Ransomware Attackers Eying 'Pure Data-Leakage Model'

Mathew J. Schwartz • August 2, 2021

A funny thing happened on the way to the nonstop ransomware payday: Some groups hit the wrong targets - Ireland's health system, a major U.S. fuel pipeline - resulting in the U.S. moving to much more aggressively disrupt their business model, says Bob McArdle, director of cybercrime research at Trend Micro.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Ransomware: Average Ransom Payment Drops to $137,000

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Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Global Incident Response: The Rise of Integrity Attacks

Tom Field • August 3, 2021

Tom Kellermann calls it a new "Twilight Zone" - an era in which cybersecurity adversaries can unleash destructive attacks that manipulate time, data, audio and video. The cybersecurity strategist shares insights and analysis from his latest Global Incident Response Threat Report.

Governance & Risk Management

Words With Friends Breach: Zynga's Case Set for Arbitration

Mathew J. Schwartz • August 3, 2021

A consolidated class action lawsuit filed against mobile game developer Zynga after it suffered a 2019 data breach looks set to be handled instead via arbitration. A judge notes that users agreed to arbitration in the terms and conditions, and so far, they've failed to prove they suffered any financial harm.

Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Ransomware Actors Set Up a Call Center to Lure Victims

Jeremy Kirk • August 3, 2021

Ransomware actors have taken a page from the playbooks of tech support scammers of yore by guiding victims to download malware through persuasion over the phone. Microsoft says the technique is more dangerous that first realized.

3rd Party Risk Management

SolarWinds Attackers Accessed US Attorneys' Office Emails

Scott Ferguson • August 1, 2021

The Russian-linked group that targeted SolarWinds using a supply chain attack compromised at least one email account at 27 U.S. attorneys' offices in 15 states and Washington, D.C., throughout 2020, according to an update posted by the Justice Department.

Account Takeover Fraud

Researchers Uncover New Android Banking Malware

Akshaya Asokan • July 31, 2021

A newly uncovered banking Trojan dubbed Vultur is targeting Android users through screen recording to capture the victims' banking credentials, a new report by security firm ThreatFabric says.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

NIST Works to Create AI Risk Management Framework

Dan Gunderman • July 31, 2021

Citing a need to secure artificial intelligence technologies, NIST is working to create risk management guidance around the use of AI and machine learning, the agency has announced. NIST is seeking feedback to address governance challenges.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Researchers Find More Servers Tied to Russian-Linked Attacks

Scott Ferguson • July 30, 2021

Researchers at the security firm RiskIQ have uncovered about 35 active command-and-control servers connected with an ongoing malware campaign that has been linked to a Russian-speaking attack group known as APT29 or Cozy Bear.

Governance & Risk Management

Patching Woes: Most Frequently Exploited CVEs Listed

Dan Gunderman • July 30, 2021

A joint cybersecurity advisory issued by several agencies this week highlighting the ongoing exploits of longstanding software vulnerabilities illustrates the woeful state of patch management, security experts say.

Fraud Management & Cybercrime

ISMG Editors’ Panel: Ransomware Update

Anna Delaney • July 30, 2021

In the latest weekly update, three editors at Information Security Media Group discuss important cybersecurity issues, including the latest ransomware trends, plus an update on NIST's "zero trust" initiative.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Wiper Malware Used in Attack Against Iran's Train System

Jeremy Kirk • July 30, 2021

Nearly three weeks ago, Iran's state railway company was hit with a cyberattack that was disruptive and - somewhat unusually - also playful. Security firm SentinelOne says analyzing the wiper malware involved offers tantalizing clues about the attackers' skills, but no clear attribution.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Analysis: Keeping Track of Ransomware Gangs

Anna Delaney • July 30, 2021

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of the disappearance of ransomware-as-a-service groups, such as REvil and Darkside, and how that impacts the wider cybercrime ecosystem. Also featured: ransomware recovery tips; regulating cyber surveillance tools.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Israeli Government Visits NSO Group Amid Spyware Claims

Jeremy Kirk • July 29, 2021

The Israeli government paid a visit on Wednesday to NSO Group, the company whose spyware is alleged to have been covertly installed on the mobile devices of journalists and activists. The visit comes as Israel faces growing pressure to see if NSO Group's spyware, called Pegasus, has been misused.