Technology is always changing and adapting. So, regrettably, are cyber-criminals. MIT’s Technology Review website not long ago presented its list of the biggest technology security hazards of 2012. If you spend much of your life surfing the Internet or communicating with your friends through social media sites, you should be interested in this list. Learning what’s on it can protect you and your computer in 2012.
Stolen, Spoofed Certificates
One difficulty that the article discussed is stolen or faked certificates. When you log into a website, your bank for example, the traffic is encrypted with a “certificate”. This establishes that the site can be trusted. The faking and stealing of these certificates was a common strategy employed by cyber-criminals in 2011. This can allow them to have access to confidential information.
A Common Security Mechanism in Trouble?
Sites use certificates as a security measure more than any other means. If they are no longer considered trustworthy it might affect everyone, from the consumer, to the large company that is responsible for protecting your data.