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The DarkLeech attack compromised at least 20,000 legitimate websites around the world last year. It also made its mark as an example of a trend -- attackers targeting Internet infrastructure as a stepping stone to more potent attacks.

In the latest edition of its annual security report, Cisco Systems spotlights this increased focus on gaining access to Web servers, name servers and datacenters with the goal of taking advantage of their processing power and bandwidth.

"Through this approach, exploits can reach many more unsuspecting computer users and have a far greater impact on the organizations targeted, whether the goal is to make a political statement, undermine an adversary, or generate revenue," according to the report. "In essence, this trend in targeting Internet infrastructure means the foundation of the Web itself cannot be trusted."

Hackers use a variety of techniques to gain root access to hosting servers, including placing Trojans on management workstations to steal login credentials and exploiting vulnerabilities on third-party management tools used on the servers.

"CMS plays a huge role in this picture," explained Levi Gundert, Cisco technical lead for threat research, analysis and communications (TRAC). "So many people run content management software, whether it be WordPress or Joomla or what have you ...the vulnerability lists for these types of CMS are very extensive."

One compromised hosting server can infect thousands of websites. In addition, websites hosted on compromised servers may act as both a redirectors and a "malware repository," the report noted. Rather than many compromised sites loading malware from only a few malicious domains, "the relationship has now become many-to-many, hampering takedown efforts."

Once the server is compromised, the attackers can implement SSHD backdoors and install rogue modules into Web server software like Apache, Gundert said.

[Read how distributed denial-of-service attacks are a growing cause of costly data center outages in "DDoS Attacks Wreak Havoc On Data Centers."]

This is essentially what happened in the DarkLeech campaign: Sites were infected with a Secure Shell daemon (SSHD) backdoor that enabled the attackers to remotely upload malicious Apache modules and inject IFrames in real-time on hosted websites. The end result is that users were served exploits via the Blackhole crimeware kit.

"Because the DarkLeech IFrame injections occur only at the moment of a site visit, signs of the infection may not be readily apparent," the report notes.

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Cisco Security Report: Internet Infrastructure Under Attack

The pop star apologized Saturday for using a racial slur in a caption accompanying an Instagram photo of her son Friday night, which caused infuriated fans to berate her.

No one messes with Dirty Soap! Mama said knock you out! Madonna wrote, adding a variation of the N-word, the Associated Press reports. Initially calling her critics haters, the singer later took a more apologetic tone.

I am sorry if I offended anyone with my use of the N word on Instagram. It was not meant as a racial slur. I am not a racist. Theres no way to defend the use of the word. It was all about intention, she said. It was used as a term of endearment toward my son who is white. I appreciate that its a provocative word and I apologize if it gave people the wrong impression.

The singer hashas three other children, two of whom are black and adopted from the country Malawi in southeast Africa.

[AP]

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Madonna Sorry for Using N-Word On Instagram

The Associated Press FILE - In this Dec. 31, 2011 file photo, Orthodox Jewish children, wearing a Star of David patch and uniform similar to those the Nazis forced Jews to wear, attend a rally in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood. A bill moving through Israel's parliament that seeks to criminalize use of the word Nazi has sparked a debate on freedom of speech in a state that was founded out of the ashes of the Holocaust and where public figures are known to invoke the murder of millions of Jews for political purposes. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

By TIA GOLDENBERG/Associated Press/January 17, 2014

JERUSALEM (AP) An Israeli draft law that would criminalize the use of the word Nazi in most cases has sparked a debate on freedom of speech in a state that was founded out of the ashes of the Holocaust.

Seven decades later, memories of the extermination of millions of Jews during World War II permeate virtually every aspect of life in Israel. Public figures and interest groups frequently invoke the World War II genocide to score political points, and the word and Nazi symbols have slipped into Israeli discourse over the years.

The bill would impose a fine of 100,000 shekels (nearly $29,000) and six months in jail for anybody using the word or symbols from Adolf Hitlers Third Reich in a wrong or inappropriate way. Educational settings would be exempt, as would certain artistic performances, said Shimon Ohayon, the bills sponsor.

