Amer Owaida

Amer Owaida

Security Writer


Education M.A. in translation and interpreting.

Highlights of your career Working as a copywriter and freelancing as a translator while thinking in the correct language.

Position and history at ESET Joined in the fall of 2019 as security writer.

What malware do you hate the most? Adware, annoying the living daylight out of me since forever.

Favorite activities Drinking coffee while reading a book, exploring new places, trying new things..

Golden rule for cyberspace Don’t trust and always verify, always use a Gandalf level adblocker.

When did you get your first computer and what kind was it? A Pentium 3 powered pc with a GeForce card lacking a pixel shader, around the year 2000 so dial up modems were still a thing.

Favorite computer game/activity Assassin’s Creed or God of War spinning myths and history in fun alternative ways.


340 articles by Amer Owaida

Social Media

Clubhouse chats streamed to third-party website

Clubhouse chats streamed to third-party website

Social Media

Clubhouse chats streamed to third-party website

The incident raises concerns about the privacy and security of conversations taking place on the platform

Amer Owaida23 Feb 20213 min. read


Privacy

Brave browser’s Tor mode exposed users’ dark web activity

Brave browser’s Tor mode exposed users’ dark web activity

Privacy

Brave browser’s Tor mode exposed users’ dark web activity

A bug in the ad blocking component of Brave’s Tor feature caused the browser to leak users' DNS queries

Amer Owaida22 Feb 20212 min. read


Digital Security

TDoS attacks could cost lives, warns FBI

TDoS attacks could cost lives, warns FBI

Digital Security

TDoS attacks could cost lives, warns FBI

Both hacktivists and extortionists have used telephony denial-of-service attacks as a way to further their goals

Amer Owaida19 Feb 20212 min. read


Less Technical

Malware authors already taking aim at Apple M1 Macs

Malware authors already taking aim at Apple M1 Macs

Less Technical

Malware authors already taking aim at Apple M1 Macs

The first instance of malicious code native to Apple Silicon M1 Macs emerged a month after the release of devices equipped with the company’s in-house CPUs

Amer Owaida18 Feb 20212 min. read


Scams

Romance scams in 2020: Breaking hearts, wallets – and records

Romance scams in 2020: Breaking hearts, wallets – and records

Scams

Romance scams in 2020: Breaking hearts, wallets – and records

As dating apps experience a boom amid COVID-19, losses to romance scams soar too

Amer Owaida16 Feb 20212 min. read


COVID-19

Beware of COVID-19 vaccine scams and misinformation

Beware of COVID-19 vaccine scams and misinformation

COVID-19

Beware of COVID-19 vaccine scams and misinformation

The vaccination push provides a vital shot in the arm for the world’s battle against the pandemic, but it's also a topic ripe for exploitation by fraudsters and purveyors of misinformation

Amer Owaida16 Feb 20216 min. read


Digital Security

Record-high number of vulnerabilities reported in 2020

Record-high number of vulnerabilities reported in 2020

Digital Security

Record-high number of vulnerabilities reported in 2020

High-severity and critical bugs disclosed in 2020 outnumber the sum total of vulnerabilities reported in 2010

Amer Owaida15 Feb 20212 min. read


Digital Security

Microsoft patches actively exploited Windows kernel flaw

Microsoft patches actively exploited Windows kernel flaw

Digital Security

Microsoft patches actively exploited Windows kernel flaw

This month’s relatively humble bundle of security updates fixes 56 vulnerabilities, including a zero-day bug and 11 flaws rated as critical

Amer Owaida10 Feb 20212 min. read


Cybercrime

Hacker attempts to poison Florida city’s water supply

Hacker attempts to poison Florida city’s water supply

Cybercrime

Hacker attempts to poison Florida city’s water supply

While the incursion was thwarted in time, cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure are a major cause for concern

Amer Owaida09 Feb 20212 min. read