DuckDuckGo announced on October 18, 2022, that the beta version of its Mac desktop app is now available for all Mac users.

DuckDuckGo is a browser that focuses on privacy. It has many new features designed to make web browsing more private and less cluttered, improving the user experience. DuckDuckGo generates objective results without any subjective factors or “user preferences.”

The intent of DuckDuckGo for Mac is to replace “incognito” modes in other browsers that do not fully protect against web tracking. DuckDuckGo’s app for Mac uses roughly 60% less data than Chrome because trackers are blocked before they are loaded. In addition, the app has advanced privacy protection features pre-configured and activated by default to improve the user’s experience.

What’s New

Despite being in beta, DuckDuckGo for Mac has added several updated features since it was released in April 2022. The most significant change is that version 0.30 does not leave blank spaces in place of blocked ads, allowing users to browse without distractions.

Duck Player

Duck Player is one of the exciting highlights of this announcement. The Duck player provides a more private way to watch YouTube videos. This embedded YouTube player prevents the platform from building an advertising profile for users. Using Duck Player will reduce targeted ads and distractions. However, users can switch seamlessly between Duck Player and standard YouTube.

Password Management

There’s a secure password manager in DuckDuckGo’s browser. Like most password managers, DuckDuckGo’s password manager stores and fills in login credentials automatically. However, DuckDuckGo has partnered with Bitwarden, a password manager that’s open-source. Bitwarden users can look forward to activating a new password manager integration through the browser’s settings in the coming weeks. Additionally, DuckDuckGo for Mac now works with 1Password’s universal autofill.

Email protection

DuckDuckGo’s new version of the browser also offers email protection. Users who activate DuckDuckGo’s email protection will be able to protect their email inbox with email tracker blocking and private @duck.com addresses.

Cookie Pop-Up Manager

The Cookie Consent Pop-Up Manager manages cookie pop-ups much more effectively. The pop-up manager will automatically select the most private option to minimize cookies on various websites. The pop-up manager allows users to browse the internet without being interrupted by annoying pop-ups asking about cookie permissions.

Currently, DuckDuckGo for Windows is in its early beta with testing through family and friends.  A  private waitlist for the Windows DuckDuckGo app in beta is expected to be publically released soon.

Overall, DuckDuckGo’s desktop app for Mac is an exciting new development that offers a more private and less cluttered web browsing experience. The app has several unique features that make it an appealing option for a more secure and private browsing experience. Although the application is still in its early stages of development, it has shown promise as a more privacy-conscious alternative to other web browsers.

An advanced PHP variant of the Ducktail malware poses a risk to Facebook users.

On October 13th, 2022, ZScaler, a cloud security firm, published a blog post detailing this latest discovery. The new PHP version is being distributed by “pretending to be a free/cracked program installer.” It also targets numerous platforms, such as Telegram and Microsoft Office applications.

This revised version of the malware uses a PHP script instead of the previously used .Net binary to execute the malware. When the app is installed, the victim is told it is “checking application compatibility.” In reality, two .tmp files are generated. The file then executes two processes to steal data.

The original version of the Ducktail malware was discovered in late 2021. A Vietnamese operator used it to hack into Facebook Business and Ads Manager accounts.

The original strain of Ducktail, as reported by ZScaler, has the ability to steal sensitive financial information and manipulate website content. These cyberattacks were exceptionally well-planned and managed to evade Facebook’s security measures. The attacks targeted high-ranking employees with advanced permissions in a company.

Additionally, the Ducktail malware can attempt to access two-factor authentication codes to bypass extra account security. Ducktail also targets various data, such as client information, email addresses, and payment card information.

Similarly, the PHP variant of Ducktail malware is intent on stealing sensitive data that can be exploited for financial gain. In addition to payment information, this variant of PHP Ducktail malware also targets email addresses, payment records, funding sources, account statuses, and funding records.

Ducktail’s PHP variant and original Ducktail share many similarities, making them a significant threat to Facebook accounts. To enhance the effectiveness of Ducktail’s attacks, Ducktail’s developers are likely to continue developing future versions of their original code. Therefore, users should be vigilant in protecting their account information and be aware of the dangers of this malware.

Microsoft announced the Azure DDoS IP Protection released as a public preview on October 19, 2022. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can now benefit from DDoS protection with a pricing model customized to their specifications.

DDoS Protection provides similar capabilities to DDoS Network Protection (previously known as DDoS Protection Standard). It is designed for enterprises and organizations to protect significant deployments of resources against DDoS attacks.

