Score one for the good guys in the fight against ransomware: Anyone who fell victim to REvil, aka Sodinokibi, crypto-locking malware before July 13 can now decrypt their files for free, thanks to a decryptor released by security firm Bitdefender.
Regarding the recent tactical innovation by the Grief ransomware gang that is threatening to wipe a victim's data and decryption key if the victim engages a ransom negotiator, analysts are calling this a desperate ploy to scare a target into paying the ransom demand.
Senior U.S. officials say that there have been no signs that Moscow has begun to crack down on ransomware-wielding criminals operating from inside Russia's borders. President Biden has called on Russia to act responsibly, and U.S. intelligence has been sharing information on top suspects.
The top three tactics attackers have been using to break into corporate and government networks are brute-forcing passwords, exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities, and social engineering via malicious emails, says security firm Kaspersky in a roundup of its 2020 incident response investigations.
"There are so many basics we need to get right," says Daniel Dresner, professor of cyber security at Manchester University. In this interview, he discusses the cybersecurity practices that he recommends to make the task of securing small- to medium-sized enterprises less overwhelming.
Apple patched a software vulnerability on Monday that researchers say was used to deliver spyware via its iMessage platform to the mobile phones of activists. But a few changes to iMessage could make it safer overall for individuals at high risk of surveillance, says an Apple security expert.
Olympus, a Japanese company that manufactures optics and reprography products, reports that a portion of its IT system in the EMEA region was affected by a "potential cybersecurity incident." While Olympus has not identified an attacker, some reports suggest it is the BlackMatter ransomware gang.
Security experts say the notorious REvil - aka Sodinokibi - ransomware-as-a-service operation, which went dark in July, appears to be back in business. The group's data leak site and payment portal are back online, and one expert says the group appears to have begun amassing new victims.
In the latest weekly update, four editors at Information Security Media Group discuss important cybersecurity issues, including how ransomware affiliates change operators and why terrorists aren't launching massive cyberattacks.
The United Nations says its networks were accessed by attackers earlier this year, leading to follow-on intrusions. One cybercrime analyst reports that he'd alerted NATO after seeing access credentials for one of its enterprise resource planning software systems for sale via the cybercrime underground.
The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of the most sought-after type of victim for ransomware-wielding attackers. Also featured: fighting extortion schemes and stress management tips.
"Silence is gold." So says ransomware operator Ragnar Locker, as it attempts to compel victims to pay its ransom demand without ever telling anyone - especially not police. But some ransomware-battling experts have been advocating the opposite, including mandatory reporting of all ransom payments.
Apparent Babuk ransomware operation spinoff Groove, self-described as being an "aggressive financially motivated criminal organization," has launched as part of the new RAMP cybercrime forum, and is promising affiliates a bigger share of profits than traditional ransomware-as-a-service operations.
The White House is preparing executive branch agencies to adopt "zero trust" network architectures by 2024, with CISA and the OMB overseeing the creation of technology road maps that departments must follow. This is a major component of President Biden's cybersecurity executive order.
New Zealand's Computer Emergency Response Team says it is aware of ongoing distributed denial-of-service attacks that have disrupted services at several organizations in the country, including some financial institutions and the national postal service.
Our website uses cookies. Cookies enable us to provide the best experience possible and help us understand how visitors use our website. By browsing bankinfosecurity.eu, you agree to our use of cookies.
