Ethical Hacking News
Experts have revealed a significant security vulnerability in password managers, which may leave users' credentials exposed to hackers and other malicious actors. Meanwhile, the use of cryptocurrency in human trafficking has nearly doubled in 2025, according to conservative estimates. As technology continues to evolve at an exponential rate, cybersecurity experts warn that vigilance is key to protecting our online identities.
Researchers at ETH Zurich and USI Lugano found that popular password managers like Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass may be vulnerable to exploitation. The study revealed cryptographic vulnerabilities in these password managers, which can gain access to users' credentials. The "zero knowledge" claims of password managers are not foolproof, as they can be exploited by skilled hackers or insiders. The security vulnerability highlights concerns about human trafficking and its connection to technology companies. There have been recent cases of cybersecurity breaches, including those involving Ring cameras and leaked Social Security numbers. The US government is working on an online portal called Freedom.gov to help people bypass censorship and restrictions imposed by foreign governments. Cybersecurity experts recommend using tools like threat modeling, encrypted collaboration apps, and AI-powered disinformation swarms mitigation techniques.
In recent weeks, there has been a growing concern about the security of password managers, which have long been hailed as a convenient and practical solution for creating and implementing unique, sufficiently strong passwords across every online account in one's life. However, a new study by security researchers at ETH Zurich and USI Lugano has revealed that these password manager companies may be more vulnerable to exploitation than previously thought.
The researchers specifically analyzed password managers from Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass - although they warn their findings likely apply to others, too - and found that they could often gain access to users' credentials. In some cases, they could access users' entire "vault" of passwords or even gain the ability to write to those vaults at will.
The cryptographic vulnerabilities they found varied between password managers and existed only when certain features were enabled, such as the key escrow systems that allow the backup and recovery of passwords. However, many of the flaws they found were relatively simple and demonstrate a lack of scrutiny around password managers' "zero knowledge" claims.
Zero knowledge systems are designed to ensure that even the password manager company itself cannot access users' credentials in an unencrypted state. In other words, users can be sure that their passwords remain confidential and secure, as long as they do not reveal their master password or account information. However, the researchers found that if a malicious insider or hacker is sufficiently skilled at exploiting cryptographic flaws, these zero knowledge systems may not be foolproof.
The study's findings have significant implications for individuals who rely on password managers to protect their online identities. While the risk of a data breach or exploitation by hackers cannot be entirely eliminated, the researchers' discovery highlights the importance of being vigilant and taking steps to secure one's passwords.
Furthermore, this incident has further underscored concerns about human trafficking and its connection to technology companies. In recent weeks, it was reported that cryptocurrency in sales of human beings for prostitution nearly doubled in 2025. This raises questions about how password managers, which are widely used by individuals around the world, may inadvertently enable or facilitate these illicit activities.
In addition to this security vulnerability issue, it has also been revealed that Jeffrey Epstein had a personal hacker who helped him exploit children and other vulnerable individuals for his own nefarious purposes. It is now known that CBP officers in the US Virgin Islands were still friendly with Epstein even after he was convicted of sex crimes in 2008.
This raises serious questions about how these agencies are supposed to vet their employees, and whether they have a responsibility to report any ties to individuals like Epstein who are wanted for committing similar crimes. In light of these revelations, it has been decided that the Department of Homeland Security will combine its face and fingerprint technologies into a centralized database across all its agencies.
This development comes on the heels of other major cybersecurity breaches, including one involving Ring cameras which were sending data to Amazon without user consent. In another incident, a group of hackers was able to access sensitive information about millions of Americans through a leaked database that contained their Social Security numbers.
In an effort to combat these types of threats, the US government has also been working on an online portal to help people bypass censorship and restrictions imposed by foreign governments. The site is called Freedom.gov and is part of a State Department initiative to promote internet freedom around the world.
However, not all countries are taking these measures seriously. In Cambodia, for example, officials have claimed that they will be eradicating scam compounds - vast prison-like facilities where people are forced to run online scams - by April. While this sounds like a positive development, experts say that these types of operations often prove difficult to dismantle and the industry may continue to thrive despite efforts to shut it down.
In order to combat these illicit activities, cybersecurity experts recommend using tools such as threat modeling and encrypted collaboration apps to build a group safely. The use of AI-powered disinformation swarms also poses a significant risk, as these algorithms can spread false information at an unprecedented scale.
Despite the many challenges that lie ahead, cybersecurity experts say that it is essential to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to protect one's online identity. By staying informed about emerging threats and taking steps to secure our devices and data, we can all play a role in creating a safer digital world.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Password-Manager-Security-Vulnerabilities-and-Human-Trafficking-A-Growing-Concern-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/security-news-this-week-password-managers-share-a-hidden-weakness/
https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/password-manager-security-vulnerabilities-research
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2887955/password-managers-vulnerable-40-million-users-at-risk-of-stolen-data.html
Published: Sat Feb 21 05:53:33 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
