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Showing posts with label Cyber Security Threats. Show all posts
PwC
Cloud Security Cyber Security Cyber Security Threats Cyberattacks CyberCrime Cyberhackers CyberThreat Firewalls PwC

Cloud Security Challenges Catch Executives Off Guard

 


It is no secret that cloud computing is efficient and scalable, however, they do come with a price tag. Many top executives are concerned about specific security threats faced by cloud environments, and these are also the ones they are least prepared to deal with, as these are the risk areas that top executives are most concerned about. 

A new report by PwC, released today, indicates that cloud threats are the highest security concern for the majority of business leaders surveyed (42 per cent) said they feel threatened by cloud threats. In response to the PwC survey, a total of 4,020 respondents were surveyed. Of those surveyed, 38 per cent cited hacking and leak operations, 35 per cent named third-party breaches, 33 per cent cited attacks on connected products, and 27 per cent cited ransomware. 

There is an extensive array of policies, technologies, applications, and controls that are part of cloud computing security and are designed to safeguard applications, services, and the underlying cloud infrastructure when using cloud computing.  In the cloud, a system's security is only as strong as its weakest link, which means that to ensure data and applications are protected from all angles, multiple technologies need to work together to offer an effective system of protection.

In such instances, firewalls, identity management, network segmentation, and encryption are all common solutions that are included as part of this process. It is predicted that businesses will face a security issue as a bigger threat in 2024 and that cybercriminals will not operate selectively with their targets. In the absence of any precautionary measures, the following threats are the most likely to cause harm to users' organization, making them the most important threat to avoid or mitigate.

As it might come as a surprise, all of the threats listed in executives' top five most concerning reasons are also among the threats organizations believe are least prepared to address, though not exactly in the order in which they would like them to be addressed. The number of cloud-based attacks is the highest, and people are least prepared for them (42/34 per cent), whereas attacks on connected products are ranked second (31 per cent) in terms of defence preparedness with regards to cloud-based attacks.

It is a little surprising that third-party breaches followed just behind (28 per cent), while executives felt equally unprepared to deal with hacks-and-leak operations, as well as ransomware, which ranked 25 per cent of the time as the least prepared. "Although the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, organizations are still grappling with increasing instability and ambiguity when it comes to threats." reads the report, which was released before publication, but was previously available as a preview. 

"The increasing reliance on cloud, artificial intelligence, connected devices, and third parties means that enterprises must be agile and take a comprehensive approach to resilience. To maintain security and continuity of business, organizations need to align their priorities and readiness." There was a surprising finding by PwC in terms of business leaders who have a regulatory or legal requirement to improve security, and they do so in fact. 

Indeed, 96 per cent of organizations reported that regulations prompted them to improve their security, while 78 per cent of those organizations reported that the same regulations prompted them to change how they managed their security. With the advent of new regulations such as the Data Protection Act, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the NIS2 Directive - whose compliance deadline is in a few weeks in the process - organizations will have to meet more obligations when it comes to cybersecurity in addition to existing regulations such as GDPR. 

As a result, organizations that adopt regulations tend to have stronger security frameworks and will be better positioned to deal with emerging threats, according to a new PwC report. Unlike most compliance programs, compliance isn't just about checking boxes, but about building long-term resilience and trust with stakeholders rather than about spending time ticking them off." In addition to the new regulations, these regulations have also led to an increase in cybersecurity investments. In terms of cyber investments, roughly a third (32 per cent) of companies reported a "large" increase in the past 12 months compared to the year before. 

The percentage of people who said investment increased to a "moderate extent" was much greater than the percentage of people who said the investment increased significantly. A report published by the American Institute of CIOs notes that as regulations continue to modify the cybersecurity landscape, executives across the entire C-suite need to be aware of compliance issues and take advantage of regulations as a catalyst for innovation.  

As a result, integrity management teams, risk functions, and executive management teams must coordinate their efforts to advance compliance readiness and drive strategic improvements. As a cloud computing device, cloud computing will maintain its x-factor when it comes to affordability, scalability, and flexibility over the years, no matter what industry the person is in.  

There is no doubt that cloud computing will continue to grow in popularity, but it introduces new obstacles to security in the future.  Several methods are recommended to ensure users' cloud's security, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), end-to-end encryption, strong passwords, application controls, malware prevention, continuous monitoring, and testing. Sprinto is a company that specializes in solving problems like these.

In Sprinto, there is an integrated GRC software that can be used along with any cloud service users already have in place to give them a complete GRC solution. Sprinto is a company that is strong on safety, which is one of the reasons that it believes continuous compliance is closely related to security. The company's multi-cloud security features provide proof that Sprinto holds this belief to be true. 

