Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 24 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

The Human Element- Cyber Security’s Great Challenge

According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of all breaches involved a human element. It is important for organisations to understand that it is not simply malicious employees or employees falling for social engineering attacks; it includes things such as negligent, or intentional but not malicious actions. In fact, a recent separate report by Kaspersky found that 26% of incidents over the past two years involved the result of intentional security protocol violations; in comparison, external hacking attempts made up 20%.

Further, Kaspersky found 25% of incidents occurred due to neglecting system software or application updates, followed by 22% resulting from deliberate use of weak passwords or failing to change them promptly, and 18% from staff visiting unsecured websites. One potential cause for these incidents is a lack of training on why such protocols need to be followed.

Black Arrow provides live in person and online instructor lead cyber security training including Cyber Risk and Governance Workshops for Senior Leadership, and Awareness, Behaviour and Culture Training for employees and contractors.

Sources [Beta News] [ Infosecurity Magazine] [The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)]

Good Cyber Hygiene is a Strategic Imperative for SMEs, Report Shows

Small or large, no company is immune to a cyber attack and therefore good cyber hygiene is an imperative for all. Whilst large firms may already have more mature defences in place, smaller firms are definitely catching on to this, with 47% of respondents to a recent survey stating they were more worried about their organisation’s security posture now than compared to six months ago.

The survey found that ransomware (35%), software vulnerability exploits (28%) and using the same password across different applications (25%) were amongst the largest concerns. Interestingly, in a separate report, 44% of incidents were found to lack any element of malware, indicating that attackers are moving beyond traditional methods. The same report found 65% of cases included remote monitoring and management tools as the vector for initial access, something a number of organisations do not secure.

Business email compromise (BEC) attacks are also a key concern for businesses of all sizes but can be especially damaging to smaller organisations for whom the financial loss can be devastating.

Sources [Computer Weekly]  [Beta News] [Beta News]

Despite Increasing Ransomware Attacks, Some Companies are in Denial

A recent study has highlighted a contradiction in the way organisations perceive ransomware threats. Although many do not consider themselves likely targets, they are, nevertheless, bolstering their security measures, expanding their teams, and fortifying cyber defences, acknowledging the risks despite their assumed invulnerability.

Simultaneously, ransomware tactics are undergoing significant changes. The past three quarters have seen a marked increase in double-extortion attacks, with data leaks from these incidents rising by 50% compared to the previous year. This trend is predominantly driven by a few active groups, some newly emerged this year, amplifying the threat landscape.

In a tactical shift, the ransomware group ALPHV, also known as Blackcat, has lodged a formal complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against a victim for failing to comply with new disclosure regulations. Meanwhile, LockBit, infamous for attacks on high-profile targets, is modifying its extortion tactics due to lower-than-anticipated ransom returns. These developments point to an evolving and adaptive ransomware environment.

Sources: [Dark Reading] [SC Media] [Insurance Journal] [MSSP Alert] [Security Brief]

A Single Supply Chain Related Ransomware Incident Spurred UK Decision Makers to Spend Big on Cyber as Latest Victim Count exceeds 2.6K Organisations and 77M People

It is reported that 2,620 organisations and more than 77 million individuals have been impacted to date by the MOVEit supply chain ransomware attack, with millions in the past week alone having received notifications that their information had either been accessed, leaked, or both.

In a survey involving directors of UK companies with over 500 seats that had suffered a ransomware or extortion attack in the past 18 months, it was found that 24% had become significantly more anxious about ransomware attacks as a direct result of the MOVEit breach, and 66% were slightly more anxious. This anxiety translated into action, with 42% of respondents investing more into backup and recovery, and 29% tweaking existing cyber strategies. 29% had taken the decision to amend their existing cyber strategies. Staff training was also found to rise, with 42% looking to spend on skills development and 40% upping their investment in training.

Sources: [The Register] [Computer Weekly]

The True Cost of a Ransomware Attack

While the demand is often financial, the impact and reach of ransomware goes far beyond the ransomware demand. Alongside the financial impact, comes the reputational impact, loss of customers, resources in returning to business as normal and time lost in recovery. For some companies, it can take months to return to where they were before and for others, it marks the end of their organisation.

For an attacker, it doesn’t matter. Their goal is not limited by the size or sector of an organisation and it is therefore imperative that every organisation is prepared for the event of an incident. Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [ITPro]

Largest Study of Its Kind Shows Outdated Password Practices Are Putting Millions at Risk

A recent study has exposed serious flaws in passwords on the internet, revealing that three out of four popular websites are compromising user security by not meeting basic password standards. The study examined 20,000 websites, finding many allowed simple passwords, didn’t block common ones and adhered to outdated complexity requirements. It was found that over half the websites accept passwords of six characters or fewer, with 75% not requiring the advised minimum of eight characters, and 30% not supporting spaces or special characters. The study showcases the gap in security measures implementation across the web and emphasises the importance of ongoing improvement in web security standards.

The problem is further exacerbated by employees using work email for non-work approved websites and reusing the same passwords, meaning any breach of a compromised site hands the user’s credentials to an attacker. Further, many organisations are not even aware this is going on.

Source: [TechXplore]

Cyber Security Investment Involves More Than Just Technology

C-suite business leaders and senior IT professionals within large organisations, found that the top five cyber security investment areas were technologies (49%), threat intelligence (46%), risk assessment (42%), cyber insurance (42%), and third-party risk management (40%). Fewer organisations highlighted technology as good value for money in 2023 (49%) than in 2022 (58%). suggesting an awareness that technology investments go hand-in-hand with investing in governance and personnel to effectively enable and manage the technology.

Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Questions Leaders Must Ask Themselves on Security Culture

In today's corporate landscape, there's a growing emphasis on the human aspect of cyber security, with Stanford University research indicating that about 88% of data breaches result from employee errors. Companies are now focusing on enhancing security awareness through marketing campaigns and integrating cyber security performance into job reviews. This shift acknowledges that as technological defences evolve, cyber attackers increasingly exploit human vulnerabilities, as evidenced by major ransomware incidents like those impacting Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods.

Developing a strong security culture is essential, by complementing robust policies with ingraining security-minded beliefs and behaviours in employees. Key to this is the role of leadership in embedding and continuously assessing this culture. This involves evaluating training effectiveness, reporting mechanisms, proactive security approaches, and the impact of security initiatives, while also considering the complexity of human behaviour and the example set by top management. Emphasising these aspects is crucial for maintaining a secure and resilient organisational environment, and in so doing protecting an organisation's reputation and financial integrity.

Source: [AT&T]

There’s a Crossover Between Organised Crime, Financial Crime, and Nation-State Crime

The convergence of organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime is a growing concern in today’s interconnected world. This crossover, driven by the digital revolution, globalisation, economic factors, and state fragility, is reshaping the global criminal landscape. Organised crime syndicates, traditionally involved in activities like drug trafficking and extortion, are now branching out into financial crimes, offering higher profits with lower risks.

Financial crime, once the domain of individual fraudsters and white-collar criminals, has become a lucrative venture for organised crime groups. They exploit the global financial system to launder proceeds of crime, finance their operations, and evade law enforcement. Nation-state crime, involving state-sponsored or state-condoned criminal activities, often overlaps with organised and financial crime. Some governments turn a blind eye to these activities, while others actively support them for political, economic, or strategic reasons.

Sources: [The Currency]

Cyber Attack on British Library Highlights Lack of UK Resilience

A recent ransomware attack on the British Library has spotlighted the vulnerabilities in the UK's public sector IT infrastructure, amid rising state-backed cyber attacks. This major incident, which caused a significant technical outage at the library, underscores the concerns of cyber intelligence experts about the government's inadequate investment in cyber resilience in critical areas like education, healthcare, and local government. The hacking group Rhysida, targeting essential infrastructure, claimed responsibility and auctioned stolen data, including British Library employees’ passports, for 20 bitcoin (approximately £600,000).

The attack on the British Library, a key public service institution, highlights the escalating threat of ransomware attacks and their potential exploitation by state actors. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported a significant increase in cyber attacks in 2023, with incidents more than doubling compared to the previous year. In response, the UK government, which had already allocated £2.6bn for cyber security improvements and IT system updates, is actively assessing the situation with the support of the National Protective Security Authority.

Source: [FT]

Organisations Rethink Cyber Security Investments to Meet NIS2 and DORA Directive Requirements

The European Union (EU) is seeking to improve cyber resilience across all member states by bringing in two new regulations: the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which focuses on financial services companies, and its counterpart the Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2). The effects of the two regulations are likely to be wider reaching, bringing in more stringent processes and controls and redefining service provision to organisations.

With NIS2 coming into effect in October 2024, the mandatory directive will have teeth, with strict penalties for non-compliance for both the business and senior board personnel, who can be held directly accountable and prevented from holding similar positions in the future. It also aims to increase intelligence sharing between member states and enhance supply chain security. This latter measure will see the directive have a global impact.

Many organisations supplying services to firms that fall under DORA and NIS2 will themselves be subject to the full force of the regulations, with many of these suppliers, including IT providers, unaware that this will have far reaching ramifications for them and their ability to continue to provide these services.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Help Net Security]

The Cyber Security Lawsuit Boards are Talking About

For the last month, an under-the-radar lawsuit has privately been a hot topic of conversation in boardrooms and corporate security departments alike. The lawsuit involved the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accusing SolarWinds and their CISO of fraud. SolarWinds, like many organisations, had disclosed some facts, however what was reported was not sufficient to satisfy the regulator. The lawsuit is the first in which the SEC has charged a company with intentional fraud related to cyber security disclosures and it paints a picture for the wider movement of the cyber landscape. Whilst the SEC is US based you can expect regulatory counterparts in other jurisdictions globally to follow suit.

Source: [The New York Times]

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Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Why boards must prioritize cyber security expertise - Help Net Security4 data loss examples keeping backup admins up at night | TechTarget

• Accelerating Security Risk Management (trendmicro.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• CISOs can marry security and business success - Help Net Security

• 7 must-ask questions for leaders on security culture (att.com)

• The human element -- cyber security's greatest challenge (betanews.com)

• Employee Policy Violations Cause 26% of Cyber Incidents - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why good cyber hygiene is a strategic imperative for UK SMEs (betanews.com)

• MOVEit incident spurred UK decision makers to spend big on cyber | Computer Weekly

• Cyber security Investment Involves More Than Just Technology (darkreading.com)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Corporate Boards Mulling Effects of SEC Cyber Enforcement and CISO Exposure, and Possibly Hacker Complaints to SEC | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

• The Cyber security Lawsuit That Boards Are Talking About - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Only 9% of IT budgets are dedicated to security - Help Net Security

• Inflation, cyber risks the biggest worry for firms | Nation

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• “There's a crossover between organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime” - The Currency :The Currency

• Why transparency and accountability are important in cyber security | Computer Weekly

• ‘I employ a lot of hackers’: how a stock exchange chief deters cyber attacks | Cyberwar | The Guardian

• SolarWinds lawsuit puts corporate security chiefs on high alert By Investing.com

• Humans Are Notoriously Bad at Assessing Risk - SecurityWeek

• The role experience plays in risk mitigation (betanews.com)

• Internal audit leaders are wary of key tech investments - Help Net Security

• Maximize Cyber security Returns: 5 Key Steps to Enhancing ROI (darkreading.com)

• Over Half of Organisations Are at Risk of Cyber attack Due to Exhausted and Stressed Staff - IT Security Guru

• Stressed staff put enterprises at risk of cyber attack (betanews.com)

Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 2023 ransomware statistics: Number of double-extortion attacks skyrocket | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• More than money: The true cost of a ransomware attack | ITPro

• Despite Increasing Ransomware Attacks, Some Companies In Denial | MSSP Alert

• Ransomware attacks doubIe in two years says Akamai Technologies report (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Logs missing in 42% cyber attacks; small business most vulnerable: Report (business-standard.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• Ransomware Gang LockBit Revises Its Tactics to Get More Blackmail Money (insurancejournal.com)

• The shifting sands of the war against cyber extortion - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Crews Develop GenAI Tools for Cyber attacks | MSSP Alert

• Play Ransomware Goes Commercial - Now Offered as a Service to Cyber criminals (thehackernews.com)

• Scattered Spider Hops Nimbly from Cloud to On-Prem in Complex Attack (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware groups rack up victims among corporate America | CyberScoop

• Scattered Spider Casino Hackers Evade Arrest in Plain Sight (darkreading.com)

• Paying ransom for data stolen in cyber attack bankrolls further crime, experts caution | CBC Radio

• UK signs joint statement against ransomware payments - “New norm” or status quo? - Lexology

• Capita to axe up to 900 jobs as it battles to recover from Russian cyber attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• Schools Look to Improve Cyber security, but Many Vulnerable to Ransomware (insurancejournal.com)

• 4 Ways Fintech Companies Can Protect Themselves from Ransomware (financemagnates.com)

• A cyber attack on a UK accounting firm wound up leaking US patient data. Now what? (databreaches.net)

• Cyber security should not be a gamble: Latest data breach hits major casino - Digital Journal

Ransomware Victims

• Royal Mail spent £10 million recovering from LockBit breach - Tech Monitor

• British Library staff passports leaked online as hackers demand £600,000 (telegraph.co.uk)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• ICBC partners wary to resume trading with bank after cyber attack - Bloomberg News - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• ‘Sex life data’ stolen from UK government among record number of ransomware attacks (therecord.media)

• MOVEit victim count latest: 2.6K+ orgs, 77M+ people • The Register

• Allen & Overy Given 5 Days to Meet Hackers’ Demands: Expert Q&A | Law.com International

• London & Zurich ransomware attack causes customer chaos • The Register

• CitrixBleed Vulnerability Exploitation Suspected in Toyota Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Lockbit Gang Behind ICBC Attack Hacks Into Chicago Trading Company - Bloomberg

• Russian hackers claim attack on Ukraine fighter jet supplier (telegraph.co.uk)

• Rhysida claims it hacked the British Library - Tech Monitor

• Clorox Scapegoats Cyber Chief, Rewards Board After Crisis (forbes.com)

• Fortune 500 insurance and mortgage firm FNF shuts down network following cyber attack | TechRadar

• Yamaha Motor confirms ransomware attack on Philippines subsidiary (bleepingcomputer.com)

• St Helens Council suspected cyber attack caused significant disruption - BBC News

• Western Isles Council backup systems 'inaccessible' following cyber attack | STV News

• Auto parts giant AutoZone warns of MOVEit data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BlackCat claims attack on Fidelity National Financial • The Register

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing Simulations Boost Cyber Awareness and Defences | Mimecast

• How to combat AI-produced phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• More Than 50% of Online Retailers Not Blocking Fraudulent Emails | MSSP Alert

• How Multi-Stage Phishing Attacks Exploit QRs, CAPTCHAs, and Steganography (thehackernews.com)

• DarkGate and PikaBot Malware Resurrect QakBot's Tactics in New Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Bloomberg Twitter account hijacked to send users to phishing malware | TechRadar

• The Most Common Indicators of a Phishing Attempt (With Screenshots) | HackerNoon

Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber threats reached a new high this year, with AI playing a major role | TechRadar

• How to combat AI-produced phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• IT Pros Worry That Generative AI Will Be a Major Driver of Cyber security Threats (darkreading.com)

• Smaller businesses embrace GenAI, overlook security measures - Help Net Security

• AI Solutions Are the New Shadow IT (thehackernews.com)

• The Good, The Bad And The Reality: The Impact Of AI On Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Ransomware Crews Develop GenAI Tools for Cyber attacks | MSSP Alert

• Over a Dozen Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found in AI/ML Tools - SecurityWeek

• AI threats prompt Virgin Money to invest $250 million in cyber security (proactiveinvestors.com.au)

• OII | Large Language Models pose risk to science with false answers, says Oxford study

Malware

• 5 Of The Most Common Ways Malware Is Spread (And How To Stay Protected) (slashgear.com)

• Report finds malware is no longer the biggest cyberthreat to smaller businesses - SiliconANGLE

• Over half of SME cyber incidents now ‘malware-free’ | Computer Weekly

• Bloomberg Twitter account hijacked to send users to phishing malware | TechRadar

• Mirai malware infects routers and cameras for new botnet • The Register

• InfectedSlurs Botnet Spreads Mirai via Zero-Days | Akamai

• This devious malware will let hackers restore deleted cookies and hijack your Google account | TechRadar

• MySQL servers hit by DDoS malware botnet | TechRadar

• 27 Malicious PyPI Packages with Thousands of Downloads Found Targeting IT Experts (thehackernews.com)

• Beware: Malicious Google Ads Trick WinSCP Users into Installing Malware (thehackernews.com)

• DarkGate and PikaBot Malware Resurrect QakBot's Tactics in New Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Gamaredon's LittleDrifter USB malware spreads beyond Ukraine (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malware Uses Trigonometry to Track Mouse Strokes (darkreading.com)

• Atomic Stealer Malware is tricking Mac users with fake browser updates - gHacks Tech News

• USB worm unleashed by Russian state hackers spreads worldwide | Ars Technica

• DarkGate and Pikabot malware emerge as Qakbot’s successors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How Ducktail steals Facebook accounts | Kaspersky official blog

• Cyber criminals turn to ready-made bots for quick attacks - Help Net Security

• 3 Ways to Stop Unauthorized Code From Running in Your Network (darkreading.com)

• Konni Campaign Deploys Advanced RAT With UAC Bypass Capabilities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New botnet malware exploits two zero-days to infect NVRs and routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Mobile

• FCC Tightens Telco Rules to Combat SIM-Swapping - SecurityWeek

• Inside Apple’s Secretive War to Protect iPhones from Hacking • iPhone in Canada Blog

• Cyber criminals Are Targeting App Beta-Testing, and This Is What to Look Out For (makeuseof.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• NoEscape gang continues to use DDoS to pressure reluctant victims to negotiate (databreaches.net)

• MySQL servers hit by DDoS malware botnet | TechRadar

Internet of Things – IoT

• Mirai malware infects routers and cameras for new botnet • The Register

• InfectedSlurs Botnet Spreads Mirai via Zero-Days | Akamai

Data Breaches/Leaks

• 4 data loss examples keeping backup admins up at night | TechTarget

• Morgan Stanley Fined $6.5 Million for Exposing Customer Information - SecurityWeek

• Secretary Fined For Accessing Scores of Patient Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Canadian government discloses data breach after contractor hacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US Cyber security Lab Suffers Major Data Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Sabre Insurance hit by cyber attack | Insurance Times

• Hacktivists breach US nuclear research lab, steal employee data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Welltok data breach exposes data of 8.5 million US patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attackers leaked data of 27,000 NYC Bar Association membersers (therecord.media)

• Enterprise software provider TmaxSoft leaks 2TB of data (securityaffairs.com)

• A cyber attack on a UK accounting firm wound up leaking US patient data. Now what? (databreaches.net)

• Sumo Logic says customer data untouched during breach • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• “There's a crossover between organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime” - The Currency :The Currency

• Indian Hack-for-Hire Group Targeted US, China, and More for Over 10 Years (thehackernews.com)

• Shadowy Hack-for-Hire Group Behind Sprawling Web of Global Cyber attacks (darkreading.com)

• A Hacker Faked His Own Death–Then Claimed To Have Sold Marriott Customer Data To Russians, FBI Says (forbes.com)

• Police Professional | Five-year plan launched to tackle fraud, economic and cyber crime

• Outsmarting cyber criminals is becoming a hard thing to do - Help Net Security

• Cyber security firm executive pleads guilty to hacking hospitals (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• US cyber cops trace and return nearly $9M stolen by scammers • The Register

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• The human element -- cyber security's greatest challenge (betanews.com)

• Employee Policy Violations Cause 26% of Cyber Incidents - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• cyber security: Security violations by employees as harmful as hacking: Report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Secretary Fined For Accessing Scores of Patient Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Microsoft: Lazarus hackers breach CyberLink in supply chain attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Supply Chain Threat is Booming, UK and South Korea Warn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Three Questions To Ask Third-Party Vendors About Cyber security Risk (forbes.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Scattered Spider Hops Nimbly from Cloud to On-Prem in Complex Attack (darkreading.com)

• Navigating the complexities of cyber security in a SaaS-dominated era (securitybrief.co.nz)

Encryption

• Some unbreakable RSA encryption keys are accidentally leaking online | New Scientist

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Largest study of its kind shows outdated password practices are putting millions at risk (techxplore.com)

• Your password hygiene remains atrocious, says NordPass • The Register

• US Teen Pleads Guilty to Credential Stuffing Attack on Fantasy Sports Website - SecurityWeek

Social Media

• How Ducktail steals Facebook accounts | Kaspersky official blog

Malvertising

• Beware: Malicious Google Ads Trick WinSCP Users into Installing Malware (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• The 7 Deadly Sins of Security Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• The Cyber security Lawsuit That Boards Are Talking About - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• SolarWinds lawsuit puts corporate security chiefs on high alert By Investing.com

• What CISOs Need to Know About Materiality | Mimecast

• Morgan Stanley Fined $6.5 Million for Exposing Customer Information - SecurityWeek

• Does claiming you were hacked when you had really just screwed up violate the FTC Act? (databreaches.net)

• Secretive White House Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to Trillions of US Phone Records | WIRED

• UK watchdog threatens enforcement action over ad cookies • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIS2 and its global ramifications - Help Net Security

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• DORA Set to Drive Significant Change in Sell-Side Third Party Risk Management | Financial IT

• Understanding the UK government’s new cyber security regime, GovAssure - IT Security Guru

Data Protection

• 1 in 5 executives question their own data protection programs - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Over Half of Organisations Are at Risk of Cyber attack Due to Exhausted and Stressed Staff - IT Security Guru

• Half of Cyber security Professionals Kept Awake By Workload Worries - IT Security Guru

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Wirecard hacker sentenced to 80 months in prison (ft.com)

• US Teen Pleads Guilty to Credential Stuffing Attack on Fantasy Sports Website - SecurityWeek

• Europol Launches OSINT Taskforce to Hunt For Russian War Crimes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A Hacker Faked His Own Death–Then Claimed To Have Sold Marriott Customer Data To Russians, FBI Says (forbes.com)

• Scattered Spider Casino Hackers Evade Arrest in Plain Sight (darkreading.com)

• US cyber cops trace and return nearly $9M stolen by scammers • The Register

• Police Professional | Five-year plan launched to tackle fraud, economic and cyber crime

• Cyber security firm executive pleads guilty to hacking hospitals (bleepingcomputer.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• "We are getting very good at identifying a Russian campaign," Microsoft weighs in on disinformation and national security at recent events | Windows Central

• AI Helps Uncover Russian State-Sponsored Disinformation in Hungary (darkreading.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• Why cyber war readiness is critical for democracies - Help Net Security

• Fog of War | How the Ukraine Conflict Transformed the Cyber Threat Landscape (inforisktoday.com)

Nation State Actors

China

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• ICBC partners wary to resume trading with bank after cyber attack - Bloomberg News - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• Mustang Panda Hackers Targets Philippines Government Amid South China Sea Tensions (thehackernews.com)

Russia

• USB worm unleashed by Russian state hackers spreads worldwide | Ars Technica

• Almost 4,000 cyber attacks on Ukraine detected – US Treasury Department | Ukrainska Pravda

• "We are getting very good at identifying a Russian campaign," Microsoft weighs in on disinformation and national security at recent events | Windows Central

• Russian hackers use Ngrok feature and WinRAR exploit to attack embassies (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian hackers claim attack on Ukraine fighter jet supplier (telegraph.co.uk)

• Potential cyberespionage campaign against Ukraine involves Remcos tool | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Embezzlement Scandal Consumes a Top Ukrainian Cyber Official, Jolting Relationship With US - The Messenger

• Konni Campaign Deploys Advanced RAT With UAC Bypass Capabilities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Europol Launches OSINT Taskforce to Hunt For Russian War Crimes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Reveals that Russia’s Civil Aviation Industry Is on the Brink of Collapse | Defence Express (defence-ua.com)

Iran

• Possible Iranian Group Behind 'Flood' of New Cyber attacks in Israel - Bloomberg

• Cyber attacks on Israel intensify as the war against Hamas rages: Check Point | CSO Online

North Korea

• Microsoft: Lazarus hackers breach CyberLink in supply chain attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Supply Chain Threat is Booming, UK and South Korea Warn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacking Employers and Seeking Employment: Two Job-Related Campaigns Bear Hallmarks of North Korean Threat Actors (paloaltonetworks.com)

• DPRK Hackers Masquerade as Tech Recruiters, Job Seekers (darkreading.com)

• Hackers pose as officials to steal secrets and cryptocurrency for North Korea (bitdefender.com)

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• Cyber attacks on Israel intensify as the war against Hamas rages: Check Point | CSO Online

Vulnerability Management

• Reflecting on 20 years of Patch Tuesday | MSRC Blog | Microsoft Security Response Center

Vulnerabilities

• MOVEit victim count latest: 2.6K+ orgs, 77M+ people • The Register

• Citrix Bleed WFH Hack and Exploit: News on Data Loss Flaw - Bloomberg

• Citrix warns admins to kill NetScaler user sessions to block hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Exploiting Windows SmartScreen Zero-day Vulnerability (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Security researchers bypass Windows Hello fingerprint authentication - gHacks Tech News

• CISA warns of actively exploited Windows, Sophos, and Oracle bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Sophos Web Appliance vulnerability exploited in the wild (CVE-2023-1671) - Help Net Security

• Over a Dozen Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found in AI/ML Tools - SecurityWeek

• A critical OS command injection flaw affects Fortinet FortiSIEM (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian hackers use Ngrok feature and WinRAR exploit to attack embassies (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adobe Releases Security Updates for ColdFusion | CISA

• Splunk RCE Vulnerability Let Attackers Upload Malicious File (cybersecuritynews.com)

Tools and Controls

• Only 9% of IT budgets are dedicated to security - Help Net Security

• Accelerating Security Risk Management (trendmicro.com)

• MOVEit incident spurred UK decision makers to spend big on cyber | Computer Weekly

• Phishing Simulations Boost Cyber Awareness and Defences | Mimecast

• Logs missing in 42% cyber attacks; small business most vulnerable: Report (business-standard.com)

• Cyber attack on British Library raises concerns over lack of UK resilience (ft.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• DORA Set to Drive Significant Change in Sell-Side Third Party Risk Management | Financial IT

• The role experience plays in risk mitigation (betanews.com)

• The 7 Deadly Sins of Security Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

• Identity And Access Management: 18 Important Trends And Considerations

• The Good, The Bad And The Reality: The Impact Of AI On Cyber security (forbes.com)

• MFA under fire, attackers undermine trust in security measures - Help Net Security

• AI threats prompt Virgin Money to invest $250 million in cyber security (proactiveinvestors.com.au)

• New Flaws in Fingerprint Sensors Let Attackers Bypass Windows Hello Login (thehackernews.com)

• Security researchers bypass Windows Hello fingerprint authentication - gHacks Tech News

• Detection & Response That Scales: A 4-Pronged Approach (darkreading.com)

• Maximize Cyber security Returns: 5 Key Steps to Enhancing ROI (darkreading.com)

• 6 Steps to Accelerate Cyber security Incident Response (thehackernews.com)

• The CISO view: Navigating the promise and pitfalls of cyber security automation (betanews.com)

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Other News

• Why Defenders Should Embrace a Hacker Mindset (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers are taking over planes’ GPS — experts are lost on how to fix it (nypost.com)

• UK proposes 'super-complaints' to help keep internet safe • The Register

• Consumers plan to be more consistent with their security in 2024 - Help Net Security

• Security trends public sector leaders are watching | CyberScoop

• Even gas pumps aren't safe from cyber attacks at the moment | TechRadar

• Scottish cyber security organisation calls for greater awareness of rising threat - Business Insider

• Cyber security: New plan to tackle ‘fastest-growing threat’ confronting Australia | The West Australian

• The US government wants to offer better cyber security to major infrastructure firms | TechRadar

• This devious malware will let hackers restore deleted cookies and hijack your Google account | TechRadar

• Australia’s cyber security strategy focuses on protecting small businesses and critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Cyber security at EU institutions: European Parliament adopt proposed Cyber security Regulation and EU institutions organise cyber security exercise | Practical Law (thomsonreuters.com)

• The retail sector is under threat from… Gmail, WhatsApp and Google Drive? | TechRadar

• Sekoia: Latest in the Financial Sector Cyber Threat Landscape (techrepublic.com)

• Shields Ready: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience

• Crimeware and financial cyberthreat predictions for 2024 | Securelist

• Terrorism, cyber attacks main Paris 2024 threats as security plan finalised | Reuters

• Read again: Decoding cyber security, safeguarding educational institutions | Edexec

• What direction for the EU Cyber security Competence Centre? – EURACTIV.com

• Unveiling the Most Common Cyber Threats in Retail – International Supermarket News

• Mideast Oil & Gas Facilities Could Face Cyber Related Energy Disruptions (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 17 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Cyber Resilience Requires Maturity, Persistence & Board Engagement

Cyber resilience is more important than ever, particularly with the added dimensions of deepening geopolitical threats and risks coming from new technology like AI. In cyber security, it is commonly accepted that it is a matter of when, not if, an organisation will experience an attack. It is imperative to ensure there is an ability across the organisation to bounce back.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Security is a Process, not a Tool

The cyber security industry is constantly seeing tools that claim to make organisations 100% secure, despite this never being achievable. A recent report found 55% of all security tools are not put into operation or are not actively managed. Additionally, the report found that 33% of all security incidents are identifiably traced to process errors. The findings are further evidence that cyber security is more than just technology tools: it requires a mindset that aligns controls across people, operations and technology.

Source: [Dark Reading]

46% of SMBs and Enterprises Have Experienced a Ransomware Attack

A recent report found that 46% of small and medium businesses (SMBs) and enterprises have experienced ransomware attacks. In addition, 90% of SMBs and 87% of enterprises are extremely or somewhat concerned about ransomware attacks, and 64% of SMBs and 70% of enterprises don’t believe in paying a ransom.

Despite the fact that nearly 50% of the firms have suffered ransomware, too many businesses still seem to think this is something that will not happen to them and is something only other businesses need to worry about.

Source: [Security Magazine] [IT Business]

Cyber Threat Intelligence: Getting on the Front Foot Against Adversaries

In the realm of cyber security, threat intelligence (TI) is a crucial yet often underused asset for countering sophisticated cyber attacks. TI involves gathering, analysing, and contextualising information about potential cyber threats, including advanced ones, thus enabling organisations to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber risks effectively. The TI market, expected to exceed $44 billion by 2033, offers four main types: Strategic, Tactical, Technical, and Operational.

Each type serves different organisational needs, from informing senior leadership to aiding security operations teams. When thinking about TI, organisations should focus on completeness, accuracy, relevance, timeliness, scalability, vendor reputation, and integration capabilities. The rapidly evolving nature of TI demands a careful, long-term approach to choosing the right services, considering an organisation's maturity and specific needs. Effective TI not only aids in countering immediate threats but also builds long-term resilience. With 80% of the top 2000 global companies projected to increase their TI investment in 2024, it's crucial for organisations to find a trusted vendor to ensure their cyber security success.

Black Arrow conducts daily threat intelligence analyses from trusted specialist sources, and interprets the TI in the context of our client organisations to support them in proactively addressing risks. In addition to our weekly Threat Briefing and subscription email, we offer tailored briefings for organisations in various sectors and geographies.  

Source: [welivesecurity]

67% of Workers Put Businesses at Risk by Downloading Applications and Software Without Permission

New research has found that 67% of UK employees are endangering their business by downloading applications and software without the knowledge of IT or security teams.

Other key findings included 39% of respondent organisations lacked total visibility of applications and software on company owned assets, and 77% lacked visibility over employee owned assets connected to the corporate environment. Of total respondents, 69% acknowledged their organisations required better policies and procedures in order to deal with security vulnerabilities, with 39% of total respondents feeling challenged by UK and other jurisdictions’ increasingly complicated regulations and governance requirements.

Black Arrow help organisations of all sizes to design and deliver comprehensive asset visibility programmes that lay the foundation for proportionate and credible cyber security controls to protect the organisation. We enable organisations to adhere to regulatory and governance requirements, by providing expert cyber security resources on a flexible basis for technical, governance and transformational positions.

Sources: [Tech Radar] [the HR Director]

The Persistent Menace: Understanding and Combating Ransomware, as New Ransomware Groups Account for Quarter of All Leaks in 2023

In 2023, the landscape of cyber threats, particularly ransomware, has significantly evolved, remaining a primary concern for businesses.  

This change has been further facilitated by the emergence of Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) and the increased sophistication of phishing attacks, supported by advancements in AI. This has led at least in part to almost half (29) of the ransomware groups tracked by WithSecure in 2023 having begun operations this year. These groups accounted for 25% of data leaks in this period, helping to drive a 50% year-on-year increase in data leaks.

Businesses face not only the immediate costs of ransom demands but also indirect impacts such as operational downtime and damage to reputation. Key trends include the exploitation of basic security vulnerabilities, the role of access brokers in facilitating attacks, and innovative evasion techniques used by ransomware groups.  Ransomware is not going away, and organisations need to ensure they are prepared given the realistic probability of an attack.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident such as ransomware; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Sources: [Forbes] [Infosecurity Magazine] [ITPro]

Financial Services Still Stubbornly Vulnerable to Cyber Disruption

A recent report found the UK financial system remains stubbornly vulnerable to disruption caused by cyber and IT-related incidents, and that regulated firms are not acting quickly enough to affect required changes designed to ensure firms’ systems are resilient against significant operational shocks.

According to the UK FCA’s records, the total number of cyber incidents reported between January 2018 to May 2023 was 4,192. In general terms, incidents are reportable where they are of a certain level of materiality; for instance, where there has been a “significant failure in the firm's systems or controls.

Source: [FTAdviser]

World’s Biggest Bank Hit by Ransomware; Workers Forced to Trade with USB Sticks

The US subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) experienced a ransomware attack earlier this month, which reportedly forced the bank (ICBC Financial Services) to handle trades through messengers carrying USB thumb drives. This attack has sent shockwaves through financial services and banking and has prompted an increase in vigilance within the financial sector. The US Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) has urged financial services organisations to ensure their systems are protected and vulnerabilities are immediately resolved.

Sources: [SC Media] [Bit Defender]

NCSC Warns UK Over Significant Threat to Critical Infrastructure

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has once again sounded its concern over the rising threat level to the nation's critical national infrastructure (CNI), with its annual review admitting the level of cyber security resilience in the UK’s most critical areas is not in a satisfactory place.

The NCSC stated that CNI in the UK faces an “enduring and significant” threat from state-aligned threat actors aggressively ramping up activity, and the UK must therefore work more closely with allies and industry in countering “epoch-defining” cyber challenges.

They noted a 64% increase on last year’s voluntary report figures; to note, this refers to organisations voluntarily self-reporting suffering a cyber incident.

For wider context, the Russian cyber attacks on Ukraine began a month and a half before the invasion. In 2022 Ukraine’s national incident response team dealt with 2,194 cyber incidents, followed by another 2,054 attacks in the first 10 months of this year and Ukraine’s defence chief warns that Russia will soon attack companies that provide services to Ukraine as part of their larger cyber efforts.

This comes as Russian hackers were linked to what is being described as the largest ever cyber attack on Danish critical infrastructure. The attack involved 22 companies associated with the operation of Denmark’s energy sector.

Sources: [Computer Weekly] [The Register] [The Record Media] [The Irish Times] [The Hacker News]

Ransomware Gang Files SEC Complaint Over Victim’s Undisclosed Breach

The ALPHV ransomware group, also known as BlackCat, has taken extortion to a new level by filing a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) complaint against one of their alleged victims, MeridianLink, for not complying with the four-day rule to disclose a cyber attack. The ransomware group said it compromised the digital lending solutions provider on November 7 and told the SEC the victim suffered a “significant breach and did not disclose it as required in Form 8-k”. While many ransomware and extortion gangs have threatened to report breaches and data theft to the SEC, this may be the first public confirmation that they have done so. Previously, ransomware actors exerted pressure on victims by contacting customers to let them know of the intrusion. Sometimes, they would also try to intimidate the victim by contacting them directly over the phone.

Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [Bleeping Computer]

Businesses are Losing Huge Chunks of Their Revenue to Cyber Attacks

A new report has found that businesses are paying a huge price for not properly securing their digital assets. The report found that businesses on average suffered 46 attacks (successful and unsuccessful) over the last year, resulting in the loss of 9% of their annual income. Cyber attacks are hurting their businesses in other ways such as network outages (34%), data loss (29%), web apps going offline (24%) and customer account compromises (22%).

Firms are reevaluating their cyber security approaches, with 76% planning increased spending despite concerns about current investment efficiency, as 35% feel they've overspent and only 55% of tools are fully utilised. A significant talent gap is also a challenge, with 30% attributing recent issues to a shortage of skilled personnel, and 33% expecting this trend to continue. Nearly half are seeking to address this by boosting recruitment budgets. Additionally, 51% of respondents are focusing on investing in Generative AI tools for cyber security in the next two years.

Source: [TechRadar]

Phishing Emails Are More Believable Than Ever. Here's What to Do About It.

Phishing is not new. This social engineering tactic has existed in the attack toolbox for decades, with threat actors posing as trusted contacts and then targeting unsuspecting victims through email or text messages to steal sensitive data. According to a recent report by Fortinet, phishing is the top tactic (56%) malicious actors use to infiltrate a network and launch ransomware successfully. With the turn of AI-driven content tools, cyber criminals are using them to make their phishing emails and texts appear more realistic than ever before.

It is crucial to focus on employee education to protect organisations. Customised training programs are essential. Security awareness training is fundamental in creating a cyber-aware culture, keeping employees informed about current security threats and meeting compliance requirements.

Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes help secure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation. 

Source: [CSO Online]

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Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Financial sector on edge after LockBit attack on major Chinese bank's US unit | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 29% of organisations cite data loss as top security breach result | Security Magazine

• Financial services still 'stubbornly vulnerable' to cyber disruption - FTAdviser

• Cyber Resilience Requires Maturity, Persistence & Board Engagement (darkreading.com)

• Businesses are losing huge chunks of their revenue to cyber attacks | TechRadar

• Security Is a Process, Not a Tool (darkreading.com)

• 6% of companies have not had a digital risk cyber attack since 2020 | Security Magazine

• Cyber threat intelligence: Getting on the front foot against adversaries (welivesecurity.com)

• Organisations should prepare for the inevitability of cyber attacks on their infrastructure - Help Net Security

• Should cyber security overconfidence be on your threat radar? | TechRadar

• Insiders and outsiders: Why cyber security strategies need to look all ways - Digital Journal

• Navigating the complex role of the CISO under SEC disclosure rules (betanews.com)

• Every Business Owner Should Be Thinking About Improving Online Security | Inc.com

• The Role of Cyber Wellness in Safeguarding Businesses - IT Security Guru

• The cultural shift that’s needed to see greater ROI in cyber | Federal News Network

• Business urged to increase cyber resilience as 2024 set to deliver new threats (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• How to withstand the onslaught of cyber security threats - Help Net Security

• 8 ways to cope with cyber security budget cuts | TechTarget

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Financial sector on edge after LockBit attack on major Chinese bank's US unit | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Financial services still 'stubbornly vulnerable' to cyber disruption - FTAdviser

• Law practices and government agencies experience the largest ransomware spikes - Digital Journal

• Orgs still losing logs, powerless to speedy ransomware • The Register

• Ransomware gang files SEC complaint over victim’s undisclosed breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 29 new ransomware groups have emerged in 2023 | ITPro

• 46% of SMBs and enterprises have experienced a ransomware attack | Security Magazine

• Many organisations don’t believe they are targets of ransomware gangs: OpenText | IT Business

• Half of Ransomware Groups Operating in 2023 Are New - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• LockBit ransomware exploits Citrix Bleed in attacks, 10K servers exposed (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The Persistent Menace: Understanding And Combating Ransomware (forbes.com)

• Phishing emails are more believable than ever. Here’s what to do about it. | CSO Online

• Ransomware tracker: The latest figures [November 2023] (therecord.media)

• Nuclear and Oil & Gas are Major Targets of Ransomware Groups in 2024 (securityaffairs.com)

• LockBit ransomware group assemble strike team to breach banks, law firms and governments. | by Kevin Beaumont | Nov, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• Ransomware Gang LockBit Revises Its Tactics as Payouts Slip (bloomberglaw.com)

• Fast-acting cyber gangs increasingly disabling telemetry logs | Computer Weekly

• Uncovering the ransomware threat from global supply chains | ITPro

• Business leaders need help in getting off the ransomware merry-go-round (thetimes.co.uk)

• Hackers Could Exploit Google Workspace and Cloud Platform for Ransomware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• BlackCat affiliate seen using malvertising to spread ransomware | Computer Weekly

• The Rise of Ransomware in Healthcare: What IT Leaders Need to Know (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What Do You Do When You’re Hit by Russian Ransomware? - Bloomberg

• Success eludes the International Counter Ransomware Initiative - Help Net Security

• New Ransomware Group Emerges with Hive's Source Code and Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• How to combat ransomware in the face of tight security staffing | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks: Cyber criminals tout their ‘honesty’ in negotiating ransoms (afr.com)

• New approaches to fighting ransomware are emerging | Mimecast

• Why backup matters more than ever - Help Net Security

• FBI 'Knows Identities' Of MGM, Caesars Hacking Gang | Silicon UK

• FBI and CISA warn of opportunistic Rhysida ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ALPHV/BlackCat Ransomware Gang Targets Businesses Via Google Ads - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FBI pumping 'significant' resources into Scattered Spider • The Register

• New BiBi-Windows Wiper Targets Windows Systems in Pro-Hamas Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• It ain’t what you store, it’s the way you restore it. • The Register

Ransomware Victims

• Ransomware gang files SEC complaint over victim’s undisclosed breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How a cyber attack crippled the world's largest bank for hours | Euronews

• ICBC -- China's biggest bank -- paid ransom: Lockbit hackers (nypost.com)

• FBI: Royal ransomware asked 350 victims to pay $275 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Rackspace Ransomware Costs Soar to Nearly $12M (darkreading.com)

• Major cyber attack on Australian ports suggests sabotage by a 'foreign state actor' (theconversation.com)

• Tri-City Medical Center cyber attack impacting patient care (10news.com)

• Maine govt notifies 1.3 million people of MOVEit data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• LockBit leaks Boeing files after failed ransom negotiations • The Register

• 'CitrixBleed' Linked to Ransomware Hit on China's State-Owned Bank (darkreading.com)

• World's biggest bank hit by ransomware, forced to trade via USB stick (bitdefender.com)

• Mortgage giant Mr. Cooper says customer data exposed in breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• British Library’s Halloween cyber scare was ransomware | Computer Weekly

• Royal Mail ransomware recovery to cost at least $12 million • The Register

• 9 million patients had data stolen after US medical transcription firm hacked | TechCrunch

• Clorox CISO flushes self after multimillion-dollar attack • The Register

• Toyota confirms breach after Medusa ransomware threatens to leak data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Government doesn't know details behind cyber hack that shut down port operator DP World - ABC News

• Lorenz ransomware gang hit Texas-based Cogdell Memorial Hospital (securityaffairs.com)

• Dragos Says No Evidence of Breach After Ransomware Gang Claims Hack via Third Party - Security Week

• Long Beach, California turns off IT systems after cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Stellantis production affected by cyber attack at auto supplier - The Columbian

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing emails are more believable than ever. Here’s what to do about it. | CSO Online

• Major Phishing-as-a-Service Syndicate 'BulletProofLink' Dismantled by Malaysian Authorities (thehackernews.com)

• From Scanning to Scamming: The Rise of QR Codes in Phishing - VMRay

• Zero-Day Flaw in Zimbra Email Software Exploited by Four Hacker Groups (thehackernews.com)

• APTs Swarm Zimbra Zero-Day to Steal Government Info Worldwide (darkreading.com)

• FBI Warns: Five Weeks In, Gaza Email Scams Still Thriving (darkreading.com)

• Police takes down BulletProftLink large-scale phishing provider (bleepingcomputer.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• UK told of significant threat as state actors seek to use AI attack systems (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• UK NCSC Warns Of Threat To Critical Infrastructure | Silicon UK

• AI disinformation campaigns pose major threat to 2024 elections - Help Net Security

• AI poses growing threat to next general election, warns UK cyber security agency | UK News | Sky News

• Microsoft blocks internal access to ChatGPT over security • The Register

• ChatGPT's New Code Interpreter Has Giant Security Hole, Allows Hackers to Steal Your Data | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• This new ChatGPT-powered infostealer is targeting cloud platforms | TechRadar

• The US and 30 Other Nations Agree to Set Guardrails for Military AI | WIRED

• CISA Has a New Road Map for Handling Weaponized AI | WIRED

• Mitigating Deepfake Threats in the Corporate World | MSSP Alert

• A Closer Look at ChatGPT's Role in Automated Malware Creation (trendmicro.com)

• Organisations Rush to Use Generative AI Tools Despite Risks (globenewswire.com)

• How scammers' use of AI is affecting fintech investment | PaymentsSource | American Banker

• Top 5 Risks of Artificial Intelligence - IT Security Guru

• Balancing Innovation and Security: Exploring the AI Pin's Potential Risks and Safeguards | HackerNoon

Malware

• This new ChatGPT-powered infostealer is targeting cloud platforms | TechRadar

• Infostealers and the high value of stolen data - Help Net Security

• CherryBlos, the malware that steals cryptocurrency via your photos - what you need to know | Tripwire

• Alert: 'Effluence' Backdoor Persists Despite Patching Atlassian Confluence Servers (thehackernews.com)

• Malware was downloaded over 600 million times in 2023 from the Google Play Store - PhoneArena

• This fake Windows news site is spreading malware via hacked Google ads | TechRadar

• Google Play Store is making a big upgrade to fight malware — what you need to know | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• A Closer Look at ChatGPT's Role in Automated Malware Creation (trendmicro.com)

• Russian-Moldovan National Admits to Infecting 23,000 Devices with Botnet Malware (occrp.org)

• Children’s tablet has malware and exposes kids’ data, researcher finds | TechCrunch

• Ducktail Malware Targets the Fashion Industry (darkreading.com)

Mobile

• CherryBlos, the malware that steals cryptocurrency via your photos - what you need to know | Tripwire

• Malware was downloaded over 600 million times in 2023 from the Google Play Store - PhoneArena

• Temu Sued in Class Action for Risking User Data to Chinese Government Control | Law.com

• Apple and Google have made phones the key to your digital life. Here’s what to do if you lose it. - Vox

• Google Play Store is making a big upgrade to fight malware — what you need to know | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Children’s tablet has malware and exposes kids’ data, researcher finds | TechCrunch

• How to spot a fake data blocker that could hack your computer in seconds | ZDNET

• Balancing Innovation and Security: Exploring the AI Pin's Potential Risks and Safeguards | HackerNoon

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Misconfigured Docker API endpoints allow attackers to deliver DDoS botnet agent | CSO Online

• How DDoS attacks are taking down even the largest tech companies (bleepingcomputer.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• UK Privacy Regulator Issues Black Friday Smart Device Warning - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to protect your organisation from IoT malware | TechTarget

• Defending Against Attacks on Vulnerable IoT Devices (darkreading.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Infostealers and the high value of stolen data - Help Net Security

• 29% of organisations cite data loss as top security breach result | Security Magazine

• McLaren Health Care revealed that a data breach impacted 2.2 million people (securityaffairs.com)

• Hacker Leaks 800,000 Scraped Chess.com User Records (hackread.com)

• Hacker Leaks 35 Million Scraped LinkedIn User Records (hackread.com)

• Fourth time unlucky: Okta hit by new cyber attack - Digital Journal

• Maine govt notifies 1.3 million people of MOVEit data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The real cost of healthcare cyber security breaches - Help Net Security

• Mortgage giant Mr. Cooper says customer data exposed in breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pharmacy provider Truepill data breach hits 2.3 million customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Samsung warns some customers their data may have been stolen by hackers | TechRadar

• Hackers Claim Major Data Breach at Smart WiFi Provider Plume (hackread.com)

• Vietnam Post exposes 1.2TB of data, including email addresses (securityaffairs.com)

• Morgan Stanley fined over computers with personal data (cnbc.com)

• Samsung says hackers accessed customer data during year-long breach | TechCrunch

• A Spy Agency Leaked People's Data Online—Then the Data Was Stolen | WIRED

• Electric Ireland Confirms Compromise of 8,000 Customers’ Personal and Financial Data - IT Security Guru

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Major Phishing-as-a-Service Syndicate 'BulletProofLink' Dismantled by Malaysian Authorities (thehackernews.com)

• Russian admits building now-dismantled IPStorm proxy botnet • The Register

• Australian Intelligence Report Identifies China as Major Backer of Cyber Crime (voanews.com)

• 'AlphaLock' Hackers Launch 'Pen-Testing Training' Group (darkreading.com)

• Cyber crime Victims Can Turn to New Nonprofit, Intelligence for Good | MSSP Alert

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• CherryBlos, the malware that steals cryptocurrency via your photos - what you need to know | Tripwire

• Ethereum hacked to steal millions from users across the world | TechRadar

• Fraudsters make $50,000 a day by spoofing crypto researchers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Employees putting businesses at risk downloading apps and software without consent | theHRD (thehrdirector.com)

• Insiders and outsiders: Why cyber security strategies need to look all ways - Digital Journal

• The Role of Cyber Wellness in Safeguarding Businesses - IT Security Guru

• 3 Ways Behavioural Economics Obstructs Cyber security (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• Beyond re/insurance – protecting society from an unprecedented cyber incident | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Bridging the Gap: The Vital Role of Skilled Brokers in Cyber Insurance

• Aon president warns insurers against ‘walking away’ from major risks (ft.com)

• Cyber insurance predictions for 2024 - Help Net Security

• Cyber ‘Catastrophe Bonds’ Move Step Closer to Hitting Public Debt Markets | Tech News (hindustantimes.com)

• Cyber insurance market attractive despite ransomware uptick: JP Morgan - Reinsurance News

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Uncovering the ransomware threat from global supply chains | ITPro

• SaaS Vendor Risk Assessment in 3 Steps (darkreading.com)

• How top CISOs are transforming third-party risk management | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• This new ChatGPT-powered infostealer is targeting cloud platforms | TechRadar

• Hackers Could Exploit Google Workspace and Cloud Platform for Ransomware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• SaaS Vendor Risk Assessment in 3 Steps (darkreading.com)

• Traditional cloud security isn't up to the task - Help Net Security

• Transforming cyber security from reactive to proactive with attack path analysis - Help Net Security

Identity and Access Management

• As perimeter defences fall, the identify-first approach steps into the breach | CSO Online

Encryption

• The new frontier in online security: Quantum-safe cryptography (techxplore.com)

• In a first, cryptographic keys protecting SSH connections stolen in new attack | Ars Technica

• TETRA encryption algorithms entering the public domain • The Register

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• 70% of passwords can be cracked in less than a second, shows NordPass study (business-standard.com)

• Top Passwords Used By Business Executives | NordPass

• Google Workspace security flaws could see hackers easily snaffle your password | TechRadar

• Stop using weak passwords for streaming services - it's riskier than you think | ZDNET

• The worst passwords of 2023 are also the most common, "123456" comes in first | TechSpot

Social Media

• Meta and YouTube face criminal surveillance complaints • The Register

• How Much Your Social Media Profile Data Is Worth on the Dark Web (makeuseof.com)

Malvertising

• BlackCat affiliate seen using malvertising to spread ransomware | Computer Weekly

• This fake Windows news site is spreading malware via hacked Google ads | TechRadar

• Adware activity doubles in Q3 (betanews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Phishing emails are more believable than ever. Here’s what to do about it. | CSO Online

• The Role of Cyber Wellness in Safeguarding Businesses - IT Security Guru

• 3 Ways Behavioural Economics Obstructs Cyber security (darkreading.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• EU Tightens Cyber security Requirements for Critical Infrastructure and Services (darkreading.com)

• MPs Dangerously Uninformed About Facial Recognition – Report - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Meta and YouTube face criminal surveillance complaints • The Register

• SEC Suit Ushers in New Era of Cyber Enforcement (darkreading.com)

• Make Changes to be Ready for the New SEC Cyber security Disclosure Rule (darkreading.com)

• Navigating the complex role of the CISO under SEC disclosure rules (betanews.com)

• Clorox CISO flushes self after multimillion-dollar attack • The Register

• Morgan Stanley fined over computers with personal data (cnbc.com)

• White House is ‘working on version 2.0’ of cyber implementation plan | CyberScoop

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• What You Need to Know About NIST CSF 2.0 | Accelerynt, Inc. - JDSupra

• Modelling organisations' defensive mechanisms with MITRE D3FEND - Help Net Security

Backup and Recovery

• Why backup matters more than ever - Help Net Security

• It ain’t what you store, it’s the way you restore it. • The Register

Data Protection

• Web browsing data collected in more detail than previously known, report finds (ft.com)

• Online ad auction data harms national security – claim • The Register

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• The challenges and opportunities of working in cyber security | TechRadar

• How US SEC legal actions put CISOs at risk and what to do about it | CSO Online

• Is ‘overwork’ culture a problem for cyber security professionals? (siliconrepublic.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Serbian pleads guilty to running ‘Monopoly’ dark web drug market (securityaffairs.com)

• Major Phishing-as-a-Service Syndicate 'BulletProofLink' Dismantled by Malaysian Authorities (thehackernews.com)

• Russian admits building now-dismantled IPStorm proxy botnet • The Register

• European Police Take Down $9m Vishing Gang - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russian-Moldovan National Admits to Infecting 23,000 Devices with Botnet Malware (occrp.org)

• Private Investigator Aviram Azar Gets Almost 7 Years for Hedge Fund Hacking Ring - Bloomberg

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• NCSC Annual Review on 'state-aligned actors' | Professional Security

• Zero-Days in Edge Devices Become China's Cyber Warfare Tactic of Choice (darkreading.com)

• Deputy Prime Minister reviews national security powers to respond to geopolitical and tech threats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• UK plans U-turn on powers to halt company takeovers on national security grounds | Mergers and acquisitions | The Guardian

• Israel and Ukraine Face Shared Cyber Threats (fdd.org)

• Cyber espionage operation on embassies linked to Russia’s Cozy Bear hackers (therecord.media)

• New NATO cyber forum to support collective response to cyber attacks – EURACTIV.com

Nation State Actors

China

• China's Lending Giant Paid Ransom To Russia-Linked Group After It Got Hacked Last Week - Benzinga

• ICBC/ransomware: China’s cyber security industry moves out of the shadows

• Cyber attack shines light on role of China’s largest lender in US Treasury market (ft.com)

• The alarming cyber hack at ICBC (ft.com)

• China proposes auditors undergo cyber security checks if national security involved - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• Australian Intelligence Report Identifies China as Major Backer of Cyber Crime (voanews.com)

• Zero-Days in Edge Devices Become China's Cyber Warfare Tactic of Choice (darkreading.com)

• Labour warns against watering down of UK’s takeover screening powers

Russia

• China's Lending Giant Paid Ransom To Russia-Linked Group After It Got Hacked Last Week - Benzinga

• ICBC pays ransom after US hack (finextra.com)

• Cyber attack shines light on role of China’s largest lender in US Treasury market (ft.com)

• Danish Energy Attacks Portend Targeting More Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Could Russia’s Ukraine Cyber attacks Clue Global Threat? | MSSP Alert

• Russian Hackers Linked to 'Largest Ever Cyber Attack' on Danish Critical Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• Russia will target other countries for web attacks, Ukraine cyber defence chief warns – The Irish Times

• Major hack by Russian gang steals social security numbers and health information from 1.3 million in Maine | Daily Mail Online

• EU Formalizes Cyber security Support For Ukraine - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Meet the Unique New "Hacking" Group: AlphaLock (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Israel and Ukraine Face Shared Cyber Threats (fdd.org)

• Cyber espionage operation on embassies linked to Russia’s Cozy Bear hackers (therecord.media)

• What Do You Do When You’re Hit by Russian Ransomware? - Bloomberg

• Ukraine at D+670: GRU may be expanding its targeting. (thecyberwire.com)

Iran

• Israel and Ukraine Face Shared Cyber Threats (fdd.org)

• New BiBi-Windows Wiper Targets Windows Systems in Pro-Hamas Attacks (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• Microsoft Warns of Fake Skills Assessment Portals Targeting IT Job Seekers (thehackernews.com)

• Novel social engineering attack infrastructure established by BlueNoroff | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• New NATO cyber forum to support collective response to cyber attacks – EURACTIV.com

• Deputy Prime Minister reviews national security powers to respond to geopolitical and tech threats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• UK plans U-turn on powers to halt company takeovers on national security grounds | Mergers and acquisitions | The Guardian

• Danish Energy Attacks Portend Targeting More Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• FBI Warns: Five Weeks In, Gaza Email Scams Still Thriving (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Criminals Exploit Gaza Crisis With Fake Charity - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Israel and Ukraine Face Shared Cyber Threats (fdd.org)

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Vulnerabilities

• 'CitrixBleed' Linked to Ransomware Hit on China's State-Owned Bank (darkreading.com)

• LockBit ransomware exploits Citrix Bleed in attacks, 10K servers exposed (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zero-Day Flaw in Zimbra Email Software Exploited by Four Hacker Groups (thehackernews.com)

• APTs Swarm Zimbra Zero-Day to Steal Government Info Worldwide (darkreading.com)

• Juniper networking devices under attack - Help Net Security

• CISA warns of actively exploited Juniper pre-auth RCE exploit chain (bleepingcomputer.com)

• WP Fastest Cache plugin bug exposes 600K WordPress sites to attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft November 2023 Patch Tuesday fixes 5 zero-days, 58 flaws (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft fixes critical Azure CLI flaw that leaked credentials in logs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adobe Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products | CISA

• Alert: 'Effluence' Backdoor Persists Despite Patching Atlassian Confluence Servers (thehackernews.com)

• ICS Patch Tuesday: 90 Vulnerabilities Addressed by Siemens and Schneider Electric - Security Week

• Chipmaker Patch Tuesday: Intel, AMD Address Over 130 Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• Fortinet Releases Security Updates for FortiClient and FortiGate | CISA

• Urgent: VMware Warns of Unpatched Critical Cloud Director Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• New PoC Exploit for Apache ActiveMQ Flaw Could Let Attackers Fly Under the Radar (thehackernews.com)

• SAP Patches Critical Vulnerability in Business One Product - Security Week

• Critical flaw fixed in SAP Business One product (securityaffairs.com)

• ChatGPT's New Code Interpreter Has Giant Security Hole, Allows Hackers to Steal Your Data | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• Citrix Releases Security Updates for Citrix Hypervisor | CISA

• Fortinet warns of critical command injection bug in FortiSIEM (bleepingcomputer.com)

• An email vulnerability let hackers steal data from governments around the world (engadget.com)

• Experts Uncover DarkCasino: New Emerging APT Threat Exploiting WinRAR Flaw (thehackernews.com)

• Some AMD EPYC server CPUs have a serious security flaw, so patch now | TechRadr

• Microsoft Extends Windows Server 2012 ESUs Until 2026 (petri.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Building resilience to shield your digital transformation from cyber threats - Help Net Security

• Against the Clock: Cyber Incident Response Plan (trendmicro.com)

• Fast-acting cyber gangs increasingly disabling telemetry logs | Computer Weekly

• Overview of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) (eweek.com)

• Cyber threat intelligence: Getting on the front foot against adversaries (welivesecurity.com)

• The New 80/20 Rule for SecOps: Customize Where it Matters, Automate the Rest (thehackernews.com)

• Beyond re/insurance – protecting society from an unprecedented cyber incident | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Phishing emails are more believable than ever. Here’s what to do about it. | CSO Online

• Web Application Attacks | Types of Web Application Attacks | Mimecast

• Traditional cloud security isn't up to the task - Help Net Security

• Top 10 API Security Threats for Q3 2023 - Security Week

• National security at risk from web browsing data collection, report finds (ft.com)Zero-Days in Edge Devices Become China's Cyber Warfare Tactic of Choice (darkreading.com)

• The cultural shift that’s needed to see greater ROI in cyber | Federal News Network

• 82% of Attacks Show Cyber Criminals Targeting Telemetry Data - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Importance of Continuous Security Monitoring for a Robust Cyber security Strategy (thehackernews.com)

• NCSC backs use of security.txt for cyber resilience | UKAuthority

• New approaches to fighting ransomware are emerging | Mimecast

• Why backup matters more than ever - Help Net Security

• Hackers are wiping out traces of data traffic to remove attack traces: Sophos - The Hindu BusinessLine

• Telemetry gaps leave networks vulnerable as attackers move faster - Help Net Security

• The new imperative in API security strategy - Help Net Security

• How to Automate the Hardest Parts of Employee Offboarding (thehackernews.com)

• Steps CISOs Should Take Before, During & After a Cyber attack (darkreading.com)

• Threat Intel: To Share or Not to Share is Not the Question - Security Week

• As perimeter defences fall, the identify-first approach steps into the breach | CSO Online

• The Role of Cyber Wellness in Safeguarding Businesses - IT Security Guru

• OODA Loop - A Model for Cyber security Threat Sharing: Embracing the USA PATRIOT Act & FinCEN

• How to speak the board's language with cyber security ROI so it makes sense | Fierce Electronics

• Three Ways Generative AI Can Bolster Cyber security | NVIDIA Blogs

• 8 ways to cope with cyber security budget cuts | TechTarget

• Hackers breach healthcare orgs via ScreenConnect remote access (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Kubernetes adoption creates new cyber security challenges - Help Net Security

• Aon president warns insurers against ‘walking away’ from major risks (ft.com)

• CISOs vs. developers: A battle over security priorities - Help Net Security

• Cyber insurance predictions for 2024 - Help Net Security

• Hundreds of websites cloned to run ads for Chinese gambling • The Register

• AI helps leaders optimize costs and mitigate risks - Help Net Security

• It ain’t what you store, it’s the way you restore it. • The Register

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• NCSC Annual Review 2023 - NCSC.GOV.UK

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Other News

• Organisations should prepare for the inevitability of cyber attacks on their infrastructure - Help Net Security

• 97% of Consumers Predict Cyber attacks Will Get Worse – or at Best, Stay Consistent – in 2024: ThreatX Data Reveals | Business Wire

• 'Alarming': big gaps in organisations' cyber security | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT

• 82% of Attacks Show Cyber Criminals Targeting Telemetry Data - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• National security at risk from web browsing data collection, report finds (ft.com)

• CISOs vs. developers: A battle over security priorities - Help Net Security

• Collaborative strategies are key to enhanced ICS security - Help Net Security

• Web Application Attacks | Types of Web Application Attacks | Mimecast

• Hackers are wiping out traces of data traffic to remove attack traces: Sophos - The Hindu BusinessLine

• Telemetry gaps leave networks vulnerable as attackers move faster - Help Net Security

• Cyber crime Victims Can Turn to New Nonprofit, Intelligence for Good | MSSP Alert

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 10 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Boardroom Woes on Ransomware Intensify as Organisations Face an Average of 86 Ransomware-linked Events Annually

A recent report by Akamai Technologies has found that organisations experienced an average of 86 ransomware-linked events in the past 12 months (successful or not), double the number of annual attacks from 2 years ago.

The most common issues impacting organisations after a ransomware attack were network downtime (44%), data loss (42%) and brand/reputation damage (39%).

Ransomware attackers have increasingly employed tactics like double and triple extortion. These methods combine encryption, data exfiltration, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to extort money. While these strategies are not new, their prevalence has significantly increased in recent times.

With 81% of companies experiencing ransomware attacks in the previous 12 months this is increasingly something that company Boards are concerned about, not only the organisation’s ability to stop a ransomware attack in the first place, but also the organisation’s ability to recover when an attack happens.

Sources: [TechTarget] [PRNewsWire] [Security Magazine] [InsuranceJournal] [Financial Times]

Many SMBs Have No Real Way to Deal with Cyber Threats, Leaving Them Vulnerable

A recent report found that of nearly 6,000 small and medium-sized business (SMB) IT professionals surveyed across Europe, a third of those based in the UK have no cyber security in place to protect assets such as their own printers, with 16% suffering a printer breach alone in the past. Despite this, less than a quarter educated their employees about printer (23%) IT security. With hybrid working seen as a security concern for 38% of SMEs, and potentially leading to more remote use of these devices, surprisingly just 4 in 10 (41%) cover hybrid working as part of their current security training.

Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes help secure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation. 

Sources: [TechRadar] [The Recycler]

Cyber Attacks Top Global Risk – 2023 Aon Survey

Aon’s Global Risk Management Survey identified cyber attacks and data breaches as the leading business risk worldwide, followed by business interruption. Aon warned that deficits in talent or specialised skills may exacerbate cyber risks in particular.

Supply chain disruptions were ranked as another area of concern, with risks associated with supply chain failure hitting a 14-year high in the survey. However, less than 40% of organisations have conducted supplier resilience assessments. which contributes to cyber risk when organisations hand data to suppliers without considering whether their suppliers keep that data safe.

Source: [Investing]

To Improve Cyber Defences, Practice for Disaster

If you aren’t already running incident simulations in your organisation, it’s time to start. Such simulations allow employees to understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as providing a great opportunity to educate. Cyber attacks are a matter of when, not if, and no-one wants to be improvising their security response in the event of a real cyber incident.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Meet Your New Cyber Security Auditor: Your Insurer

In the dynamic world of cyber security, cyber insurers are emerging as key players, reshaping the landscape with ever more stringent requirements. With ransomware attacks becoming more complex, cyber insurance premiums have surged by 50%, challenging Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to demonstrate their organisation's cyber defence capabilities. Insurers, using detailed risk assessments, are influencing cyber security strategies, compelling organisations to adapt and meet higher standards.

CISOs are now tasked with ensuring their security measures are comprehensive and transparent, as insurers scrutinise everything from multifactor authentication to Active Directory policies. Accurate self-assessment is critical, as any misrepresentation can lead to denied coverage or legal repercussions. In this competitive market, organisations must showcase their cyber maturity, particularly in high-risk industries, to secure coverage. The evolving cyber insurance landscape demands a clear understanding of risk factors and continuous improvement in cyber defence strategies, ultimately aiming to enhance overall protection against cyber threats.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Allen and Overy Suffer Ransomware Attack

Allen & Overy, the “magic circle” law firm, has suffered a cyber attack on its systems, making it the latest large corporation to fall victim to a ransomware hack. A&O confirmed the incident after the infamous ransomware gang LockBit posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, claiming to have breached the legal giant and threatening to publish data from the firm’s files on 28 November.

Earlier this year, the UK National Cyber Security Centre reported that law firms of all sizes were at risk from cyber attackers because of the sensitive client information they routinely handle. The importance of reputation to the business also made law firms attractive targets for extortion.

Sources: [Financial Times] [Law Gazette]

Shadow IT Remains a Top Threat, as Shown by Attack on Okta

Shadow IT refers to IT resources used by employees or end users that don’t have IT approval or oversight. This was the case in the recent Okta attack in which an Okta employee signed into their personal Google account on a company-owned device. It is believed that the employee’s personal Google account had been compromised, and unfortunately since the employee had configured it in a way to save credentials of Okta accounts, the attacker now also had these credentials. The result? 134 downstream customers impacted.  

Source: [Computer Weekly]

Ransomware, AI, and Social Engineering All Set to Be 2024's Biggest Security Threats

Ransomware attacks surged to record highs in 2023 and are expected to escalate further, especially with key 2024 elections approaching, ZeroFox Intelligence's 2024 Key Forecasts report indicates. This trend is driven by evolving cyber threats, including sophisticated social engineering and AI-generated synthetic media, aimed at spreading misinformation and targeting electoral processes.

ZeroFox also highlights a concerning shift towards physical damages from cyber attacks, with critical sectors like finance, energy, and healthcare being vulnerable due to outdated security infrastructures. These sectors are likely targets for nation-state and state-sponsored attacks amidst global geopolitical tensions. To counter these threats, the report suggests enhanced security measures, including encrypted cloud backups, vigilant network monitoring, and a zero-trust cyber security approach to safeguard against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Source: [TechRadar]

Cyber Governance: Growing Expectations for Information Security Oversight and Accountability

In today's interconnected digital economy, cyber security is a critical governance issue for businesses, necessitating effective oversight and strategic planning. The SEC's new rules, effective July 2023, require public companies to transparently disclose their cyber security strategies and report significant incidents, highlighting the increasing importance of cyber security in corporate governance. This regulatory development aims to improve transparency and accountability in managing cyber risks.

Corporations are responding by emphasising detailed cyber security disclosures, employee training programmes, and board-level expertise in information security. As the landscape of cyber threats evolves, timely and comprehensive reporting of breaches becomes more crucial, aligning with both regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations for robust cyber security governance.

Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Harvard]

Generative AI Will Level Up Cyber Attacks, According to New Google Report

Google's Cloud Cyber Security Forecast 2024 report reveals a growing trend of using generative AI in cyber attacks. The technology, particularly large language models (LLMs), is enhancing phishing and social engineering tactics by producing content that appears more legitimate, making it difficult to spot errors typically associated with such attacks. This advancement allows attackers to mimic natural language effectively and create authentic-looking fake news, phone calls, and deepfake videos, potentially eroding public trust in online information.

On the flip side, the report highlights the potential of AI as a powerful tool for cyber defence. Cyber security professionals can leverage AI for rapid data synthesis, efficient threat detection, and swift response actions. As defenders direct AI development with specific security objectives, its capabilities are expected to significantly bolster cyber security measures in the near future.

