| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization:
- The article reports that vulnerabilities were found in PrivateVPN and Betternet, which could have exposed users to online attacks [99946].
- Both PrivateVPN and Betternet were able to verify the issues and released patched versions to fix the vulnerabilities [99946].
(b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization:
- The article mentions that vulnerabilities were also discovered in CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield VPN services, allowing researchers to intercept communications during security testing [99946].
- It is highlighted that the vulnerabilities in CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield were different from those in PrivateVPN and Betternet, as the former allowed interception of communications while the latter could convince the VPN program to download a fake update containing ransomware [99946]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the vulnerabilities found in four virtual private network services - PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield. Researchers discovered security flaws in these VPN services that could have exposed users to online attacks, such as installing malicious programs and ransomware through fake VPN software updates [99946].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the ability of hackers to intercept communications when testing the security of VPNs CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield. This interception of communications could occur when the VPN program interacts with the app's backend infrastructure, indicating a failure in the operation or misuse of the system [99946]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident reported in the articles is primarily within the system. The vulnerabilities in the VPN services (PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, Hotspot Shield) that could expose users to online attacks were due to flaws within the software systems themselves. Researchers were able to intercept communications, install malicious programs, and even convince the VPN programs to download fake updates like the WannaCry ransomware [99946]. The issues were identified by VPNpro, disclosed to the companies, and subsequently fixed by PrivateVPN and Betternet. The failure originated from within the system's design and implementation, leading to security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case was due to security flaws in virtual private network services, specifically vulnerabilities in PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield. These vulnerabilities could have exposed users to online attacks, such as installing malicious programs and ransomware through fake VPN software updates. The vulnerabilities were exploited by researchers from VPNpro, indicating that the failure was a result of non-human actions, specifically flaws in the software itself [99946].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
While the initial cause of the software failure was due to security flaws in the VPN services, the response and handling of the situation involved human actions. For example, the researchers from VPNpro disclosed the vulnerabilities to PrivateVPN and Betternet, who then worked on fixing the issues and rolling out patches. Additionally, there were responses from CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield spokespersons questioning the validity of the research and methodology used by VPNpro. Legal actions were also considered by some companies against VPNpro for their handling of the situation. These human actions in response to the software failure incident are evident in the articles [99946]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The software failure incident reported in the article is not directly attributed to hardware issues. Instead, it is focused on security vulnerabilities in virtual private network (VPN) services that could expose users to online attacks [99946].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The software failure incident reported in the article is primarily due to security flaws in the software of virtual private network (VPN) services. The vulnerabilities in VPN services like PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield could have allowed hackers to install malicious programs, intercept communications, and even convince the VPN programs to download fake updates containing ransomware [99946]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is related to malicious intent. Researchers found security flaws in certain VPN services that could have exposed users to online attacks. The vulnerabilities in PrivateVPN and Betternet could have allowed hackers to install malicious programs and ransomware through fake VPN software updates. Additionally, the researchers were able to intercept communications when testing the security of VPNs CyberGhost and Hotspot Shield [99946]. The incident involved exploiting vulnerabilities to potentially harm users and compromise their data, indicating malicious intent behind the software failure. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the VPN services' security flaws can be attributed to poor decisions made in the design and implementation of the VPN software. The vulnerabilities that could expose users to online attacks were a result of flaws in PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield. These flaws allowed hackers to potentially install malicious programs, ransomware, and intercept communications [99946]. The incident highlights the importance of robust security measures and thorough testing in software development to prevent such vulnerabilities that can compromise user data and security. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the vulnerabilities found in the VPN services PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield. Researchers from VPNpro discovered security flaws in these VPN services that could have exposed users to online attacks. The vulnerabilities allowed hackers to install malicious programs, ransomware, and intercept communications. PrivateVPN and Betternet were able to verify the issues and promptly fixed them after being notified by VPNpro [99946].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is seen in the vulnerabilities discovered by VPNpro in the VPN services PrivateVPN, Betternet, CyberGhost, and Hotspot Shield. These vulnerabilities were not intentionally introduced but were accidental flaws in the software that could have been exploited by hackers to compromise user security [99946]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident reported in the articles can be categorized as a temporary failure. The vulnerabilities in the VPN services, such as PrivateVPN and Betternet, were identified by researchers and subsequently fixed by the companies after being disclosed to them [99946]. The incident involved specific vulnerabilities that were addressed through patches and updates, indicating a temporary nature of the failure. |
| Behaviour |
other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions. The vulnerabilities identified in the VPN services did not lead to a complete system failure but rather exposed users to potential security risks [99946].
(b) omission: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). Instead, the vulnerabilities in the VPN services allowed for potential attacks and interception of communications, indicating a breach in security rather than a failure to perform functions [99946].
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not related to a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions but does so too late or too early. The vulnerabilities identified in the VPN services were more focused on security flaws that could be exploited by hackers rather than timing-related issues [99946].
(d) value: The incident does not involve a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. The vulnerabilities in the VPN services did not lead to incorrect functioning of the VPN programs but rather exposed security flaws that could potentially compromise user data and communications [99946].
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit a byzantine behavior where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. The vulnerabilities identified in the VPN services were more related to security flaws that could be exploited by hackers rather than erratic or inconsistent behavior of the systems [99946].
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be categorized as a security vulnerability. The incident involved flaws in the VPN services that could have exposed users to online attacks, including the potential installation of malicious programs and interception of communications. The vulnerabilities were related to security breaches rather than specific system malfunctions [99946]. |