It is their job to keep an eye on users' technology stacks around the clock to protect them against cyber threats, whether that be if they manage a complex cloud setup or just one cloud environment in the cloud. It is Sprinto's continuous monitoring and automated checks that enable users to manage security risks most efficiently and effectively, thereby always protecting their business data and applications.
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Python-based Malware
Cyber Attacks Cyber Security Threats data security GitHub Open Source Python-based Malware

GitHub Under Siege: Unraveling the Ongoing Automated Attack on Open-Source Repositories

 

GitHub, a cornerstone for programmers worldwide, faces a severe threat as an unknown attacker deploys an automated assault, cloning and creating malicious code repositories. The attack, involving sophisticated obfuscation and social engineering, poses a significant challenge to GitHub's security infrastructure. 

An assailant employs an automated process to fork and clone existing repositories, concealing malicious code under seven layers of obfuscation. These rogue repositories closely mimic legitimate ones, contributing to the challenge of detection. Developers unknowingly forking affected repos unintentionally amplify the attack. 

Once a developer utilizes a compromised repository, a hidden payload begins unpacking layers of obfuscation, revealing malicious Python code and a binary executable. The code then initiates the collection of confidential data and login details, which are subsequently uploaded to a control server. Security provider Apiiro's research and data teams report a substantial surge in the attack since its inception in May of the previous year. 

While GitHub diligently removes affected repositories, its automation detection system struggles to catch all instances. With millions of uploaded or forked repositories, even a 1% miss-rate translates to potentially thousands of compromised repos still operational. Initially modest in scale, the attack has grown in size and sophistication, presenting challenges for GitHub's security measures. 

Researchers attribute the operation's success to GitHub's vast user base and the increasing complexity of the attack technique. The attack's intrigue lies in the fusion of sophisticated automated methods and exploiting simple human nature. While obfuscation techniques become more intricate, the attackers heavily rely on social engineering to confuse developers, compelling them to select the malicious code. 

This unintentional spread exacerbates the attack's impact and heightens the difficulty of detection. As of now, GitHub has not issued a direct comment on the ongoing attack. However, the platform released a general statement reassuring users of its commitment to security. The platform employs manual reviews, at-scale detection utilizing machine learning, and continuously evolves to counter adversarial attacks. 

GitHub's popularity as a vital resource for developers globally has inadvertently made it a target. The platform's open-source nature and extensive user base create vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Resolving the issue entirely proves to be an uphill battle, with GitHub still grappling with the effectiveness of the assailant's methods. 

GitHub, a linchpin for the global programming community, faces a formidable challenge as an automated attack exploits its open-source framework and vast user base. The ongoing assault, characterized by sophisticated obfuscation and social engineering, underscores the complexities of securing such a widely used platform. GitHub's response and adaptation will be crucial in mitigating the impact and fortifying defenses against evolving cyber threats.
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Hacking
CMS editor Cyber Security Threats Data Theft FCKeditor Hacking

Old Website Tool Exploited by Hackers, Puts Education and Government Sites at Risk

Hackers are taking advantage of an old CMS editing tool for websites that have not been updated in a long time. They are using it to break into educational and government websites all over the world. Their goal is to mess with search results by sending people to dangerous websites or scams. Open redirect is like leaving the front door of your website wide open for hackers. 

They can sneak in, pretend to be you, and lead unsuspecting visitors straight into their trap. Imagine someone sending a fake email pretending to be from your company. The email has a link that looks legit because it has your domain name. But when people click on it, instead of going to your website, they end up on the hacker's site. 

This sneaky trick works because the website changes the link without you realizing it. Sometimes, it is done by the website itself using fancy code. Other times, it is as simple as sending a secret message to the visitor's browser. Either way, it is bad news for your online reputation. 

Imagine a scenario where there's a link on a website like this: "https://www.example.com/?redirect=". This link is supposed to take visitors to a specific webpage. But here is the catch: anyone can change that link to lead to whatever website they want. It is like having a signpost that can be tampered with to send people wherever someone pleases. That is what we call an open redirect. 

Attackers exploit open redirects to perpetrate phishing schemes, distribute malware, or perpetrate scams under the guise of legitimate domains. Because these URLs originate from reputable sources, they often evade security measures implemented by various products. When search engines index these redirects, they unintentionally make harmful links appear higher in search results.  

This means that open redirects can be used to manipulate search engine rankings by using trusted websites to promote shady content for specific searches. Attackers exploit open redirects on trusted domains to conduct phishing, distribute malware, or scam users. These redirects bypass security filters and can rank malicious content higher in search results. Despite their risks, major companies may not prioritize fixing them unless they lead to more severe vulnerabilities. 

@g0njxa, a cybersecurity researcher, uncovered a troubling malicious redirect campaign targeting university websites. This campaign exploits open redirect flaws associated with FCKeditor, a now outdated web text editor. Despite FCKeditor being replaced by the more modern CKEditor in 2009, many institutions still use the vulnerable version. 

@g0njxa identified several prominent institutions impacted by the malicious redirect campaign, including MIT, Columbia University, and government websites in Virginia and Spain. Despite these warnings, the software developer's response underscores the urgency of transitioning away from FCKeditor, which has been obsolete since 2010. This highlights the critical need for adopting more secure alternatives.
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