This new SKU includes all the essential features, such as automatically detecting and mitigating L3/L4 attacks, metrics and alerts, mitigation flow logs, and mitigation policies tailored to the customer’s needs. It also includes Azure Firewall Manager, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Integration.

Unlike the DDos Network Protection product, DDoS IP Protection does not include DDoS rapid response support, cost protection, or WAF discounts.

According to Amir Dahan, Microsoft’s senior product manager for Azure Networking, “With the DDoS IP Protection SKU, customers now have the flexibility to enable DDoS protection on individual public IP addresses. This low-cost DDoS protection option is ideal for SMB clients who only need to secure a handful of public IP addresses.

Azure’s global network provides cloud-scale DDoS protection so that users can defend their workloads against sophisticated DDoS threats. Users can minimize false negatives while protecting their apps and resources by tuning the application’s scale and actual traffic patterns. In near real-time, users can monitor and respond to DDoS attacks based on visibility into the attack lifecycle, vectors, and mitigation.

With Azure’s firewall manager, users can manage their DDoS protection and other network security services in one place. Microsoft Defender for Cloud security sends alerts and recommendations to the user. In addition, Microsoft Sentinel’s rich attack analytics and telemetry integration allow users to strengthen their security measures.

Upon enrollment, customers can enable the Public IP Standard SKU with DDoS IP protection in selected regions. Within the Azure Preview Portal, the SKU can be managed under the Azure DDoS Protection configuration window.

Billing for the new DDoS IP Protection will begin on February 1, 2023.

DDoS IP Protection is an excellent solution for SMBs that need to secure their public IP addresses against DDoS threats. It offers similar capabilities as DDoS Network Protection but at significantly lower prices. This makes it an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking to take advantage of Azure’s world-class DDoS protection without breaking the bank.​

In order to be successful, it is important for businesses to have a good customer relationship management system in place. However, many small companies make simple mistakes that get them in trouble. If you don’t keep your customer data clean and accurate, your business could be at risk. Here are some common CRM mistakes you need to avoid.

No implementation planning: It is important for businesses to plan and strategize ahead of implementing a CRM. CRM systems can help businesses achieve their goals and objectives if they define them clearly and analyze how they can be achieved. CRM will create problems rather than solve them without a proper plan. Get an outline from your CRM vendor on how to successfully implement the system to meet your goals.

Poor Reporting Interface: Your customer relationship management solution needs to be flexible enough to provide you with the types of reports needed to manage your customer base. Without a reporting interface and an intuitive way of generating, saving, and retrieving the reports you need, you’ll have to spend countless hours on admin tasks instead of concentrating on growing your company and servicing your customers.

Not knowing your CRMs limits: Generally, CRM solutions have customizable features. If you don’t fully understand what’s possible with your CRM solution, you could be setting up your business for disaster by attempting to integrate it. Closely examine your CRM solution’s features, limitations, and review them with your implementation team to head off disaster.

Ineffective Training: Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that once they have the CRM system, their employees will know how to use it. That is seldom the case. It’s important to provide employees with comprehensive training on using the CRM system and what information needs to be entered into it. Ensure you provide ongoing training and support to ensure that employees use the system effectively.

Businesses should avoid common CRM mistakes when implementing a CRM system. To ensure a successful implementation, you need to plan ahead, develop a flexible reporting interface, and know the limits of your CRM solution. Investing in the right CRM solution will allow your company to grow more efficiently and reliably.

Fortinet addressed a critical vulnerability that gave remote access to numerous services and was being exploited by threat actors in the wild.

The company described the vulnerability as an authentication bypass on the admin interface, allowing unauthenticated users to connect to FortiProxy web proxies, FortiGate firewalls, and FortiSwitch Manager on-prem management instances. Specifically, the flaw (CVE-2022-40684) is an authentication bypass on the administrative interface that allows remote threat actors access to the previously mentioned services.

In a customer support bulletin released today, Fortinet explains that “an authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-88] in FortiOS and FortiProxy may allow an unauthenticated attacker to perform operations on the administrative interface via specially crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.”

The company stated, “This is a critical vulnerability and should be addressed with the utmost urgency.”

Fortinet advised customers using the vulnerable versions to upgrade immediately since it is possible to exploit the problem remotely.

Over 100,000 FortiGate firewalls may be accessed from the Internet, according to a Shodan search; however, it’s uncertain if their control interfaces are also affected.

In addition, the business stated that the fix was deployed on Thursday and alerted some of its clients via email, asking them to disable remote management user interfaces “immediately.”