Source: [ZDNET]

Public Wi-Fi Remains a Huge Risk, is Your Organisation Prepared?

New research found that half of UK participants believed they are most at risk of a cyber attack when using public Wi-Fi, which is Wi-Fi that anyone, including an attacker, can connect to. However, in contrast to concerns, the report found that 41% will use unsecured Wi-Fi if given the opportunity. Further, 53% of participants would enter or access sensitive information whilst connected to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network; this includes bring your own devices (BYOD) that have access to corporate data.

Source: [TechRadar]

88% of Security Leaders Think Their Organisation Is Falling Short in Addressing Cyber Security

A recent study by Foundry reveals a trend towards AI-driven security measures and increased reliance on cyber insurance among organisations. Key priorities for security leaders include preparedness for incidents, data protection, and enhancing IT and cloud data security. Despite this, 88% of security leaders feel their organisations are inadequate in addressing cyber security risks, mainly due to budget limitations, talent scarcity, and challenges in stakeholder communication.

To improve the situation, more top security executives are having regular engagements with the board of directors (85% this year compared to 82% in 2022), aiding in better cyber security initiatives. Security budgets are expected to remain stable or increase, with investments focused on authentication, data analytics, and cloud security, complemented by cyber insurance. AI's role is expanding in threat detection, malware identification, and automated responses, showcasing its growing importance in evolving security landscapes.

Source: [Foundry]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Exec security habits are shockingly bad compared to average workers | ITPro

• Boardroom woes on ransomware intensify (ft.com)

• To Improve Cyber Defences, Practice for Disaster (darkreading.com)

• Cyber attacks top global risks, talent retention surges in Aon 2023 survey By Investing.com

• Meet Your New Cyber security Auditor: Your Insurer (darkreading.com)

• 88% of Security Leaders think their Organisation is Falling Short Addressing Cyber security, but Regular Engagement with the Board is Improving the Situation • Foundry (foundryco.com)

• Use business technology? You’re on the cyber security frontline - Digital Journal

• Cyber Governance: Growing Expectations for Information Security Oversight and Accountability (harvard.edu)

• No, Okta, senior management, not an errant employee, caused you to get hacked | Ars Technica

• Securing data at the intersection of the CISO and CDO - Help Net Security

• UK warned cyber security teams buckling under complexity of threats (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• Enhancing security: The crucial role of incident response plans | Computer Weekly

• Most cyber security investments aren't used to their full advantage - Help Net Security

• Improving cyber resilience to prevent devastating cyber attacks | TechRadar

• Offense Intended: How Adversarial Emulation Went From State Secret To Board Bullet Point - SecurityWeek

• The roadblocks to preventive cyber security success - Help Net Security

• SolarWinds fires back at SEC over fraud charges | TechTarget

Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Boardroom woes on ransomware intensify (ft.com)

• Organisations face an average of 86 ransomware attacks annually | Security Magazine

• Ransomware, Extortion Claims See ‘Worrying Resurgence,’ Says Allianz (insurancejournal.com)

• The 3 key stages of ransomware attacks and useful indicators of compromise - Help Net Security

• Ransomware, AI, and social engineering all set to be 2024's biggest security threats | TechRadar

• The ransomware warning sign we should all have on our radar | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Ransomware Attacks Have Doubled Over the Past Two Years, According to Akamai Research (prnewswire.com)

• Critical Confluence flaw exploited in ransomware attacks (securityaffairs.com)

• FBI: Ransomware actors abuse third parties and legitimate system tools for initial access (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian-speaking threat actor "farnetwork" linked to 5 ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsegmentation proves its worth in ransomware defence - Help Net Security

• GootBot Implant Heightens Risk of Post-Infection Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware Mastermind Uncovered After Oversharing on Dark Web (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware gang behind MOVEit attacks are targeting new zero-day, Microsoft says (therecord.media)

• Ransomware Readiness Assessments: One Size Doesn't Fit All (darkreading.com)

• TellYouThePass ransomware joins Apache ActiveMQ RCE attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FBI: Ransomware gangs hack casinos via 3rd party gaming vendors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Healthcare Struggles with Impact of Ransomware Attacks | MSSP Alert

• Iranian APT Targets Israeli Education, Tech Sectors With New Wipers - SecurityWeek

• Retail organisations attacked by ransomware increasingly unable to halt an attack in progress - Home of Direct Commerce

• Three-Quarters of Retail Ransomware Attacks End in Encryption - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Allen & Overy data hit by hackers in ransomware attack (ft.com)

• ICBC hit by ransomware impacting global trades • The Register

• Mr. Cooper Posts Notice of Cyber attack, Indicating Possible Data Breach | Console and Associates, P.C. - JDSupra

• Cyber attack takes down one of the largest mortgage lenders in the US | TechRadar

• American Airlines Pilot Union Recovering After Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Marina Bay Sands Becomes Latest Hospitality Cyber Victim (darkreading.com)

• Scottish council's computer systems suffer cyber attack | The National

• Dolly.com pays ransom, attackers release data anyway (securityaffairs.com)

• Shimano hit by ransomware attack | Cyclingnews

• Info from 5.6 million patient visits among data stolen in ransomware attack on Ontario hospitals | CBC News

• Women sue plastic surgery after hack saw their naked photos posted online (bitdefender.com)

• TransForm says ransomware data breach affects 267,000 patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• When Email Security Meets SaaS Security: Uncovering Risky Auto-Forwarding Rules (thehackernews.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Ransomware, AI, and social engineering all set to be 2024's biggest security threats | TechRadar

• AI Professionalizes DDoS Attacks: This is Why Critical Infrastructures in NATO Countries are now at Risk – Financial News (financial-news.co.uk)

• Companies have good reasons to be concerned about generative AI - Help Net Security

• Virtual Kidnapping: AI Tools Are Enabling IRL Extortion Scams (darkreading.com)

• Offensive and Defensive AI: Let's Chat(GPT) About It (thehackernews.com)

• Here's what to know about elections, cyber security and AI | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Microsoft, Meta detail plans to fight election deception • The Register

• Watch out: Generative AI will level up cyber attacks, according to new Google report | ZDNET

• Data protection demands AI-specific security strategies - Help Net Security

• Exploring the global shift towards AI-specific legislation - Help Net Security

2FA/MFA

• Microsoft Authenticator is now blocking suspicious MFA phone notifications by default - Neowin

• Microsoft unhappy with MFA uptake, starts auto-deploying it • The Register

• Suspicious Microsoft Authenticator requests don't trigger notifications anymore - gHacks Tech News

• 23andMe data theft prompts DNA testing companies to switch on 2FA by default | TechCrunch

Malware

• Gootloader Aims Malicious, Custom Bot Army at Enterprise Networks (darkreading.com)

• GootBot Implant Heightens Risk of Post-Infection Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 48 Malicious npm Packages Found Deploying Reverse Shells on Developer Systems (thehackernews.com)

• New Malvertising Campaign Uses Fake Windows News Portal to Distribute Malicious Installers (thehackernews.com)

• StripedFly Malware Operated Unnoticed for 5 Years, Infecting 1 Million Devices (thehackernews.com)

• This new macOS malware could leave you severely short-changed | TechRadar

• Attackers use Google Calendar RAT to abuse Calendar service as C2 infrastructure (securityaffairs.com)

• Even Google Calendar isn't safe from hackers any more | TechRadar

• Hacked proxy service has already infected 10,000 systems worldwide with malware | TechRadar

• Evasive Jupyter Infostealer Campaign Showcases Dangerous Variant (darkreading.com)

• Beware of BlueNoroff: Mac users targeted with new malware variant - 9to5Mac

• How to Outsmart Malware Attacks That Can Fool Antivirus Protection (darkreading.com)

• Malicious Python packages spread BlazeStealer malware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers have found an insidious way to attack you with malware — don’t fall for this | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

Mobile

• Google Play Store Introduces 'Independent Security Review' Badge for Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Apple 'Find My' network can be abused to steal keylogged passwords (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Samsung monthly updates: November 2023 security patch fixes 65 security flaws - SamMobile

• 37 Vulnerabilities Patched in Android With November 2023 Security Updates - SecurityWeek

• Android 14’s storage disaster gets patched, but your data might be gone | Ars Technica

• SIM Box Fraud to Drive 700% Surge in Roaming Scams - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New SecuriDropper Malware Bypasses Android 13 Restrictions, Disguised as Legitimate Applications (techrepublic.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• AI Professionalizes DDoS Attacks: This is Why Critical Infrastructures in NATO Countries are now at Risk – Financial News (financial-news.co.uk)

• OpenAI confirms DDoS attacks behind ongoing ChatGPT outages (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Suspected DDoS attack impacts AP news site | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cloudflare website downed by DDoS attack claimed by Anonymous Sudan (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenAI Battles Service Disruption Linked to Russian Hackers - Decrypt

• DDoS attack leads to significant disruption in ChatGPT services (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian state-owned Sberbank hit by 1 million RPS DDoS attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• SIM Box Fraud to Drive 700% Surge in Roaming Scams - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• 2023 Microsoft Data Breach Statistics: A Comprehensive Overview (techreport.com)

• No, Okta, senior management, not an errant employee, caused you to get hacked | Ars Technica

• Okta Hack Blamed on Employee Using Personal Google Account on Company Laptop - SecurityWeek

• Shadow IT use at Okta behind series of damaging breaches | Computer Weekly

• Okta breach affected 134 customers, company admits • The Register

• Another top casino has been hit with a massive data breach | TechRadar

• Marina Bay Sands Discloses Data Breach Impacting 665k Customers - SecurityWeek

• Hilb fears email crooks stole 81K people's financial data • The Register

• 23andMe data theft prompts DNA testing companies to switch on 2FA by default | TechCrunch

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Dutch hacker jailed for extortion, selling stolen data on RaidForums (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How cyber criminals adapt and thrive amidst changing consumer trends - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Mastermind Uncovered After Oversharing on Dark Web (darkreading.com)

• Operation Monopoly: Dubai Police bust cyberfraud, arrest 43 | Crime – Gulf News

• Unraveling cyber crime network's underground operations (crime-research.org)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• The 10 Biggest Crypto Hacks and Scams of 2023 (makeuseof.com)

• Monero Project admits thieves stole $437k in mystery breach • The Register

Insurance

• Meet Your New Cyber security Auditor: Your Insurer (darkreading.com)

• Many SMEs are being left with a gap in coverage for cyber insurance: Cowbell's Cooksley  - Reinsurance News

• Hiscox cyber threat ranking reveals UK's most vulnerable industries (reward-strategy.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• FBI: Ransomware gangs hack casinos via 3rd party gaming vendors (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• The perils of over-reliance on single cloud providers - Help Net Security

• Secure Cloud Infrastructure from New Cyber Threats (trendmicro.com)

• Hackers exploit Looney Tunables Linux bug, steal cloud creds (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What We Can Learn from Major Cloud Cyber attacks (darkreading.com)

Encryption

• UK NCSC issues new guidance on post-quantum cryptography migration | CSO Online

• Outdated cryptographic protocols put vast amounts of network traffic at risk - Help Net Security

• Tech groups fear new powers will allow UK to block encryption (ft.com)

Linux and Open Source

• Hackers exploit Looney Tunables Linux bug, steal cloud creds (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• How global password practices are changing - Help Net Security

• Apple 'Find My' network can be abused to steal keylogged passwords (bleepingcomputer.com)

• LEGO urges fans to change passwords after cyber attack - Dexerto

• Global breached accounts down 76% in Q3, study finds (techinformed.com)

Malvertising

• New Malvertising Campaign Uses Fake Windows News Portal to Distribute Malicious Installers (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• When Good Security Awareness Programs Go Wrong (darkreading.com)

• Hacking Security Awareness Training: How to Easily Improve Your Security Culture (govinfosecurity.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• EU Tries To Slip In New Powers To Intercept Encrypted Web Traffic Without Anyone Noticing | Techdirt

• Telecom vendors sound alarm over EU Cyber Resilience Act - Telecoms.com

• What is NIS2, and how can you best prepare for the new cyber security requirements in the EU? (talosintelligence.com)

• Europe is trading security for digital sovereignty | CyberScoop

• Steps to Follow to Comply With the SEC Cyber security Disclosure Rule (darkreading.com)

• Vendors caution on risks of EU cyber security law - Mobile World Live

• Tech groups fear new powers will allow UK to block encryption (ft.com)

• King’s Speech 'missed opportunity' to update cyber laws | Professional Security

• Vulnerabilities in Embedded Systems and The Evolving Cyber security Regulations Landscape (thefastmode.com)

• UK wants prior notice from Big Tech of security rollouts • The Register

• Exploring the global shift towards AI-specific legislation - Help Net Security

• SolarWinds fires back at SEC over fraud charges | TechTarget

• SolarWinds: SEC lacks 'competence' to regulate cyber security • The Register

• Trinidad & Tobago’s state telecommunications provider is hacked, raising questions about data protection laws · Global Voices

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• MITRE partners with Microsoft to address generative AI security risks - Help Net Security

• The plan for the inevitable cyber attack: Get the gist of NIST | Computer Weekly

• NIST releases revised cyber requirements for controlled unclassified information - Nextgov/FCW

• What is NIS2, and how can you best prepare for the new cyber security requirements in the EU? (talosintelligence.com)

Data Protection

• Trinidad & Tobago’s state telecommunications provider is hacked, raising questions about data protection laws · Global Voices

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK warned cyber security teams buckling under complexity of threats (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• Cyber security pros are putting everyone at risk by working too much | TechRadar

• 90 Percent of Cyber security Professionals Work on Vacation and Deal with Frequent Interruptions to Daily Life | Business Wire

• A third of cyber security pros report crumbling work-life balance | ITPro

• CISOs Beware: SEC's SolarWinds Action Shows They're Scapegoating Us (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Dutch hacker jailed for extortion, selling stolen data on RaidForums (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Operation Monopoly: Dubai Police bust cyberfraud, arrest 43 | Crime – Gulf News

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Here's what to know about elections, cyber security and AI | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Microsoft, Meta detail plans to fight election deception • The Register

---

Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• Five attack vectors that businesses should focus on in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Wartime muddies waters for 'hacktivist' threat (synack.com)

• Israeli SMBs Warned to Cut External Comms to Reduce Risks (inforisktoday.com)

• As war continues, Israeli government wants more cyber control | Ctech (calcalistech.com)

• The new ‘Geneva code’ for hackers on the cyber battlefield | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

Nation State Actors

Russia

• Russian APT Sandworm Disrupted Power in Ukraine Using OT Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Sandworm Cyber attackers Down Ukrainian Power Grid During Missile Strikes (darkreading.com)

• Russian-speaking threat actor "farnetwork" linked to 5 ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gang behind MOVEit attacks are targeting new zero-day, Microsoft says (therecord.media)

• OpenAI Battles Service Disruption Linked to Russian Hackers - Decrypt

• US Treasury Sanctions Russian Money Launderer in Cyber crime Crackdown (thehackernews.com)

• Russian state-owned Sberbank hit by 1 million RPS DDoS attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

Iran

• Inside Iran's cyber war against Israel as it tries to sow dissent and gain military intelligence (inews.co.uk)

• Israel’s cyber defence chief tells CNN he is concerned Iran could increase severity of its cyber attacks | CNN Politics

• Wartime muddies waters for 'hacktivist' threat (synack.com)

• Iranian APT Targets Israeli Education, Tech Sectors With New Wipers - SecurityWeek

• Imperial Kitten APT Claws at Israeli Industry with Multiyear Spy Effort (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• Beware of BlueNoroff: Mac users targeted with new malware variant - 9to5Mac

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• Wartime muddies waters for 'hacktivist' threat (synack.com)

• Five attack vectors that businesses should focus on in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Israeli SMBs Warned to Cut External Comms to Reduce Risks (inforisktoday.com)

• Five attack vectors that businesses should focus on in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• As war continues, Israeli government wants more cyber control | Ctech (calcalistech.com)

• Worldwide Hacktivists Take Sides Over Gaza, With Little to Show for It (darkreading.com)

---

Vulnerability Management

• CVSS 4.0 Offers Significantly More Patching Context (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• New Microsoft Exchange zero-days allow RCE, data theft attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Atlassian Bug Escalated to 10, All Unpatched Instances Vulnerable (darkreading.com)

• Critical Confluence flaw exploited in ransomware attacks (securityaffairs.com)

• Cloudflare, Google and AWS Disclose HTTP/2 Zero-Day Vulnerability (infoq.com)

• Microsoft 365 apps have a lot of new security vulnerabilities - here's what we know | TechRadar

• Critical Vulnerabilities Expose Veeam ONE Software to Code Execution - SecurityWeek

• Microsoft is killing off three Windows services because of security concerns (betanews.com)

• 37 Vulnerabilities Patched in Android With November 2023 Security Updates - SecurityWeek

• TellYouThePass ransomware joins Apache ActiveMQ RCE attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Android 14’s storage disaster gets patched, but your data might be gone | Ars Technica

---

Tools and Controls

• To Improve Cyber Defences, Practice for Disaster (darkreading.com)

• Meet Your New Cyber security Auditor: Your Insurer (darkreading.com)

• Start with Passwords When Incorporating the 5 Pillars of Zero Trust | EdTech Magazine

• How global password practices are changing - Help Net Security

• Is Cyber security A Line Or A Circle? The Shape Of Incident Response (forbes.com)

• The roadblocks to preventive cyber security success - Help Net Security

• Microsegmentation proves its worth in ransomware defence - Help Net Security

• Microsoft Authenticator is now blocking suspicious MFA phone notifications by default - Neowin

• Microsoft unhappy with MFA uptake, starts auto-deploying it • The Register

• Suspicious Microsoft Authenticator requests don't trigger notifications anymore - gHacks Tech News

• 23andMe data theft prompts DNA testing companies to switch on 2FA by default | TechCrunch

• Offensive and Defensive AI: Let's Chat(GPT) About It (thehackernews.com)

• Enhancing security: The crucial role of incident response plans | Computer Weekly

• Most cyber security investments aren't used to their full advantage - Help Net Security

• Improving cyber resilience to prevent devastating cyber attacks | TechRadar

• Data protection demands AI-specific security strategies - Help Net Security

• Offense Intended: How Adversarial Emulation Went From State Secret To Board Bullet Point - SecurityWeek

• 7 free cyber threat maps showing attack intensity and frequency - Help Net Security

• What is threat detection and response (TDR)? (techtarget.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Hiscox cyber threat ranking reveals UK's most vulnerable industries (reward-strategy.com)

---

Other News

• Is OT the ‘soft underbelly’ of your company? - Utility Week

• US calls for unity against cyber-threats to finance (globalcapital.com)

• US Urges Critical Infrastructure Firms to Get “Shields Ready” - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Royal Mail jeopardizes users with open redirect flaw (securityaffairs.com)

• Trinidad & Tobago’s state telecommunications provider is hacked, raising questions about data protection laws · Global Voices

• Cyber attacks 'constantly happening' - warning from intelligence expert (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Startling Cyber security Statistics for 2023 You Need to Know (techreport.com)S

• Study: Companies aren't keeping up with cybersecurity needs (iapp.org)

• How to avoid cyber security nightmares (networkingplus.co.uk)

• The Million-Dollar Cyber Security Question (forbes.com)

• Forecasting the future without falling for the hype | TechRadar

• Elevate Your School’s Security Posture as 2024 Approaches | EdTech Magazine

• Optus loses court bid to keep report into cause of cyber-attack secret (yahoo.com)

• The Dirty 'Big' Secret Of Cybersecurity (forbes.com)

• What are Kerberoasting attacks? | ITPro

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

---

As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 03 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Surviving a Ransomware Attack Begins by Acknowledging it’s Inevitable

The best defence against a ransomware attack is assuming it will happen before it does.  Research by Visa Inc found that ransomware continues to rapidly rise. One of the main factors is the use of AI services to mass produce highly personalised and plausible emails. The second is the proliferation of highly professional do-it-yourself ransomware kits, which frequently come with 24/7 tech support. These two factors drastically lower the skill level required for cyber criminals to successfully pull off an attack.

Another new ransomware trend is “dual ransomware attacks”. This is where criminals carry out two or more attacks in close proximity of each other, ranging between 48 hours to a maximum of 10 days. With an 80% chance of re-attack, small and medium sized businesses in hard-hit industries including healthcare and manufacturing are primary targets; organisations must be extra vigilant as the holidays approach because this is when cyber criminals are most likely to attack.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [Venture Beat] [SC Media] [Help Net Security] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Help Net Security] [Tech Crunch]

Are You and Your Clients Soft Targets?

Cyber attacks are not a matter of "if" but "when," and the question you need to ask yourself is, ‘Are you a soft target?’. A soft target is a network or organisation that is relatively unprotected or vulnerable to cyber attacks.

You may feel confident in your ability to recover from an attack, but if you've never thoroughly tested your backup and recovery procedures, and when the time comes you find that it does not work, the result will leave you more likely to pay a ransom in an encryption based ransomware scenario. Reliance on legacy antivirus, which often fails to detect modern threats, can also render your network a soft target. Additionally, the absence of a rigorous vulnerability scanning and patching process leaves vulnerabilities undiscovered, and attackers are quick to exploit them. If you rely solely on prevention measures like firewalls and endpoint protection platforms, you are making yourself an appealing soft target for cyber criminals.

No organisation is entirely immune to cyber attacks. The key to defending you and your client's information effectively is to anticipate attacks, understand your security posture, recognise potential adversaries, and recover correctly in the event of an attack.

Source: [MSSP Alert]

Cyber Attacks Cause Revenue Losses in 42% of Small Businesses

Small businesses may be discouraged from investing in preventive cyber security measures due to the expense involved and the mistaken belief that only larger companies are the target of cyber crimes. However, according to a recent report nearly 8 in 10 small business leaders admit they are anxious about the safety of their company’s sensitive data and information. The report found that employee and customer data continue to be the most impacted categories of information in data breaches with 42% of small businesses losing revenue due to a cyber event.

The widespread use of internet-connected devices has given rise to a substantial surge in threat actors targeting small and medium-sized businesses, with malware, phishing and botnets being the most common threats. Daily malware activity has doubled year over year, and peaks in holiday seasons.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security] [JDSupra]

Executives May be The Biggest Risk to Your Business as One in Five Share Work Passwords Outside the Company

According to a recent report, nearly half (49%) of C-level executives have requested to bypass one or more security measures in the past year, highlighting a concerning disparity between what business leaders say about cyber and what they do. The research reported one in five sharing their work password with someone outside the company, 77% using easy-to-remember passwords including birth dates, and a third admitting to accessing unauthorised files and data with nearly two-thirds having the ability to edit those files/data.

Additionally, the C-suite was found to be more than three times as likely than regular users to share work devices with unauthorised users. An essential approach to reducing the risks is a tailored training programme that enables all users, including the C-suite, to understand the objective of security controls and the risks caused by bypassing them. Black Arrow offers bespoke training to all roles within the organisation as well as upskilling tailored to those at the board level.

Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [Tech Radar] [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security]

Organisations Can Only Stop 57 Percent of Cyber Attacks

According to a report from Tenable, over the last two years, the average organisation's cyber security program was prepared to preventatively defend against, or block, just 57 percent of the cyber attacks it encountered. The report found that 58% of respondents focus almost entirely on fighting successful attacks rather than working to prevent them in the first place. This is put down largely to a struggle to obtain an accurate picture of their attack surface. When it came to risks, 75% viewed cloud infrastructure as the greatest source of exposure risk in their organisation.

Source: [Beta News]

Many Businesses Remain Unprepared for AI as Phishing Attacks Rise 1,265% Since Launch of ChatGPT

Generative AI has revolutionised many aspects of life, offering new opportunities that have also greatly benefited malicious actors. A report has found that since the launch of ChatGPT, phishing attacks have increased by 1,265%. A separate report found that many businesses remain unprepared for the impact of AI, with just 16% of respondents satisfied in their organisation’s understanding of these AI tools.

Sources: [Decrypt] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Emerging Risks]

Business Email Compromise is Most Common Entry Point for Cyber Attack

According to cyber insurance provider Hiscox, almost half of UK businesses have experienced a cyber attack in the last year, an increase of 9% from the previous year. Business email compromise was recorded as the most common point of entry, mentioned by 35% of companies who suffered an attack.

The report found that 20% of attacked organisations received a ransomware demand, slightly up from 19% the previous year. The proportion paying the ransom fell from 66% to 63%, but the median ransom rose 13%.

Sources: [Hiscox] [Digital Journal]

US Regulator Charges Firm and its CISO For Fraud and Cyber Security Failures

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced plans to charge a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with fraud for their role in allegedly lying to investors, overstating cyber security practices, and understating or failing to disclose known risks. A key piece of evidence presented by the SEC involved a presentation that was shared with the CISO, detailing a lack of security in the CISO employer’s setup. The presentation highlighted how exploitation could lead to major reputational and financial loss.

The case represents a larger shift in the dynamics and corporate reporting of security issues and within this, lies the professionalism of the CISO role. It is likely that this incident could become the start of something larger.

Sources: [The Record] [Security Week ] [Forbes]

Companies Scramble to Integrate Immediate Recovery into Ransomware Plans

A survey found that 66% of companies are reevaluating their data protection and cyber resilience strategies. Despite this, 35% are not prioritising recovery and only half (56.6%) focused on both recovery and prevention.

Whilst it is important to prevent attacks, nothing is 100% secure and organisations need to ensure that their ransomware plans include recovery as a part of this. If, or when, you experience an attack, you will not want to improvise your recovery.

Source: [Help Net Security]

Your End-Users are Reusing Passwords: That’s a Big Problem

Password reuse is a difficult vulnerability for IT teams to get full visibility over. The danger is often hidden until it turns up in the form of hackers using compromised credentials as an initial access vector. A recent survey revealed that 53% of people admit to reusing passwords, making it easier for attackers to gain access to multiple applications with a single compromised password.

While it is difficult for organisations to maintain visibility over who is reusing passwords, especially if employees are reusing passwords outside of the organisation, there are still ways to combat this. Implementing tools that can check for compromised passwords, using multi-factor authentication and ensuring all employees carry out cyber security and awareness training are a few methods to help combat password re-use.

Source: [Bleeping Computer]

Cyber Workforce Demand is Outpacing Supply

A study by ISC2 stated that we would need to double the cyber workforce to adequately protect organisations and their critical assets. The study found that the gap between the demand and supply grew 12.6%. For organisations, this can mean a struggle in hiring cyber expertise.

To address the challenge of attracting and retaining quality senior security professionals, Black Arrow offers a fractional CISO service that gives flexible access to a whole team of specialists with wide expertise, experience and backgrounds in technology, governance and transformation, for less than the cost of hiring one individual.

Source: [Cyber Scoop]

What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs

According to a new study only 12% of S&P 500 companies have board directors with relevant cyber credentials, highlighting a major gap in expertise needed to keep organisations secure. As most organisations shift to digital and cloud-first strategies, businesses of all shapes and sizes must protect their assets. Unfortunately, there's a considerable gap between security leaders and the board directors responsible for managing businesses. A recent Harvard Business Review survey revealed just 47% regularly interact with their company's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). That's a severe knowledge gap for a company's security and business leaders.

Introducing CISOs to the boardroom is not just about compliance, it's also about ensuring transparency and accountability. CISOs are already building security programs from the ground up. They provide business compliance, hire the right people, and find the right technology to supplement their team's efforts. Security posture is critical to an enterprise's future success, and having a CISO on the board that speaks the language can help a board understand if their business is making suitable security investments.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• SEC Charges SolarWinds and Its CISO With Fraud and Cyber security Failures - SecurityWeek

• SolarWinds Is A Game Changer - You Cannot Sugarcoat Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Part of an executive team? You might be the biggest security risk to your business | TechRadar

• One in five executives have shared work passwords outside the company | Security Magazine

• Half of Execs Request Security Bypass Over Past Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Organisations can only stop 57 percent of cyber attacks (betanews.com)

• Cyber attacks cause revenue losses in 42% of small businesses - Help Net Security

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• Only 1 in 5 Business Leaders 'Extremely Prepared' to Manage Cyber security Threats at Workplace: Survey Report, Business News - AsiaOne

• 'Are we adversary aligned?' is the new 'Are we secure?' (betanews.com)

• Cyber security habits and behaviours executives need to be aware of - Help Net Security

• The hidden costs of data breaches for small businesses - Help Net Security

• Cyber workforce demand is outpacing supply, survey finds | CyberScoop

• How Do We Truly Make Security 'Everyone's Responsibility'? (darkreading.com)

• Why lack of training can put cyber security at risk [Q&A] (betanews.com)

• Cyber security Awareness Month Series: Cyber security is Important for Small Business Too. | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

• Threat Prevention Begins With IT & Security Team Collaboration (darkreading.com)

• Are startups underestimating their cyber vulnerability? | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• The CISO’s toolkit must include political capital within the C-suite | CSO Online

• Do You Really Need a CISO? (securityintelligence.com)

• CISO Skills in a Changing Security Market: Are You Prepared? (darkreading.com)

• What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs (darkreading.com)

• Is it time to merge your fraud and cyber teams? - Raconteur

• OODA Loop - Deciphering the CISO Accountability Landscape: A Comparative Analysis with the AML Officer's Evolution

• Why there’s no one-size-fits all solution to security maturity | TechRadar

Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Never Sleeps - But It Strikes Whilst You Do - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransom Groups Threaten Physical Violence as Social Engineering Tactic (darkreading.com)

• Companies scramble to integrate immediate recovery into ransomware plans - Help Net Security

• Surviving a ransomware attack begins by acknowledging it's inevitable | VentureBeat

• Mass exploitation of CitrixBleed vulnerability, including a ransomware group | by Kevin Beaumont | Oct, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• The dangers of dual ransomware attacks - Help Net Security

• Do government sanctions against ransomware groups work? | TechCrunch

• Why rookie hackers are capitalizing on ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Experts Reconsider Banning Ransom Payments as Ransomware Attacks Surge (pymnts.com)

• Why ransomware victims can’t stop paying off hackers | TechCrunch

• Key Learnings from “Big Game” Ransomware Campaigns - SecurityWeek

• New Hunters International ransomware possible rebrand of Hive (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SIM Swappers Are Working Directly with Ransomware Gangs Now (404media.co)

• One of the most dangerous ransomware kits around might have just gotten a rebrand | TechRadar

• Forty Countries Agree Not to Pay Cyber crime Ransoms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks set to break records in 2023 - Help Net Security

• Know When and How to Stop Ransomware Attacks (finextra.com)

• HelloKitty Ransomware Group Exploiting Apache ActiveMQ Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Data Encrypted in 75% of Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Organisation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Boeing Confirms Cyber Attack, System Compromise (darkreading.com)

• CCleaner says hackers stole users’ personal data during MOVEit mass-hack | TechCrunch

• Stanford University investigating security incident • The Register

• Clop group obtained access to the email addresses of about 632,000 US federal employees (securityaffairs.com)

• Massive ransomware attack hinders services in 70 German municipalities (therecord.media)

• Medical research exec hit in SIM-swap attack by Alphv gang • The Register

• Caesars Hackers Accessed Customer Data; Costs to Be Determined (bloomberglaw.com)

• Mortgage and loan giant Mr. Cooper blames cyber attack for ongoing outage | TechCrunch

• Ransomware attack shuts down Central Florida radiology imager sites (wmfe.org)

• British, Toronto Libraries Struggle After Cyber Incidents (darkreading.com)

• Ace Hardware says 1,202 devices were hit during cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Report Links ChatGPT to 1,265% Rise in Phishing Emails - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• McAfee Celebrity Hot List 2023 - gHacks Tech News

• Phishing Scams, Bad Actors Bedevil Military Mass Tort Settlements (bloomberglaw.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Email Phishing Attacks Up 1,265% Since ChatGPT Launched: SlashNext - Decrypt

• AI poses new cyber threats with many businesses unprepared (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• AI is making cyber attacks even smarter and more dangerous | TechRadar

• The People Hacker: AI a Game-Changer in Social Engineering Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Risk managers beware – generative AI spells serious concerns for security | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• 28 Countries Sign Bletchley Declaration on Responsible AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK AI Safety Summit is targeting evil sentience, but there are bigger problems to solve | Tom's Guide

• AI Safety Summit: OWASP Urges Governments to Agree on AI Standards - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Enterprise AI applications are threatening security | TechRadar

• What Lurks in the Dark: Taking Aim at Shadow AI (darkreading.com)

• ChatGPT, Bard, lack effective defences against fraudsters, Which? warns | Computer Weekly

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• The future of AIs fighting AIs is already here - POLITICO

• AI promises incredible benefits, but also terrible risks. It’s not luddism to rein it in | Sonia Sodha | The Guardian

Malware

• Over a million Windows and Linux systems infected by this tricky new malware | TechRadar

• DUCKTAIL Malware employs LinkedIn messages Execute Attacks (gbhackers.com)

• Daily malware activity doubled year over year for small businesses | Security Magazine

• Iranian Group Tortoiseshell Launches New Wave of IMAPLoader Malware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Malvertising via Dynamic Search Ads delivers malware bonanza (malwarebytes.com)

• Windows PCs are being targeted with a nasty new malware - here's what you need to know | TechRadar

• Pro-Hamas Hacktivists Targeting Israeli Entities with Wiper Malware (thehackernews.com)

• These Seemingly Innocent Search Terms Could Lead Kids to Malware-Filled Websites (pcmag.com)

• Malware 'Meal Kits' Serve Up No-Fuss RAT Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Arid Viper Camouflages Malware in Knockoff Dating App (darkreading.com)

• Scarred Manticore Targets Middle East With Advanced Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ghostpulse Malware Targets Windows PCs With Fake App Installers (pcmag.com)

• Latest RAT attack surge bypasses Microsoft's XLL block • The Register

• Mozi malware botnet goes dark after mysterious use of kill-switch (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Iranian Cyber Spies Use 'LionTail' Malware in Latest Attacks - SecurityWeek

• Turla Updates Kazuar Backdoor with Advanced Anti-Analysis to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• 16 more infected Android apps you need to delete ASAP (bgr.com)

• iOS 17.1 finally fixes a three-year-old Private Wi-Fi Address security hole | Macworld

• Android 14’s user-profile data bug seems indistinguishable from ransomware | Ars Technica

• New banking scams delivered instantly via WhatsApp - F-Secure Blog

• Every day, half a million malware apps are created for scamming. Who’s behind them? - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• Security Expert: Apple's Lockdown Mode Still Defeats Commercial Spyware | PCMag

• Google One data breach: Dark web report at your hand - gHacks Tech News

• SIM swapping crypto crook jailed, ordered to pay $945,833 • The Register

• SIM Swappers Are Working Directly with Ransomware Gangs Now (404media.co)

• Israel Calls In Hackers And Spyware Companies To Break Into Abductees’ Phones (forbes.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS attacks are getting bigger and more powerful, and that's a really bad thing | TechRadar

• Why Does "Anonymous" Launch DDoS Cyber Attacks? (makeuseof.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• IoT's convenience comes with cyber security challenges - Help Net Security

• RCE exploit for Wyze Cam v3 publicly released, patch now (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• CCleaner says hackers stole users’ personal data during MOVEit mass-hack | TechCrunch

• Okta discloses a data breach after a third-party vendor was hacked (securityaffairs.com)

• ServiceNow Data Exposure: A Wake-Up Call for Companies (thehackernews.com)

• LastPass breach linked to theft of $4.4 million in crypto (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Public exposure of data breaches is becoming inevitable – Help Net Security

• Browser extensions could capture passwords and sensitive info as plain text (techxplore.com)

• Seiged Sec Breach Top Israeli Telecom, Leak Customers Data (dailydot.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• ‘Prolific Puma’ Hacker Gives Cyber criminals Access to .us Domains (darkreading.com)

• Two Russians indicted for hacking JFK taxi dispatch system • The Register

• How cyber criminals adapt and thrive amidst changing consumer trends – Help Net Security

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto thief steals $4.4M in a day as toll rises from LastPass breach (cointelegraph.com)

• UK's National Crime Agency Establishes Crypto Investigative Team (mpost.io)

• Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty of defrauding FTX customers out of billions | Sam Bankman-Fried | The Guardian

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• How human behaviour research informs security strategies - Help Net Security

Insurance

• The rise of the cyber security insurance market | CSO Online

• Cyber insurance: why it pays to be responsible | TechRadar

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• N. Korean Lazarus Group Targets Software Vendor Using Known Flaws (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Hackers Are Trying to Stage Another Supply Chain Hack (pcmag.com)

• Okta discloses a data breach after a third-party vendor was hacked (securityaffairs.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Within 5 Minutes, Hackers Were Able to Get AWS Credentials From GitHub (cyber securitynews.com)

• Cryptojackers steal AWS credentials from GitHub in 5 minutes • The Register

• Microsoft is Getting Serious About Security. Again. - Thurrott.com

• Microsoft is overhauling its software security after major Azure cloud attacks - The Verge

Identity and Access Management

• Identity-based security threats are growing rapidly: report | CSO Online

Encryption

• UK Banks Warn Quantum Will Imperil Entire Payment System - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Your end-users are reusing passwords – that’s a big problem (bleepingcomputer.com)

• One in five executives have shared work passwords outside the company | Security Magazine

• Within 5 Minutes, Hackers Were Able to Get AWS Credentials From GitHub (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Browser extensions could capture passwords and sensitive info as plain text (techxplore.com)

Social Media

• DUCKTAIL Malware employs LinkedIn messages Execute Attacks (gbhackers.com)

• Russian hacking tool floods social networks with bots, researchers say (therecord.media)

Malvertising

• Malvertising via Dynamic Search Ads delivers malware bonanza (malwarebytes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Finding the right approach to security awareness - Help Net Security

• Why lack of training can put cyber security at risk [Q&A] (betanews.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• FTC orders non-bank financial firms to report breaches in 30 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SEC Charges SolarWinds and Its CISO With Fraud and Cyber security Failures - SecurityWeek

• Why The SEC Cyber Security Disclosure Rules Will Improve Cybersecurity (forbes.com)

• The UK Online Safety Bill Becomes Law, What Does It Mean? | Hackaday

• Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Setting the standard for cyber security across the EU | Business Post

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Top 12 IT security frameworks and standards explained | TechTarget

• MITRE Releases ATT&CK v14 With Improvements to Detections, ICS, Mobile  - SecurityWeek

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK cyber skills gap grows 29% despite record hiring (computing.co.uk)

• Cyber workforce demand is outpacing supply, survey finds | CyberScoop

• Cyber security workforce shortages: 67% report people deficits - Help Net Security

• CISO Skills in a Changing Security Market: Are You Prepared? (darkreading.com)

• What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Pirate IPTV network in Austria dismantled and $1.74 million seized (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SIM swapping crypto crook jailed, ordered to pay $945,833 • The Register

• UK's National Crime Agency Establishes Crypto Investigative Team (mpost.io)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare/Cyber Espionage

• Cyber War: Power, Prestige, International Governance, and Strategy in the Age of Global Polycrisis

Geopolitical Threats/Activity

• Hacktivist Activity Related to Gaza Conflict Dwindles (darkreading.com)

• New BiBi-Linux wiper malware targets Israeli orgs in destructive attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Scarred Manticore Targets Middle East With Advanced Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Israel Calls In Hackers And Spyware Companies To Break Into Abductees’ Phones (forbes.com)

China

• Spies and Lies: China’s Cyber Espionage Is on an Unprecedented Level | Mind Matters

• Microsoft upgrades security for signing keys in wake of Chinese breach | CyberScoop

Russia

• Boeing. ‘Sensitive Data’ Reportedly Stolen by Ransomware Group Linked to Russia - The Messenger

• IT Army of Ukraine disrupted internet providers in territories occupied by Russia (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian hacking tool floods social networks with bots, researchers say (therecord.media)

• Palo Alto Reveals New Features in Russian APT Turla's Kazuar Backdoor - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FSB arrests Russian hackers working for Ukrainian cyber forces (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russia to launch its own version of VirusTotal due to US snooping fears (therecord.media)

• A Ukrainian Company Shares Lessons in Wartime Resilience (darkreading.com)

• Two Russians indicted for hacking JFK taxi dispatch system • The Register

Iran

• Iranian Group Tortoiseshell Launches New Wave of IMAPLoader Malware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian Cyber Spies Use 'LionTail' Malware in Latest Attacks - SecurityWeek

• In Cyber attacks, Iran Shows Signs of Improved Hacking Capabilities - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• New Iranian state-sponsored hacking campaign uncovered - SiliconANGLE

• FBI Director Warns of Increased Iranian Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Iran's MuddyWater Targets Israel in New Spear-Phishing Cyber Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• 'Scarred Manticore' Unleashes the Most Advanced Iranian Cyber Espionage Yet (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Hackers Are Trying to Stage Another Supply Chain Hack (pcmag.com)

• Lazarus Group Looking for Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• North Korean Hackers Target macOS Crypto Engineers With Kandykorn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Lazarus Group Looking for Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• 20 Years Later, Is Patch Tuesday Enough? (darkreading.com)

• CVSS 4.0 keys-in on threat intelligence metrics and OT, ICS and IoT | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Vulnerability management metrics: How to measure success - Help Net Security

• From Windows 9x to 11: Tracing Microsoft's security evolution - Help Net Security

• It's Cheap to Exploit Software — and That's a Major Security Problem (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Exploit released for critical Cisco IOS XE flaw, many hosts still hacked (bleepingcomputer.com)

• F5 fixes BIG-IP auth bypass allowing remote code execution attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mass exploitation of CitrixBleed vulnerability, including a ransomware group | by Kevin Beaumont | Oct, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• Hackers use Citrix Bleed flaw in attacks on govt networks worldwide (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco Patches 27 Vulnerabilities in Network Security Products - SecurityWeek

• Chrome 119 Patches 15 Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Atlassian warns users: patch critical Confluence flaw ASAP • The Register

• Researchers Find 34 Windows Drivers Vulnerable to Full Device Takeover (thehackernews.com)

• Urgent: New Security Flaws Discovered in NGINX Ingress Controller for Kubernetes (thehackernews.com)

• D-LINK SQL Injection Vulnerability Let Attacker Escalate Privileges (gbhackers.com)

• 3,000 Apache ActiveMQ servers vulnerable to RCE attacks exposed online (bleepingcomputer.com)

• More Than 100 Vulns in Microsoft 365 Tied to SketchUp 3D Library (darkreading.com)

• No patches yet for Apple iLeakage side-channel attack | TechTarget

• HelloKitty Ransomware Group Exploiting Apache ActiveMQ Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• iOS 17.1 finally fixes a three-year-old Private Wi-Fi Address security hole | Macworld

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Tools and Controls

• Companies scramble to integrate immediate recovery into ransomware plans - Help Net Security

• Vulnerability management metrics: How to measure success - Help Net Security

• 6 steps to accelerate cyber security incident response | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ethical hackers are helping more and more business stay safe | TechRadar

• Getting Smart With Cyber security: AI Can Help the Good Guys, Too (darkreading.com)

• Massive cyber crime URL shortening service uncovered via DNS data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The state of API security in 2023 | InfoWorld

• Is There a Silver Bullet in Threat Detection? | MSSP Alert

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• Defence in depth: Layering your security coverage (securityintelligence.com)

• Finding the right approach to security awareness - Help Net Security

• Is state intervention needed for cyber insurance? (ft.com)

• CISA Announces New Release of Logging Made Easy | CISA

• Security Advice For Virtualization: Protecting Information And Programs (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Mainframes are around to stay, it’s time to protect them - Help Net Security

• Responsible Cyber Operations: From Theory to Reality - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

Cyber Readiness Report 2023 UK - Hiscox

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Other News

• Are You and Your Clients Soft Targets? | MSSP Alert

• Four Under-The-Radar Security Risks That Can Endanger Your Business (forbes.com)

• ING CISO says data sharing is key to financial cyber security (finextra.com)

• Threat Prevention Begins With IT & Security Team Collaboration (darkreading.com)

• F5 Labs Report Reveals Rise in Malicious Automation | The Fintech Times

• Microsoft Vows to Revamp Security Products After Repeated Hacks - Bloomberg

• Microsoft launches Secure Future Initiative to bolster security | TechTarget

• The 5 Cs of effective cyber defence: Beyond traditional technical skills | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 9 Innovative Ways to Boost Security Hygiene for Cyber Awareness Month (darkreading.com)

• How governments can keep data secure in a digital age - New Statesman

• Are startups underestimating their cyber vulnerability? | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Preventing and preparing for law firm cyber security attacks is fundamental to success | Casetext - JDSupra

• Cyber security insights for secure manufacturing - Aerospace Manufacturing and Design

• Demystifying the top five OT security myths | Computer Weekly

• 20 scary cyber security facts and figures for a haunting Halloween (welivesecurity.com)

• Construction among industries most at risk from cyber attacks, insurer warns | News | Building

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 27 October 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

More Companies Adopt Board-Level Cyber Security Committees

In a recent CISO Report by Splunk, 78% of CISOs and other security leaders reported a dedicated board-level cyber security committee at their organisations. These committees may be made up of qualified individuals or potentially even third parties - not necessarily company employees - that give guidance to the board around matters like risk assessment and cyber security strategy. These board-level cyber security committees can potentially bridge communication barriers between IT, security teams and boards. Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber risks, by participating in board meetings to upskill and guide the board in requesting and challenging the appropriate information from their internal and external sources.

Source: [Decipher]

Ransomware Attacks Rise by More Than 95% Over 2022, to All Time High

A recent report by Corvus has found that ransomware attacks continued at a record-breaking pace, with Q3 frequency up 11% over Q2 and 95% year-over-year. Even if there were no more ransomware attacks this year, the victim account has already surpassed what was observed for 2021 and 2022. In a separate report, analysis conducted by Sophos has found that dwell times, which is the length of time an attacker is in a victim’s system before they are discovered, has fallen, leaving less time for organisations to detect attacks.

Sources: [Dark Reading] [SC Magazine] [Reinsurance News]

Security Still Not a Priority for a Third of SMBs Despite 73% Suffering Cyber Attack Last Year

Multiple reports highlighting different aspects of small and medium businesses (SMBs) all have one thing in common: the lack of priority that is given to cyber security. One example is a survey conducted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) which found that cyber security is not even a strategic priority for 35% of SMBs when considering moving to the cloud. This comes as a report by Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) found that 73% of US SMBs reported a cyber attack last year, with employee and customer data being the target in data breaches. Despite the rise in SMB attacks, relatively few organisations are following cyber security best practices to help prevent a breach in the first place. Every business, regardless of size, should do everything it reasonably can to protect its data and ensure connectivity, and smaller organisations may be more likely to be a victim of a cyber attack. Security is an enabler for the wider IT and business strategy to help users build the organisation in greater security. It should be hard-baked from the outset; seeking expert advice can help ensure the right proportionate security decisions are being made.

Sources: [Insider Media] [Infosecurity Magazine] [IT Reseller Magazine] [Infosecurity Magazine]

More Than 46 Million Potential Cyber Attacks Logged Every Day

New data released by the UK’s BT Group has found that more than 500 potential cyber attacks are logged every second. The BT data showed that over the last 12 months the most targeted sectors by cyber criminals were IT, defence, banking and insurance sectors; this was followed by the retail, hospitality and education industries. According to the figures 785,000 charities fell victim to cyber attacks. The data found that hackers are relentlessly scanning devices for vulnerabilities by using automation, and artificial intelligence is now being included by attackers to identify weaknesses in an organisation’s cyber defences.

Sources: [Evening Standard] [Proactive] [The Independent]

Fighting Cyber Attacks Requires Top-Down Approach

Organisations must move away from the posture that their IT division owns responsibility for safeguarding against cyber attacks. Instead, what we really need is for cyber security to come down from the top of the organisation, into the departments so that we have an enterprise-wide culture of security. It is the board’s responsibility to work with the executive team to ensure it is not just an IT-centric issue. By aligning cyber risk management with business needs, creating a cyber security strategy as a business enabler, and incorporating cyber security expertise into board and governance, the organisation will create a solid foundation for this top-down approach.

Source: [Chief Investment Officer]

Email Security Threats are More Dangerous This Year as Over 200 million Malicious Emails Detected in Q3 2023

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT has made spam and phishing emails infinitely more dangerous, with over 200 million sent in Q3 2023. A recent report found that link-based malware delivery made up 58% of all malicious emails for the quarter, while attachments made up the remaining 42%. Worryingly, 33% of these were delivered through legitimate but compromised websites.

Phishing does not come through emails alone however, there is also phishing via SMS, QR codes, calls and genuine, but compromised accounts. Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes help secure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation. 

Sources: [Security Magazine] [MSSP Alert] [TechRadar]

98% of Security Leaders Worry About Risks of Generative AI as Fears Drive Spending

Generative AI is playing a significant role in reshaping the phishing email threat landscape, according to a recent report from Abnormal Security. The report found that 98% of security leaders are highly concerned about generative AI's potential to create more sophisticated email attacks, with four-fifths (80.3%) of respondents confirming that their organisation had already received AI-generated email attacks or strongly suspecting that this was the case. A separate report by IBM found that attackers only needed five simple prompts to get the AI to develop a highly convincing phishing email. In a separate report, Gartner stated that AI has created a new scare, which contributed to 80% of CIO’s reporting that they plan to increase spending on cyber security, including AI.

Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [CSO Online] [Business Wire] [Help Net Security]

48% of Organisations Predict Cyber Attack Recovery Could Take Weeks

A recent report has found that 48% of respondents predicted that it would take days or weeks for their company to recover from cyber attacks, representing a potentially devastating risk to their business. Attacks are a matter of when, not if. Organisations should have plans and procedures in place to be able to recover from an attack; this includes having an incident response plan and regularly testing the organisation’s ability to backup and recover.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an incident response plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Sources: [Security Magazine]

Cyber Security Awareness Doesn't Cut It; It's Time to Focus on Behaviour

The human element remains a significant vulnerability in cyber security, as reinforced by recent analysis. Repeated studies show that knowledge alone does not change behaviour, and that simply giving people more training is unlikely to change outcomes. The study underscores that even with heightened cyber security awareness, there has not been a notable decline in successful cyber attacks that exploit human errors.

We need to draw parallels to real-world skills. The report suggests that cyber security education should be as continuous and context-driven as learning to drive: no one learnt to drive by having a single lesson once a year. For instance, rather than educating employees on using multifactor authentication (MFA) in isolation, it's more impactful to provide an explanation of the additional security that that control provides and the reasons why it is being used to protect the organisation. This contextual approach, accentuated with insights on the advantages of these controls, is poised to foster the right behaviours and bolster security outcomes. However, the challenges persist, with many employees still bypassing recommended security protocols, underscoring the need for a more hands-on, real-time approach to cyber security education.

Source: [Dark Reading]

How Cyber Security Has Evolved in The Past 20 Years

Twenty years ago, the cloud as we know it didn’t exist. There were no Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, not even Gmail was around. Cyber threats have evolved significantly since then, but so too have the solutions. We’ve transitioned from manual, on-site vulnerability scanning and lengthy breach investigations, to automated tools and remote work capabilities that have reduced investigation times from months to weeks. Alongside technological advancements, laws and regulations surrounding cyber security have also tightened, imposing stricter rules on organisations to protect customer data and penalties for attackers.

The bigger picture is staying a step ahead of threat actors in the automation race. Whether that’s accomplished with AI or some other yet-to-be-discovered technology remains to be seen. In the meantime, as is always the case in this industry, regardless of the latest innovation, everyone needs to stay vigilant for threat actors’ attacks and remember that what was adequate to protect technology 20 years ago will not be sufficient to defend against the threat landscape today, and certainly not against the threats of tomorrow.

Source: [Forbes]

Rising Global Tensions Could Portend Destructive Hacks

Governments in the West are warning public and private sector organisations to "remain on heightened alert" for disruptive cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure and key sectors amid a series of escalating global conflicts.

Source: [Info Risk Today]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber security Awareness Doesn't Cut It; It's Time to Focus on Behaviour (darkreading.com)

• How Cyber Security Training Lowers Risk Among Employees (forbes.com)

• How to establish a great security awareness culture (att.com)

• More Companies Adopt Board-Level Cyber Security Committees | Decipher (duo.com)

• Fighting Cyber Attacks Requires Top-Down Approach | Chief Investment Officer (ai-cio.com)

• SMBs Need to Balance Cyber Security Needs and Resources (darkreading.com)

• 48% of organisations predict cyber attack recovery to take weeks | Security Magazine

• Businesses access to cyber insurance impacted by employee mistakes and poor security: QBE - Reinsurance News

• Cyber Security Litigation: Five Trends Unpacked | Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP - JDSupra

• Cyber attacks now biggest cause of downtime and data loss – report - CIR Magazine

• The Need for a Cyber Security-Centric Business Culture (darkreading.com)

• From Snooze to Enthuse: Making Security Awareness Training 'Sticky' (darkreading.com)

• Awaken From Cyber Slumber: 3 Steps To Stronger Cyber security (forbes.com)

• AI-related security fears drive 2024 IT spending - Help Net Security

• Cyber Resilience And Risk Management: Forces Against Cyber Threats (forbes.com)

• The Cyber Security Resilience Quotient: Measuring Security Effectiveness - Security Week

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• SonicWall Data Confirms That Ransomware Is Still the Enterprise's Biggest Fear (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware attacks surge, highlighting need for detection, response tools: Allianz - Reinsurance News

• 2023 Ransomware Attacks Up More Than 95% Over 2022, According to Corvus Insurance Q3 Report (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware is threatening more businesses than ever before | TechRadar

• Ransomware isn’t going away – the problem is only getting worse (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Known Ransomware Attack Volume Breaks Monthly Record, Again (govinfosecurity.com)

• Ransomware attacks are getting faster: How to adjust incident response plans accordingly | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Microsoft Warns as Scattered Spider Expands from SIM Swaps to Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Concerns grow as LockBit knockoffs increasingly target popular vulnerabilities (therecord.media)

• OpenText Cyber Security Nastiest Malware of 2023 Shows Ransomware-as-a-Service Now Primary Business Model (prnewswire.com)

• The Rise of S3 Ransomware: How to Identify and Combat It (thehackernews.com)

• Meet Rhysida, a New Ransomware Strain That Deletes Itself (darkreading.com)

• Kaspersky crimeware report: GoPIX, Lumar, and Rhysida. | Securelist

• Cl0p named 'nastiest' malware of 2023 | Security Magazine

• Five things organisations don’t consider before a ransomware attack | TechRadar

• Ransomware incidents are on the rise as latest data reveals alarming trend | TechSpot

• MGM Resorts hackers 'one of the most dangerous financial criminal groups’ (therecord.media)

• Ransomware attacks against hospitals put patients' lives at risk, researchers say : NPR

• Ragnar Locker Ransomware Boss Arrested in Paris (darkreading.com)

• BlackCat Climbs the Summit With a New Tactic (paloaltonetworks.com)

• Ransomware Soars as Myriad Efforts to Stop It Fall Short - Bloomberg

• Hackers Using Remote Admin Tools AvosLocker Ransomware (gbhackers.com)

• Resilience notes uptick in data exfiltration as cyber criminals change tactics - Reinsurance News

• Healthcare Ransomware Attacks Cost US $78bn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Bracing for AI-enabled ransomware and cyber extortion attacks - Help Net Security

• Should Ransom Payments Be Made Illegal | Intel471

• ThreatLabz state of ransomware report | ITPro | ITPro

• Will SEC Ruling Curb Encryption-Less Ransomware Attacks? | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• House Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Combating Ransomware Attacks | Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP - JDSupra

Ransomware Victims

• MGM Resorts hackers 'one of the most dangerous financial criminal groups’ (therecord.media)

• Ambulances diverted as 3 New York hospitals grapple with cyber attacks | Fox News

• Operations of Healthcare Solutions Giant Henry Schein Disrupted by Cyber attack - Security Week

• US energy firm shares how Akira ransomware hacked its systems (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Seiko says ransomware attack exposed sensitive customer data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• American Family Insurance confirms cyber attack is behind IT outages (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber Attack Causing Service Interruptions At Ontario Hospitals (databreaches.net)

• Volex dented by cyber attack costs but full-year results are on track | AIM:VLX (proactiveinvestors.co.uk)

• Cyber crims leak patient pics in low blow bid to win ransom • The Register

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Generative AI phishing fears realised as model develops “highly convincing” emails in 5 minutes | CSO Online

• Over 200 million malicious emails were detected in Q3 2023 | Security Magazine

• Watch out - that QR code could just be a phishing scam | TechRadar

• Booking.com customers targeted by scam ‘confirmation’ emails | Scams | The Guardian

• New Hotel Phishing Scam — Be Careful If You're Offered a Discounted Rate | GOBankingRates

• Email security threats are more dangerous than ever - here's what you need to know | TechRadar

• What is Phishing? 5 Types of Phishing Attacks You Need to Know | MSSP Alert

• The US released popular phishing techniques | Inquirer Technology

• Akamai research finds more sophisticated phishing threats in hospitality industry - SiliconANGLE

• Don’t Get Spooked Into Falling For These Phishing Scams - IT Security Guru

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Social engineering: Hacking minds over bytes (att.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Generative AI phishing fears realised as model develops “highly convincing” emails in 5 minutes | CSO Online

• New Survey From Abnormal Security Reveals 98% Of Security Leaders Worry About the Risks of Generative AI | Business Wire

• AI-related security fears drive 2024 IT spending - Help Net Security

• Boardrooms losing control in generative AI takeover, says Kaspersky | Computer Weekly

• AI-Based Cyber Attacks Target HR Teams (thehrworld.co.uk)

• Governments, firms should spend more on AI safety, top researchers say | Reuters

• Cyber-defence systems seek to outduel criminals in AI race (techxplore.com)

• Report warns AI could worsen cyber threat, but government will not ‘rush to regulate’ - CIR Magazine

• AI risk must be treated as seriously as climate crisis, says Google DeepMind chief | Technology | The Guardian

• Businesses fear generative AI will cause ‘catastrophic’ cyber attacks (siliconrepublic.com)

• Don't use AI-based apps, Philippine defence ordered its personnel (securityaffairs.com)

• Businesses ignorant to gen AI security threats suggests research (ship-technology.com)

• Inside the battle to contain – and capitalise on – artificial intelligence | World news | The Guardian

• AI to Create Demand for Digital Trust Professionals, ISACA Survey Find - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Deepfakes: Navigating Data Privacy and Cyber Security Risks | DRI - JDSupra

• Artificial Intelligence Bad News For Cyber Threats, Report Warns - TechRound

• Bracing for AI-enabled ransomware and cyber extortion attacks - Help Net Security

• Britain’s Big AI Summit Is a Doom-Obsessed Mess | WIRED

• Oops! When tech innovations create new security threats | CSO Online

• UK officials use AI to decide on issues from benefits to marriage licences | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

2FA/MFA

• Okta support system breach highlights need for strong MFA policies | CSO Online

Malware

• Cisco Zero-Day Exploited to Implant Malicious Lua Backdoor on Thousands of Devices (thehackernews.com)

• OpenText Cyber Security Nastiest Malware of 2023 Shows Ransomware-as-a-Service Now Primary Business Model (prnewswire.com)

• Hackers are using an incredibly sneaky trick to hide malware | Digital Trends

• Vietnamese Hackers Target UK, US, and India with DarkGate Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Quasar RAT Leverages DLL Side-Loading to Fly Under the Radar (thehackernews.com)

• Dangerous new malware can crack encrypted USB drives | TechRadar

• Bad news - these fake LinkedIn job offers are just pushing malware, so don't get your hopes up | TechRadar

• 'Grandoreiro' Trojan Targets Global Banking Customers (darkreading.com)

• Cl0p named 'nastiest' malware of 2023 | Security Magazine

• Cabinet Office tight-lipped on number of government cyber attacks and malware infections (civilserviceworld.com)

• Powerful Malware Disguised as Crypto Miner Infects 1M+ Windows, Linux PCs (pcmag.com)

• The Changing Threat Landscape: Infostealers and the MacOS goldmine - F-Secure Blog

Mobile

• Android trojan spotted in the wild can record audio and phone calls | ZDNET

• Samsung Galaxy S23 hacked twice in one day at Pwn2Own contest (androidauthority.com)

• iOS Zero-Day Attacks: Experts Uncover Deeper Insights into Operation Triangulation (thehackernews.com)

• iLeakage attack exploits Safari to steal data from Apple devices (securityaffairs.com)

• A huge amount of financial apps contain security flaws - and this is the best scoring industry | TechRadar

• Intellexa: Irish-linked spyware used in 'brazen attacks' - report - BBC News

• Longer Support Periods Raise the Bar for Mobile Security (darkreading.com)

• Android adware apps on Google Play amass two million installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• This DDoS attack is the biggest in internet history. | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Disinformation and its often overlooked potential for denial-of-services. (thecyberwire.com)

• Record-Breaking 100 Million RPS DDoS Attack Exploits HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Flaw (thehackernews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• How an explosion of 'smart' devices is threatening US households -- and national security (nypost.com)

• UK government finalises IoT cyber security requirements - Lexology

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Okta says hackers breached its support system and viewed customer files | Ars Technica

• Okta support system breach highlights need for strong MFA policies | CSO Online

• 1Password suffers cyber security incident after latest Okta breach - Tech Monitor

• Okta stock falls after company says client files accessed by hackers via support system (cnbc.com)

• Hacker accused of breaching Finnish psychotherapy centre facing 30,000 counts (therecord.media)

• City of Philadelphia discloses data breach after five months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 500k Irish National Police records exposed by third party • The Register

• The 23andMe data breach reveals the vulnerabilities of our interconnected data (theconversation.com)

• iLeakage attack exploits Safari to steal data from Apple devices (securityaffairs.com)

• DC Board of Elections: Hackers may have breached entire voter roll (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• More than 500 potential cyber attacks logged every second, BT says | The Independent

• Spain arrests 34 cyber criminals who stole data of 4 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Nigerian Police dismantle cyber crime recruitment, mentoring hub (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Top crypto firms named in $1bn fraud lawsuit - BBC News

• Cryptojacking campaign Qubitstrike targets exposed Jupyter Notebook instances | CSO Online

• Powerful Malware Disguised as Crypto Miner Infects 1M+ Windows, Linux PCs (pcmag.com)

• 70% of Crypto Companies Report Deepfake Fraud Rise (darkreading.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Forget the outside hacker, the bigger threat is inside • The Register

• Former NSA employee pleads guilty to attempted selling classified documents to Russia (securityaffairs.com)

• Human-centric Security Design Reduces Threats by Changing User Behavior (prweb.com)

• How to establish a great security awareness culture (att.com)

• How Cyber Security Training Lowers Risk Among Employees (forbes.com)

• The Need for a Cyber Security-Centric Business Culture (darkreading.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• New Hotel Phishing Scam — Be Careful If You're Offered a Discounted Rate | GOBankingRates

• Booking.com customers targeted by scam ‘confirmation’ emails | Scams | The Guardian

• Purchase Scams Surge as Fraud Losses Hit £580m - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Top crypto firms named in $1bn fraud lawsuit - BBC News

• Online scammers target desperate loan seekers using online fraud | TechRadar

• Christmas scams to watch out for this festive season (nationalworld.com)

• Cyber criminals exploit the Israeli-Hamas conflict through scam emails and websites (iol.co.za)

• 70% of Crypto Companies Report Deepfake Fraud Rise (darkreading.com)

Deepfakes

• Deepfakes: Navigating Data Privacy and Cyber Security Risks | DRI - JDSupra

• 70% of Crypto Companies Report Deepfake Fraud Rise (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• Telling Small Businesses to Buy Cyber Insurance Isn't Enough (darkreading.com)

• Stemming Losses That Go Uncovered by Cyber Insurance | Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC - JDSupra

• Aviva: SMEs ‘woefully underserved’ for cyber cover - Insurance Post (postonline.co.uk)

Dark Web

• A Look at Key Dark Web Statistics (2023 Data Update) (techreport.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• 500k Irish National Police records exposed by third party • The Register

Software Supply Chain

• NIST provides solid guidance on software supply chain security in DevSecOps | CSO Online

Cloud/SaaS

• The Rise of S3 Ransomware: How to Identify and Combat It (thehackernews.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Okta Reveals Breach Via Stolen Credential - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Passwords - not all they are cracked up to be | TechRadar

• 'Log in With...' Feature Allows Full Online Account Takeover for Millions (darkreading.com)

• 10 Bad Password Habits You Need to Break (howtogeek.com)

Social Media

• Bad news - these fake LinkedIn job offers are just pushing malware, so don't get your hopes up | TechRadar

• Threat actor is selling access to Facebook and Instagram's Police Portal (securityaffairs.com)

Malvertising

• Malvertisers Using Google Ads to Target Users Searching for Popular Software (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Cyber Security Awareness Doesn't Cut It; It's Time to Focus on Behaviour (darkreading.com)

• This Cyber Security Awareness Month, Don't Lose Sight of Human Risk (darkreading.com)

• How to establish a great security awareness culture (att.com)

• How Cyber Security Training Lowers Risk Among Employees (forbes.com)

• The Need for a Cyber Security-Centric Business Culture (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Security Awareness Month: What's Still Needed After Twenty Years (forbes.com)

• From Snooze to Enthuse: Making Security Awareness Training 'Sticky' (darkreading.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Managed security services [EU Legislation in Progress] | Epthinktank | European Parliament

• Report warns AI could worsen cyber threat, but government will not ‘rush to regulate’ - CIR Magazine

• UK government finalises IoT cyber security requirements - Lexology

• Show Your Work: The SEC Cyber Rules and Documenting Materiality Analysis Under NIST FIPS 199 | Baker Donelson - JDSupra

• Will SEC Ruling Curb Encryption-Less Ransomware Attacks? | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• House Subcommittees Hold Hearing on Combating Ransomware Attacks | Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP - JDSupra

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIST provides solid guidance on software supply chain security in DevSecOps | CSO Online

• CMMC 2.0: What You Need to Know - ClearanceJobs

Backup and Recovery

• Are Backup Files the Missing Link in Your Cyber Security? (finextra.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Hacker accused of breaching Finnish psychotherapy center facing 30,000 counts (therecord.media)

• Alleged developer of the Ragnar Locker ransomware was arrested (securityaffairs.com)

• Spain arrests 34 cyber criminals who stole data of 4 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Nigerian Police dismantle cyber crime recruitment, mentoring hub (bleepingcomputer.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• ‘I’m looking for fewer ways to be traceable, not more’ | Financial Times

• Google Chrome's new "IP Protection" will hide users' IP addresses (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ShadowDragon: Australian spies monitor PornHub, Tinder, Fortnite (crikey.com.au)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Disinformation and its often overlooked potential for denial-of-services. (thecyberwire.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare/Cyber Espionage

• ICC: September Breach Was Espionage Raid - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• International Criminal Court attack was targeted and sophisticated (securityaffairs.com)

• Governments and hackers agree: the laws of war must apply in cyber space (theconversation.com)

• It's Time to Establish the NATO of Cyber Security (darkreading.com)

• War Crimes Court Flags Cyber Attack That Targeted Its Work - Law360

• International Criminal Court systems breached for cyber espionage (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attack a ‘serious attempt to undermine’ International Criminal Court - Lawyers Weekly

• Rising Global Tensions Could Portend Destructive Hacks (inforisktoday.com)

Geopolitical Threats/Activity

• Cyber attacks in the Israel-Hamas war (cloudflare.com)

• Cyber criminals exploit the Israeli-Hamas conflict through scam emails and websites (iol.co.za)

• Cyber operations linked to Israel-Hamas fighting gain momentum | CyberScoop

• Rising Global Tensions Could Portend Destructive Hacks (inforisktoday.com)

China

• MI5 chief warns of Chinese cyber espionage reached an unprecedented scale (securityaffairs.com)

• Glasgow universities on red alert over Chinese spies as they join security scheme - Glasgow Live

• Navy ends tradition of Chinese laundrymen on warships over spying fears (telegraph.co.uk)

Russia

• Russia Cyber attacks Becoming More Sophisticated, Ukraine Official Says - Bloomberg

• Ukraine's IT army is a world first: here's why it is an important part of the war (theconversation.com)

• European govt email servers hacked using Roundcube zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ministry, police and Crimea summit websites victims of cyber attack | Radio Prague International

• Pro-Russia group behind today’s mass cyber attack against Czech institutions - Prague, Czech Republic (expats.cz)

• Major Russian bank reportedly hacked by Ukraine | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers backdoor Russian state, industrial orgs for data theft (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Who is sabotaging underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea? (economist.com)

• Pro-Russia hackers target inboxes with 0-day in webmail app used by millions | Ars Technica

• Russia-Ukraine War: Cyber Attack and Kinetic Warfare Timeline - | MSSP Alert

• France says Russian state hackers breached numerous critical networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attack a ‘serious attempt to undermine’ International Criminal Court - Lawyers Weekly

• Inside Ukraine's Cyber Army (globelynews.com)

• Former NSA employee pleads guilty to attempted selling classified documents to Russia (securityaffairs.com)

• Ex-NSA techie admits to selling state secrets to Russia • The Register

Iran

• Iran APT Targets the Mediterranean With Watering-Hole Attacks (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• US seizes sites that funnel money from North Korean IT workers for illicit activities | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Freelance Market Flooded With North Korean IT Actors (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Concerns grow as LockBit knockoffs increasingly target popular vulnerabilities (therecord.media)

• Why Do We Need Real-World Context to Prioritise CVEs? (darkreading.com)

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Citrix Bleed exploit lets hackers hijack NetScaler accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exploitation of Citrix NetScaler vulns reaching dangerous levels | Computer Weekly

• Critical SolarWinds RCE Bugs Enable Unauthorised Network Takeover (darkreading.com)

• CISA adds second Cisco IOS XE flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog - Security Affairs

• Cisco Zero-Day Exploited to Implant Malicious Lua Backdoor on Thousands of Devices (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco hackers likely taking steps to avoid identification | Computer Weekly

• F5 Issues Warning: BIG-IP Vulnerability Allows Remote Code Execution (thehackernews.com)

• European govt email servers hacked using Roundcube zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• VMware vCenter Flaw So Critical, Patches Released for End-of-Life Products - Security Week

• Critical OAuth Flaws Uncovered in Grammarly, Vidio, and Bukalapak Platforms (thehackernews.com)

• Firefox, Chrome Updates Patch High-Severity Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• The Forbidden Fruit Of Cyber Security: Hackers Take A Bite Out Of Apple (forbes.com)

• Pro-Russia hackers target inboxes with 0-day in webmail app used by millions | Ars Technica

• Apple Ships Major iOS, macOS Security Updates - Security Week

• Hackers can force iOS and macOS browsers to divulge passwords and much more | Ars Technica

• ServiceNow quietly fixes 8-year-old data exposure flaw • The Register

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Tools and Controls

• 48% of organisations predict cyber attack recovery to take weeks | Security Magazine

• Businesses access to cyber insurance impacted by employee mistakes and poor security: QBE - Reinsurance News

• Ransomware attacks are getting faster: How to adjust incident response plans accordingly | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cyber attack response plans need to be in place to avoid chaos - FreightWaves

• NIST provides solid guidance on software supply chain security in DevSecOps | CSO Online

• What is Network Segmentation? Virtual & Physical Segmentation | UpGuard

• AI-related security fears drive 2024 IT spending - Help Net Security

• Businesses fear generative AI will cause ‘catastrophic’ cyber attacks (siliconrepublic.com)

• Is it wise to put all your security solutions in one cyber basket? (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Cyber attacks are inevitable, so a focus on resilience is vital - James McGachie (scotsman.com)

• Cyber Resilience And Risk Management: Forces Against Cyber Threats (forbes.com)

• Are Backup Files the Missing Link in Your Cyber Security? (finextra.com)

• Unveiling the power of emerging technologies to empower cyber resilience (techuk.org)

• Cyber security concerns grow among physical security professionals | Security Magazine

• The Cyber Security Resilience Quotient: Measuring Security Effectiveness - Security Week

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Other News

• MPs to examine cyber resilience of UK’s critical national infrastructure | CSO Online

• UK Parliament Opens Inquiry into Cyber-Resilience - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Strategies to overcome cyber security misconceptions - Help Net Security

• UK NCSC, NPSA launch Secure Innovation campaign to protect tech startups | CSO Online

• 5 important cyber security takeaways for law firms - Lawyers Weekly

• How Cyber Security Has Evolved In The Past 20 Years (forbes.com)

• HMRC annual report triggers cyber red alert | AccountingWEB

• Oops! When tech innovations create new security threats | CSO Online

• Spooky Cyber Statistics And Trends You Need To Know (forbes.com)

• The Changing Threat Landscape: Infostealers and the MacOS goldmine - F-Secure Blog

• Proactively preventing your company from becoming the next cyber attack headline (betanews.com)

• Cyber security trends 2023 | Allianz Commercial

• Demystifying Cyber Security: Shakespeare To The Rescue | HackerNoon

• Cyber Threat: Aviation’s Clear and Present Danger? | Aerospace Tech Review

• OT cyber attacks proliferating despite growing cyber security spend - Help Net Security

• Cost of a Data Breach: Retail Costs, Risks and Prevention Strategies (securityintelligence.com)

• What Would a US Government Shutdown Mean for Cyber Security? (darkreading.com)

• Weapons Systems Provide Valuable Lessons for ICS/OT Security - Security Week

• Cabinet Office tight-lipped on number of government cyber attacks and malware infections (civilserviceworld.com)

• Cyber attacks now biggest cause of downtime and data loss – report - CIR Magazine

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 20 October 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Cyber Insecurity: Many Businesses Scared They May be Hit by a Cyber Attack at Any Moment

A report from the Commvault and the International Data Corporation (IDC) found that 61% of respondents believe that a data loss within the next 12 months is "likely" or "highly likely" to occur due to increasingly sophisticated attacks. Unfortunately, most businesses do not have an unlimited budget; cyber security related spending must therefore be effective, taking an informed risk based approach to prioritise the biggest threats to businesses. To understand these threats, businesses must know the current threat landscape and how that relates to their business specifically. In order to be able to apply any threat intelligence, organisations must first ascertain what they need to protect through a documented asset register; after all you cannot protect something you do not know exists.

