Posts tagged Investigating
FTC Investigating Google: Google Launches Ad Campaign to Control Damage
Jan 17th
Since Google launched Search Plus last Tuesday, the search giant has been publicly criticized by bloggers and privacy advocates. On the 12th, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) requested that the FTC investigate Google. The complaint alleged that Google’s new Search Plus feature violated users’ privacy and showed favoritism toward Google products. The new Search [...]
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FTC Investigating if Google Jacked Up AdWords Rates on Microsoft
Sep 21st
As Eric Schmidt prepares to testify before the U.S. Senate today, new details are out about the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation. Microsoft alleges that Google has illegally inflated advertising rates for Microsoft, Bloomberg reports…
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FBI Computer Crimes Unit Investigating Hacked NBC Twitter Account
Sep 12th
Early Friday Evening, just two days before the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the official NBC Twitter account was hacked and used to tweet false information related to terrorist attacks. The first of several false tweets appeared at 5:48 PM (EST):
“Breaking News! Ground Zero has just been attacked. Flight 5736 has crashed in the site, suspected hijacking. More as the story develops.”
NBC’s director of social media, Ryan Osborn, was monitoring the Twitter account and noticed the false tweets within seconds. He immediately contacted Twitter who shut down the hacked NBC account only eight minutes after the first false message was tweeted. Within two hours, the NBC account was secured and restored.
Following the false tweets, NBC immediately issued an official statement:
“The NBC News Twitter account was hacked late this afternoon and as a result, false reports of a plane attack on ground zero were sent to @NBCNews followers. We are working with Twitter to correct the situation and sincerely apologize for the scare that could have been caused by such a reckless and irresponsible act.”
The FBI computer crimes unit has begun an investigation and is working with NBC and Twitter to gather information. Although the FBI is not willing to discuss specifics of the case or potential suspects, a hacker group called The Script Kiddies claimed they were responsible for the attack by placing a “NBCNEWS hacked by The Script Kiddies” message on the Official NBC Twitter page.
The Script Kiddies, which is a lesser-known splinter group of the famous Anonymous hacking group, made its public hacking debut just two months ago. In July, The Script Kiddies hacked the @FoxNewsPolitics Twitter account and falsely tweeted that President Obama had been shot and killed.
Early information indicates that The Script Kiddies accessed the official NBC twitter account using a “keylogger Trojan.” This type of computer malware, which is unknowingly installed on the host computer, logs repetitive actions by computer users and allows the hackers to detect likely passwords.
The FBI is working diligently with both Twitter and NBC to investigate the matter and aid in the prosecution as necessary.
[Sources Include: MSNBC, TodayNews, and Twitter]
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FBI Computer Crimes Unit Investigating Hacked NBC Twitter Account
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DOJ Investigating Google Ads; $500 Million Set Aside For Potential Settlement
May 11th
In a regulatory filing this afternoon, Google disclosed that it was taking a $500 million charge in the first quarter, apparently to potentially settle charges related to a Department of Justice investigation of the company. Google didn’t elaborate, saying only that the probe was “into…
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Investigating Google Places Hypocrisy For Address-less Businesses
Jan 3rd
Google’s treatment for local businesses without public storefronts has never been good, and their suggestions for them have vacillated over time. For service professionals using P.O. box addresses, the situation is confusing, as (it appears) Google penalizes some, but not others. To…
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The Incredible Stupidity Of Investigating Google For Acting Like A Search Engine
Nov 30th
I did a search at Google today for “cars” and was shocked. Rather than list links allowing me to search for “cars” on Bing, Yahoo, Baidu, Voila, Naver and Yandex, Google instead favored its own search results. I’m glad the EU will be investigating whether this…
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FCC Now Investigating Google Over WiFi Data Collection
Nov 10th
Although the FTC ended its investigation into Google’s collection of personal data via unsecured WiFi networks, Google’s not necessarily in the clear with the Obama administration. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FCC is looking into whether Google broke the law when its Street…
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Texas Attorney General Investigating Google & Antitrust Issues
Sep 3rd
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is conducting an investigation into Google’s business practices as they relate to search listings, in particular whether Google is manipulating its paid and editorial results in a way that violates antitrust laws.
We received a tip about the investigation this week, and Google confirmed today that an investigation started in July. [...]
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