CRA disables online services after 'credential stuffing' cyberattack

Embed from Getty Images 

The Canada Revenue Agency's website was just hit with a "credential stuffing" cyberattack, giving hackers access to 9,041 users' usernames and data. The Government of Canada temporarily shut down access to its online services as the bad actors tried to access GC's services. Approximately 5,500 GCKey service and CRA accounts were affected by this attack and another recent credential stuffing attack. 

The attacks use passwords and usernames taken from previous hacks of accounts globally, taking advantage of the fact that many people reuse passwords and usernames on multiple accounts. Here's another reminder to please use different usernames and passwords for different accounts.

Click to read more ...

Tesla's app will be getting two-factor authentication soon

For apps like Tesla's, two-factor authentication is a vital security feature, especially since it lets you control the car remotely. But it's something that's been missing all this time. Elon Musk, Tesla's chief, said last year that two-factor would be coming to its app, but he didn't say when. But now, he's giving us a clue that it's coming soon. Musk admits that it's "embarrassingly late," but it is going through final validation.

The process for Tesla's app will use SMS- or app-based authentication. While the latter is more secure, the SMS option is available for those who can't use authenticator apps

Source: Engadget

New update merges Instagram, Facebook Messenger chats

We've known for a while that Facebook plans to allow cross-messaging among Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. And now, it looks like the integration between Instagram and Messenger is live, at least for some users. The Verge reports that a notification has shown up on iOS and Android devices for some of their editors, letting them know that "There's a New Way to Message on Instagram." It listed a few features, including a "new colourful look for your chats," swipe-to-reply, emoji reactions, and "chat with friends who use Facebook."

If you activate the feature, the regular DM icon changes to the Facebook Messenger logo. Chats appear more colourful, with the sender's messages shifting between blue and purple as you scroll. At the moment, it doesn't seem possible to message Facebook users from Instagram. But with the feature now available, we expect that to arrive soon.

Google Duo might merge with Google Meet

Google has a habit of developing overlapping apps and services, especially when it comes to messaging and calls. There was a time we had Google Allo, Meet, and Duo, to name a few. Allo is already gone. But now, it seems Duo might meet the same fate. Reports claim the company might merge the two video chat apps as their features overlap more and more. And with video conferencing tools on the rise, because COVID-19 has kept a lot of us home, Google Meet is emerging as the video chat app of choice.

Click to read more ...