A few days after issuing the fix, the business provided more information, stating it had discovered proof of at least one real-world campaign using the flaw.

According to the company, “Fortinet is aware of an instance where this vulnerability was exploited and recommended immediately validating your systems against the following indicator of compromise in the device’s logs: user=”Local_Process_Access.”

The following products are susceptible to attacks attempting to exploit the CVE-2022-40 flaw:

FortiOS: From 7.0.0 to 7.0.6 and from 7.2.0 to 7.2.1

FortiProxy: From 7.0.0 to 7.0.6 and 7.2.0

FortiSwitchManager: Versions 7.0.0 and 7.2.0

In today’s customer support advisory, Fortinet stated that susceptible devices should be updated to FortiOS 7.0.7 or 7.2.2 and above, FortiProxy 7.0.7 or 7.2.1 and above, and FortiSwitchManager 7.2.1 or above after the company published security fixes on Thursday.

The Fortinet CVE-2022-40684 authentication bypass vulnerability is a critical flaw that allows remote access to numerous services. The company has released security fixes and advises customers to upgrade immediately. Additionally, Fortinet recommends that the internet-facing HTTPS Administration be immediately deactivated until the upgrade can be completed.

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On October 7, 2022, Toyota Motor Corporation made an announcement that the personal information of approximately 296,000 consumers had been compromised.

The Toyota T-Connect system enables owners of Toyota automobiles to link their cell phones to their vehicles. By doing so, users can monitor the status of their engines, listen to music, navigate, and track fuel consumption.

Recently, Toyota discovered that a source code section was published on GitHub. Included in the source code were access keys to the T-Connect data server.

Anyone possessing these keys could gain access to the T-Connect data server. The data server stores customers’ email addresses when they register through the T-connect application. Due to this, unauthorized third parties could access the records of customers between December 2017 and September 2022.

The database keys were updated on September 17, 2022, to prevent any other unauthorized access.

The compromised information did not include the consumers’ personal information, such as their names, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

In addition, Toyota issued an apology for any inconvenience caused by the improper handling of customer information and stated that a subcontractor was responsible for the mistake.

There are no indications that data has been misused. However, the Japanese automobile manufacturer cannot rule out the possibility of the information being accessed and stolen.

T-Connect users enrolled between July 2017 and September 2022 are cautioned to avoid accepting email attachments from unknown senders. Threat actors may attempt to commit phishing attacks by posing as Toyota officials.

On October 18, 2022, Firefox 106 Stable and Firefox 102.4 ESR were released to the public.

New features

A new Colorways theme, Firefox view, PDF editing, text recognition, and extraction on macOS are all included in the most recent Firefox Stable release.

While Firefox 106 introduces several brand-new features, the version also resolves security concerns. Mozilla corrected six unique vulnerabilities in Firefox 106 and four vulnerabilities in Firefox 102.4 ESR.

Firefox view

One of the most notable new features is Firefox view. The accessibility of previously opened tabs in the web browser is improved with Firefox view. However, Firefox view also enables users to access tabs from desktop or Android Firefox browsers. This distinct feature will allow users to switch between devices, making it a more convenient browsing experience. Firefox View has three sections: Tab pickup, Recently closed, and Independent voices. However, if consumers are not interested in Firefox View, it is simple to disable it. Users can right-click the Firefox symbol in the browser’s upper left corner and select “Remove from Toolbar.”

Tab Pickup

A Firefox account is necessary to use the tab pickup function. Mozilla uses Firefox Sync to display recently visited pages on other devices within this section. The title, favicon, URL, time stamp, and name of the device the user used to view the tab are all displayed. Additionally, a context menu is visible by right-clicking on a tab. This capability also imports tabs from previous versions of Firefox on the same device. This unique feature allows users to pick up where they left off reading from their phone, tablet, or computer.

Recently Closed

The recently closed section displays the most recent tabs that have been closed in the current window. Details about the closed tab are shown here, such as its title, URL, favicon, and timestamp. Unfortunately, there is no ability to conceal specific closed tabs. However, the arrow button allows you to collapse the recently closed tabs section.

Users can also recover closed tabs by left-clicking. This functionality is helpful if users mistakenly close a tab. However, because recently closed tabs are not synced between devices, Firefox will only show the tabs that were closed in the current browser. Therefore, when users close a tab and exit the browser, the tab is not recoverable through the recently closed section.

