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AiCloud Exploits ASUS Routers Cyber Attacks Cybersecurity Espionage Campaign Firmware Updates Global Botnet Network Security Router Vulnerabilities Threat actors

Mass Router Hijack Targets End-of-Life ASUS Devices

The research team has found an extensive cyber-espionage campaign known as Operation WrtHug, which has quietly infiltrated tens of thousands of ASUS routers across the globe, which is a sign that everyday network infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable.

A seemingly routine home or small-office device that appears to be ordinary has been covertly repurposed to make up a sophisticated reconnaissance and relay network that has enabled threat actors to operate both anonymously and with great reach. There is a clear pattern in which consumer-grade routers are being strategically used for intelligence gathering, according to SecurityScorecard analysts, a trend that has been on the rise for several months now.

Security specialists warn of the risk of such compromises becoming an ongoing trend in which outdated or poorly secured home routers are rapidly becoming valuable assets for hostile operators seeking persistence, cover, and distributed access to targeted environments that is no longer isolated incidents. In the last six months, investigators have determined that the operation’s reach has been much wider than they initially thought.

As a result, over the past few months, nearly 50,000 unique IP addresses have responded to probing for compromised ASUS WRT routers. A chain of six unpatched vulnerabilities allowed the attackers to hijack these end of life or outdated devices and use them to develop a coordinated, globally distributed infrastructure by combining them with a series of unpatched vulnerabilities.

Taiwan was attributed to the majority of routers infected, and significant clusters of routers were detected across Southeast Asia, Russia, Central Europe, and the United States. As a detail, the researchers noted that there were no infections within China, a detail that implies that the infection originates in China, but the available evidence is still insufficient for conclusive evidence to indicate a Chinese operator may be responsible.

Moreover, the SecurityScorecard STRIKE team noticed that there were overlaps between the tactics and targeting patterns of Operation WrtHug, as well as the earlier AyySSHush campaign that was detected earlier by GreyNoise in May, suggesting that the campaign may be related to a much broader and well-organized effort to weaponize aging consumer networking products.

A further analysis reveals that the intrusions seem to be connected to a coordinated effort to exploit a series of well-known vulnerabilities present in end-of-life ASUS WRT routers. This gives attackers the ability to perform full control over devices that remain unpatched, even after the end of the device's useful lifespan.

According to the investigators, each of the compromised routers has the same distinctive self-signed TLS certificate, which is supposed to expire a century after April 2022, suggesting the operation was carried out by the same set of toolset or deployment strategy. A report from SecurityScorecard states that nearly all of the services using this certificate are linked to ASUS's AiCloud platform.

AiCloud is a proprietary feature that enables users to access their local storage over the internet and has become a convenient entry point for attackers who are leveraging n-day flaws to gain high-level access to hardware which is not supported. Researchers have noted parallels between this campaign and several China-linked ORBs and botnet ecosystems, despite its adherence to the classic profile of an Operational Relay Box network.

According to the researchers, the attackers are relying on a cluster of vulnerabilities that include CVE-2023-41345, CVE-2023-41346, CVE-2023-41347, CVE-2023-41348, CVE-2023-39780, CVE-2024-12912, and CVE-2025-2492. The AyySSHush botnet is one of the routers that have been exploited in the past.

A number of the infected IP addresses have been tagged with signs consistent with compromises made by both WrtHug and AyySSHush, which suggests that the two operations may be overlapping. However, researchers caution that any link between the two operations remains speculative and is solely based upon the exploitation of common vulnerabilities, rather than a confirmed coordination effort. According to security experts, the majority of infections that have been identified originate from Taiwan, with minor concentrations spreading throughout Southeast Asia, Russia, Central Europe, and the United States of America.

A lot of the targeted ASUS models appear to be among the most vulnerable to the campaign-including the 4G-AC55U, 4G-AC860U, DSL-AC68U, GT-AC5300, GT-AX11000, RT-AC1200HP, RT-AC1300GPLUS, and RT-AC1300UHP-many of them no longer receiving updates and can no longer be supported.

In the opinion of the STRIKE researchers, attackers are initiating their takeover by exploiting a high-impact command injection flaw along with several other known vulnerabilities to take control of the routers by converting them into operational relay boxes designed to conceal commands-and-control activities, so they can be integrated into these networks as a whole.

It is important to note, however, that the researchers do not confirm the network's full operational role. Instead, they emphasize that the underlying vulnerabilities make these devices exceptionally valuable to hackers. It has been recommended that users immediately update their routers to address all six exploited flaws.

Users of nonsupported routers, they warn, should either disable the remote access functions or retire them. Researchers noted that the attackers were not using undisclosed zero-day exploits, but rather a series of well-documented n-day vulnerabilities that are still unpatched on older ASUS WRT routers, providing a path to large-scale compromise that was possible without patching.

Through this weakness, multiple forms of intrusion were possible, including OS command injection, which tricks a device into executing unauthorized system-level instructions, as well as remote code execution, which allows for complete authentication bypass as well. Using ASUS's AiCloud remote access service as a point of entry, SecurityScorecard's STRIKE team found that the threat actors were constantly exploiting ASUS's exposure to the internet, allowing them to gain a foothold on vulnerable devices.

Once the routers were intruded into an extremely vast, global mesh network of hijacked systems once access had been secured. Research has identified over 50,000 unique IP addresses associated with compromised devices in the past six months alone. Based on analysis, analysts believe that the campaign's behavior resembles that of a covert network known as a Operational Relay Box, which involves repurposing everyday consumer devices as relays for espionage traffic, concealing the true source of espionage activity, and maintaining long-term persistence as a covert infrastructure model.

As far as ORB-style operations are concerned, China-aligned threat groups are frequently associated with them, and this observation is reinforced by the geographical footprint of the infected devices. Security Scorecard found that about 30% to 50% of the compromised routers were based in Taiwan. Moreover, other concentrations have been observed in the United States, Russia, Southeast Asia and parts of Europe as well.

There was also another distinctive technical signature that was shared by all of the infected routers, namely, a self-signed TLS certificate that had an unusually long valid period of 100 years, a sign that could be used by researchers to trace the campaign's infrastructure throughout multiple geographical locations.

Together, these characteristics align closely with the pattern of cyber-espionage activities linked to China—including its choice of targets, methods of exploitation, design of operations, and geographic distribution. An important finding of the investigation is the geographical imbalance in which infected devices were detected, which scientists say is difficult to dismiss as coincidental by the researchers.

According to analysts, one-third to one-half of all compromised routers identified in Operation WrtHug were traced back to IP addresses located in Taiwan - an overrepresentation that analysts argue is consistent with the long-standing intelligence priorities assigned to China-linked cyber operators, which is why this is an overrepresentation.

A further striking feature of this study is that there have been no infections within mainland China, apart from a handful detected in Hong Kong, thereby highlighting the possibility of a deliberate targeting effort by the attackers. The attackers also seemed to be very interested in Southeast Asia, where the number of infected devices is substantially higher than the global average.

In addition, researchers have noted striking tradecraft overlap between WrtHug and AyySSHush, another campaign outlined by GreyNoise earlier that aimed to use ASUS routers to conscript into a persistent botnet. The CVE-2023-39780 command injection vulnerability is used by both of these operations, raising the possibility that they could represent different phases of the same evolving campaign, separate efforts by the same threat actor, or parallel operations that are loosely coordinated.

It is still believed by analysts that WrtHug continues to be an independent campaign despite the fact that it carries the characteristics of a well-resourced adversary even though there is no conclusive evidence to prove it. It remains a fertile ground for such intrusions, despite the absence of conclusive evidence. Small office and home office routers are often installed only to be forgotten, especially as manufacturers discontinue support for them.

It has become increasingly common for end-of-life devices to be updated automatically, but they still function as usual, and there seems to be little reason for users to replace them despite the mounting security risks. Despite the persistent gap, authorities have been increasingly concerned. The FBI released a public advisory in May calling for users of SOHO routers to disable remote management features as a minimum requirement in order to reduce the chances of compromise by retiring unsupported models.

