Tech firms seek to improve information security
Hong Van -  
(VOVworld)- After Wikileaks revealed that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is hacking smart phones, PCs, and smart TV, several of the tech firms have taken measures to improve their products’ information security.
Apple says it has already fixed some flaws referred to in an alleged leak of the CIA's hacking tools. Apple says an initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS and it will continue to work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities. The firm urges customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security update.
Samsung - whose F8000 series of televisions was reportedly hacked said protecting consumers' privacy and the security of its devices is a top priority. A spokesman from Microsoft said that the company is aware of the report and is looking into it. Google declined to comment on allegations that the CIA was able to "penetrate, infest and control" Android phones.
Sinan Eren, Vice President of Czech anti-virus software maker Avast, called on mobile device software makers Apple and Google to supply security firms with privileged access to their devices to offer immediate fixes to known bugs. Avast, which counts more than 400 million users of its anti-virus software worldwide, was named in the WikiLeaks documents as one of the security vendors targeted by the CIA. On Tuesday, Wikileaks posted thousands of files revealing secret cyber-tools used by CIA to convert cellphones, televisions and other ordinary devices into implements of espionage. Nicholas Weaver, a computer security researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, says the problem is that somebody managed to extract a lot of data from a classified CIA system and was eager to let the world know it.
Hong Van