Netflix accounts sell for $0.35; Data speed record set; Aussies lose $23m in dating scams

Attackers are stealing users’ Netflix credentials and selling them on black markets, according to a new report from Symantec.

In a blog entry, Symantec employee Lionel Payet explained how attackers are using malware and phishing campaigns to gather Netflix users’ credentials.

“But the attackers may not just keep this access for themselves. There is an underground economy targeting users who wish to access Netflix for free or a reduced price,” Payet wrote.

Some of the accounts on sale provide a month of viewing, while others “give full access to the premium service”, Payet said.

The blog entry showed one advertisement for stolen Netflix accounts. According to the ad, the seller(s) in question were offering compromised Netflix accounts at US$0.25 (about 35 Australian cents) each, and had about 300,000 accounts in stock.

“Symantec advises users to only download the Netflix application from official sources. Additionally, users should not take advantage of services that appear to offer Netflix for free or a reduced price, as they may contain malicious files or steal data,” Payet said.

1.125 terabits per second optical transfer

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have achieved an optical data transfer rate of 1.125 terabits per second, and they reckon they’ve set a record for the fastest ever data rate for digital information by doing so.

The boffins in question are part of the university’s Optical Networks Group, and they achieved the speed while looking into the capacity limits of optical transmission systems.

To give some context to the achievement, the researchers’ 1.125 terabits per second is equivalent to 1,125,000 Mbps — 11,250 times faster than the fastest download speed that nbn co provides as a wholesaler to RSPs in Australia (100 Mbps).

Or, in other terms still: using the researchers’ data transfer link, it’d take about 6.5 seconds to transfer an hour’s worth of 10-bit 4K RAW video footage — about 911 gigabytes in size.

To achieve these speeds, the researchers built an optical communications system with multiple transmitting channels and a single receiver.

Lead researcher Dr Robert Maher, UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering, said: “While current state-of-the-art commercial optical transmission systems are capable of receiving single channel data rates of up to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), we are working with sophisticated equipment in our lab to design the next-generation core networking and communications systems that can handle data signals at rates in excess of 1 terabit per second (Tbps).”

For those interested in the specifics, the paper that details the research is available to read in its entirety at Nature.

Aussies lose $23 million to dating scams

According to reports made to the ACCC, 2620 Australians lost a total of $22.7 million to dating and romance scams in 2015.

In more than three-quarters of the complaints made to the ACCC about these dating scams, the scams were delivered via the internet, email or social networking/online forums.

Note that these figures only represent the people who complained to the ACCC. As ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard explained, “We know these figures are only the tip of the iceberg as many victims are reluctant to admit to friends, family or authorities that they fell for a scam.

“Scammers are experts at preying on people’s weaknesses and will spend months and even years grooming victims and lowering their defences. Inevitably, the fraudster will spin a tall tale about why they suddenly need your financial help, ranging from medical emergencies to failed business ventures to needing to rebook flights to visit you,” Rickard said.

“Once victims realise that their admirer is actually a criminal, the emotional consequences can be devastating. This is why disrupting relationship scams continues to be a priority for the ACCC,” she said.

The ACCC provides best practice guidelines for dating websites, as well as tips for users on how to avoid dating and romance scams.