During the ongoing unfolding of Operation WrtHug, users' vigilance is becoming increasingly important as the security of global networks continues to become more dependent upon enterprise defenses, as well as the efforts of everyday users. As the findings indicate, households and small businesses need to abandon outdated hardware, implement timely patching, and limit their exposure to remote access services, which silently increase the attack surface of their networks.

The experts stress that proactive maintenance - once considered optional - has now become a vital component of preventing consumer devices from being used as a tool in geopolitical cyber operations. With the rise of international espionage fueling neglected routers today, even basic security hygiene has become a matter of national importance.

Europe struggles with record-breaking spike in ransomware attacks

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Threat Intelligence

Cybercrime Ecosystem Cybersecurity Threats Data Breach European Cybersecurity Malware As A Service Network Security ransomware attacks State-Sponsored Attacks Threat Intelligence

Europe struggles with record-breaking spike in ransomware attacks

Europe is increasingly being targeted by ransomware groups, driving attacks to unprecedented levels as criminal operations become more industrialised and sophisticated. Threat actors have established themselves in this region as a prime hunting ground, and are now relying on a growing ecosystem of underground marketplaces that sell everything from Malware-as-a-Service subscriptions to stolen network access and turnkey phishing kits to Malware-as-a-Service subscriptions.

New findings from CrowdStrike's 2025 European Threat Landscape Report reveal that nearly 22 per cent of all ransomware and extortion incidents that occurred globally this year have involved European organisations. Accordingly, European organizations are more likely than those in Asia-Pacific to be targeted by cybercriminals than those in North America, placing them second only to North America.

According to these statistics, there is a troubling shift affecting Europe's public and private networks. An increasing threat model is being used by cybercriminals on the continent that makes it easier, cheaper, and quicker to attack their victims. This leaves thousands of victims of attacks increasingly sophisticated and financially motivated across the continent.

Throughout CrowdStrike's latest analysis, a clear picture emerges of just how heavily Europeans have been affected by ransomware and extortion attacks, with the continent managing to absorb over 22% of all global extortion and ransomware attacks. As stated in the report, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are the most frequently targeted nations. It also notes that dedicated leak sites linked to European victims have increased by nearly 13% on an annual basis, a trend driven by groups such as Scattered Spider, a group that has shortened its attack-to-deployment window to a mere 24 hours from when the attack started.

According to the study, companies in the manufacturing, professional services, technology, industrial, engineering and retail industries are still the most heavily pursued sectors, as prominent gangs such as Akira, LockBit, RansomHub, INC, Lynx, and Sinobi continue to dominate the landscape, making big game hunting tactics, aimed at high-value enterprises, remain prevalent and have intensified throughout the continent as well.

It has been suggested in the study that because of the wide and lucrative corporate base of Europe, the complex regulatory and legal structure, and the geopolitical motivations of some threat actors, the region is a target for well-funded e-crime operations that are well-resourced. State-aligned threat activity continues to add an element of volatility to the already troubled cyber landscape of Europe.

In the past two years, Russian operators have intensified their operations against Ukraine, combining credential phishing with intelligence gathering and disrupting attacks targeted at the power grid, the government, the military, the energy grid, the telecommunications grid, the utility grid, and so forth. The North Koreans have, at the same time, expanded their reach to Europe, attacking defence, diplomatic, and financial institutions in operations that fuse classic espionage with cryptocurrency theft to finance their strategic projects.

Moreover, Chinese state-sponsored actors have been extorting valuable intellectual property from industries across eleven nations by exploiting cloud environments and software supply chains to siphon intellectual property from the nation that enables them to expand their footprint.

A number of these operations have demonstrated a sustained commitment to biotechnology and healthcare, while Vixen Panda is now considered one of the most persistent threats to European government and defence organisations, emphasising the degree to which state-backed intrusion campaigns are increasing the region's risk of infection.

There has been a dramatic acceleration in the speed at which ransomware attacks are being carried out in Europe, with CrowdStrike noting that groups such as Scattered Spider have reduced their ransomware deployment cycles to unprecedented levels, which has driven up the levels of infection. Through the group's efforts, the time between an initial intrusion and full encryption has been reduced from 35.5 hours in 2024 to roughly 24 hours by mid-2025, meaning that defenders are likely to have fewer chances to detect or contain intrusions.

Despite being actively under investigation by law enforcement agencies, eCrime actors based in Western countries, like the United States and the United Kingdom, are developing resilient criminal networks despite active scrutiny by law enforcement. The arrest of four individuals recently by the National Crime Agency in connection with attacks on major retailers, as well as the rearrest of the four individuals for involvement in a breach at Transport for London, underscores the persistence of these groups despite coordinated enforcement efforts.

In addition to this rapid operational tempo, cybercrime has also been transformed into a commodity-driven industry as a result of a thriving underground economy. The Russian- and English-speaking forums, together with encrypted messaging platforms, offer threat actors the opportunity to exchange access to tools, access points, and operational support with the efficiency of commercial storefronts.

A total of 260 initial access brokers were seen by investigators during the review period, advertising entry points into more than 1,400 European organizations during the review period. This effectively outsourced the initial stages of a breach to outside sources. Through subscription or affiliate models of malware-as-a-service, companies can offer ready-made loaders, stealers, and financial malware as a service, further lowering the barrier to entry.

It has been noted that even after major disruptions by law enforcement, including the seizure of prominent forums, many operators have continued to trade without interruption, thanks to safe-haven jurisdictions and established networks of trustworthiness. Aside from eCrime, the report highlights an increasingly complex threat environment caused by state-sponsored actors such as Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

Russian actors are concentrating their efforts on Ukraine, committing credential-phishing attacks, obtaining intelligence, and undertaking destructive activities targeting the military, government, energy, telecommunications, and utility sectors, and simultaneously conducting extensive espionage across NATO member countries.

For the purpose of providing plausible deniability, groups tied to Moscow have conducted extensive phishing campaigns, set up hundreds of spoofed domains, and even recruited "throwaway agents" through Telegram to carry out sabotage operations. As Iranian groups continued to conduct hack-and-leak, phishing, and DDoS attacks, often masking state intent behind hacktivist personas, their hack-and-leak campaigns branched into the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, and they stepped up their efforts.

With these converging nation-state operations, European institutions have been put under increased strategic pressure, adding an element of geopolitical complexity to an already overloaded cyber-defence environment. It is clear from the findings that for Europe to navigate this escalating threat landscape, a more unified and forward-leaning security posture is urgently needed. According to experts, traditional perimeter defences and slow incident response models are no longer adequate to deal with actors operating at an industrial speed, due to the rapid pace of technology.

Companies need to share regional intelligence, invest in continuous monitoring, and adopt AI-driven detection capabilities in order to narrow the attackers' widening advantage. Keeping up with the innovation and sophistication of criminal and state-backed adversaries is a difficult task for any organisation, but for organisations that fail to modernise their defences, they run the risk of being left defenceless in an increasingly unforgiving digital battlefield.

Cybersecurity Alert as PolarEdge Botnet Hijacks 25,000 IoT Systems Globally

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PolarEdge Malware

Advanced Persistent Threats Cloud Security Cyber Attack Trends Cyber Attacks IoT Botnet Cybersecurity Threats Data Breach Prevention Digital Infrastructure Network Security PolarEdge Malware

Cybersecurity Alert as PolarEdge Botnet Hijacks 25,000 IoT Systems Globally

Researchers at Censys have found that PolarEdge is rapidly expanding throughout the world, in an alarming sign that connected technology is becoming increasingly weaponised. PolarEdge is an advanced botnet orchestrating large-scale attacks against Internet of Things (IoT) and edge devices all over the world, a threat that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.

When the malicious network was first discovered in mid-2023, only around 150 confirmed infections were identified. Since then, the network has grown into an extensive digital threat, compromising nearly 40,000 devices worldwide by August 2025. Analysts have pointed out that PolarEdge's architecture is very similar to Operational Relay Box (ORB) infrastructures, which are covert systems commonly used to facilitate espionage, fraud, and cybercrime.

