. MalwareTech, who is based in the U.K., did not disclose their identity or gender to CNN. MalwareTech published a blog post early Saturday morning detailing how they stopped the spread of this ransomware. Read the story here
It’s official: Most password-strength requirements are dumb
You must use at least one uppercase letter, a symbol, and a number. Or, wait, maybe not. ccording to the experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), some of the password-strength requirements drilled into our skulls over the years are actually not that helpful.
What’s worse, they may be counterproductive. As such, the institute issued a new draft of security guidelines on May 11, 2017, aimed at security professionals and recommending several significant changes to the password requirements we’ve come to accept as a necessary part of life. Read the story here