Colorways

Firefox users can alter themes, set intensity, and apply themes with one click by enabling Colorways to provide a customizable browsing experience. There are eighteen new themes currently available through January 16, 2023.

PDF Viewer

Firefox’s built-in PDF viewer supports basic PDF editing with version 106 Stable. In addition, the integrated options allow users to write, draw, and add signatures to PDF documents opened in Firefox.

Features for macOS

Users of macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later can benefit from text recognition and extraction. Unfortunately, the feature currently only supports English on macOS 10.15. However, macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later support a more comprehensive range of languages. Users can right-click the image and select “Copy Text from Image.”

Following the text recognition prompt, a modal box with a loading animation will analyze the text in the image and automatically copy the text. Additionally, VoiceOver is also compatible with text recognition.

Developers

In the 106 release, Mozilla made sure to include improvements for developers.

Developers can expect several new features, including improvements to the WebRTC platform and manifest key properties. In addition, the upgrade improves screen sharing on Windows and Linux Wayland, lowers CPU usage, and increases macOS screen capture FPS.

Update

Most versions of Firefox will update automatically. However, users can see what version of Firefox they are using by going to the menu and selecting Help > About Firefox and manually upgrade. As of right now, the release date for Firefox 107 Stable is November 11, 2022.

Overall, Firefox 106 adds a slew of new features and enhancements for all users. Whether you’re a casual user or a developer, this update has something for everyone. Check out all of the new features that Firefox has to offer.

In light of a recent data breach, the City of Tucson, Arizona, is alerting approximately 123,000 citizens that their personal information has been compromised. The issue was detected in May 2022, but the city’s investigation didn’t conclude until last month.

As detailed in the notification addressed to those impacted by the data breach, an attacker infiltrated the city’s network and exfiltrated a large number of sensitive files.

Between May 17 and May 31, the threat actors obtained access to the network and stole essential documents containing the personal information of over 123,000 people.

The data breach notification states, “On May 29, 2022, the City learned of suspicious behavior using a user’s network account credentials.” Additionally, “On August 4, 2022, the City discovered that certain files may have been copied and removed from its network.”

The city disclosed in a separate notice, “On September 12, this review concluded, and the review determined that the information at issue included certain personal information.”

The city began contacting potentially affected individuals on September 23, informing them that the attackers may have gained access to their names and Social Security numbers, among the sensitive personal information exposed during the incident.

The notification letters issued to the affected individuals also stated that, at the moment, there’s no proof of personal data being used for fraudulent activities.

Affected individuals are encouraged to monitor their credit reports for any unusual activities that may point to identity theft or fraud using their personal information.

For those affected, the city is giving free credit monitoring and identity protection services from Experian for an entire year, as well as advice on how to avoid being a victim of identity theft.

The city is committed to protecting residents’ personal information as it continues to review its existing policies and procedures regarding cybersecurity and evaluate additional measures and safeguards to protect against this type of event.

According to a new Akamai analysis, the company’s experts classified about 79 million domains as dangerous in the first half of 2022; based on a NOD (newly observed domain) dataset, this is about 13 million malicious domains per month, representing 20.1% of all the successfully resolved NODs.

According to Akamai, a NOD is any domain queried for the first time in the last 60 days. And by “malicious,” it means a domain name that leads to a site meant to phish, spread malware or do some other kind of damage online.

Akamai said, “[The NOD dataset] is where you find freshly registered domain names, typos, and domains that are only very rarely queried on a global scale.” The company observes about 12 million new NODs daily, of which slightly more than 2 million are successfully resolved.

The organization uses relatively simple procedures to determine whether a domain is harmful or not. With the assistance of the larger cybersecurity community, Akamai compiled a 30-year predictive list of known domain generation algorithms (DGAs) that may be used to detect domains registered with DGAs.

Since DGA domains may be created in quantity for even temporary campaigns, hackers frequently use them to distribute malware and host phishing pages. Think of DGAs as places on the internet where malware and other things can meet up and use them.

According to the company, most of Akamai’s malicious domain detections come from the “more than 190 NOD-specific detection criteria” it employs for NOD-based detection. They also mentioned that among the 79 million malicious NODs it discovered in the first half of the year, there were only 0.00042 percent false positives.

There are other options than Akamai’s NOD detection, such as Cisco’s “newly seen domain” detection system, which scans DNS data and alerts users to potentially dangerous websites.

Although it’s unclear how those services stack up against Akamai’s, their end objectives seem to be comparable and indicate that NODs are a well-known security issue that other businesses are seeking to address.