PolarEdge has grown at a rapid rate in recent years, and this highlights the fact that undersecured IoT environments are becoming increasingly exploited, placing them among the most rapidly expanding and dangerous botnet campaigns in recent years. PolarEdge has helped shed light on the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats affecting the hyperconnected world of today.

PolarEdge, a carefully crafted campaign that demonstrates how compromised Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems can be turned into powerful weapons of cyber warfare, emerged as an expertly orchestrated campaign. There are more than 25,000 infected devices spread across 40 countries that are a part of the botnet, and the botnet is characterised by its massive scope and sophistication due to its network of 140 command and control servers.

Unlike many other distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, PolarEdge is not only a tool for distributing denial-of-service attacks, but also a platform for criminal infrastructure as a service (IaaS), specifically made to support advanced persistent threats (APT). By exploiting vulnerabilities in IoT devices and edge devices through systematic methods, the software constructs an Operational Relay Box (ORB) network, which creates a layer of obfuscating malicious traffic, enabling covert operations such as espionage, data theft, and ransomware.

By adopting this model, the cybercrime economy is reshaped in a way that enables even moderately skilled adversaries to access capabilities that were once exclusively the domain of elite threat groups. As further investigation into PolarEdge's evolving infrastructure was conducted, it turned out that a previously unknown component known as RPX_Client was uncovered, which is an integral part of the botnet that transforms vulnerable IoT devices into proxy nodes.

In May 2025, XLab's Cyber Threat Insight and Analysis System detected a suspicious activity from IP address 111.119.223.196, which was distributing an ELF file named "w," a file that initially eluded detection on VirusTotal. The file was identified as having the remote location DNS IP address 111.119.223.196. A deeper forensic analysis of the attack was conducted to uncover the RPX_Client mechanism and its integral role in the construction of Operational Relay Box networks.

These networks are designed to hide malicious activity behind layers of compromised systems to make it appear as if everything is normal. An examination of the device logs carried out by the researchers revealed that the infection had spread all over the world, with the highest concentration occurring in South Korea (41.97%), followed by China (20.35%) and Thailand (8.37%), while smaller clusters emerged in Southeast Asia and North America. KT CCTV surveillance cameras, Shenzhen TVT digital video recorders and Asus routers have been identified as the most frequently infected devices, whereas other devices that have been infected include Cyberoam UTM appliances, Cisco RV340 VPN routers, D-Link routers, and Uniview webcams have also been infected.

140 RPX_Server nodes are running the campaign, which all operate under three autonomous system numbers (45102, 37963, and 132203), and are primarily hosted on Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud virtual private servers. Each of these nodes communicates via port 55555 with a PolarSSL test certificate that was derived from version 3.4.0 of the Mbed TLS protocol, which enabled XLab to reverse engineer the communication flow so that it would be possible to determine the validity and scope of the active servers.

As far as the technical aspect of the RPX_Client is concerned, it establishes two connections simultaneously. One is connected to RPX_Server via port 55555 for node registration and traffic routing, while the other is connected to Go-Admin via port 55560 for remote command execution. As a result of its hidden presence, this malware is disguised as a process named “connect_server,” enforces a single-instance rule by using a PID file (/tmp/.msc), and keeps itself alive by injecting itself into the rcS initialisation script.

In light of these efforts, it has been found that the PolarEdge infrastructure is highly associated with the RPX infrastructure, as evidenced by overlapping code patterns, domain associations and server logs. Notably, IP address 82.118.22.155, which was associated with PolarEdge distribution chains in the early 1990s, was found to be related to a host named jurgencindy.asuscomm.com, which is the same host that is associated with PolarEdge C2 servers like icecreand.cc and centrequ.cc.

As the captured server records confirmed that RPX_Client payloads had been delivered, as well as that commands such as change_pub_ip had been executed, in addition to verifying its role in overseeing the botnet's distribution framework, further validated this claim. Its multi-hop proxy architecture – utilising compromised IoT devices as its first layer and inexpensive Virtual Private Servers as its second layer – creates a dense network of obfuscation that effectively masks the origin of attacks.

This further confirms Mandiant's assessment that cloud-based infrastructures are posing a serious challenge to conventional indicator-based detection techniques. Several experts emphasised the fact that in order to mitigate the growing threat posed by botnets, such as PolarEdge, one needs to develop a comprehensive and layered cybersecurity strategy, which includes both proactive defence measures and swift incident response approaches. In response to the proliferation of connected devices, organisations and individuals need to realise the threat landscape that is becoming more prevalent.

Therefore, IoT and edge security must become an operational priority rather than an afterthought. It is a fundamental step in making sure that all devices are running on the latest firmware, since manufacturers release patches frequently to address known vulnerabilities regularly. Furthermore, it is equally important to change default credentials immediately with strong, unique passwords. This is an essential component of defence against large-scale exploitation, but is often ignored.

Security professionals recommend that network segmentation be implemented, that IoT devices should be isolated within specific VLANs or restricted network zones, so as to minimise lateral movement within networks. As an additional precaution, organisations are advised to disable non-essential ports and services, so that there are fewer entry points that attackers could exploit.

The continuous monitoring of the network, with a strong emphasis on intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) systems, has a crucial role to play in detecting suspicious traffic patterns that are indicative of active compromises. The installation of a robust patch management program is essential in order to make sure that all connected assets are updated with security updates promptly and uniformly.

Enterprises should also conduct due diligence when it comes to the supply chain: they should choose vendors who have demonstrated a commitment to transparency, timely security updates, and disclosure of vulnerabilities responsibly. As far as the technical aspect of IoT defence is concerned, several tools have proven to be effective in detecting and counteracting IoT-based threats. Nessus, for instance, provides comprehensive vulnerability scanning services, and Shodan provides analysts with a way to identify exposed or misconfigured internet-connected devices.

Among the tools that can be used for deeper network analysis is Wireshark, which is a protocol inspection tool used by most organisations, and Snort or Suricata are powerful IDS/IPS systems that can detect malicious traffic in real-time. In addition to these, IoT Inspector offers comprehensive assessments of device security and privacy, giving us a much better idea of what connected hardware is doing and how it behaves.

By combining these tools and practices, a critical defensive framework can be created - one that is capable of reducing the attack surface and curbing the propagation of sophisticated botnets, such as PolarEdge, resulting in a reduction in the number of attacks. In a comprehensive geospatial study of PolarEdge's infection footprint, it has been revealed that it has been spread primarily in Southeast Asia and North America, with South Korea claiming 41.97 percent of the total number of compromised devices to have been compromised.

The number of total infections in China comes in at 20.35 per cent, while Thailand makes up 8.37 per cent. As part of the campaign, there are several key victims, including KT CCTV systems, Shenzhen TVT digital video recorders (DVRs), Cyberoam Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances, along with a variety of router models made by major companies such as Asus, DrayTek, Cisco, and D-Link. Virtual private servers (VPS) are used primarily to control the botnet's command-and-control ecosystem, which clusters within autonomous systems 45102, 37963, and 132203.

The vast majority of the botnet's operations are hosted by Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud infrastructure – a reflection of the botnet's dependency on commercial, scalable cloud environments for maintaining its vast operations. PolarEdge's technical sophistication is based on a multi-hop proxy framework, RPX, a multi-hop proxy framework meticulously designed to conceal attack origins and make it more difficult for the company to attribute blame.

In the layered communication chain, traffic is routed from a local proxy to RPX_Server nodes to RPX_Client instances on IoT devices that are infected, thus masking the true source of command, while allowing for fluid, covert communication across global networks. It is the malware's strategy to maintain persistence by injecting itself into initialisation scripts. Specifically, the command echo "/bin/sh /mnt/mtd/rpx.sh &" >> /etc/init.d/rcS ensures that it executes automatically at the start-up of the system.

Upon becoming active, it conceals itself as a process known as “connect_server” and enforces single-instance execution using the PID file located at /tmp/.msc to enforce this. This client is capable of configuring itself by accessing a global configuration file called “.fccq” that extracts parameters such as the command-and-control (C2) address, communication ports, device UUIDs, and brand identifiers, among many others.

