This week in cybersecurity has been marked by notable events, especially concerning drone sightings that led to the FAA’s decision to impose a temporary ban over critical infrastructure in New Jersey and New York. Despite growing concerns and over 5,000 tips to the FBI regarding these sightings, government officials reported no evidence of any actual threats. They concluded that the reports were primarily related to lawful commercial and hobbyist drones, as well as misidentified stars and aircraft.
In the broader tech landscape, Google announced a significant policy shift regarding online tracking. Initially opposing the use of fingerprinting for user tracking, the company will now permit this method starting in February 2025. Advertisers will be able to track users based on device characteristics, which has sparked criticism from data regulators who labeled the change as irresponsible.
The LockBit ransomware group has also made headlines as it appears to be planning a comeback. After being dismantled earlier this year through an international law enforcement operation, a suspect connected to the group is facing extradition to the U.S. for his alleged role in developing ransomware tools. Meanwhile, the group has hinted at a new release of its tools scheduled for February 2025.
Compounding concerns in the cybersecurity realm is the potential ban on TP-Link, a major router manufacturer in the U.S., due to national security investigations into its operations. This follows past actions taken against Huawei and ZTE.
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