Sources: [PR Newswire] [TechRadar]

Cyber Security Investments Show Mature Business Mindset

Companies need to start embracing cyber security as a business enabler, rather than being viewed as a pure cost or as a regulatory burden. Good cyber security is a strong indicator of a mature business mindset, giving customers, employees, and suppliers confidence that you are running a mature, responsible operation that takes the value of its data and IP very seriously. With the perception of customers changing to be more security-based, having a high level of cyber security can establish trust and therefore distinguish a business in the marketplace.

Source: [Insider Media] [Compare the Cloud]

SMBs Struggle to Keep Pace as Cyber Threats Reach All Time High

Research conducted by Sage has found UK small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly struggling with cyber security preparedness, with 57% asking for more support with education and training and 45% not understanding what security is needed for their business. The report found that globally, 70% of SMBs highlighted cyber threats as a major concern, with 51% struggling to keep on top of new threats and 48% experiencing a cyber incident in the past year.

SMBs globally, found that their struggle related to making sure employees know what is expected of them in protecting the organisation (45%), providing education and awareness training (44%) and cost (43%).

Source: (IT Security Guru)

Phishing Attacks Hit Record Highs in Q2 2023, with Emails from HR still the Most Effective Lure

Research has found in the third quarter of this year, phishing attacks soared by 173% compared with the previous three months, and malware was up 110% over the same period, with 233.9 million malicious emails detected. Banks and financial services organisations remained a top target, with a 121% rise in phishing attacks.

In a separate report, human resource topics were found to account for more than half of the top-clicked phishing email subjects. This included emails that related to a change in dress code and updates on annual leave. It’s important for organisations to take this into account when training employees.

Sources: [SiliconANGLE1] [Beta News] [SiliconANGLE2] [TechRadar] [Security Brief]

Cyber Attacks Are a Matter of When, Not If; The Best Time to Deal with Them Is Before They Happen

Another week brings more companies added to the list of victims of cyber attacks. Just this week, UK based social care provider CareTech’s childcare subsidiary Cambian was criticised for keeping a cyber attack quiet, with individuals who had data stolen having to chase Cambian for details.

Cyber attacks happen, and companies need to admit when they have happened and inform relevant people. Honesty and clarity are key. After an attack, there are a number of things going on at once such as finding out what has happened, identifying stolen or encrypted data, fulfilling legal and regulatory requirements and communicating both internally and externally. Unfortunately, many companies do not expect to be attacked and therefore do not have anything in place to respond to an attack. In addition to having the necessary defences in place, organisations must be prepared for the event of an attack. This can be outlined in an incident response plan (IRP).

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Sources: [Euronews] [The Times] [AI-CIO]

Lloyd's Of London Warns of Worst-Case-Scenario Cyber Attack

In recent modelling by a Lloyds of London researcher, a worst-case-scenario was found to have the potential to cause $3.5 trillion of economic damage within 5 years. While this may seem implausible, with the increased number of cyber attacks, especially to the financial sector, this figure is not as incredulous as it may seem.

The FBI has also stated that the average annual cost of cyber crime worldwide is expected to soar from $8.4 trillion in 2022 to more than $23 trillion in 2027.

Sources: [Reinsurance News] [ABS-CBN News] [The Motley Fool] [City AM]

20,000 Britons Approached by Chinese Agents on LinkedIn, Says MI5 Head

An estimated 20,000 Britons have been approached by Chinese state actors on LinkedIn in the hope of stealing industrial or technological secrets, the head of MI5 stated ahead of the Five Eyes agencies summit. This summit is a meeting of the heads of security from the Five Eyes nations – UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The summit discussed how industrial espionage was happening at “real scale”, with 10,000 UK businesses being at risk, particularly in artificial intelligence, quantum computing or synthetic biology where China was trying to gain a march.

A 'secure innovation' guideline has been released to assist small to medium-sized enterprises, especially tech start-ups, in bolstering their defences against threats from foreign states, criminals, and competitors. This guideline offers basic security advice on areas like investments, supply chains, IT networks, and cloud computing to safeguard emerging technologies.

Sources: [Computer Weekly] [Tech Monitor] [Guardian]

Ransomware - All it Takes is One Employee Mistake, As Criminals are Aiming Third-Party Vendors

According to a report, human error is the root cause of more than 80% of all cyber breaches. The solution in this case, is for organisations to provide effective training to employees to reduce the risk of such an error happening. However, this does not have any impact on third parties that the  organisations use. A separate report found that nearly a third of ransomware claims involved a third-party vendor as a point of failure.

Whilst organisations often focus on improving their own cyber security, third parties can become an easily overlooked area. You don’t want to invest a significant amount into your organisation’s cyber security, only for it to fail due to a third party. This is why it is important for organisations to have an effective way of measuring supply chain risk, to ensure that they know what data their third parties have access to and what is being done by the third parties to protect it.

Black Arrow have helped many clients carry out third party risk assessments on a large number of suppliers and this can be done as a standalone offering or as part of a fractional CISO engagement.

Sources: [Security Affairs] [Claims Journal]

39% of Individuals Use the Same Password for Multiple Accounts

According to a recent survey by Yubico, 80% of respondents are concerned about the security of their online accounts. Additionally, 39% admitted to using the same passwords for multiple accounts. The report found that Boomer-generation users are the least likely to reuse passwords at 20%. In comparison, Millennials are twice as likely to reuse passwords for multiple accounts at 47%. This survey highlights that whilst younger generations may be more tech savvy, having grown up with this technology, it also brings with it a more relaxed and complacent attitude when it comes to cyber security hygiene.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Why Fourth-Party Risk Management Is a Must-Have

Most organisations today are acutely aware of the risks that third-party relationships pose, and many employ some form of third-party risk management to understand and monitor these alliances. Another danger also needs to be borne in mind: the threats organisations face from their third parties’ third parties. These ‘fourth parties’, the vendors of an organisation's vendor, are becoming an increasing concern among regulators, particularly those in the banking and financial services sector. Attackers exploit fourth parties just the same as they do third parties to indirectly target an organisation. As a result, these fourth parties greatly increase an IT environment's attack surface.

Fourth parties pose reputational, operational and regulatory risks, and with new regulations such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) in Europe coming into place, organisations need to implement a comprehensive third-party risk management program that extends to cover fourth-party risk management. This is the only way to ensure fourth parties are vetted appropriately.

Source: [Tech Target]

AI Adoption Surges but Security Awareness Lags Behind

A new survey found that security is reportedly not the primary concern for organisations when using tools such as ChatGPT and Google Bard. Respondents are more worried about inaccurate responses than the exposure of customer and employee personally identifiable information (PII), disclosure of trade secrets (33%) and financial loss (25%). Basic security practices are lacking, however, with 82% of respondents confident in their security stacks but less than half investing in technology to monitor generative AI use, exposing them to data loss risks. Only 46% have established security policies for data sharing.

Organisations need to rigorously assess and control how large language models (LLMs) handle data, ensuring alignment with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. This involves employing strong encryption, consent mechanisms and data anonymisation techniques, and ensuring control over how the organisation’s data is used, alongside regular audits and updates to ensure data handling practices remain compliant.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

UK Watchdog Fines Equifax £11 Million For Role in Cyber Breach

Britain's financial watchdog has fined the consumer credit rating body Equifax £11 million ($13.4 million) for its role in "one of the largest" cyber security breaches in history. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) stated that "The cyber attack and unauthorised access to data was entirely preventable", identifying that the UK arm of Equifax did not find out data had been accessed until six  weeks after their parent company discover the hack.

Source: [Reuters]

Why Boards Must Understand and Govern Cyber Security Risk

The boardroom is a critical control in every company’s system of cyber security risk management. An ineffective approach to cyber security governance creates an overall system of cyber security that is weaker than it needs to be. Boards have typically viewed cyber security as something that it left to IT and have not been able to challenge or interpret the reports that they receive, if any, from their IT departments or IT providers. Governing bodies such as the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) have identified this and have started bringing in regulations that force the board of directors to fully understand digital cyber security risk and have a more vital role as part of the system.
Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security, by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Forbes]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber Insecurity: Report Finds Majority of Enterprises Expect an Imminent Cyber Attack (prnewswire.com)

• Cyber Crime Costs Soar to $8 Trillion, Spotlighting the Critical Need for Cyber security Experts (globenewswire.com)

• Many cyber bosses just aren't confident in their company's defences | TechRadar

• SMBs seek help as cyber threats reach an all-time high - Help Net Security

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• The real impact of the cyber security poverty line on small organisations - Help Net Security

• Cyber security investments show mature business mindset, says IT expert | Insider Media

• Is Cyber security Finally Becoming a Business Enabler? - Compare the Cloud

• The best time to deal with cyber attacks is before they happen (thetimes.co.uk)

• ‘A matter of when not if’: Why is it crucial for businesses to protect themselves from cyber attacks? | Euronews

• Preparations Are Key to Weathering Cyber security Incidents | Chief Investment Officer (ai-cio.com)

• Over 70% of firms hit by cyber attack in last 12 months (rte.ie)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• Getting ready for NIS2 with strong identity controls | ITPro

• Lloyd’s systemic risk scenario reveals potential cyber attack losses of $3.5tn (insuranceinsider.com)

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• 10 Ways Boards Are Setting Their Companies Up For Cyber security Failure (forbes.com)

• NIST Cyber security Framework for Small Businesses: Key Benefits (smallbiztrends.com)

• AI and the Imperative to Take Cyber security Precautions (inforisktoday.com)

• Cyber attacks to cost $23 trillion in 2027: US official | ABS-CBN News

• How Cyber security Provides the Green Light for Business Innovation (govinfosecurity.com)

• Essential cyber hygiene: Making cyber defence cost effective - Help Net Security

• New CISO research sets out priorities, challenges and tips for success in a challenging landscape post - BSS

• The Need for a Cyber security-Centric Business Culture (darkreading.com)

• The double-edged sword of heightened regulation for financial services - Help Net Security

• Report: Cyber attacks No. 1 cause of downtime and data loss | Security Magazine

• Will CISOs Become Personally Liable for Breach Response? (inforisktoday.com)

• Keeping control in complex regulatory environments - Help Net Security

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• 7 risk mitigation strategies to protect business operations | TechTarget

• How to go from collecting risk data to actually reducing risk? - Help Net Security

• SEC’s New Cyber Disclosure Rule: Challenges, Consequences, And Compliance | K2 Integrity - JDSupra

• Regulations are still necessary to compel adoption of cyber security measures | ZDNET

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

• How do we measure cyber risk? | ITPro

• Ready For Cyber Readiness - Any Time Now (forbes.com)

• CISOs and board members are finding a common language - Help Net Security

• IT Disaster Recovery Best Practices: Preparing For The Worst (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• When And How To Hire A vCISO For Your Company's Cyber security Program (forbes.com)

• 18 Factors And Metrics To Show The Value Of Cyber security Initiatives (forbes.com)

• Improve your cyber threat understanding with geopolitical context | CSO Online

• Cyber Insecurity, AI and the Rise of the CISO | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Attacks Double: Are Companies Prepared for 2024's Cyber Threats? (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware realities in 2023: one employee mistake can cost a company millions (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware Criminals Aiming at Third-Party Vendors in Hunt for ‘Big Game’ (claimsjournal.com)

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Feds: Beware AvosLocker Ransomware Attacks on Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Giant health insurer struck by ransomware didn't have antivirus protection (malwarebytes.com)

• CISA shares vulnerabilities, misconfigs used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What Are the Legal Implications of Paying Ransomware Demands? | HackerNoon

• Healthcare Sector Warned About New Ransomware Group NoEscape - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New trend in ransomware: Anonymity (betanews.com)

• 63% of organisations restore data after a ransomware attack | Security Magazine

• Hacker Group GhostSec Unveils New Generation Ransomware Implant - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Black Basta ransomware is out and about, again. (thecyberwire.com)

• Ukrainian activists hack Trigona ransomware gang, wipe servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Elastic Global Threat Report 2023 Reveals Dominance of Ransomware | Business Wire

• Scammers are targeting plastic surgery clinics with extortion scams | TechRadar

• BlackCat ransomware uses new ‘Munchkin’ Linux VM in stealthy attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Law enforcement operation seized Ragnar Locker group's infrastructure (securityaffairs.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Lockbit ransomware gang demanded an 80 million ransom to CDW (securityaffairs.com)

• Alphv gang stole 5TB of data from Morrison Community Hospital (securityaffairs.com)

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Kansas Supreme Court Probes Potential Ransomware Attack (govinfosecurity.com)

• KwikTrip all but says IT outage was caused by a cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Some people whose personal data stolen in HWL Ebsworth hack not told for six months | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• Another small firm suffers a serious ransomware attack: Cadre Services gets mauled by AlphV (databreaches.net)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• More than 95 per cent of phishing attacks target the banking and finance sectors (bizhub.vn)

• Phishing attacks hit record high in third quarter, with malware not far behind - SiliconANGLE

• VIPRE finds 233.9 million malicious emails detected in Q3 2023 (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Make sure that email from HR is legit - it could be another phishing scam | TechRadar

• Human resources emails remain top phishing targets - SiliconANGLE

• CISA, NSA, FBI publish phishing guidance | TechTarget

• Generative AI's impact on phishing attacks | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing: What’s in a Name? | CISA

• D-Link Confirms Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to Phishing Attack (thehackernews.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• AI and the Imperative to Take Cyber security Precautions (inforisktoday.com)

• AI Adoption Surges But Security Awareness Lags Behind - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• Exploring the Realm of Malicious Generative AI: A New Digital Security Challenge (thehackernews.com)

• AI-generated cyber attacks pose new risk to key UK infrastructure, experts warn | The Independent

• North Korea has got its hands on AI - and is testing its ability to commit cyberwarfare | TechRadar

• Research: GPT-4 Jailbreak Easily Defeats Safety Guardrails

• Generative AI is scaring CISOs – but adoption isn’t slowing down | CSO Online

• Generative AI's impact on phishing attacks | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber criminals register .AI domains of trusted brands for malicious activity | CSO Online

• The impact of artificial intelligence on cyber offence and defence | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

2FA/MFA

• Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns | TechTarget

Malware

• Phishing attacks hit record high in third quarter, with malware not far behind - SiliconANGLE

• Valve upgrades Steam's security after several games are hacked and filled with malware | Rock Paper Shotgun

• DarkGate malware spreads through compromised Skype accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BLOODALCHEMY provides backdoor to ASEAN secrets • The Register

• Discord still a hotbed of malware activity — Now APTs join the fun (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers warn of increased malware delivery via fake browser updates - Help Net Security

• The forgotten malvertising campaign (malwarebytes.com)

• Malicious Notepad++ Google ads evade detection for months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus Group Targeting Defence Experts with Fake Interviews via Trojanized VNC Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Google-hosted malvertising leads to fake Keepass site that looks genuine | Ars Technica

• Russian Hackers Bypass EDR to Deliver Weaponized TeamViewer (gbhackers.com)

• Beware - that Google Chrome update alert might actually just be malware | TechRadar

Mobile

• SpyNote: Beware of This Android Trojan that Records Audio and Phone Calls (thehackernews.com)

• The top 9 mobile security threats and how you can avoid them | ZDNET

• Hackers exploit security flaw to target iOS 17 iPhones with 'notification attack' | Macworld

• Google Play Protect adds real-time scanning to fight Android malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake 'RedAlert' rocket alert app for Israel installs Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS Attacks in 2024: Distributed DoS Explained | Splunk

Internet of Things – IoT

• Inadequate IoT protection can be a costly mistake - Help Net Security

• Israelis told to secure their home security cameras against hackers • Graham Cluley

• Logistics Matters - Alert: How hackers use printers to gain access

• Microsoft HoloLens for the military: Hacker attacks on VR headset may cause physical pain - NotebookCheck.net News

Data Breaches/Leaks

• UK watchdog fines Equifax $13.4 million for role in cyber breach | Reuters

• Casio discloses data breach impacting customers in 149 countries (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 530K people's info stolen from cloud PC gaming's Shadow • The Register

• Colonial Pipeline was hacked. No, wait, Accenture was hacked. No, wait….. untangling claims. (2) (databreaches.net)

• D-Link Confirms Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to Phishing Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers stole a million people's DNA. But what will they do with it? | Tech News | Metro News

• 23AndMe Hacker Leaks New Tranche of Stolen Data (darkreading.com)

• Healthcare breach costs soar requiring new thinking for safeguarding data (securityintelligence.com)

• Lost and Stolen Devices: A Gateway to Data Breaches and Leaks - SecurityWeek

• Twitter glitch allows CIA informant channel to be hijacked - BBC News

• Care provider under fire over response to cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• Some people whose personal data stolen in HWL Ebsworth hack not told for six months | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• ServiceNow leak: thousands of companies at risk | Cybernews

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cyber attacks -- where they come from and the tactics they use (betanews.com)

• Cyber criminals register .AI domains of trusted brands for malicious activity | CSO Online

• Highest percentage of cyber crime activity originates in Russia (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Single Sign On and the Cyber crime Ecosystem (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• US authorities monitor China-linked Bitcoin miners amid national security concerns: Report (cointelegraph.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• Employees leaving businesses open to cyber attack – QBE research - CIR Magazine

• Why disaffected employees are your greatest cyber security risk | Federal News Network

• Ex-Navy IT head gets 5 years for selling people’s data on darkweb (bleepingcomputer.com)

Insurance

• Lloyd’s systemic risk scenario reveals potential cyber attack losses of $3.5tn (insuranceinsider.com)

• How MOVEit Is Likely to Shift Cyber Insurance Calculus (darkreading.com)

• Cyber insurance represents ‘small proportion’ of potential economic losses from major attack | Insurance Times

• How Data Changes the Cyber Insurance Market Outlook (darkreading.com)

• What to Look for in Cyber Insurance Coverage | Proofpoint US

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Why fourth-party risk management is a must-have | TechTarget

Identity and Access Management

• Fighting off cyber attacks? Make sure user credentials aren’t compromised (bleepingcomputer.com)

Encryption

• Microsoft to Phase Out NTLM in Favor of Kerberos for Stronger Authentication (thehackernews.com)

Linux and Open Source

• Open To Attack: The Risks Of Open-Source Software Attacks (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Can open source be saved from the EU's Cyber Resilience Act? • The Register

• Report Finds Few Open Source Projects are Actively Maintained - Slashdot

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• IT Admins Are Just as Guilty For Weak Password Use- IT Security Guru

• Over 40,000 admin portal accounts use 'admin' as a password (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 39% of individuals use the same password for multiple accounts | Security Magazine

• Fighting off cyber attacks? Make sure user credentials aren’t compromised (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Passkeys Are Cool, But They Aren't Enterprise-Ready (darkreading.com)

• A worrying amount of corporate IDs still aren't properly protected | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Social Media

• Hamas Hijacked Victims’ Social Media Accounts to Spread Terror - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Twitter glitch allows CIA informant channel to be hijacked - BBC News

Malvertising

• The forgotten malvertising campaign (malwarebytes.com)

• Malicious Notepad++ Google ads evade detection for months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Guide to detecting and disrupting fake ads | Netcraft

• Google-hosted malvertising leads to fake Keepass site that looks genuine | Ars Technica

• Clever malvertising attack uses Punycode to look like KeePass's official website (malwarebytes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• UK watchdog fines Equifax $13.4 million for role in cyber breach | Reuters

• A Third of Organisations Not Ready to Comply with NIS2 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One year left for companies to implement NIS2 cyber security directive (wbj.pl)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• NIS2: Why organisations need a unified cyber security standard | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

• Can open source be saved from the EU's Cyber Resilience Act? • The Register

• Security Pros Warn That EU's Vulnerability Disclosure Rule Is Risky (darkreading.com)

• SEC stepping up cyber security efforts | Inquirer Business

• The double-edged sword of heightened regulation for financial services - Help Net Security

• Top US Cyber Agency Pushing Toward First Hack Reporting Rule (bloomberglaw.com)

• Keeping control in complex regulatory environments - Help Net Security

• UN cyber crime treaty: A menace in the making – EURACTIV.com

• SEC’s New Cyber Disclosure Rule: Challenges, Consequences, And Compliance | K2 Integrity - JDSupra

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• A Third of Organisations Not Ready to Comply with NIS2 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One year left for companies to implement NIS2 cyber security directive (wbj.pl)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• NIST Cyber security Framework for Small Businesses: Key Benefits (smallbiztrends.com)

• NIS2: Why organisations need a unified cyber security standard | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

Backup and Recovery

• Principles for ransomware-resistant cloud backups - NCSC.GOV.UK

• 63% of organisations restore data after a ransomware attack | Security Magazine

Data Protection

• Care provider under fire over response to cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Over half of cyber security pros say they want to switch jobs (betanews.com)

• Compelling Reasons Why You Should Study Cyber Security - Minutehack

• Your guide to landing a job in cyber security (fastcompany.com)

• New Cyber security Salary Report Guides Hiring in an $8 Trillion Cyber Crime Landscape (prnewswire.com)

• One in five CISOs miss out on pay raise - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Law enforcement operation seized Ragnar Locker group's infrastructure (securityaffairs.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Gaza Conflict Paves Way for Pro-Hamas Information Operations (darkreading.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• ‘Only a matter of time’ before cyber attacks are viewed as acts of war: Ex-NSA chief

• Five Eyes Warn Deep Tech Start-Ups Against Nation-State Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Five Eyes issues five tips on thwarting nation state threats | Computer Weekly

• APT trends report Q3 2023 | Securelist

• Discord: A Playground for Nation-State Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• TetrisPhantom: Cyber Espionage via Secure USBs Targets APAC Governments (thehackernews.com)

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• The evolution of deception tactics from traditional to cyber warfare - Help Net Security

• Exclusive: Ukraine says joint mission with US derailed Moscow’s cyber attacks (therecord.media)

• Government officials debate effectiveness of multilateral relations in cyber security | ZDNET

• Defence leaders recognise need to adapt to win in ‘information battlespace’ | BAE Systems

Geopolitical Threats/Activity

• How Cyber attacks Could Affect the Israel-Hamas War (govinfosecurity.com)

• Growing Concern Over Role of Hacktivism in Israel-Hamas Conflict - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Israelis told to secure their home security cameras against hackers • Graham Cluley

• Gaza Conflict Paves Way for Pro-Hamas Information Operations (darkreading.com)

• Pro-Israeli Hacktivist Group Predatory Sparrow Reappears (darkreading.com)

• AI-Powered Israeli 'Cyber Dome' Defence Operation Comes to Life (darkreading.com)

• Fake 'RedAlert' rocket alert app for Israel installs Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mideast War Has Cyber Implications | Newsmax.com

• Hamas Hijacked Victims’ Social Media Accounts to Spread Terror - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Pro-Iranian Hacktivists Set Sights on Israeli Industrial Control Systems (darkreading.com)

China

• Mandia: China replaces Russia as top cyber threat | CyberScoop

• FBI boss slams ‘unprecedented’ Chinese cyberespionage and IP theft   | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Five Eyes Warn Of Chinese Cyber Espionage | Silicon UK

• Five Eyes warn of growing threat of IP 'theft' by China's hackers (techmonitor.ai)

• 20,000 Britons approached by Chinese agents on LinkedIn, says MI5 head | MI5 | The Guardian

• Researchers Unveil ToddyCat's New Set of Tools for Data Exfiltration (thehackernews.com)

• US authorities monitor China-linked Bitcoin miners amid national security concerns: Report (cointelegraph.com)

• BLOODALCHEMY provides backdoor to ASEAN secrets • The Register

• TetrisPhantom: Cyber Espionage via Secure USBs Targets APAC Governments (thehackernews.com)

• Huawei wants to know why EU labelled it high security risk • The Register

• Google TAG Detects State-Backed Threat Actors Exploiting WinRAR Flaw (thehackernews.com)

Russia

• Mandia: China replaces Russia as top cyber threat | CyberScoop

• Russia-based Wizard Spider is Top Threat Group: Netskope Report | MSSP Alert

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• Russian Sandworm hackers breached 11 Ukrainian telcos since May (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exclusive: Ukraine says joint mission with US derailed Moscow’s cyber attacks (therecord.media)

• Russian Hackers Bypass EDR to Deliver Weaponized TeamViewer (gbhackers.com)

• Russian Hackers Target Romanian Media - Valahia.News

• Highest percentage of cyber crime activity originates in Russia (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Five Eyes Warn Deep Tech Start-Ups Against Nation-State Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Iran

• Iranian hackers lurked in Middle Eastern govt network for 8 months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hamas-linked app offers window into cyber infrastructure, possible links to Iran | CyberScoop

North Korea

• North Korea has got its hands on AI - and is testing its ability to commit cyberwarfare | TechRadar

• Lazarus Group Targeting Defence Experts with Fake Interviews via Trojanized VNC Apps (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean hackers exploit critical TeamCity flaw to breach networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FBI: Thousands of Remote IT Workers Sent Wages to North Korea to Help Fund Weapons Program - SecurityWeek

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Vulnerability Management

• Vulnerability Scanning: How Often Should I Scan? (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Needs to Get Serious About Its Windows 10 Upgrade Problem (pcmag.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Number of Cisco Devices Hacked via Unpatched Vulnerability Increases to 40,000 - SecurityWeek

• Cisco working on fix for critical IOS XE zero-day | TechTarget

• Oracle Patches 185 Vulnerabilities With October 2023 CPU - SecurityWeek

• Critical Citrix NetScaler Flaw Exploited to Target from Government, Tech Firms (thehackernews.com)

• You Need to Update WinRAR, Right Now (gizmodo.com)

• Juniper Networks Patches Over 30 Vulnerabilities in Junos OS - SecurityWeek

• Hackers exploit critical flaw in WordPress Royal Elementor plugin (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical Vulnerabilities Uncovered in Open Source CasaOS Cloud Software (thehackernews.com)

• Zoom, Investors Reach $150 Million Deal Over Security Flaws Suit (bloomberglaw.com)

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• ServiceNow leak: thousands of companies at risk | Cybernews

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Tools and Controls

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• Vulnerability Scanning: How Often Should I Scan? (thehackernews.com)

• Essential cyber hygiene: Making cyber defence cost effective - Help Net Security

• Preparations Are Key to Weathering Cyber security Incidents | Chief Investment Officer (ai-cio.com)

• Improve your cyber threat understanding with geopolitical context | CSO Online

• Why Zero Trust Is the Cloud Security Imperative (darkreading.com)

• 3 Essential Steps to Strengthen SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

• Cyber expert calls for renewed focus on zero-trust and recovery as threat actors scale-up - SiliconANGLE

• How hackers use printers to gain access

• Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns | TechTarget

• Cyber insurance represents ‘small proportion’ of potential economic losses from major attack | Insurance Times

• Email Security Best Practices for Phishing Prevention (trendmicro.com)

• The impact of artificial intelligence on cyber offence and defence | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

• What to Look for in Cyber Insurance Coverage | Proofpoint US

• Reinforcing cyber security: The network's role to prevent, detect, and respond to attacks - Help Net Security

• How to go from collecting risk data to actually reducing risk? - Help Net Security

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

• How do we measure cyber risk? | ITPro

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• OSINT isn't immediate ground truth--it's the result of analysis. (thecyberwire.com)

• How Data Changes the Cyber Insurance Market Outlook (darkreading.com)

• What is Structured Threat Information eXpression (STIX)? (techtarget.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Trustwave SpiderLabs Research: Cyber security in the Financial Services Sector

• APT trends report Q3 2023 | Securelist

• New CISO research sets out priorities, challenges and tips for success in a challenging landscape post - BSS

• ENISA THREAT LANDSCAPE REPORT 2023 REPORT IS OUT! (securityaffairs.com)

• Elastic Global Threat Report 2023 Reveals Dominance of Ransomware | Business Wire

• The CISO Report | Splunk

• VIPRE Security Group’s Q3 2023 Email Threat Report Reveals PDFs, Callback Phishing and Malware Via Google Drive Growing in Popularity Among Criminals - VIPRE

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Other News

• SMBs Struggle to Keep Pace with Cyber Security Threats - IT Security Guru

• Many SMBs really don't know exactly what security tools they need | TechRadar

• Hackers Hit The IT Industry: 12 Companies Targeted In 2023 | CRN

• What the Hollywood Writers Strike Resolution Means for Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• Progress gets SEC subpoena over MOVEit breach – and more! • The Register

• 51% of Financial Services Firms Reporting Breaches are From US: Trustwave Threat Landscape Report | The Fintech Times

• Cyber attacks on healthcare organisations affect patient care - Help Net Security

• Zoom, Investors Reach $150 Million Deal Over Security Flaws Suit (bloomberglaw.com)

• Thinking about the phrase 'cyber security' | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

• Cyber risk report says shipping remains ‘easy target’, paying an average $3.2m In cyber attacks (shipmanagement idcinternational.com)

• Space industry group turns up volume on satellite vulnerabilities - SpaceNews

• 5 Tips for Improving Security in Public Sector (govinfosecurity.com)

• Marketers Must Make Cyber security A Priority Every Day (forbes.com)

• UK at risk of massive security breach from national HMRC IT meltdown | The Independent

• UK warns nuclear power plant operator of cyber security failings (therecord.media)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 29 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Ransomware Groups Are Shifting Their Focus Away from Larger Targets

Ransomware groups are once again prioritising attacks on smaller organisations as they look to target those with less mature security capabilities. Analysis from Trend Micro has shown that ransomware groups such as Lockbit, Cl0p and Black Cat are slowing down attacks against “big game” targets, such as multinationals, and are focusing their attention on smaller organisations. It was found that the overall ransomware attack victim numbers increased by 47% from H2 2022.

Organisations “of up to 200 employees”, those within the small-to-medium-sized range, accounted for the majority (575) of attacks using LockBit’s ransomware across H1 2023. Similar trends were observed with rivals in the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) space. Nearly half (45%) of Black Cat victims were in the same size range. There are many underlying factors in the recent surge of attacks on smaller organisations, however one big cause is the economic factor and the perception that smaller organisations are not going to be as well protected.

Sources: [Techcentral] [Helpnet Security]

Cover-ups Still the Norm as Half of Cyber Attacks go Unreported

A report found that 48% of organisations that experience critical cyber incidents and disasters such as ransomware attacks do not report it to the appropriate authorities, and 41% do not even disclose cyber attacks to their boards. Alarmingly, 32% simply “forgot” and 22% self-reported that there wasn’t a system in place to report it. In the UK, failure to report a breach within 72 hours could make a company eligible for a fine up to €10 million or 2% of annual global turnover if deemed a lower-level infringement, and up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover for higher-level infringements.

The lack of reporting also has a knock-on effect: a significant number of cyber attacks go un-reported and therefore this skews statistics, meaning the current numbers of known cyber attacks are likely much lower than the actual figure.

Sources: [Computer Weekly] [InfoSecurity Magazine]

Reported Cyber Security Breaches Increase Threefold for Financial Services Firms

New research shows that cyber security breaches for UK financial service firms have increased threefold from 187 attacks (2021-2022) to 640 attacks (2022-2023). This comes as the pensions sector reported the biggest jump in breaches rising from 6 to 246 in the same period, a concerning large increase of 4,000%. These patterns are not only relevant to the UK however, with separate reports highlighting an 119% increase in attacks on financial sector cyber attacks globally from 2022 to 2023.

Trustees can be liable for failures in managing cyber risk, so any business looking to protect itself from the impact of a cyber attack should invest in understanding its cyber footprint, the risks it poses, and have the right policies/procedures in place.

Sources: [CIR Magazine] [PensionsAge] [CityAM] [TechRadar]

Attacks on SME’s Surged in The First Half of 2023

According to Kaspersky, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dealt with more attacks during the first half of the year compared to the same time the year previous. Worryingly, a separate report found that over three quarters of SME leaders could not confidently identify a cyber incident at work and 50% of respondents felt they were unable to identify the difference between a phishing email and real email.

An outcome of the study was the identification of a need for effective user training. SMEs do not have the budget to have a wide range of tools, however they can strengthen their users’ security practices.  Black Arrow enables SMEs to strengthen their people controls through bespoke and affordable education and awareness training for all levels of the organisation.

Sources: [Inquirer] [HelpNet Security] [Insurance Times]

The CISO Carousel and Its Effect on Enterprise Cyber Security

The average tenure of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is said to sit between 18 to 24 months; research highlights the reasons including the strain of the role, the perceived lack of leadership support, and the attraction of more money from a different employer. There is often a gap while the replacement is recruited, during which there is nobody looking after the organisation’s security.

In some cases, organisations may look to outsource by using the services of a virtual CISO (vCISO) with cost savings and greater stability and flexibility. The Black Arrow vCISO team are experienced world-class specialists, providing independent, impartial and objective expertise across the wide range of essential CISO skills with significant advantages compared to an internal resource.

Source: [Security Week]

Bermuda Struggles to Recover from Ransomware Attack

The Bermudan Government this week suffered what they referred to as a significant cyber incident. Workers were cut off from email and telephone systems, with affected departments resorting to manual processes and issuing of paper based cheques. The Government was unable to make payroll payments, and parcels could not be sent from the Island’s Post Offices. It is noted that while not all systems were affected, the government took everything offline out of precaution. It is believed that some other regional governments have also been impacted.

The attack has been attributed to Russia or Russian-based actors, but attribution in cases like this can be difficult. It should be noted that, if involvement from Russia were confirmed, both Russian state actors and Russian based cyber criminals work closely in a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. Using cyber crime groups as fronts provides nation state actors with a level of deniability, while also allowing them to direct the operation and benefit from it. Equally, cyber crime groups get to do their thing with the blessing, whether tacit or explicit, of the national authorities in their country. In general, countries where this happens (such as Russia, North Korea and China) have no interest in cooperating with Western authorities, so the cyber criminals essentially work with impunity.

Sources: [Duo] [GovInfo Security] [Bleeping Computer]

Businesses Remain Unprepared Despite Cyber Threats Remaining a Top Concern

A report found cyber threats continue to rank among the top three business concerns for a wide spectrum of companies. Despite it being such a concern, a significant percentage of businesses admitted to not conducting cyber assessments for vendors (57%) or customers’ assets (56%), having an incident response plan (50%), or implementing multifactor authentication for remote access (44%). Phishing scams were of particular concern, with companies reporting a notable increase in incidents, jumping from 14% to 27% over the past year.

Cyber attacks are a certainly a sobering reality, with nearly 23% of survey participants disclosing that their company had fallen victim to a cyber attack and 49% of these incidents occurred within the past year.

Source: [Reinsurance News]

Business Leaders More Anxious About Ransomware Than Recession as Victims from Single Attack Surpasses 2,000 Organisations

According to a recent study, half of business leaders are more worried about falling victim to a ransomware attack than macroeconomic hardship. Over 60% of businesses who had suffered a ransomware attack reported concerns about the prospect of a second ransomware attack, and 71% of leaders admitted their businesses wouldn’t be able to withstand it. 56% said they had increased hiring costs, nearly half experienced increased customer complaints, and 47% reported team stress. This comes as the tally of victims from the MOVEit attack alone surpasses 2,000 organisations. To make matters worse, the FBI has described dual ransomware attacks taking place, with the second attack less than 48 hours after the first.

Source: [Tech Informed] [Helpnet Security] [Helpnet Security] [BleepComputer]

Hotel Hackers Redirect Guests to Fake Booking[.]com Site in Major Phishing Campaign

Booking.com users have become the focus of a new, large-scale phishing campaign that involved hackers taking control of the hotel’s Booking[.]com account. Once in control, the attackers were then able to utilise personal information and craft messages, tailored to victims.

With many organisations using sites such as Booking[.]com, it is imperative that staff are trained effectively, to reduce the risk of them falling victim to a phishing campaign.

Sources: [BleepingComputer] [Inforsecurity Magazine]

Cyber Leaders Worry That AI Will Overwhelm Cyber Defences

A survey of 250 leaders found that 85% worry that AI will overwhelm cyber defences while almost two thirds (61%) have already seen an increase in cyber attack complexity due to AI. Overall 80% view AI as the single biggest cyber threat their business faces, and seven out of 10 are investing in more resilient measures to improve their detection and response protocols.

AI can certainly be overwhelming, but with the right expertise, organisations can navigate their way to improving their AI defences. Black Arrow’s expert team helps your leadership to understand and manage AI-based risks, and safely adopt artificial intelligence in your organisation.

Source: [Management Issues]

Boards Still Lack Cyber Security Expertise

A study by the US National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the Internet Security Alliance (ISA) found that just 12% of S&P 500 companies have board directors with relevant cyber credentials, showing that there is still a lack of expertise at the board level. Boards can improve their expertise by engaging with training that is tailored to leadership. Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security, by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident. Source: [Wallstreet Journal]

4 Legal Surprises You May Encounter After a Cyber Security Incident

In the event of a cyber incident, there are a number of problems that emerge, but some you may not be aware of. These may include investigations by auditors, a freeze on payments by banks, and uncertainty about notifying third parties including customers. Your insurance provide may also launch a review of the cyber security controls that you had in place before the incident, to determine the payout.

Ideally, you will never have to face a cyber incident, but it can happen and it’s best to ensure you are well placed to deal with it, by understanding what needs to be done and how to respond. Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [Dark Reading]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• The CISO Carousel and Its Effect on Enterprise Cyber Security - Security Week

• Boards Still Lack Cyber Security Expertise - WSJ

• Cyber leaders worry that AI will overwhelm cyber defences (management-issues.com)

• It's time to safeguard the financial sector: Navigate employee turnover to defend against escalating cyber attacks (betanews.com)

• Businesses Unprepared for Cyber Attacks Despite Steady Concern (insurancejournal.com)

• Cyber criminals are targeting the financial sector more than ever | TechRadar

• The hidden costs of neglecting cyber security for small businesses - Help Net Security

• Majority of UK SME c-suites lacking awareness of cyber risks | Insurance Times

• Business leaders most anxious about ransomware attacks (techinformed.com)

• Cyber security incident response: Your company's ICU (channelweb.co.uk)

• Cover-ups still the norm in the wake of a cyber incident | Computer Weekly

• Many firms aren't reporting breaches to the proper authorities | TechRadar

• Half of Cyber-Attacks Go Unreported - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• CISOs are struggling to get cyber security budgets: Report | CSO Online

• CISOs are spending more on cyber security - but it might not be enough | TechRadar

• Cyber threats remain top concern for businesses in 2023: Travelers Risk Index - Reinsurance News

• Despite rising insider risk costs, budgets are being wasted in the wrong places - Help Net Security

• The Hot Seat: CISO Accountability in a New Era of SEC Regulation (darkreading.com)

• Proactive Security: What It Means for Enterprise Security Strategy (darkreading.com)

• Essential guide to cyber security compliance | Intruder

• 4 Legal Surprises You May Encounter After a Cyber Security Incident (darkreading.com)

• Moving From Qualitative to Quantitative Cyber Risk Modeling - Security Week

• Financial crime compliance costs exceed $206 billion - Help Net Security

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware soars as enterprises struggle to respond - Verdict

• Ransomware groups are once again targeting smaller businesses for more lucrative payouts - TechCentral.ie

• Ransomware groups are shifting their focus away from larger targets - Help Net Security

• Business leaders most anxious about ransomware attacks (techinformed.com)

• Why is Ransomware Such a Prevalent Threat and Popular Tool for Attackers? | MSSP Alert

• ShadowSyndicate: A New Cyber Crime Group Linked to 7 Ransomware Families (thehackernews.com)

• The Group Claiming To Have Hacked Sony Is Using GDPR As A Weapon For Demanding Ransoms | Techdirt

• FBI: Dual ransomware attack victims now get hit within 48 hours (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cl0p's MOVEit attack tally surpasses 2,000 victim organisations - Help Net Security

• MOVEit cyber attack is pause for concern | Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C. - JDSupra

• Lawsuits Allege MGM, Caesars Neglected Cyber Security Preparedness (skift.com)

• 'Power, influence, notoriety': The Gen-Z hackers who struck MGM and Caesars - The Japan Times

• Amidst MGM, Caesar's Incidents, Attackers Focus on Luxury Hotels (darkreading.com)

• Youth hacking ring at the center of cyber crime spree | CyberScoop

• Current ransomware defencs efforts are not working - Help Net Security

• VMware users anxious about costs and ransomware threats - Help Net Security

• MSP shares details of Kaseya VSA ransomware attack, recovery | TechTarget

• Trust Is Key In Cyber Security: Analysing The MOVEit Ransomware Attacks (forbes.com)

• Study Reveals Conti Affiliates Money Laundering Practices (inforisktoday.com)

• Akira Ransomware Mutates to Target Linux Systems, Adds TTPs (darkreading.com)

• Trend Micro Report Reveals Increase of LockBit Ransomware Attacks in US (thedefensepost.com)

• Hospital Ransomware Attacks Go Beyond Health Care Data (securityintelligence.com)

• Patient Care at Risk as Hospitals Increasingly on Frontlines of Ransomware Attacks | The Epoch Times

• Ransomware a threat to the trucking industry - FreightWaves

Ransomware Victims

• Bermuda Struggles to Recover From Cyber Attack (govinfosecurity.com)

• Cl0p's MOVEit attack tally surpasses 2,000 victim organisations - Help Net Security

• Amidst MGM, Caesar's Incidents, Attackers Focus on Luxury Hotels (darkreading.com)

• MGM, Caesars Cyber Attack Responses Required Brutal Choices (darkreading.com)

• Russian ransomware LockBit threatens to leak internal data from The Weather Network on dark web - The Globe and Mail

• City of Dallas has set a budget of $8.5 million to mitigate the May Royal ransomware attack. (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware Group Claims to Have Breached 'All of Sony Systems' (vgchartz.com)

• 900 US Schools Impacted by MOVEit Hack at National Student Clearinghouse - Security Week

• Youth hacking ring at the center of cyber crime spree | CyberScoop

• MGM Resorts and Caesars face class action lawsuits over September cyber attacks By Investing.com

• UK logistics firm blames ransomware attack for insolvency, 730 redundancies (therecord.media)

• Ransomed.vc Group Hits NTT Docomo After Sony Breach Claims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware group demands $51 million from Johnson Controls after cyber attack (bitdefender.com)

• Lawsuits Allege MGM, Caesars Neglected Cyber Security Preparedness (skift.com)

• Alphv group claims the hack of Clarion, a global manufacturer of audio and video equipment for cars (securityaffairs.com)

• Leekes cyber attack? NoEscape ransomware gang claims breach (techmonitor.ai)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• This devious phishing scam makes it look like dodgy emails are actually safe | TechRadar

• Booking.com Customers Targeted in Major Phishing Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Use of QR codes in email phishing | Securelist

• How Does Modern Phishing Work? | HackerNoon

• New AtlasCross hackers use American Red Cross as phishing lure (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Trick Outlook Into Showing Fake AV Scan | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Nigerian man pleads guilty to attempted $6 million BEC email heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BEC Attacks Increase By 279% in Healthcare - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Rise in cyber criminals leveraging voice phishing and OTP theft for data breaches: Report | Tech News (hindustantimes.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber leaders worry that AI will overwhelm cyber defences (management-issues.com)

• No 10 worried AI could be used to create advanced weapons that escape human control | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• The Biggest AI Trends in Cyber Security - CNET

• Google is working to keep Bard chats out of Search • The Register

• Nuclear Brinkmanship in AI-Enabled Warfare: A Dangerous Algorithmic Game of Chicken - War on the Rocks

• New working group to probe AI risks and applications | CyberScoop

• A Primer On Artificial Intelligence And Cyber Security (forbes.com)

• How should organisations navigate the risks and opportunities of AI? - Help Net Security

Malware

• Malware attacks on SMEs surged in H1 | Inquirer Business

• Gozi strikes again, targeting banks, cryptocurrency and more (securityintelligence.com)

• 'Culturestreak' Malware Lurks Inside GitLab Python Package (darkreading.com)

• Deadglyph: New Advanced Backdoor with Distinctive Malware Tactics (thehackernews.com)

• New variant of BBTok Trojan targets users of +40 banks in LATAM (securityaffairs.com)

• A powerful new malware backdoor is targeting governments across the world | TechRadar

• Researchers uncover thriving market for malware targeting IoT devices - The Hindu

• ZenRAT Malware Uncovered in Bitwarden Impersonation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Mobile

• Spyware: Spyware can infect your phone or computer via the ads you see online: report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• China-Linked EvilBamboo Targets Mobiles - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• iOS 17 update secretly changed your privacy settings; here's how to set them back (bitdefender.com)

• Dangerous XenomorphAndroid malware is stealing from 100 banking apps — protect yourself now | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Predator Spyware Delivered to iOS, Android Devices via Zero-Days, MitM Attacks - Security Week

• Russian Firm Willing to Pay $20 Million for iPhone, Android Zero-Day Exploits (pcmag.com)

Botnets

• Bot Swarm: Attacks From Middle East & Africa Are Notably Up (darkreading.com)

• New variant of BBTok Trojan targets users of +40 banks in LATAM (securityaffairs.com)

• Asian banks are a favorite target of cyber cooks, and malicious bots their preferred tool | ZDNET

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Over 700 Dark Web Ads Offer DDoS Attacks Via IoT in 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Internet of Things – IoT

• If You Have An Amazon Alexa Device, You Need To Check This Security Update List (slashgear.com)

• Researchers uncover thriving market for malware targeting IoT devices - The Hindu

• Where Linux is in your home, and how to protect Linux devices from hacking | Kaspersky official blog

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Billions of usernames and passwords leaked online — how to see if you’re affected | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• ICO sees breach reports from FS firms triple - CIR Magazine

• UK pension schemes reveal 4,000% rise in cyber security breaches - Pensions Age Magazine

• Reported cyber security breaches increase threefold for financial services firms (cityam.com)

• British charities warn supporters their personal data has been breached • Graham Cluley

• Air Canada discloses data breach of employee and 'certain records' (bleepingcomputer.com)

• National Student Clearinghouse data breach impacts 890 schools (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BORN Ontario child registry data breach affects 3.4 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 900 US Schools Impacted by MOVEit Hack at National Student Clearinghouse - Security Week

• Regulator Warns Breaches Can Cost Lives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hospital alert as 24,000 letters meant for GPs lost in computer error - Mirror Online

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• 'Marriages of Convenience' Between State Actors and Cyber Criminals Provide Cover for Both | Decipher (duo.com)

• 'Power, influence, notoriety': The Gen-Z hackers who struck MGM and Caesars - The Japan Times

• Asian banks are a favourite target of cyber cooks, and malicious bots their preferred tool | ZDNET

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• NFT Hype Collapse Means 95% of The Digital Assets Are Now 'Worthless' | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• Gozi strikes again, targeting banks, cryptocurrency and more (securityintelligence.com)

• Yet another hack hits NFT marketplace OpenSea - SiliconANGLE

• Crooks stole $200 million worth of assets from Mixin Network (securityaffairs.com)

• Bitcoin scammer who was snared by victims sentenced - BBC News

• Security researcher stopped at US border for investigating crypto scam (bleepingcomputer.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• 75% who didn't report cyber attack to leadership, felt guilty about it | Security Magazine

• Preventing employees from becoming the gateway for cyber attacks | TechRadar

• Despite rising insider risk costs, budgets are being wasted in the wrong places - Help Net Security

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Hotel hackers redirect guests to fake Booking.com to steal cards (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Beware: fraud and smishing scams targeting students | Bournemouth University

• Yet another hack hits NFT marketplace OpenSea - SiliconANGLE

• Crooks stole $200 million worth of assets from Mixin Network (securityaffairs.com)

• Fraud prevention forces scammers to up their game - Help Net Security

• Why young people are more prone to online scams than boomers are (news5cleveland.com)

• Bitcoin scammer who was snared by victims sentenced - BBC News

• Security researcher warns of chilling effect after feds search phone at airport | TechCrunch

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Study Reveals Conti Affiliates Money Laundering Practices (inforisktoday.com)

• Financial crime compliance costs exceed $206 billion - Help Net Security

Insurance

• Exploring Cyber Insurance and its Intersection with Property Coverage | Woodruff Sawyer - JDSupra

• Half of organisations with cyber insurance implemented additional security measures to qualify for the policy or reduce its cost - IT Security Guru

Dark Web

• Over 700 Dark Web Ads Offer DDoS Attacks Via IoT in 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Trust Is Key In Cyber Security: Analysing The MOVEit Ransomware Attacks (forbes.com)

• How the Okta Cross-Tenant Impersonation Attacks Succeeded (darkreading.com)

• Lawsuits Allege MGM, Caesars Neglected Cyber Security Preparedness (skift.com)

• 3 phases of the third-party risk management lifecycle | TechTarget

Cloud/SaaS

• Guide: SaaS Offboarding Checklist - Help Net Security

Containers

• Kubernetes attacks in 2023: What it means for the future - Help Net Security

Encryption

• The UK just passed an online safety law that could make people less safe (theconversation.com)

• Regulators Are 'Hurting Their Own Country' in Seeking Encryption Backdoors: Nym CEO - Decrypt

Open Source

• Where Linux is in your home, and how to protect Linux devices from hacking | Kaspersky official blog

• Akira Ransomware Mutates to Target Linux Systems, Adds TTPs (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Why Shouldn’t You Use the Same Password Everywhere Online (makeuseof.com)

• Are You Willing to Pay the High Cost of Compromised Credentials? (thehackernews.com)

Biometrics

• The multi-national push to ban facial recognition in public spaces | Biometric Update

Social Media

• Elon Musk’s X is biggest outlet of Russia disinformation, EU says (cnbctv18.com)

• X scraps tool to report electoral fake news - researchers - BBC News

Malvertising

• Spyware: Spyware can infect your phone or computer via the ads you see online: report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Preventing employees from becoming the gateway for cyber attacks | TechRadar

Travel

• Security researcher stopped at US border for investigating crypto scam (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Regulator Warns Breaches Can Cost Lives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• The Group Claiming To Have Hacked Sony Is Using GDPR As A Weapon For Demanding Ransoms | Techdirt

• The UK just passed an online safety law that could make people less safe (theconversation.com)

• Are we about to lose the last pillar of our digital security? | Euronews

• New working group to probe AI risks and applications | CyberScoop

• SEC Gives Finality on Cyber Security Disclosures for Public Companies | Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP - JDSupra

• Why California's Delete Act matters for the whole country - Help Net Security

• Financial crime compliance costs exceed $206 billion - Help Net Security

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• MITRE ATT&CK project leader on why the framework remains vital for cyber security pros - Help Net Security

• Why It’s Wrong To Judge SIEM Success Only Against The ATT&CK Framework (forbes.com)

• Urgent actions for protecting utilities against cyber-attack: Navigating NIS 2 - Utility Week

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• The CISO Carousel and Its Effect on Enterprise Cyber Security - Security Week

• Demand for cyber security staff trebled since 2019 | Business Post

• Cyber security and staffing issues key risks for companies | Accountancy Daily

• Cyber security skills employers are desperate to find in 2023 - Help Net Security

• Preventing security professionals from ‘quietly quitting’ due to alert fatigue (securitybrief.co.nz)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Nigerian man pleads guilty to attempted $6 million BEC email heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Western District of Washington | French cyber criminal pleads guilty to fraud and aggravated identity theft for hacking private information | United States Department of Justice

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Elon Musk’s X is biggest outlet of Russia disinformation, EU says (cnbctv18.com)

• X scraps tool to report electoral fake news - researchers - BBC News

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russia’s APT29 intensifies espionage operations | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian hacking operations target Ukrainian law enforcement | CyberScoop

• Cyber-Attacks on Ukraine Surge 123%, But Success Rates Plummet - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Government of Bermuda blames Russian threat actors for the cyber attack (securityaffairs.com)

• Bermuda probes major cyber attack as officials slowly bring operations back online (thestar.com)

• Ukraine war: Cyber Attack in Crimea after Black Sea fleet HQ hit | News UK Video News | Sky News

• Russian hackers trying to steal evidence of Moscow’s war crimes in Ukraine - cyber chief (ukrinform.net)

• 'Marriages of Convenience' Between State Actors and Cyber Criminals Provide Cover for Both | Decipher (duo.com)

• Examining the Activities of the Turla APT Group (trendmicro.com)

• Scottish Tory MSP has website hacked by 'hostile Russian group' | The National

• Elon Musk’s X is biggest outlet of Russia disinformation, EU says (cnbctv18.com)

• Russian Firm Willing to Pay $20 Million for iPhone, Android Zero-Day Exploits (pcmag.com)

• Cyber Attack on Russian Air Booking System Sparks Flight Delays - The Moscow Times

China

• China's BlackTech Hacking Group Exploited Cisco Routers to Target US and Japanese Companies (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese hackers stole 60,000 emails from US State Department in Microsoft hack, Senate staffer says (databreaches.net)

• Taiwan is bracing for Chinese cyber attacks, White House official says - POLITICO

• China-Linked EvilBamboo Targets Mobiles - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chinese Gov Hackers Caught Hiding in Cisco Router Firmware - Security Week

• Budworm: APT Group Uses Updated Custom Tool in Attacks on Government and Telecoms Org | Symantec Enterprise Blogs (security.com)

• China’s national security minister lists top digital threats • The Register

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• 'Marriages of Convenience' Between State Actors and Cyber Criminals Provide Cover for Both | Decipher (duo.com)

• Sophisticated APT Clusters Target Southeast Asia - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Why Zero Days Are Set for Highest Year on Record - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Another Chrome security issue is exploited in the wild (and affecting all Chromium-based browsers) - gHacks Tech News

• Google assigns new maximum rated CVE to libwebp bug exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco Warns of IOS Software Zero-Day Exploitation Attempts - Security Week

• Researchers Release Details of New RCE Exploit Chain for SharePoint (darkreading.com)

• High-Severity Flaws Uncovered in Atlassian Products and ISC BIND Server (thehackernews.com)

• GPUs from all major suppliers are vulnerable to new pixel-stealing attack | Ars Technica

• Firefox 118 Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• Hackers actively exploiting Openfire flaw to encrypt servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Trust Is Key In Cyber Security: Analysing The MOVEit Ransomware Attacks (forbes.com)

• China's BlackTech Hacking Group Exploited Cisco Routers to Target US and Japanese Companies (thehackernews.com)

• macOS 14 Sonoma Patches 60 Vulnerabilities - Security Week

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Tools and Controls

• Cyber security incident response: Your company's ICU (channelweb.co.uk)

• CISOs are spending more on cyber security - but it might not be enough | TechRadar

• 4 Legal Surprises You May Encounter After a Cyber Security Incident (darkreading.com)

• Half of organisations with cyber insurance implemented additional security measures to qualify for the policy or reduce its cost - IT Security Guru

• The 5 most dangerous Wi-Fi attacks, and how to fight them | PCWorld

• The Biggest AI Trends in Cyber Security - CNET

• How SOAR helps improve MTTD and MTTR metrics | TechTarget

• What Is a Network Security Assessment and Why You Need It | MSSP Alert

• Why You Should Phish In Your Own Pond (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• The pitfalls of neglecting security ownership at the design stage - Help Net Security

• Guide: SaaS Offboarding Checklist - Help Net Security

• A Primer On Artificial Intelligence And Cyber Security (forbes.com)

• Preventing employees from becoming the gateway for cyber attacks | TechRadar

• Proactive Security: What It Means for Enterprise Security Strategy (darkreading.com)

• Looking Beyond the Hype Cycle of AI/ML in Cyber Security (darkreading.com)

• The Dark Side of Browser Isolation – and the Next Generation Browser Security Technologies (thehackernews.com)

• Moving From Qualitative to Quantitative Cyber Risk Modelling - SecurityWeek

• Cyber security budgets show moderate growth - Help Net Security

• Evaluating Security Outsourcing in the Wake of Recent High-Profile Cyber Attacks: Info-Tech Research Group Publishes New Resource (prnewswire.com)

• Exploring Cyber Insurance and its Intersection with Property Coverage | Woodruff Sawyer - JDSupra

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Other News

• Cyber criminals are targeting the financial sector more than ever | TechRadar

• The hidden costs of neglecting cyber security for small businesses - Help Net Security

• SMBs face growing cyber security threats, but basic measures can lower risks | ZDNET

• Why aviation needs to prioritise cyber security – Airport World (airport-world.com)

• The key threats facing ICS/OT environments (betanews.com)

• Are Fire Departments Prepared for a Cyber Attack? | HackerNoon

• Fintechs must brace for rising cyber security challenges | Mint (livemint.com)

• Space Force chief says commercial satellites may need defending | Ars Technica

• UK Cyber Security Council CEO reflects on a year of progress | CSO Online

• Google Loophole Lets Drug Dealers Hijack Nearly Any Website to Sell Narcotics (businessinsider.com)

• Cyber Hygiene: A First Line of  Against Evolving Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Attacks hit military, Parliament websites as India hacker group targets Canada (cheknews.ca)

• KnowBe4 Finds US. Healthcare a Top Target For Cyber Attacks (prnewswire.com)

• US Government Shutdown Could Bench 80% of CISA Staff - SecurityWeek

• Recommendations for Managing Cyber Security Threats in the Manufacturing Sector | Foley & Lardner LLP - JDSupra

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 08 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

More Than Half of UK Organisations Know They Aren’t Well Protected

According to a recent report, just 49% of business leaders report their organisation is well or very well protected. Cyber security featured as the third highest-rated business priority, with increasing revenues and reducing costs forming the top two. One of the ways an organisation can reduce cost is to outsource, and 63% of respondents agreed, reporting that they wanted to work with an external cyber security partner to improve their security.

Even if you’re in the 49% of organisations that believes it is well protected, this can be a dangerous self-assessment based on a lack of experience and impartiality. Business leaders need independent assurance to ensure their security controls are appropriate and in line with the organisation’s risk appetite. It is essential to dispel assumptions, by investigating your security before an attacker does.

Black Arrow Cyber Consulting offers a free, no-obligation, introductory consultation to help you gain an unbiased perspective on how your current security approach could withstand an attacker. We help our clients to know the questions to ask of their external or internal IT provider, and how to leverage other security controls from existing resources.

Sources: [IT Security Guru][Beta News]

Generative AI Considered a Security Risk by 60% of Board Members. How Organisations Can Prepare

A recent report conducted by Proofpoint found that 60% of board members consider generative AI a security risk.

The rapid development and adoption of AI is double-edged in nature. Whilst it can yield positive benefits if used safely and responsibility within organisations, AI is also being used to great effect by malicious actors with AI abuse growing beyond phishing to increasing the efficacy of multistage attacks, being used to generated malware, and carrying out different types of social engineering attacks.

For this reason Boards and senior leaders are right to be concerned and should ensure appropriate measures are being taken.

Sources: [TheNationalNews] [SCMagazine] [CyberSecurityNews]

Further reading: [BusinessCloud.co.uk] [WIRED UK] [Help Net Security]

Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril

According to a UK Government report, a quarter of businesses don’t regard cyber incident response skills as essential and almost half said they weren’t confident they could put together an incident response plan. This led to 41% saying they were not very or not at all confident that they would be able to deal with a cyber security breach or attack.

Unfortunately, this leaves many organisations in a situation where they will have to learn the hard way about the implications of not having an incident response plan. A separate government report found that 37% of those hit by a cyber attack said it impacted operations and a quarter experienced negative consequences such as loss of money or data.

One of the ways organisations can circumnavigate their lack of confidence in their ability to construct an incident response plan is to use cyber security experts to construct it. 

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

Blame Culture: An Organisation’s Ticking Time Bomb

An organisation’s attitude and responses to cyber security are almost as important as the actions taken to prevent cyber attacks. “Lessons learnt” are a common feature within mature and cyber resilient organisations. Incidents are a matter of when not if, and it is important that organisations know how to react.

Taking the example of a phishing attack, it is easy to blame the employee who opened it, potentially firing them. With phishing simulations, it is equally easy to discipline an employee who fell for it. The problem is, neither of these focus on what can be learned, such as why the employee fell for it in the first place. Additionally, there is the potential that employees become reserved or reticent about reporting potential events, due to the fear of being disciplined. This can be the difference between an organisation having an early detection of an incident and being able to invoke incident response plans sooner, or leaving the attacker in the system doing damage for longer before being reported.

Source: [ IT Security Guru]

Spend to Save: CFOs and Cyber Security Investment

For chief financial officers (CFOs), the increasing impact of data breaches creates a paradox. While more spending is necessary to combat these challenges, this spending isn’t directly tied to profit. Instead, cyber security spending is all about return on investment.

When looking at spending, CFOs need to keep in mind that the total cost of a breach is more than the initial currency loss: there is the knock-on effect of reputation and losses in customers. But it is not a case of spending more to protect more; spending must be tailored to the organisation and prioritise in terms of business needs.

Source: [Security Intelligence]

Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets for Attackers, Including Nation-State Actors

An increasing number of attacks by nation-state attackers are targeting cyber security tools in their campaigns. This includes the recent attacks on US officials which attacked and gained access through the firewalls of the victim. Security vendors, just like anyone, will have flaws in their software: there will be vulnerabilities. As such, organisations need to be aware of these vulnerabilities and when support runs out for their cyber security tools, to better protect themselves.

Source: [News Week]

Attackers Access UK Military Data Through Third Party Supplier as Relentless Russian Cyber Attacks Raise Spectre of WW3

Top secret military data from the UK’s Ministry of Defence was stolen and then sold by the ransomware gang LockBit. How, you might ask? Through a rogue Windows 7 PC that belonged to their fencing supplier, Zaun. The LockBit Ransom group conducted the attack on the supplier’s network, and Zaun admitted the group may have exfiltrated 10GB of data.

Many attackers have realised that if you cannot directly attack an organisation, then the supplier can present a way in. Organisations need to be sure of their suppliers’ security, and conduct third party security assessments to identify the risk the supplier may present to the organisation itself.

Black Arrow have helped many clients carry out third party risk assessments on a large number of suppliers and this can be done as a standalone offering or as part of a fractional CISO engagement.

Source: [The Register] [Tech Monitor]

Common Tactics Used by Threat Actors to Weaponise PDFs

PDFs are often seen as safe, something that cannot be used by an attacker, but that’s wrong. Actors are using this trustworthiness, as well as the difficulty in detection and ubiquity of PDFs, to weaponise them. Common tactics involve malicious hyperlinks within PDFs and macros that run when a PDF is opened, and in some cases attackers are disguising a malicious Word document as a PDF to evade detection.

Source: [Cyber Security News]

Years-old Microsoft Security Holes Still Hot Targets for Cyber Criminals

A recent report has found that Microsoft vulnerabilities as old as 6 years are still being exploited, with one recorded as being exploited as recently as 31 August. In fact, since this particular vulnerability was fixed, it has been used to deploy 467 different malware types. This is not the number of attacks, but the number of different types of malware used in attacks.

The concept isn’t just for Microsoft. Many organisations do not employ effective patching strategies, and as such leave the doors open to attackers. Sometimes, these doors are open for years.

Source: [The Register]

Popular ‘As-a-Service’ Operations Have Earned Cyber Criminals over $64m

As-a-service operations allow attackers to employ sophisticated attacks without the need for extensive knowledge; they simply just purchase the ability.  Take phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS), where an attacker with very limited cyber knowledge simply needs to purchase a phishing kit and they are then well-equipped to target organisations. This availability in tools creates a significant surge in the number of cyber criminals, with one scheme alone raking in $64.5 billion in illegal gains.

Source: [IT Security Guru]

71% of Organisations are Impacted by Cyber Security Skills Shortage

Most organisations (71%) report that they’ve been impacted by the cyber security skills shortage, leading to an increased workload for the cyber security team (61%), unfilled open job requisitions (49%) and high burnout among staff (43%). Further, 95% respondents state the cyber security skills shortage and its associated impacts have not improved over the past few years and 54% (up 10% from 2021) say it has got worse.

Organisations need to continue maintaining and improving their security while their cyber security positions remain unfilled. Black Arrow supports firms to achieve this by providing expert resources on a flexible basis for technical, governance and transformational positions.

Source: [Security Magazine] [Digital Journal]

Multiple Schools Hit by Cyber Attacks Before Term Begins

Ahead of the new school term, a number of schools have become the victim of serious cyber attacks. The education sector isn’t a new target, with previous ransomware reports finding the education sector to account for 16% of victims.