As a result, these values have been obfuscated using a single-byte XOR encryption (0x25), an effective yet simple method of preventing static analysis of the values. This malware uses two network ports in order to establish two network channels—port 55555 for node registration and traffic proxying, and port 55560 for remote command execution via the Go-Admin service.

Command management is accomplished through the use of “magic field” identifiers (0x11, 0x12, and 0x16), which define specific operational functions, as well as the ability to update malware components self-aware of themselves using built-in commands like update_vps, which rotates C2 addresses.

A server-side log shows that the attackers executed infrastructure migration commands, which demonstrates their ability to dynamically switch proxy pools to evade detection each and every time a node is compromised or exposed, which is evidence of the attacker’s ability to evade detection, according to the log. It is evident from network telemetry that PolarEdge is primarily interested in non-targeted activities aimed at legitimate platforms like QQ, WeChat, Google, and Cloudflare.

It suggests its infrastructure may be used as both a means for concealing malicious activity as well as staging it as a form of ordinary internet communication. In light of the PolarEdge campaign, which highlights the fragility of today's interconnected digital ecosystem, it serves as a stark reminder that cybersecurity must evolve in tandem with the sophistication of today's threats, rather than just react to them.

A culture of cyber awareness, cross-industry collaboration, and transparent threat intelligence sharing is are crucial component of cybersecurity, beyond technical countermeasures. Every unsecured device, whether it is owned by governments, businesses, or consumers, can represent a potential entryway into the digital world. Therefore, governments, businesses, and consumers all must recognise this. The only sustainable way for tomorrow's digital infrastructure to be protected is through education, accountability, and global cooperation.

Growing VPN Exploits Trigger Fresh Ransomware Crisis in APAC

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VPN vulnerabilities

Akira Ransomware APAC Cybercrime cyber resilience Cybersecurity Threats Data Breach Network Security ransomware attacks SonicWall Exploit VPN vulnerabilities

Growing VPN Exploits Trigger Fresh Ransomware Crisis in APAC

Despite the growing cyber risk landscape in Asia-Pacific, ransomware operations continue to tighten their grip on India and the broader region, as threat actors more often seek to exploit network vulnerabilities and target critical sectors in order to get a foothold in the region.

It is essential to note that Cyble's Monthly Threat Landscape Report for July 2025 highlights a concerning trend: cybercriminals are no longer merely encrypting systems for ransom; they are systematically extracting sensitive information, selling network access, and exposing victims to the public in underground marketplaces.

In recent weeks, India has been a focal point of this escalation, with a string of damaging breaches taking place across a number of key industries. Recently, the Warlock ransomware group released sensitive information concerning a domestic manufacturing company. This information included employee records, financial reports, and internal HR files. Parallel to this, two Indian companies – a technology consulting firm and a SaaS provider – have been found posting stolen data on dark web forums that revealed information on customers, payment credentials, and server usage logs.

Further compounding the threat, the report claims that credentials granting administrative control over an Indian telecommunications provider’s infrastructure were being sold for an estimated US$35,000 as a way of monetizing network intrusions, highlighting the increasing monetization of network hacking.

Throughout the region, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore are the most targeted nations for ransomware, followed by India and the Philippines, with manufacturing, government, and critical infrastructure proving to be the most targeted sectors. As the region's digital volatility continues, the pro-India hacktivist group Team Pelican Hackers has been claiming responsibility for hacking multiple Pakistani institutions and leaking sensitive academic data and administrative data related to research projects, which demonstrates that cyber-crime is going beyond financial motives in order to serve as a form of geopolitical signaling in the region.

Security experts across the region are warning about renewed exploitation of SonicWall devices by threat actors linked to the Akira ransomware group among a growing number of ransomware incidents that have swept across the region. Since the resurgence of Akira's activity occurred in late July 2025, there has been a noticeable increase in intrusions leveraging SonicWall appliances as entry points. Rapid7 researchers have documented this increase.

An attacker, according to the firm, is exploiting a critical vulnerability that dates back a year—identified as CVE-2024-40766 with a CVSS score of 9.3—that is linked to a vulnerability in the SSL VPN configuration on the device. It is clear that this issue, which led to local user passwords persisting rather than being reset after migration, has provided cybercriminals with a convenient way to compromise network defenses.

It was SonicWall who acknowledged the targeted activity, and confirmed that malicious actors were attempting to gain unauthorized access to the network using brute force. According to the company, administrators should activate Botnet Filtering for the purpose of blocking known malicious IP addresses as well as enforce strict Account Lockout policies to take immediate measures. As ransomware campaigns that exploit VPN vulnerabilities continue to increase, proactive security hygiene is becoming increasingly important.

The increasing cybercrime challenges in the Asia-Pacific region are being exacerbated by recent findings from Barracuda's SOC Threat Radar Report, which indicate a significant increase in attacks exploiting vulnerabilities in VPN infrastructures and Microsoft 365 accounts. Throughout the study, threat actors are becoming increasingly stealthy and adopting Python-based scripts to avoid detection and maintain persistence within targeted networks in order to evade detection.

It has been determined that the Akira ransomware syndicate has increased its operations significantly, compromising outdated or unpatched systems rapidly, leading to significant losses for the syndicate. A number of intrusions have been traced back to exploitation of a known flaw in SonicWall VPN appliances — CVE-2024-40766 — that allows attackers to manipulate legacy credentials that haven’t been reset after migration as a result of this flaw.

A month ago, there was a patch released which addressed the issue. However, many organizations across the APAC region have yet to implement corrective measures, leaving them vulnerable to renewed exploitation in the coming months. In multiple instances, Akira operators have been observed intercepting one-time passwords and generating valid session tokens using previously stolen credentials, effectively bypassing multi-factor authentication protocols, even on patched networks.

In order to achieve such a level of sophistication, the group often deploys legitimate remote monitoring and management tools in order to disable security software, wipe backups, and obstruct remediation attempts, allowing the group to effectively infiltrate systems without being detected. There has been a sustained outbreak of such attacks in Australia and other Asian countries, which indicates how lapses in patch management, the use of legacy accounts, and the unrotation of high-privilege credentials continue to amplify risk exposure, according to security researchers.

There is no doubt that a prompt application of patches, a rigorous password reset, and a strict credential management regime are crucial defenses against ransomware threats as they evolve. There is no doubt that manufacturing is one of the most frequently targeted industries in the Asia-Pacific region, as more than 40 percent of all reported cyber incidents have been related to manufacturing industries.

Several researchers attribute this sustained attention to the sector's intricate supply chains, its dependence on outdated technologies, and the high value of proprietary data and intellectual property that resides within operational networks, which makes it a target for cybercriminals. It has been common for attackers to exploit weak server configurations, steal credentials, and deploy ransomware to disrupt production and gain financial gain by exploiting weak server configurations.

Approximately 16 percent of observed attacks occurred in the financial sector and insurance industry, with adversaries infiltrating high-value systems through sophisticated phishing campaigns and malware. The purpose of these intrusions was not only to steal sensitive information, such as customer and payment information, but also to maintain persistent access for prolonged reconnaissance.

Among the targeted entities, the transportation industry, which accounts for around 11 percent of all companies targeted, suffered from an increase in attacks intended to disrupt logistics and operational continuity as a consequence of its reliance on remote connectivity and third-party digital infrastructure as a consequence of its heavy reliance on remote connectivity.

In the wider APAC context, cybercriminals are increasingly pursuing both operational and financial goals in these attacks, aiming to disrupt as well as monetize. It is still very common for threats actors to steal trade secrets, customer records, and confidential enterprise information, making data theft one of the most common outcomes of these attacks.

Despite the fact that credential harvesting is often facilitated by malware that steals information from compromised systems, this method of extorting continues to enable subsequent breaches and lateral movements within compromised systems. Furthermore, the extortion-based operation has evolved, with many adversaries now turning to non-encrypting extortion schemes for coercing victims, rather than using ransomware encryption to coerce victims, emphasizing the change in cyber threats within the region.

