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Linux Security Flaw: Full System Access in 70 Seconds

Posted: November 16, 2016 to Tips & Tricks.

Tags: Data Breach, Cloud Security, Malware

Want to hack a Linux computer?  It's takes just over a minute and it's so simple a toddler could do it.  (Not that a toddler would know what to do once they've got access.) On many Linux boxes, including those using Debian andFedora, local or in the cloud, all you have to do is hold down the enter key for 70 seconds.  Once you've gone though that arduous process, you're granted access to the initramfs root shell.  From there, you can do whatever you want to the hard disk, such as copy, edit or delete files.  You could also set up a network to steal and send data. Fortunately, this exploit has been patched, so if you haven't updated your Linux system, make sure to do it soon.

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Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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