Latest news with #PaulKeener
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Bay Area technology experts comment on possibility of cyberattacks following U.S. strikes on Iran
A day after President Trump announced the U.S. struck nuclear facilities in Iran, the Department of Homeland Security warned about the potential for low-level cybersecurity attacks. And even though the US has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Paul Keener, a strategist for a cyber consulting firm called GuidePoint Security headquartered in Virginia, said the potential attackers don't even have to be Iranian. "That is one of Iran's typical methods, because they use hacktivist groups. And so, the hacktivist groups are people who are ideologically aligned," said Keener. "And so, it creates the appearance of something bigger and more responsive than it might actually be. And so, yeah, is it likely that this will happen? I think so. If they can focus and do that, I would anticipate that." Prof. Ahmed Banafa is a technology expert at San Jose State. He said Iran has engaged in cyber attacks in the past and usually focuses on the kind of infrastructure that can disrupt everyday life. "The war, including what we are seeing here, is actually not just only in the skies or the battlefield itself. It's also on the server rooms and the algorithms and the data centers and the R and D of the companies," Banafa told CBS News Bay Area. "That's going to be more effective than anything else because it creates a lot of damage to a country." "You know, companies like PG&E for example, so they can paralyze the grid," he said. "Number two, they can go after the financial companies, like Stripe and PayPal, which is going to create a lot of panic if people are using those systems. They can go after the research that we have seen, R and D, in many of those companies, especially with artificial intelligence now. Silicon Valley is leading the world there." And it doesn't take sophisticated weaponry to do that. Just having someone open the wrong email or click on the wrong link can allow a hacker to infiltrate a system and potentially bring an operation to a halt. The Department of Homeland Security issued an alert on Sunday saying, "Low-level cyber-attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks." Stanford professor Allen Weiner said he thinks some fears may be overblown. The former State Department attorney specializes in international conflict resolution, and he said he thinks Iran is more concerned about keeping its own people under control, especially now that Hezbollah has been crippled and Assad's regime in Syria has collapsed. "And so, what that means now," said Weiner, "is that a lot of the allies that Iran had that would have been in a position to put pressure on Israel have been dramatically weakened, leaving Iran itself very exposed." He said Iran's rulers are generally unpopular with the Iranian people, so much of the regime's actions are designed to show strength as a way of keeping their own people in line, and that even before the announced ceasefire, Iran's retaliation had been largely for show. Weiner said, though they could threaten cyber attacks, he believes they may be looking for a way out of the conflict. "I think the Iranians have been signaling that they want to de-escalate," he said, "realizing that they're completely outmatched militarily by the Israelis. And the minute you add the United States to the mix, I think they recognize that a shooting war will go very badly for them."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Las Vegas cybersecurity expert offers tips to avoid Real ID scams as deadline approaches
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The looming May 7 deadline to get a Real ID has scammers ramping up their schemes. A cybersecurity strategist shared with 8 News Now all the ways scammers are using the Real ID enforcement deadline to their benefit. 'They're trying to create a pressure campaign, and taking advantage of the fact a lot of people don't really understand what it is and why they need it,' Las Vegas Cybersecurity strategist with Guidepoint Paul Keener said. They're after social security numbers, date of birth, addresses – the trifecta to create a false identity to open an account. From posing as government agencies to offering online services, requesting personal information, and using fear tactics. Keener also went on to add that using AI to make their texts and calls sound more believable. 'There's also deepfakes to sound like someone is calling from Nevada DMV, it's a little bit more scary,' he said. Keep in mind that the DMV will never ask for personal information through email or ID applications cannot be done online. Be wary of unsolicited communications – hang up on callers, and block the clicking on links that don't look right. If you get a text or email, delete it without clicking on it, verify the source, and report suspicious activity. If you feel you've been scammed, there is a website to report it to CLICK HERE for more information. It's also important to report it to the IRS, so they can flag your Social Security number. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch out for March Madness scams
In less than a week, Climate Pledge Arena will transform its ice rink into a basketball court as Seattle hosts thousands of fans for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Excitement for the tournament is building, but scammers are already hard at work. 'It's not that people are foolish or that they don't understand how to do things. This scamming is a professional business,' says cybersecurity expert, Paul Keener. In one of the largest scams, scammers sell tickets that look legitimate but aren't. Oftentimes, the buyers don't even know their ticket is fake until they arrive at the event and are turned away. For the NCAA tournament, a spokesperson for Climate Pledge tells KIRO 7, 'We strive for the best possible guest experience for all fans who come to Climate Pledge Arena, whether that be for a Kraken game, concert, or the upcoming March Madness games. We strongly encourage all fans to buy their tickets from the venue's primary ticket provider. For Climate Pledge Arena, this is NCAA Ticket Exchange on Ticketmaster is the official resale marketplace for the upcoming March Madness games.' 'Nobody wants to pay the service charges associated with all of these things,' says Keener. 'So you try to find a place like Facebook Marketplace or something like that.' He says if you do buy resale, use sites like Stub Hub, Vivid Seats, and Ticketmaster, which offer refund protections that Craigslist and Facebook don't have. His biggest coaching tip – use a credit card, so if you are scammed, you can dispute the charge and hopefully recoup the money. 'Maybe you're disappointed because you couldn't get in the game, but at least you didn't lose out $400 in tickets,' says Keener.