The Knesset gave preliminary approval to the measure on Wednesday, but it still must pass three more readings and committee discussions before becoming law. A similar effort in 2012 fell in committee amid opposition.

Ohayon, from the hard-line Yisrael Beitenu party, said the law would put Israel on par with other nations battling anti-Semitism. He acknowledged enforcement would largely rely on violations being reported to police.

We want to prevent disrespect of the Holocaust, said Ohayon, the bills sponsor. We allow too many freedoms which are taking over in a way that is harming us.

Opponents say the measure endangers freedom of speech in a country that takes pride in being a democracy in a volatile region dominated by monarchies and authoritarian leaders.

Week after week you want to shut mouths and harm freedom of expression, said Zehava Galon, leader of the opposition Meretz party.

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Israeli bill to outlaw the word Nazi sparks ire

The Associated Press FILE -This Jan. 16, 2014 file photo shows a bipartisan group of Senator arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington for the Senate vote to approve a $1.1 trillion spending package, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, a bipartisan compromise that all but banishes the likelihood of an election-year government shutdown. From left are, Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas. Talk about words more costly than gold. The giant federal budget bill that Congress passed late Thursday will cost taxpayers nearly $3 million per word, or if you want to really think big almost $700 million per page. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

By SETH BORENSTEIN/AP Science Writer/January 17, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) Talk about words more costly than gold.

The giant federal budget bill that the House passed Wednesday, Senate passed late Thursday and President Barack Obama signed Friday will cost taxpayers nearly $3 million per word, or if you want to really think big, almost $700 million per page.

The bill authorizes $1.1 trillion in spending. It is 1,582 pages long. An Internet word counting program said it has 370,445 words, numbers and symbols. So simple math comes up with $2.9 million per word average and $695 million per page average, though different parts of the budget package spend more than others sections.

By comparison, there are only 4,543 words in the U.S. Constitution, before amendments, and 1,458 words in the Declaration of Independence.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a Washington spending watchdog, figured that senators spent slightly more than 69 hours before passing the bill, giving them just under two minutes per page to read it.

And this story is only 162 words. At $2.9 million per word that comes to $470 million. A bargain.

___

Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: http://twitter.com/borenbears

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GO FIGURE: Fed budget comes to $3M per word

DISCOVER IBIZA ISLAND

In the city of Ibiza, visitors will find the Renaissance walled premises, Santo Domingos church, the landlords houses, the cathedral, the Curias house, the Archaeology Museum, the Castle, the Modern Art Museum of Ibiza and the Necrpolis Pnica del Puig des Molins, amongst some other interesting spots. Sant Josep de sa Talaia has a great deal of heritage. The churches of Sant Jordi and Sant Francesc de sEstany, the towers of des Carregador and ses Portes, the Phoenician town of Sa Caleta which has been declared World Heritage Site-, the parish of Sant Josep, the Torre del Pirata or des Savinar, the Punic-Roman rural settlement of Ses Pases de Cala dHort and the towers of Comte or den Rovira. The church of Sant Agusti and the parish of es Cubells are also a must. In Sant Antoni de Portmany, tourists can visit the church of Sant Rafel, Santa Agns underground chapel, the Cova des vi or ses Fontenelles, den Lluc towers, the churches of Sant Antoni and Sant Mateu and Buscatells little chapel. In Sant Joan de Labritja, visitors can enjoy the collection of unique rural style buildings in Balfia, the churches of Sant Miquel and Sant Lloren, the Portinatx tower, the churches of Sant Joan and Sant Vicent and the Punic sanctuary of es Culleram. In Santa Eulria des Riu, tourists can visit ses Feixes next to the centre of Jess, the church of Puig den Valls and the Puig de Missa in Santa Eulria, where the Barrau Museum and Ethnologic Museum can be found next to the church. In the area of Sant Carles, you can visit the church and den Valls tower, near the Pou des Lle. Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera will delight visitors with the extreme beauty of its church.

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Official Ibiza tourist information website - Visits - Discover ...