The education sector remains a target due to the valuable data they hold, large attack surfaces and frequently a lack of resources and budgets, something many small and medium-sized business may share.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• The importance of CISOs is not recognised by senior leadership - IT Security Guru

• Why Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Blame Culture: An Organisation's Ticking Time Bomb - IT Security Guru

• Spend to save: The CFO’s guide to cyber security investment (securityintelligence.com)

• More than half of UK organisations know they aren’t well protected against cyber threats - IT Security Guru

• Boards show confidence in their cyber security but still think they're at risk of attack (betanews.com)

• SEC tells companies to “show their work” on cyber security - Red Canary

• Cyber security: a life cycle, not a destination | Hydrocarbon Engineering

• Rising Physical Incidents Should Drive C-Level Investment & Action (forbes.com)

• Compliance budgets under strain as inflation and workload grow - Help Net Security

• Cyber Security pros battle discontent amid skills shortage - Help Net Security

• CISOs weigh in on building security-focused culture | Healthcare IT News

• How Do Some Companies Get Compromised Again and Again? (securityintelligence.com)

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked by LockBit (techmonitor.ai)

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Yes, Ransomware is Still a Huge Problem | CSO Online

• Ransomware attackers are targeting exposed Microsoft SQL databases, report says (therecord.media)

• Ransomware and Data Breaches: Impacts Continue to Grow Louder (govtech.com)

• Ransomware attacks go beyond just data - Help Net Security

• Education Sector Heavily Targeted as the School Year Begins (databreaches.net)

• Killware vs. Ransomware: What's the Difference? (makeuseof.com)

• Is this the next target for international ransomware attacks? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• To Pay or Not to Pay? The Ransomware Dilemma (informationweek.com)

• Snake Ransomware Endangers Your Data: How Can You Stop It? (makeuseof.com)

• How to Prevent Ransomware: 6 Key Steps to Safeguard Assets (techtarget.com)

Ransomware Victims

• LockBit Leaks Documents Filched From UK Defence Contractor (darkreading.com)

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked in cyber attack (civilserviceworld.com)

• Maidstone: Secondary school hit by cyber attack - BBC News

• Debenham High School IT system hit by cyber attack - BBC News

• Highgate Wood School delays term by 6 days after cyber attack | This Is Local London

• Cyber attack hits Suffolk school (computing.co.uk)

• Cyber attack hits Wokingham's Maiden Erlegh School | Reading Chronicle

• Russian ransomware gang AlphV targets pathology company, law firms in latest string of attacks - ABC News

• LockBit ransomware gang hit the Commission des services electriques de Montréal (CSEM) (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware gang claims credit for Sabre data breach | TechCrunch

• Hackers claim to publish prominent Israeli hospital’s patient data (therecord.media)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• AI abuse grows beyond phishing to multistage cyber attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Google is enabling Chrome real-time phishing protection for everyone (bleepingcomputer.com)New phishing tool hijacked thousands of Microsoft business email accounts (therecord.media)

• Beware of New Fileless Malware that Propagates Via Spam Mail (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Spam is up, QR codes emerge as a significant threat vector - Help Net Security

• From unsuspecting click to data compromise - Help Net Security

• Alert: Phishing Campaigns Deliver New SideTwist Backdoor and Agent Tesla Variant (thehackernews.com)

• Getting off the hook: 10 steps to take after clicking on a phishing link (welivesecurity.com)

• What Is Spear Phishing? A Comprehensive Guide - Sapphire

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Chinese-Speaking Cyber Criminals Launch Large-Scale iMessage Smishing Campaign in US. (thehackernews.com)

• Okta Warns of Social Engineering Attacks Targeting Super Administrator Privileges (thehackernews.com)

• How cyber criminals use look-alike domains to impersonate brands - Help Net Security

Artificial Intelligence

• Generative AI considered a security risk by 60% of board members, survey finds (thenationalnews.com)

• AI ‘triggers DeepTech anxiety for senior leaders’ (businesscloud.co.uk)

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• AI abuse grows beyond phishing to multistage cyber attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• UK tech tsar warns of AI cyber threat to NHS | Financial Times (ft.com)

• It's the summer of adversarial chatbots. Here's how to defend against them - SiliconANGLE

• Will the AI Arms Race Lead to the Pollution of the Internet? (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Security Concerns In AI: NCSC Flags Vulnerabilities In Chatbots And Language Models (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• UK cyber chief urges ‘Security by Design’ in AI development (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

• Generative AI’s Biggest Security Flaw Is Not Easy to Fix | WIRED UK

• Developers have security, other generative AI concerns but use it anyway - ARN (arnnet.com.au)

• How Companies Can Cope With the Risks of Generative AI Tools (darkreading.com)

• 3 ways to strike the right balance with generative AI - Help Net Security

• Peril vs. Promise: Companies, Developers Worry Over Generative AI Risk (darkreading.com)

• Experts Probe AI Risks Around Malicious Use, China Influence (govinfosecurity.com)

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Malware

• Common Tactics Used by Threat Actors to Weaponise PDFs (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Beware of MalDoc in PDF: A New Polyglot Attack Allowing Attackers to Evade Antivirus (thehackernews.com)

• 'Atomic macOS Stealer' Malware Delivered via Malvertising Campaign - SecurityWeek

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• UNRAVELING EternalBlue: inside the WannaCry’s enabler (securityaffairs.com)

• Malware Report: The Evolution of BumbleBee - Understanding the Emerging New Threat (govinfosecurity.com)

• Malware configurations How to find and use them? (govinfosecurity.com)

• Beware of New Fileless Malware that Propagates Via Spam Mail (cybersecuritynews.com)

• New Python Variant of Chaes Malware Targets Banking and Logistics Industries (thehackernews.com)

• New BLISTER Malware Update Fuelling Stealthy Network Infiltration (thehackernews.com)

• Alert: Phishing Campaigns Deliver New SideTwist Backdoor and Agent Tesla Variant (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• Hacking device Flipper Zero can spam nearby iPhones with Bluetooth pop-ups | TechCrunch

• September Android updates fix zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hacker exploits security flaw to target iPhone users with 'notification attack' | Macworld

Botnets

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS attack took down the site of German financial agency BaFin (securityaffairs.com)

• Mirai variant infects low-cost Android TV boxes for DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA Releases Capacity Enhancement Guide to Strengthen Agency Resilience to DDoS Attack | CISA

BYOD

• Many businesses still aren't using BYOD protection | TechRadar

Internet of Things – IoT

• Securing The IoT From The Threat China Poses To US Infrastructure (forbes.com)

• Tech Company Says Cars Collect 25 Gigabits of Data per Hour, Making Them Targets for Hacking | The Epoch Times

• Connected cars and cyber crime: A primer - Help Net Security

• Hacking device Flipper Zero can spam nearby iPhones with Bluetooth pop-ups | TechCrunch

• Mirai variant infects low-cost Android TV boxes for DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Why consumer drones represent a special cyber security risk (securityintelligence.com)

• Like privacy? Then smart devices are a dumb idea • The Register

• Maker of ‘smart’ chastity cage left users’ emails, passwords, and locations exposed | TechCrunch

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Electoral Commission failed basic security test before hack - BBC News

• Insurer fined $3M for exposing data of 650k clients for two years (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Golf gear giant Callaway data breach exposes info of 1.1 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Freecycle confirms massive data breach impacting 7 million users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pizza Hut Australia leaks one million customers' details, claims ShinyHunters hacking group (bitdefender.com)

• Thousands of Popular Websites Leaking Secrets - SecurityWeek

• Johnson & Johnson discloses IBM data breach impacting patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Northern Ireland police chief quits in wake of data breach • The Register

• Lawsuit blames Tesla for data breach it sued ex-staff over • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Popular 'As-a-Service' Operations Have Earned Cyber Criminals over $64m - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Crime Tremors: Experts Forecast Qakbot Resurgence (govinfosecurity.com)

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

• Cyber crime to cost Germany 206 billion euros in 2023, survey finds | Reuters

• Anonymity and illicit activities: Cyber security expert warns of risks and dangers associated with the dark web (newswise.com)

• Cyber criminals coercing children in their own bedrooms | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• YouTuber Loses $60K Worth of Crypto After Showing Seed Phrases on Stream - Decrypt

• Who Pulled Off a $41M Online Casino Heist? North Korea, FBI Says (vice.com)

• Russian Malware Targets Crypto Wallet: US and UK Intelligence Agencies Issue Joint Warning (cryptopotato.com)

• Is this the next target for international ransomware attacks? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Bitcoin exchange exec admits he ignored anti-laundering laws • The Register

• Cyber criminals target graphic designers with GPU miners (talosintelligence.com)

• LastPass under fire again as users report stolen crypto keys and losses | Cybernews

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Lawsuit blames Tesla for data breach it sued ex-staff over • The Register

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Popular 'As-a-Service' Operations Have Earned Cyber criminals over $64m - IT Security Guru

• Smishing Triad: China-Based Fraud Network Exposed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fake YouPorn extortion scam threatens to leak your sex tape (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Four Convicted in $18m Investment Fraud Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Global roaming fraud losses to surpass $8 billion by 2028 - Help Net Security

• Three men arrested for stealing thousands of dollars by hacking into ATMs with a Raspberry Pi device | PC Gamer

• Airlines Battle Surge in Loyalty Program Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How We Track Crypto Money Laundering for Off-Chain Crime (chainalysis.com)

• District of Massachusetts | Russian Businessman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison in $93 Million Hack-to-Trade Conspiracy | United States Department of Justice

• Hundreds of Scam Pages Uncovered in Major Investment Fraud Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• See Tickets Alerts 300,000 Customers After Another Web Skimmer Attack - SecurityWeek

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Impersonation Attacks

• 'Smishing Triad' Targeted USPS and US Citizens for Data Theft (securityaffairs.com)

• How cyber criminals use look-alike domains to impersonate brands - Help Net Security

Deepfakes

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How We Track Crypto Money Laundering for Off-Chain Crime (chainalysis.com)

• Four Convicted in $18m Investment Fraud Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Bitcoin exchange exec admits he ignored anti-laundering laws • The Register

Insurance

• Insights Into the Changing Landscape of Cyber Insurance - Frost Brown Todd | Full-Service Law Firm

• Time and effort to obtain cyber insurance increasing for US businesses | CSO Online

• Beazley expects to sponsor more cyber catastrophe bonds in 2024 - Artemis.bm

• Lloyd’s categorises cyber war wordings in aggregation clarity push (insuranceinsider.com)

Dark Web

• Anonymity and illicit activities: Cyber security expert warns of risks and dangers associated with the dark web (newswise.com)

• The Initial Access Broker Economy: A Deep Dive into Dark Web Hacking Forums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked by LockBit (techmonitor.ai)

• Supply chain related security risks, and how to protect against them (malwarebytes.com)

• 5 ways to improve your supply chain security posture | IT Reseller Magazine (itrportal.com)

• University of Sydney suffered a security breach caused by a third-party service provider (securityaffairs.com)

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

• Creating a more cyber secure supply chain requires group effort - FreightWaves

• Facing Third-Party Threats With Non-Employee Risk Management (darkreading.com)

• Cyber attacks attempt to crash 6 media sites globally using US. company RayoByte - Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)

Software Supply Chain

• Software Supply Chain Strategies to Parry Dependency Confusion Attacks (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Step Up Your Defence Against Cloud-loving Cyber Criminals (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Attack Surface Management

• What OSINT is, and why it’s dangerous | Kaspersky official blog

• Armis report sheds light on top 10 targeted assets by cyber attackers - SiliconANGLE

• Top 10 riskiest assets threatening global business - IT Security Guru

Encryption

• Government denies U-turn on encrypted messaging row - BBC News

• UK lawmakers back down on encryption-busting 'spy clause' | CyberScoop

API

• API Vulnerabilities: 74% of Organisations Report Multiple Breaches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Open Source

• Software industry urged to assume risk on open source security | CIO Dive

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• It's a Zero-day? It's Malware? No! It's Username and Password (thehackernews.com)

• Chrome extensions can steal plaintext passwords from websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hacker gains admin control of Sourcegraph and gives free access to the masses | Ars Technica

• Passwords From The November 2022 LastPass Breach Being Cracked? - PC Perspective

• LastPass under fire again as users report stolen crypto keys and losses | Cybernews

• Maker of ‘smart’ chastity cage left users’ emails, passwords, and locations exposed | TechCrunch

• 75% of education sector attacks linked to compromised accounts - Help Net Security

Social Media

• Twitter accused of helping Saudi Arabia commit human rights abuses | Saudi Arabia | The Guardian

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

Malvertising

• 'Atomic macOS Stealer' Malware Delivered via Malvertising Campaign - SecurityWeek

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Children's snack recalled after its website caught serving porn (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber criminals coercing children in their own bedrooms | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• SEC tells companies to “show their work” on cyber security - Red Canary

• Verizon to pay feds $4M over cyber security lapse | Light Reading

• Government denies U-turn on encrypted messaging row - BBC News

• UK drops 'spy clause' for scanning encrypted messages • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• CIS Benchmarks Communities: Where configurations meet consensus - Help Net Security

• Explaining The New NIST Cyber Security Framework to the C-Suite

Backup and Recovery

• Best practices for implementing a proper backup strategy - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• 71% of organisations are impacted by cyber security skills shortage | Security Magazine

• Cyber Security Skills Gap set to cost UK £120 billion by 2023 - Essex-TV

• 6 free resources for getting started in cyber security - Help Net Security

• Cyber professionals say industry urgently needs to confront mental health crisis | CyberScoop

• Cyber security pros battle discontent amid skills shortage - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• FBI Qakbot Takedown: Unanswered Questions (trendmicro.com)

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

• Cops drill into chat apps to thwart coke-smuggling ring • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Revealed: Home Office secretly lobbied for facial recognition ‘spy’ company | Facial recognition | The Guardian

• Like privacy? Then smart devices are a dumb idea • The Register

• Streetlights as Spyware (techpolicy.press)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study • The Register

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russia-linked attackers hit UK Ministry of Defence, leak stolen data | CSO Online

• NCSC Report Reveals Persistent Threat and Russia’s Ongoing Cyber Operations in Ukraine | Defense Express (defence-ua.com)

• An inside look at Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• Meet the man leading the front-line effort in Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• China and Russia are pushing the boundaries of cyber attacks to harm other states - CityAM

• Ukraine's CERT Thwarts APT28's Cyber Attack on Critical Energy Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Russia-linked hack on Trident base sparks 'World War Three' warning from expert (yahoo.com)

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russia, China behind majority of cyber attacks targeting German businesses (aa.com.tr)

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Russian Malware Targets Crypto Wallet: US and UK Intelligence Agencies Issue Joint Warning (cryptopotato.com)

• Elon Musk's Father Fears Possible Assassination Attempt on His Son (businessinsider.com)

• Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study • The Register

• North Korea hackers going after Russian targets, Microsoft says, World News - AsiaOne

China

• How China gets free intel on tech companies’ vulnerabilities | Ars Technica

• Experts Probe AI Risks Around Malicious Use, China Influence (govinfosecurity.com)

• How Microsoft's highly secure environment was breached (malwarebytes.com)

• Chinese-Speaking Cyber Criminals Launch Large-Scale iMessage Smishing Campaign in US. (thehackernews.com)

• Securing The IoT From The Threat China Poses To US Infrastructure (forbes.com)

• China and Russia are pushing the boundaries of cyber attacks to harm other states - CityAM

• Russia, China behind majority of cyber attacks targeting German businesses (aa.com.tr)

• German companies report more cyber attacks from Russia, China | Meta.mk

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft reveals hackers compromised engineer account to gain access to government accounts - SiliconANGLE

• Microsoft finally explains cause of Azure breach: An engineer’s account was hacked | Ars Technica

• South Korean Cyber Security Concerns Over Chinese-Made Cranes, Meteorological Gear | The Epoch Times

• Huawei hits back in Portugal over 5G 'ban' with lawsuit - DCD (datacenterdynamics.com)

Iran

• Hackers push anti-Iranian government messages to millions via breached app | CyberScoop

• Iranian hackers breach US aviation org via Zoho, Fortinet bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

North Korea

• Lazarus hackers deploy fake VMware PyPI packages in VMConnect attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers Warn of Cyber Weapons Used by Lazarus Group's Andariel Cluster (thehackernews.com)

• Meet the man leading the front-line effort in Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• North Korean hackers target security researchers with new zero-day (therecord.media)

• North Korea hackers going after Russian targets, Microsoft says, World News - AsiaOne

• Who Pulled Off a $41M Online Casino Heist? North Korea, FBI Says (vice.com)

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• Nation-state 'hot zones' offer view of the future of cyber war – report - CIR Magazine

• Global cyber weapon market set for substantial growth | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Policy, Guns and Money: Cyber conflict, competition and cooperation | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

• Lloyd’s categorises cyber war wordings in aggregation clarity push (insuranceinsider.com)

• Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets For Nation-State Hackers (newsweek.com)

• Multiple Nation-State Threat Actors Exploit CVE-2022-47966 and CVE-2022-42475 | CISA

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Vulnerability Management

• Years-old Microsoft bugs are still hot targets for criminals • The Register

• Old vulnerabilities are still a big problem - Help Net Security

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

• How China gets free intel on tech companies’ vulnerabilities | Ars Technica

Vulnerabilities

• How to detect and patch a Log4J vulnerability  - IBM Blog

• Apple discloses 2 actively exploited zero-days in iPhones, Macs (securityaffairs.com)

• Google patches 4 high-rated security issues in latest Chrome 116 update - gHacks Tech News

• High-Severity Vulnerability Discovered in Popular CMS - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Two flaws in Apache SuperSet allow to remotely hack servers (securityaffairs.com)

• Cisco Patches Critical Vulnerability in BroadWorks Platform - SecurityWeek

• Adobe ColdFusion Critical Vulnerabilities Exploited Despite Patches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Multiple Notepad++ Flaws Let Attackers Execute Arbitrary Code (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Hackers exploit MinIO storage system to breach corporate networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ASUS routers vulnerable to critical remote code execution flaws (bleepingcomputer.com)

• September Android updates fix zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA Adds One Known Vulnerability to Catalog | CISA

• Cisco SSO authentication bug patched - Security - Networking - iTnews

• Eight vulnerabilities in Open Automation Software Platform could lead to information disclosure, improper authentication (talosintelligence.com)

• Multiple Nation-State Threat Actors Exploit CVE-2022-47966 and CVE-2022-42475 | CISA

• Security or performance? Zenbleed forces you to choose | Digital Trends

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Tools and Controls

• Many businesses still aren't using BYOD protection | TechRadar

• Why Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Insights Into the Changing Landscape of Cyber Insurance - Frost Brown Todd | Full-Service Law Firm

• Spend to save: The CFO’s guide to cyber security investment (securityintelligence.com)

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• IOCs vs Artifacts How to Filter Out the Noise (govinfosecurity.com)

• Time and effort to obtain cyber insurance increasing for US businesses | CSO Online

• Chrome extensions can steal plaintext passwords from websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dangling DNS Used to Hijack Subdomains of Major Organisations  - SecurityWeek

• Why DNS Security Can Be Your Most Problematic Blind Spot (hyas.com)

• Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets For Nation-State Hackers (newsweek.com)

• Rising Physical Incidents Should Drive C-Level Investment & Action (forbes.com)

• Why Cyber Security Risk Assessment Matters in the Banking Industry (securityintelligence.com)

• Cut through cyber security vendor hype with these 6 tips | TechTarget

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

• Best practices for implementing a proper backup strategy - Help Net Security

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Other News

• Education Sector Heavily Targeted as the School Year Begins (databreaches.net)

• Schools warned of cyberattack threat as new year begins | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• Ways to protect WordPress sites and blogs from hacking | Kaspersky official blog

• New Nozomi Networks Study Finds EU Critical Infrastructure Companies Are Not Ready for NIS2 Compliance - IT Security Guru

• Insecure by design: What you need to know about defending critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Half of Switzerland's large companies have been the victim of a cyber attack | Euronews

• Dangling DNS Used to Hijack Subdomains of Major Organizations  - SecurityWeek

• Securing the future: Safeguarding cyber-physical systems | CSO Online

• The tangible threat of cyber-kinetic attacks | CSO Online

• 25 Major Car Brands Get Failing Marks From Mozilla for Security and Privacy  - SecurityWeek

• Cyber security In Focus Ahead Of Berlin NATO Conference | OilPrice.com

• Trustwave SpiderLabs Report Highlights Hospitality Industry Cybersecurity Threats (hotelnewsresource.com)

• 10 old-school security principles that (still) rule | CSO Online

• Surge in Hospital Hacks Endangers Patients, Cyber Official Says - WSJ

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 25 August 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Cloud Hosting Firm Loses All Customer Data After Ransomware Attack

CloudNordic, a Danish cloud hosting provider, has told customers to consider all of their data as having been lost following a ransomware infection that encrypted the large Danish cloud provider. The threat actors had destroyed the organisation’s backups, which prevented the firm from recovering effectively. The attack also impacted AzeroCloud, which is owned by the same company.

Worryingly, many organisations believe that having backups and using the cloud is enough for them to be able to recover from any cyber incident; unfortunately, as shown in the CloudNordic and AzeroCloud attacks, it is not enough. Organisations need to have a recovery plan in place which is tested and improved, to best strengthen themselves in the event of a cyber incident.

Sources: [The Register] [Bleeping Computer] [Help Net Security]

Would You Infect Others to Rid Yourself of Ransomware?

Hackers continually develop ransomware with new and creative attack methods that keep internet security professionals on their toes and pose challenges for people trying to detect threats. Victims of ransomware usually see messages asking them to pay for file access restoration; however, the Popcorn Time ransomware group takes a different approach to getting victims involved.

The Popcorn Time ransomware approach works via the referral method. The ransomware group is willing to give victims access to their files if they send the referral link to two other people, extending the attacker’s reach. Most people would hesitate to distribute a ransomware link through email, WhatsApp, or another method that is easy for victims to identify them as the perpetrators. Law enforcement bodies categorise ransomware attacks as crimes that come with hefty fines and prison time. Even those choosing to send the links to people they know face disastrous consequences beyond law enforcement, including the loss of jobs and relationships.

Source: [CyberNews]

Artificial Intelligence and USBs Drive 8% Rise in Cyber Attacks

Checkpoint’s 2023 Mid-Year Security Report shows an 8% surge in global weekly cyber attacks during Q2, marking the most significant increase in two years. The report highlights the fusion of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology with traditional tools like USB devices used for disruptive cyber attacks.

Other significant findings include the evolution of ransomware tactics. The report found that ransomware groups are exploiting vulnerabilities in common corporate software and shifting focus from encrypting data to stealing it. USB devices have resurfaced as threats, employed by both state-affiliated groups and cyber-criminals to distribute malware globally. The misuse of AI has escalated, as attackers use generative AI tools for phishing emails, keystroke monitoring malware and basic ransomware code.

Source: [InfoSecurity Magazine]

Ransomware Attacks Broke Records in July, Mainly Driven By One Group

A number of ransomware actors are utilising the threat of releasing sensitive data to get organisations to pay ransoms; in some cases this is combined with encryption to give the actor two avenues of payment. A report has found there were over 500 attacks last month, an increase of 153% compared to one year ago, and a 16% increase compared to June. Within Europe, there was a 59% increase in ransomware attacks from June to July.

Part of the significant rise is due to the ransomware group called Cl0p, whose attack on the MOVEit software has accounted for hundreds of victims this year. The Cl0p ransomware group has kept its promise to publish files on the clearweb of all its victims if contact was not made. The clearweb is simply what we know as the internet; anyone can access it. As such, there will be many organisations who are now having their sensitive data published and readily viewable for anyone who has access to the internet.

Sources: [Gov Info Seccurity] [Security Week] [ZDNET] [Cyber News]

Cyber Risk in The Boardroom

The relationship between the CISO and the wider boardroom has become increasingly cooperative, with 77% of CEO’s seeing cyber as a strategic function and a potential source of competitive advantage. While it is ultimately up to the board to take steps to keep cybersecurity high on the agenda, the CISO also has a responsibility to press the message and bridge any gaps.

CISOs must deliver concerns, strategies and recommendations in a business-first manner, while avoiding jargon and overly technical language. Attracting and retaining good quality senior security professionals is very challenging in the current market and Black Arrow offer a fractional CISO service, giving access to a whole team of specialists with wider expertise, experience and backgrounds, for less than the cost of hiring one individual.

Sources: [Security Week] [TechRadar]

Malware-Infected Advertising Grows Ever More Sophisticated, And More Damaging

The malware exploits known as malware-infected ads, or malvertising, have been around for decades, but new reports point to a steady rise in efficacy. With malvertising, the infected ads are typically placed on legitimate ad networks, which makes them more difficult to spot and remove. The technique continues to use more and more sophisticated mechanisms for getting their infections spread throughout the web and keeping them running for a long time. The exploits can operate in one of several ways, including intercepting a user’s clickstream on random hyperlinks and substituting them with redirects to advertising websites.

Adblockers either on endpoints or at the network level can also help to prevent malvertising from causing harm.

Source: [SiliconAngle]

Cyber Security is Everyone’s Responsibility

A recent survey found that 41% of respondents said that poor quality training, or a lack of training altogether, and insider threats were impacting their organisation’s security. Cyber security involves everyone as any employee can be an entry point for a cyber incident, but they also have the power to prevent one. It is important to make sure all employees are provided adequate training. Not every role requires the same training however, so it is important for organisations to identify and provide training that is appropriate to employees. Black Arrow provide live in person and online instructor lead cyber security training, both through Cyber Risk and Governance Workshops for Senior Leadership and Awareness, Behaviour and Culture Training for employees and contractors.

Source: [IT Pro Today]

QR Code Hacks Are Another Thing to Worry About Now

One of the upcoming technologies thrust upon us is QR codes. At this point, you can find them at most restaurants and parking sites. You simply scan the code and you are taken to the relevant site, for example, the menu for the restaurant. Attackers have cottoned on to this and started to use QR codes in phishing attacks; the idea being that the victim will scan the code without scrutinising it and be taken to a malicious website instead.

Source: [Bloomberg]

Security Basics Aren’t So Basic Anymore

The basics of cyber security, it turns out, aren’t so basic anymore. What was considered basic has moved way beyond just having firewalls and antivirus, and the most basic controls nowadays include more advanced controls such as robust identity and access management, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and patching and vulnerability management. Many of these now basic controls are lacking or non-existent across the economy according to cyber security experts. A report found that only 28% of Microsoft users had MFA enabled as 2022 closed.

You can’t solve all the problems at once. However, progress on these fronts also relies heavily on the need for a cultural shift. Organisations need to get to the point where they view cyber security in the same light as locks on doors and seatbelts in cars.

Source: [CioDive]

Apple MacOS Security Myths

Apple has maintained a reputation as being more secure than other manufacturers, and whilst Apple has put many different security mechanisms into its operating system, no technology is bulletproof. Assuming an Apple device is invulnerable can lead users to believe that their Mac will not get viruses or be subject to a plethora of other cyber threats. As a result, this can lead to poor cyber hygiene from the individual, as they assume they are safe regardless of what they do. Apple users need to remain every bit as aware of risks, social engineering, keeping devices up to date, and having appropriate security controls.

Source: [Huntress]

Security Leaders Report Misalignment of Investments and Risk Reduction

The cyber risk landscape was analysed in a recent report that examined the amount of risk that organisations are willing to accept, their resource constraints and key priorities for approaching cyber risk in the future. The report found 66% of respondents indicating that they have limited visibility and insight into their cyber risk profiles, hindering their ability to prioritise investments and allocate resources effectively. 67% of organisations experienced a breach requiring attention within the last two years despite having traditional threat-based security measures in place. Further, 61% of security executives expressed concerns over the current misalignment between cyber security investments and their organisation's risk reduction priorities.

Source: [InfoSecurity Magazine]

Many CISOs Tout SaaS (Cloud) Cyber Security Confidence, but 79% Admit to Incidents

Cyber security, IT, and business leaders alike recognise SaaS (cloud) cyber security as an increasingly important part of the cyber threat landscape. And at first glance, respondents appear generally optimistic about their SaaS cyber security as 85% answered that they are confident or very confident in their company's or customer's data security in sanctioned SaaS apps.

Despite the confidence, 79% of respondents confirmed that their organisation had identified SaaS cyber security incidents over the past 12 months. Many of those incidents occurred in environments with cyber security policies in place and enforced, as 66% of respondents claimed in their responses.

Source: [The Hacker News]

If You Ever Used Duolingo, Watch Out for Phishing Email

Users of Duolingo, past and present, should be wary of phishing emails as data on about 2.6 million accounts were scraped through an exposed application programming interface (API), and then offered on a hacking forum back in January. Login and real names, email addresses, phone numbers, and courses studied were part of the collection, which went for $1,500. Now that data has resurfaced on a different forum, and at a substantially lower cost of just a few dollars, users of the service can expect this data to be used in fresh phishing campaigns.

Source: [PCWorld]

91% of Security and IT Professionals: Criminals are Already Using AI in Email Attacks

Recent research found that 91% of security and IT professionals are noticing cyber criminals already using AI as part of email attack campaigns, with 74% indicating they have experienced an increase in the use of AI by cyber criminals in the past six months. This is worrying as 52% reported that email security is among one of their top three concerns.

Organisations need to make sure that their technologies, procedures and policies are updated to factor in AI-enabled email attacks to help reduce the risk they pose to the organisation. Such improvements should also include employees.

Source: [PR Newswire]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber security 'number one on the agenda in boardrooms,' Cramer says (cnbc.com)

• Firms have mere hours to deflect cyber attacks, warns cyber security CEO (cointelegraph.com)

• The End of “Groundhog Day” for the Security in the Boardroom Discussion? - SecurityWeek

• Cyber risk: the view across the boardroom table | TechRadar

• Too many businesses struggling to hire and retain talent, amplifying security risks – Digital Journal

• How Cyber Security Leaders Can Help Lower Expenses While Reducing Risk (informationweek.com)

• Who’s Your Next Cyber Chief? Good Question. (wsj.com)

• Cyber crime: A Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry (thecyberwire.com)

• How the downmarket impacted enterprise cyber security budgets - Help Net Security

• What is Risk Analysis? | Definition from TechTarget

• When Leadership Style Is a Security Risk (darkreading.com)

• The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security Education (inforisktoday.com)

• Protect Your Cyber Security Budget and Your Organisation | Dell USA

• Rapid cyber attacks demand modernised security, says Palo Alto CEO (crypto.news)

• Cyber security Is Everyone’s Responsibility | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• The Cost of 'Good Enough' Security - GovInfoSecurity

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Cl0p dumps all MOVEit victim data on clearnet, threat insiders talk ransom strategy | Cybernews

• Cuba ransomware gang looking for unpatched Veeam installations: Report | IT Business

• Ransomware attacks broke records in July, mainly driven by this one group | ZDNET

• Hosting firm says it lost all customer data after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FE News | 70% of secondary schools have experienced a cyber incident. BIP shares three ways they can protect against attacks ahead of results day

• Cyber Attacks have left some hospital computers offline for 2 weeks, closing ERs and postponing surgeries

• Continued MOVEit Exploitation Drives Record Ransomware Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Would You Infect Others to Rid Yourself of Ransomware? (makeuseof.com)

• How Application Allowlisting Combats Ransomware Attacks (securityintelligence.com)

• Akira ransomware gang spotted targeting Cisco VPN products to hack organisations-Security Affairs

• Scarab Ransomware Deployed Worldwide Via Spacecolon Toolset - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why Ransomware Gangs Opt for Encryption-Less Attacks (govinfosecurity.com)

• MOVEit Health Data Breach Tally Keeps Growing (inforisktoday.com)

• British intelligence is tipping off ransomware targets to disrupt attacks (therecord.media)

• What the Hive Ransomware Case Says About RaaS and Cryptocurrency (darkreading.com)

• 6 Ransomware Trends & Evolutions For 2023 (trendmicro.com)

• New Study Sheds Light on ADHUBLLKA Ransomware Network - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• North Korea ready to cash out more than $40 million in Bitcoin after summer of attacks, warns FBI | Tripwire

• Ransomware dwell time hits new low - Help Net Security

• Three trends to watch in the growing threat landscape (betanews.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Cl0p dumps all MOVEit victim data on clearnet, threat insiders talk ransom strategy | Cybernews

• Hosting firm says it lost all customer data after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attacks have left some hospital computers offline for 2 weeks, closing ERs and postponing surgeries

• BlackCat ransomware group claims the hack of Seiko network -Security Affairs

• Ransomware gang threatens Raleigh Housing Authority months after devastating attack (therecord.media)

• The Estée Lauder Cos. Addresses Cyber security Attack – WWD

• Mysterious Cyber Attack Shuts Down Yet More Telescopes For Weeks | IFLScience

• St Helens Council hit by suspected Ransomware cyber attack | St Helens Star

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• 91% of security pros say cyber criminals are using AI in email attacks | Security Magazine

• Insurer Denies Coverage Under Professional Liability Policy for Lawyer’s Email Compromise | Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider - JDSupra

• Cyber criminals turn to AI to bypass modern email security measures - Help Net Security

• New Generation of Phishing Hides Behind Trusted Services (securityintelligence.com)

• New phishing campaign recognised in Europe and South America | Security Magazine

• If you ever used Duolingo, watch out for phishing emails | PCWorld

• Open redirect flaws increasingly exploited by phishers - Help Net Security

• How to spot phishing on a hacked WordPress website | Kaspersky official blog

• The Dual Role of AI in Email Security - GovInfoSecurity

• New Telegram Bot "Telekopye" Powering Large-scale Phishing Scams from Russia (thehackernews.com)

• eBay Users Beware Russian 'Telekopye' Telegram Phishing Bot (darkreading.com)

• Phish in a Barrel: Real-World Cyber Attack Examples (govinfosecurity.com)

• Email Security: Top 5 Threats and How to Protect Your Business - ReadWrite

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• 91% of security pros say cyber criminals are using AI in email attacks | Security Magazine

• Breaking Down BEC: The Modern CISO’s Framework for Identifying, Classifying and Stopping Email Fraud (govinfosecurity.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Blockchain Capital’s Bart Stephens Lost $6.3 Million In SIM-Swap Hack (forbes.com)

• What Is Virtual Kidnapping and How Can You Fight It? (makeuseof.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• 91% of Security and IT Professionals Agree Cyber Criminals are Already Using AI in Email Attacks, per Report from SlashNext and Osterman Research (prnewswire.com)

• Artificial Intelligence and USBs Drive 8% Rise in Cyber-Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Deceptive AI Bots Spread Malware, Raise Security Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber criminals turn to AI to bypass modern email security measures - Help Net Security

• Compliance, Risk Management and Security Are Being Impact by Generative AI... But How? | The Fintech Times

• Tricks for making AI chatbots break rules are freely available online | New Scientist

• What Is Virtual Kidnapping and How Can You Fight It? (makeuseof.com)

• Generative AI Is Scraping Your Data. So, Now What? (darkreading.com)

• Fake versions of Google Bard are spreading malware | TechRadar

• AI and the evolution of surveillance systems - Help Net Security

• The Dual Role of AI in Email Security - GovInfoSecurity

• Thinking of Deploying Generative AI? You May Already Have (govinfosecurity.com)

• Three trends to watch in the growing threat landscape (betanews.com)

• Careful -- Hackers are targeting Google Bard ads for malware | Digital Trends

Malware

• Deceptive AI Bots Spread Malware, Raise Security Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Serious WinRAR Flaw Can Be Exploited to Launch Malware (pcmag.com)

• Hackers use VPN provider's code certificate to sign malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• HiatusRAT Malware Resurfaces: Taiwan Firms and US Military Under Attack (thehackernews.com) Ask the Mac Guy: macOS Security Myths (huntress.com)

• New Variant of XLoader macOS Malware Disguised as 'OfficeNote' Productivity App (thehackernews.com)

• New "Whiffy Recon" Malware Triangulates Infected Device Location via Wi-Fi Every Minute (thehackernews.com)

• Researchers Uncover New Lazarus Group Malware Details | Decipher (duo.com)

Mobile

• New stealthy Android malware stumps antivirus, poses huge threat to phones, study reveals | Tech News (hindustantimes.com)

• Thousands of Android Malware Apps Using Stealthy APK Compression to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

• “Snakes in airplane mode” – what if your phone says it’s offline but isn’t? – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Google wants to fight pre-installed Android malware | TechSpot

• Children and smartphones: How to protect and guide them from bullying, phishing and grooming – The Irish Times

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS Attacks in H1 2023 Up 200% from 2022 According to New Zayo Data | Business Wire

Internet of Things – IoT

• TP-Link smart bulbs can let hackers steal your WiFi password (bleepingcomputer.com)

• When Your Home Security System Turns the Camera on You | The Epoch Times

• Anticipating the next wave of IoT cyber security challenges - Help Net Security

• The Physical Impact of Cyber Attacks on Cities (darkreading.com)

• Smart Cities: Utopian Dream, Security Nightmare, or Political Gimmick? - SecurityWeek

• Yes, Your Electric Vehicle Could Be Hacked - IEEE Spectrum

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Insurer Denies Coverage Under Professional Liability Policy for Lawyer’s Email Compromise | Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider - JDSupra

• Tesla Data Breach Investigation Reveals Inside Job (darkreading.com)

• Leak of 75k staff records was insiders' fault, Tesla claims • The Register

• Guernsey CCTV investigation widened after more footage leaked | Bailiwick Express Jersey

• Scraped data of 2.6 million Duolingo users released on hacking forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Thousands of Charity Donors Have Details Leaked Onto Dark Web | The Epoch Times

• How a Christie’s website revealed where people kept their art | The Seattle Times

• Defence contractor Belcan leaks admin password with a list of flaws-Security Affairs

• Critical Insight Report: 15% Drop in Breaches, 31% Surge in Victims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• What lessons must be learned from the Electoral Register cyber attack? | theHRD (thehrdirector.com)

• 5 Early Warning Indicators That Are Key to Protecting National Secrets (darkreading.com)

• Sensitive Data of 10m at Risk After French Employment Agency Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• University of Minnesota Confirms Data Breach, Says Ransomware Not Involved - SecurityWeek

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Check Point reveals 8% spike in global cyber attacks by mid-2023 (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Attack Dwell Times Fall but Threat Actors Are Moving Faster - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK Court Convicts Lapsus$ Hacker for Breaching ISP BT and EE UPDATE - ISPreview UK

• Cyber crime: A Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry (thecyberwire.com)

• Bruce Schneier gets inside the hacker's mind | CyberScoop

• Hacking group KittenSec claims to 'pwn anything we see' to expose corruption | CyberScoop

• Ransomware dwell time hits new low - Help Net Security

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Blockchain Capital’s Bart Stephens Lost $6.3 Million In SIM-Swap Hack (forbes.com)

• What the Hive Ransomware Case Says About RaaS and Cryptocurrency (darkreading.com)

• North Korea ready to cash out more than $40 million in Bitcoin after summer of attacks, warns FBI | Tripwire

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Leak of 75k staff records was insiders' fault, Tesla claims • The Register

• Police Insider Tipped Off Criminal Friend About EncroChat Bust - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Three trends to watch in the growing threat landscape (betanews.com)

• Phish in a Barrel: Real-World Cyber Attack Examples (govinfosecurity.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Interpol arrest 14 who allegedly scammed $40m from victims • The Register

• Germany Hunts for Cyber Criminals Amid Billion-Euro Scams - Bloomberg

• Billion Dollar Heist: The simple typo that stopped the Bangladesh bank robbers from stealing $1 billion (ladbible.com)

• Sneaky Amazon Google ad leads to Microsoft support scam (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Blockchain Capital’s Bart Stephens Lost $6.3 Million In SIM-Swap Hack (forbes.com)

• Surge in identity crime victims reporting suicidal thoughts - Help Net Security

Impersonation Attacks

• How to spot phishing on a hacked WordPress website | Kaspersky official blog

Deepfakes

• What Is Virtual Kidnapping and How Can You Fight It? (makeuseof.com)

Insurance

• Insurer Denies Coverage Under Professional Liability Policy for Lawyer’s Email Compromise | Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider - JDSupra

• Cyber security insurance is missing the risk - Help Net Security

• Cyber Security Insurance Market worth $17.6 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™ (prnewswire.com)

• Cyber Security Insurance Market Size & Share Analysis - (globenewswire.com)

• The Shifting Dynamics of Cyber Insurance - BankInfoSecurity

• Global Cyber Security Insurance Market to Reach USD 33.4 Billion by 2028, Driven by Rising Cyber Threats and Regulatory Compliance (prnewswire.com)

Dark Web

• Thousands of Charity Donors Have Details Leaked Onto Dark Web | The Epoch Times

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• New Chinese APT Group Launches Supply Chain Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Supply Chain Attack Hit Close to 100 Victims—and Clues Point to China | WIRED

• Supply chain as kill chain | ITPro

Cloud/SaaS

• The Importance Of SaaS Backup And Disaster Recovery: Reasons To Consider (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Cloud hosting firms hit by devastating ransomware attack - Help Net Security

• Warning: Attackers Abusing Legitimate Internet Services (inforisktoday.com)

• How to conduct a cloud security assessment | TechTarget

• Maintaining consistent security in diverse cloud infrastructures - Help Net Security

• How API authentication vulnerabilities are at the center of cloud security concerns | CSO Online

• CISOs Tout SaaS Cyber Security Confidence, But 79% Admit to SaaS Incidents, New Report Finds (thehackernews.com)

• Lack of visibility into cloud access policies leaves enterprises flying blind - Help Net Security

• Cloud services are creating more cyber-risks for telcos   - Mobile Europe

Identity and Access Management

• Ongoing Duo outage causes Azure Auth authentication errors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco's Duo Security suffers major authentication outage • The Register

Encryption

• Apple security updates could be banned by British government (9to5mac.com)

API

• Understanding how attackers exploit APIs is more important than ever - Help Net Security

• How API authentication vulnerabilities are at the centre of cloud security concerns | CSO Online

Biometrics

• ICO publishes guidance on use of biometric data in the UK - Tech Monitor

• Is Facial Recognition Technology Becoming a Privacy Risk? (makeuseof.com)

• Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) Statistics for 2023 (techreport.com)

• Biometric payment systems raise privacy concerns (iapp.org)

Social Media

• Global warning issued on social media data scraping (iapp.org)

Malvertising

• Sneaky Amazon Google ad leads to Microsoft support scam (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malware-infected advertising grows ever more sophisticated, and lethal - SiliconANGLE

• Careful -- Hackers are targeting Google Bard ads for malware | Digital Trends

Training, Education and Awareness

• 2023 Cyber Security Awareness Month Appeal: Make Online Security Easier (govtech.com)

• The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security Education (inforisktoday.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Report reveals insights on cyber security conversations with children | Security Magazine

• Children and smartphones: How to protect and guide them from bullying, phishing and grooming – The Irish Times

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Nearly a third of young people preyed on by "text pest" delivery drivers (bitdefender.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Apple security updates could be banned by British government (9to5mac.com)

• How EU lawmakers can make mandatory vulnerability disclosure responsible - Help Net Security

• Cyber Security Laws and Regulations in Germany | UpGuard

• Morgan Stanley Fined for UK Energy Trading WhatsApp Breach (yahoo.com)

• New NCUA Rule Requires Swift Cyber Incident Reporting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SEC Cyber Security Rules: Considerations for Incident Response Planning | Holland & Knight LLP - JDSupra

• Controversial Cyber crime Law Passes in Jordan (darkreading.com)

• Experian Pays $650,000 to Settle Spam Claims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Strengthening Cyber Security In Finance: A Look At EU DORA Regulations (forbes.com)

• Proposed bill would require vulnerability disclosure policies for all federal contractors (therecord.media)

Backup and Recovery

• The Importance Of SaaS Backup And Disaster Recovery: Reasons To Consider (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Data Protection

• ICO publishes guidance on use of biometric data in the UK - Tech Monitor

• Experian Pays $650,000 to Settle Spam Claims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Too many businesses struggling to hire and retain talent, amplifying security risks – Digital Journal

• Unrealistic expectations exacerbate the cyber security talent shortage - Help Net Security

• It's Time to Approach The Cyber Security Skills Gap Differently - IT Security Guru

• How To Become Chief Information Security Officer - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• 4 ways simulation training alleviates team burnout - Help Net Security

• Government Urges More Students to Be Cyber Explorers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Tens of thousands of students receive free training to build cyber skills - The Business Magazine

• 90% of Consumers Worry Cyber Security’s Future Is in Jeopardy if Students Aren’t Exposed to the Field at an Earlier Age - IT Security Guru

• 5 Ways SMBs Can Bridge the Cyber Security Skills Gap | Mimecast

• The Importance of Accessible and Inclusive Cyber Security (securityintelligence.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Interpol arrest 14 who allegedly scammed $40m from victims • The Register

• UK Court Convicts Lapsus$ Hacker for Breaching ISP BT and EE UPDATE - ISPreview UK

• Two dozen arrested, hundreds of malicious IPs taken down in African cyber crime operation | CyberScoop

• Germany Hunts for Cyber Criminals Amid Billion-Euro Scams - Bloomberg

• Police Insider Tipped Off Criminal Friend About EncroChat Bust - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Is Facial Recognition Technology Becoming a Privacy Risk? (makeuseof.com)

• When Your Home Security System Turns the Camera on You | The Epoch Times

• Biometric payment systems raise privacy concerns (iapp.org)

• AI and the evolution of surveillance systems - Help Net Security

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Intelligence agencies warn foreign spies are targeting US space companies - Times of India (indiatimes.com)

• Incident response lessons learned from the Russian attack on Viasat | CSO Online

• Ukrainian hackers claim to leak emails of Russian parliament deputy chief (therecord.media)

• New Telegram Bot "Telekopye" Powering Large-scale Phishing Scams from Russia (thehackernews.com)

China

• Mounting Cyber Espionage and Hacking Threat from China - Modern Diplomacy

• Cyberespionage campaign by China's Ministry of State Security. CSRB will look into cyberespionage against Microsoft Exchange. Attacks against industrial systems. Threats to satellite communications. (thecyberwire.com)

• HiatusRAT Malware Resurfaces: Taiwan Firms and US Military Under Attack (thehackernews.com)

• New Chinese APT Group Launches Supply Chain Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Supply Chain Attack Hit Close to 100 Victims—and Clues Point to China | WIRED

• Exposed: the Chinese spy using LinkedIn to hunt UK secrets (thetimes.co.uk)

• FBI: Suspected Chinese actors continue Barracuda ESG attacks | TechTarget

• Microsoft says Chinese hacking crew is targeting Taiwan | CyberScoop

• US space companies face foreign spy threat, intelligence agencies say (usatoday.com) 

North Korea

• N. Korean Kimsuky APT targets S. Korea-US military exercises-Security Affairs

• Researchers Uncover New Lazarus Group Malware Details | Decipher (duo.com)

• North Korea ready to cash out more than $40 million in Bitcoin after summer of attacks, warns FBI | Tripwire

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Syrian Threat Actor EVLF Unmasked as Creator of CypherRAT and CraxsRAT Android Malware (thehackernews.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• NCSC issues warning on cyber vulnerabilities (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

• How EU lawmakers can make mandatory vulnerability disclosure responsible - Help Net Security

Vulnerabilities

• Juniper Networks fixes flaws leading to RCE in firewalls and switches - Help Net Security

• Serious WinRAR Flaw Can Be Exploited to Launch Malware (pcmag.com)

• Ivanti issues fix for third zero-day flaw exploited in the wild | TechTarget

• Ivanti Ships Urgent Patch for API Authentication Bypass Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• FBI: Patches for Recent Barracuda ESG Zero-Day Ineffective - SecurityWeek

• GDS: Microsoft, Intel confirm "Downfall" of 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th Gen CPUs, firmware out - Neowin

• Critical Adobe ColdFusion Flaw Added to CISA's Exploited Vulnerability Catalog (thehackernews.com)

• 3,000 Openfire Servers Exposed to Attacks Targeting Recent Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• Western Digital patches potentially dangerous security flaw, so update now | TechRadar

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Tools and Controls

• The Importance Of SaaS Backup And Disaster Recovery: Reasons To Consider (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How Cyber Security Leaders Can Help Lower Expenses While Reducing Risk (informationweek.com)

• Security leaders report misalignment of investments and risk reduction | Security Magazine

• Cyber security insurance is missing the risk - Help Net Security

• Cyber security Insurance Market worth $17.6 billion by 2028

• Bolstering Cyber Security: Why Browser Security Is Crucial (inforisktoday.com)

• How Application Allowlisting Combats Ransomware Attacks (securityintelligence.com)

• The Vanishing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Category - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Security: CASB vs SASE-Security Affairs

• Unveiling the Hidden Risks of Routing Protocols (darkreading.com)

• Hackers use VPN provider's code certificate to sign malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Network detection and response in the modern era - Help Net Security

• What’s Beyond SASE? The Next Steps (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Prevention First: Don’t Neglect Endpoint Security | CSO Online

• More Than Half of Browser Extensions Pose Security Risks (darkreading.com)

• Protect Your Cyber Security Budget and Your Organisation | Dell USA

• How the downmarket impacted enterprise cyber security budgets - Help Net Security

• Compliance, Risk Management and Security Are Being Impact by Generative AI... But How? | The Fintech Times

• SEC Cyber Security Rules: Considerations for Incident Response Planning

• How to conduct a cloud security assessment | TechTarget

• Maintaining consistent security in diverse cloud infrastructures - Help Net Security

• How API authentication vulnerabilities are at the centre of cloud security concerns | CSO Online

• The Needs of a Modernized SOC for Hybrid Cloud (securityintelligence.com)

• 2023 Cyber Security Awareness Month Appeal: Make Online Security Easier (govtech.com)

• The MOVEit hack and what it taught us about application security (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The Changing Landscape of Cyber Security Education (inforisktoday.com)

• The Dual Role of AI in Email Security - GovInfoSecurity

• Akamai Survey Finds Third-Party Defences Help Reduce Risk from Online Threats (prnewswire.com)

• The Shifting Dynamics of Cyber Insurance - BankInfoSecurity

• Global Cyber Security Insurance Market to Reach USD 33.4 Billion by 2028, Driven by Rising Cyber Threats and Regulatory Compliance (prnewswire.com)

• 5 Best Practices for Implementing Risk-First Cyber Security (darkreading.com)

• What's Going on With LastPass, and is it Safe to Use? (securityintelligence.com)

• Malicious web application transactions skyrocket 500% (securitybrief.co.nz)

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Other News

• Our health care system may soon receive a much-needed cyber security boost | Ars Technica

• Swan Retail cyber attack: 300 retailers crippled by breach (techmonitor.ai)

• Cyber Attackers lie in wait as federal tech agencies brace for a mass exit of top officials - Washington Times

• Cyber Attack on Energy One affects corporate systems in Australia and the UK | CSO Online

• Vendors criticize Microsoft for repeated security failings | TechTarget

• Microsoft's become a cyber security titan. That could be a problem - Tech Monitor

• Global Naval Communication Market Research Report (globenewswire.com)

• The CSO guide to top security conferences | CSO Online

• IT's rising role in physical security technology - Help Net Security

• Construction businesses are at risk as nation-state attacks are on the rise - Construction & Civil Engineering magazine (ccemagazine.com)

• Hackers knocked out San Francisco's main real estate database | Fortune

• Microsoft's 6 Biggest Hacks: Is Better Security Needed? (makeuseof.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 18th August 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Ransomware Group Targeting MSPs Worldwide in New Campaign

Russia-based cyber attackers called Play are evolving, with the ransomware group now using remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools at outsourced IT providers or managed service providers (MSPs) to gain access and hit downstream customers. A significant number of eventual targets are medium sized business. The group is also utilising intermittent encryption, where files are only partly encrypted, to avoid detection.

The attacks highlight the need for organisations to be aware of where they are in the supply chain and how they can be targeted through their supplier. It is not enough for an organisation to focus on its own security in isolation; organisations also need to have a way of effectively assessing their supply chain risk which includes their MSP.

Source [Dark Reading]

As Ransomware Surges, A lack of Resources Makes SMBs Most Vulnerable

Ransomware attacks continue to increase, with 1500 victims confirmed this year. It is likely this figure will continue to rise. In parallel, criminals are evolving and with that comes a rise in triple extortion; attackers are not just encrypting and exfiltrating an organisation’s data, but also using this data to blackmail employees and target third parties, hitting the supply chain.

Unfortunately for SMBs, they do not have the resources to keep up with such attacks, making them the most vulnerable. A report found that organisations that had 51 to 200 employees were the most targeted, followed by organisations with 11 to 50 employees. When it came to the types of organisations, the Financial Services sector placed first.

This should not mean SMBs should just accept this and wait to be attacked; on the contrary, their increased vulnerability means that SMBs need to effectively prioritise and allocate resources, and if necessary getting in specialist external help, to ensure their protections are the best that resources allow.

Sources [WWD] [InfoSecurity Magazine] [CRN]

Business Email Compromise Attack Costs Far Exceeding Ransomware Losses

Cloudflare's 2023 Phishing Threats Report recorded a 17% spike in business email compromise (BEC) related financial losses between December 2021 and 2022, noting that threat actors are increasingly leaning on this attack method to target organisations. Additionally, across 2022 nearly three-quarters (71%) of respondents to the study said they experienced an attempted or successful BEC attack. The Cloudflare report found that the financial impact of BEC led to organisations suffering losses in excess of $2.7 billion, whereas ransomware caused losses of $34.3 million during the same period.

Source [ITPro]

Email Phishing Remains the Main Entry for Cyber Criminals; People with Six Personality Traits are More Susceptible

According to a report, phishing attacks were found to be the initial attack vector for nine in ten cyber attacks. The report found that the focus of a cyber criminal tended to be two objectives: achieving authenticity and getting victims to click. Worryingly, 89% of unwanted messages were found to have bypassed authentication checks, leaving people and procedures as the last line of defence in an organisation.

A separate study found that having the following traits made a user more susceptible to phishing: extroverted, agreeable, people-pleasing, quick to trust, fearful or respectful of authority, and poor self-control.

With employees playing such an important role in preventing phishing, organisations need to ensure that employees are aware of what to look for in a phishing email with regular training to account for evolving tactics. This training should be carried out by experts with experience of conducting phishing simulations, accompanied with the ability to educate users on how they can protect themselves from falling victim.

Sources [Tech Radar] [Makeuseof]

Gartner Study Finds Generative AI to be a Top Emerging Risk for Organisations

In a recent survey, Gartner found that generative AI models such as ChatGPT were the second greatest emerging risk, with concerns around data privacy. This has led to organisations looking to ban such AI, with a separate report by Blackberry finding that ChatGPT faced banning from 75% of organisations.

Banning AI in the organisation is a short-term solution. The benefits of AI are clear and its usefulness in an organisation is significant, with reports finding 75% of IT leaders in favour. Organisations should instead look at how they can govern the usage of AI in their organisation, to reduce the risk of AI-related incidents and improve the effectiveness of work.

Sources [Security Magazine] [Analytics Insight] [IT Security Guru] [Decrypt]

LinkedIn Suffers Significant Wave of Account Hacks

LinkedIn users are reporting losing access to their accounts, with some being pressured into paying a ransom to get back in or else face permanent account deletion. LinkedIn is no stranger to being a target of cyber criminals; last year, the platform was deemed the most abused brand in phishing attempts likely due to its recognisability and widespread use in the corporate world. This extended as far as threat actors using fake LinkedIn profiles.

With the number of accounts being compromised, users need to be vigilant in their use of LinkedIn and be on the lookout for suspicious messages. Black Arrow recommends that users ensure they are using strong and unique passwords, combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect themselves.

Source [Dark Reading]

High Net-Worth Families are at Risk of Cyber Crime

A report found that high net-worth families have prioritised cyber security with a notable 77% of respondents stating they had a cyber security plan; however, 55% said their plan “could be better”.

A cyber security plan is not optional anymore. High net-worth families are at increased risk, with criminals cottoning on to the amount of information that is out there and the financial gain that can be made if that information is used effectively. Social media is just one of the things increasing the risk of cyber crime; unbeknownst to some families, their social media may be providing criminals a treasure trove of insight into a family’s wealth, real-time location and habits. Such information can be used by a cyber criminal to employ attacks.

Source [Campdenfb]

Cyber Attack Rule Raises Insurance Risks for Corporate Officers

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently issued rules that formally outlined directors’ responsibilities in cyber security governance for the first time, laying the groundwork for potential enforcement actions. The recently issued rules bring potential regulatory probes and shareholder legal class action alleging senior executives failed to supervise their businesses’ cyber security practices.

Although the practice is not yet universal, a growing number of director and officer (D&O) policies are being drafted with cyber related exclusions. Meanwhile, most cyber insurance policies exempt SEC enforcement actions and investor claims, but some cover allegations against a company’s executives over their cyber security roles.

Whilst this is only in the US at the moment, other developed nations are likely to follow suit.

Source [Bloomberg Law]

PSNI and UK Voter Breaches Show Data Security Should be Taken More Seriously

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the UK Electoral Commission both suffered cyber incidents on the same day. Whilst both incidents were different in how they happened, the result was the same: sensitive information had been leaked. In the case of the PSNI, the data was leaked through a response to a freedom of information (FOI) request, in which an Excel sheet was accidentally included by the PSNI. The Electoral Commission incident resulted from a cyber attack.

The incidents are a wake-up call for organisations. If you have not already done so, you need to put things in place to help protect your data from ending up online. The PSNI incident in particular highlights the need to ensure that data does not leave the organisation by accident.

Source [The Guardian]

The Imperative of Cyber Preparedness: The Power of Tabletop Exercises

Cyber security has become an inescapable concern for organisations across industries. With cyber threats ranging from data breaches to ransomware attacks, it is paramount that companies remain vigilant and prepared.

A key way to be prepared is through a tabletop exercise that simulates a hypothetical cyber security incident and helps organisations to practice and evaluate their response. One example scenario can be responding to a ransomware attack blocking access to the organisation's computers for a ransom. These exercises serve as a practical, engaging, and low-risk way for teams to identify vulnerabilities in current plans, improve coordination, and evaluate the decision-making process during a crisis and this is something that we do with our clients on a regular basis.

Source [JDSupra]

Why Are Phones a Cyber Security Weak Spot?

Mobile phones are more interconnected than ever, with their usage extending to the workplace. Despite this, they often enter the corporate environment with a lack of protection and oversight. When laptops are in the corporate environment they are often secured through methods such as encryption and often the organisation has a clear oversight of the applications and activity on the laptop. Mobile phones on the other hand, are often left unmonitored, despite the fact they can and often do carry sensitive information.

Mobile phones also carry additional risks; for a start, they are easier to lose, due to their size difference and the fact they are often out more. In addition, they may have more entry points. Internet of things (IoT) devices, such as smart appliances, are often controlled by phones, making them another entry point for an attacker.

Source [Tech Shout]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Hedge Fund Cyber security Trends Report says Majority Firms Report a Surge in Cyber Attacks - ITSecurityWire

• Lack of Resources Makes SMBs Most Vulnerable to Ransomware Attacks – WWD

• 1 in 5 CIOs Believe Cyber Security Ops Are Not An Immediate Priority - IT Security Guru

• Cyber threat risks reach three-year high – Avast (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Cyber Attack Rule Raises Insurance Risks for Corporate Officers (bloomberglaw.com)

• The Imperative of Cyber Preparedness: The Power of Tabletop Exercises | Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - JDSupra

• Why Finance Leaders In Midsize Businesses Are Stepping Up Cyber security Efforts (forbes.com)

• Why are ultra-high-net-worth families at increased risk of cyber crime? | Campden FB

• Traditional vs. Enterprise Risk Management: How Do They Differ? (techtarget.com)

• 4 reasons to understand technology risks when buying a business (businessplus.ie)

• What did you say? Boards tackle corporate jargon | Fortune

• Boards Don't Want Security Promises — They Want Action (darkreading.com)

• Cyber attacks and data protection worries loom large | Natasha Doris | CDR Article (cdr-news.com)

• How threats to mid-sized businesses impact us all - Help Net Security

• 7 Reasons People Don't Understand What You Tell Them (darkreading.com)

• 6 Cyber Threat Areas for Companies and Organisations to Prioritize (forbes.com)

• How poor cyber security policies disrupt business continuity - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Prevention, Training Attract More Spend Than Remediation, Recovery, Execs Say - | MSSP Alert

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Lack of Resources Makes SMBs Most Vulnerable to Ransomware Attacks – WWD

• Business email compromise attack costs far exceeding ransomware losses | ITPro

• Reported ransomware attacks doubled in key sectors (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Ransomware Surges With 1500 Confirmed Victims This Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 'Play' Ransomware Group Targeting MSPs Worldwide in New Campaign (darkreading.com)

• As Ransomware Gangs Shift To Data Extortion, Some Adopt A New Tactic: ‘Customer Service’ | CRN

• Triple Extortion Ransomware and the Cyber Crime Supply Chain (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies are finding it harder to detect ransomware | TechRadar

• Top 3 Ransomware Attack Vectors And How To Avoid Them (techtarget.com)

• Ransomware: To pay or not to pay - Help Net Security

• Knight ransomware distributed in fake Tripadvisor complaint emails (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 'DoubleDrive' attack turns Microsoft OneDrive into ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Why Hospitals Are Being Increasingly Targeted by Cyber Attacks | Chicago News | WTTW

• 'Bulletproof' Lolekhosted ransomware hacker indicted (cnbc.com)

• LOLEKHosted admin arrested for aiding Netwalker ransomware gang (bleepingcomputer.com)

• It's time for companies to double down on cyber security measures as ransomware attacks rise, say experts | CBC News

• Monti ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers with new Linux locker (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Crimeware server used by NetWalker ransomware seized and shut down – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Rapid7 Says ROI for Ransomware Remains High; Zero-Day Usage Expands - SecurityWeek

• Sophos: ‘Royal’ Is Trying to Make Itself the King of Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• Cuba Ransomware Deploys New Tools: Targets Critical Infrastructure Sector in the US and IT Integrator in Latin America (databreaches.net)

• Microsoft: BlackCat's Sphynx ransomware embeds Impacket, RemCom (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 3 strategies that can help stop ransomware before it becomes a crisis | CSO Online

• Latitude Financial takes profit hit from major cyber attack | The West Australian

• MOVEit cyber attack ignites worry about retirement plan fiduciary responsibility | Pensions & Investments (pionline.com)

• Ransomware down 57%, Secureworks warns against complacency (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Ransomware Diaries: Volume 3 – LockBit’s Secrets (databreaches.net)

• HHS Launches 'Digiheals' Project to Better Protect US Hospitals From Ransomware | WIRED

• Ransomware Renaissance 2023: The Definitive Guide to Stay Safer (securityintelligence.com)

• How to Create a Ransomware Incident Response Plan (techtarget.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Several hospitals still counting the cost of widespread ransomware attack (malwarebytes.com)

• Has leading UK jeweller been hit by BianLian ransomware gang? (techmonitor.ai)

• teiss - News - Ernst & Young says MOVEit Transfer hack impacted over 30,000 Bank of America customers

• Cyber attack on Bay area vendor cripples real estate industry (therealdeal.com)

• Colorado warns 4 million of data stolen in IBM MOVEit breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Millions of Americans’ health data stolen after MOVEit hackers targeted IBM | TechCrunch

• LockBit claims seven new victims in ransomware spree (techmonitor.ai)

• Cyber attack strikes Prince George's County schools, district says - The Washington Post

• Clorox Operations Disrupted By Cyber Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Inside Housing - News - Hackney to procure new IT system after cyber attack

• Largest switching and terminal railroad in US investigating ransomware data theft (therecord.media)

• Honor Among Cyber Criminals? Why a Canadian Firm Paid Ransom (inforisktoday.com)

• Alberta dental benefits administrator hit by cyber attack | Edmonton Sun

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing remains most dominant, fastest growing internet crime (securitybrief.co.nz)

• If You Have These 6 Personality Traits, You're More Vulnerable to Phishing Scams (makeuseof.com)

• Business email compromise attack costs far exceeding ransomware losses | ITPro

• Reports show 62% jump in phishing attacks last year - The Hindu BusinessLine

• Phishing Operators Make Ready Use of Abandoned Websites for Bait (darkreading.com)

• Email – The System Running Since 71’ - SecurityWeek

• 3 Major Email Security Standards Prove Too Porous for the Task (darkreading.com)

• Most consumers can't spot phishing scams | TechRadar

• Cyber Security Experts: AI Could Be Phishing Schemes’ Ultimate Weapon — Or Worse - The Messenger

• Spear Phishing vs Phishing: How to Tell the Difference (techrepublic.com)

• How to Prevent Phishing Attacks with Multi-Factor Authentication (techrepublic.com)

• As Phishing Gets Even Sneakier, Browser Security Needs to Step Up (darkreading.com)

• Email security vendor leaves 2M domains open to phishing hacks, study finds (axios.com)

• What Is a Blank Image Phishing Scam? (makeuseof.com)

• Cyber Criminals Abusing Cloudflare R2 for Hosting Phishing Pages, Experts Warn (thehackernews.com)

• 'Gold mine' phishing scams rob Main Street on social media like Meta (cnbc.com)

• Malicious QR code hacking campaign is targeting Microsoft credentials - SiliconANGLE

• Phishing campaign steals accounts for Zimbra email servers worlwide (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 30% of phishing threats involve newly registered domains - Help Net Security

• Russian Hackers Use Zulip Chat App for Covert C&C in Diplomatic Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Gone Phishing: An Analysis of a Targeted User Attack (huntress.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Business email compromise attack costs far exceeding ransomware losses | ITPro

Artificial Intelligence

• Generative AI a Top Emerging Risk for Organisations: Gartner Survey - Decrypt

• 66% of Organisations in UK Set to Ban ChatGPT and Generative AI Apps on Work Devices - IT Security Guru

• ChatGPT Faces Ban from 75% of Organisations: Blackberry Report (analyticsinsight.net)

• AI Is Coming For Your Data: 6 Steps To Ensure Cyber Resilience (forbes.com)

• New study by AMD finds nearly half of organisations are not ready for AI - IT Security Guru

• Over 74% of organisations see a rise in AI use by cyber criminals | Security Magazine

• Navigating generative AI risks and regulatory challenges - Help Net Security

• Cyber security Experts: AI Could Be Phishing Schemes’ Ultimate Weapon — Or Worse - The Messenger

• Top 10 AI Security Risks According to OWASP (trendmicro.com)

• AI 'evil twins' may already be manipulating human nature | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cyber security practitioners' generative AI dilemma (iapp.org)

• People Coaxed AI Into Giving Wrong Math Answers, System Prone to Flaws (businessinsider.com)

• Following Pushback, Zoom Says It Won't Use Customer Data to Train AI Models (darkreading.com)

• AI a Top Risk and the Preferred Solution to Financial Crime - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI Can Decipher Passwords by Listening to Keystrokes Over Zoom: Study (businessinsider.com)

• Why the “voluntary AI commitments” extracted by the White House are nowhere near enough - Help Net Security

• Fake Out: Disinformation Campaigns Get Generative AI Boost (inforisktoday.com)

• Insurance Regulators ‎Continue to ‎Grapple With the Rapid Development ‎and ‎Use of Artificial ‎Intelligence | Locke Lord LLP - JDSupra

2FA/MFA

• How to prevent multifactor authentication fatigue attacks - SiliconANGLE

• How to Prevent Phishing Attacks with Multi-Factor Authentication (techrepublic.com)

Malware

• Potent Trojans Targeting MacOS Users - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Approximately 2000 Citrix NetScaler servers were backdoored in massive campaign-Security Affairs

• Almost 2,000 Citrix NetScaler servers backdoored in hacking campaign (bleepingcomputer.com)

• XWorm, Remcos RAT Evade EDRs to Infect Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Malware could be hiding on your Mac thanks to faults in Apple’s Background Task Manager | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• An Apple Malware-Flagging Tool Is ‘Trivially’ Easy to Bypass | WIRED

• Macs are getting compromised to act as proxy exit nodes - Help Net Security

• Credentials for cyber crime forums found on roughly 120K computers infected with info stealers-Security Affairs

• Malware Dwell Time: Everything You Need to Know (makeuseof.com)

• Gootloader SEO watering hole malware targets law firms | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Security Researchers Publish Gigabud Banking Malware Analysis - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Raccoon Stealer malware returns with new stealthier version (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Beware! Subscription malware arms hackers with tools to steal your private data | Laptop Mag

• New Financial Malware 'JanelaRAT' Targets Latin American Users (thehackernews.com)

• Malware Unleashed: Public Sector Hit in Sudden Surge, Reveals New Report (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Hackers Suspected in New Wave of Malicious npm Packages (thehackernews.com)

• Stories from the SOC - Unveiling the stealthy tactics of Aukill malware (att.com)

• Hackers are increasingly hiding within services such as Slack and Trello to deploy malware | Cyber scoop

• Massive 400,000 proxy botnet built with stealthy malware infections (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Users of cyber crime forums often fall victim to info-stealers, researchers find (therecord.media)

• 10 people, including 16-year-old youth arrested for suspected involvement in malware scams (databreaches.net)

• Turns out AI probably isn't very good at writing malware • The Register

• Malware Turning Windows Machines Into Proxies (databreachtoday.co.uk)

Mobile

• Why Are Phones A Cyber security Weak Spot? - TechShout

• Lapsus$ hackers took SIM-swapping attacks to the next level (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Does Turning Your Android Phone Off Protect You From Malware? (makeuseof.com)

• 3 Mobile or Client-Side Security Myths Debunked (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Criminals Targeting Victims through Mobile Beta-Testing Applications (ic3.gov)

• Threat actors use beta apps to bypass mobile app store security (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FBI warns of money-stealing fake beta-release mobile apps • The Register

• Three reasons why your smartphone needs security protection (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Unsupported Compression Methods Enable Android Malware to Bypass Detection (zimperium.com)

• This $70 device can spoof an Apple device and trick you into sharing your password | TechCrunch

Botnets

• Massive 400,000 proxy botnet built with stealthy malware infections (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mirai Common Attack Methods Remain Consistent, Effective (darkreading.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• How the FBI goes after DDoS cyber attackers | TechCrunch

• Most DDoS attacks tied to gaming, business disputes, FBI and prosecutors say (therecord.media)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Runaway Charger: The Major Threat Of Hacking EV Stations (slashgear.com)

