Ransomware attacks continue to pummel organizations, but fewer victims have been paying a ransom, and when they do, on average they're paying less than before, says ransomware incident response firm Coveware, which traces the decline to attackers failing to honor their data deletion promises.
Trickbot appears to be making a comeback with a fresh campaign that is targeting insurance companies and legal firms in North America, according to an analysis by Menlo Security. Researchers had warned the malware might surface again after a coordinated takedown of the botnet's infrastructure in 2020.
The number of data breaches being reported in the U.S. and elsewhere each year continues to decline. But security experts say this unfortunately can be explained by criminals increasingly focusing on lucrative ransomware and business email compromise scams, which require scant data to be successful.
Microsoft researchers say that a North Korean hacking group that the company calls "Zinc" - which is better known as the Lazarus Group or Hidden Cobra - likely was responsible for targeting vulnerability researchers in an attempt to steal information via a backdoor.
The law enforcement agencies behind this week's disruption - dubbed “Operation Ladybird” - of Emotet are helping victims by pushing out an update via the botnet’s infrastructure that will disconnect their devices from the malicious network.
An APT group known as Lebanese Cedar has launched a cyberespionage campaign targeting telecommunication companies and ISPs, according to the Israeli security firm ClearSky, which says the attacks have spread beyond the Middle East to the U.S. and Europe.
In Britain, the National Crime Agency and the Financial Conduct Authority warn that the number of "clone firm" scams has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over a six-month period, these fraudulent schemes have led to more than 78 million pounds ($107 million) in losses for victims.
Researchers at the security firm RiskIQ have discovered a phishing kit they call "LogoKit" that fraudsters can use to easily change lures, logos and text in real time to help trick victims into opening up messages and clicking on malicious links.
The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of this week’s police takedowns of Emotet and Netwalker cybercrime operations. Also featured: Updates on passwordless authentication and the use of deception technology.
U.S. and Bulgarian authorities have seized servers and disrupted the infrastructure and darknet websites of the Netwalker ransomware gang. Police have also arrested one person and confiscated ransom money collected by the cybercriminal gang. The news comes the same week the Emotet botnet was disrupted.
Former Obama White House cybersecurity official Chris DeRusha has been appointed federal CISO by the Biden administration after having served as CISO for the Biden campaign. He joins a number of newly appointed officials who will have cybersecurity oversight.
The operators of the Nefilim ransomware used the credentials of a deceased system administrator to plant their crypto-locking malware in about 100 vulnerable systems during one attack, according to Sophos. These types of "ghost" accounts are an increasing issue for security teams.
A multinational law enforcement operation has disrupted the Emotet botnet, gaining control of hundreds of servers and arresting multiple alleged administrators in Ukraine, Europol says. While the botnet could rebound, cybersecurity experts say the criminal operation has been dealt "a huge blow."
With ransomware continuing to fuel a massive surge in illicit profits, some experts have been calling on governments to launch offensive hacking teams to target cybercrime cartels. They're also calling for a review of cyber insurance payouts being used to fund ransoms.
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