We wish all of our Roundup readers a very Happy New Year. In our first roundup of 2020, we’ve gathered a handful of the biggest I.T. and tech stories hitting the headlines this week. From new, smart activewear that’s set to make a move in the footwear market, large-scale cyberattacks on Austria’s ministry and ever-increasingly resourceful hackers infiltrating teen apps, the new year is already a busy one in the world of I.T. and tech. Catch up here.
Tik Tok fixes cyber flaw to block hackers
Security researchers from our partners in security, Check Point, have identified flaws in the popular video sharing service among teens, TikTok, that allows hackers to take over users’ videos.
An attacker could send a fake message to its users, appearing as though it was from TikTok itself, generating a malicious link. By clicking on the link, this would give the hacker the ability to control the user’s account. Check Point also warned that access to users’ personal information, including names, email addresses and birthdays could have been given, although TikTok does not believe there has been any data stolen.
Check Point alerted the app’s owners to the vulnerabilities in November, resulting in an update that has been developed to correct the flaws. Luke Deshotels, from TikTok’s security team, said: ‘TikTok is committed to protecting user data. Like many organisations, we encourage responsible security researchers to privately disclose zero-day vulnerabilities to us.”
Read more on the story here.
Asics unveils its smart shoe
Revealed at this year’s CES as a prototype, Asics unveiled a new concept that might interest prospective runners. In collaboration with Japanese sensor creator No New Folk Studios Inc, the trainer advises the wearer how to get faster and stronger by utilising all the motion data that spreads through the wearer’s foot to provide dedicated training learnings.
The trainer that’s infused with smart tech gives real-time feedback on how the wearer runs and how they can improve. Although smart shoes aren’t a brand-new invention, Asics’ smart trainer gives specific insights. For example, it monitors power when kicking off, alerting the user to their weaker areas, leading to better understanding of what training works best for the individual.
The new Asics design is set to go on sale later this year.
Discover more here.
A ‘serious’ cyberattack launched on Austria’s ministry
Austria’s ministry has been targeted by a cyberattack that’s suspected to have been launched by another country. Due to the seriousness of the attack, the ministry claimed that it could have been conducted by a ‘state-actor’, as the breach occurred on the same day that Austria’s Green party formed a coalition with the conservatives.
According to the foreign ministry, “countermeasures were taken immediately, and the threat was recognised very quickly. Despite all intensive security measures, there is never 100% protection against cyber-attacks.”
Find out more here.
Those were some of this week’s top stories but if you want more content, follow us across our four social media channels:
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