• Is YOUR electric car vulnerable to hackers? How cyber criminals could steal personal data because of weak security at charging hubs and 'flaws' in vehicles' outdated software | Daily Mail Online

• Ford says cars with WiFi vulnerability still safe to drive (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Electoral Commission had unpatched vulnerability on server • The Register

• PSNI and UK voter breaches show data security should be taken more seriously | Data and computer security | The Guardian

• UK Police Data Breach Exposes Victim Information - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK govt contractor MPD FM leaks employee passport data-Security Affairs

• Cumbria Police accidentally publish officers' names and salaries online (bitdefender.com)

• PSNI: Leaked Data Will be Used to Target Police Officers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• LinkedIn hack: You need to check your LinkedIn account - gHacks Tech News

• ICO reprimands law firm over data breach that saw money stolen - Legal Futures

• Over 100 Court Service agency workers warned of payslip security breach after cyber attack | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

• How & Why Cyber Criminals Fabricate Data Leaks (darkreading.com)

• Researchers find sensitive personal data in over 30% of cloud assets | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Web app warning: 74% of apps with PII are vulnerable to a 'major exploit', report | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Insurance Data Breach Victims File Class-Action Suit Against Law Firm (darkreading.com)

• Alberta Dental Services Security Breach Exposes 1.47M Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The most notable data breaches of 2023… So far | IT Reseller Magazine (itrportal.com)

• Discord.io confirms breach after hacker steals data of 760K users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Millions of Americans’ health data stolen after MOVEit hackers targeted IBM | TechCrunch

• teiss - News - Ernst & Young says MOVEit Transfer hack impacted over 30,000 Bank of America customers

• Man arrested in Northern Ireland police data leak • The Register

• teiss - News - PBI data breach impacted more than 1.2m customers of Wilton Reassurance Life Company

• Here’s what you need to do after your personal data is breached (telegraph.co.uk)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Meet the Most (In)Famous Hacking Groups Active Today (makeuseof.com)

• Cyber security researchers become target of criminal hackers | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Credentials for cyber crime forums found on roughly 120K computers infected with info stealersSecurity Affairs

• Lapsus$ hackers took SIM-swapping attacks to the next level (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How & Why Cyber Criminals Fabricate Data Leaks (darkreading.com)

• Who Are Script Kiddies? Are They a Threat to Your Security? (makeuseof.com)

• Researchers Harvest, Analyse 100K Cyber Crime Forum Credentials (darkreading.com)

• File sharing site Anonfiles shuts down due to overwhelming abuse (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 5 Types of Cyber Crime Groups (trendmicro.com)

• How Innovation Accelerators Are at Work on the Dark Side (darkreading.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried sent to jail • The Register

• Web3 projects suffered from forty-two exploits within a week (coinpaper.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• The Data Behind Human Cyber Risk - GovInfoSecurity

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• A Third of UK University Students Targeted By Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried sent to jail • The Register

• UK gov keeps repeating its voter registration website is NOT a scam (bleepingcomputer.com)

• “Grab hold and give it a wiggle” – ATM card skimming is still a thing – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Latin Americans Fall Prey to More Online Scams, Cyber Attacks (insurancejournal.com)

• The road ahead for ecommerce fraud prevention - Help Net Security

• A Huge Scam Targeting Kids With Roblox and Fortnite 'Offers' Has Been Hiding in Plain Sight | WIRED

Insurance

• Cyber Attack Rule Raises Insurance Risks for Corporate Officers (bloomberglaw.com)

• Insurance Data Breach Victims File Class-Action Suit Against Law Firm (darkreading.com)

• The cyber security insurance market is estimated at USD 14.4 (globenewswire.com)

• Insurance Regulators ‎Continue to ‎Grapple With the Rapid Development ‎and ‎Use of Artificial ‎Intelligence | Locke Lord LLP - JDSupra

Dark Web

• Researchers Harvest, Analyse 100K Cyber Crime Forum Credentials (darkreading.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Building Cyber security into the supply chain is essential as threats mount (att.com)

• Why the public sector still loves Capita (even though it got hacked) - Tech Monitor

• How to Ensure Cyber Resilience Across the Supply Chain - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Experts Uncover Weaknesses in PowerShell Gallery Enabling Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• PowerShell Gallery Prone to Typosquatting, Other Supply Chain Attacks (darkreading.com)

Software Supply Chain

• Study reveals staggering cost of vulnerable software supply chains - Plant & Works Engineering (pwemag.co.uk)

• Why a Software Bill of Materials Is Business-Critical - The Futurum Group

Cloud/SaaS

• 'DoubleDrive' attack turns Microsoft OneDrive into ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Researchers find sensitive personal data in over 30% of cloud assets | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Web app warning: 74% of apps with PII are vulnerable to a 'major exploit', report | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Amazon AWS distances itself from Moq amid data collection controversy (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adapting to the Cloud Era of Cyber security: How CISO’s Priorities Are Evolving | Network Computing

• Datacentre management vulnerabilities leave public clouds at risk | Computer Weekly

• Spear Phishing vs Phishing: How to Tell the Difference (techrepublic.com)

Containers

• Kubernetes clusters face widespread attacks across numerous organisations - Help Net Security

Encryption

• UK Government Slammed For Encryption Mistruths - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• WhatsApp is right to be angry about the UK’s encryption mess | The Spectator

• Google adds post-quantum encryption key protection to Chrome • The Register

API

• The Evolution of API: From Commerce to Cloud-Security Affairs

• How financial services cyber regulations are hotting up for API security (betanews.com)

Open Source

• Why a Software Bill of Materials Is Business-Critical - The Futurum Group

• Monti Ransomware Returns with New Linux Variant and Enhanced Evasion Tactics (thehackernews.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• 6 best practices to defend against corporate account takeover attacks | CSO Online

• What's the State of Credential theft in 2023? (thehackernews.com)

• Building a secure future without traditional passwords - Help Net Security

• Are browser-stored passwords secure? | Kaspersky official blog

• Passwordless is more than a buzzword among cyber security pros - Help Net Security

• More hardcoded credentials than ever, and sloppy coding is to blame | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• AI Can Decipher Passwords by Listening to Keystrokes Over Zoom: Study (businessinsider.com)

Social Media

• LinkedIn hack: You need to check your LinkedIn account - gHacks Tech News

• LinkedIn accounts hacked in widespread hijacking campaign (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 'Gold mine' phishing scams rob Main Street on social media like Meta (cnbc.com)

Malvertising

• Adblock 360 Adware Extension: 3 Ways to Remove for Good - MSPoweruser

• Malvertisers up their game against researchers (malwarebytes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Tips on employee cyber security training, risks and how to manage them - Albany Business Review (bizjournals.com)

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Sextortion suspects on trial after one victim dies • The Register

• Digital Safety Advice is Not Getting Through to Women - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Navigating generative AI risks and regulatory challenges - Help Net Security

• UK Government Slammed For Encryption Mistruths - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• ICO reprimands law firm over data breach that saw money stolen - Legal Futures

• Breaking Down the New SEC Cyber security Rules | Epiq - JDSupra

• Confusion Surrounds SEC's New Cyber security Material Rule (darkreading.com)

• How do we define “cyber worker”? The SEC’s rationale behind its new cyberincident disclosure rule. (thecyberwire.com)

• Why the “voluntary AI commitments” extracted by the White House are nowhere near enough - Help Net Security

• How financial services cyber regulations are hotting up for API security (betanews.com)

• A closer look at the new TSA oil and gas pipeline regulations - Help Net Security

• New York’s Department of Financial Services Moves to Further Bolster Cyber security Requirements | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Center for Internet Security announces secretive Microsoft partnership | StateScoop

• What's New in the NIST Cyber security Framework 2.0 (darkreading.com)

Data Protection

• Researchers find sensitive personal data in over 30% of cloud assets | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Amazon AWS distances itself from Moq amid data collection controversy (bleepingcomputer.com)

• India Passes New Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB), Putting Users' Privacy First (thehackernews.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• 650,000 cyber jobs are now vacant: How to tackle the risk (securityintelligence.com)

• Effectively upskilling cyber security professionals to help close the skills gap | CSO Online

• How to overcome the challenges of today's cyber security talent shortage - SiliconANGLE

• Army struggling to hire cyber staff as attacks on Britain ramp up (telegraph.co.uk)

• Vietnam admits massive shortage of infosec pros • The Register

• Heavy workloads driving IT professionals to resign - Help Net Security

• ISC2 Announces Major Milestone as Community Grows to Half a Million Strong (prnewswire.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Polish police arrest five in swoop on Cyber Crime site - TVN24

• How the FBI goes after DDoS cyber attackers | TechCrunch

• Lapsus$ Report: Law Enforcement Battles Cyber Threats (beincrypto.com)

• LOLEKHosted admin arrested for aiding Netwalker ransomware gang (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 10 people, including 16-year-old youth arrested for suspected involvement in malware scams (databreaches.net)

• Sextortion suspects on trial after one victim dies • The Register

• Crimeware server used by NetWalker ransomware seized and shut down – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Raccoon Stealer malware back with updated version following administrator arrest (therecord.media)

• Man arrested in Northern Ireland police data leak • The Register

• India Passes New Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB), Putting Users' Privacy First (thehackernews.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Amazon AWS distances itself from Moq amid data collection controversy (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Following Pushback, Zoom Says It Won't Use Customer Data to Train AI Models (darkreading.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Fake Out: Disinformation Campaigns Get Generative AI Boost (inforisktoday.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russian and Chinese hackers breached Foreign Office systems in cyber attack kept secret from public (inews.co.uk)

• Foreign Office cyber attacks may have risked safety of civil servants and UK's allies, Tory MPs say (inews.co.uk)

• APT29 is targeting Ministries of Foreign Affairs of NATO-aligned countries-Security Affairs

• Russian spy agencies targeting Starlink with custom malware, Ukraine warns (telegraph.co.uk)

• Russian-African Security Gathering Exposes Kremlin's Reduced Influence (darkreading.com)

• Hacked electronic sign declares “Putin is a dickhead” as Russian ruble slumps • Graham Cluley

• Russian Hackers Use Zulip Chat App for Covert C&C in Diplomatic Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Suspected spies for Russia held in major UK security investigation - BBC News

• Russia turning to sleeper cells and unofficial agents | Espionage | The Guardian

China

• Russian and Chinese hackers breached Foreign Office systems in cyber attack kept secret from public (inews.co.uk)

• Researchers Shed Light on APT31's Advanced Backdoors and Data Exfiltration Tactics (thehackernews.com)

• DHS to Review Microsoft’s Security in Chinese Email Hack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Top US cyber official warns of infrastructure attack risk if China tensions rise (nbcnews.com)

• New Zealand says it is aware of China-linked intelligence activity in country | Reuters

• China teases imminent exposé of seismic US spying scheme • The Register

• Wide-ranging cyberespionage campaign by China's Ministry of State Security. Vulnerabilities in CPUs. MacOS threat trends. (thecyberwire.com)

• Chinese Espionage Group Active Across Eastern Europe (inforisktoday.com)

• 15,000 cyber attacks detected per second in Taiwan: Software provider - Focus Taiwan

• China would consider attacks on US railroads, pipelines if it invades Taiwan, Easterly says (therecord.media)

• US lawmaker says FBI notified him of email breach linked to Microsoft cloud hack | TechCrunch

• China-Linked Bronze Starlight Group Targeting Gambling Sector with Cobalt Strike Beacons (thehackernews.com)

Iran

• German Intelligence Warns of Surge in Iranian Espionage (govinfosecurity.com)

• Charming Kitten Targets Iranian Dissidents with Advanced Cyber Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Iran and the Rise of Cyber Enabled Influence Operations (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Hackers Suspected in New Wave of Malicious npm Packages (thehackernews.com)

Misc/Other/Unknown

• APTs use of lesser-known TTPs are no less of a headache - Help Net Security

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Vulnerability Management

• Electoral Commission had unpatched vulnerability on server • The Register

• Web app warning: 74% of apps with PII are vulnerable to a 'major exploit', report | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Almost 2,000 Citrix NetScaler servers backdoored in hacking campaign (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA Adds Citrix ShareFile Flaw to KEV Catalog Due to In-the-Wild Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Patched Citrix NetScaler Devices Still Contain Backdoors (govinfosecurity.com)

• Critical Security Flaws Affect Ivanti Avalanche, Threatening 30,000 Organizations (thehackernews.com)

• Zoom ZTP & AudioCodes Phones Flaws Uncovered, Exposing Users to Eavesdropping (thehackernews.com)

• Magento shopping cart attack targets critical vulnerability • The Register

• New Python URL Parsing Flaw Enables Command Injection Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Data centers at risk due to flaws in power management software | CyberScoop

• Bugs in transportation app Moovit gave hackers free rides | TechCrunch

• Ongoing Xurum Attacks on E-commerce Sites Exploiting Critical Magento 2 Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Google Chrome 116: more Telemetry and 26 security patches - gHacks Tech News

• Google Fixes 26 Bugs Amid Fake Update Warning - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AMD has fixed its latest security flaw - but at the cost of massive slowdowns | TechRadar

• Windows 11 update install failures are reportedly happening again – and it’s breaking the built-in antivirus | TechRadar

• Proxyjacking trend continues as attackers abuse years-old GitLab vulnerability | ITPro

• Multiple Flaws Found in the Avada WordPress Theme and Plugin - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Windows feature that resets system clocks based on random data is wreaking havoc | Ars Technica

Tools and Controls

• What is Cyber security Monitoring? - MSSP Alert

• XWorm, Remcos RAT Evade EDRs to Infect Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• AI-powered fraud detection: Strengthening security in fintech | The Financial Express

• Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows to enhance security with meeting ID and passcode requirement - OnMSFT.com

• MaginotDNS attacks exploit weak checks for DNS cache poisoning (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Evaluate the risks and benefits of AI in cyber security | TechTarget

• How to Choose a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Solution (darkreading.com)

• Lock Down APIs to Prevent Breaches (darkreading.com)

• How to Prevent Phishing Attacks with Multi-Factor Authentication (techrepublic.com)

• Building a secure future without traditional passwords - Help Net Security

• Passwordless is more than a buzzword among cyber security pros - Help Net Security

• SEC cyber security rules shape the future of incident management - Help Net Security

• AI a Top Risk and the Preferred Solution to Financial Crime - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Traditional vs. Enterprise Risk Management: How Do They Differ? (techtarget.com)

• Endpoint Management Statistics, Trends And Facts 2023 - Abdalslam

• SASE and requirements of business | Professional Security

• Why You Need Continuous Network Monitoring? (thehackernews.com)

• CISA releases cyber defence plan for remote monitoring and management software - SiliconANGLE

• How poor cyber security policies disrupt business continuity - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Prevention, Training Attract More Spend Than Remediation, Recovery, Execs Say - | MSSP Alert

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Other News

• Cyber attacks against the UK Electoral Commission reveal an ongoing threat to democracy (techxplore.com)

• Healthcare incurs highest data breach costs – for the 13th year in a row | Healthcare IT News

• Here's Why You Should Never Accept Unsolicited Tech by Post (makeuseof.com)

• Government highlights cyber threat to health and social care | UKAuthority

• Why is the Education Sector a Target for Cyber Attacks? | UpGuard

• Cyber security in the Entertainment Industry: Risks and Solutions | UpGuard

• What would an OT cyber attack really cost your organisation? | CSO Online

• Education has had most cyber attacks, survey finds | Education Business (educationbusinessuk.net)

• Cyber attacks Are On The Up: What Are The Risks & Remedies For Aviation? (simpleflying.com)

• Bank of Ireland ATM Glitch Hands Out 'Free' Money (gizmodo.com)

• Exclusive: 300 independent retailers affected by cyber attack | News | Retail Week (retail-week.com)

• Documentary shines spotlight on a central bank heist and threats from cyber criminals - BNN Bloomberg

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 21 July 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Cyber Attacks Reach Two-Year High Amid Ransomware Resurgence as Financial Service Firms Lose $32 Billion in 5 Years

The average weekly volume of cyber attacks reached a two-year high in the second quarter of 2023 amid a spike in activity among ransomware groups according to Check Point Research, with healthcare in particular facing a significant year-on-year increase. The impact of ransomware hits every organisation, with separate research finding global financial services organisations having lost over $32bn in downtime since 2018 due to ransomware breaches.

A recent report found that the ransomware gangs LockBit and Cl0p alone accounted for nearly 40% of all recorded ransomware attacks across June 2023. The impact from Cl0p’s MOVEit attack alone has been felt by over 400 organisations since May 2023. One of the key takeaways from the MOVEit attack is that no matter the sector, any organisation can be a victim and as such it is essential to have effective controls in place, incorporating defence-in-depth. It’s worth considering how many organisations are still running vulnerable instances of MOVEit, or have someone in their supply chain who is.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-costs-financial-32bn/

https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/weekly-cyber-attacks-reach-two-year-high-amid-ransomware-resurgence

• MOVEit Body Count Closes in on 400 Organisations, 20M+ Individuals

The number of victims and the costs tied to the MOVEit file transfer hack continues to climb as the fallout from the massive supply chain attack enters week seven. In late May 2023, Russian ransomware gang Cl0p exploited a security hole in Progress Software's MOVEit product suite to steal documents from vulnerable networks. As of last week, the number of affected organisations was closing in on 400 and individual victims exceed 20 million.

The attack highlights the need for organisations to have policies and procedures in place for third parties, and to be aware of the data which a third party supplier has on them. It will be the organisation who will need to let their customers know in the event of a breach.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/20/moveit_victim_count/

• IT Worker Jailed for Impersonating Ransomware Gang to Extort Employer

28-year-old Ashley Liles, a former IT employee, has been sentenced to over three years in prison for attempting to blackmail his employer during a ransomware attack. Liles, an IT security analyst at an Oxford-based company in the UK, exploited his position to intercept a ransomware payment following an attack suffered by his employer. To deceive the company, he impersonated the ransomware gang extorting them. He tried to redirect the ransomware payments by switching the cyber criminals' cryptocurrency wallet to one under his control. He also accessed a board member's private emails over 300 times.

Insider threat is a risk that organisations need to be aware of and, although it was malicious in this case, it can also come from employee negligence. Organisations looking to achieve a strong level of cyber resilience should incorporate insider risk into their training and controls.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/it-worker-jailed-for-impersonating-ransomware-gang-to-extort-employer/

• Stabilising the Cyber Security Landscape: The CISO Exodus and the Rise of vCISOs

In today's evolving digital landscape, the role of a chief information security officer (CISO) is critical. These professionals defend against the rising tide of daily cyber threats. Yet many CISOs are leaving or considering leaving their jobs; this trend seems to reflect the intense pressure CISOs endure. They face a constant stream of complex cyber threats, manage compliance issues and struggle with a talent deficit in cyber security. Paired with high expectations, many reconsider their roles which can lead to a leadership gap.

A virtual CISO (vCISO) is an outsourced security practitioner who offers their expertise to businesses on a part-time or contractual basis. These professionals provide many of the same services as a traditional CISO, such as developing and implementing security strategies, ensuring compliance with regulations, training staff and managing a company's cyber security posture. vCISOs, such as from Black Arrow, are often part of a larger team and can bring a wide range of experiences and skills. They are exposed to diverse security landscapes across industries, and can provide a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to your security challenges. The vCISO model may not replace the need for a full-time CISO in all cases, but it can certainly add a flexible and cost-effective tool to the arsenal of businesses looking to bolster their cyber security posture.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2023/07/14/stabilizing-the-cybersecurity-landscape-the-ciso-exodus-and-the-rise-of-vcisos/

• Risk is Driving Medium-Sized Business Decisions

Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) have long lacked the tools, expertise, staff and budget to make major cyber security investments. However, as threats become more mainstream and more advanced, the focus is shifting, so SMBs need to take the threats seriously and evaluate their cyber security controls.

In a survey of 140 SMBs, it was found that 40% of respondents believe they are very likely or extremely likely to experience a cyber security attack target in the next 12 months. That fear is founded, as 34% of organisations stated they experienced a malware attack in the past year, and 29% experienced a phishing or spear phishing incident. SMBs are putting their time, energy, and budget toward risk management. When it came to budgeting, 67% list their primary budgeting method as “risk-based”, and only 32% as “ad hoc/following an attack or breach”. It was found that over two-thirds of businesses would rather spend money now than pay a ransom later.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-guests/risk-is-driving-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-smb-decisions/

• Talent and Governance, Not Technology, are Key to Drive Change Around Cyber Security

For the last 20 years, large organisations have been spending significant amounts of money on cyber security products and solutions, on managed services, or with consultancies large and small. Yet maturity levels remain elusive: a report found that 70% of firms surveyed had yet to fully advance to a mature-based approach. Cyber security good practices have been well established for the best part of the last 20 years and continue to provide, in most industries, an acceptable level of protection against most threats and an acceptable level of compliance against most regulations.

However cyber security is often viewed as something external to the business. This perspective leads to talent alienation and execution failures because the employees who should be invested in maintaining and improving cyber security may feel disconnected from these efforts. To make genuine progress, cyber security needs to be intrinsically linked to business values as a visible priority, owned and directed from the highest levels of an organisation.

This approach underlines the importance of governance in setting effective cyber security policies and procedures. It also highlights the crucial role of nurturing talent within the organisation to ensure active involvement in maintaining and improving cyber security measures. While technology is undoubtedly an essential element of cyber security, prioritising talent and governance can lead to lasting progress.

https://technative.io/talent-and-governance-not-technology-are-key-to-drive-change-around-cyber-security/

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation can Exploit Security Gaps

A new study showed that larger organisations generally recognise malware threats but they lack protection against malicious actors and ways to properly remediate infections. The report revealed security leaders are concerned about attacks that leverage malware-exfiltrated authentication data. 53% say they are extremely concerned about attacks, with 1% of security leaders saying they weren’t concerned at all. 98% said that better visibility into at-risk applications would significantly improve their security posture.

The most overlooked entry points for malware include 57% of organisations allowing employees to sync browser data between personal and corporate devices. 54% of organisations struggle with shadow IT, due to employees’ unsanctioned adoption of applications and systems, creating gaps not only in visibility but also in basic security controls and corporate policies.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/digital-transformation-hybrid-work-models-create-perfect-setting-for-cybercriminals-to-exploit-security-gaps-study-finds/

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training

The process of encouraging secure cyber habits in end users is evolving from traditional awareness training toward changing end user behaviour. It reflects a growing acceptance that traditional methods haven’t worked. While traditional security awareness teaches users how to recognise social engineering, new behaviour changing trains the brain – almost pre-programs it – on the correct recognition and response to phishing.

What is considered a standard phishing email today may not be tomorrow, and changes in user behaviour will help to combat this. It is simply not enough to be shown one phishing email and be told to follow procedures. Training should instead be focused on going beyond; this should look to change how the user approaches things such as phishing, and gamifying the recognition and reporting of it.

https://www.securityweek.com/human-cyber-risk-can-be-demonstrably-mitigated-by-behavior-changing-training-analysis/

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks

A generative AI tool, WormGPT, has emerged as a powerful weapon in the hands of cyber criminals, specifically for launching business email compromise (BEC) attacks, according to new findings. The tool is designed for malicious purposes and has no restrictions on what a user can request. Such a tool allows for impeccable grammar in emails to reduce suspicion and allows sophistication with no restrictions on prompts. The lowered entry threshold enables cyber criminals with limited skills to execute sophisticated attacks, democratising the use of this technology.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/wormgpt-fake-emails-bec-attacks/

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt-dark-web-wormgpt-hack-b2376627.html

• Pro-Russian Hacktivists Increase Focus on Western Targets

‘Anonymous Sudan’, apparent pro-Russian hacktivists, claimed a one-hour distributed denial of service attack on the social platform OnlyFans last week. This was the latest in a string of operations aimed at targets in the US and Europe. The group’s digital assaults coincide with attacks coming from a broader network of hackers aligned with Moscow that seek attention by taking down high-profile victims and strategic targets; many of the targets support Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.

The pro-Russian group appears to be affiliated with Killnet, a pro-Russian hacktivist group that emerged in late 2021 or early 2022 and has claimed distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, data theft and leaks on perceived adversaries of the Russian government, according to an analysis from Google’s Mandiant released earlier this week. The collective’s apparent significant growth in capabilities, demonstrated by Microsoft’s confirmation that Anonymous Sudan was responsible for the outages they experienced, potentially indicates a significant increase in outside investment in the collective, further suggesting a potential tie to the Russian state.

https://cyberscoop.com/anonymous-sudan-killnet-russia-onlyfans/

• Infosec Doesn't Know What AI Tools Organisations Are Using

With the marketplace awash in new artificial intelligence (AI) tools and new AI features being added to existing tools, organisations are finding themselves lacking visibility into what AI tools are in use, how they are used, who has access, and what data is being shared. As businesses try, adopt, and abandon new generative AI tools, it falls on enterprise IT, risk, and security leaders to govern and secure their use without hindering innovation. While developing security policies to govern AI use is important, it is not possible without knowing what tools are being used in the first place.

Enterprise security teams have to consider how to handle discovery, learning which generative AI tools have been introduced into the environment and by whom, as well as risk assessment.

https://www.darkreading.com/tech-trends/infosec-doesnt-know-what-ai-tools-orgs-are-using

• Google Restricting Internet Access to Some Employees to Reduce Cyber Attack Risk

In a bid to shrink the attack surface of its employees, and thus boost security, Google is taking an experimental, and some might say extreme, approach: cutting some of their workstations off from the internet. The company originally selected more than 2,500 employees to participate and will disable internet access on the selected desktops, except for internal web-based tools and Google owned websites like Google Drive and Gmail. Some workers who need the internet to do their job will get exceptions, the company stated in materials.

Google is running the programme to reduce the risk of cyber attacks, according to internal materials. If a Google employee’s device is compromised, the attackers may have access to user data and infrastructure code, which could result in a major incident and undermine user trust. The program comes as companies face increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Just last week, Microsoft said Chinese intelligence hacked into company email accounts belonging to two dozen government agencies in the US and Western Europe, including the US State Department, in a “significant” breach.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/18/google-restricting-internet-access-to-some-employees-for-security.html

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/19/google_cuts_internet/

• Unlocking Business Potential: How CISOs are Transforming Cyber Security into a Strategic Asset

Enterprises are responding to growing cyber security threats by working to make the best use of tools and services to ensure business resilience, according to a recent report. Chief information security officers (CISOs) and virtual CISOs (vCISOS) in particular, want more solutions and services that help them align security measures with enterprise objectives and C-level executives have become more aware of the need for cyber resilience. As a result, security investments have expanded beyond detection and response to include rapid recovery and business continuity.

The report found that amongst other things, enterprises are investing in risk assessments and outsourcing more services. In some cases, where a CISO cannot be hired, organisations may look to hire a vCISO. It is important that the vCISO is able to understand cyber in context to the business and help to align security objectives with the organisations objectives. Black Arrow supports clients as their vCISO with specialist experience in cyber security risk management in a business context.

https://www.blackarrowcyber.com/blog/threat-briefing-14-july-2023

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Risk is Driving Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMB) Decisions - MSSP Alert

• Stabilising The Cyber security Landscape: The Rise Of vCISOs (forbes.com)

• Talent and Governance, not Technology, are Key to Drive Change around Cyber Security - TechNative

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• CISOs are making cyber security a business problem - Help Net Security

• Top Information Security Threats for Businesses 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• How to Build a Cyber Resilient Company | Entrepreneur

• Best practices for an effective cyber security strategy | CSO Online

• Exploring the macro shifts in enterprise security - Help Net Security

• Google Cloud CISO Phil Venables On Cyber security, Cloud Adoption And The Boardroom (forbes.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Costs Financial Services $32bn in Five Years - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MOVEit victim count closes in on 400 orgs, 20M+ individuals • The Register

• Weekly cyber attacks reach two-year high amid ransomware resurgence | ITPro

• Ransomware attacks are on the rise—and so are ransom payments (fastcompany.com)

• IT worker jailed for impersonating ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• The rise in ransomware attacks this year may be related to Russia's war in Ukraine : NPR

• Who are the ransomware gangs wreaking havoc on the world’s biggest companies? | Renee Dudley | The Guardian

• Cyber security firm Sophos impersonated by new SophosEncrypt ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Trends in ransomware-as-a-service and cryptocurrency to monitor - Help Net SecurityFIN8 deploys ALPHV ransomware using Sardonic malware variant (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Linux Ransomware Poses Significant Threat to Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Financial cyber crime syndicate deploys reworked backdoor malware | CyberScoop

• Ransomware attackers getting more sophisticated: Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (yahoo.com)

• SophosEncrypt Ransomware Fools Security Researchers (darkreading.com)

• Mallox Ransomware Exploits Weak MS-SQL Servers to Breach Networks (thehackernews.com)

• New Ransomware With RAT Capabilities Impersonating Sophos - SecurityWeek

• Google’s Bard poses ransomware risk, say researchers | Cybernews

• Ransomware review: July 2023 (malwarebytes.com)

• FIN8 Group spotted delivering the BlackCat Ransomware - Security Affairs

• What is Cyber Extortion? | Definition from TechTarget

• Cyber insurers adapting to data-centric ransomware threats | TechTarget

• Shutterfly says Clop ransomware attack did not impact customer data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Ransomware Victims

• MOVEit victim count closes in on 400 orgs, 20M+ individuals • The Register

• Ofcom says it won’t pay ransom, as new MOVEit hack victims come forward | TechCrunch

• MOVEit Transfer vulnerability: New Cl0p 'victims' include Discovery (techmonitor.ai)

• BlackCat and Clop gangs both claim cyber attack on Estée Lauder | Computer Weekly

• Iron ore giant Fortescue Metals targeted by Russian ransomware group | Cybercrime | The Guardian

• Russian medical lab suspends some services after ransomware attack (therecord.media)

• Recycling Giant Tomra Takes Systems Offline Following Cyber attack - SecurityWeek

• Shutterfly says Clop ransomware attack did not impact customer data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Typo leaks millions of US military emails to Mali web operator | Financial Times (ft.com)

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft Exchange servers compromised by Turla APT - Help Net Security

• Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach | Ars Technica

• Analysis of Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorised email access | Microsoft Security Blog

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Microsoft Tops List of the Most Impersonated Brand for Phishing Scams in Q2 2023 - MSSP Alert

• Enhanced Monitoring to Detect APT Activity Targeting Outlook Online | CISA

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Gmail encouraging users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing (9to5google.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Meta's Threads app used as a lure - Help Net Security

Artificial Intelligence

• ChatGPT rival WormGPT with ‘no ethical boundaries’ sold to hackers on dark web | The Independent

• Infosec Doesn't Know What AI Tools Orgs Are Using (darkreading.com)

• One in 12 victims of rise in AI scams (telegraph.co.uk)

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 1 in 4 Brits play with generative AI and some believe it too • The Register

• OpenAI credentials stolen by the thousands for sale on the dark web (bleepingcomputer.com)

• AI must have better security, says top cyber official - BBC News

• Google Categorises 6 Real-World AI Attacks to Prepare for Now (darkreading.com)

• How to Use Generative AI Tools While Still Protecting Your Privacy | WIRED

• Google’s Bard poses ransomware risk, say researchers | Cybernews

Malware

• Microsoft: Hackers turn Exchange servers into malware control centers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malicious USB Drives Targeting Global Targets with SOGU and SNOWYDRIVE Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Financial cyber crime syndicate deploys reworked backdoor malware | CyberScoop

• New SOHO Router Botnet AVrecon Spreads to 70,000 Devices Across 20 Countries (thehackernews.com)

• LokiBot Malware Targets Windows Users in Office Document Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hackers Target Gamers With Microsoft-Signed Rootkit (darkreading.com)

• Source code of the BlackLotus UEFI Bootkit was leaked on GitHub - Security Affairs

• Are Viruses Still a Threat to Cyber security? (makeuseof.com)

• Black Hat Hacker Exposes Real Identity After Infecting Own Computer With Malware - SecurityWeek

• Pernicious Rootkits Pose Growing Blight On Threat Landscape (darkreading.com)

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Mobile

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Hackers Exploit WebAPK to Deceive Android Users into Installing Malicious Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Meta confirms WhatsApp is down worldwide (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese APT41 Hackers Target Mobile Devices with New WyrmSpy and DragonEgg Spyware (thehackernews.com)

Botnets

• New SOHO Router Botnet AVrecon Spreads to 70,000 Devices Across 20 Countries (thehackernews.com)

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Cloudflare reports 'alarming surge' in DDoS sophistication, escalation in recent months | CyberScoop

• Attackers intensify DDoS attacks with new tactics - Help Net Security

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• How your internet-connected domestic devices can be a critical tool of cyber attack (mid-day.com)

• US preparing Cyber Trust Mark for more secure smart devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Seven new gadgets added to riskiest connected devices list | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• MOVEit Hack: Number of Impacted Organisations Exceeds 340 - SecurityWeek

• Data compromises on track to set a new record - Help Net Security

• Virustotal data leak exposed data of some registered customers - Security Affairs

• What to do (and what not to do) after a data breach - Help Net Security

• HWL Ebsworth hack: Queensland says its files were taken after criminals release Victorian documents | Cybercrime | The Guardian

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Thousands of images on Docker Hub leak auth secrets, private keys (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Met Police ‘passed victims’ data to Facebook via online tracking tool’ | Evening Standard

• LastPass: The lessons we learnt from our devastating breach | TechRadar

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• Rogue Azure AD Guests Can Steal Data via Power Apps (darkreading.com)

• FIA World Endurance Championship driver passports leaked - Security Affairs

• Typo leaks millions of US military emails to Mali web operator | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Old Roblox Data Leak Resurfaces, 4000 Users' Personal Information Exposed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Colorado State University says data breach impacts students, staff (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

• NCA: Nation States Using Cyber crime Groups as Proxies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Owner of BreachForums Pleads Guilty to Cyber crime and Child Pornography Charges (thehackernews.com)

• Genesis Market infrastructure and inventory sold on hacker forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Black Hat Hacker Exposes Real Identity After Infecting Own Computer With Malware - SecurityWeek

• Police arrests Ukrainian scareware developer after 10-year hunt (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Taking the Fight to the Cyber Criminals (trendmicro.com)

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Extremist-friendly tech company closes after fine for securities fraud | Technology | The Guardian

• Hacker Conversations: Inside the Mind of Daniel Kelley, ex-Blackhat - SecurityWeek

• Go Beyond the Headlines for Deeper Dives into the Cyber criminal Underground (thehackernews.com)

• SA on the brink of being Africa's capital of cyber crime, say digital experts | City Press (news24.com)

• What’s the NCA doing about cyber crime? - Tech Monitor

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Trends in ransomware-as-a-service and cryptocurrency to monitor - Help Net Security

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• IT worker jailed for impersonating ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Former contractor accused of remotely accessing town's water treatment facility | Tripwire

• Insider Risk Management Starts With SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• One in 12 victims of rise in AI scams (telegraph.co.uk)

• A Twitter user found scam numbers for major airlines on Google Maps. Google is working to fix it | CNN Business

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Growing scam activity linked to social media and automation - Help Net Security

• A fresh look at the current state of financial fraud - Help Net Security

• Tech support scammers now accepting cash via snail mail • The Register

• Half of UK company directors struck off linked to alleged Covid loan fraud | Coronavirus | The Guardian

• Extremist-friendly tech company closes after fine for securities fraud | Technology | The Guardian

• The cruel new holiday scams you need to know about | This is Money

• Airbnb-Related Scams Surge: Beware Of ‘Too Good To Be True’ Offers (forbes.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• Cyber insurers adapting to data-centric ransomware threats | TechTarget

• Strengthening Password Security may Lower Cyber Insurance Premiums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Dark Web

• Genesis Market infrastructure and inventory sold on hacker forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenAI credentials stolen by the thousands for sale on the dark web (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exploring the Dark Side: OSINT Tools and Techniques for Unmasking Dark Web Operations (thehackernews.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• Google Cloud Build bug lets hackers launch supply chain attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Supply chain executives unaware of growing customer trust issues - Help Net Security

• Possible Supply Chain Attack Targeting Pakistani Government Delivers Shadowpad (trendmicro.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Microsoft makes cloud security logs available for free • The Register

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

• Top 5 Cloud Security Threats in 2023 (analyticsinsight.net)

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• Google Cloud Build bug lets hackers launch supply chain attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Reducing Security Debt in the Cloud (darkreading.com)

• Three key unanswered questions about the Chinese breach of Microsoft cloud services | CyberScoop

• TeamTNT's Cloud Credential Stealing Campaign Now Targets Azure and Google Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• How to manage cloud exploitation at the edge | CIO

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

• Securing The Hybrid Workforce Begins With Browsing (forbes.com)

Attack Surface Management

• How to Manage Your Attack Surface? (thehackernews.com)

• What is attack surface management? | Intruder

Identity and Access Management

• Attacker exploits vulnerability in Active Directory Certificate Services to take control of domain (securityintelligence.com)

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• The rise of hassle-free and secure authentication | CyberScoop

Encryption

• Real-world examples of quantum-based attacks - Help Net Security

• EU Urged to Prepare for Quantum Cyber Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Signal president rejects ‘mass surveillance’ UK law | Fortune

API

• Docker Leaks API Secrets & Private Keys, as Cyber criminals Pounce (darkreading.com)

• API keys: Weaknesses and security best practices | TechTarget

Open Source

• Linux Ransomware Poses Significant Threat to Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Half of AI Open Source Projects Reference Buggy Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• LastPass: The lessons we learnt from our devastating breach | TechRadar

• Millions of Keyboard Walk Patterns Found in Compromised Passwords - IT Security Guru

• TeamTNT's Cloud Credential Stealing Campaign Now Targets Azure and Google Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• Strengthening Password Security may Lower Cyber Insurance Premiums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Growing scam activity linked to social media and automation - Help Net Security

• Met Police ‘passed victims’ data to Facebook via online tracking tool’ | Evening Standard

• Meta's Threads app used as a lure - Help Net Security

• TechScape: ‘Lives are ruined in an afternoon’ – social media and the Huw Edwards story | Technology | The Guardian

Training, Education and Awareness

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behavior Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• Security Awareness Training Isn’t Working - How Can We Improve It? - SecurityWeek

• Companywide Cyber security Training: 20 Tips To Make It ‘Stick’ (forbes.com)

Digital Transformation

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

Travel

• The cruel new holiday scams you need to know about | This is Money

• Airbnb-Related Scams Surge: Beware Of ‘Too Good To Be True’ Offers (forbes.com)

• A Twitter user found scam numbers for major airlines on Google Maps. Google is working to fix it | CNN Business

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Online Safety Bill Last chance for Lords to stop surveillance | Evening Standard

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• OWASP ZAP 2.13.0 Released – What’s New! (gbhackers.com)

Data Protection

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Career Benefits of Learning Ethical Hacking (analyticsinsight.net)

• Should You Be Using a Cyber security Careers Framework? (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

• Owner of BreachForums Pleads Guilty to Cyber crime and Child Pornography Charges (thehackernews.com)

• What’s the NCA doing about cyber crime? - Tech Monitor

• Police arrests Ukrainian scareware developer after 10-year hunt (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Online Safety Bill Last chance for Lords to stop surveillance | Evening Standard

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• How to Use Generative AI Tools While Still Protecting Your Privacy | WIRED

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• The rise in ransomware attacks this year may be related to Russia's war in Ukraine : NPR

• Gamaredon hackers start stealing data 30 minutes after a breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Analysis of Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorised email access | Microsoft Security Blog

• Microsoft Exchange servers compromised by Turla APT - Help Net Security

• Pro-Russian hacktivists increase focus on Western targets. The latest is OnlyFans. | CyberScoop

• Elon Musk’s Starlink is putting our soldiers at risk, Ukraine warns (telegraph.co.uk)

• New Threat Actor Launches Cyber attacks on Ukraine and Poland - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 1st Case Of Online Killing? Russian Submarine Commander Falls Prey To Fitness Tracking App (eurasiantimes.com)

• Thousands of Russian officials to give up iPhones over US spying fears | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Ukraine innovates on cyber defence | Financial Times (ft.com)

China

• Three key unanswered questions about the Chinese breach of Microsoft cloud services | CyberScoop

• Chinese APT Favourite Backdoor Found in Pakistani Government App - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China Espionage Operatives Left Empty Handed in Email Heist, White House Official Says - MSSP Alert

• Xi wants to make the Great Firewall of China even greater • The Register

• Chinese APT41 Hackers Target Mobile Devices with New WyrmSpy and DragonEgg Spyware (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• JumpCloud breach traced back to North Korean state hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean hackers breached a US tech company to steal crypto | Reuters

Misc/Other/Unknown

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• NCA: Nation States Using Cyber crime Groups as Proxies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• APT Protection: The Key to Safeguarding Your Business (ts2.space)

• How to Secure Your OT Network Against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) (ts2.space)

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• CVSS 4.0 released, to help assess real-time threat and impact of vulnerabilities - Help Net Security

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• What is Vulnerability Assessment In Cyber security? (gbhackers.com)

• Half of AI Open Source Projects Reference Buggy Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Windows Users Urged To Update As Microsoft Confirms New Zero-Day Exploits (forbes.com)

• Microsoft Bug Allowed Hackers to Breach Over Two Dozen Organisations via Forged Azure AD Tokens (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft still unsure how hackers stole Azure AD signing key (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach | Ars Technica

• CVE-2023-38408: Remote Code Execution in OpenSSH’s forwarded ssh-agent | Qualys Security Blog

• New critical Citrix ADC and Gateway flaw exploited as zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenSSH Addresses Remote Code Execution Vulnerability: CVE-2023-38408 - VULNERA

• New AMI BMC Flaws Allowing Takeover and Physical Damage Could Impact Millions of Devices - SecurityWeek

• Adobe Rolls Out New Patches for Actively Exploited ColdFusion Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco fixed a critical flaw in SD-WAN vManage - Security Affairs

• Hacking campaign targets sites using WordPress WooCommerce Payments Plugin - Security Affairs

• Microsoft hit by Storm season – a tale of two semi-zero days – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Chrome 115 Patches 20 Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• 'METIOR' Defence Blueprint Against Side-Channel Vulnerabilities Debuts | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• 5 Major Takeaways From Microsoft's July Patch Tuesday (darkreading.com)

• Two Jira Plugin Vulnerabilities in Attacker Crosshairs - SecurityWeek

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google says Apple employee found a zero-day but did not report it | TechCrunch

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Tools and Controls

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Reducing Security Debt in the Cloud (darkreading.com)

• Leverage Threat Intelligence, AI, and Data at Scale to Boost Cyber Defences (darkreading.com)

• A Few More Reasons Why RDP is Insecure (Surprise!) (thehackernews.com)

• Enterprise communication security a growing risk, priority | TechTarget

• SBOMs Still More Mandate Than Security (darkreading.com)

• MIT’s Cyber security Metior: A Secret Weapon Against Side-Channel Attacks (scitechdaily.com)

• NCSC Shares Alternatives to Using a SOC - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Building resilience through DevSecOps - Help Net Security

• Microsoft's security roadmap: Protect Azure DevOps secrets • The Register

• CISA shares free tools to help secure data in the cloud (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What is the new Enhanced Safe Browsing for Gmail (and should you enable it)? | ZDNET

• Insider Risk Management Starts With SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

• What is Real-Time Monitoring? | Definition from TechTarget

• How to Manage Your Attack Surface? (thehackernews.com)

• What is attack surface management? | Intruder

• 67% of daily security alerts overwhelm SOC analysts - Help Net Security

• Technical Aspects Of Modern SIEM Systems (forbes.com)

• Gmail encouraging users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing (9to5google.com)

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

• 3 Ways AI Could Improve Authentication (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft makes cloud security logs available for free • The Register

• Security Awareness Training Isn’t Working - How Can We Improve It? - SecurityWeek

• The XDR Payoff: Better Security Posture (trendmicro.com)

• API keys: Weaknesses and security best practices | TechTarget

• 10 Steps to Help Secure Your APIs - SecurityWeek

• Threat Actors are Targeting Your Web Applications – Here’s How To Protect Them (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Other News

• Google restricting internet access to some employees for security (cnbc.com)

• Enterprise communication security a growing risk, priority | TechTarget

• Healthcare organisations in the crosshairs of cyber attackers - Help Net Security

• Broadband consumers demand security and sustainability - Help Net Security

• Microsoft Exchange Online hit by new outage blocking emails (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Famed Hacker Kevin Mitnick Dead at 59 - SecurityWeek

• Most CNI Firms Think Climate Tech is Increasing Cyber Risk - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber security measures SMBs should implement - Help Net Security

• Satellites Are Rife With Basic Security Flaws | WIRED

• How Hackers Can Hijack a Satellite (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 07 July 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Cyber Attacks Against Mobile Devices Growing Fast

A rise in mobile-powered businesses is creating vulnerability gaps that are being exploited by cyber criminals and nation-states, according to a new report. 43% of all compromised devices were fully exploited, not just jailbroken or rooted, which is an increase of 187% year-over-year.  The report found that the average user is 6 to 10 times more likely to fall for an SMS phishing attack than an email based attack.

It was also found that there was a 138% increase in critical Android vulnerabilities discovered in 2022, while Apple iOS accounted for 80% of the zero-day vulnerabilities actively being exploited in the wild. With malware increasingly spreading through legitimate channels, such as official marketplaces and ads in popular apps. This is true for both scam apps and dangerous mobile banking malware. For organisations, no matter if they are corporate-owned or part of a BYOD strategy, the need to implement appropriate security controls, and educate end-users about potential threats, is critical.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-services-and-products/mobile/cyber-attacks-against-mobile-devices-growing-fast/

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/mobile-cyberattacks-soar-andoird-users

• One Third of Security Breaches Go Unnoticed by Security Professionals

While surface-level confidence around hybrid cloud security is high, with 94% of global respondents stating their security tools and processes provide them with complete visibility and insights into their IT infrastructure, the reality is nearly one third of security breaches are not spotted by IT and security professionals, according to a recent report.

The report highlighted that 50% of IT and security leaders lack confidence when it comes to knowing where their most sensitive data is stored and how it is secured. The issue is that 31% of breaches are being identified later down the line, rather than pre-emptively using security and observability tools either by data appearing on the dark web, files becoming inaccessible, or users experiencing slow application performance (likely due to DoS or inflight exfiltration). This number rises to 48% in the US, and 52% in Australia.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/03/hybrid-cloud-security-breaches/

• Cyber Security Experts Have Become Targets for Board Seats

The need for strong cyber security programs is a vital part of doing business today, and a good reflection of that is adding security executives to Boards. The trend is for chief information security officers (CISOs) to be elevated to the board of directors, as risk and regulatory compliance become more visible in an organisation, many of the initiatives and controls will be security related, addressing those controls usually falls to the CISO.

The research also showed that 90% of public companies lack even one qualified cyber expert, showing a significant cyber board supply-demand gap. With only 15% of CISOs have broader traits required for board level positions, such as a holistic understanding of the business, a global perspective and ability to navigate a range of stakeholders, with another 33% having a subset of those necessary traits.

CISOs are hard to come by and few have the requisite Board level experience. To fill this gap Black Arrow provide a virtual CISO (vCISO) where you get a whole team of highly skilled and experienced professionals for less than you would pay for one permanent resource, and firms can also take advantage of Black Arrow’s Cyber NED, incorporating Board, Governance, Finance, HR and Risk experience with specialist cyber expertise and experience.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/03/cybersecurity-experts-have-become-targets-for-board-seats.html

• Phishing Attack Prevention as Email Attacks Surge Over 450%

A Recent report found that email attacks had surged 464% this year compared to the previous year as phishing attacks remain amongst the most used tactics by attackers due to their high success rate and the ease in which they can be conducted. For preventing such attacks, the following principles will help mitigate: not clicking on unknown links, not trusting unknown sites, enabling multi-factor authentication, hardly disclosing personal information and having increased phishing awareness.

In an organisation, such awareness and principles can be highlighted and continually reinforced through having an effective awareness training programme. This in turn, will help to create a cyber aware culture and reduce the risk of someone in the organisation falling victim to phishing.

https://cybersecuritynews.com/phishing-attack-prevention-checklist/

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/email-cyberattacks-spiked-nearly-500-in-first-half-of-2023-acronis-reports/

• Outsmarting Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scammers

Last year the FBI registered over 21,000 complaints about business email fraud, with adjusted losses of over $2.7 billion. Today this line of attack shows no sign of slowing down. Business email compromise (BEC) techniques are increasingly sophisticated and cyber crime-as-a-service (CaaS) along with AI have lowered the barrier to entry for threat actors.

There are six key elements which can help to mitigate the impact of BEC, these are; inbox protection, strong authentication, secure emails, zero-trust control, secure payment processes and education. Putting the brakes on this con game takes the entire organisation, from the C-suite and IT, compliance, and risk management teams to every business unit. Awareness, backed by policy and technology, is the crucial factor in a consistently strong defence.

https://www.darkreading.com/microsoft/6-steps-to-outsmarting-business-email-compromise-scammers

• Small Organisations Face Security Threats on a Limited Budget

Small organisations face the same security threats as larger organisations overall but have less resources to address them. The most common security incidents faced are phishing, ransomware, and user account compromise also known as business email compromise (BEC). However, smaller organisations usually have fewer resources and experience with which to address security threats. Indeed, lack of budget is their top security challenge, reported by one in two small companies.

The lack of budget won’t stop a threat actor from attacking however, and so small organisations need to be able to effectively identify, prioritise and mitigate against security incidents. This may require small organisations outsourcing some of their cyber strategy, to allow them access to expertise.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/05/small-organizations-security-threats/

• Cloud Security: Sometimes the Risks May Outweigh the Rewards

Threat actors are well-aware of the vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure. IT teams and decision-leadersmakers must have a clear understanding of the types of cloud services and the associated risk of cyber attacks associated. Around two in five (39%) businesses experienced a data breach in their cloud environment in 2022, a rise of 4% compared with 2021, a new report has found. The leading cause of cloud data breaches was human error, at 55%, according to the report. This was significantly above the next highest factor identified by respondents (21%), which was exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Other issues can arise from the cloud as it gives organisations the opportunity to create large amounts of infrastructure quickly and easily, which leaves it exposed to the possibility of substandard security configurations being applied to it. Due to the ease of use of cloud services, companies might become negligent in terms of their security.

https://cyber-reports.com/2023/07/03/cloud-security-sometimes-the-risks-may-outweigh-the-rewards/

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/human-error-cloud-data-breaches/

• Cl0p's MOVEit Campaign Represents a New Era in Cyber Attacks

A number of organisations impacted by the mass hacks exploiting a security flaw in the MOVEit file transfer tool, including energy giant Shell and US-based First Merchants Bank, have confirmed that hackers accessed sensitive data. The ransomware group shows an evolution of its tactics with the MOVEit zero-day, potentially ushering in a new normal when it comes to extortion supply chain cyber attacks, experts say.

From what the industry has seen in recent Cl0p breaches, GoAnywhere, MFT and MOVEit, they have not executed ransomware to encrypt data within the target environments. The operations have strictly been exfiltrating data and using that stolen information for later blackmail and extortion. The MOVEit vulnerability isn't an easy or straightforward one, it required extensive research into the MOVEit platform to discover, understand, and exploit this vulnerability. The skill set required to uncover and exploit this vulnerability isn't easily learned and is hard to come by in the industry. This operation isn't something Cl0p ransomware group usually does, which is another clue leading to suspect Cl0p acquired the MOVEit zero-day vulnerability rather than developing it from scratch. Something future groups may decide to adopt.

https://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/c10p-moveit-campaign-new-era-cyberattacks

https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/06/more-organizations-confirm-moveit-related-breaches-as-hackers-claim-to-publish-stolen-data

• 75% of Consumers Prepared to Ditch Brands Hit by Ransomware

As 40% of consumers harbour scepticism regarding organisations’ data protection capabilities, 75% would shift to alternate companies following a ransomware attack a recent report found. Furthermore, consumers request increased data protection from vendors, with 55% favouring companies with comprehensive data protection measures such as reliable backup and recovery, password protection, and identity and access management strategies.

While 37% of Gen Z prefers an apology from companies experiencing a ransomware attack, ranking 12% higher than monetary compensation, Baby Boomers are less forgiving. 74% of them agree their trust in the vendor is irreparably damaged after suffering more than one ransomware attack, compared to only 34% of Gen Z.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/05/consumers-data-protection-request/

• Scammers Using AI Voice Technology to Commit Crimes

The usage of platforms like Cash App, Zelle, and Venmo for peer-to-peer payments has experienced a significant surge, with scams increasing by over 58%. Additionally, there has been a corresponding rise of 44% in scams stemming from the theft of personal documents according to a recent report.

The report also highlights the rise of AI voice scams as a significant trend in 2023. AI voice technology enables scammers to create remarkably realistic voices and convincingly imitate family members, friends and other trusted individuals. With just a short voice clip usually taken from social media, a scammer can clone a loved one’s voice and call a victim pretending to be that person. The scammer deceives the victim into thinking their loved one is in distress to get them to send money, provide personal information or perform other actions. AI voice technology has gotten to the point where a mother can’t tell the difference between her child’s voice and a machine, and scammers have pounced on this to commit crimes.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/07/ai-voice-cloning-scams/

• What are the Causes of Data Loss and What it the Impact on Your Organisation?

In today’s digital age, data has become the lifeblood of organisations, driving critical decision-making, improving operational efficiency, and allowing for smoother innovation. Simply put, businesses heavily rely on data. In an era where data has become the cornerstone of business operations, the loss of vital information can result in severe setbacks and irreparable damage. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters, the loss of valuable data can have devastating impacts on an organisation.

It's imperative that businesses understand different types of data (structured, unstructured, semi-structured, metadata) and deploy tailored protection strategies. A significant 26% of companies suffered data loss in 2022, underlining the need for robust data security measures like regular backups, cyber security protocols, employee training, and data encryption. Effective data loss prevention can shield organisations from severe impacts like intellectual property theft, operation disruption, and legal repercussions.

https://securityaffairs.com/148086/security/impacts-of-data-loss.html

• Ransomware Affiliates, Triple Extortion, and the Dark Web Ecosystem

Many people associate the dark web with drugs, crime, and leaked credentials, but in recent years the dark web has emerged as a complex and interdependent cyber crime ecosystem, exemplified by the increasingly complex methods used to extort companies.

One of the more recent trends we see is that groups are now setting up infrastructure, in some cases outsourcing actual infection (and in some cases negotiation) to “affiliates” who effectively act as contractors to the Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) group and split the profits at the end of a successful attacks. The world of cyber crime is ever-evolving and it is no easy task to stay on top of the changing landscape.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ransomware-affiliates-triple-extortion-and-the-dark-web-ecosystem/

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber Security experts have become targets for board seats (cnbc.com)

• The Impacts of Data Loss on Your Organisation -Security Affairs

• One third of security breaches go unnoticed by security professionals - Help Net Security

• Small organisations face security threats on a limited budget - Help Net Security

• How to cultivate a culture of continuous cyber Security improvement - Help Net Security

• CISOs Find 'Business as Usual' Shows the Harsh Realities of Cyber-Risk (darkreading.com)

• Mitigate Top 5 Common Cyber Security Vulnerabilities (trendmicro.com)

• Cyber Security's Future Hinges on Stronger Public-Private Partnerships (darkreading.com)

• Center for Internet Security, CREST launch new enterprise cyber Security accreditation scheme | CSO Online

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 75% of consumers prepared to ditch brands hit by ransomware - Help Net Security

• More organisations confirm MOVEit-related breaches as hackers claim to publish stolen data | TechCrunch

• More than 16 million people and counting have had data exposed in MOVEit breaches (therecord.media)

• Cl0p's MOVEit Campaign Represents a New Era in Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Encryption-less ransomware: Warning issued over emerging attack method for threat actors | ITPro

• Malvertising: A stealthy precursor to infostealers and ransomware attacks (malwarebytes.com)

• 8Base ransomware group leaks data of 67 victim organisations - Help Net Security

• Cyber Security Awareness Training to Fight Ransomware (trendmicro.com)

• Ransomware Affiliates, Triple Extortion, and the Dark Web Ecosystem (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BlackCat Operators Distributing Ransomware Disguised as WinSCP via Malvertising (thehackernews.com)

• Seven ways to prepare for double extortion ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The rise in cyber extortion attacks and its impact on business security - Help Net Security

• University of California sues Lloyd’s of London in cyber insurance dispute | CSO Online

• Ransomware Criminals Are Dumping Kids' Private Files Online After School Hacks - SecurityWeek

• Microsoft Can Fix Ransomware Tomorrow (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware accounts for 54% of cyber threats in the health sector- Security Affairs

• Avast released a free decryptor for Windows version of Akira ransomware- Security Affairs

• Dark Web Intelligence Shows Everest Ransomware Group Increasing Initial Access Broker Activity (yahoo.com)

• FIS Global Data Breach: Cyber Attack On FIS Global Follows MOVEit Mayhem (thecyberexpress.com)

• Thirty-three US Hospitals Hit By Ransomware This Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How ransomware impacts the healthcare industry - Help Net Security

• Zero to Full Domain Admin: The Real-World Story of a Ransomware Attack – Joseph Carson – ESW Vault | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• June saw flurry of ransomware attacks on education sector | TechTarget

• Decryption tool for Akira ransomware available for free | Tripwire

• Japanese Port of Nagoya Resumes Operations After 2-Day Russian Ransomware Attack - MSSP Alert

• What is WannaCry Ransomware? | Definition from TechTarget

• FBI digital sting against Hive cyber Crime group shows the promise — and limits — of hacking hackers - POLITICO

Ransomware Victims

• More organisations confirm MOVEit-related breaches as hackers claim to publish stolen data | TechCrunch

• One million NHS patients’ data compromised after cyber Attack on University of Manchester | The Independent

• Shell Confirms MOVEit-Related Breach After Ransomware Group Leaks Data - SecurityWeek

• Dublin airport staff’s pay and benefits compromised in cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• Hackers Claim $70 Million Ransomware Attack on TSMC, Hits Supplier Instead | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• Japan’s largest port stops operations after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• TSMC says IT supplier extorted by LockBit • The Register

• Russians may have hacked NHS trust with 2.5 million patients (telegraph.co.uk)

• More than 16 million people and counting have had data exposed in MOVEit breaches (therecord.media)

• 8Base ransomware group leaks data of 67 victim organisations - Help Net Security

• Dublin airport staff’s pay and benefits compromised in cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• FIS Global Data Breach: Cyber Attack On FIS Global Follows MOVEit Mayhem (thecyberexpress.com)

• TSMC says IT supplier extorted by LockBit • The Register

• MOVEit Hacks Ensnare US Department of Health and Human Services - Bloomberg

• UCLA among victims of worldwide cyber attack – NBC Los Angeles

• BlackCat Hacking Gang Says It Stole Data from UK's Barts Health NHS Trust - Bloomberg

• Chipmaker TSMC says supplier targeted in cyber Attack | Reuters

• MOVEit hack impacts US financial services provider for academics | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Suspicious Email Reports Up a Third as NCSC Trumpets Active Defence - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Email Cyber Attacks Spiked Nearly 500% in First Half of 2023, Acronis Reports - MSSP Alert

• Phishing Attack Prevention Checklist - A Detailed Guide (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Phishing Trends and Tactics: Q1 of 2023 | Tripwire

• African Nations Face Escalating Phishing & Compromised Password Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• 6 Steps To Outsmart Business Email Compromise Scammers (darkreading.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Quishing on the rise: How to prevent QR code phishing | TechTarget

• Why cyberpsychology is such an important part of effective cyber Security | CSO Online

Artificial Intelligence

• AI’s rise is ‘most profound’ tech shift to impact ‘all of our lives’, Google UK chief says | The Independent

• Microsoft, OpenAI sued for ChatGPT 'privacy violations' • The Register

• Cyber Criminals can break voice authentication with 99% success rate - Help Net Security

• Dutch counterterrorism agency says Generative AI is posing new cyber threats | NL Times

• AI-generated attack vectors cyber Security should watch for (fastcompany.com)

• The EU hasn’t got its AI Act together yet - The Verge

• OpenAI Pauses ChatGPT's 'Browse With Bing' as Users Bypass Paywalls (gizmodo.com)

• Promoting responsible AI: Balancing innovation and regulation - Help Net Security

• GPT-4 is great at infuriating telemarketing scammers • The Register

• UK Citizens Wary of NHS AI Use, Citing Privacy Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 3 Reasons SaaS Security is the Imperative First Step to Ensuring Secure AI Usage (thehackernews.com)

Malware

• Microsoft Teams Exploit Tool Auto-Delivers Malware (darkreading.com)

• Meduza Stealer Targets Windows Users With Advanced Tactics - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fileless attacks increase 1,400% - Help Net Security

• Experts detected a new variant of RUSTBUCKET macOS malware- Security Affairs

• Researchers Uncover New Linux Kernel 'StackRot' Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian Hackers' Sophisticated Malware Targets Windows and macOS Users (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber agencies warn of new TrueBot malware variants targeting US and Canadian firms (therecord.media)

• CISA: Truebot malware infecting networks in US, Canada | TechTarget

• Mockingjay - A New Injection Technique to Bypass EDR (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Malvertising: A stealthy precursor to infostealers and ransomware attacks (malwarebytes.com)

• Mexican Hacker Unleashes Android Malware on Global Banks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Mobile

• Android Security Updates Patch 3 Exploited Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Samsung Phone Flaws Added to CISA 'Must Patch' List Likely Exploited by Spyware Vendor - SecurityWeek

• Mobile Cyber Attacks Soar, Especially Against Android Users (darkreading.com)

• Android users at risk as banking trojan targets more apps | Fox News

• Cyber Attacks Against Mobile Devices Growing Fast - MSSP Alert

• We can’t trust the Government to protect your privacy, says boss of Signal (telegraph.co.uk)

• 83% of Brits Demand Messaging Apps Remain Private, Ahead of Threat From Online Safety Bill (darkreading.com)

• Apps with 1.5M installs on Google Play send your data to China (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mexican Hacker Unleashes Android Malware on Global Banks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Botnets

• Twitter's bot spam keeps getting worse — it's about porn this time (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Botnets Send Exploits Within Days to Weeks After Published PoC (darkreading.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• CISA issues DDoS warning after attacks hit multiple US orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian Hacktivist Platform 'DDoSia' Grows Exponentially (darkreading.com)

• Surviving the 800 Gbps Storm: Gain Insights from Gcore's 2023 DDoS Attack Statistics (thehackernews.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• More organisations confirm MOVEit-related breaches as hackers claim to publish stolen data | TechCrunch

• FIS Global Data Breach: Cyber Attack On FIS Global Follows MOVEit Mayhem (thecyberexpress.com)

• Microsoft denies data breach, theft of 30 million customer accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Capita’s own pension scheme suffered data breach in March hack | Financial Times (ft.com)Russians may have hacked NHS trust with 2.5 million patients (telegraph.co.uk)

• Cyber Attacks and Data Breaches in Review: June 2023 - IT Governance Blog En

• The Impacts of Data Loss on Your Organisation- Security Affairs

• Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun. Secrets, Secrets (Stored in Plain Text Files) Hurt Someone (thehackernews.com)

• Report Reveals Companies Unprepared For Darknet Data Leaks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Nickelodeon investigates breach after leak of 'decades old’ data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenAI lawsuit reignites privacy debate over data scraping | CyberScoop

• 28,000 Impacted by Data Breach at Pepsi Bottling Ventures - SecurityWeek

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Exploring the Dark Web Job Market (socradar.io)

• INTERPOL Nabs Hacking Crew OPERA1ER's Leader Behind $11 Million Cyber Crime (thehackernews.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Meduza Stealer targets tens of crypto wallers and pwd managers- Security Affairs

• $7.8 Billion Lost to Crypto Ponzi Schemes in 2022: Report (cryptopotato.com)

• Hackers stole millions of dollars worth of crypto assets from Poly Network platform- Security Affairs

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Human Error the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why cyberpsychology is such an important part of effective cyber Security | CSO Online

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Google Searches for 'USPS Package Tracking' Leads to Banking Theft (darkreading.com)

• Support from British businesses crucial in removing over... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• GPT-4 is great at infuriating telemarketing scammers • The Register

• Ex-Amazon manager who stole $9m+ gets 16 years in prison • The Register

• $7.8 Billion Lost to Crypto Ponzi Schemes in 2022: Report (cryptopotato.com)

• International Police Operation Dismantles Phone Scam Network - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Four Men Face 20 Years For Money Laundering Charges - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Deepfakes

• Scammers using AI voice technology to commit crimes - Help Net Security

• Cyber Criminals can break voice authentication with 99% success rate - Help Net Security

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Four Men Face 20 Years For Money Laundering Charges - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• University of California sues Lloyd’s of London in cyber insurance dispute | CSO Online

• Find A Cyber Insurance Policy That Fits Your Small Business Budget (forbes.com)

• Cyber insurance rates drop 10% in June, report says | Reuters

• How Pen Testing can Soften the Blow on Rising Costs of Cyber Insurance (thehackernews.com)

• How Cyber Insurance Can Help Relieve The Costs Of A Cyber Attack (forbes.com)

Dark Web

• Ransomware Affiliates, Triple Extortion, and the Dark Web Ecosystem (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Report Reveals Companies Unprepared For Darknet Data Leaks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Exploring the Dark Web Job Market (socradar.io)

• Deep Web vs Dark Web: What’s the Difference? - Keeper (keepersecurity.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita’s own pension scheme suffered data breach in March hack | Financial Times (ft.com)

• TSMC says IT supplier extorted by LockBit • The Register

• Hackers Claim $70 Million Ransomware Attack on TSMC, Hits Supplier Instead | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

Software Supply Chain

• A CISO's Guide to Paying Down Software Supply Chain Security Debt (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Microsoft Teams Exploit Tool Auto-Delivers Malware (darkreading.com)

• Japan rebukes Fujitsu for cloud security fails • The Register

• Cloud security: Sometimes the risks may outweigh the rewards – Cyber Reports Cyber Security News & Information (cyber-reports.com)

• 53% of SaaS licenses remain unused - Help Net Security

• IT leaders believe hybrid cloud solutions are the future of IT - Help Net Security

• Human Error the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ongoing Incident Prompts JumpCloud to Reset API Keys - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft investigates Outlook.com bug breaking email search (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 11 best practices for securing data in the cloud | Microsoft Security Blog

• 3 Reasons SaaS Security is the Imperative First Step to Ensuring Secure AI Usage (thehackernews.com)

Attack Surface Management

• Attack surface visibility a top CISO priority amid growing attacks: Report | CSO Online

Encryption

• Cyber Criminals Hijacking Vulnerable SSH Servers in New Proxyjacking Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• Exploring the Dark Web Job Market (socradar.io)

• Apple, Civil Liberty Groups Condemn UK Online Safety Bill - SecurityWeek

• Online Safety Bill: WhatsApp, Signal, Element issue stark final warning against mass snooping of messages | Evening Standard

• Security Experts Raise Major Concerns With Online Safety Bill - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 83% of Brits Demand Messaging Apps Remain Private, Ahead of Threat From Online Safety Bill (darkreading.com)

API

• Ongoing Incident Prompts JumpCloud to Reset API Keys - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Open Source

• Mission Linux: How the open source software is now a lucrative target for hackers | CSO Online

• Researchers Uncover New Linux Kernel 'StackRot' Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• High school changes every student’s password to ‘Ch@ngeme!’ | TechCrunch

• Evasive Meduza Stealer Targets 19 Password Managers and 76 Crypto Wallets (thehackernews.com)

Social Media

• Twitter's bot spam keeps getting worse — it's about porn this time (bleepingcomputer.com)

• EU Court Deals Blow to Meta in German Data Case - SecurityWeek

• Instagram's Twitter Alternative 'Threads' Launch Halted in Europe Over Privacy Concerns (thehackernews.com)

• Privacy Woes Hold Up Global Instagram Threads Launch (darkreading.com)

Malvertising

• BlackCat Operators Distributing Ransomware Disguised as WinSCP via Malvertising (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Cyber Security Awareness Training to Fight Ransomware (trendmicro.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• France passes bill to allow police remotely activate phone camera, microphone, spy on people (gazettengr.com)

• Apple, Civil Liberty Groups Condemn UK Online Safety Bill - SecurityWeek

• EU Court Deals Blow to Meta in German Data Case - SecurityWeek

• Promoting responsible AI: Balancing innovation and regulation - Help Net Security

• European companies slam the EU’s incoming AI regulations in open letter - The Verge

• Stop using Google Analytics, warns Sweden’s privacy watchdog, as it issues over $1M in fines | TechCrunch

• 83% of Brits Demand Messaging Apps Remain Private, Ahead of Threat From Online Safety Bill (darkreading.com)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Center for Internet Security, CREST launch new enterprise cyber Security accreditation scheme | CSO Online

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Crack the Code: How to Secure Your Dream Cyber Security Career - IT Security Guru

• 3 Ways to Build a More Skilled Cyber Security Workforce (darkreading.com)

• Make Diversity the 'How,' Not the 'What,' of Cyber Security Success (darkreading.com)

• CISO Speaks: Resilience and Avoiding Burnout - IT Security Guru

• Top 5 Free Online Cyber Security Courses in 2023 (analyticsinsight.net)

• ISACA joins ECSO to strengthen cyber Security and digital skills in Europe - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• INTERPOL Nabs Hacking Crew OPERA1ER's Leader Behind $11 Million Cyber Crime (thehackernews.com)

• International Police Operation Dismantles Phone Scam Network - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FBI digital sting against Hive cyber Crime group shows the promise — and limits — of hacking hackers - POLITICO

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• France passes bill to allow police remotely activate phone camera, microphone, spy on people (gazettengr.com)

• Microsoft, OpenAI sued for ChatGPT 'privacy violations' • The Register

• Online Safety Bill: WhatsApp, Signal, Element issue stark final warning against mass snooping of messages | Evening Standard

• TSA hopes to expand facial recognition over next ten years • The Register

• NJ cops must get wiretap order for real-time Facebook snoop • The Register

• Instagram's Twitter Alternative 'Threads' Launch Halted in Europe Over Privacy Concerns (thehackernews.com)

• UK Citizens Wary of NHS AI Use, Citing Privacy Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Stop using Google Analytics, warns Sweden’s privacy watchdog, as it issues over $1M in fines | TechCrunch

• Privacy Woes Hold Up Global Instagram Threads Launch (darkreading.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russians may have hacked NHS trust with 2.5 million patients (telegraph.co.uk)

• Switzerland’s Security Report: Impact of Russia–Ukraine Conflict - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Satellite system used by Russian military is hacked - The Washington Post

• Russian Hacktivist Platform 'DDoSia' Grows Exponentially (darkreading.com)

• Russian railway site allegedly taken down by Ukrainian hackers (therecord.media)

China

• US authorities warn on China’s new counter-espionage la' • The Register

• Chinese Threat Actors Targeting Europe in SmugX Campaign - Check Point Research

• Chinese threat actor attacks diplomats across Europe • The Register

• Apps with 1.5M installs on Google Play send your data to China (bleepingcomputer.com)

Iran

• Iran-Linked APT35 Targets Israeli Media With Upgraded Spear-Phishing Tools (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Hackers' Sophisticated Malware Targets Windows and macOS Users (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian hacking group impersonating nuclear experts to gain intel from Western think tanks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

North Korea

• Experts detected a new variant of RUSTBUCKET macOS malware- Security Affairs

• North Korean satellite had no military utility for spying • The Register

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Advanced Persistent Threats: A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Security (ts2.space)

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Vulnerability Management

• Botnets Send Exploits Within Days to Weeks After Published PoC (darkreading.com)

• Mitigate Top 5 Common Cyber Security Vulnerabilities (trendmicro.com)

Vulnerabilities

• CISA warns Samsung handset bugs and D-Link router flaws are being exploited in wild | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 300,000+ Fortinet firewalls vulnerable to critical FortiOS RCE bug (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft puts out Outlook fire, downplays Teams flaw • The Register

• Critical Flaw Exposes ArcServe Backup to Remote Code Execution - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• WordPress plugin lets users become admins – Patch early, patch often! – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Cyber Criminals Hijacking Vulnerable SSH Servers in New Proxyjacking Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• Firefox 115 Patches High-Severity Use-After-Free Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Microsoft fixes bug behind Windows LSA protection warnings, again (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Samsung Phone Flaws Added to CISA 'Must Patch' List Likely Exploited by Spyware Vendor - SecurityWeek

• Cisco warns of bug that lets attackers break traffic encryption (bleepingcomputer.com)

• StackRot Linux Kernel Bug Has Exploit Code on the Way (darkreading.com)

• Cisco warns of a flaw in Nexus 9000 series switches that allows modifying encrypted traffic- Security Affairs

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Tools and Controls

• Cyber Security Awareness Training to Fight Ransomware (trendmicro.com)

• Attack surface visibility a top CISO priority amid growing attacks: Report | CSO Online

• VMware, Other Tech Giants Announce Push for Confidential Computing Standards - SecurityWeek

• Small organisations face security threats on a limited budget - Help Net Security

• 11 best practices for securing data in the cloud | Microsoft Security Blog

• How Pen Testing can Soften the Blow on Rising Costs of Cyber Insurance (thehackernews.com)

• Mitigating Risk With Threat Intelligence (darkreading.com)

• How Cyber Insurance Can Help Relieve The Costs Of A Cyber Attack (forbes.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Phishing Trends and Tactics: Q1 of 2023 | Tripwire

• How to Use Threat Intelligence to Mitigate Third-Party Risk Free Report (tradepub.com)

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Other News

• Foreign spies hacked government 20 years ago (thetimes.co.uk)

• GCHQ Reveals Details of State-Backed Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Police investigate stolen exam papers after cyber attack (schoolsweek.co.uk)

• VMware, Other Tech Giants Announce Push for Confidential Computing Standards - SecurityWeek

• Why Schools are Low-Hanging Fruit for Cyber Criminals - IT Security Guru

• Hacks targeting British exam boards raise fears of students cheating (therecord.media)

• Cyber Attacks and Data Breaches in Review: June 2023 - IT Governance Blog En

• Is your browser betraying you? Emerging threats in 2023 - Help Net Security

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 30 June 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Zurich Insurance Group Secures Data Leak After Leaving Sensitive Data Publicly Accessible

Zurich Insurance Group is a major player in the insurance game, with over 55 million clients. They have recently just fixed a sensitive file that they had left publicly accessible. The file in question contained a range of credentials including database credentials, admin credentials, credentials for the actively exploited MOVEit software, credentials for their HR system and more. All of which could be utilised by threat actors to inflict serious damage. This was not the only vulnerability stemming from the insurance group; researchers found that Zurich were also running an outdated website, which contained a large number of vulnerabilities.