Several experts have stressed that there is no substitute for a multilayered and intelligence-driven approach to security in the Asia-Pacific region that goes beyond conventional security frameworks in order to defend against the increasing tide of ransomware. Static defenses are not sufficient in an era in which threat actors have evolved their tactics in a speed and precision that is unprecedented in history.

A defence posture that is based on intelligence must be adopted by organizations, continuously monitoring the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by ransomware operators and initial access brokers in order to identify potential intrusions before they arise. As modern "sprinter" ransomware campaigns have been exploiting vulnerabilities within hours of public disclosure, agile patch management is a critical part of this approach.

There is no doubt that timely identification of vulnerable systems and remediation of those vulnerabilities, as well as close collaboration with third party vendors and suppliers to ensure consistency in patching, are critical components of an effective cyber hygiene program. It is equally important to take human factors into consideration.

The most common attack vector that continues to be exploited is social engineering. Therefore, it is important to conduct continuous awareness training tailored to employees who are in sensitive or high-privilege roles, such as IT and helpdesk workers, to reduce the potential for compromise. Furthermore, security leaders advise organizations to adopt a breach-ready mindset, which means accepting the possibility of a breach of even the most advanced defenses.

If an attack occurs, containing damage and ensuring continuity of operations can be achieved through the use of network segmentation, immutable data backups, and a rigorously tested incident response plan to strengthen resilience. Using actionable intelligence combined with proactive risk management, as well as developing a culture of security awareness, APAC enterprises can be better prepared to cope with the relentless wave of ransomware threats that continue to shape the digital threat landscape and recover from them.

A defining moment in the Asia-Pacific cybersecurity landscape is the current refinement of ransomware groups' tactics as they continue to exploit every weakness in enterprise defenses. Those recent incidents of cyber-attacks using VPNs and data exfiltration incidents should serve as a reminder that cyber resilience is no longer just an ambition; it is a business imperative as well. Organizations are being encouraged to shift away from reactive patching and adopt a culture that emphasizes visibility, adaptability, and intelligence sharing as the keys to continuous security maturity.

Collaboration between government, the private sector, and the cybersecurity community can make a significant contribution to the development of early warning systems and collective response abilities. A number of measures can help organizations detect threats more efficiently, enforce zero-trust architectures, and conduct regular penetration tests, which will help them identify any vulnerabilities before adversaries take advantage of them.

Increasingly, digital transformation is accelerating across industries, which makes the importance of integrating security by design—from supply chains to cloud environments—more pressing than ever before. Cybersecurity can be treated by APAC organizations as an enabler rather than as a compliance exercise, which is important since such enterprises are able to not only mitigate risks, but also build digital trust and operational resilience during an age in which ransomware threats are persistent and sophisticated.

Mobdro Pro VPN Under Fire for Compromising User Privacy

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VMO Incident

cyber resilience Cybersecurity Breach Data Privacy Data protection Digital Infrastructure Hong Kong Security Network Security Privacy Ransomware attack VMO Incident

Mobdro Pro VPN Under Fire for Compromising User Privacy

A disturbing revelation that highlights the persistent threat that malicious software poses to Android users has been brought to the attention of cybersecurity researchers, who have raised concerns over a deceptive application masquerading as a legitimate streaming and VPN application. Despite the app's promise that it offers free access to online television channels and virtual private networking features—as well as the name Modpro IPTV Plus VPN—it hides a much more dangerous purpose.

It is known as Mobdro Pro IPTV Plus VPN. Cleafy conducted an in-depth analysis of this software program and found that, as well as functioning as a sophisticated Trojan horse laced with Klopatra malware, it is also able to compromise users' financial data, infiltrating devices, securing remote controls, and infecting devices with Klopatra malware.

Even though it is not listed in Google Play, it has spread through sideloaded installations that appeal to users with the lure of free services, causing users to download it. There is a serious concern among experts that those who install this app may unknowingly expose their devices, bank accounts, and other financial assets to severe security risks. At first glance, the application appears to be an enticing gateway to free, high-quality IPTV channels and VPN services, and many Android users find the offer hard to refuse.

It is important to note, however, that beneath its polished interface lies a sophisticated banking Trojan with a remote-access toolkit that allows cybercriminals to control almost completely infected devices through a remote access toolkit. When the malware was installed on the device, Klopatra, the malware, exploiting Android's accessibility features, impersonated the user and accessed banking apps, which allowed for the malicious activity to go unnoticed.

Analysts have described the infection chain in a way that is both deliberate and deceptive, using social engineering techniques to deceive users into downloading an app from an unverified source, resulting in a sideload process of the app. Once installed, what appears to be a harmless setup process is, in fact, a mechanism to give the attacker full control of the system.

In analyzing Mobdro Pro IPTV Plus VPN further, the researchers have discovered that it has been misusing the popularity of the once popular streaming service Mobdro (previously taken down by Spanish authorities) to mislead users and gain credibility, by using the reputation of the once popular streaming service Mobdro.

There are over 3,000 Android devices that have already been compromised by Klopatra malware, most of which have been in Italy and Spain regions, according to Cleafy, and the operation was attributed to a Turkish-based threat group. A group of hackers continue to refine their tactics and exploit public frustration with content restrictions and digital surveillance by using trending services, such as free VPNs and IPTV apps.

The findings of Cleafy are supported by Kaspersky's note that there is a broader trend of malicious VPN services masquerading as legitimate tools. For example, there are apps such as MaskVPN, PaladinVPN, ShineVPN, ShieldVPN, DewVPN, and ProxyGate previously linked to similar attacks. In an effort to safeguard privacy and circumvent geo-restrictions online, the popularity of Klopatra may inspire an uproar among imitators, making it more critical than ever for users to verify the legitimacy of free VPNs and streaming apps before installing them. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been portrayed for some time as a vital tool for safeguarding privacy and circumventing geo-restrictions.

There are millions of internet users around the world who use them as a way to protect themselves from online threats — masking their IP addresses, encrypting their data traffic, and making sure their intercepted communications remain unreadable. But security experts are warning that this perception of safety can sometimes be false.

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to select a trustworthy VPN, even when downloading it directly from official sites, such as the Google Play Store, since many apps are allegedly compromising the very privacy they claim to protect, which has made the selection process increasingly difficult. In the VPN Transparency Report 2025, published by the Open Technology Fund, significant security and transparency issues were highlighted among several VPN applications that are widely used around the world.

During the study, 32 major VPN services collectively used by over a billion people were examined, and the findings revealed opaque ownership structures, questionable operational practices, and the misuse of insecure tunnelling technologies. Several VPN services, which boasted over 100 million downloads each, were flagged as particularly worrying, including Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, XY VPN, and 3X VPN – Smooth Browsing.

Several providers utilised the Shadowsocks tunnelling protocol, which was never intended to be private or confidential, and yet was marketed as a secure VPN solution by researchers. It emphasises the importance of doing users' due diligence before choosing a VPN provider, urging users to understand who operates the service, how it is designed, and how their information is handled before making a decision.

It is also strongly advised by cybersecurity experts to have cautious digital habits, including downloading apps from verified sources, carefully reviewing permission requests, installing up-to-date antivirus software, and staying informed on the latest cybersecurity developments through trusted cybersecurity publications. As malicious VPNs and fake streaming platforms become increasingly important gateways to malware such as Klopatra, awareness and vigilance have become increasingly important defensive tools in the rapidly evolving online security landscape.

As Clearafy uncovered in its analysis of the Klopatra malware, the malware represents a new level of sophistication in Android cyberattacks, utilising several sophisticated mechanisms to help evade detection and resist reverse engineering. As opposed to typical smartphone malware, Klopatra permits its operators to fully control an infected device remotely—essentially enabling them to do whatever the legitimate user is able to do on the device.

It has a hidden VNC mode, which allows attackers to access the device while keeping the screen black, making them completely unaware of any active activities going on in the device. This is one of the most insidious features of this malware. If malicious actors have access to such a level of access, they could open banking applications without any visible signs of compromise, initiate transfers, and manipulate device settings without anyone noticing.

