Year: 2014

According to a BBC News report dated 21st May 2014, the US firm ebay has issued a statement that its database had been hacked between late February and early March, and had contained encrypted passwords and other non-financial data.

The company added that it had no evidence of there being unauthorised activity on its members’ accounts. However, it said that changing the passwords was “best practice and will help enhance security for eBay users”.

The California-based company has 128 million active users and accounted for $212bn (£126bn) worth of commerce on its various marketplaces and other services in 2013.

A post on eBay’s corporate site said that cyber-attackers accessed the information after obtaining “a small number of employee log-in credentials”, allowing them to access its systems – something it only became aware of a fortnight ago.

“The database… included eBay customers’ name, encrypted password, email address, physical address, phone number and date of birth,” it said.

“However, the database did not contain financial information or other confidential personal information.

“Extensive forensics subsequently identified the compromised eBay database, resulting in the company’s announcement today.”

Although the firm also owns the PayPal money transfer service, it said that the division’s data was stored separately, encrypted and that there was no evidence that it had been accessed.

It added that any members who used the same login details used on eBay for other sites should also update them.

EBay has not provided any information about the kind of encryption it used.

One expert said there was still a concern that the hackers might be able to make use of their haul.

“We all know that given enough time hackers can crack some encrypted password files,” said Alan Woodward, an independent security consultant.

“The slightly worrying aspect of this is that the hackers have a nice neat list of personal information, which can be used to steal identities or even help them get around other systems though password reset scams.”

On the afternoon of 19th May 2014, GNR Lagos arrested a man and a woman aged 24 and 23 years respectively on suspicion of drug trafficking.

The suspects were apprehended after being followed on National Highway 125, in Lagos. They were found to be carrying 756 doses of heroin which was seized as well as two mobile phones and 70 euros in cash.

They will appear in court.

 

On 19th May 2014 at around 1450 hrs PSP Faro, detained two Portuguese citizens, aged 34 and 33 years , at Rua Douter Guilhere  Centazzi in Faro, moments after committing a theft at a residence at Av Cidade Haywood, Faro.

After the report of the theft was made the PSP agents who were closeby chased the fleeing culprits. The culprits then boarded a vehicle and drove at high speed ignoring traffic rules and endangering the public, followed by the PSP.

They were finally apprehended and the vehicle searched. A suitcase was found containing several stolen items valued about 250 €, plus other items that were inside the vehicle suspected of having also been stolen.

On the night of 17th May 2014 at 03:00, the night guard of Quarteira, caught in the act a man aged 45 years stealing non-precious metals.

The man was in the process of stealing the various metal items from the warehouse of Sandomania Coffee, located at Rua Vasco da Gama, when he was intercepted by a night guard.

The man was subsequently found to be possession of additional material, namely iron pipes, electric material and taps. The GNR confirmed that these had been stolen from a Beauty Institute, which adjoins the aforementioned property. The culprit entered by scaling the wall.

Among the stolen material, the iron pipes were found to be disconnected from a water system therefore causing a loss of around € 300.

Belgian and Dutch judicial and law enforcement authorities, supported by the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol and Eurojust, have concluded an operation resulting in the arrest of 12 members of an organised crime group and the seizure of EUR 15 000 in cash and important digital evidence in a voice-phishing case.

Earlier this year, following months of close judicial and law enforcement cooperation, Belgium and the Netherlands conducted simultaneous arrests and house searches.

Investigations to identify potential criminal connections in other Member States are ongoing.

Voice-phishing is a relatively new form of cybercrime. In this case, the potential victims in Belgium first received an e-mail, seemingly from a Belgian bank, asking for personal information. In the second phase, the criminals, located in the Netherlands, made direct contact with the potential victims in Belgium by telephone to gain access to private and personal information. The collected information was subsequently used to access bank accounts in Belgium and transfer money. The Belgian victims and banks suffered millions of euros in losses.

On 15th May 2014 in the afternoon, the GNR Loulé undertook an operation to combat drug trafficking involving the execution of a search warrant at a residence located in Almancil.

The operation, was the culmination of an investigation which commenced several months ago and resulted in the arrest of a citizen aged 30 years for the crime of drug trafficking.

Whilst conducting the search of the residence 605 individual doses of hashish, plus 170 euros in cash, 49 rounds of 6.35 mm caliber ammunition, brass knuckles, 9 mobile phones and various items into gold were located and seized.

During the operation the GNR identified multiple consumers on site where the suspect was engaged in selling the drugs.  The GNR believe the conclusion of this investigation has given a strong blow to trafficking of drugs in Almancil.

It was noted that the individual has been arrested on other occasions for the same type of crime. He appeared at the Judicial District Court of Loulé for an application to be remanded in custody

On 11th May 2014 GNR Tavira arrested  seven persons aged between 21 and 48 years old , indicted for the crime of drug trafficking, and seized 2044 kilos of hashish.

In the early evening, the GNR were alerted to the presence of several unknown individuals near a tourist village at Santa Luzia. The GNR patrol observed four persons acting suspiciously.

Subsequent surveillance  led to the location in the Ria de Santa Luzia of two vessels suspected to be involved in carry drugs. They were searched and each was found to be carrying about 40 bales  which were hidden in various compartments totaling 2044 pounds of hashish.

In addition to these four individuals , the GNR arrested three others who were in the process of meeting the detainees as part of the trafficking operation.

Also seized were the two vessels ( length of about 7 m) with 225 hp and 150hp engines, a car and seven mobile phones .

Two other individuals were also identified  and a light goods vehicle suspected to be intended for the transport of the product narcotic seized.

The District Police Command Public Security Faro reports that during the weekend (10th and 11th May) that the Police Division Faro arrested two citizens; one male of foreign national aged 21 years old and other of Portuguese nationality, aged 18 , both residing in Quarteira and identified a third person aged 25  residing in Faro.

The two arrested persons were apprehended minutes after they committed a robbery on a  group of students who had just left the academic week and had moved to their homes.

The detainees had in their possession items stolen from the students as well as others from various robberies carried out during the same night and the night before. This included four mobile phones, a watch, some pieces of clothing valued about €100 each, cash and a weapon that was used to threaten and attack the victims.

The suspects approach victims requesting a cigarette  which then turned into a demand for money and then violence, including threats and attacks with a weapon.

The two detainees will be attending the judicial authority  for the first judicial interrogation and application to be held in remand.

On 12th May 2014  the Police Criminal Investigation Unit of PSP Portimão arrested a man and a woman aged 28 and 25 years old respectively, for drug trafficking.

The operation was carried out following surveillance and involved a search of a house where 238 individual doses of hashish and 3 plants of “cannabis sativa” and  a “Hookah” commonly used in drug abuse, were seized.

Both suspects were notified to appear before the Court of Portimão, on 13th May.

It was reported that on 7th May 2014 a 70 year old former teacher from a secondary school in Albufeira was arrested in the Dominican republic after it was discovered that 50 kgs of cocaine was found in her suitcase.

The teacher (a Portuguese national) who was in a group of five elderly persons had boarded a flight to Lisbon at Punta Cana airport and was awaiting for take off when the the arrest took place.

The lady and her friends in the group have denied that the suitcase belonged to her and it is alleged that officials at the airport placed a name tag in her name on the suitcase. In the container where the suitcase was found other drugs were also discovered.

The flight was an Airbus A310-304 chartered under the name of “White Airways”.

According to sources police believe she may have been targeted by an interational drug trafficking gang.