The case is alarming as Zurich Insurance Group provides cyber insurance and the instance above reinforces the need for organisations to be proactive in identifying cyber risks in their environment; it is simply not enough to rely on having insurance or meeting insurance requirements.

https://cybernews.com/zurich-insurance-data-leak/

• Employees Worry Less About Cyber Security Best Practices in the Summer

IT teams are struggling to monitor and enforce BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies during summer months according to a new report. The report found that 55% of employees admitted to relying solely on their mobile devices while working remotely in the summer. 25% of all respondents claim that they aren’t concerned about ensuring network connections are secure when accessing their company’s data.

In the same report, 45% of employees in the US and UK said no specific measures to educate and remind employees on security best practices are taken during the summer, with only 24% of UK respondents receiving access to online cyber security training and guides and even less (17%) in the US. This comes as a separate report found that the number of phishing sites targeting mobile devices increased from 75% to 80% year-on-year in 2022, and this is likely to continue rising. Worryingly, it was also found that the average user is between six and ten times more likely to fall for an SMS phishing attack than email.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/30/summer-byod-policies/

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/mobile-malware-and-phishing-surge/

• Businesses are Ignoring Third-Party Security Risks

With 58% of companies managing over 100 vendors, 8% of which manage over 1,000, the need for a robust Third-Party Security Risk Management process becomes abundantly clear. Despite this, only 13% of organisations continuously monitor the security risks of their third parties. This is worrying, when considering the knock-on effects of third party breaches from the likes of Capita, SolarWinds and 3CX, and the recent MOVEit attack, impacting organisations whose only relationship with MOVEit was that their supplier used it.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/30/third-party-relationships-risks/

• Fear Trumps Anger When It Comes to Data Breaches – Angry Customers Vent, But Fearful Customers Don’t Come Back

When a person is notified of a data breach involving their personal information, if they react with a feeling of fear, as opposed to anger, they’re more likely to stop using the site. A report found that positive attitudes toward the website before the breach did not meaningfully affect whether consumers reengaged with the website after the breach, as some prior research has indicated. Instead, the emotional response of fear weighed heavily on customers and outweighed any earlier positive sentiment towards the organisation.

When a company has been breached in the past they have dealt with angry customers and negative press. To do so, companies may engage crisis managers to contain the damage, partner with identity protection services, pay fines or settlements, or try to lure back customers with free services. However, the study shows that companies need to address fearful customers differently after a data breach has occurred if they want to avoid customer loss. To do this, companies can work with their IT departments to identify customers who are no longer active after a breach and then reach out to them directly to assuage their fears.

https://theconversation.com/fear-trumps-anger-when-it-comes-to-data-breaches-angry-customers-vent-but-fearful-customers-dont-come-back-203109

• Over 130 Organisations and Millions of Individuals Believed to be Impacted by MOVEit Hack, it Keeps Growing

The dramatic fallout continues in the mass exploitation of a critical vulnerability in a widely used file-transfer program, with at least three new victims coming to light in the past few days. They include the New York City Department of Education and energy companies Schneider Electric and Siemens Electric. These join others, including PwC, Sony and EY. If the attack has shown us one thing, it’s that any organisation can be a victim.

https://www.securityweek.com/over-130-organizations-millions-of-individuals-believed-to-be-impacted-by-moveit-hack/

https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/06/casualties-keep-growing-in-this-months-mass-exploitation-of-moveit-0-day/

• Widespread BEC Attacks Threaten European Organisations

Based on an analysis of email attack trends between June 2022 and May 2023, total email attacks in Europe increased by 7 times and the US 5 times. For business email compromise (BEC) specifically, Europe saw an alarming 10 times the amount it had previously and the US saw a 2 times increase.

BEC continues to remain a high priority threat for many organisations and if someone already has a legitimate business email which they have compromised to use for BEC attacks on your organisation, it is very likely that your technical processes will be ineffective, leaving your people and operational processes to stop an attack. Is your organisation cyber aware? Are they undergoing regular awareness training?

This is one of many areas that Black Arrow can help improve your organisation’s security through robust employee cyber security Awareness Behaviour and Culture training.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/27/bec-attacks-frequency/

• Lloyd’s Syndicates Sued Over Cyber Insurance

The University of California (UCLA) is suing a number of insurance firms for refusing to pay out on cyber policies nearly 10 years after hackers breached data on millions of patients at its health system. The dispute is over a cyber attack from 2014 through 2015 that exposed personal information of patients at UCLA Health.

UCLA Health allege that the syndicates refused to engage in dispute resolution by asserting that the statue of limitations applying to the claims had expired. The insurers, who could not be named, are said to have refused every claim saying that UCLA Health failed to satisfy cyber security requirements under the contract terms. It’s important for organisations with cyber insurance to understand their insurance in detail and to know where they stand in the event of a cyber incident.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/university-of-california-sues-lloyds-syndicates-over-cyber-insurance-da4675f5

• 95% Fear Inadequate Cloud Security Detection and Response

A recent report found 95% of respondents expressed concern in their organisation’s ability to detect and respond to a security event in their cloud environment. The same study also found that 50% of total respondents had reported a data breach due to unauthorised access to their cloud environment.

It is often the case that issues in the cloud come from the perception of the responsibility of the cloud environment. Organisations must realise that they share responsibility for securing their cloud environment, including its configuration. The report found that, despite the number of breaches and concerns in their organisation’s ability, more than 80% of respondents still felt their existing tooling and configuration would sufficiently cover their organisation from an attack. Organisations must ask themselves what they are doing to protect their cloud environment.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/27/cloud-environment-security/

• The Growing Use of Generative AI and the Security Risks They Pose

A recent survey by Malwarebytes revealed 81% of people are concerned about the security risks posed by ChatGPT and generative AI, and 52% of respondents are calling for a pause on ChatGPT for regulations to catch up, while 7% think it will improve internet security. A key concern about the data produced by generative AI platforms is the risk of "hallucinations" whereby machine learning models produce untruths. This becomes a serious issue for organisations if its content is heavily relied upon to make decisions, particularly those relating to threat detection and response.

Another recent report on the risks brought by Large Language Model AIs showed that the rise in opensource AI adoption is developed insecurely; this results in an increased threat with substantial security risks to organisation.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/643516/survey-reveals-mass-concern-over-generative-ai-security-risks.html

https://www.darkreading.com/operations/malwarebytes-chatgpt-survey-reveals-81-are-concerned-by-generative-ai-security-risks

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/generative-ai-projects-cybersecurity-risks-enterprises

• The CISO’s Toolkit Must Include Political Capital Within The C-Suite

Over the past 18 months, there has been a sea change in the chief information security officer (CISO) role. Fundamentally, the CISO is responsible for the protection of an entity's information. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a proposed rule change on cyber security risk management, strategy, governance, and incident response disclosure by public companies that requires publicly traded companies to provide evidence of the board's oversight of cyber security risk. Couple this with the former CISO of Uber being found guilty on charges of "obstruction of the proceedings of the Federal Trade Commission" and it is clear that the hand at the helm must be able to navigate all types of seas in their entity's political milieu. In this regard, the CISO needs to acquire political capital. CISO’s should have the capability to talk in understandable terms and clearly demonstrate value to the other board members.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/643199/the-cisos-toolkit-must-include-political-capital-within-the-c-suite.html

• Microsoft Warns of Widescale Credential Stealing Attacks by Russian Hackers as War Ministers Reliant on Cyber Crime

Russia's diminishing position on the world stage has limited its physical options on the ground, leaving Putin's regime increasingly reliant on cyber crime to carry out its oppositional activities against Ukraine and Europe. Microsoft has disclosed that it has detected a spike in credential-stealing attacks conducted by the Russian state-affiliated hacker group known as Midnight Blizzard.

This comes as Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) released its 2023 security assessment, predicting that Russia will increasingly launch cyber attacks as part of its war strategy not just in Ukraine, but against NATO member states as well.

https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/russia-reliant-on-cybercrime-as-international-pariah

https://thehackernews.com/2023/06/microsoft-warns-of-widescale-credential.html

• SMB’s Plagued as Cyber Attackers Still Rely on Decades Old Security Weaknesses and Tactics

Despite best cyber security efforts, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) continue to struggle to thwart attacks and harden defences in response to remote working and other newer challenges.

This future focus can lead to a neglection of older weaknesses. Cyber attackers are typically relying on tried-and-tested tactics and old security weaknesses to target organisations, a recent Barracuda threat spotlight found. Hackers are returning to proven methods to gain remote control of systems, install malware, steal information and disrupt or disable business operations through denial-of-service attacks, Barracuda reports. The report found that between February to April 2023, the top malicious tactics found to be used were vulnerabilities from 2008.

The report highlights the fact that there are no cutoff dates for vulnerabilities and attackers will use whatever is at their disposal to try and infiltrate your organisation. This can be protected by having strong policies and controls in place alongside frequent penetration testing to ensure these vulnerabilities are being patched.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/cyberattackers-still-rely-on-decades-old-security-weaknesses-tactics-barracuda-reports/

https://www.scmagazine.com/news/malware/smbs-plagued-by-exploits-trojans-and-backdoors

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Businesses are ignoring third-party security risks - Help Net Security

• Employees worry less about cyber security best practices in the summer - Help Net Security

• Digital-First Economy Has Transformed Role of CISO- IT Security Guru

• SEC Alleges SolarWinds CFO, CISO Violated US Securities Laws (bankinfosecurity.com)

• Companies Call for Changes to UK’s Cyber Essentials Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fear trumps anger when it comes to data breaches – angry customers vent, but fearful customers don't come back (theconversation.com)

• The CISO’s toolkit must include political capital within the C-suite | CSO Online

• NCSC Launches Cyber Risk Management Toolbox - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Over 130 Organisations, Millions of Individuals Believed to Be Impacted by MOVEit Hack - SecurityWeek

• MOVEit hackers may have found simpler business model beyond ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Dozens of Businesses Hit Recently by '8Base' Ransomware Gang - SecurityWeek

• UK cyber spies warn ransomware criminals targeting law firms • The Register

• How Dangerous Is Smartphone Ransomware? (makeuseof.com)

• Cl0p in Your Network? Here's How to Find Out (darkreading.com)

• Sixth anniversary of NotPetya - IT Security Guru

• July is Ransomware Month: Reminder to Prepare, Defend Against Hijackers - MSSP Alert

• LockBit Dominates Ransomware World, New Report Finds - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Trickbot/Conti Crypters: Where Are They Now? (securityintelligence.com)

• Linux version of Akira ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 'Wagner' Ransomware Targets Computers in Russia | PCMag

Ransomware Victims

• Casualties keep growing in this month’s mass exploitation of MOVEit 0-day | Ars Technica

• Manchester University Breach Victims Hit with Triple Extortion - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 8 Tech And IT Companies Targeted In The MOVEit Attacks | CRN

• MOVEIt breach impacts Genworth, CalPERS as data for 3.2 million exposed (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Clop names PWC, Ernst & Young, and Sony in MOVEit hack | Cybernews

• UCLA, Siemens Among Latest Victims of Relentless MOVEit Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Siemens Energy, Schneider Electric Targeted by Ransomware Group in MOVEit Attack - SecurityWeek

• Clop ransomware gang obtained personal data of 45,000 New York City students in MOVEit hack | Engadget

• 10 banks alleged victims of ransomware attacks on file transfer software | American Banker

• Almost 770,000 Calpers members hit by cyber attack | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Ransomware and phishing attacks continue to plague businesses in Singapore | ZDNET

• K-12 schools are revisiting their cyber strategies after year of ransomware attacks (axios.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Mobile Malware and Phishing Surge in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How a Layered Security Approach Can Minimise Email Threats - MSSP Alert

• Less than half of UK banks implement most secure DMARC level | CSO Online

• Over Half of UK Banks Are Exposing Customers to Email Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Widespread BEC attacks threaten European organisations - Help Net Security

• The Current State of Business Email Compromise Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Cyber Crime Group 'Muddled Libra' Targets BPO Sector with Advanced Social Engineering (thehackernews.com)

• How scammers use psychology to create some of the most convincing internet cons – and what to watch out for (theconversation.com)

• Unmasking Pig-Butchering Scams and Protecting Your Financial Future - Security News (trendmicro.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Malwarebytes ChatGPT Survey Reveals 81% are Concerned by Generative AI Security Risks (darkreading.com)

• Sharing Your Business’ Data With ChatGPT: How Risky Is It? - MSSP Alert

• ChatGPT users at risk for credential theft | TechTarget

• OpenAI lawsuit: Maker of ChatGPT sued over alleged data usage | CNN Business

• Lawyers who cited fake cases invented by ChatGPT must pay • The Register

• Generative AI Projects Pose Major Cyber security Risk to Enterprises (darkreading.com)

• How to Deploy Generative AI Safely and Responsibly (trendmicro.com)

• Generative-AI apps & ChatGPT: Potential risks and mitigation strategies (thehackernews.com)

• Does the world need an arms control treaty for AI? | CyberScoop

• When It Comes to Secure Coding, ChatGPT Is Quintessentially Human (darkreading.com)

• AI-Enabled Voice Cloning Anchors Deepfaked Kidnapping (darkreading.com)

2FA/MFA

• LastPass users furious after being locked out due to MFA resets (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malware

• SMBs plagued by exploits, trojans and backdoors | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• OpenSSH Trojan Campaign Targets IoT and Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hackers Use Weaponized PDF Files to Attack Organisations (cybersecuritynews.com)

• New Mockingjay Process Injection Technique Could Let Malware Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

• Fileless attacks surge as cyber Criminals evade cloud security defences | CSO Online

• NSA warns of ‘false sense of security’ against BlackLotus malware (therecord.media)

• Chinese state-backed hackers accidentally infected a European hospital with malware (therecord.media)

• Trojanized Super Mario Bros game spreads malware- - Security Affairs

• New PindOS JavaScript dropper deploys Bumblebee, IcedID malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• NPM Plagued with ‘Manifest Confusion’ Malware-Hiding Weakness (darkreading.com)

• Newly Uncovered ThirdEye Windows-Based Malware Steals Sensitive Data (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Andariel APT used a new malware named EarlyRat - Security Affairs

Mobile

• Mobile Malware and Phishing Surge in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Apple says proposed UK law ‘poses a serious threat’ to end-to-end encryption - The Verge

• Anatsa Android trojan now steals banking info from users in US, UK (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How Dangerous Is Smartphone Ransomware? (makeuseof.com)

• Aussie PM says, “Shut down your phone every 24 hours for 5 mins” – but that’s not enough on its own – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Fluhorse: Flutter-Based Android Malware Targets Credit Cards and 2FA Codes (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Global rise in DDoS attacks threatens digital infrastructure - Help Net Security

• Pro-Russia DDoSia hacktivist project sees 2,400% membership increase (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Diablo IV video game hit by DDoS attacks • Graham Cluley

Internet of Things – IoT

• OpenSSH Trojan Campaign Targets IoT and Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Someone sent mysterious smartwatches to US Military personnel - Security Affairs

• The tech flaw that lets hackers control surveillance cameras - BBC News

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Fear trumps anger when it comes to data breaches – angry customers vent, but fearful customers don't come back (theconversation.com)

• Latitude hit with $1 million lawsuit over data breach (9news.com.au)

• Recruitment portal exposes data of US pilot candidates • The Register

• Genworth Financial Reports Data Breach Leaking SSNs Belonging to 2.7M Policyholders and Customers (darkreading.com)

• 3 Steps to Successfully & Ethically Navigate a Data Breach (darkreading.com)

• Sensitive Information Stolen in LetMeSpy Stalkerware Hack - SecurityWeek

• US Patent Office Data Spill Exposes Trademark Applications (darkreading.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• 2,700 People Tricked Into Working for Cyber Crime Syndicates Rescued in Philippines - SecurityWeek

• Security analyst wanted by both Russia and the US • The Register

• Former Group-IB manager has been arrested in Kazahstan - Security Affairs

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Twitter Hacker Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for $120,000 Crypto Scam (thehackernews.com)

• JOKERSPY used to target a cryptocurrency exchange in Japan - Security Affairs

• Japanese Cryptocurrency Exchange Falls Victim to JokerSpy macOS Backdoor Attack (thehackernews.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Employees worry less about cyber security best practices in the summer - Help Net Security

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• How scammers use psychology to create some of the most convincing internet cons – and what to watch out for (theconversation.com)

• Twitter Hacker Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for $120,000 Crypto Scam (thehackernews.com)

• Unmasking Pig-Butchering Scams and Protecting Your Financial Future - Security News (trendmicro.com)

• Safety checks run down and boom time for criminals: this is why the UK is becoming the ‘dustbin of Europe’ | Polly Toynbee | The Guardian

• This Chatbot Gives Phone Call Scammers a Taste of Their Own Medicine (pcmag.com)

• The robotic falcon maker who was targeted by cyber criminals - BBC News

Deepfakes

• AI-Enabled Voice Cloning Anchors Deepfaked Kidnapping (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• University of California Sues Lloyd’s Syndicates Over Cyber Insurance - WSJ

• Second Wave of Cyber Insurance | Arctic Wolf

• Insurance companies using AI for underwriting and due diligence amid cyber threats | Fox Business

• How Big Is the Cyber Insurance Market? Can It Keep Growing? | Lawfare (lawfaremedia.org)

Dark Web

• Citizen of Croatia charged with running the Monopoly Market drug marketplace - Security Affairs

• Inside Threat Actors: Dark Web Forums vs. Illicit Telegram Communities (bleepingcomputer.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Businesses are ignoring third-party security risks - Help Net Security

Cloud/SaaS

• 95% fear inadequate cloud security detection and response - Help Net Security

• The unhappy reality of cloud security in 2023 | InfoWorld

• Fileless attacks surge as cyber Criminals evade cloud security defences | CSO Online

• 5 Pitfalls in Cloud Cyber security’s Shared Responsibility Model - MSSP Alert

• Uncovering attacker tactics through cloud honeypots - Help Net Security

• How hardening Microsoft 365 tenants mitigates potential cloud attacks - Help Net Security

• Outlook for the web outage impacts users across America (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 3 Tips to Increase Hybrid and Multicloud Security (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• 10 things every CISO needs to know about identity and access management (IAM) | VentureBeat

• Human vs Machine Identity Risk Management (trendmicro.com)

Encryption

• Apple says proposed UK law ‘poses a serious threat’ to end-to-end encryption - The Verge

• Iran finally admits its 'quantum processor' was in fact not quantum at all | PC Gamer

• How to stop quantum computers from breaking the internet’s encryption (sciencenews.org)

Open Source

• Linux version of Akira ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenSSH Trojan Campaign Targets IoT and Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Exploring The Anatomy Of A Linux Kernel Exploit | Hackaday

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• A New Era Of Security: Are Passwords No Longer Fit For Purpose? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Social Media

• Twitter Hacker Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for $120,000 Crypto Scam (thehackernews.com)

Travel

• Employees worry less about cyber security best practices in the summer - Help Net Security

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Sensitive Information Stolen in LetMeSpy Stalkerware Hack - SecurityWeek

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC Alleges SolarWinds CFO, CISO Violated US Securities Laws (bankinfosecurity.com)

• US firm 'breached GDPR' by reputation-scoring EU citizens • The Register

• JP Morgan accidentally deletes 47 million comms records • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Companies Call for Changes to UK’s Cyber Essentials Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Reach Compliance with HIPAA (trendmicro.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• SEC notice to SolarWinds CISO and CFO roils cyber security industry | CSO Online

• Skill gap plagues cyber security industry as jobs go unfilled | Mint (livemint.com)

• Experts Unconvinced by Upskill in UK Cyber Program - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Hacker responsible for 2020 Twitter breach sentenced to prison | TechCrunch

• Citizen of Croatia charged with running the Monopoly Market drug marketplace - Security Affairs

• 2,700 People Tricked Into Working for Cyber Crime Syndicates Rescued in Philippines - SecurityWeek

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Someone sent mysterious smartwatches to US Military personnel - Security Affairs

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Microsoft Warns of Widescale Credential Stealing Attacks by Russian Hackers (thehackernews.com)

• Russian Spies, War Ministers Reliant on Cyber Crime in Pariah State (darkreading.com)

• What is Cyberwar? - SecurityWeek

• Pro-Russia DDoSia hacktivist project sees 2,400% membership increase (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Sachkov's Revenge: Jailed On Treason Charges, A Russian Cyber security Exec Goes On The Offensive (rferl.org)

• Microsoft hackers say they work for Sudan, not Russia | Fortune

• 'Chinese spy balloon' was 'crammed' with US hardware • The Register

• 'Wagner' Ransomware Targets Computers in Russia | PCMag

• Hackers attack Russian satellite telecom provider, claim affiliation with Wagner Group | CyberScoop

China

• Chinese Hackers Using Never-Before-Seen Tactics for Critical Infrastructure Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• China's 'Volt Typhoon' APT Now Exploits Zoho ManageEngine (darkreading.com)

• Ministers accused of ‘letting Huawei off the hook’ after scrapping release of security report (telegraph.co.uk)

• Chinese state-backed hackers accidentally infected a European hospital with malware (therecord.media)

• 'Chinese spy balloon' was 'crammed' with US hardware • The Register

Iran

• The potent cyber adversary threatening to further inflame Iranian politics | CyberScoop

• From MuddyC3 to PhonyC2: Iran's MuddyWater Evolves with a New Cyber Weapon (thehackernews.com)

• Charming Kitten’s PowerStar Malware Evolves with Advanced Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Iran finally admits its 'quantum processor' was in fact not quantum at all | PC Gamer

North Korea

• New EarlyRAT malware linked to North Korean Andariel hacking group (bleepingcomputer.com)

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Someone sent mysterious smartwatches to US Military personnel - Security Affairs

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Vulnerability Management

• SMBs plagued by exploits, trojans and backdoors | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cyber attackers Still Rely on Decades-Old Security Weaknesses & Tactics, Barracuda Reports - MSSP Alert

• Remediation Ballet Is a Pas de Deux of Patch and Performance (darkreading.com)

• Micropatches: What they are and how they work - Help Net Security

• MITRE Unveils Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Weaknesses of 2023: Are You at Risk? (thehackernews.com)

• When It Comes to Secure Coding, ChatGPT Is Quintessentially Human (darkreading.com)

• It's 2023 and out-of-bounds write bugs are still number one • The Register

Vulnerabilities

• VMware fixed five memory corruption issues in vCenter Server - Security Affairs

• US Cyber security Agency Adds 6 Flaws to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog (thehackernews.com)

• CISA Says Critical Zyxel NAS Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks - SecurityWeek

• Serious IDOR Vulnerability Found In Microsoft Teams (latesthackingnews.com)

• Fortinet fixes critical FortiNAC RCE, install updates asap - Security Affairs

• Details Disclosed for Critical SAP Vulnerabilities, Including Wormable Exploit Chain - SecurityWeek

• Critical flaw in VMware Aria Operations for Networks sees mass exploitation | CSO Online

• Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) fixed three DoS flaw in BIND - Security Affairs

• Chrome 114 Update Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Critical Security Flaw in Social Login Plugin for WordPress Exposes Users' Accounts (thehackernews.com)

• Grafana warns of critical auth bypass due to Azure AD integration (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The tech flaw that lets hackers control surveillance cameras - BBC News

• Exploit released for new Arcserve UDP auth bypass vulnerability (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Tools and Controls

• 95% fear inadequate cloud security detection and response - Help Net Security

• How a Layered Security Approach Can Minimize Email Threats - MSSP Alert

• ITDR Combines and Refines Familiar Cyber security Approaches (darkreading.com)

• How API gateways improve API security | TechTarget

• Uncovering attacker tactics through cloud honeypots - Help Net Security

• How Active Directory Bridging Extends Security Automation to Hybrid IT Environments (darkreading.com)

• Are GPT-Based Models the Right Fit for AI-Powered Cyber security? - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 10 things every CISO needs to know about identity and access management (IAM) | VentureBeat

• FIDO Alliance Publishes Guidance for Deploying Passkeys in the Enterprise (darkreading.com)

• 3 Tips to Increase Hybrid and Multicloud Security (darkreading.com)

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Other News

• Submarine Cables at Growing Risk of Cyber-Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Businesses count the cost of network downtime - Help Net Security

• Exploring the persistent threat of cyber attacks on healthcare - Help Net Security

• How Can Manufacturers Stop Being The Top Target For Cyber Crime? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Ex-FBI employee jailed for mishandling classified material • The Register

• Rapid7: Japan Threat Landscape Takes on Global Significance - SecurityWeek

• Over 1500 gas stations disrupted in Canada, after energy giant hacked (bitdefender.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 23rd June 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Cyber Security Industry Still Fighting to Recruit and Retain Talent

Cyber security teams are struggling to find the right talent, with the right skills, and to retain experienced employees. The situation is only likely to worsen, as inflation and a tight labour market push up wages. Universities produce graduates with a strong focus on technical knowledge, but not always the broader skills they need to operate in a business environment. This includes the lack of communications skills, understanding of how businesses operate and even emotional intelligence. One solution is to outsource to a corporate cyber security provider or outsource to infill shortages whilst trying to recruit permanent staff.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cybersecurity-industry-recruit/

• How the MOVEit Breach Shows Hackers' Interest in Corporate File Transfer Tools

The world of managed file transfer (MFT) software has become a lucrative target for ransom-seeking hackers, with significant breaches including those of Accellion Inc's File Transfer Appliance in 2021 and Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT earlier this year. These MFT programs, corporate versions of popular file sharing programs like Dropbox or WeTransfer, are highly desirable to hackers for the sensitive data they often transfer between organisations and partners. The recent mass compromise tied to Progress Software Corp's MOVEit transfer product has prompted governments and companies worldwide to scramble in response.

Hackers are shifting their tactics, with an increasing focus on MFT programs which typically face the open internet, making them more vulnerable to breaches. Once inside these file transfer points, hackers have direct access to a wealth of data. In addition, there's a noticeable shift from ransomware groups encrypting a company's network and demanding payment to unscramble it, to a simpler tactic of pure extortion by threatening to leak the data.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/how-moveit-breach-shows-hackers-interest-corporate-file-transfer-tools-2023-06-16/

• Attackers Discovering Exposed Cloud Assets within Minutes

The shift to cloud services, increased remote work, and reliance on third-parties has led to widespread use of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. This has also opened avenues for attackers to exploit weak security configurations and identities. Over the past year, attackers have intercepted authorisation tokens, bypassed multifactor authentication, and exploited misconfigured systems, targeting critical applications like GitHub, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and Okta. A study revealed alarmingly fast rates of breach discovery and compromise of exposed cloud assets, with assets being discovered within as little as two minutes for some and others within an hour.

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/news/366542352/Attackers-discovering-exposed-cloud-assets-within-minutes

https://www.darkreading.com/dr-tech/growing-saas-usage-means-larger-attack-surface

• Majority of Users Neglect Best Password Practices

The latest Password Management Report by Keeper Security has shed light on the concerning state of password security practices. The survey found that only 25% of respondents used solid and unique passwords. In comparison, 34% admitted to using repeat variations of passwords, and 30% still relied on simple and easily guessable passwords. The survey also found that 44% of individuals who claimed to have well-managed passwords still admitted to using repeated variations, while 20% acknowledged having had at least one password involved in a data breach or available on the dark web. The document also revealed that 35% of respondents feel overwhelmed when it comes to improving their cyber security. Furthermore, 10% admitted to neglecting password management altogether. More generally, Keeper Security said the survey’s findings highlight a significant gap between perception and reality regarding password security.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/users-neglect-best-password/

• One in Three Workers Susceptible to Phishing

More than one in three workers in the UK and Ireland are susceptible to falling for phishing attacks, according to the new 2023 Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report by KnowBe4. The study found that 35% of users who had received no security training were prone to clicking on suspicious links or engaging in fraudulent actions. Regular training and continual reinforcement can get this figure down but even with training very few organisations ever get click rates down to zero, and you only need one person to click to cause potentially devastating consequences.

Globally, ransomware was responsible for 24% of all data breaches in 2023, with human error accounting for 74% of these incidents. Phishing attacks can often lead to significant reputational damage, financial loss and disruption to business operations.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/one-in-three-phishing/

• Ransomware Misconceptions Abound, to the Benefit of Attackers

There is a common ransomware misperception that there's no capability to fight this all too common hostage taking of business data. This is not true. Proactive organisations are increasingly making more strategic use of threat intelligence to prevent or disrupt attacks.

Ransomware has evolved into a massive, often state-sponsored, industry where operators buy, develop, and resell ransomware code, infiltrate networks, and collect ransoms. The perception that a speedy response is critical to prevent data encryption and loss is outdated; attackers now focus on data exfiltration, using ransomware as a distraction. They often target smaller organisations that are linked to larger ones through supply chains, using them as stepping stones. It is important to use in-depth defence measures, including email security to prevent phishing and efficient detection and response systems to identify and recover from changes.

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/ransomware-misconceptions-abound-to-the-benefit-of-attackers

• Threat Actors Scale and Commoditise Uncommon Tools and Techniques

Proofpoint’s 2023 Human Factor report highlights significant developments in the cyber attack landscape in 2022. Following two years of pandemic-induced disruption, cyber criminals returned to their usual operations, honing their social engineering skills and commoditising once sophisticated attack techniques. There was a noticeable increase in brute-force and targeted attacks on cloud tenants, conversational smishing attacks, and multifactor authentication (MFA) bypasses. Microsoft 365 formed a large part of organisations' attack surfaces and faced broad abuse, from Office macros to OneNote documents.

Despite some advances in security controls, threat actors continue to innovate and scale their bypasses. Techniques like MFA bypass and telephone-oriented attack delivery are now commonplace. Attackers consistently exploit people, who remain the most critical variable in the attack chain.

https://www.proofpoint.com/uk/newsroom/press-releases/proofpoints-2023-human-factor-report-threat-actors-scale-and-commoditise

• Goodbyes are Difficult, IT Offboarding Processes Make Them Harder

A recent survey found that 68% of organisations recognise the offboarding process as a major cyber security risk, but only 36% have adequate controls in place to secure data access when employees depart. The study revealed that 60% of organisations have discovered former employees still had access to corporate applications after leaving, and 52% have had security incidents linked to former employees. Interestingly, IT professionals are not always alerted when employees leave, leading to access not being revoked and IT assets being mishandled 34% of the time.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/19/it-offboarding-processes/

• Security Budget Hikes are Missing the Mark, CISOs Say

Misguided expectations on security spend are causing problems for CISOs despite notable budget increases. A recent report found that while most CISOs are experiencing noteworthy increases in security funding, impractical expectations of budget holders are leading to significant amounts being spent on what’s hitting the headlines instead of strategic, business-centric investment in security defences. This lack of understanding shows that a lot of work needs to be done to ensure that information security receives the attention it deserves, especially in the boardroom.

The report found that just 9% of CISOs said information security is always in the top three priorities on the boardroom’s meeting agenda, and less than a quarter (22%) of CISOs are actively participating in business strategy and decision-making processes. Talking to the board about cyber security in a way that is productive can be a significant challenge for CISOs, and failing to do so effectively can result in confusion, disillusionment, and a lack of cohesion among directors, the security function, and the rest of the organisation.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3700073/security-budget-hikes-are-missing-the-mark-cisos-say.html

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/22/average-cybersecurity-budget-increase/

• Understanding Cyber Resilience: Building a Holistic Approach to Cyber Security

In today’s interconnected world, the threat of cyber attacks is a constant concern for organisations of all sizes and across all industries. Cyber resilience entails not only making it difficult for attackers to infiltrate your systems but also ensuring that your organisation can bounce back quickly and continue operations successfully.

Cyber resilience offers a holistic approach to cyber security, emphasising the ability to withstand and recover from cyber attacks. By adopting the right mindset, leveraging advanced technology, addressing cyber hygiene, and measuring key metrics, organisations can enhance their cyber resilience. Additionally, collaboration within industries and proactive board engagement are crucial for effective risk management. As cyber threats continue to evolve, organisations must prioritise cyber resilience as an ongoing journey, continuously adapting and refining their strategies to stay ahead of malicious actors.

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/understanding-cyber-resilience-building-a-holistic-approach-to-cybersecurity/

• Emerging Ransomware Group 8Base Releasing Confidential Data from SMBs Globally

A ransomware group that operated under the radar for over a year has come to light in recent weeks, thanks to a series of business data leaks on the Dark Web. Since at least April 2022, 8base has been conducting double-extortion attacks against small and midsized businesses (SMBs). It all came to a head in May, when the group dumped data belonging to 67 organisations on the cyber underground.

Not much is known yet about the group's tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), likely due to the low profile of their victims. The victims span science and technology, manufacturing, retail, construction, healthcare, and more, with victims from as far afield as India, Peru, Madagascar and Brazil, amongst others.

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/emerging-ransomware-8base-doxxes-smbs-globally

• Financial Firms to Build Resilience in Face of Growing Cyber-Threats

Cyber resilience is now a key component of operational resilience for the UK’s financial markets, according to a Bank of England official. Cyber attacks have increased by 38% in 2022, and the range of firms and organisations being impacted seems to grow broader and broader.

Regulators want to see how financial firms will cope with an attack, and its impact on the wider financial services ecosystem. Similar work is being done at an international level by the G7, which has its own cyber expert group. In the UK, the main tools for improving resilience are threat intelligence sharing, better coordination between firms, regulators, the Bank and the Treasury, and penetration testing including CBEST. Financial services firms should have scenario specific playbooks, to set out how to contain intruders and stop them spreading to clients and counterparties. In the past, simulation exercises have been used to model terrorist incidents and pandemics and they are now being used to model cyber attacks.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/financial-firms-to-build-resilience/

• Fulfilling Expected SEC Requirements for Cyber Security Expertise at Board Level

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to introduce a rule requiring demonstration of cyber security expertise at the board level for public companies. A recent study found that currently up to 90% of companies in the Russell 3000 lack even a single director with the necessary cyber expertise. The simplest and speediest solution would be to promote the existing CISO, provided they have the appropriate qualities and experience, to the board but that would require transplanting a focused operational executive into a strategic business advisory role. A credible alternative is to bring in a cyber focused Non-Executive Director with the appropriate skills and experience.

https://www.securityweek.com/fulfilling-expected-sec-requirements-for-cybersecurity-expertise-at-board-level/

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Why assessing third parties for security risk is still an unsolved problem | CSO Online

• How DORA Will Force Financial Firms to Adopt Cyber Resilience - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Navigating the Complex World of Cyber security Compliance - MSSP Alert

• Security budget hikes are missing the mark, CISOs say | CSO Online

• Understanding Cyber Resilience: Building A Holistic Approach To Cyber security (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How to Weather the Coming Cyber security Storm - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Certifications are no guarantee of security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Increased spending doesn't translate to improved cyber security posture - Help Net Security

• Placing People & Realism at the Center of Your Cyber security Strategy (darkreading.com)

• CISOs’ New Stressors Brought on by Digitalization: Report - SecurityWeek

• Fulfilling Expected SEC Requirements for Cyber security Expertise at Board Level - SecurityWeek

• Decrypting Cyber Risk Quantification (trendmicro.com)

• From details to big picture: how to improve security effectiveness | CIO

• IT Staff Increasingly Saddled with Data Protection Compliance (darkreading.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Explainer: How MOVEit breach shows hackers' interest in corporate file transfer tools | Reuters

• Embattled consulting firm PwC swept up in global cyber breach of file service MOVEit by cyber crime group C10p (afr.com)

• Ransomware Misconceptions Abound, to the Benefit of Attackers (darkreading.com)

• US Offers $10m Reward For MOVEit Attackers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Data leak at Australian law firm spooks government, business • The Register

• Moveit hack: attack on BBC and BA offers glimpse into the future of cyber crime (theconversation.com)

• Fresh Ransomware Gangs Emerge As Market Leaders Decline (darkreading.com)

• Emerging Ransomware Group 8Base Doxxes SMBs Globally (darkreading.com)

• A Russian national charged for committing LockBit Ransomware attacks - Security Affairs

• Rorschach Ransomware: What You Need to Know (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware is only getting faster: Six steps to a stronger defence (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gang preys on cancer centers, triggers alert | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks pose communications dilemmas for local governments | CSO Online

• LockBit Developing Ransomware for Apple M1 Chips, Embedded Systems (darkreading.com)

Ransomware Victims

• MOVEit victim list | KonBriefing.com

• PwC and EY impacted by MOVEit cyber attack (cshub.com)

• Australian Government Says Its Data Was Stolen in Law Firm Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Hackers threaten to release photos of Beverly Hills plastic surgery patients (bitdefender.com)

• Norton Parent Says Employee Data Stolen in MOVEit Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• BlackCat gang threatens to leak plastic surgery photos • The Register

• Reddit confirms BlackCat ransomware gang stole its data • The Register

• Adur and Worthing Councils investigating after contractor data breach | The Argus

• Iowa’s largest school district confirms ransomware attack, data theft (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers warn University of Manchester students’ of imminent data leak (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MOVEit cyber attack: US Energy Department gets two ransom notices as MOVEit hack claims more victims - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• USDA is investigating a 'possible data breach' related to global Russian cyber criminal hack | CNN

• Avast, Norton Parent Latest Victim of MOVEit Ransomware Attacks (darkreading.com)

• MOVEit Vulnerability Breaches Targeted Fed Agencies (trendmicro.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• One in Three UK&I Workers Susceptible to Phishing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber crime: what does psychology have to do with phishing? – podcast | Science | The Guardian

• Hackers Will Be Quick to Bypass Gmail's Blue Check Verification System (darkreading.com)

• UPS discloses data breach after exposed customer info used in SMS phishing (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Insurance companies neglect basic email security - Help Net Security

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• The Simplest Social Engineering Hack Of Them All | Hackaday

• Attackers Create Synthetic Security Researchers to Steal IP (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Civil servants told not to share state secrets with ChatGPT, leaked guidance reveals (telegraph.co.uk)

• How generative AI is creating new classes of security threats | VentureBeat

• Over 100,000 Stolen ChatGPT Account Credentials Sold on Dark Web Marketplaces (thehackernews.com)

• ‘With hackers adopting AI, it’s a cat-and-mouse game’ | Mint (livemint.com)

• ChatGPT and data protection laws: Compliance challenges for businesses - Help Net Security

• Biden Discusses Risks and Promises of Artificial Intelligence With Tech Leaders in San Francisco - SecurityWeek

• The next wave of cyber threats: Defending your company against cyber criminals empowered by generative AI | VentureBeat

• Google Tells Employees to Stay Away from Its Bard Chatbot (gizmodo.com)

Malware

• Experts Uncover Year-Long Cyber Attack on IT Firm Utilising Custom Malware RDStealer (thehackernews.com)

• Attacker seizes abandoned S3 bucket to launch malicious payloads | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers use fake OnlyFans pics to drop info-stealing malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers Discover New Sophisticated Toolkit Targeting Apple macOS Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Mysterious Mystic Stealer Spreads Like Wildfire in Mere Months (darkreading.com)

• Hackers infect Linux SSH servers with Tsunami botnet malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• To kill BlackLotus malware, patching is a good start, but... • The Register

• Microsoft Teams bug allows malware delivery from external accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• APT37 hackers deploy new FadeStealer eavesdropping malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ScarCruft Hackers Exploit Ably Service for Stealthy Wiretapping Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese Hacker Group 'Flea' Targets American Ministries with Graphican Backdoor (thehackernews.com)

• USB Drives Spread Spyware as China's Mustang Panda APT Goes Global (darkreading.com)

• NSA shares tips on blocking BlackLotus UEFI malware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese malware accidentally infects networked storage • The Register

• ChamelDoH: New Linux Backdoor Utilising DNS-over-HTTPS Tunneling for Covert CnC (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• New Version of Android GravityRAT Spyware Targets WhatsApp Backups - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SMS delivery reports can be used to infer recipient's location (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Apple fixes zero-days used to deploy Triangulation spyware via iMessage (bleepingcomputer.com)

• This Android app with over 50,000 installs steals your files and microphone recordings — what to do | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Android spyware camouflaged as VPN, chat apps on Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• Romanian cyber crime gang Diicot builds DDoS botnet with Mirai variant | CSO Online

• New Condi malware builds DDoS botnet out of TP-Link AX21 routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers infect Linux SSH servers with Tsunami botnet malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mirai botnet targets 22 flaws in D-Link, Zyxel, Netgear devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Police crack down on DDoS-for-hire service active since 2013 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers behind Microsoft outage most likely Russian-backed group aiming to ‘drive division’ in the west | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• European Investment Bank hit by cyber attack after Russian hackers vow to bring down financial system (telegraph.co.uk)

• New Condi malware builds DDoS botnet out of TP-Link AX21 routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zeeland port website hit by DDOS attack, possibly by Russian hackers | NL Times

• From Cryptojacking to DDoS Attacks: Diicot Expands Tactics with Cayosin Botnet (thehackernews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Thousands left vulnerable after severe weakness is discovered in home security system's mobile app | TechSpot

• Romanian cyber crime gang Diicot builds DDoS botnet with Mirai variant | CSO Online

• Smart Pet Feeders Expose Personal Data - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Security for embedded devices is ignored by too many companies, expert says | Fierce Electronics

• Our cities are becoming increasingly automated—and we’re not ready (fastcompany.com)

• US Military Personnel Receiving Unsolicited, Suspicious Smartwatches - SecurityWeek

• Mirai botnet targets 22 flaws in D-Link, Zyxel, Netgear devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Data leak at Australian law firm spooks government, business • The Register

• Australian Government Says Its Data Was Stolen in Law Firm Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• 3CX data exposed, third-party to blame - Security Affairs

• Mondelez says crooks stole staff data in security breach • The Register

• UPS discloses data breach after exposed customer info used in SMS phishing (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Reddit hackers threaten to leak data stolen in February breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Australia Inc roiled by raft of cyber attacks since late 2022 - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• SSD missing from SAP datacenter turns up on eBay • The Register

• Millions of UK University Credentials Found on Dark Web - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Smart Pet Feeders Expose Personal Data - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hackers warn University of Manchester students’ of imminent data leak (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Darknet Parliament is now a thing | Cybernews

• Crypto and Cyber Security: A Complex Relationship (analyticsinsight.net)

• Moveit hack: attack on BBC and BA offers glimpse into the future of cyber crime (theconversation.com)

• Cyber attackers Got More Creative Post-Pandemic, Proofpoint Study Finds - MSSP Alert

• The Great Exodus to Telegram: A Tour of the New Cyber crime Underground (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber crime Doesn't Take a Vacation (darkreading.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto and Cyber Security: A Complex Relationship (analyticsinsight.net)

• Blockchain security: Everything you should know for safe use | TechTarget

• From Cryptojacking to DDoS Attacks: Diicot Expands Tactics with Cayosin Botnet (thehackernews.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Cost-of-Living Crisis increasing chances of Insider threats - IT Security Guru

• Preventing breaches through cyber awareness: How every federal employee contributes to cyber security | Federal News Network

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Influencers in firing line as France tackles scams - BBC News

• Keep Job Scams From Hurting Your Organisation (darkreading.com)

• Job Seekers, Look Out for Job Scams (darkreading.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• Attackers Create Synthetic Security Researchers to Steal IP (darkreading.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• EU agrees new sanctions against Russia, targeting Chinese companies suspected of circumvention | Euronews

Dark Web

• Darknet Parliament is now a thing | Cybernews

• Over 100,000 Stolen ChatGPT Account Credentials Sold on Dark Web Marketplaces (thehackernews.com)

• Millions of UK University Credentials Found on Dark Web - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita faces first legal Letter of Claim over mega breach • The Register

• Why assessing third parties for security risk is still an unsolved problem | CSO Online

• 3CX data exposed, third-party to blame - Security Affairs

• Mondelez says crooks stole staff data in security breach • The Register

• Untangling the web of supply chain security with Tony Turner - Help Net Security

Software Supply Chain

• CISA SBOM standards efforts stymied by confusion, inertia | TechTarget

Cloud/SaaS

• Growing SaaS Usage Means Larger Attack Surface (darkreading.com)

• Explainer: How MOVEit breach shows hackers' interest in corporate file transfer tools | Reuters

• A new threat to financial stability lurks in the cloud | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Cloud CISO Perspectives: Early June 2023 | Google Cloud Blog

• Hackers behind Microsoft outage most likely Russian-backed group aiming to ‘drive division’ in the west | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• Western Digital Blocks Unpatched Devices From Cloud Services - SecurityWeek

• Attacker seizes abandoned S3 bucket to launch malicious payloads | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Attackers discovering exposed cloud assets within minutes | TechTarget

• Cloud-native security hinges on open source - Help Net Security

• Hybrid Microsoft network/cloud legacy settings may impact your future security posture | CSO Online

• US cyber ambassador says China can win on AI, cloud • The Register

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Home working puts confidential data at risk, GCHQ warns law firms (telegraph.co.uk)

Shadow IT

• Ending the ‘forever war’ against shadow IT | CIO

Identity and Access Management

• The future of passwords and authentication - Help Net Security

Encryption

• Intel to start shipping a quantum processor | Ars Technica

• Quantum hacking alert: Critical vulnerabilities found in quantum key distribution (techxplore.com)

• The US Navy, NATO, and NASA are using a shady Chinese company’s encryption chips | Ars Technica

• Physics - Long-Range Quantum Cryptography Gets Simpler (aps.org)

API

• Why API Security Could Be the Next Big Thing in Cyber - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Open Source

• Hackers infect Linux SSH servers with Tsunami botnet malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Beware bad passwords as attackers co-opt Linux servers into cyber crime – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Cloud-native security hinges on open source - Help Net Security

• ChamelDoH: New Linux Backdoor Utilising DNS-over-HTTPS Tunneling for Covert CnC (thehackernews.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Majority of Users Neglect Best Password Practices: Keeper Security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Forging a Path to Account Takeover: Copy Password Reset Link Vulnerability worth $$$$. | by Manav Bankatwala | Jun, 2023 | InfoSec Write-ups (infosecwriteups.com)

• The future of passwords and authentication - Help Net Security

• These are the most hacked passwords. Is yours on the list? | ZDNET

• Beware bad passwords as attackers co-opt Linux servers into cyber crime – Naked Security (sophos.com)

Social Media

• Influencers in firing line as France tackles scams - BBC News

• Reddit hackers threaten to leak data stolen in February breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Preventing breaches through cyber awareness: How every federal employee contributes to cyber security | Federal News Network

• Security Training Fail Impacting Digital Transformation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Security Training Needs to Nudge, Not Nag - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Digital Transformation

• Security Training Fail Impacting Digital Transformation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• ChatGPT and data protection laws: Compliance challenges for businesses - Help Net Security

• Bill allowing CISA to assist foreign governments passes Senate committee | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Fulfilling Expected SEC Requirements for Cyber security Expertise at Board Level - SecurityWeek

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• The significance of CIS Control mapping in the 2023 Verizon DBIR - Help Net Security

• What is PCI Compliance? 12 Requirements and More Explained | Definition from TechTarget

Secure Disposal

• SSD missing from SAP datacenter turns up on eBay • The Register

Data Protection

• ChatGPT and data protection laws: Compliance challenges for businesses - Help Net Security

• Consumer Data: The Risk and Reward for Manufacturing Companies (darkreading.com)

• IT Staff Increasingly Saddled with Data Protection Compliance (darkreading.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• 8 notable entry-level cyber security career and skills initiatives in 2023 | CSO Online

• UK military is struggling to recruit tech experts, says report | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Certifications are no guarantee of security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Quintessential Toolkit: Five Essential Skills For Advancing In The Cyber security Realm (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Cyber security Industry Still Fighting to Recruit and Retain Talent - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• It’s Time to Think Creatively to Combat Skills Shortages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google announces $20 million investment for cyber clinics | CyberScoop

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Police crack down on DDoS-for-hire service active since 2013 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Megaupload duo will go to prison at last, but Kim Dotcom fights on… – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• A Russian national charged for committing LockBit Ransomware attacks - Security Affairs

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• SMS delivery reports can be used to infer recipient's location (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US Military Personnel Receiving Unsolicited, Suspicious Smartwatches - SecurityWeek

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Killnet Threatens Imminent SWIFT, World Banking Attacks (darkreading.com)

• A Newly Named Group of GRU Hackers is Wreaking Havoc in Ukraine | WIRED

• Hackers behind Microsoft outage most likely Russian-backed group aiming to ‘drive division’ in the west | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• UK Pledges Millions in Cyber-Defence Aid to Ukraine - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• European Investment Bank hit by cyber attack after Russian hackers vow to bring down financial system (telegraph.co.uk)

• Russia sent its reserve team to wipe Ukrainian hard drives • The Register

• Russian APT Group Caught Hacking Roundcube Email Servers - SecurityWeek

• Hacktivist group Anonymous Sudan a ‘bear in wolf’s clothing’ | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian APT28 hackers breach Ukrainian govt email servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Strategies for staying ahead of modern cyber warfare - CyberTalk

• German intelligence services point to increased hybrid security threats – EURACTIV.com

Nation State Actors

• Microsoft Pins Early June DDoS Attacks on Russian-linked Cyber Crew - MSSP Alert

• US DOJ Launches Cyber Unit to Prosecute Nation-State Threat Actors - SecurityWeek

• Cooperation or Competition? China’s Security Industry Sees the US, Not AI, as the Bigger Threat - SecurityWeek

• US Military Personnel Receiving Unsolicited, Suspicious Smartwatches - SecurityWeek

• USB Drives Spread Spyware as China's Mustang Panda APT Goes Global (darkreading.com)

• CISA orders govt agencies to patch bugs exploited by Russian hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US Cyber Ambassador says China can win on AI, cloud • The Register

• Cadet Blizzard emerges as a novel and distinct Russian threat actor | Microsoft Security Blog

• State-Backed Hackers Employ Advanced Methods to Target Middle Eastern and African Governments (thehackernews.com)

• The Israeli weapons and spyware falling into the hands of despots | Financial Times (ft.com)

• The US Navy, NATO, and NASA are using a shady Chinese company’s encryption chips | Ars Technica

• Zeeland port website hit by DDOS attack, possibly by Russian hackers | NL Times

• A Russian national charged for committing LockBit Ransomware attacks - Security Affairs

• Hacktivist group Anonymous Sudan a ‘bear in wolf’s clothing’ | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• APT37 hackers deploy new FadeStealer eavesdropping malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ScarCruft Hackers Exploit Ably Service for Stealthy Wiretapping Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• 20-Year-Old Chinese APT15 Finds New Life in Foreign Ministry Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Chinese Hacker Group 'Flea' Targets American Ministries with Graphican Backdoor (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean APT targets defectors, activists with infostealer malware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• RedEyes Group Targets Individuals with Wiretapping Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• US Justice Department Launches New National Security Cyber Section - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China-sponsored APT group targets government ministries in the Americas | CSO Online

• Chinese malware accidentally infects networked storage • The Register

• Trellix Detects Leading Threat Actor Countries Behind Nation-State Activity - MSSP Alert

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Vulnerability Management

• Guess what happened to this US agency that didn't patch? • The Register

• EU Council mulls pan-European platform to handle cyber vulnerabilities – EURACTIV.com

• The Benefits of Red Zone Threat Intelligence - SecurityWeek

Vulnerabilities

• VMware warns of critical vRealize flaw exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft Teams Vulnerability: The GIFShell Attack (latesthackingnews.com)

• Zero-Day Alert: Apple Releases Patches for Actively Exploited Flaws in iOS, macOS, and Safari (thehackernews.com)

• Patch Now: Cisco AnyConnect Bug Exploit Released in the Wild (darkreading.com)

• Zyxel addressed critical flaw CVE-2023-27992 in NAS Devices - Security Affairs

• Microsoft Teams bug allows malware delivery from external accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chrome and Its Vulnerabilities - Is the Web Browser Safe to Use? - SecurityWeek

• Critical WordPress Plugin Vulnerabilities Impact Thousands of Sites - SecurityWeek

• SMB Edge Devices Walloped With Asus, Zyxel Patch Warnings (darkreading.com)

• VMware fixes vCenter Server bugs allowing code execution, auth bypass (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Azure AD 'Log in With Microsoft' Authentication Bypass Affects Thousands (darkreading.com)

• Western Digital Blocks Unpatched Devices From Cloud Services - SecurityWeek

• Risk & Repeat: Mandiant sheds light on Barracuda ESG attacks | TechTarget

• ASUS warns router customers: Patch now, or block all inbound requests – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Firmware Backdoor Discovered in Gigabyte Motherboards, Hundreds of Models Affected - CPO Magazine

• Apple fixes zero-days used to deploy Triangulation spyware via iMessage (bleepingcomputer.com)

• A (cautionary) tale of two patched bugs, both under exploit • The Register

• Millions of GitHub repos likely vulnerable to RepoJacking, researchers say (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Windows 11 KB5027231 also breaks Chrome for Cisco, WatchGuard EDR users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Gaps in Azure Service Fabric’s Security Call for User Vigilance (trendmicro.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Getting Over the DNS Security Awareness Gap (darkreading.com)

• Zscaler CEO: Firewalls Are Going The Way Of The Mainframe | CRN

• The future of passwords and authentication - Help Net Security

• Understanding Cyber Resilience: Building A Holistic Approach To Cyber security (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Increased spending doesn't translate to improved cyber security posture - Help Net Security

• Placing People & Realism at the Center of Your Cyber security Strategy (darkreading.com)

• Security investments that help companies navigate the macroeconomic climate - Help Net Security

• The Benefits of Red Zone Threat Intelligence - SecurityWeek

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Proofpoint’s 2023 Human Factor Report: Threat Actors Scale and Commoditise Uncommon Tools and Techniques | Proofpoint UK

• Trellix Detects Leading Threat Actor Countries Behind Nation-State Activity - MSSP Alert

• The Threat Report: June 2023 | Trellix

• Navigating The Cyber Threat Landscape: Key Insights From Trellix ARC's Q1 2023 Report (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

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Other News

• Boris Johnson’s notebooks cause national security alarm (thetimes.co.uk)

• ‘It could be taken down by an enthusiastic child’: Whitehall wide open to cyber attack, warn campaigners | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• Keep it, Tweak it, Trash it – What to do with Aging Tech in an Era of Consolidation - SecurityWeek

• Cyber attacks on OT, ICS Lay Groundwork for Kinetic Warfare (darkreading.com)

• Why CISOs should be concerned about space-based attacks | CSO Online

• Legal firms urged to strengthen cyber defences with latest... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• 6 Attack Surfaces You Must Protect (darkreading.com)

• GCHQ’s top hacker James Babbage quits to join NCA in blow to UK cyber force (telegraph.co.uk)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Advisory 22 June 2023 – Rising Threats Facing the Apple Ecosystem, affecting Mac and iOS Devices

Executive Summary

Open Sources Intelligence (OSINT) conducted by Black Arrow Cyber have identified a number of threats against the Apple ecosystem, with some threats reported to have nation state involvement. It is important to highlight that any internet-abled product can be a target for attackers, therefore appropriate protective controls should always be considered for all devices, especially those that are used to directly access sensitive information.

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MacOS “Migraine” Vulnerability

Recently, Microsoft revealed a new macOS vulnerability dubbed “Migraine” (CVE-2023-3269) which impacts vulnerable apple devices which run macOS. The vulnerability allows an attacker with root access, which is the highest level of permissions to bypass the built in security protections, gaining remote code execution and the ability to create undeletable malware, tamper with the integrity of systems and expand the attack to the rest of the network. Apple has released a security patch which addresses this vulnerability, further details can be found at the bottom of this post.

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iOS “Operation Triangulation”

Reports have identified a new mobile state-sponsored advanced persistent threat group that has been targeting iOS devices as part of an attack campaign labelled “Operation Triangulation”. the campaign is carried out using an invisible iMessage with a malicious attachment, which when executed on a device installs spyware. The deployment of the spyware is completely hidden and requires no action from the user. The spyware then quietly transmits private information to remote servers; this includes microphone recordings, photos from instant messengers, geolocation, and data about a number of other activities of the owner of the infected device. This trojan is targeting middle and upper management staff with the only workaround currently being a complete reset of the device.

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Complex toolkit with files allowing backdoor capabilities targeting macOS

Bitdefender researchers have recently discovered a set of malicious files that are part of a sophisticated toolkit targeting Apple macOS systems. This malicious attack allows an attacker to gather system information, run commands, download and execute files on the victim’s machine, and to terminate the exploit script. The malicious files predominantly target macOS Monterey (version 12) and newer.

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Growing Malware Threats to macOS

In addition to this, additional growing threats to macOS have been recorded in the wild. This includes:

- Threat actor groups Lazarus and BlueNoroff have been using malware dubbed “RustBucket” in financially motivated attacks to target users and steal victim’s data.  

- Reports identifying ransomware gangs, including the infamous Lockbit, developing encryption that targets macOs, specifically their M1 chips. There is no current working version of this malware.

- A rise in the use of XCSSET malware, which exploits multiple zero-days found in the Apple safari browser to download a developer version of the app on the target’s device giving it access to data from other apps such as Skype, Telegram, notes, and screen recorders.

-  An increase in the use of malware-as-a-service (MaaS), such as Atomic macOS Stealer which is capable of stealing passwords, credentials, cookies, browser data, auto-fills, and other important information and MacStealer, which extracts information from compromised systems.

- The well known 3CX attack in which the state-sponsored APT’s had altered the MacOS version of the 3CX desktop client to deliver further malware, and exfiltrate it.

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Mac Vulnerabilities

Looking at the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalogue, there have been 36 actively recorded exploits relating to devices running macOS devices since 2021.  

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What’s the risk to me or my business?

An organisation which excludes the security of any asset, relying on reputation or built-in protections alone, is leaving themselves open to potential compromise of the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data which is held on the asset and is accessed through the asset, which includes Apple devices. Such assets include devices that are purchased by the organisation to be used as corporate devices and those that are personally owned by employees being used as part of Bring Your Own Device schemes.

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What can I do?

Endpoint Protective Technologies and Security Hardening including anti-malware, Firewalls and detective solutions should be considered for all endpoints, including those that run Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.

Organisation should ensure that their asset registers are up to date and include all assets which hold or access organisational information. The better view an organisations has of its attack surface, the greater their cyber resilience will be. This should be supplemented with an effective threat intelligence programme, allowing organisations to keep up to date with emerging threats.

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Further information can be found here:

macOs “Migraine” Vulnerability: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/30/new-macos-vulnerability-migraine-could-bypass-system-integrity-protection/

Lockbit Encryptors found targeting macOS: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lockbit-ransomware-encryptors-found-targeting-mac-devices/

iOS Operation Triangulation: https://usa.kaspersky.com/blog/triangulation-attack-on-ios/28444/

6 Growing Malware Threats to macOS: https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/top-macos-malware-threats-proliferate

Malicious Files with Backdoor targeting macOS attack: https://www.bitdefender.com/blog/labs/fragments-of-cross-platform-backdoor-hint-at-larger-mac-os-attack/

Need help understanding your gaps, or just want some advice? Get in touch with us.

#threatadvisory #threatintelligence #cybersecurity

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 16 June 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Hacker Gang Clop Deploys Extortion Tactics Against Global Companies

The Russian-speaking gang of hackers that compromised UK groups such as British Airways and the BBC has claimed it has siphoned off sensitive data from more institutions including US-based investment firms, European manufacturers and US universities. Eight other companies this week made it onto Clop’s list on the dark web. That adds to the news last week that UK groups, including Walgreens-owned Boots, informed employees that their data had been compromised. The issue also targeted customers of Zellis, a UK-based payroll provider that about half of the companies on the FTSE 100 use.

The hacking group is pushing for contact with the companies on the list, according to a post on Clop’s dark web site, as the gang demands a ransom that cyber security experts and negotiators said could be as much as several million dollars.

https://www.ft.com/content/c1db9c5c-cdf1-48bc-8e6b-2c2444b66dc9

• Social Engineering Drives BEC Losses to $50B Globally

Business email compromise (BEC) continues to evolve on the back of sophisticated targeting and social engineering, costing businesses worldwide more than $50 billion in the last 10 years - a figure that reflected a growth in business losses to BEC of 17% year-over-year in 2022, according to the FBI.

Security professionals attribute BEC's continued dominance in the cyber threat landscape to several reasons. A key one is that attackers have become increasingly savvy in how to socially-engineer messages so that they appear authentic to users, which is the key to being successful at this scam. And with the increase in availability of artificial intelligence, the continued success of BEC means these attacks are here to stay. Organisations will be forced to respond with even stronger security measures, security experts say.

https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/social-engineering-drives-bec-losses-to-50b-globally

• Creating A Cyber Conscious Culture—It Must Be Driven from the Top

Businesses are facing more frequent and sophisticated cyber threats and they must continuously learn new ways to protect their revenues, reputation and maintain regulatory compliance. With hybrid and remote working blurring traditional security perimeters and expanding the attack surface, the high volumes of sensitive information held by organisations are at increased risk of cyber attacks.

The increase had led to cyber elevating to the board level; after all the board is responsible for cyber security. It doesn’t stop there however, as everyone in an organisation has responsibility for upholding cyber security. The board must aim to create a cyber-conscious culture, where users are aware of their role in cyber security. One important way such a culture can be achieved is through providing regular education and training to all users.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/06/12/creating-a-cyber-conscious-culture-it-must-be-driven-from-the-top/sh=6a0bb36426cc

• Artificial Intelligence is Coming to Windows: Are Your Security Policy Settings Ready?

What’s in your Windows security policy? Do you review your settings on an annual basis or more often? Do you provide education and training regarding the topics in the policy? Does it get revised when the impact of an incident showcases that an internal policy violation led to the root cause of the issue? And, importantly, do you have a security policy that includes your firm’s overall policies around the increasing race towards artificial intelligence, which is seemingly in nearly every application released these days?

From word processing documents to the upcoming enhancements to Windows 11, which will include AI prompting in the Explorer platform, organisations should review how they want their employees to treat customer data or other confidential information when using AI platforms. Many will want to build limits and guidelines into their security plans that specify what is allowed to be entered into platforms and websites that may store or share the information online. However, confidential information should not be included in any application that doesn’t have clearly defined protections around the handling of such data. The bottom line is that AI is coming to your network and your desktop sooner than you think. Build your policies now and review your processes to determine if you are ready for it today.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3698517/artificial-intelligence-is-coming-to-windows-are-your-security-policy-settings-ready.html

• Cyber Crooks Targeting Employees, Organisations Fight Back with Training Programs

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting an organisation’s employees, figuring to trick an untrained staffer to click on a malicious link that starts a malware attack, Fortinet said in a newly released study of security awareness and training.

More than 80% of organisations faced malware, phishing and password attacks last year, which were mainly targeted at users. This underscores that employees can be an organisation’s weakest point or one of its most powerful defences.

Fortinet’s research revealed that more than 90% of the survey’s respondents believe that increased employee cyber security awareness would help decrease the occurrence of cyber attacks. As organisations face increasing cyber risks, employees serving as an organisation’s first line of defence in protecting their organisation from cyber crime becomes of paramount importance.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/cyber-crooks-targeting-employees-organizations-fight-back-with-training-programs/

• Massive Phishing Campaign Uses 6,000 Sites to Impersonate 100 Brands

A widespread brand impersonation campaign targeting over a hundred popular apparel, footwear, and clothing brands has been underway since June 2022, tricking people into entering their account credentials and financial information on fake websites. The brands impersonated by the phony sites include Nike, Puma, Asics, Vans, Adidas, Columbia, Superdry, Converse, Casio, Timberland, Salomon, Crocs, Sketchers, The North Face and others.

A recent report found the campaign relies on at least 3,000 domains and roughly 6,000 sites, including inactive ones. The campaign had a significant activity spike between January and February 2023, adding 300 new fake sites monthly. The domain names follow a pattern of using the brand name together with a city or country, followed by a generic TLD such as ".com." Additionally, any details entered on the checkout pages, most notably the credit card details, may be stored by the website operators and resold to cyber criminals.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/massive-phishing-campaign-uses-6-000-sites-to-impersonate-100-brands/

• Over One in Ten Brits are Willing to Engage in ‘Illegal or Illicit’ Online Behaviour

A recent study found that 11% of Brits were tempted to engage in ‘illegal or illicit online behaviour’ in order to help manage the fallout from the cost of living crisis. This statistic becomes even more concerning when focused on younger people, with almost a quarter of 25–35 year old respondents (23%) willing to consider illegal or illicit online activity. Of those willing to engage in this kind of behaviour, 56% suggested it was because they are desperate and struggling to get by, and need to find alternative means of supporting their families.