A malware like Klopatra has strong defensive capabilities that make it very resilient. It maintains an internal watchlist of popular Android security applications and automatically attempts to uninstall them once it detects them, ensuring that it stays hidden from its victim. Whenever a victim attempts to uninstall a malicious application manually, they may be forced to trigger the system's "back" action, which prevents them from doing so.

The code analysis and internal operator comments—primarily written in Turkish—led investigators to trace the malware’s origins to a coordinated threat group based in Turkey, where most of their activities were directed towards targeting Italian and Spanish financial institutions. Cleafy's findings also revealed that the third server infrastructure is carrying out test campaigns in other countries, indicating an expansion of the business into other countries in the future.

With Klopatra, users can launch legitimate financial apps and a convincing fake login screen is presented to them. The screen gives the user the appearance of a legitimate login page, securing their credentials via direct operator intervention. The campaign evolved from a prototype created in early 2025 to its current advanced form in 2035. This information is collected and then used by the attackers in order to access accounts, often during the night when the device is idle, making suspicions less likely.

A few documented examples illustrate that operators have left internal notes in the app's code in reference to failed transactions and victims' unlock patterns, which highlights the hands-on nature of these attacks. Cybersecurity experts warn that the best defence against malware is prevention - avoiding downloading apps from unverified sources, especially those that offer free IPTV or VPN services. Although Google Play Protect is able to identify and block many threats, it cannot detect every emerging threat.

Whenever an app asks for deep system permissions or attempts to install secondary software, users are advised to be extremely cautious. According to Cleafy's research, curiosity about "free" streaming services or privacy services can all too easily serve as a gateway for full-scale digital compromise, so consumers need to be vigilant about these practices. In a time when convenience usually outweighs caution, threats such as Klopatra are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

A growing number of cybercriminals are exploiting popular trends such as free streaming and VPN services to ensnare unsuspecting users into ensnaring them. As a result, it is becoming increasingly essential for each individual to take steps to protect themselves. Experts recommend that users adopt a multi-layered security approach – pairing a trusted VPN with an anti-malware tool and enabling multi-factor authentication on their financial accounts to minimise damage should their account be compromised.

The regular review of system activity and app permissions can also assist in detecting anomalies before they occur. Additionally, users should cultivate a sense of scepticism when it comes to offers that seem too good to be true, particularly when they promise unrestricted access and “premium” services without charge. In addition, organisations need to increase awareness campaigns so consumers are able to recognise the warning signs of fraudulent apps.

The cybersecurity incidents serve as a reminder that cybersecurity is not a one-time safeguard, but must remain constant through vigilance and informed decisions throughout the evolving field of mobile security. Awareness of threats remains the first and most formidable line of defence as the mobile security battlefield continues to evolve.

Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Market Faces Major Data Breach Impacting Thousands

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VMO Incident

cyber resilience Cybersecurity Breach Data protection Digital Infrastructure Hong Kong Security Network Security Privacy Ransomware attack VMO Incident

Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Market Faces Major Data Breach Impacting Thousands

As part of an alarming incident that highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on public sector systems, the Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO) reported that it was targeted by a ransomware attack that disrupted the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Market's operations through a ransomware attack on a segment of its computer infrastructure.

Upon discovering the breach on October 13, immediate suspension of network service was imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the intrusion and safeguard critical data. VMO announced on Wednesday that the affected servers were quickly isolated from external access and alerted the Hong Kong Police, the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data to the incident.

A preliminary study suggests that the attack had a significant effect on the gate and accounting systems of the market, potentially exposing the personal information of approximately 7,000 registered users to the outside world. Founded in 1946 to ensure that local produce will be available continuously, the VMO, a non-profit organisation established to ensure this, has begun a comprehensive investigation into the extent of the data breach to determine whether any personal information has been compromised, and it has promised to inform individuals if any personal information is found to be at risk.

As of Thursday, the organisation's official website has remained inaccessible as a result of the ongoing disruption that the cyber incident has caused. After detecting the breach, Vegetable Marketing Organisation engaged an external contractor to assist them with restoring the system and supporting the ongoing investigation into the attack after the breach had been discovered.

Although the core operations of the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Market remain unaffected, the company has announced that it will temporarily utilise manual processes to manage invoicing and payment procedures, ensuring continuity of operations. Hong Kong's digital resilience has been questioned in the wake of a series of cybersecurity breaches that have struck numerous prominent institutions in the city in recent years.

These have included Cyberport, the Consumer Council, and the Hong Kong Post, raising concerns about the city's digital resilience in general. There has been an increase in cyber threats over the past few years, which has led lawmakers to pass legislation to strengthen critical infrastructure security, including penalties of up to HK$5 million for lapses in cybersecurity compliance, resulting in an increase in cybersecurity threats.

In a statement made by the VMO, it was noted that it would conduct a thorough review of the incident and that reinforced measures would be implemented to safeguard its systems from future attacks. The Vegetable Marketing Organisation has hired an external contractor to assist with restoring its systems, thereby accelerating the recovery process and facilitating the investigation.

It was acknowledged by the organisation that, despite continuing to operate daily, certain administrative functions, such as invoicing and payment processing, are being handled manually temporarily so that business continuity can be maintained. Hong Kong has been experiencing an increasing number of cybersecurity breaches in recent years, including Cyberport, the Consumer Council, and Hong Kong Post, which have put major institutions in a state of anxiety.

As a result, critical infrastructure remains vulnerable to cyberattacks, which has been highlighted in recent months. Recently, the city's legislature approved a new measure aimed at bolstering defences against cyberattacks, with penalties of up to HK$5 million for non-compliance outlined in the legislation. VMO reiterated its commitment to digital security, and that it places a high level of importance on cybersecurity, and that a comprehensive review of the event would be conducted, along with enhancements to network safeguards to prevent similar events from recurring.

Considering the recent incident at the Cheung Sha Wan Vegetable Wholesale Market, it has become increasingly apparent to me that Hong Kong's public and semi-public sectors need to strengthen cybersecurity resilience urgently.

The security experts have long warned that as digital systems are becoming increasingly integrated into key components of the services that consumers rely on, the effects of cyberattacks can quickly escalate from data breaches to disruptions in the regular functioning of processes and the public trust in them. Several industry observers believe that organisations like the VMO should go beyond enhancing only technical safeguards and make a concerted effort to train their staff regularly, to perform continuous vulnerability assessments, and to update their monitoring frameworks in real time to detect anomalies early.

As a supplement to this, the establishment of cross-agency collaboration and information-sharing mechanisms could also enhance the city's overall preparedness to handle similar attacks in the future. Despite the VMO's quick response and transparency in handling the incident, it highlights a crucial national imperative-the strengthening of cyber hygiene and cultivation of a culture of sensitive information across all levels of governance and commerce in order to mitigate the immediate risks.

The resilience of Hong Kong's institutions will be determined by how proactive vigilance is managed against cyber-attacks as much as it will be determined by their ability to defend themselves against technological disruption.

Spike in Login Portal Scans Puts Palo Alto Networks on Alert

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zero Day vulnerability

Cyber Security Firewall Scanning GlobalProtect GreyNoise Network Security Palo Alto Networks PAN OS Threat Intelligence zero Day vulnerability

Spike in Login Portal Scans Puts Palo Alto Networks on Alert

The Palo Alto Networks login portals have seen a dramatic surge in suspicious scanning activity over the past month, a development that has caught the attention of the cybersecurity community. Evidence suggests that threat actors are trying to coordinate reconnaissance efforts aimed at the Palo Alto Networks login portals.

A new report from cybersecurity intelligence firm GreyNoise revealed that Palo Alto Networks' GlobalProtect and PAN-OS interfaces saw an increase in scanning volumes of over 500%, which marks a sharp departure from the usual pattern for such scanning. In the last week of October, the firm recorded more than 1,285 unique IP addresses attempting to probe these systems - a sharp rise from the typical daily average of fewer than 200 that occurs on a regular basis.

Approximately 80% of this activity was attributed to IP addresses in the United States, with additional clusters originating from IP addresses in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, and Russia. Moreover, separate TLS fingerprints indicated that there were organised scanning clusters that were heavily oriented towards United States targets as well as Pakistani targets.

A GreyNoise analyst classifies 91% of the observed IP addresses as suspicious, while the remaining 7% are suspected to be malicious, indicating this may represent an early phase of targeted reconnaissance or exploitation attempts against Palo Alto Networks' infrastructure that is widely deployed.

A GreyNoise analysis revealed that a large portion of the scanning traffic originated from U.S. IP addresses, with smaller but noteworthy clusters originating from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, and Russia, indicating the traffic originated primarily from the United States. Using TLS fingerprints, research identified distinct activity clusters – targeting foand cusing o and focusing on Pakistani systems, focusing, overlapping fingerprints, suggesting infrastructure or coordination.

Ninety per cent of the IP addresses involved in the campaign were deemed suspicious, while another seven per cent were flagged as malicious by the firm. It has been observed that most scanning activity has been directed towards emulated Palo Alto Networks profiles, including GlobalProtect and PAN-OS, indicating that the probes were likely to be intentional and are the product of open-source scanning tools or attackers who are conducting reconnaissance efforts to identify vulnerable Palo Alto devices.

According to GreyNoise, heightened scanning activity can often be detected before zero-day or zero-n-day vulnerabilities are exploited, acting as a warning to potential offensive operations well in advance. A similar pattern was observed earlier this year, as a spike in Cisco ASA scans followed shortly thereafter by the disclosure and exploitation of a critical zero-day vulnerability in that product line, which was a warning of potential offensive operations.

Although the timing and scale of the current Palo Alto scans are cause for concern, researchers have clarified that the available evidence suggests a weak correlation with any known or emerging exploit activity at this point in the Palo Alto network ecosystem. Palo Alto Networks' GlobalProtect platform is the core of its next-generation firewall ecosystem, allowing organisations to implement consistent policies for threat prevention and security across remote endpoints, regardless of whether or not the endpoints are connected to a virtual network.

GlobalProtect portals are critical management tools that enable administrators to customize VPN settings, distribute security agents, and oversee endpoint connectivity within enterprise networks by allowing them to configure VPN settings, distribute security agents, and manage endpoint connectivity. Due to its function and visibility on the Internet, the portal is considered a high-value target for attackers looking to access sensitive data.

According to experts, firewalls, VPNs, and other edge-facing technologies are among the most attractive security tools for attackers because they act as gateways between internal corporate environments and the open internet as a whole. These systems, by necessity, are available online to support remote operations, but are inadvertently exposing themselves to extensive reconnaissance and scanning efforts as a result.

A few weeks earlier, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a warning indicating that Palo Alto Networks would be actively exploited if it were to exploit a zero-day authentication bypass vulnerability in the company's PAN-OS software. This has increased Palo Alto Networks' appeal to cyber adversaries. As with other cyber threats, similar trends have been observed across the entire industry.

For example, Cisco Talos disclosed last year that two zero-day flaws in Cisco firewall appliances were exploited by a state-backed threat actor to conduct an espionage campaign coordinated with Cisco. These risks highlight the persistence of the threats vendors are facing when it comes to edge security infrastructure vendors.

Among experts in the field of cybersecurity, it is very important to recognise that recent spikes in scanning activity targeting Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS GlobalProtect gateways highlight a long-standing principle of cybersecurity: there is always a vulnerability in software. According to Boris Cipot, Senior Security Engineer at Black Duck, no matter how sophisticated a piece of software is, security vulnerabilities will inevitably arise at some point, whether due to programming oversight or the introduction of vulnerabilities by third-party open-source components.

According to him, the real test is not whether a vulnerability exists but how swiftly the affected vendor releases a fix and how quickly the users apply the fix. The Palo Alto Networks spokesperson told me that while most Palo Alto Networks customers have probably patched their systems in response to recent advisories, attackers continue to hunt for devices that are not patched or poorly maintained, hoping that they can exploit those that are not well secured.

Among Cipot's recommendations are to perform timely patching, follow vendor-recommended mitigations when patches are not available, and restrict management interfaces to trusted internal networks, which, he says, is also one of the most fundamental practices.

The report also recommends that organisations use continuous log monitoring, conduct regular security audits, and analyse open-source components to identify vulnerabilities as early as possible in the lifecycle. A Salt Security director, Eric Schwake, who is responsible for cybersecurity strategy, expressed the concerns of these people by pointing out that the pattern of scans, which span nearly 24,000 unique IP addresses, demonstrates the persistence of threat actors in attempting to gain unauthorised access to data.

While perimeter security, such as firewalls and VPNs, is still crucial, it should not be viewed as impenetrable, according to Schwake. As a result, he recommended organisations adopt a multi-layered security approach integrating API security governance, robust authentication mechanisms, and behavioural threat detection in order to detect abnormal login attempts as well as other malicious activities immediately in real time, as opposed to just relying on a single approach.

Also, it was recommended that users be trained in user awareness, and multifactor authentication (MFA) should be enforced in order to reduce the risk of credential compromise and strengthen the overall cyber resilience of organisations. A GreyNoise security research team has noted unusual scanning activity directed at Palo Alto Networks’ PAN-OS GlobalProtect gateways for a number of years.

In April 2025, the cybersecurity intelligence firm spotted another wave of suspicious login probes, resulting in Palo Alto Networks advising its customers to make sure that their systems are running the latest software versions and to apply all patches available to them. There are several patterns in GreyNoise’s Early Warning Signals report from July 2025 that support the company’s renewed warning. Among those patterns are large-scale spikes in malicious scanning, brute-force attempts, or exploit probing, which often follow a new CVE being disclosed within six weeks of the spike in those activities.

A similar pattern appeared to occur in early September 2025 when GreyNoise detected an increase in suspicious network scans targeting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) devices - traced back to late August. A total of 25,100 IP addresses were involved in the initial wave, primarily located in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, with most originating from Brazil.

Researchers at Palo Alto Networks have discovered what appears to be an alarming rise in the number of scanning sessions available on the Internet targeting a critical flaw in the software Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect, identified as CVE-2024-3400. There is a high-severity vulnerability that affects one of the most widely deployed enterprise firewall solutions, allowing the creation of arbitrary files that can be weaponised in order to execute root privilege-based commands on the operating system.

By exploiting such vulnerabilities, attackers are able to gain complete control over affected devices, potentially resulting in the theft of sensitive data, the compromise of critical network functions, and even the disruption of critical network functions. In the last few weeks, analysts have noticed a significant increase in the probing attempts of this exploit, suggesting that threat actors have been actively incorporating it into their attack arsenals.

The fact that GlobalProtect serves as a gateway to the internet in many corporate environments increases the risks associated with the flaw, which is remote and unauthenticated. A surge of malicious reconnaissance, according to analysts, could be the precursor to coordinated intrusion campaigns. This makes it imperative that organizations implement security patches as soon as possible, enforce access restrictions, and strengthen monitoring mechanisms across all perimeter defenses, as well as implement security patches as soon as possible.

Only weeks after the discovery of one of the exploitable zero-day vulnerabilities in its ASA products (CVE-2025-20333), Cisco confirmed that the other zero-day vulnerability in the same product (CVE-2025-2020362) was actively exploited, enabling advanced malware strains such as RayInitiator and LINE VIPER to be deployed in real-world attacks.

In accordance with the data supplied by the Shadowserver Foundation, over 45,000 Cisco ASA and Firepower Threat Defence instances in the world, including more than 20,000 in the United States, remain susceptible to these vulnerabilities. It is evident that organisations reliant on perimeter security technologies face escalating threats and are faced with an ongoing challenge of timely patch adoption, as well as the escalating risks associated with them.