Nearly half (47%) of UK business leaders believe their organisation has been at a greater risk of attack since the start of the cost-of-living crisis. Against this backdrop, many SME business leaders are understandably worried about the impact on employees. Of those who think their organisation is more exposed to attack, 38% believe it’s due to malicious insiders and 35% to overworked and distracted staff making mistakes. Organisations not doing so already, should look to incorporate insider threat into their security plans. Insider threat should focus on areas such as regular education and monitoring and detection.

The report found that 44% of respondents have also noticed an uptick in online scams hitting their inboxes since the cost of living crisis began in late 2021/early 2022. Another worrying finding is that this uptick is proving devastatingly effective for scammers: over one in ten (13%) of UK respondents have already been scammed since the cost of living crisis began. This rises to a quarter (26%) of respondents in the 18-25 age range, reflecting a hyper-online lifestyle and culture that scammers can work to exploit effectively.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/06/15/it-security-guru-study-shows-over-one-in-ten-brits-are-willing-to-engage-in-illegal-or-illicit-online-behaviour-as-the-cost-of-living-crisis-worsens 

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/costofliving-crisis-drives-insider/

• Microsoft Office 365 Phishing Reveals Signs of Much Larger BEC Campaign

Recently, Microsoft discovered multi-stage adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) phishing and business email compromise (BEC) attacks against banking and financial services organisations. The attackers are successfully phishing employees’ accounts with fake Office 365 domains. This allows them to bypass authentication, exfiltrate data and send further phishing emails against other employees and several targeted external organisations. In some cases, threat actors have registered their own device to the employee’s account, to evade MFA defences and achieve persistent access.

https://securityaffairs.com/147327/hacking/aitm-bec-attacks.html

https://thehackernews.com/2023/06/adversary-in-middle-attack-campaign.html

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3699122/microsoft-office-365-aitm-phishing-reveals-signs-of-much-larger-bec-campaign.html

• Europol Warns of Metaverse and AI Terror Threat

New and emerging technologies like conversational AI, deepfakes and the metaverse could be utilised by terrorists and extremists to radicalise and recruit converts to their cause, Europol has warned. The report stated that the online environment lowers the bar for entering the world of terrorism and extremism, broadens the range of people that can become exposed to radicalisation and increases the unpredictability of terrorism and extremism.

Europol also pointed to the potential use of deepfakes, augmented reality and conversational AI to enhance the efficiency of terrorist propaganda. Both these technologies and internet of things (IoT) tools can also be deployed in more practical tasks such as the remote operation of vehicles and weapons used in attacks or setting up virtual training camps. Digital currencies are also playing a role in helping to finance such groups while maintaining the anonymity of those contributing the funding, Europol said.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/europol-warns-metaverse-and-ai/

• What is AI, and is it Dangerous?

Recently, we saw the release of the first piece of EU regulation on AI. This comes after a significant rise in the usage of tools such as ChatGPT. Such tools allow for even those with limited technical ability to perform sophisticated actions. In fact, usage has risen 44% over the last three months alone, according to a report.

Rather worryingly, there is a lack of governance on the usage of AI, and this extends to how AI is used within your own organisation. Whilst the usage can greatly improve actions performed within an organisation, the report found that 6% of employees using AI had pasted sensitive company data into an AI tool. Would your organisation know if this happened, and how damaging could it be to your organisation if this data was to be leaked? Continuous monitoring, risk analysis and real-time governance can help aid an organisation in having an overview of the usage of AI.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65855333

https://thehackernews.com/2023/06/new-research-6-of-employees-paste.html

• Cyber Liability Insurance Vs. Data Breach Insurance: What's the Difference?

With an ever-increasing number of cyber security threats and attacks, companies are becoming motivated to protect their businesses and customer data both technically and financially. Finding the right insurance has become a key part of the security equation.

Companies looking to protect themselves have most likely heard the terms “cyber liability insurance” and “data breach insurance.” Put simply, cyber liability insurance refers to coverage for third-party claims asserted against a company stemming from a network security event or data breach. Data breach insurance, on the other hand, refers to coverage for first-party losses incurred by the insured organisation that has suffered a loss of data.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3698297/cyber-liability-insurance-vs-data-breach-insurance-whats-the-difference.html

• Exploring the Dark Web: Hitmen for Hire and the Realities of Online Activities

The dark web makes up a significant portion of the internet. Access can be gained through special browser, TOR, also known as the onion Router. The service bounces around IP addresses, constantly changing to protect the anonymity of the user.

This dark web contains an array of activities and sites, which include hitmen for hire, drugs for sale, and stolen credit card databases amongst others. Sometimes these aren’t real however, and are actually a trap to steal money from users on the basis that these users are unlikely to report it to law enforcement when the victim was trying to break the law in the first place. What we do know however, is that the dark web contains a plethora of information, and this could include data from your organisation.

https://news.clearancejobs.com/2023/06/07/exploring-the-dark-web-hitman-for-hire-and-the-realities-of-online-activities/

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Creating A Cyber-Conscious Culture—It Must Be Driven From The Top (forbes.com)

• Most businesses vulnerable to attacks on the cyber battlefield - The Globe and Mail

• 10 Important Security Tasks You Shouldn't Skip (darkreading.com)

• Just 14% of CISOs possess desired traits for cyber security-expert board positions: Report  | VentureBeat

• Enhancing security team capabilities in tough economic times - Help Net Security

• Ignoring digital transformation is more dangerous than a recession - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Insurance: Security Strategies to Obtain Coverage (trendmicro.com)

• How the modern CIO grapples with legacy IT | CIO

• Cyber debt levels reach tipping point - Help Net Security

• Over Half of Security Leaders Lack Confidence in Protecting App Secrets, Study Reveals (thehackernews.com)

• Lax security measures, sophisticated hackers reason for rise in cyber breaches (ewn.co.za)

• Cyber Crooks Targeting Employees, Organisations Fight Back with Training Programs - MSSP Alert

• Cyber liability insurance vs. data breach insurance: What's the difference? | CSO Online

• Red teaming can be the ground truth for CISOs and execs - Help Net Security

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• CL0P Ransomware Gang Hits Multiple Governments, Businesses in Wide-Scale Attack - MSSP Alert

• Ransomware gang lists first victims of MOVEit mass-hacks, including US banks and universities | TechCrunch

• Cyber extortion hits all-time high - Help Net Security

• How Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intel Can Help Prevent Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• Researchers Report First Instance of Automated SaaS Ransomware Extortion (darkreading.com)

• Why Critical Infrastructure Remains a Ransomware Target (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware Insurance: Security Strategies to Obtain Coverage (trendmicro.com)

• CISA: LockBit ransomware extorted $91 million in 1,700 US attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft links data wiping attacks to new Russian GRU hacking group (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft Warns of New Russian State-Sponsored Hacker Group with Destructive Intent (thehackernews.com)

• To Fight Cyber Extortion and Ransomware, Shift Left (trendmicro.com)

• Ransomware Hackers and Scammers Utilizing Cloud Mining to Launder Cryptocurrency (thehackernews.com)

• Russian ransomware hacker extorted tens of millions, says DOJ (cnbc.com)

• Ransomware review: June 2023 (malwarebytes.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Ofcom, Minnesota Dept of Ed among latest MOVEit victims • The Register

• Confidential data downloaded from UK regulator Ofcom in cyber attack (therecord.media)

• Oil and gas giant Shell confirms it was impacted by Clop ransomware attacks (therecord.media)TfL warns 13,000 staff that it was raided by Russian hackers (telegraph.co.uk)

• Russian hackers steal data on thousands of Ulez drivers (telegraph.co.uk)

• JBS’s cyber security was poor prior to 2021 ransomware attack, homeland security records show | Successful Farming (agriculture.com)

• An Illinois hospital links closure to ransomware attack (nbcnews.com)

• US energy department, other agencies hit in global hacking spree | Reuters

• iTWire - Financial services firm FIIG hit by cyber attack, ALPHV claims credit

• The University of Manchester hit by cyber security breach after detecting 'unauthorised activity' - Manchester Evening News

• Xplain data breach also impacted national Swiss railway FSS - Security Affairs

• Rhysida ransomware leaks documents stolen from Chilean Army (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Microsoft Office 365 AitM phishing reveals signs of much larger BEC campaign | CSO Online

• Adversary-in-the-Middle Attack Campaign Hits Dozens of Global Organisations (thehackernews.com)

• Younger, more extroverted, and more agreeable individuals are more vulnerable to email phishing scams (psypost.org)

• Log4J exploits may rise further as Microsoft continues war on phishing | ITPro

• Popular Apparel, Clothing Brands Being Used in Massive Phishing Scam (darkreading.com)

• Massive phishing campaign uses 6,000 sites to impersonate 100 brands (bleepingcomputer.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Microsoft Uncovers Banking AitM Phishing and BEC Attacks Targeting Financial Giants (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft warns of multi-stage AiTM phishing and BEC attacks - Security Affairs

• Analysis: Social Engineering Drives BEC Losses to $50B Globally (darkreading.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Analysis: Social Engineering Drives BEC Losses to $50B Globally (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• New Research: 6% of Employees Paste Sensitive Data into GenAI tools as ChatGPT (thehackernews.com)

• Artificial intelligence is coming to Windows: Are your security policy settings ready? | CSO Online

• Europol Warns of Metaverse and AI Terror Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How Europe is Leading the World in the Push to Regulate AI - SecurityWeek

• AI is moving too fast to regulate, security minister warns (telegraph.co.uk)

• AI to render humans 'second most intelligent creations' | ITWeb

• LLM meets Malware: Starting the Era of Autonomous Threat - Security Affairs

• What is AI, is it dangerous and what jobs are at risk? - BBC News

• The perils of open-source AI | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Calculations Suggest It'll Be Impossible to Control a Super-Intelligent AI : ScienceAlert

2FA/MFA

• Multi-Factor Authentication Usage Nearly Doubles Since 2020, New Okta Report Finds - MSSP Alert

• Small organisations outpace large enterprises in MFA adoption - Help Net Security

Malware

• New SPECTRALVIPER Backdoor Targeting Vietnamese Public Companies (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber criminals Using Powerful BatCloak Engine to Make Malware Fully Undetectable (thehackernews.com)

• New Loader Delivering Spyware via Image Steals Cryptocurrency Info (darkreading.com)

• Pirated Windows 10 ISOs install clipper malware via EFI partitions (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese hackers use DNS-over-HTTPS for Linux malware communication (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake zero-day PoC exploits on GitHub push Windows, Linux malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Gozi banking malware “IT chief” finally jailed after more than 10 years – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• LLM meets Malware: Starting the Era of Autonomous Threat - Security Affairs

• New ‘Shampoo’ Chromeloader malware pushed via fake warez sites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian hackers use PowerShell USB malware to drop backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake Security Researcher Accounts Pushing Malware Disguised as Zero-Day Exploits - SecurityWeek

• Vidar Malware Using New Tactics to Evade Detection and Anonymize Activities (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• How Popular Messaging Tools Instill a False Sense of Security (darkreading.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Microsoft’s Azure portal down following new claims of DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• DOS Attacks Dominate, but System Intrusions Cause Most Pain (darkreading.com)

• Swiss government warns of ongoing DDoS attacks, data leak (bleepingcomputer.com)

• IoT Botnet DDoS Attacks Threaten Global Telecom Networks, Nokia (hackread.com)

• 10 Different Types of DDoS Attacks and How to Prevent Them (geekflare.com)

• Exclusive: Inside FXStreet's DDoS Attack (financemagnates.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Why attackers love to target IoT devices | VentureBeat

• IoT Botnet DDoS Attacks Threaten Global Telecom Networks, Nokia (hackread.com)

• How secure is your vehicle with digital key technology? - Help Net Security

• Flipper Zero “Smoking” A Smart Meter Is A Bad Look For Hardware Hackers | Hackaday

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Another huge US medical data breach confirmed after Fortra mass-hack | TechCrunch

• HSE hit by second 'international scale criminal' cyber attack as they monitor dark web for stolen data - Irish Mirror Online

• New Research: 6% of Employees Paste Sensitive Data into GenAI tools as ChatGPT (thehackernews.com)

• Top 10 cyber security findings from Verizon's 2023 data breach report | VentureBeat

• Xplain data breach also impacted national Swiss railway FSS - Security Affairs

• Examining the long-term effects of data privacy violations - Help Net Security

• A Massive Vaccine Database Leak Exposes IDs of Millions of Indians | WIRED

• Swiss Fear Government Data Stolen in Cyber attack - SecurityWeek

• Ofcom, Minnesota Dept of Ed among latest MOVEit victims • The Register

• Have I Been Pwned warns of new Zacks data breach impacting 8 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The Complexities of Hacking: Exploring the thin line between cyber crime and ethical hacking | Euronews

• When It Comes to Cyber crime, the Medium Makes Us Vulnerable - Centre for International Governance Innovation (cigionline.org)

• Cyber criminals return to business as usual in a post-pandemic world - Help Net Security

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Hackers steal $3 million by impersonating crypto news journalists (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Beware: 1,000+ Fake Cryptocurrency Sites Trap Users in Bogus Rewards Scheme (thehackernews.com)

• New Loader Delivering Spyware via Image Steals Cryptocurrency Info (darkreading.com)

• Cryptocurrency Attacks Quadrupled as Cyber criminals Cash In (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware Hackers and Scammers Utilizing Cloud Mining to Launder Cryptocurrency (thehackernews.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Cyber Crooks Targeting Employees, Organisations Fight Back with Training Programs - MSSP Alert

• Top 10 Risky Behaviours of Employees - IT Security Guru

• Insider Threat Vs Outsider Threat: Which Is Worse? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Study shows over one in ten Brits are willing to engage in ‘illegal or illicit’ online behaviour as the Cost of Living crisis worsens - IT Security Guru

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Yet more direct calling fiends fined by UK's data watchdog • The Register

• Cost-of-Living Crisis Drives Insider Threat Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• New Study Takes a Deep Dive Into Lookalike Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• After Important Cyber Insurance Victory for Policyholders, Focus Turns to Insurers' Proposed Changes to War Exclusions | HUB | K&L Gates (klgates.com)

• Ransomware Insurance: Security Strategies to Obtain Coverage (trendmicro.com)

• The insurance industry cyber crime report: recent attacks on insurance businesses | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Cyber liability insurance vs. data breach insurance: What's the difference? | CSO Online

Dark Web

• Exploring the Dark Web: Hitman for Hire and the Realities of Online Activities - ClearanceJobs

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• New Supply Chain Attack Exploits Abandoned S3 Buckets to Distribute Malicious Binaries (thehackernews.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• SaaS Ransomware Attack Hit Sharepoint Online Without Using a Compromised Endpoint - SecurityWeek

• New MOVEit Transfer critical flaws found after security audit, patch now (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Seven steps for using zero trust to protect your multicloud • The Register

• New cloud security guidance: it's all about the config - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Microsoft keeps quiet on talk of possible Azure DDoS attack • The Register

• New Supply Chain Attack Exploits Abandoned S3 Buckets to Distribute Malicious Binaries (thehackernews.com)

Encryption

• Hackers can steal cryptographic keys by video-recording power LEDs 60 feet away | Ars Technica

Open Source

• Chinese hackers use DNS-over-HTTPS for Linux malware communication (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake zero-day PoC exploits on GitHub push Windows, Linux malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Thoughts on scheduled password changes (don’t call them rotations!) – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Microsoft misused our dark web data, says security vendor • The Register

• RDP honeypot targeted 3.5 million times in brute-force attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Want to be hacked? Just make these password mistakes | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Top 10 Risky Behaviours of Employees - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Crooks Targeting Employees, Organisations Fight Back with Training Programs - MSSP Alert

Digital Transformation

• Ignoring digital transformation is more dangerous than a recession - Help Net Security

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• AI is moving too fast to regulate, security minister warns (telegraph.co.uk)

• Ofcom, Minnesota Dept of Ed among latest MOVEit victims • The Register

• Confidential data downloaded from UK regulator Ofcom in cyber attack (therecord.media)

• Yet more direct calling fiends fined by UK's data watchdog • The Register

• How Europe is Leading the World in the Push to Regulate AI - SecurityWeek

• Feds extend deadline for software security attestations • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• 3 ways we've made the CIS Controls more automation-friendly - Help Net Security

• Use PCI DSS Checklist with Automation (trendmicro.com)

Data Protection

• UK and US Agree Deal to Facilitate Personal Data Flows - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• #InfosecurityEurope: Cyber Leaders’ Plea to Tackle the Industry’s Mental Health Crisis - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Gozi banking malware “IT chief” finally jailed after more than 10 years – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• LockBit Affiliate Arrested, as Extortion Totals Reach $91M Since 2020 (darkreading.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Examining the long-term effects of data privacy violations - Help Net Security

• FBI: FISA Section 702 'absolutely critical' • The Register

• Strava heatmap feature can be abused to find home addresses (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US Intelligence Has Admitted Amassed Data on 'Nearly Everyone' (gizmodo.com)

• Feds Say Facial Recognition IDed Bosnian War Criminal Miljkovic (gizmodo.com)

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Putin’s little cyber helpers turn their sights on the UK (telegraph.co.uk)

• Russia-Ukraine war sending shockwaves into cyber-ecosystem • The Register

• Ukrainian hackers take down service provider for Russian banks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pro-Ukraine Cyber Anarchy Squad claims the hack of the Russian telecom provider Infotel JSC - Security Affairs

• 'Stealth Soldier' Attacks Target Libyan Government Entities With Surveillance Malware (darkreading.com)

• RomCom Threat Actor Targets Ukrainian Politicians, US Healthcare (darkreading.com)

• Pro-Russian hackers step up attacks against Swiss targets, authorities say | Reuters

• Russian hackers steal data on thousands of Ulez drivers (telegraph.co.uk)

• Microsoft links data wiping attacks to new Russian GRU hacking group (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian hackers use PowerShell USB malware to drop backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pro-Russian Hackers Target Website of Europe’s Largest Port in Rotterdam - Bloomberg

• Russia-linked APT Gamaredon update TTPs in recent attacks against Ukraine - Security Affairs

• Microsoft Warns of New Russian State-Sponsored Hacker Group with Destructive Intent (thehackernews.com)

• New Report Reveals Shuckworm's Long-Running Intrusions on Ukrainian Organisations (thehackernews.com)

• Russia-backed hackers unleash new USB-based malware on Ukraine’s military | Ars Technica

• Microsoft Names Russian Threat Actor "Cadet Blizzard" - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Nation State Actors

• Chinese hackers use DNS-over-HTTPS for Linux malware communication (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Iran's 'quantum processor' turned out to be a $600 dev board | PC Gamer

• China-based threat actors target UIDAI, AIIMS, ICMR: Govt advisory (moneycontrol.com)

• Subsea cables: how the US is pushing China out of the internet’s plumbing

• China's cyber now aimed at infrastructure, warns CISA boss

• Cyber security: Americans should prepare for cyber sabotage from Chinese hackers, US official warns - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Ukraine information sharing a model for countering China, top cyber official says | CyberScoop

• Chinese Threat Actor Abused ESXi Zero-Day to Pilfer Files From Guest VMs (darkreading.com)

• North Korea created evil twin of South Korea's Naver.com • The Register

• Behind the Scenes Unveiling the Hidden Workings of Earth Preta (trendmicro.com)

• Gloucester: Russian hackers behind cyber-attack on council - BBC News

• Critical Barracuda ESG Zero-Day Linked to Novel Chinese APT (darkreading.com)

• Barracuda ESG Zero-Day Vulnerability (CVE-2023-2868) Exploited Globally by Aggressive and Skilled Actor, Suspected Links to China | Mandiant

• Russian ransomware hacker extorted tens of millions, says DOJ (cnbc.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Why Detecting Behaviors Beats Zero-Days | Blumira

Vulnerabilities

• Third Flaw Uncovered in MOVEit Transfer App Amidst Cl0p Ransomware Mass Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Bitwarden update corrects password manager access vulnerability on Windows - gHacks Tech News

• Fortinet: Patched Critical Flaw May Have Been Exploited (darkreading.com)

• Bitwarden update corrects password manager access vulnerability on Windows - gHacks Tech News

• CISA orders federal agencies to secure Internet-exposed network devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft June 2023 Patch Tuesday fixes 78 flaws, 38 RCE bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Log4J exploits may rise further as Microsoft continues war on phishing | ITPro

• Severe Vulnerabilities Reported in Microsoft Azure Bastion and Container Registry (thehackernews.com)

• New Critical Google Chrome Payments Security Issue Confirmed (forbes.com)

• Critical Security Vulnerability Discovered in WooCommerce Stripe Gateway Plugin (thehackernews.com)

• VMware fixes critical flaws in Aria Operations for Networks (CVE-2023-20887) - Help Net Security

• Barracuda ESG Zero-Day Vulnerability (CVE-2023-2868) Exploited Globally by Aggressive and Skilled Actor, Suspected Links to China | Mandiant

• US energy department, other agencies hit in global hacking spree | Reuters

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Tools and Controls

• The Complexities of Hacking: Exploring the thin line between cyber crime and ethical hacking | Euronews

• Use of Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Nearly Doubles Since 2020, Okta Secure Sign-in Trends Reports Finds (darkreading.com)

• Ignoring digital transformation is more dangerous than a recession - Help Net Security

• Cyber Crooks Targeting Employees, Organisations Fight Back with Training Programs - MSSP Alert

• Cyber liability insurance vs. data breach insurance: What's the difference? | CSO Online

• Red teaming can be the ground truth for CISOs and execs - Help Net Security

• How Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intel Can Help Prevent Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• Secure Sign-in Trends Report | Okta

• What is Dark Web Monitoring and How Does It Work? | Trend Micro News

• New cloud security guidance: it's all about the config - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Why Now? The Rise of Attack Surface Management (thehackernews.com)

• Why Detecting Behaviours Beats Zero-Days | Blumira

• What Is Red Teaming and How Does It Work? (howtogeek.com)

• Exploring the All-Time Best Book for Ethical Hacking – Codelivly

• Beyond MFA: 3 steps to improve security and reduce customer authentication friction - Help Net Security

• Enhancing security team capabilities in tough economic times - Help Net Security

• Small organisations outpace large enterprises in MFA adoption - Help Net Security

• Cyber debt levels reach tipping point - Help Net Security

• MSSQL makes up 93% of all activity on honeypots tracking 10 databases | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Attack Surface Management Strategies (trendmicro.com)

• 5 best practices to ensure the security of third-party APIs | CSO Online

• Multi-Factor Authentication Usage Nearly Doubles Since 2020, New Okta Report Finds - MSSP Alert

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Secure Sign-in Trends Report | Okta

• Top 10 cyber security findings from Verizon's 2023 data breach report | VentureBeat

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Other News

• #InfosecurityEurope: What TechUK's New Plan Means for Cyber security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A Tech Plan to "Build a Better Britain" - IT Security Guru

• German National Security Strategy leaves out cyber counter-attacks – EURACTIV.com

• Moving the Cyber Industry Forward Requires a Novel Approach (darkreading.com)

• (ISC)² and CIISec Release Guide to Inclusive Language in Cyber security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 26 May 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• 50% of UK CEOs see Cyber as a Bigger Business Risk than the Economy

Half of UK CEOs consider cyber security as a bigger risk to their organisation than economic uncertainty, a new study by Palo Alto Networks has found. The findings came from a survey of 2500 CEOs from the UK, Germany, France, Brazil and the UAE at large organisations (500+ employees).

Despite the recognition of the business threats posed by cyber attacks, UK CEOs have a lower level of understanding of cyber security risks than their international counterparts, with just 16% saying they have a complete understanding. This compares to 21% in Brazil, 21% in the UAE, 22% in France and 39% in Germany. Additionally, many UK CEOs feel detached from responsibility for cyber security at their organisations, instead leaving it to the responsibility of IT, although IT is only part of the solution.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/uk-ceo-cyber-risk-economy/

• Report Finds 78% of Organisations Felt Prepared for Ransomware Attacks, Yet Half Still Fell Victim

Fortinet has unveiled its 2023 Global Ransomware Report based on a recent global survey and explores cyber security leaders’ perspectives on ransomware, particularly how it impacted their organisations in the last year and their strategies to mitigate an attack. The report found that the global threat of ransomware remains at peak levels, with half of organisations across all sizes, regions and industries falling victim in the last year.

The top challenges to stopping a ransomware attack were people and process related, with many organisations lacking clarity on how to secure against the threat. Specifically, four out of the five top challenges to stopping ransomware were people or process related. The second largest challenge was a lack of clarity on how to secure against the threat as a result of a lack of user awareness and training and no clear chain-of-command strategy to deal with attacks.

Despite the global macroeconomic environment, security budgets will have to increase in the next year with a focus on AI/ML technologies to speed detection, centralised monitoring tools to speed response and better preparation of people and processes.

https://www.itweb.co.za/content/mYZRX79g8gRqOgA8

• SMBs and Regional MSPs are Increasingly Targeted by State-Sponsored APT Groups

Advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks were once mainly a concern for large corporations in industries that presented cyber espionage interest. That's no longer the case and over the past year in particular, the number of such state-sponsored attacks against small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) has increased significantly.

Cyber security firm Proofpoint analysed its telemetry data more than 200,000 SMB customers over the past year and saw a rise in phishing campaigns originating from APT groups, particularly those serving Russian, Iranian, and North Korean interests.

SMBs are also targeted by APT groups indirectly, through the managed services providers (MSPs) that maintain their infrastructure. Proofpoint has seen an increase in attacks against regional MSPs because their cyber security defences could be weaker than larger MSPs yet they still serve hundreds of SMBs in local geographies.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3697648/smbs-and-regional-msps-are-increasingly-targeted-by-state-sponsored-apt-groups.html#tk.rss_news

• IT Employee Piggybacked on Cyber Attack for Personal Gain

A 28-year-old former IT employee of an Oxford-based company has been convicted of blackmailing his employer and unauthorised access to a computer with intent to commit other offences.

The convicted employee was the one who began to investigate the incident and, along with colleagues and the police, tried to mitigate it and its fallout. But he also realized that he could take advantage of the breach to line his own pockets.

“He accessed a board member’s private emails over 300 times as well as altering the original blackmail email and changing the payment address provided by the original attacker. This was in the hope that if payment was made, it would be made to him rather than the original attacker,” the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) revealed. He went as far as creating an almost identical email address to that of the original attacker, using it to pressure his employer into making the payment.

While some insider threats may stem from negligence or ignorance, this case highlights a more sinister scenario involving a malicious, opportunistic individual. Malicious insiders exploit their authorized access and privileges to engage in harmful, unethical, or illegal activities.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/24/it-employee-blackmailing-company/

• Ransomware Threats Are Growing, and Targeting Microsoft Devices More and More

Ransomware attacks have never been this popular, a new report from cyber security researchers Securin, Ivanti, and Cyware has stated. New ransomware groups are emerging constantly, and new vulnerabilities being exploited are being discovered almost daily, but out of all the different hardware and software, Microsoft’s products are being targeted the most.

Attackers are now targeting more than 7,000 products built by 121 vendors, all used by businesses in their day-to-day operations. Most products belong to Microsoft, which has 135 vulnerabilities associated with ransomware. In just March 2023, there had been more breaches reported, than in all three previous years combined. Even though most cyber security incidents never get reported, too. In the first quarter of the year, the researchers discovered 12 new vulnerabilities used in ransomware attacks, three-quarters of which (73%) were trending in the dark web.

https://www.techradar.com/news/ransomware-threats-are-growing-and-targeting-microsoft-devices-more-and-more

• Microsoft Reports Jump in Business Email Compromise (BEC) Activity

Thirty-five million business email compromise (BEC) attempts were detected in the last year, according to the latest Microsoft Cyber Signals report. Activity around BEC spiked between April 2022 and April 2023, with over 150,000 daily attempts, on average, detected by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit.

Rather than targeting unpatched devices for vulnerabilities, BEC operators focus on leveraging the vast volume of daily email and other message traffic to trick victims into sharing financial information or unknowingly transferring funds to money mule accounts. Their goal is to exploit the constant flow of communication to carry out fraudulent money transfers.

Using secure email applications, securing identities to block lateral movement, adopting a secure payment platform and training employees are a few effective methods, according to the report.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3697152/microsoft-reports-jump-in-business-email-compromise-activity.html#tk.rss_news

• Forrester Predicts 2023’s Top Cyber security Threats: From Generative AI to Geopolitical Tensions

The nature of cyber attacks is changing fast. Generative AI, cloud complexity and geopolitical tensions are among the latest weapons and facilitators in attackers’ arsenals. Three-quarters (74%) of security decision-makers say their organisations’ sensitive data was “potentially compromised or breached in the past 12 months” alone. Forrester’s Top Cyber security Threats in 2023 report provides a stark warning about the top cyber security threats this year, along with prescriptive advice to CISOs and their teams on countering them. By weaponising generative AI and using ChatGPT, attackers are fine-tuning their ransomware and social engineering techniques.

Perimeter-based legacy systems not designed with an AI-based upgrade path are the most vulnerable. With a new wave of cyber attacks coming that seek to capitalise on any given business’ weakest links, including complex cloud configurations, the gap between reported and actual breaches will grow.

Forrester cites Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its relentless cyber attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as examples of geopolitical cyber attacks with immediate global implications. Forrester advises that nation-state actors continue to use cyber attacks on private companies for geopolitical purposes like espionage, negotiation leverage, resource control and intellectual property theft to gain technological superiority.

https://venturebeat.com/security/forrester-predicts-2023-top-cybersecurity-threats-generative-ai-geopolitical-tensions/

• Advanced Phishing Attacks Surge 356% in 2022

A new report published this week observed a 356% growth in the number of advanced phishing attacks attempted by threat actors in 2022, with the total number of attacks having increased by 87%. Among the reasons behind this growth is the fact that malicious actors continue to gain widespread access to new tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-powered tools. These have automated the process of generating sophisticated attacks, including those characterized by social engineering as well as evasion techniques.

The global threat landscape continues to evolve with a meteoric rise in the number of attacks, combined with increasingly sophisticated attack techniques designed to breach and damage organisations.

Additionally, the report highlighted that the changing threat landscape has resulted from the swift adoption of new cloud collaboration apps, cloud storage and productivity services for external collaboration.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/advanced-phishing-attacks-surge/

• Today’s Cyber Defence Challenges: Complexity and a False Sense of Security

Organisations can mistakenly believe that deploying more security solutions will result in greater protection against threats. However, the truth of the matter can be very different. Gartner estimates that global spending on IT security and risk management solutions will exceed $189.7 billion annually in 2023, yet the breaches keep on coming. Blindly purchasing more security tools can add to complexity in enterprise environments and creates a false sense of security that contributes to today’s cyber security challenges.

To add to the dilemma, the new work-from-anywhere model is putting a strain on IT and security teams. Employees shifting between corporate and off-corporate networks are creating visibility and control challenges, which are impacting those teams’ ability to diagnose and remediate end user issues and minimize cyber security risks. In addition, they have to deal with a broad mix of networks, hardware, business and security applications, operating system (OS) versions, and patches.

https://www.securityweek.com/todays-cyber-defense-challenges-complexity-and-a-false-sense-of-security/

• Almost All Ransomware Attacks Target Backups

Data stored in backups is the most common target for ransomware attackers. Almost all intrusions (93%) target backups and in 75% of cases succeed in taking out victims’ ability to recover. In addition, 85% of global organisations suffered at least one cyber attack in the past year according to the Veeam 2023 Ransomware trends report. Only 16% of organisations avoided paying ransom because they were able to recover from backups, down from 19% in last year’s survey.

According to the survey, criminals attempt to attack backup repositories in almost all (93%) cyber events in EMEA, with 75% losing at least some of their backups and more than one-third (39%) of backup repositories being completely lost.

Other key findings included that 21% said ransomware is now specifically excluded from insurance policies; and of those with cyber insurance, 74% saw increased premiums since their last policy renewal.

With most ransomware actors moving to double and triple extortion the days of a backup being all you need to keep you safe are far behind and firms should do more to prevent being the victim of ransomware in the first place.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366538492/Almost-all-ransomware-attacks-target-backups-says-Veeam

• NCSC Warns Against Chinese Cyber Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and several other international security agencies have issued a new advisory warning the public against Chinese cyber activity targeting critical national infrastructure networks. According to the document, the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s associated threat actors employed sophisticated tactics to evade detection while conducting malicious activities against targets in the US and Guam. These tactics are expected to be used on critical infrastructure targets outside the US, including the UK.

The document further added that the threat actors mainly focused on credential access theft via brute force and password spraying techniques. The NCSC advisory provides network defenders with technical indicators and examples of techniques used by the attacker to help identify any malicious activity.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ncsc-warns-chinese-cyber-attacks/

• Half of All Companies were Impacted by Spearphishing in 2022

Spearphishing is a sliver of all email exploits but the extent to which it succeeds is revealed in a new study from cyber security firm Barracuda Networks, which analysed 50 billion emails across 3.5 million mailboxes in 2022, unearthing around 30 million spearphishing emails and affecting 50% of all companies.

The report identified the top prevalent spearphishing emails were Scamming (47%) used to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information and the other being brand impersonation (42%) attacks mimicking a brand familiar with the victim to harvest credentials.

The report found that remote work is increasing risks. Users at companies with more than a 50% remote workforce report higher levels of suspicious emails — 12 per day on average, compared to 9 per day for those with less than a 50% remote workforce.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/barracuda-networks-spearphishing-study/

• Google's .zip, .mov Domains Give Social Engineers a Shiny New Tool

Two new top-level domain names (.zip and .mov) have caused concern among security researchers, who say they allow for the construction of malicious URLs that even tech-savvy users are likely to miss. While a top-level domain (TLD) that mimics a file extension is only one component in the lookalike attack, the overall combination is much more effective with the .zip or .mov extension.

There's no question that phishing links that involve these TLDs can be used to lure unsuspecting users into accidentally downloading malware. Unlike other kinds of phishing URLs that are intended to lure the user to enter credentials into a phony login page, the lures with the .zip or .mov domains are more suited to drive-by download types of attacks.

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/google-zip-mov-domains-social-engineers-shiny-new-tool

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Security Pros: Before You Do Anything, Understand Your Threat Landscape - SecurityWeek

• The Rising Threat of Secrets Sprawl and the Need for Action (thehackernews.com)

• Mass resignations, layoffs seen as major threat to corporate cyber security - The Korea Times

• Improving Cyber security Requires Building Better Public-Private Cooperation (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Defence: Council conclusions stress the importance of further strengthening the EU resilience to face cyber threats - Consilium (europa.eu)

• 5 Cyber security Woes That Threaten Digital Growth (analyticsinsight.net)

• Cyber Warfare Lessons From the Russia-Ukraine Conflict (darkreading.com)

• What Security Professionals Need to Know About Aggregate Cyber Risk (darkreading.com)

• Where to Focus Your Company’s Limited Cyber security Budget (hbr.org)

• Realistic Cyber security Simulations Deliver Strongest ROI for Training Programs, Security Innovation Finds - MSSP Alert

• Former Uber CSO Joe Sullivan and lessons learned from the infamous 2016 Uber breach | CSO Online

• CISO Criminalization, Vague Cyber Disclosure Rules Create Angst for Security Teams (darkreading.com)

• Today’s Cyber Defence Challenges: Complexity and a False Sense of Security - SecurityWeek

• The biggest threats are always those we fail to predict - Big Think

• How continuous security monitoring is changing the compliance game - Help Net Security

• Forrester predicts 2023's top cyber security threats: From generative AI to geopolitical tensions | VentureBeat

• 50% of UK CEOs See Cyber as a Bigger Business Risk than the Economy - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Defining CISOs, CTOs, and CIOs' Roles in Cyber security (analyticsinsight.net)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 3 Common Initial Attack Vectors Account for Most Ransomware Campaigns (darkreading.com)

• 12 vulnerabilities newly associated with ransomware - Help Net Security

• IT employee impersonates ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Backup Repositories Targeted in 93% of Ransomware Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware threats are growing, and targeting Microsoft devices more and more | TechRadar

• Microsoft: Notorious FIN7 hackers return in Clop ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FIN7 gang returned and was spotted delivering Clop ransomware - Security Affairs

• Fortinet survey finds 78% of organisations felt prepared for ransomware attacks, yet half still fell victim | ITWeb

• Bridgestone CISO: Lessons From Ransomware Attack Include Acting, Not Thinking (darkreading.com)

• Cyble — New Ransomware Wave Engulfs over 200 Corporate Victims

• Updated 'StopRansomware Guide' warns of shifting tactics | TechTarget

• The Week in Ransomware - May 19th 2023 - A Shifting Landscape (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US saw 45% fewer ransomware victims posted on the dark web | Security Magazine

• BlackCat ransomware takes control of protected computers via new kernel driver | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Judge Throws Out Ransomware Class-Action Suit Against Rackspace - MSSP Alert

• Ransomware tales: The MitM attack that really had a Man in the Middle – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Here's another great reason to make sure your enterprises is safeguarded from ransomware | TechRadar

• Inside Qilin Ransomware: Affiliates Take Home 85% of Ransom Payouts (thehackernews.com)

• Buhti Ransomware Gang Switches Tactics, Utilizes Leaked LockBit and Babuk Code (thehackernews.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Food Distributor Sysco Says Cyber Attack Exposed 126,000 Individuals - SecurityWeek

• Suzuki motorcycle plant shut down by cyber attack (bitdefender.com)

• February cyber incident will cost molten metal flow engineering firm Vesuvius £3.5 million - Security Affairs

• Iowa hospital discloses breach following Royal ransomware leak | TechTarget

• Arms maker Rheinmetall confirms BlackBasta ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mazars Group allegedly breached by BlackCat | Cybernews

• Dish Network says February ransomware attack impacted +300K - Security Affairs

• Philly Inquirer disputes Cuba ransomware gang's leak claims • The Register

• Dorchester school IT system held to ransom in cyber attack - BBC News

• BlackByte lists city of Augusta after cyber 'incident' • The Register

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Advanced Phishing Attacks Surge 356% in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 50% of companies had spearphishing puncture wounds in 2022 (techrepublic.com)

• Microsoft 365 phishing attacks use encrypted RPMSG messages (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Phishers use encrypted file attachments to steal Microsoft 365 account credentials - Help Net Security

• Threat actors exploit new channels for advanced phishing attacks - Help Net Security

• Malicious links and misaddressed emails slip past security controls - Help Net Security

• CopperStealer Malware Crew Resurfaces with New Rootkit and Phishing Kit Modules (thehackernews.com)

• Crypto phishing service Inferno Drainer defrauds thousands of victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Phishing campaign targets ChatGPT users - Help Net Security

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Cyber Signals: Shifting tactics show surge in business email compromise | Microsoft Security Blog

• Microsoft reports jump in business email compromise activity | CSO Online

• Microsoft: BEC Attackers Evade 'Impossible Travel' Flags With Residential IP Addresses (darkreading.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Google's .zip, .mov Domains Give Social Engineers a Shiny New Tool (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Employees are banned from using ChatGPT at these companies | Fortune

• When the tech boys start asking for new regulations, you know something’s up | John Naughton | The Guardian

• BatLoader campaign impersonates ChatGPT and Midjourney to deliver Redline Stealer - Security Affairs

• 6 ChatGPT risks for legal and compliance leaders - Help Net Security

• 5 Ways Hackers Will Use ChatGPT For Cyber attacks (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Simple OSINT techniques to spot AI-fueled disinformation, fake reviews - Help Net Security

• How to avoid shadow AI in your SOC - Help Net Security

• Microsoft urges lawmakers to adopt new guidelines for responsible AI | CyberScoop

• AI Used to Create Malware, WithSecure Observes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing campaign targets ChatGPT users - Help Net Security

• The Security Hole at the Heart of ChatGPT and Bing | WIRED UK

2FA/MFA

• Cyber criminals masquerading as MFA vendors - Help Net Security

Malware

• New PowerExchange malware backdoors Microsoft Exchange servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Use Weaponised DOCX File to Deploy Stealthy Malware (gbhackers.com)

• Meet 'Jack' from Romania! Mastermind Behind Golden Chickens Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Developer Alert: NPM Packages for Node.js Hiding Dangerous TurkoRat Malware (thehackernews.com)

• CopperStealer Malware Crew Resurfaces with New Rootkit and Phishing Kit Modules (thehackernews.com)

• Threat actors leverage kernel drivers in new attacks | TechTarget

• BatLoader campaign impersonates ChatGPT and Midjourney to deliver Redline Stealer - Security Affairs

• Malicious links and misaddressed emails slip past security controls - Help Net Security

• Potentially millions of Android TVs and phones come with malware preinstalled | Ars Technica

• New AhRat Android malware hidden in app with 50,000 installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malware turns home routers into proxies for Chinese state-sponsored hackers | Ars Technica

• PyPI open-source code repository deals with manic malware maelstrom – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Legion Malware Upgraded to Target SSH Servers and AWS Credentials (thehackernews.com)

• AI Used to Create Malware, WithSecure Observes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Mobile

• Warning: Samsung Devices Under Attack! New Security Flaw Exposed (thehackernews.com)

• Smartphones with Qualcomm chips found to be transmitting users' private data without consent - Dimsum Daily

• WhatsApp now lets you hide your messages from prying eyes. But is Chat Lock a cheaters’ charter? | Technology | The Guardian

• Android phones are vulnerable to fingerprint brute-force attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New AhRat Android malware hidden in app with 50,000 installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Unveils Bug Bounty Program For Android Apps - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Predator: Looking under the hood of Intellexa’s Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• How smart bots are infecting and exploiting the internet - Help Net Security

• The Dark Frost Enigma: An Unexpectedly Prevalent Botnet Author Profile | Akamai

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Dark Frost Botnet Launches Devastating DDoS Attacks on Gaming Industry (thehackernews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Potentially millions of Android TVs and phones come with malware preinstalled | Ars Technica

• How Connected Car Cyber Risk will Evolve (trendmicro.com)

• Malware turns home routers into proxies for Chinese state-sponsored hackers | Ars Technica

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Capita under fire after ‘confidential’ files published online (thetimes.co.uk)

• Luxottica confirms 2021 data breach after info of 70M leaks online (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers steal the SSN of nearly 6 million people (pandasecurity.com)

• Food Distributor Sysco Says Cyber attack Exposed 126,000 Individuals - SecurityWeek

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Inside the Mind of a Cyber Attacker | Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) Every Security Practitioner Should Know

• IT employee piggybacked on cyber attack for personal gain - Help Net Security

• Child hackers: How are kids becoming sophisticated cyber criminals? | Euronews

• UK Fraudster Behind iSpoof Scam Receives 13-Year Jail Term for Cyber Crimes (thehackernews.com)

• The Strange Story of the Teens Behind the Mirai Botnet - IEEE Spectrum

• FBI: Human Trafficking Rings Force Job Seekers Into Cryptojacking Schemes (darkreading.com)

• 'Operation Magalenha' Attacks Gives Window Into Brazil's Cyber crime Ecosystem (darkreading.com)

• Cyber criminals masquerading as MFA vendors - Help Net Security

• The Dark Frost Enigma: An Unexpectedly Prevalent Botnet Author Profile | Akamai

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto phishing service Inferno Drainer defrauds thousands of victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Forex boss Anthony Constantinou guilty of £70m ‘Ponzi’ fraud (thetimes.co.uk)

• FBI: Human Trafficking Rings Force Job Seekers Into Cryptojacking Schemes (darkreading.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• How to prevent against the 5 main types of insider threats - IT Security Guru

• IT employee impersonates ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• SMBs Targeted by State-Aligned Actors for Financial Theft and Supply Chain Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Get-rich-quick schemes, pyramids and ponzis: five signs you're being scammed (theconversation.com)

• Uncle Sam tries to wrangle 'money mules' • The Register

• Scammers Using ChatGPT "Fleeceware" Apps to Cash In on AI Hype, Sophos Report - MSSP Alert

• Online scams target bargain-hunting holiday travelers - Help Net Security

• Ads for lucrative jobs in Asia may be tech slavery scams • The Register

• Crypto phishing service Inferno Drainer defrauds thousands of victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 79-year-old woman tricks German scammers into getting arrested (iamexpat.de)

• Forex boss Anthony Constantinou guilty of £70m ‘Ponzi’ fraud (thetimes.co.uk)

• IT employee impersonates ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Banking, tech and telecoms groups combine to gather intelligence on scammers | Financial Times (ft.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita under fire after ‘confidential’ files published online (thetimes.co.uk)

• SMBs Targeted by State-Aligned Actors for Financial Theft and Supply Chain Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK councils caught in Capita unsecured AWS bucket data leak • The Register

• New Cyber Security Training Packages Launched to Manage Supply Chain Risk - NCSC

Software Supply Chain

• GUAC 0.1 Beta: Google's Breakthrough Framework for Secure Software Supply Chains (thehackernews.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Phishers use encrypted file attachments to steal Microsoft 365 account credentials - Help Net Security

• UK councils caught in Capita unsecured AWS bucket data leak • The Register

• CISO-level tips for securing corporate data in the cloud - Help Net Security

• Google Cloud Bug Allows Server Takeover From CloudSQL Service (darkreading.com)

Attack Surface Management

• The Need to Isolate Branch Offices in High-Risk Countries (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• 7 access management challenges during M&A - Help Net Security

• Think security first when switching from traditional Active Directory to Azure AD | CSO Online

Encryption

• Quantum attack would trigger Great Depression, think tank warns | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

API

• API bug in OAuth dev tool opened websites, apps to account hijacking | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Are Your APIs Leaking Sensitive Data? (thehackernews.com)

• What is API Security? | Definition from TechTarget

• The fragmented nature of API security ownership - Help Net Security

Open Source

• PyPI open-source code repository deals with manic malware maelstrom – Naked Security (sophos.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Inactive accounts pose significant account takeover security risks | CSO Online

• What’s a Double-Blind Password Strategy and When Should It Be Used (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Netflix's Password-Sharing Ban Offers Security Upsides (darkreading.com)

Biometrics

• Android phones are vulnerable to fingerprint brute-force attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Meta Hit With $1.3B Record-Breaking Fine for GDPR Violations (darkreading.com)

• Pentagon explosion hoax goes viral after verified Twitter accounts push (bleepingcomputer.com)

• A TikTok ban isn't a data security solution. It will be difficult to enforce – and could end up hurting users (theconversation.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Realistic Cyber security Simulations Deliver Strongest ROI for Training Programs, Security Innovation Finds - MSSP Alert

• A New Look for Risk in Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

• Realistic simulations are transforming cyber security training - Help Net Security

Travel

• Online scams target bargain-hunting holiday travelers - Help Net Security

• Four ways your devices can be hacked in hotels and how to stay safe | This is Money

• Tips to Protect Against Holiday and Airline Scams - IT Security Guru

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Multiple Vulnerabilities Found in the Kiddoware Kids Place Parental Control Android App - IT Security Guru

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Meta Hit With $1.3B Record-Breaking Fine for GDPR Violations (darkreading.com)

• Two-Thirds of IT Leaders Say GDPR Has Reduced Consumer Trust - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft urges lawmakers to adopt new guidelines for responsible AI | CyberScoop

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIST Launches Cyber security Initiative for Small Businesses (securityintelligence.com)

• New security model launched to eliminate 95% of cyber breaches - IT Security Guru

Backup and Recovery

• Almost all ransomware attacks target backups, says Veeam | Computer Weekly

• 'Operation Magalenha' Attacks Gives Window Into Brazil's Cyber crime Ecosystem (darkreading.com)

• China hits back after Microsoft says state-sponsored group hacked critical US infrastructure | Financial Times

• Here's another great reason to make sure your enterprises is safeguarded from ransomware | TechRadar

Data Protection

• Meta Hit With $1.3B Record-Breaking Fine for GDPR Violations (darkreading.com)

• Two-Thirds of IT Leaders Say GDPR Has Reduced Consumer Trust - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• How to become a bug bounty hunter: Getting started | TechTarget

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• UK Fraudster Behind iSpoof Scam Receives 13-Year Jail Term for Cyber Crimes (thehackernews.com)

• 79-year-old woman tricks German scammers into getting arrested (iamexpat.de)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Smartphones with Qualcomm chips found to be transmitting users' private data without consent - Dimsum Daily

• WhatsApp now lets you hide your messages from prying eyes. But is Chat Lock a cheaters’ charter? | Technology | The Guardian

• UK police to 'embed' facial recog but oversight is at risk • The Register

• Abuse of government spying powers: What's to worry about? • The Register

• Reflections on Ten Years Past The Snowden Revelations (ietf.org)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Simple OSINT techniques to spot AI-fueled disinformation, fake reviews - Help Net Security

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Opinion: Cyber war and (no) peace (insuranceinsider.com)

• Cyber Warfare Lessons From the Russia-Ukraine Conflict (darkreading.com)

• Russia's War in Ukraine Shows Cyber attacks Can Be War Crimes (darkreading.com)

• The Underground History of Turla, Russia's Most Ingenious Hacker Group | WIRED

• Bad Magic's Extended Reign in Cyber Espionage Goes Back Over a Decade (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Kimsuky Hackers Strike Again with Advanced Reconnaissance Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber Attacks Strike Ukraine's State Bodies in Espionage Operation (thehackernews.com)

• A deeper insight into the CloudWizard APT's activity revealed a long-running activity - Security Affairs

• What’s Russia Planning? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Mysterious malware designed to cripple industrial systems linked to Russia | CyberScoop

• New Russian-linked CosmicEnergy malware targets industrial systems (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What’s Russia Planning? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• United Nations official and others in Armenia hacked by NSO Group spyware | Hacking | The Guardian

• Predator: Looking under the hood of Intellexa’s Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Nation State Actors

• APT attacks: Exploring Advanced Persistent Threats and their evasive techniques (malwarebytes.com)

• SMBs and regional MSPs are increasingly targeted by state-sponsored APT groups | CSO Online

• NCSC Warns Against Chinese Cyber Attacks on Critical Infrastructure - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Underground History of Turla, Russia's Most Ingenious Hacker Group | WIRED

• A TikTok ban isn't a data security solution. It will be difficult to enforce – and could end up hurting users (theconversation.com)

• Malware turns home routers into proxies for Chinese state-sponsored hackers | Ars Technica

• GoldenJackal: Threat Risk For Organisations In Middle East & South Asia (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• North Korean Kimsuky Hackers Strike Again with Advanced Reconnaissance Malware (thehackernews.com)

• N. Korean Lazarus Group Targets Microsoft IIS Servers to Deploy Espionage Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Fata Morgana Watering Hole Attack Targets Shipping, Logistics Firms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A deeper insight into the CloudWizard APT's activity revealed a long-running activity - Security Affairs

• Five Eyes and Microsoft accuse China US infrastructure raids • The Register

• Iranian hackers use new Moneybird ransomware to attack Israeli orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mysterious malware designed to cripple industrial systems linked to Russia | CyberScoop

• GCHQ warns of fresh threat from Chinese state-sponsored hackers | Hacking | The Guardian

• New Russian-linked CosmicEnergy malware targets industrial systems (bleepingcomputer.com)

• China hits back after Microsoft says state-sponsored group hacked critical US infrastructure | Financial Times

• Five Eyes agencies detail how Chinese hackers breached US infrastructure - Help Net Security

• Lazarus Group Striking Vulnerable Windows IIS Web Servers (darkreading.com)

• 'Volt Typhoon' Breaks Fresh Ground for China-Backed Cyber Campaigns (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• 12 vulnerabilities newly associated with ransomware - Help Net Security

• Fresh perspectives needed to manage growing vulnerabilities - Help Net Security

• Judge Throws Out Ransomware Class-Action Suit Against Rackspace - MSSP Alert

• How to check for new exploits in real time? VulnCheck has an answer | CSO Online

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Vulnerabilities

• 12 vulnerabilities newly associated with ransomware - Help Net Security

• Vulnerability in WordPress Google Analytics Plugin Hits +3 Million Websites (searchenginejournal.com)

• Hackers target 1.5M WordPress sites with cookie consent plugin exploit (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Barracuda Alerts Of Breaches In Email Gateways From Zero-Day Flaws (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Threat Actors Compromise Barracuda Email Security Appliances (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft: Windows issue causes file copying, saving failures (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GitLab 'strongly recommends' patching max severity flaw ASAP (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 83C0000B: The error code that means a software update bricked your HP printer (bitdefender.com)

• CISA adds iPhone bugs to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog - Security Affairs

• Vulnerability in Zyxel firewalls may soon be widely exploited (CVE-2023-28771) - Help Net Security

• Zyxel warns of critical vulnerabilities in firewall and VPN devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Warning: Samsung Devices Under Attack! New Security Flaw Exposed (thehackernews.com)

• Multiple Vulnerabilities Found in the Kiddoware Kids Place Parental Control Android App - IT Security Guru

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Tools and Controls

• Security Pros: Before You Do Anything, Understand Your Threat Landscape - SecurityWeek

• Malicious links and misaddressed emails slip past security controls - Help Net Security

• Making The Most Of A Penetration Test: The Organisational Perspective (forbes.com)

• Against the Clock: Cyber Incident Response Plan (trendmicro.com)

• CMOs & CISOs: Uniting for Stronger Brands (cmswire.com)

• Investigating Risks Through Threat Hunting Capability Guide (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Realistic Cyber security Simulations Deliver Strongest ROI for Training Programs, Security Innovation Finds - MSSP Alert

• A New Look for Risk in Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

• Almost all ransomware attacks target backups, says Veeam | Computer Weekly

• How continuous security monitoring is changing the compliance game - Help Net Security

• Blacklist untrustworthy apps that peek behind your firewall - Help Net Security

• How generative AI is reshaping the identity verification landscape - Help Net Security

• What is API Security? | Definition from TechTarget

• Are Your APIs Leaking Sensitive Data? (thehackernews.com)

• The fragmented nature of API security ownership - Help Net Security

• Enterprises Must Prepare Now for Shorter TLS Certificate Lifespans (darkreading.com)

• Cutting Through the Noise: What is Zero Trust Security? - SecurityWeek

• CISO-level tips for securing corporate data in the cloud - Help Net Security

• 6 ways generative AI chatbots and LLMs can enhance cyber security | CSO Online

• 'Operation Magalenha' Attacks Gives Window Into Brazil's Cyber crime Ecosystem (darkreading.com)

• China hits back after Microsoft says state-sponsored group hacked critical US infrastructure | Financial Times

• Here's another great reason to make sure your enterprises is safeguarded from ransomware | TechRadar

• Attributes of a mature cyber-threat intelligence program | CSO Online

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 05 May 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Boards Need Better Conversations About Cyber Security

In a survey by Harvard Business Review, 65% of directors believed their organisations were at risk of a cyber attack within the next 12 months, and almost half believed they were unprepared to cope with such an attack. Boards that struggle with their role in providing oversight for cyber security create a security problem for their organisations. By not focusing on resilience, boards fail their companies and their stakeholders.

Regarding board interactions with CISOs, just 69% of responding board members see eye-to-eye with their chief information security officers (CISOs). Fewer than half (47%) of members serve on boards that interact with their CISOs regularly, and almost a third of them only see their CISOs at board presentations. This is worrying, as this leaves little time for leaders to have a meaningful dialogue about cyber security.

As a result, boards need to discuss their organisations’ cyber security-induced risks and evaluate plans to manage those risks frequently; the CISO should be involved in this. With the right conversations about keeping the organisation resilient, they can take the next step to provide adequate cyber security oversight. To bring more cyber security into the board room, board members may need to gain expertise, whether through frequent training or development programmes.

https://hbr.org/2023/05/boards-are-having-the-wrong-conversations-about-cybersecurity

• Uber’s Ex-Security Chief Sentenced for Security Breach

Earlier this week, Uber’s former head of cyber security, Joseph Sullivan, faced several years of prison time for covering up a massive security breach at the ride-hailing company seven years ago. When it actually came to sentencing he managed to avoid jail but received three years of probation and 200 hours of community service, despite pleas from the prosecution to throw him in jail.

The case highlights the seriousness of covering up a security breach, as at one point the ex-security chief was looking at 24-30 months of jail time. With increasing regulations and focus on cyber security, it is unlikely that this is a one-off incident.

https://gizmodo.com/uber-security-joe-sullivan-sentenced-prison-data-breach-1850403347

• Global Cyber Attacks Rise by 7% in Q1 2023

Weekly cyber attacks have increased worldwide by 7% in Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year, with each firm facing an average of 1,248 attacks per week according to Check Point’s latest research. The report highlights a number of sophisticated campaigns including using ChatGPT for code generation to help less-skilled threat actors effortlessly launch cyber attacks.

The Check Point report also shows that 1 in 31 organisations worldwide experienced a ransomware attack weekly over the first quarter of 2023. To defend against such threats, the security researchers recommended a series of cyber safety tips, such as keeping computers and servers up-to-date, conducting regular cyber awareness training and utilising better threat prevention tools, among others.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/global-cyber-attacks-rise-7-q1-2023/

• Three-Quarters of Firms Predict a Breach in the Coming Year

Most global organisations anticipate suffering a data breach or cyber attack in the next 12 months. Trend Micro’s six-monthly Cyber Risk Index (CRI) was compiled from interviews with 3,729 global organisations.

While results of the index score move in a positive direction showing organisations are taking steps to improve cyber preparedness, most responding organisations are pessimistic about the year ahead.

Respondents pointed to both negligent insiders and mobile users, and a lack of trained staff, as a key cause of concern going forward. Alongside cloud infrastructure and virtual computing environments, these comprised the top five infrastructure risks.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/threequarters-firms-predict-breach/

• The Costly Threat That Many Businesses Fail to Address

Insider attacks such as fraud, sabotage, and data theft plague 71% of businesses, according to a recent report. The report found companies that allow excessive data access are much more likely to suffer insider attacks. However, only 57% of companies limit data appropriately while 31% allow employees access to more data than necessary and 12% allow employees access to all company data.

Alarmingly, of the companies that have experienced insider attacks, one in three (34%) report that the attack involved an employee with privileged access. Data theft was the most common type of insider attack, reported by 38% of businesses.

Insider attacks can damage businesses’ reputations, finances, and competitiveness, and therefore companies should take a proactive approach in preventing these incidents.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/02/insider-attacks-damage/

• European Data at Risk with Tick-box GDPR Compliance and High Cyber Attack Volumes

Recent research revealed that European IT and security leaders may be dangerously over-confident in their ability to avoid cyber attacks and mitigate the risk of serious data compromise. The findings reveal that most organisations have suffered a serious cyber attack in the last two years, with over half of respondents saying their company suffered an attack 1 to 3 times in this time period. Worryingly, 20% of respondents claim to have been attacked 4 to 6 times. Only 18% managed to avoid an attack altogether.

Worryingly, three-quarters (76%) of those interviewed admit they’re taking a tick-box approach to GDPR compliance, which involves doing the bare minimum on data privacy and security. Although most (97%) have a contingency plan in place should they get breached, a quarter (26%) have not tested it.

Around two-thirds of respondents say their organisation considers customer (66%) and financial data (63%) to be “risky.” But the figure drops to 60% for employee data, and even further for intellectual property (45%) and health data (28%). Alarmingly, health-related data is classified as a special category data by GDPR, meaning it requires more protection.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/05/03/european-data-at-risk-with-tick-box-gdpr-compliance-and-high-cyberattack-volumes

• Understanding Cyber Threat Intelligence for Business Security

Cyber threat intelligence is not a solution itself, but a crucial component of any mature security programme, enabling organisations to gain insights into the motives, targets and behaviours of threat actors. As such, it is crucial for businesses looking to protect themselves from the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.

Some of the benefits of effective cyber threat intelligence to a business include early threat detection, improved response, regulation compliance, competitive advantage and cost savings. It is important to highlight that an organisation does not need to come up with their own cyber threat intelligence initiative, it can instead be purchased as a service.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/05/04/understanding-cyber-threat-intelligence-for-business-security

• Hackers Are Finding Ways to Evade Latest Cyber Security Tools

As hacking has gotten more destructive and pervasive, new defensive tools continue to be developed. One such tool is called endpoint detection and response (EDR) software, it’s designed to spot early signs of malicious activity on laptops, servers and other devices known as “endpoints” on a computer network — and block them before intruders can steal data or lock the machines.

Experts however, claim hackers have developed workarounds for some forms of the technology, allowing them to slip past products that have become the gold standard for protecting critical systems. Security software is not enough on its own, it is just one of the layers of defence that organisations should employ as part of their cyber resilience; there is no silver bullet.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hackers-finding-ways-evade-latest-131600565.html

• Study Shows a 27% Spike in Publicly Known Ransomware Victims

A report released this week highlights a 27% increase in publicly known ransomware victims in the first quarter of the year. Some of the report’s key findings include the fact that manufacturing, technology, education, banking, finance, and healthcare organisations are the largest to be exposed to ransomware.

The report identified an increase in the use of “double extortion” as an attack model. This method is where ransomware groups not only encrypt files but also exfiltrate data. The top five most active ransomware threat actors are LockBit, Clop, AlphV, Royal and BianLian.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-news/guidepoint-study-shows-a-27-spike-in-public-ransomware-victims/

• Data Loss Costs Are Going Up – and Not Just for Those Who Choose to Pay Thieves

A recent report found while the number of ransomware incidents that firms responded to dipped in early 2022, it came roaring back toward the end of the year and into early 2023. With this came higher ransom demands and, eventually, payments. The largest ransom demand last year was more than $90 million, with the largest payment exceeding $8 million. Both were larger than in 2021 (more than $60 million and $5.5 million respectively).

Ransomware groups are upping their attacks all the time and you don’t want to be an easy target.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/02/data_breach_costs_rise/

• Give NotPetya-hit Merck that $1.4B, Appeals Court Tells Insurers

In a significant ruling this week a court in the US found that pharmaceutical company Merck's insurers can't use an "act of war" clause to deny the pharmaceutical giant an enormous payout to clean up its NotPetya infection from 2017. The ruling will also undoubtedly affect the language used in underwriting policies, especially when it comes to risks such as ransomware and cyber warfare.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/03/merck_14bn_insurance_payout_upheld/

• 4 Ways Leaders Should Re-evaluate Their Cyber Security's Focus

The technology industry has long been building walls around structured data and communications—with little consideration of how employees use that information. Outlined below are four 4 ways leaders can better protect raw data.

• Recognise that priorities have evolved.

• Understand that security burdens have changed.

• Understand why, despite best efforts, criminals are still successful.

• Evaluate the ways in which you are protecting your most vulnerable data.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2023/05/02/4-ways-leaders-should-reevaluate-their-cybersecuritys-focus/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Data loss costs go up, and not just from ransom shakedowns • The Register

• Pension watchdog probes Capita data hack (thetimes.co.uk)

• To Fight Ransomware, Move Beyond Detection to Real-Time Response, Fortinet Study Says - MSSP Alert

• Using Threat Intelligence to Get Smarter About Ransomware – Security Week

• Merck's $1.4B NotPetya insurance payout upheld by court • The Register

• GuidePoint Study Shows a 27% Spike in Public Ransomware Victims - MSSP Alert

• Rapture, a Ransomware Family With Similarities to Paradise (trendmicro.com)

• The Tragic Fallout From a School District’s Ransomware Breach | WIRED

• Hackers leak images to taunt Western Digital's cyber attack response (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ‘Big game hunting’ hackers ALPHV claim major breach of law firm HWL Ebsworth (afr.com)

• FBI Uncovers 9 Crypto Exchanges In Ransomware Laundering (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Legitimate Software Abuse: A Disturbing Trend in Ransomware Attacks (darkreading.com)

• US, Ukraine Shut Down Cryptocurrency Exchanges Used by Cyber criminals – Security Week

• BlackCat group releases screenshots of stolen Western Digital data | CSO Online

• Ransomware Attack Affects Dallas Police, Court Websites – Security Week

• Studies show ransomware has already caused patient deaths | TechTarget

• Cold storage giant Americold outage caused by network breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Brightline Hack Exposes Data of Over 780,000 Child Mental Health Patients - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Payment software giant AvidXchange suffers its second ransomware attack of 2023 | TechCrunch

• Ransomware Attack Disrupts IT Network at Hardenhuish School - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• City of Dallas hit by Royal ransomware attack impacting IT services (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gang hijacks university alert system to issue threats (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attack cost conveyancing giant £7m - but the insurers paid up | News | Law Gazette

• Bitmarck Halts Operations Due to Cyber security Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Teiss - News - Lockbit 3.0 targets Fullerton India, demands a £2.3 million ransom

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Malicious HTML Attachment Volumes Surge - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A Comprehensive Look At Email-Based Threats In 2023 (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How to Spot a ChatGPT Phishing Website (darkreading.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Crooks show they don't need ChatGPT to scam victims • The Register

Malware

• ViperSoftX info-stealing malware now targets password managers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Ads Abused to Lure Corporate Workers to LOBSHOT Backdoor (darkreading.com)

• Mac malware-for-hire steals passwords and cryptocoins, sends “crime logs” via Telegram – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Security experts are using malware's own code to protect potential victims | TechSpot

• New Decoy Dog Malware Toolkit Uncovered: Targeting Enterprise Networks (thehackernews.com)

• How to Detect and Remove a Keylogger From Your Computer (howtogeek.com)

• Hackers start using double DLL sideloading to evade detection (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Anatomy of a Malicious Package Attack (darkreading.com)

Mobile

• Android Apps Fail to Protect User Data During Device Transfer - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Apple pushes first-ever 'rapid' patch, rapidly screws up • The Register

• Google fought a mountain of malware in 2022 | Android Central

• Google Bans Thousands of Play Store Developer Accounts to Block Malware (darkreading.com)

• Digital Intruders – Top Ways Hackers Can Breach Your Smartphone’s Security (freecodecamp.org)

• Smartphone owners warned about ‘shoulder-surfing’ thieves (thetimes.co.uk)

Botnets

• Cyber criminals use proxies to legitimise fraudulent requests - Help Net Security

• Bot Attacks Are Easy to Launch, Human Security Reports - MSSP Alert

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• What’s the Difference Between a DOS and DDoS Attack? (howtogeek.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Top 5 IoT Security Risks In 2023 - The Cyber Express

• Hackers exploit 5-year-old unpatched flaw in TBK DVR devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA warns of Mirai botnet exploiting TP-Link routers • The Register

• Drone goggles maker claims firmware sabotaged to ‘brick’ devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Three-Quarters of Firms Predict Breach in Coming Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber attack sparks fears that criminals could target UK gun owners for firearms | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• UK Gun Owners May Be Targeted After Rifle Association Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Kodi Forum Data Breach - Lessons Learned, Actions Taken | News | Kodi

• T-Mobile suffered the second data breach in 2023 - Security Affairs

• Sensitive data is being leaked from servers running Salesforce software | Ars Technica

• ChatGPT Confirms Data Breach, Raising Security Concerns (securityintelligence.com)

• Sensitive files about Royal Navy submarine reportedly found in pub toilet | Royal Navy | The Guardian

• Millions of patients’ data confirmed stolen after Fortra mass-hack | TechCrunch

• TikTok security breach allowed attackers to leak personal information (ynetnews.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• SpecTor operation: 288 individuals arrested in the seizure of marketplace Monopoly Market-Security Affairs

• US, Ukraine Shut Down Cryptocurrency Exchanges Used by Cyber criminals – Security Week

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Man Gets Four Years for Stealing Bitcoin Seized by Feds - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Mac malware-for-hire steals passwords and cryptocoins, sends “crime logs” via Telegram – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Crooks broke into AT&T email accounts to empty their crypto wallets - Security Affairs

• Level Finance crypto exchange hacked after two security audits (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers stole $93M from crypto projects in April (cryptoslate.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• The costly threat that many businesses fail to address - Help Net Security

• The hidden security risks in tech layoffs and how to mitigate them | CSO Online

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Hackers swap stealth for realistic checkout forms to steal credit cards (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Advanced Fee Fraud Surges by Over 600% - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber criminals use proxies to legitimize fraudulent requests - Help Net Security

• UK to ban all cold calls selling financial products - BBC News

• Smartphone owners warned about ‘shoulder-surfing’ thieves (thetimes.co.uk)

• UK intelligence agencies to step up anti-fraud efforts | Financial Times (ft.com)

• National Crime Agency urged to crush rogue US candy stores (thetimes.co.uk)

• Clampdown on cold calls and mass texting technology announced in UK | Scams | The Guardian

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• FBI Uncovers 9 Crypto Exchanges In Ransomware Laundering (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Dark Web

• Why the Things You Don't Know about the Dark Web May Be Your Biggest Cyber security Threat (thehackernews.com)

• SpecTor operation: 288 individuals arrested in the seizure of marketplace Monopoly Market - Security Affairs

• FBI Uncovers 9 Crypto Exchanges In Ransomware Laundering (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• US, Ukraine Shut Down Cryptocurrency Exchanges Used by Cyber criminals – Security Week

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• How to keep calm and carry on in a supply chain attack • The Register

• Pension watchdog probes Capita data hack (thetimes.co.uk)

• SolarWinds: The Untold Story of the Boldest Supply-Chain Hack | WIRED

• DOJ Detected SolarWinds Breach Months Before Public Disclosure | WIRED

• Aviva says it thinks customer data secure after Capita cyber attack (proactiveinvestors.co.uk)

Cloud/SaaS

• Using just-in-time access to reduce cloud security risk - Help Net Security

• Cloud security threats are growing faster than ever | TechRadar

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Employees Using ‘Productivity Theater’ To Protect Against Surveillance, Study Finds (forbes.com)

• White House seeks information on tools used for automated employee surveillance | Computerworld

Attack Surface Management

• Reigning in ‘Out-of-Control’ Devices – Security Week

Encryption

• The UK’s online safety bill will not keep us safe | Financial Times (ft.com)

API

• Report shows 92% of orgs experienced an API security incident last year | VentureBeat

• Researchers Discover 3 Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure API Management Service (thehackernews.com)

• OpenAI Threatens Popular GitHub Project With Lawsuit Over API Use | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• 5 API security best practices you must implement - Help Net Security

• Enterprise Strategy Group Research Reveals 75% of Organisations Change or Update APIs on a Daily or Weekly Basis (darkreading.com)

• Top API vulnerabilities organisations can't afford to ignore - Help Net Security

Open Source

• Unpaid open source maintainers struggle with increased security demands - Help Net Security

• Anatomy of a Malicious Package Attack (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• ViperSoftX info-stealing malware now targets password managers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Your passwords could be cracked using thermal cameras powered by AI | TechRadar

• Your Google Account is getting rid of its password (androidpolice.com)

• PSA. Don’t share your password in your app’s release notes • Graham Cluley

Social Media

• TikTok security breach allowed attackers to leak personal information (ynetnews.com)

• Twitter outage logs you out and won’t let you back in (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Meta kills over 1,000 ChatGPT-related malicious spoofs • The Register

• Strike 3: FTC says Meta still failing to protect privacy • The Register

Malvertising

• Google Ads Abused to Lure Corporate Workers to LOBSHOT Backdoor (darkreading.com)

• LOBSHOT: A Stealthy, Financial Trojan and Info Stealer Delivered through Google Ads (thehackernews.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• European Data at Risk With Tick-box GDPR Compliance and High Cyber attack Volumes- IT Security Guru

• UK readers may lose access to Wikipedia amid online safety bill requirements | UK news | The Guardian

• White House unveils AI rules to address safety and privacy | Computerworld

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Hackers Are Finding Ways to Evade Latest Cyber security Tools (yahoo.com)

• Global Cyber Attacks Rise by 7% in Q1 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• There’s No Silver Bullet for Cyber security (hbr.org)

• European Data at Risk With Tick-box GDPR Compliance and High Cyber attack Volumes- IT Security Guru

• Data loss costs go up, and not just from ransom shakedowns • The Register

• Boards Are Having the Wrong Conversations About Cyber security (hbr.org)

• Three-Quarters of Firms Predict Breach in Coming Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Uber Ex-Security Chief Joe Sullivan to Be Sentenced for Breach (gizmodo.com)

• Trends and Insights from the New Global Threat Intelligence Report - MSSP Alert

• Why Your Detection-First Security Approach Isn't Working (thehackernews.com)

• How Strategic Threat Intelligence Elevates a Cyber security Program (accelerationeconomy.com)

• Benefits and Challenges of Data Analytics in Cyber security (analyticsinsight.net)

• Reducing Your Attack Surface: A Practical Approach To Vulnerability Remediation And Management (forbes.com)

• What the Cyber security Industry Can Learn From the SVB Crisis (darkreading.com)

• 4 Ways Leaders Should Reevaluate Their Cyber security's Focus (forbes.com)

• Optimising Cyber Security Costs In A Recession (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Malicious content lurks all over the web - Help Net Security

• Microsoft Digital Defence Report: Key Cyber crime Trends (darkreading.com)

• Closing up holes: Infoseccers on being less reactive • The Register

• Organisations brace for cyber attacks despite improved preparedness - Help Net Security

• Global Cyber Risk Lowers to Moderate Level in 2H' 2022 (trendmicro.com)

• Japan’s ‘myth of security’ raises cyber attack risk | Financial Times (ft.com)

Secure Disposal

• Your decommissioned routers could be a security disaster | Network World

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• The importance of being certified • The Register

• UK Cyber Security Council launches certification mapping tool - Help Net Security

• DHS’ cyber talent management system slowly gaining traction | Federal News Network

• The warning signs for security analyst burnout and ways to prevent - Help Net Security

• Google Launches Cyber security Career Certificate Program (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• SpecTor operation: 288 individuals arrested in the seizure of marketplace Monopoly Market - Security Affairs

• FBI Uncovers 9 Crypto Exchanges In Ransomware Laundering (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• US, Ukraine Shut Down Cryptocurrency Exchanges Used by Cyber criminals - SecurityWeek

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Open Banking: A Perfect Storm for Security and Privacy? - SecurityWeek

• Employees Using ‘Productivity Theater’ To Protect Against Surveillance, Study Finds (forbes.com)

• Apple and Google Team Up to Stop Unwanted Tracking by AirTags, Other Devices - CNET

• White House seeks information on tools used for automated employee surveillance | Computerworld

• Strike 3: FTC says Meta still failing to protect privacy • The Register

Artificial Intelligence

• 5 ways threat actors can use ChatGPT to enhance attacks | CSO Online

• Workers are secretly using ChatGPT, AI, with big risks for companies (cnbc.com)

• AI will do 'real damage', warns Microsoft chief (telegraph.co.uk)

• Microsoft’s chief economist says A.I. can be dangerous | Fortune

• It's time to harden AI and ML for cyber security | TechTarget

• Stop using generative-AI tools, Samsung orders staff | Digital Trends

• ChatGPT Confirms Data Breach, Raising Security Concerns (securityintelligence.com)

• How To Secure Web Applications Against AI-assisted Cyber Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• PrivateGPT Tackles Sensitive Info in ChatGPT Prompts (darkreading.com)

• Meta kills over 1,000 ChatGPT-related malicious spoofs • The Register

• How AI is reshaping the cyber security landscape - Help Net Security

• White House unveils AI rules to address safety and privacy | Computerworld

• How to Spot a ChatGPT Phishing Website (darkreading.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Is misinformation the newest malware? | CSO Online

Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Hackers use fake ‘Windows Update’ guides to target Ukrainian govt (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian APT Hacked Tajikistani Carrier to Spy on Government, Public Services - SecurityWeek

• Cat and mouse game: Russian satellite appears to chase US military satellite in space (firstpost.com)

• Russian APT Nomadic Octopus hacked Tajikistani carrier - Security Affairs

• Russia’s APT28 targets Ukraine with bogus Windows updates • The Register

• Russian spy network smuggles sensitive EU tech despite sanctions | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Finnish newspaper hides Ukraine news reports for Russians in online game | Censorship | The Guardian

• Meta Unravels Social Media Cyber Espionage Operations In South Asia (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

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Nation State Actors

• APT groups muddying the waters for MSPs | WeLiveSecurity

• China’s Hackers Vastly Outnumber US. Cyber Agents by 50 to 1, FBI Director Testifies - MSSP Alert

• Chinese APT Uses New 'Stack Rumbling' Technique to Disable Security Software - SecurityWeek

• China 'Innovated' Its Cyber attack Tradecraft, Mandia Says (darkreading.com)

• 'BellaCiao' Showcases How Iran's Threat Groups Are Modernizing Their Malware (darkreading.com)

• APT41 Subgroup Plows Through Asia-Pacific, Utilizing Layered Stealth Tactics (darkreading.com)

• APT41’s PowerShell Backdoor Download Files From Windows (cyber securitynews.com)

• US Chamber of Commerce warns of major increase in risks for businesses in China | CNN Business

• China’s ‘men in black’ step up scrutiny of foreign corporate sleuths | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Microsoft says Iranian hackers combine influence ops with hacking for maximum impact | CyberScoop

• BouldSpy Android Spyware: Iranian Government's Alleged Tool for Spying on Minority Groups (thehackernews.com)

• Attack on Security Titans: Earth Longzhi Returns With New Tricks (trendmicro.com)

• North Korean APT Gets Around Macro-Blocking With LNK Switch-Up (darkreading.com)

• ‘We have survived!’: China’s Huawei goes local in response to US sanctions | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Apple is a Chinese company | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Meta Unravels Social Media Cyber Espionage Operations In South Asia (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• China labels USA ‘Empire of hacking’ citing old WikiLeaks • The Register

• Kimsuky hackers use new recon tool to find security gaps (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Reducing Your Attack Surface: A Practical Approach To Vulnerability Remediation And Management (forbes.com)

Vulnerabilities

• WordPress Vulnerability Hits +1 Million Using Header & Footer Plugin (searchenginejournal.com)

• Cisco discloses a bug in Prime Collaboration Deployment solution - Security Affairs

• Cisco Warns of Critical Vulnerability in EoL Phone Adapters - SecurityWeek

• Apple pushes first-ever 'rapid' patch, rapidly screws up • The Register

• Zyxel Firewall Devices Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution Attacks — Patch Now (thehackernews.com)

• Researchers Uncover New BGP Flaws in Popular Internet Routing Protocol Software (thehackernews.com)

• AMD TPM Exploit: faulTPM Attack Defeats BitLocker and TPM-Based Security (Updated) (msn.com)

• Chrome 113 Released With 15 Security Patches - SecurityWeek

• Netgear Vulnerabilities Lead to Credentials Leak, Privilege Escalation - SecurityWeek

• Researchers Discover 3 Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure API Management Service (thehackernews.com)

• Apple Releases First-Ever Security Updates for Beats, AirPods Headphones - SecurityWeek

• Some of the top AMD chips are suffering a serious security flaw | TechRadar

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Tools and Controls

• How Strategic Threat Intelligence Elevates a Cyber security Program (accelerationeconomy.com)

• 86 percent of developers knowingly deploy vulnerable code (betanews.com)

• The hidden security risks in tech layoffs and how to mitigate them | CSO Online

• Benefits and Challenges of Data Analytics in Cyber security (analyticsinsight.net)

• Reigning in ‘Out-of-Control’ Devices – Security Week

• ViperSoftX info-stealing malware now targets password managers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The pros and cons of VPNs for enterprises | TechTarget

• It's time to harden AI and ML for cyber security | TechTarget

• Using just-in-time access to reduce cloud security risk - Help Net Security

• Using multiple solutions adds complexity to your zero trust strategy - Help Net Security

• Your decommissioned routers could be a security disaster | Network World

• Wanted Dead or Alive: Real-Time Protection Against Lateral Movement (thehackernews.com)

• 5 API security best practices you must implement - Help Net Security

• 3 questions CISOs expect you to answer during a security pitch | TechCrunch

• Level Finance crypto exchange hacked after two security audits (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 4 Principles for Creating a New Blueprint for Secure Software Development (darkreading.com)

• How To Secure Web Applications Against AI-assisted Cyber Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• AppSec Making Progress or Spinning Its Wheels? (darkreading.com)

• Windows admins can now sign up for ‘known issue’ email alerts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Top API vulnerabilities organisations can't afford to ignore - Help Net Security

• How AI is reshaping the cyber security landscape - Help Net Security

• Getting cyber-resilience right in a zero-trust world starts at the endpoint | VentureBeat

• Practical Protection: Limiting the Damage from Local Admin Accounts (practical365.com)

• To Fight Cyber Extortion and Ransomware, Shift Left (trendmicro.com)

• Using Threat Intelligence to Get Smarter About Ransomware – Security Week

• New Generative AI Tools Aim to Improve Security (darkreading.com)

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Other News

• Firmware Looms as the Next Frontier for Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• Open Banking: A Perfect Storm for Security and Privacy? – Security Week

• Malicious content lurks all over the web - Help Net Security

• How Public-Private Information Sharing Can Level the Cyber security Playing Field (darkreading.com)

• Eric Idle tells RSAC to look in the bright side of life • The Register

• Your decommissioned routers could be a security disaster | Network World

• FBI Focuses on Cyber security With $90M Budget Request (darkreading.com)

• Google will remove secure website indicators in Chrome 117 (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 28 April 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Navigating the Future of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber Security Training, and Digital Transformation are Key

Cyber investments have become table stakes for businesses around the world. Cyber crime is increasing, with 91% of organisations reporting at least one cyber incident in the past year. Not only are they growing in numbers, but they are becoming more sophisticated and diverse, with new threats constantly emerging. According to the 2023 Deloitte Global Future of Cyber survey, business leaders are changing how they think of cyber, and it’s emerging as a larger strategic discussion tied to an organisation’s long-term success.

Cyber is about more than protecting information—risk management, incident response planning, threat intelligence and training can often be directly correlated to increasing trust within businesses.

Cyber security training is essential for employees to ensure the safety and security of a business. Employees are often the first line of defence against cyber-attacks and frequently the weakest link in an organisation's security posture. Cyber security training can help employees recognise and avoid common cyber threats, such as phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering. 89% of organisations cited as high-performing cyber organisations have implemented annual cyber awareness training among all employees. With increased digital dependency year over year—effective employee training can raise awareness, reduce risk, improve security posture, and support compliance.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2023/04/20/navigating-the-future-of-cyber-business-strategy-cybersecurity-training-and-digital-transformation-are-key/?sh=1ab15c2c29c1

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises

There's no denying that software-as-a-service (SaaS) has entered its golden age. Software tools have now become essential to modern business operations and continuity. However, not enough organisations have implemented the proper procurement processes to ensure they're protecting themselves from potential data breaches and reputational harm.

A critical component contributing to concerns around SaaS management is the rising trend of shadow IT, which is when employees download and use software tools without notifying their internal IT teams. A recent study shows that 77% of IT professionals believe that shadow IT is becoming a major concern in 2023, with more than 65% saying their SaaS tools aren't being approved. Organisations are beginning to struggle with maintaining security as their SaaS usage continues to sprawl.

To combat shadow IT and the high risks that come along with it, organisations must gain greater visibility over their SaaS stacks and institute an effective procurement process when bringing on new software solutions.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/shadow-it-saas-pose-security-liability-for-enterprises

• The Strong Link Between Cyber Threat Intelligence and Digital Risk Protection

While indicators of compromise and attackers’ tactics, techniques, and processes (TTPs) remain central to threat intelligence, cyber threat intelligence needs have grown over the past few years, driven by things like digital transformation, cloud computing and remote working. In fact, these changes have led to a cyber threat intelligence (CTI) subcategory focused on digital risk protection (DRP). DRP is broadly defined as, “telemetry, analysis, processes, and technologies used to identify and mitigate risks associated with digital assets”.

According to research provider ESG, the most important functions of DRP as part of a mature CTI programme are: vulnerability exploit intelligence, takedown services, leaked data monitoring, malicious mobile application monitoring, brand protection and attack surface management. It should be noted that a mature CTI programme can utilise service providers to help carry out threat intelligence, it doesn’t have to be spun up by the organisation from nothing. Regardless, an organisation employing these DRP functions as part of a CTI programme will be increasing its cyber resilience and reducing the chance of a cyber incident.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3693754/the-strong-link-between-cyber-threat-intelligence-and-digital-risk-protection.html

• Weak Credentials, Unpatched Vulnerabilities, Malicious Open Source Packages Causing Cloud Security Risks

Threat actors are getting more adept at exploiting common everyday issues in the cloud, including misconfigurations, weak credentials, lack of authentication, unpatched vulnerabilities, and malicious open-source software (OSS) packages. Meanwhile, security teams take an average of 145 hours to solve alerts, with 80% of cloud alerts triggered by just 5% of security rules in most environments according to a recent report. The report, conducted by UNIT 42 analysed the workload of 210,000 cloud accounts across 1,300 organisations.

The report’s findings echoed similarities from the previous year, finding almost all cloud users, roles, services and resources grant excessive permissions. Some of the other key findings include as many as 83% of organisations having hard-coded credentials in their source control management systems, 53% of cloud accounts allowing weak password usage and 44% allowing password reuse and 71% of high or critical vulnerabilities exposed were at least two years old.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3693260/weak-credentials-unpatched-vulnerabilities-malicious-oss-packages-causing-cloud-security-risks.html

• Over 70 Billion Unprotected Files Available on Unsecured Web Servers

A recent report found that more than 70 billion files, including intellectual property and financial information, are freely available and unprotected on unsecured web servers. Other key findings of the report included almost 1 in 10 of all detected internet-facing assets having an unpatched vulnerability, with the top 10 vulnerabilities found unpatched at least 12 million times each.

The report predicted that there will be a significant rise in information stealing malware; the report had found that 50% of emails associated with customers were plaintext and unencrypted. Additionally, there will be more incidents due to an increase in assets which are not known to IT, known as shadow IT.

Organisations should look to employ efficient patch management, have an up to date asset register, and use encryption to better increase their cyber defences.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/24/critical-cybersecurity-exposures/

• Cyber Thieves Are Getting More Creative

Cyber criminals are constantly changing their tactics and finding new ways to steal money from organisations. An example of this can be seen where criminals are breaking into systems to learn who is authorised to send payments and what the procedures are. Eventually, this leads to the criminal instructing payment to their own account.

Unfortunately, it is only after such events that some organisations are taking actions, such as verifying payments through phone calls. Whilst it is important for organisations to learn from attacks, it is beneficial to take a pro-active approach and employ procedures such as call back procedures before an incident has occurred.

https://hbr.org/2023/04/cyber-thieves-are-getting-more-creative

• Modernising Vulnerability Management: The Move Toward Exposure Management

Managing vulnerabilities in the constantly evolving technological landscape is a difficult task. Although vulnerabilities emerge regularly, not all vulnerabilities present the same level of risk. Traditional metrics such as CVSS score or the number of vulnerabilities are insufficient for effective vulnerability management as they lack business context, prioritisation, and understanding of attackers' motivations, opportunities and means. Vulnerabilities only represent a small part of the attack surface that attackers can leverage.

Exposures are broader and can encompass more than just vulnerabilities. Exposures can result from various factors, such as human error, improperly defined security controls, and poorly designed and unsecured architecture. Organisations should consider that an attacker doesn’t just look at one exposure; attackers will often use a combination of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, permissions and other exposures to move across systems and reach valuable assets.

As such, organisations looking to improve their cyber resiliency should consider their vulnerability management system and assess both whether it is taking into account exposures and the context in relation to the organisation.

https://thehackernews.com/2023/04/modernizing-vulnerability-management.html

• Two-thirds of Cyber Attacks Involve Ransomware

A report from Sophos focusing on recent incident response cases, found that 68.4% of incidents resulted from ransomware. This was followed by network breaches, accounting for 18.4%. Regarding threat actor access, the report found that unpatched vulnerabilities were the single most common access method, followed by compromised credentials.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/365535467/Almost-three-quarters-of-cyber-attacks-involve-ransomware

• Corporate Boards Pressure CISOs to Step Up Risk Mitigation Efforts

A recent report found that the top challenges when implementing an effective cyber/IT risk management programme include an increase in the quantity (49%) and severity (49%) of cyber threats, a lack of funding (37%) and a lack of staffing/cyber risk talent (36%).

Cyber attacks have been increasing for several years now and resulting data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.35 million in 2022, according to the annual IBM ‘Cost of a Data Breach’ report. Given the financial and reputational consequences of cyber attacks, corporate board rooms are putting pressure on CISOs to identify and mitigate cyber/IT risk.

When it came to reporting to the board, 30% of CIO and CISO respondents say they do not communicate risk around specific business initiatives to other company leaders, indicating they may not know how to share that information in a constructive way.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/26/effective-it-risk-management/

• NSA Sees ‘Significant’ Russian Intel Gathering on European, US Supply Chain Entities

According to the US National Security Agency (NSA), Russian hackers could be looking to attack logistics targets more broadly. The NSA have noted a significant amount of intelligence gathering into western countries, including the UK and the US.

Although there is no indication yet regarding attacks from Russia in connection with the logistics related to Ukraine, organisations should be aware and look to improve their cyber security practices to be best prepared.

https://cyberscoop.com/nsa-russian-ukraine-supply-chain-ransomware/

• Email Threat Report 2023: Key Takeaways

According to a recent report, email phishing made up 24% of all spam types in 2022, a significant increase in proportion from 11% in 2021. The finance industry was the most targeted by far, accounting for 48% of phishing incidents. It is followed by the construction sector at 17%, overtaking 2021’s second-place industry, e-commerce. Both the finance and construction industries saw an increase in phishing since last year. Of all the emails analysed in 2022, an enormous 90% were spam emails.

With phishing as prevalent as ever, organisations should look to implement training for their staff to not only be able to spot phishing emails, but to be able to report these and aid in improving the cyber security culture of their organisation.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/04/27/email-threat-report-2023-key-takeaways/

• 5 Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques

Experts from security training provider SANS Institute have revealed the 5 most dangerous new attack techniques: adversarial AI, ChatGPT-powered social engineering, third-party developer attacks (also known as software supply chain attacks), SEO, and paid advertising attacks.

The new techniques highlight the ever changing environment of the attack environment. SEO and paid advertising attacks are leveraging fundamental marketing strategies to gain initial access, heightening the importance for organisations to incorporate scalable user awareness training programmes, tailored to new threats.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3694892/5-most-dangerous-new-attack-techniques.html  

• Many Public Salesforce Sites are Leaking Private Data

A shocking number of organisations — including banks and healthcare providers — are leaking private and sensitive information from their public Salesforce Community websites. The data exposures all stem from a misconfiguration in Salesforce Community that allows an unauthenticated user to access records that should only be available after logging in.

This included the US State of Vermont who had at least five separate Salesforce Community sites that allowed guest access to sensitive data, including a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programme that exposed the applicant’s full name, social security number, address, phone number, email, and bank account number. Similar information was leaked by TCF Bank on their Salesforce Community Website.

It's not just Salesforce though; misconfigurations in general are responsible for a number of leaked documents and or exposures relating to an organisation.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/04/many-public-salesforce-sites-are-leaking-private-data/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• New coercive tactics used to extort ransomware payments - Help Net Security

• Capita Admits That Its ‘Cyber Incident’ Was Ransomware and That Customer Data Was Breached - IT Governance UK Blog

• Russian hackers exfiltrated data from from Capita over a week before outage | by Kevin Beaumont | Apr, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• Almost three-quarters of cyber attacks involve ransomware | Computer Weekly

• #RSAC: Ransomware Poses Growing Threat to Five Eyes Nations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

• Effects of the Hive Ransomware Group Takedown (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft Confirms PaperCut Servers Used to Deliver LockBit and Cl0p Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MIT and Stanford researchers develop operating system with one major promise: Resisting ransomware | CyberScoop

• Tank storage company Vopak hacked, Ransomware groups report | NL Times

• Health insurer Point32Health suffered a ransomware attack-Security Affairs

• Hacker demands ransom after 'taking control' of Wiltshire school's IT | Swindon Advertiser

• US Navy Contractor Fincantieri Marine Group Hit by Cyber-attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Arnold Clark braced for cyber payout (thetimes.co.uk)

• RSAC speaker offers ransomware victims unconventional advice | TechTarget

• How ransomware victims can make the best of a bad situation | TechTarget

• Hackers Leaked Minneapolis Students' Psychological Reports, Allegations of Abuse (gizmodo.com)

• Linux version of RTM Locker ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CommScope employees left in the dark after ransomware attack | TechCrunch

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Email Threat Report 2023: Key Takeaways - IT Security Guru

• How Dangerous Is Phishing in 2023? - Duo Blog | Duo Security

• The New Frontier in Email Security: Goodbye, Gateways; Hello, Behavioural AI (darkreading.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• WhatsApp used in BEC scam to pilfer $6.4M | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

2FA/MFA

• CrowdStrike details new MFA bypass, credential theft attack | TechTarget

• Phishing-resistant MFA shapes the future of authentication forms - Help Net Security

Malware

• Malware-Free Cyber attacks Are On the Rise; Here's How to Detect Them (darkreading.com)

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ex-Conti and FIN7 Actors Collaborate with New Backdoor (securityintelligence.com)

• EvilExtractor malware activity spikes in Europe and the US (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zaraza Malware Exploits Web Browsers To Steal Stored Passwords (latesthackingnews.com)

• This evil malware disables your security software, then goes in for the kill | TechRadar

• Decoy Dog malware toolkit found after analysing 70 billion DNS queries (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus Subgroup Targeting Apple Devices with New RustBucket macOS Malware (thehackernews.com)

• A Security Team Is Turning This Malware Gang’s Tricks Against It | WIRED

• Evasive Panda APT group delivers malware via updates for popular Chinese software | WeLiveSecurity

• Google banned 173K developer accounts to block malware, fraud rings (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese Cyber spies Delivered Malware via Legitimate Software Updates - SecurityWeek

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

Mobile

• WhatsApp used in BEC scam to pilfer $6.4M | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 35M Downloads Of Android Minecraft Clones Spreads Adware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Botnets

• Google Gets Court Order to Take Down CryptBot That Infected Over 670,000 Computers (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• New SLP bug can lead to massive 2,200x DDoS amplification attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Top 15 DDoS Protection Best Practices - Security Boulevard

• 'Anonymous Sudan' Claims Responsibility for DDoS Attacks Against Israel (darkreading.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Government Agencies Release Blueprint for Secure Smart Cities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• TP-Link Archer WiFi router flaw exploited by Mirai malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Over 70 billion unprotected files available on unsecured web servers - Help Net Security

• Many Public Salesforce Sites are Leaking Private Data – Krebs on Security

• American Bar Association data breach hits 1.4 million members (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CFPB Employee Sends 256,000 Consumers' Data to Personal Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• American Bar Association (ABA) suffered a data breach-Security Affairs

• Shields Health Breach Exposes 2.3M Users' Data (darkreading.com)

• Serving UK Armed Forces member charged under Official Secrets Act (telegraph.co.uk)

• Yellow Pages Canada confirms cyber attack as Black Basta leaks data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vantage Travel Experiences Data Security Incident (darkreading.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The IRS is sending four investigators across the world to fight cyber crime | TechCrunch

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Kubernetes RBAC abused to create persistent cluster backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• The IRS is sending four investigators across the world to fight cyber crime | TechCrunch

• How Startups Can Take Steps To Prevent Syphoning & Fraud

• US deploys more cyber forces abroad to help fight hackers | Reuters

• The ‘Your computer was locked’ scam is gaining traction (consumeraffairs.com)

• The true numbers behind deepfake fraud - Help Net Security

• Google banned 173K developer accounts to block malware, fraud rings (bleepingcomputer.com)

Deepfakes

• The true numbers behind deepfake fraud - Help Net Security

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• The Complexities of Cyber Insurance | Cyber Risk Management (telos.com)

Dark Web

• Metaverse Version of the Dark Web Could be Nearly Impenetrable (darkreading.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita Admits That Its ‘Cyber Incident’ Was Ransomware and That Customer Data Was Breached - IT Governance UK Blog

• Russian hackers exfiltrated data from from Capita over a week before outage | by Kevin Beaumont | Apr, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• At least 2 critical infrastructure orgs breached by North Korea-linked hackers behind 3CX attack - -Security Affairs-Security Affairs

• The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks | WIRED

• That 3CX supply chain attack keeps getting worse • The Register

• NSA sees 'significant' Russian intel gathering on European, US supply chain entities | CyberScoop

• North Korean hackers breach software firm in significant cyber attack | CNN Politics

• SD Worx hack: Payroll firm for M&S hit by cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• A third-party’s perspective on third-party InfoSec risk management - Help Net Security

Software Supply Chain

• Securing Software Supply Chains Requires Outside-the-Box Thinking - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises (darkreading.com)

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• 14 Kubernetes and Cloud Security Challenges and How to Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

• GhostToken Flaw Could Let Attackers Hide Malicious Apps in Google Cloud Platform (thehackernews.com)

• Saas Security: The Need For Continuous Sustenance (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How CISOs navigate security and compliance in a multi-cloud world - Help Net Security

• Cloud Complexity Means Bugs Are Missed in Testing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Study: 84% of Companies Use Breached SaaS Applications - Here's How to Fix it for Free! (thehackernews.com)

• Security experts found a major bug in Google Cloud | TechRadar

• Most SaaS adopters exposed to browser-borne attacks - Help Net Security

• Cloud-native security metrics for CISOs | TechTarget

• Exposed Artifacts Seen In Misconfigured Cloud Software Registries (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Google accounts attacked and hijacked by this devious security flaw | TechRadar

Containers

• Kubernetes RBAC abused to create persistent cluster backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts spotted first-ever crypto mining campaign leveraging Kubernetes RBAC-Security Affairs

• Combating Kubernetes — the Newest IAM Challenge (darkreading.com)

Attack Surface Management

• Over 70 billion unprotected files available on unsecured web servers - Help Net Security

• Study of past cyber attacks can improve organisations' defence strategies - Help Net Security

Shadow IT

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Rethinking the effectiveness of current authentication initiatives - Help Net Security

• Combating Kubernetes — the Newest IAM Challenge (darkreading.com)

Open Source

• The double-edged sword of open-source software - Help Net Security

• Linux Shift: Chinese APT Alloy Taurus Is Back With Retooling (darkreading.com)

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

• Linux version of RTM Locker ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• Password reset woes could cost FTSE 100 companies $156 million each month - Help Net Security

• The War on Passwords Enters a Chaotic New Phase | WIRED

• A '!password20231#' password may not be as complex as you think (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Thousands of Social Media Takedowns Hit People Smugglers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Metaverse Version of the Dark Web Could be Nearly Impenetrable (darkreading.com)

• Vietnamese Hackers Linked to 'Malverposting' Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Malvertising

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google ads push BumbleBee malware used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 35M Downloads Of Android Minecraft Clones Spreads Adware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

Digital Transformation

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Cyber security in Finance: Protecting Your Digital Transformation | CSO Online

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Tech giants and government have failed to stop child sex abuse online, says Sajid Javid (telegraph.co.uk)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• (ISC)2 Urges Countries to Strengthen Collaboration on Cyber security Regulation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Corporate boards pressure CISOs to step up risk mitigation efforts - Help Net Security

• How the Talent Shortage Impacts Cyber security Leadership (securityintelligence.com)

• Is your bank account safe? Mass layoffs weaken cyber security across finance sector | Fox Business

• The Tangled Web of IR Strategies (darkreading.com)

• The strong link between cyber threat intelligence and digital risk protection | CSO Online

• Cyber Thieves Are Getting More Creative (hbr.org)

• Organisations are stepping up their game against cyber threats - Help Net Security

• CISOs: unsupported, unheard, and invisible - Help Net Security

• The Relationship Between Security Maturity and Business Enablement | CSO Online

• CISOs Rethink Data Security with Info-Centric Framework (darkreading.com)

• UK Cyber Pros Burnt Out and Overwhelmed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Good, Better And Best Security (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• #RSAC: Organisations Warned About the Latest Attack Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SANS Reveals Top 5 Most Dangerous Cyber attacks for 2023 (darkreading.com)

• Cloud-native security metrics for CISOs | TechTarget

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Small Business is a Big Priority: NIST Expands Outreach to the Small Business Community | NIST

• Are you ready for PCI DSS 4.0? - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK Cyber Pros Burnt Out and Overwhelmed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Begin a Career in Ethical Hacking in the Year 2023? (analyticsinsight.net)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• To combat cyber crime, US law enforcement increasingly prioritizes disruption | CyberScoop

• US to focus on stifling cyber attacks, not convictions • The Register

• US deploys more cyber forces abroad to help fight hackers | Reuters

• Effects of the Hive Ransomware Group Takedown (darkreading.com)

• Google Gets Court Order to Take Down CryptBot That Infected Over 670,000 Computers (thehackernews.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Hackers can find your home on Strava even if you use privacy settings, researchers find | Cycling Weekly

• Major US CFPB Data Breach Caused by Employee (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• The Growing Need for Cyber Security in an Age of AI Disruption (analyticsinsight.net)

• From pope’s jacket to napalm recipes: how worrying is AI’s rapid growth? | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• Cyber security Survival: Hide From Adversarial AI (darkreading.com)

• AI Experts: Account for AI/ML Resilience & Risk While There's Still Time (darkreading.com)

• 5 most dangerous new attack techniques | CSO Online

• NSA Cyber security Director Says ‘Buckle Up’ for Generative AI | WIRED

• The New Risks ChatGPT Poses to Cyber security (hbr.org)

• From ChatGPT to HackGPT: Meeting the Cyber security Threat of Generative AI (mit.edu)

• ChatGPT fans need 'defensive mindset' to avoid scammers • The Register

• DHS announces AI task force, security sprint on China-related threats | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The New Frontier in Email Security: Goodbye, Gateways; Hello, Behavioral AI (darkreading.com)

• Nvidia releases a toolkit to make text-generating AI ‘safer’ | TechCrunch

• Artificial intelligence takes RSA Conference by storm | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The good, the bad and the generative AI • The Register

• Secureworks CEO weighs in on XDR landscape, AI concerns | TechTarget

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• BCS Policy Jam : Cyberwar and Ukraine one year on | BCS

• FBI aiding Ukraine in collection of digital and physical war crime evidence | CyberScoop

• NSA sees 'significant' Russian intel gathering on European, US supply chain entities | CyberScoop

• #RSAC: Cyber-Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure Should Be War Crimes, says Ukraine Official - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK undersea cables worth £7.4 trillion a day under ‘real threat’ from Russia | The Independent

• Eurocontrol says website 'under attack' by pro-Russia crew • The Register

• Iran cyberespionage group taps SimpleHelp for persistence on victim devices | CSO Online

• Russian Hackers Tomiris Targeting Central Asia for Intelligence Gathering (thehackernews.com)

• CISA, Cyber Command Collaboration Blocks Attempted Attacks on US Interests - MSSP Alert

Nation State Actors

• APT Groups Expand Reach to New Industries and Geographies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chinese Cyber spies Delivered Malware via Legitimate Software Updates - SecurityWeek

• North Korean hackers breach software firm in significant cyber attack | CNN Politics

• Western cyber security must advance to counter China's cyber space progress, says NCSC director (computing.co.uk)

• China building cyber weapons to hijack enemy satellites, says US leak | Financial Times (ft.com)

• NCSC raises alert on cyber threat to infrastructure | UKAuthority

• Iran cyberespionage group taps SimpleHelp for persistence on victim devices | CSO Online

• DHS announces AI task force, security sprint on China-related threats | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• At least 2 critical infrastructure orgs breached by North Korea-linked hackers behind 3CX attack - -Security Affairs-Security Affairs

• North Korea's Kimsuky APT Keeps Growing, Despite Public Outing (darkreading.com)

• APT 'Mint Sandstorm' quickly exploits new PoC hacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian Hackers Suspected in Ongoing Exploitation of Unpatched PaperCut Servers (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Hackers Launch Sophisticated Attacks Targeting Israel with PowerLess Backdoor (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus Subgroup Targeting Apple Devices with New RustBucket macOS Malware (thehackernews.com)

• US Cyberwarriors Thwarted 2020 Iran Election Hacking Attempt - SecurityWeek

• Evasive Panda APT group delivers malware via updates for popular Chinese software | WeLiveSecurity

• Linux Shift: Chinese APT Alloy Taurus Is Back With Retooling (darkreading.com)

• Pro-Russia hacking group executed a disruptive attack against a Canadian gas pipeline-Security Affairs

• Charming Kitten's New BellaCiao Malware Discovered in Multi-Country Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian cyber spies deploy new malware implant on Microsoft Exchange Servers | CSO Online

• A component in Huawei network appliances could be used to take down Germany’s telecoms networks-Security Affairs

• Ukrainian arrested for selling data of 300M people to Russians (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FIN7 Hackers Caught Exploiting Recent Veeam Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

• CISA, Cyber Command Collaboration Blocks Attempted Attacks on US Interests - MSSP Alert

• Lazarus, Scarcruft North Korean APTs Shift Tactics, Thrive (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• Modernizing Vulnerability Management: The Move Toward Exposure Management (thehackernews.com)

• GitLab’s new security feature uses AI to explain vulnerabilities to developers | TechCrunch

• Microsoft: Windows 10 22H2 is the final version of Windows 10 (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Vulnerabilities

• New Google Chrome Zero-Day Bug Actively Exploited in Wide (gbhackers.com)

• Flaw in Microsoft Process Explorer under active attack • The Register

• Hackers Exploit Outdated WordPress Plugin to Backdoor Thousands of WordPress Sites (thehackernews.com)

• APC warns of critical unauthenticated RCE flaws in UPS software (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Double zero-day in Chrome and Edge – check your versions now! – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Security experts found a major bug in Google Cloud | TechRadar

• TP-Link Archer WiFi router flaw exploited by Mirai malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mozilla confirms memory leak in Firefox - gHacks Tech News

• SolarWinds Platform Update Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• VMware Releases Critical Patches for Workstation and Fusion Software (thehackernews.com)

• Apache Superset Vulnerability: Insecure Default Configuration Exposes Servers to RCE Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco discloses XSS zero-day flaw in server management tool (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft removes LSA Protection from Windows settings to fix bug (bleepingcomputer.com)

• PaperCut says hackers are exploiting ‘critical’ security flaws in unpatched servers | TechCrunch

• FIN7 Hackers Caught Exploiting Recent Veeam Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• New high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2023-29552) discovered in the Service Location Protocol (SLP) | Bitsight

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Tools and Controls

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Corporate boards pressure CISOs to step up risk mitigation efforts - Help Net Security

• The Tangled Web of IR Strategies (darkreading.com)

• 14 Kubernetes and Cloud Security Challenges and How to Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

• Six Key Considerations When Choosing a Web Application Firewall  - Security Boulevard

• The Complexities of Cyber Insurance | Cyber Risk Management (telos.com)

• Unified Endpoint Management: A Powerful Tool for Your Cyber security Arsenal | CSO Online

• GitLab’s new security feature uses AI to explain vulnerabilities to developers | TechCrunch

• Google Authenticator finally, mercifully adds account syncing for two-factor codes - The Verge

• The Needs of a Modernized SOC for Hybrid Cloud (securityintelligence.com)

• Rethinking the effectiveness of current authentication initiatives - Help Net Security

• Attack Surface Management Strategies (trendmicro.com)

• Google will add End-to-End encryption to Google Authenticator (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google 2FA Syncing Feature Could Put Your Privacy at Risk (darkreading.com)

• Embracing zero-trust: a look at the NSA’s recommended IAM best practices for administrators | CSO Online

• CISOs struggle to manage risk due to DevSecOps inefficiencies - Help Net Security

• Generative AI and security: Balancing performance and risk - Help Net Security

• #RSAC: GPT-4 Empowers Cyber security Leaders to Make Smarter Risk Decisions - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SSL vs TLS: Which Should You Be Using? (trendmicro.com)

• CISA aims to reduce email threats with serial CDR prototype | TechTarget

• Top 15 DDoS Protection Best Practices - Security Boulevard

• Threat Actor Names Proliferate, Adding Confusion (darkreading.com)

• AI Dominates RSA as Excitement and Questions Surround its Potential in Cyber security Tooling - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Email Threats - Discover the latest trends and stay one step ahead - VIPRE

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Other News

• Falling Dwell Time May Be Down to Faster Threat Activity - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The threat from commercial cyber proliferation - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Hackers could learn how to send fake terror threats on YouTube, warn experts (telegraph.co.uk)

• Government launches new cyber security measures to tackle ever growing threats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Attackers are logging in instead of breaking in - Help Net Security

• NCSC unveils data driven cyber security model | UKAuthority

• Hacker Group Names Are Now Absurdly Out of Control | WIRED

• 38 Countries Take Part in NATO's 2023 Locked Shields Cyber Exercise - SecurityWeek

• Quad Countries Prepare For Info Sharing on Critical Infrastructure - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The White House National Cyber security Strategy Has a Fatal Flaw (darkreading.com)

• Threat Actor Names Proliferate, Adding Confusion (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

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·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 21 April 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• March 2023 Broke Ransomware Attack Records with a 91% Increase from the Previous Month

March 2023 was the most prolific month recorded by cyber security analysts in recent years, measuring 459 attacks, an increase of 91% from the previous month and 62% compared to March 2022. According to NCC Group, which compiled the report based on statistics derived from its observations, the reason last month broke all ransomware attack records was CVE-2023-0669. This is a vulnerability in Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT secure file transfer tool that the Clop ransomware gang exploited as a zero-day to steal data from 130 companies within ten days.

Regarding the location of last month's victims, almost half of all attacks (221) breached entities in North America. Europe followed with 126 episodes, and Asia came third with 59 ransomware attacks.

The recorded activity spike in March 2023 highlights the importance of applying security updates as soon as possible, mitigating potentially unknown security gaps like zero days by implementing additional measures and monitoring network traffic and logs for suspicious activity.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/march-2023-broke-ransomware-attack-records-with-459-incidents/

• Organisations Overwhelmed with Cyber Security Alerts, Threats and Attack Surfaces

Many organisations are struggling to manage key security projects while being overwhelmed with volumes of alerts, increasing cyber threats and growing attack surfaces, a new report has said. Compounding that problem is a tendency by an organisation’s top brass to miss hidden risks associated with digital transformation projects and compliance regulations, leading to a false sense of confidence in their awareness of these vulnerabilities.

The study comprised IT professionals from the manufacturing, government, healthcare, financial services, retail and telecommunications industries. Five of the biggest challenges they face include:

• Keeping up with threat intelligence (70%)

• Allocating cyber security resources and budget (47%)

• Visibility into all assets connected to the network (44%)

• Compliance and regulation (39%)

• Convergence of IT and OT (32%)

The report also focused on breaches within organisations, finding that 64% had suffered a breach or ransomware attack in the last five years; 43% said it had been caused by employee phishing.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-news/organizations-overwhelmed-with-cybersecurity-alerts-threats-and-attack-surfaces-armis-study-shows/

• One in Three Businesses Faced Cyber Attacks Last Year

Nearly a third of businesses and a quarter of charities have said they were the subject of cyber attacks or breaches last year, new data has shown. Figures collected for the UK Government by polling company Ipsos show a similar proportion of larger and medium-sized companies and high-income charities faced attacks or breaches last year as in 2021.

Overall, 32% of businesses said they had been subject to attacks or breaches over a 12-month period, with 24% of charities saying the same. Meanwhile, about one in ten businesses (11%) and 8% of charities said they had been the victims of cyber crime – which is defined more narrowly – over the 12-month period. This rose to a quarter (26%) of medium-sized businesses, 37% of large businesses and 25% of high-income charities. The UK Government estimated there had been 2.4 million instances of cyber crime against UK businesses, costing an average of £15,300 per victim.

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/one-three-businesses-faced-cyber-105751822.html

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber Security Efforts Should Be Merged

Across early-stage startups and mature public companies alike, organisations are increasingly moving to a convergence of fraud prevention, identity and access management (IdAM), and cyber security. To improve an organisation's overall security posture, business, IT, and fraud leaders must realise that their areas shouldn't be treated as separate line items. Ultimately, these three disciplines serve the same purpose — protecting the business — and they must converge. This is a simple statement, but complex in practice, due mainly to the array of people, strategies, and tooling that today's organisations have built.

The convergence of these three functions comes at a seminal moment, as global threats are heightened due to several factors: geopolitical tensions like the war on Ukraine, the economic downturn, and a never-ending barrage of sophisticated attacks on businesses and consumers. At the same time, companies are facing slowing revenues, rising inflation, and increased pressure from investors, causing layoffs and budget reductions in the name of optimisation. Cutting back in the wrong areas, however, increases risk.

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/why-your-anti-fraud-identity-cybersecurity-efforts-should-be-merged

• Tight Budgets and Burnout Push Enterprises to Outsource Cyber Security

With cyber security teams struggling to manage the remediation process and monitor for vulnerabilities, organisations are at a higher risk for security breaches, according to cyber security penetration test provider Cobalt. As enterprises prioritise efficiencies, security leaders increasingly turn to third-party vendors to alleviate the pressures of consistent testing and to fill in talent gaps.

Cobalt’s recent report found:

• Budget cuts and layoffs plague security teams: 63% of US cyber security professionals had their department’s budget cut in 2023.

• Cyber security professionals deprioritise responsibilities to stay afloat: 79% of US cyber security professionals admit to deprioritising responsibilities leading to a backlog of unaddressed vulnerabilities.

• Inaccurate security configurations cause vulnerabilities: 40% of US respondents found the most security vulnerabilities were related to server security misconfigurations.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/19/cybersecurity-professionals-responsibilities/

• Complex 8 Character Passwords Can Be Cracked in as Little as 5 Minutes

Recently, security vendor Hive released their findings on the time it takes to brute force a password in 2023. This year’s study included the emergence of AI tools. The vendor found that a complex 8 character password could be cracked in as little as 5 minutes. This number rose to 226 years when 12 characters were used and 1 million years when 14 characters were used. A complex password involves the use of numbers, upper and lower case letters and symbols.

Last year, the study found the same 8 and 12 character passwords would have taken 39 minutes and 3,000 years, showing the significant drop in the time it takes to brute force a password. The study highlights the importance for organisations to be aware of their password security and the need for consistent review and updates to the policy.

https://www.hivesystems.io/blog/are-your-passwords-in-the-green

• 83% of Organisations Paid Up in Ransomware Attacks

A report this week found that 83% of victim organisations paid a ransom at least once. The report found that while entities like the FBI and CISA argue against paying ransoms, many organisations decide to eat the upfront cost of paying a ransom, costing an average of $925,162, rather than enduring the further operational disruption and data loss.

Organisations are giving ransomware attackers leverage over their data by failing to address vulnerabilities created by unpatched software, unmanaged devices and shadow IT. For instance, 77% of IT decision makers argue that outdated cyber security practices have contributed to at least half of security incidents. Over time, these unaddressed vulnerabilities multiply, giving threat actors more potential entry points to exploit and greater leverage to force companies into paying up.

https://venturebeat.com/security/83-of-organizations-paid-up-in-ransomware-attacks/

• Security is a Revenue Booster, Not a Cost Centre

Security has historically been seen as a cost centre, which has led to it being given as little money as possible. Many CISOs, CSOs, and CROs fed into that image by primarily talking in terms of disaster avoidance, such as data breaches hurting the enterprise and ransomware potentially shutting it down. But what if security presented itself instead as a way to boost revenue and increase market share? That could easily shift those financial discussions into something much more comfortable.

For example, Apple touted its investments into the secure enclave to claim that it offers users better privacy. Specifically, the company argued that it couldn't reveal information to federal authorities because the enclave was just that secure. Apple turned that into a powerful competitive argument against rival Android creator Google, which makes much of its revenue by monetising users' data.

In another scenario, bank regulations require financial institutions to reimburse customers who are victimised by fraudsters, but they carve out an exception for wire fraud. Imagine if a bank realises that covering all fraud — even though it is not required to do so — could be a powerful differentiator that would boost its market share by supporting customers better than competitors do.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/security-is-a-revenue-booster-not-a-cost-center

• Ex-CEO Gets Prison Sentence for Bad Security

A clinic was recently subject to a cyber attack and even though the clinic was itself the victim, the ex-CEO of the clinic faced criminal charges, too. It would appear that the CEO was aware of the clinic’s failure to employ data security precautions and was aware of this for up to two years before the attack took place.

Worse still, the CEO allegedly knew about the problems because the clinic suffered breaches in 2018 and 2019, and failed to report them; presumably hoping that no traceable cyber crimes would arise as a result, and thus that the company would never get caught out. However, modern breach disclosure and data protection regulations, such as GDPR in Europe, make it clear that data breaches can’t simply be “swept under the carpet” any more, and must be promptly disclosed for the greater good of all.

The former CEO has now been convicted and given a prison sentence, reminding business leaders that merely promising to look after other people’s personal data is not enough. Paying lip service alone to cyber security is insufficient, to the point that you can end up being treated as both a cyber crime victim and a perpetrator at the same time.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2023/04/18/ex-ceo-of-breached-pyschotherapy-clinic-gets-prison-sentence-for-bad-data-security/

• Warning From UK Cyber Agency for a New ‘Class’ of Russian Hackers

There is a new ‘class’ of Russian hackers, the UK cyber-agency NCSC warns. Due to an increased danger of attacks by state-aligned Russian hackers, the NCSC is encouraging all businesses to put the recommended protection measures into place. The NCSC alert states, “during the past 18 months, a new kind of Russian hacker has developed.” These state-aligned organisations frequently support Russia’s incursion and are driven more by ideology than money. These hacktivist organisations typically concentrate their harmful online activity on launching DDoS (distributed denial of service) assaults against vital infrastructure, including airports, the legislature, and official websites. The NCSC has released a special guide with a list of steps businesses should take when facing serious cyber threats. System patching, access control confirmation, functional defences, logging, and monitoring, reviewing backups, incident plans, and third-party access management are important steps.

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/warning-uk-cyberagency-russian-hackers/

• KnowBe4 Q1 Phishing Report Reveals IT and Online Services Emails Drive Dangerous Attack Trend

KnowBe4 announced the results of its Q1 2023 top-clicked phishing report, and the results included the top email subjects clicked on in phishing tests.

The report found that phishing tactics are changing with the increasing trend of cyber criminals using email subjects related to IT and online services such as password change requirements, Zoom meeting invitations, security alerts and more. These are effective because they would impact an end users’ daily workday and subsequent tasks to be completed.

71% of the most effective phishing lures related to HR (including leave, dress code, expenses, pay and performance) or tax, and these types of emails continue to be very effective.

Emails that are disguised as coming from an internal source such as the IT department or HR are especially dangerous because they appear to come from a more trusted, familiar place where an employee would not necessarily question it or be as sceptical. Building up an organisation’s human firewall by fostering a strong security culture is essential to outsmart bad actors.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/04/19/knowbe4-q1-phishing-report-reveals-it-and-online-services-emails-drive-dangerous-attack-trend/

• Outsourcing Group Capita Admits Customer Data May Have Been Breached During Cyber Attack

Capita, which runs crucial services for the UK NHS, Government, Military and Financial Services, has for the first time admitted that hackers accessed potential customer, staff and supplier data during a cyber attack last month. The company said its investigation into the attack – which caused major IT outages for clients – found that hackers infiltrated its systems around 22 March, meaning they had around nine days before Capita “interrupted” the breach on 31 March.

While Capita has admitted that data was breached during the incident, it raises the possibility that public sector information was accessed by hackers. Capita, which employs more than 50,000 people in Britain, is one of the government’s most important suppliers and holds £6.5bn-worth of public sector contracts. Capita stopped short of disclosing how many customers were potentially affected by the breach, and is still notifying anyone whose data might be at risk.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/20/capita-admits-customer-data-may-have-been-breached-during-cyber-attack

• Outdated Cyber Security Practices Leave Door Open for Criminals

A recent report found that as organisations increasingly find themselves under attack, they are drowning in cyber security debt – unaddressed security vulnerabilities like unpatched software, unmanaged devices, shadow IT, and insecure network protocols that act as access points for bad actors. The report found a worrying 98% of respondents are running one or more insecure network protocols and 47% had critical devices exposed to the internet. Despite these concerning figures, fewer than one-third said they have immediate plans to address any of the outdated security practices that put their organisations at risk.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/20/outdated-cybersecurity-practices/

• Quantifying Cyber Risk Vital for Business Survival

Organisations are starting to wake up to the fact that the impact of ransomware and other cyber attacks cause long term issues. The financial implications are far reaching and creating barriers for companies to continue operations after these attacks. As such, quantifying cyber risk is business-specific, and organisations must assess what type of loss they may face, which includes revenue, remediation, legal settlement, or otherwise.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/19/cyber-attacks-financial-impact/

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets

Over half of corporate network devices sold second-hand still contain sensitive company data, according to a new study. The study involved the purchase of recycled routers, finding that 56% contained one or more credentials as well as enough information to identify the previous owner.

Some of the analysed data included customer data, credentials, connection details for applications and authentication keys. In some cases, the data allowed for the location of remote offices and operators, which could be used in subsequent exploitation efforts.

In a number of cases the researchers were able to determine with high confidence — based on the data still present on the devices — who their previous owner was. The list included a multinational tech company and a telecoms firm, both with more than 10,000 employees and over $1 billion in revenue.

The study informed organisations who had owned the routers. Unfortunately, when contacted, some of the organisations failed to respond or acknowledge the findings.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/recycled-network-exposing/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 83% of organisations paid up in ransomware attacks  | VentureBeat

• March 2023 broke ransomware attack records with 459 incidents (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers start abusing Action1 RMM in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vice Society ransomware uses new PowerShell data theft tool in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• RTM Locker: Emerging Cyber crime Group Targeting Businesses with Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Western Digital Hackers Demand 8-Figure Ransom Payment for Data (darkreading.com)

• UK Education Sector Suffered Most from Ransomware in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• NCR was the victim of BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang - Security Affairs

• Darktrace Denies Getting Hacked After Ransomware Group Names Company on Leak Site - SecurityWeek

• LockBit ransomware encryptors found targeting Mac devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Abuse victims' data stolen in ransomware attack (rte.ie)

• Hackers publish sensitive employee data stolen during CommScope ransomware attack | TechCrunch

• Vice Society is using custom PowerShell tool for data exfiltrationSecurity Affairs

• Black Basta claims it's selling off stolen Capita data • The Register

• An Analysis of the BabLock Ransomware (trendmicro.com)

• Ransomware reinfection and its impact on businesses - Help Net Security

• Microsoft SQL servers hacked to deploy Trigona ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Play ransomware gang uses custom Shadow Volume Copy data-theft tool (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gangs abuse Process Explorer driver to kill security software (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Medusa ransomware crew boasts of Microsoft code leak • The Register

• New Ransomware Attack Hits Health Insurer Point32Health (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing Attacks Surge as Threat Actors Leverage New AI Tools - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Qbot campaign delivers malware by hijacking business emails | CSO Online

• KnowBe4 Q1 Phishing Report reveals IT and online services emails drive dangerous attack trend - IT Security Guru

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• Phishing FAQ: How to Spot Scams and Stop Them in Their Tracks - CNET

• UK government employees receive average of 2,246 malicious emails per year - IT Security Guru

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• US charges three men with six million dollar business email compromise plot | Tripwire

2FA/MFA

• How to Prevent 2 Common Attacks on MFA (darkreading.com)

Malware

• Ex-Conti and FIN7 Actors Collaborate with New Domino Backdoor (securityintelligence.com)

• New Chameleon banking trojan is stealing account info — what you need to know | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• US, UK warn of govt hackers using custom malware on Cisco routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New QBot campaign delivered hijacking business correspondenceSecurity Affairs

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Hackers Storing Malware in Google Drive as Encrypted ZIP Files (gbhackers.com)

• Raspberry Robin Adopts Unique Evasion Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MacStealer - newly-discovered malware steals passwords and exfiltrates data from infected Macs • Graham Cluley

• 'AuKill' Malware Hunts & Kills EDR Processes (darkreading.com)

• What Are Computer Worms And How To Prevent Them (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Mobile

• Android malware infiltrates 60 Google Play apps with 100M installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

• NSO Group is Back in Business With 3 New iOS Zero-Click Exploits (darkreading.com)

• Conversational Attacks Fastest Growing Mobile Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Global Spyware Attacks Spotted Against Both New & Old iPhones (darkreading.com)

Botnets

• 'Zaraza' Bot Targets Google Chrome to Extract Login Credentials (darkreading.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Military helicopter crash blamed on missing software patch • The Register

• Why xIoT Devices Are Cyberattackers' Gateway Drug for Lateral Movement (darkreading.com)

• Hikvision: Chinese surveillance tech giant denies leaked Pentagon spy claim - BBC News

• The Car Thieves Using Tech Disguised Inside Old Nokia Phones and Bluetooth Speakers (vice.com)

• Popular Fitness Apps Leak Location Data Even When Users Set Privacy Zones (darkreading.com)

• Five Eye nations release new guidance on smart city cyber security | CSO Online

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Ex-CEO of breached psychotherapy clinic gets prison sentence for bad data security – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Kodi Confirms Data Breach: 400K User Records and Private Messages Stolen (thehackernews.com)

• Volvo retailer leaks sensitive files - Security Affairs

• Rheinmetall suffers cyber attack, military business unaffected, spokesperson says | Reuters

• Jack Teixeira's charges in full: 'Top secret' access, leak searches and the Espionage Act - BBC News

• Online Gaming Chats Have Long Been Spy Risk for US Military - SecurityWeek

• Cyber attack on Insurance Information Bureau of India; data at risk - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Air Force Unit in Document Leaks Case Loses Intel Mission - SecurityWeek

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Inside look at cyber criminal organisations: Why size matters | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

• Standardized data collection methods can help fight cyber crime | TechTarget

• Why Cyber criminals Love The Rust Programming Language (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News

• Hundred Finance loses $7 million in Optimism hack (cointelegraph.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Human-Centered Approach Can Reduce Cyber security Failures, Gartner Predicts - MSSP Alert

• HR Magazine - UK government plans to make businesses liable for employee fraud

• Top risks and best practices for securely offboarding employees | CSO Online

• Critical Infrastructure Firms Concerned Over Insider Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Strengthen your Insider Threat Security - IT Security Guru

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Pre-pandemic techniques are fueling record fraud rates - Help Net Security

• HR Magazine - UK government plans to make businesses liable for employee fraud

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• Police disrupts $98M online fraud ring with 33,000 victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Trial and error in Kuwait | CyberScoop

• US extradites Nigerian charged in $6m email fraud scam • The Register

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• Three charged over banking fraud for hire website | Computer Weekly

• On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News

• Hundred Finance loses $7 million in Optimism hack (cointelegraph.com)

• Dennis Kozlowski and the Infamous $6,000 Shower Curtain | Entrepreneur

• FTC orders payments firm to pay $650k over tech support scam • The Register

• Conversational Attacks Fastest Growing Mobile Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fraudsters impersonating genuine providers cost £177.6m in 2022, UK Finance data suggests | Business News | Sky News

• Scammers using social media to dupe people into becoming money mules - Help Net Security

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Police Crack Comms to Bust Money Laundering Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• Bank of America warns Lloyd’s over state-backed cyber attack exclusion | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Cyber insurance Backstop: Can the Industry Survive Without One? - SecurityWeek

• Cyber insurer launches InsurSec solution to help SMBs improve security, risk management | CSO Online

Dark Web

• Stolen ChatGPT premium accounts up for sale on the dark web | CSO Online

• How 'Operation Cookie Monster' took down a major dark web market | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita PLC falls on reports cyber attack was worse than admitted (proactiveinvestors.co.uk)

• 3CX Software Supply Chain Compromise Initiated by a Prior Software Supply Chain Compromise; Suspected North Korean Actor Responsible | Mandiant

• Capita admits customer, supplier or colleague data may have been accessed by hackers | Business News | Sky News

• Lazarus APT group employed Linux Malware in recent attacks-Security Affairs

• Hackers start abusing Action1 RMM in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Software Supply Chain

• CISA Introduces Secure-by-design and Secure-by-default Development Principles – Security Week

Cloud/SaaS

• Cloud Security Alerts Take Six Days to Resolve - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Linux kernel logic allowed Spectre attack on major cloud • The Register

• Western Digital Hackers Demand 8-Figure Ransom Payment for Data (darkreading.com)

• Is there really a march from the public cloud back on-prem? | TechCrunch

• Uncovering (and Understanding) the Hidden Risks of SaaS Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers Storing Malware in Google Drive as Encrypted ZIP Files (gbhackers.com)

• Microsoft 365 outage blocks access to web apps and services (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts disclosed 2 critical flaws in Alibaba cloud database services Security Affairs

Attack Surface Management

• Recycled Core Routers Expose Sensitive Corporate Network Info (darkreading.com)

Shadow IT

• The staying power of shadow IT, and how to combat risks related to it - Help Net Security

Identity and Access Management

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• The Attacks that can Target your Windows Active Directory (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The biggest data security blind spot: Authorization - Help Net Security

Encryption

• Crime agencies condemn Facebook and Instagram encryption plans | Meta | The Guardian

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

API

• Triple-digit Increase in API and App Attacks on Tech and Retail - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• There's Been a 400% Increase in Unique API Attackers - The New Stack

Open Source

• Linux kernel logic allowed Spectre attack on major cloud • The Register

• Security beyond software: The open source hardware security evolution - Help Net Security

• Report: Most IT Teams Can't Fix Open Source Software Security - DevOps.com

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• How Long It Would Take A Hacker To Brute Force Your Password In 2023, Ranked | Digg

Social Media

• LinkedIn deploys new secure identity verification for all members | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Crime agencies condemn Facebook and Instagram encryption plans | Meta | The Guardian

• Scammers using social media to dupe people into becoming money mules - Help Net Security

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• EU privacy regulators to create task force to investigate ChatGPT | Computerworld

• What Business Needs to Know About the New U.S. Cybersecurity Strategy (hbr.org)

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• As Consumer Privacy Evolves, Here's How You Can Stay Ahead of Regulations (darkreading.com)

• Brit cops rapped over app that recorded 200k phone calls • The Register

• Three Effective Ways For Boards To Prepare For Imminent SEC Cyber Rules (forbes.com)

• US imposes $300m penalty over hard disk drive exports to Huawei - BBC News

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Security Is a Revenue Booster, Not a Cost Centre (darkreading.com)

• Tight budgets and burnout push enterprises to outsource cyber security - Help Net Security

• Ex-CEO of breached psychotherapy clinic gets prison sentence for bad data security – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• 'One in three firms faced cyber attacks last year' (aol.co.uk)

• Skills shortage puts Europe’s cyber resilience to the test – EURACTIV.com

• Quantifying cyber risk vital for business survival - Help Net Security

• Wargaming an effective data breach playbook - Help Net Security

• Outdated cyber security practices leave door open for criminals - Help Net Security

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• Gartner Top Strategic Cyber security Trends 2023

• 3 Flaws, 1 War Dominated Cyber-Threat Landscape in 2022 (darkreading.com)

• Lack of Breach Info on Notices Surges in Q1 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ex-CIO must pay £81k over Total Shambles Bank migration • The Register

• Economic uncertainty drives upskilling as a key strategy for organisations - Help Net Security

• Top risks and best practices for securely offboarding employees | CSO Online

• How companies are struggling to build and run effective cyber security programs - Help Net Security

• Three Effective Ways For Boards To Prepare For Imminent SEC Cyber Rules (forbes.com)

• Small Business Interest in Cyber-Hygiene Wanes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Secure Disposal

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Enterprises Exposed to Hacker Attacks Due to Failure to Wipe Discarded Routers - SecurityWeek

Backup and Recovery

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• Government reprimanded for serious breaches of data protection law - Jersey Evening Post

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• Brit cops rapped over app that recorded 200k phone calls • The Register

• ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Skills shortage puts Europe’s cyber resilience to the test – EURACTIV.com

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Ex-CEO of hacked therapy clinic sentenced for failing to protect patients' session notes (bitdefender.com)

• Police disrupts $98M online fraud ring with 33,000 victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US extradites Nigerian charged in $6m email fraud scam • The Register

• How 'Operation Cookie Monster' took down a major dark web market | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Three charged over banking fraud for hire website | Computer Weekly

• Police Crack Comms to Bust Money Laundering Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• What the Recent Collapse of SVB Means for Privacy (darkreading.com)

• As Consumer Privacy Evolves, Here's How You Can Stay Ahead of Regulations (darkreading.com)

• Popular Fitness Apps Leak Location Data Even When Users Set Privacy Zones (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Phishing Attacks Surge as Threat Actors Leverage New AI Tools - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• Stolen ChatGPT premium accounts up for sale on the dark web | CSO Online

• Pen testing amid the rise of AI-powered threat actors | TechTarget

• EU privacy regulators to create task force to investigate ChatGPT | Computerworld

• Cyber crims hop geofences, clamor for stolen ChatGPT accounts • The Register

• AI-created malware sends shockwaves through cybersecurity world | Fox News

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Tech Insight: Dangers of Using Large Language Models Before They Are Baked (darkreading.com)

• ChatGPT-Related Malicious URLs on the Rise - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Russian hackers targeting UK more frequently (thetimes.co.uk)

• UK NCSC warns of new class of Russian cyber adversary threatening critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Russian hackers want to ‘disrupt or destroy’ UK infrastructure, minister warns | Hacking | The Guardian

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Jack Teixeira's charges in full: 'Top secret' access, leak searches and the Espionage Act - BBC News

• Russian SolarWinds Culprits Launch Fresh Barrage of Espionage Cyberattacks (darkreading.com)

• Meet the hacker armies on Ukraine's cyber front line - BBC News

• Offensive cyber company QuaDream shutting down amidst spyware accusations | Ctech (calcalistech.com)

• Genius hackers help Russia’s neighbors thwart cyber incursions | Cybernews

• NSO Group is Back in Business With 3 New iOS Zero-Click Exploits (darkreading.com)

• UK, US sound the alarm on Russians exploiting Cisco flaws • The Register

• Microsoft: Iranian hackers behind retaliatory cyber attacks on US orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

• Heightened threat of state-aligned groups against western... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Microsoft shifts to a new threat actor naming taxonomy - Microsoft Security Blog

• How cyber support to Ukraine can build its democratic future | CyberScoop

• Google TAG Warns of Russian Hackers Conducting Phishing Attacks in Ukraine (thehackernews.com)

• Blind Eagle Cyber Espionage Group Strikes Again: New Attack Chain Uncovered (thehackernews.com)

• Britain sounds alarm on spyware, mercenary hacking market | Reuters

• Global Spyware Attacks Spotted Against Both New & Old iPhones (darkreading.com)

• The UK will need more than words in this cyber war | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Google: Ukraine targeted by 60% of Russian phishing attacks in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

Nation State Actors

• BT holds China-Taiwan war game to stress test supply chains | Financial Times (ft.com)

• 3CX Supply Chain Attack Tied to Financial Trading App Breach (darkreading.com)

• UK security chief’s alert over threat from China (thetimes.co.uk)

• Russia accuses NATO of launching 5,000 cyberattacks since 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Uncovers APT41's Use of Open Source GC2 Tool to Target Media and Job Sites (thehackernews.com)

• APT41 Taps Google Red Teaming Tool in Targeted Info-Stealing Attacks (darkreading.com)

• China starts ‘surgical’ retaliation against foreign companies after US-led tech blockade | Financial Times

• Iranian-Russian cooperation on hack attacks may challenge Israeli cyber supremacy | The Times of Israel

• US charges 44 members of alleged Chinese troll army • The Register

• Hikvision: Chinese surveillance tech giant denies leaked Pentagon spy claim - BBC News

• Iranian Hackers Using SimpleHelp Remote Support Software for Persistent Access (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft: Iranian hackers behind retaliatory cyber attacks on US orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Heightened threat of state-aligned groups against western... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Microsoft shifts to a new threat actor naming taxonomy - Microsoft Security Blog

• Nation-state threat actor Mint Sandstorm refines tradecraft to attack high-value targets - Microsoft Security Blog

• MuddyWater Uses SimpleHelp to Target Critical Infrastructure Firms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Killnet Boss Exposes Rival Leader in Kremlin Hacktivist Beef (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Nation-State Actor "Mint Sandstorm" Weaponizes N-day Flaws - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Iranian Government-Backed Hackers Targeting U.S. Energy and Transit Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus Group Adds Linux Malware to Arsenal in Operation Dream Job (thehackernews.com)

• US imposes $300m penalty over hard disk drive exports to Huawei - BBC News

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Vulnerability Management

• Military helicopter crash blamed on missing software patch • The Register

• Google Outlines Initiatives to Fortify Vulnerability Management - MSSP Alert

• Beyond CVEs: The Key to Mitigating High-Risk Security Exposures (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• UK, US sound the alarm on Russians exploiting Cisco flaws • The Register

• Thousands at risk from critical RCE bug in legacy MS service | Computer Weekly

• CISA: Patch Bug Exploited by Chinese E-commerce App - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Critical Flaws in vm2 JavaScript Library Can Lead to Remote Code Execution (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers actively exploit critical RCE bug in PaperCut servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google patches another actively exploited Chrome zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts disclosed 2 critical flaws in Alibaba cloud database services - Security Affairs

• VMware Patches Pre-Auth Code Execution Flaw in Logging Product - SecurityWeek

• Cisco and VMware Release Security Updates to Patch Critical Flaws in their Products (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Defender update causes Windows Hardware Stack Protection mess (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Tools and Controls

• CISA Asks Manufacturers to Prioritize Cybersecurity in Product Design - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Pen testing amid the rise of AI-powered threat actors | TechTarget

• 7 countries unite to push for secure-by-design development | CSO Online

• Wargaming an effective data breach playbook - Help Net Security

• Where There's No Code, There's No SDLC (darkreading.com)

• Cloud Security Alerts Take Six Days to Resolve - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• DFIR via XDR: How to expedite your investigations with a DFIRent approach (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft opens up Defender with file hash, URL search • The Register

• Beyond CVEs: The Key to Mitigating High-Risk Security Exposures (darkreading.com)

• How to build a cybersecurity deception program | TechTarget

• Enterprises Exposed to Hacker Attacks Due to Failure to Wipe Discarded Routers - SecurityWeek

• Threat Posed by 'Irresponsible' Use of Commercial Hacking Tools Increasing, NCSC Warns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

• Generative AI in SecOps and how to prepare | TechTarget

• AI defenders ready to foil AI-armed attackers • The Register

• Newer Authentication Tech a Priority for 2023 (darkreading.com)

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Other News

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Misconfiguration leaves thousands of servers vulnerable to attack, researchers find | CyberScoop

• Fortra shares findings on GoAnywhere MFT zero-day attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How to defend against TCP port 445 and other SMB exploits | TechTarget

• Criminal Records Service still disrupted 4 weeks after hack - BBC News

• Attackers use abandoned WordPress plugin to backdoor websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyberspace Solarium Commission says space systems should be considered critical infrastructure | CyberScoop

• UK Strengthens Cyber security Audits for Government Agencies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• EU launches Cyber Solidarity Act to respond to large-scale attacks – EURACTIV.com

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 Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

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·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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