This latest surge in scanning activity serves as yet another reminder that cyber threats are constantly evolving, and that is why maintaining vigilance, visibility, and velocity is so crucial in terms of defence against them. As reconnaissance efforts become more sophisticated and automated, organisations have to take more proactive steps - both in terms of integrating threat intelligence, continuously monitoring, and managing attack surfaces in order to remain effective.

This cannot be done solely through vendor patches. It is imperative to combine endpoint hardening, strict access controls, timely updates, and intelligence anomaly detection based on behavioural analytics in order to strengthen network resilience today. It is also important for security teams to minimise the exposure of interfaces, and wherever possible, to shield them behind zero-trust architectures that validate every connection attempt with a zero-trust strategy.

The use of regular penetration testing, as well as active participation in information-sharing communities, can make it much easier to detect early warning signs before adversaries gain traction. The attackers are ultimately playing the long game, as can be seen by the recurring campaigns against Palo Alto Networks and Cisco infrastructure – scanning for vulnerabilities, waiting for them to emerge, and then attacking when they become complacent. Defenders' edge lies, therefore, in staying informed, staying updated, and staying ahead of the curve: staying informed and staying updated.

Building Trust Through Secure Financial Dealings

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phishing threats

Application Security CPU Cyber Security Ransomware Attacks Data Breach Data Breaches Disaster Recovery Financial Cybersecurity Malware-as-a-Service Network Security NVIDIA Operational Security phishing threats

Building Trust Through Secure Financial Dealings

Unlike in the past, where money existed as physical objects rather than electronic data, today's financial market is about to be transformed into an increasingly digital one. The ability to protect digital financial assets has become a key priority for those working in the finance industry.

There is an increasing likelihood that banks, investment houses, and insurance firms will be placed on the frontlines of a cyber-warfare that is rapidly deteriorating, targeted by criminals that are becoming more sophisticated by the day.

It is especially crucial to note that the financial and insurance sectors are suffering the greatest losses from data breaches in 2023, averaging $5.17 million per incident, according to a report released by IBM in 2023. The digital transformation that has revolutionised the financial services industry has undoubtedly reduced friction, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced customer interactions.

At the same time, it has increased vulnerabilities, exposing institutions and their clients to unprecedented risks. With the convergence of opportunity and threat, the need for rigorous cybersecurity measures has become an essential part of ensuring the survival and trust of the financial industry, not just as a necessity but as a defining necessity.

There is a growing sense of importance to safeguarding financial institutions from cyber threats, commonly referred to as financial cybersecurity, and it has become one of the most important pillars of financial resilience for the financial industry.

In addition to covering a wide range of protective measures, it also helps banks, credit unions, insurance firms, and investment companies to protect vast amounts of sensitive data and high-value transactions that they conduct daily.

In spite of the fact that these organisations are entrusted with their clients' most sensitive financial details, cybercriminals remain prime targets for those seeking financial gain as well as ideological disruption. There are numerous threats to be aware of, and they range from sophisticated phishing attacks to increasingly complex ransomware strains such as Maze and Ryuk, to the more recent double extortion techniques designed to maximise the leverage of their victims.

There have been numerous incidents recently that show how attackers can easily exfiltrate and publicly release millions of customer records in one single attack, with the effect of ripple effects across the global economy. In addition to these challenges, institutions are facing the rapid adoption of cloud technologies and managing sprawling supply chains that are inadvertently expanding their attack surface as a result of rapid digital transformation.

In the context of this vulnerability, the 2020 SolarWinds compromise is an important reminder that stealthy intrusions are possible and that they can persist undetected for months while infiltrating critical financial systems, revealing the extent of these vulnerabilities. As customers increasingly trust digital platforms to handle their banking and investment needs, financial organisations are under tremendous pressure to deploy advanced security measures that can keep up with the evolving innovation of attackers.

In addition to the immediate costs associated with ransom requests or stolen data, the stakes go much deeper than that. They threaten the very foundations of the financial system itself, and they threaten its stability and trust. A significant increase in remote work was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2024, leading to an unprecedented surge of cyberattacks, which not only persisted but also intensified.

In response to advancements in defence technology, cybercriminals have developed equally innovative offensive tactics as well, creating a constantly shifting battleground as a result. Among the most disruptive developments has been the rise of Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS), a service that makes sophisticated hacking tools accessible to a wider range of attackers, effectively lowering the barrier to entry.

In the same vein, artificial intelligence has been incorporated into criminal arsenals to make hyper-personalised attacks, which can include everything from deep-fake videos to cloned voices to highly convincing phishing campaigns tailored to individual targets. As far as financial institutions and accounting firms are concerned, the consequences are extremely severe.

Global estimates indicate that data breaches will cost an average of $4.45 million per incident by 2023, which represents a 15 per cent increase over the past three years. Despite the financial toll of data breaches, reputational damage is also an existential concern, as firms face erosion of client trust and, in some cases, the necessity to close down their doors altogether due to reputational damage.

In light of these convergences of risks, modern cybersecurity is not just a static protection, but a constant struggle to stay ahead of the game in terms of innovation and resilience. Financial institutions must understand the numerous layers of cybersecurity to be able to build resilient defences against a constantly changing threat environment.

Across each layer, different roles are performed in safeguarding sensitive information, critical systems, and the trust of millions of customers. Network security, which is at the foundation of all computer networks and data communications, is one of the most important elements, ranging from firewalls and intrusion detection systems to secure virtual private networks to secure computer networks and data communications.

Furthermore, application security is equally vital, as it ensures that banks and insurers are protected against vulnerabilities by testing their software and digital tools on a regular basis and by updating them regularly.

The purpose of data security is to ensure that sensitive financial details remain safe and secure, whether they are in transit or at rest, by encrypting, masking, and implementing access controls to ensure that sensitive financial information does not fall into the hands of unauthorised users.

Providing operational security in addition to these layers ensures that financial transactions remain accurate and confidential for the client. This is done through governing user permissions and data handling procedures, which safeguard data integrity and confidentiality.

Finally, disaster recovery and business continuity planning ensure that, even if an institution suffers a breach or system failure, they have backups, redundant systems, and comprehensive recovery protocols in place to ensure it can quickly restore operations.

It is important to note that despite the implementation of these frameworks, the finance industry continues to be threatened by sophisticated cyber threats, despite the fact that they have been in place for quite some time. Phishing campaigns remain among the most common and effective attacks, and fraudsters continue to pose as trusted financial organisations to trick users into disclosing sensitive data.

There are many kinds of malware attacks, but the most devastating ones are ransomware attacks. They encrypt critical data and demand ransom payments from institutions that need to return to normal operations.

A DDoS attack can also pose a significant challenge for online banks and trading platforms, overwhelming systems, often causing both financial and reputational damage in the process. Moreover, insider threats are particularly dangerous, whether they occur by negligence or by malice, given employees' privilege to access sensitive systems.

Man-in-the-middle attacks, which intercept communications between clients and financial institutions, highlight the risk of digital financial interactions, with attackers intercepting data or hijacking transactions between clients and institutions.

It can be argued that these threats collectively demonstrate the breadth and sophistication of the modern cyber threat and underline the importance of deploying multi-layered, adaptive security strategies in financial services. It is no longer just the U.S. government that is betting on Intel's growth. A new partnership between Intel and Nvidia has been formed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence.

In a deal designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence, Nvidia has acquired $5 billion worth of Intel shares as part of a new partnership. This agreement requires Intel to build personal computer chips incorporating Nvidia's GPUs, as well as custom CPUs, which will be embedded in Nvidia's AI infrastructure platforms.

Since Intel has been struggling to retain its previous position in computing in spite of fierce competition and rapidly advancing technology, this collaboration is an important one for the company. The company has, under Lip-Bu Tan's leadership, been going through a difficult restructuring process since he assumed the position of chief executive in March. This has involved hiring fewer employees, delayed construction of new facilities, and a renewed focus on securing long-term customers before expanding manufacturing capabilities.

The Washington support has also played a critical role in Intel's revival efforts, although controversy has been associated with this as well. As the Biden administration pledged more than $11 billion in subsidies to Intel under the CHIPS Act, the Trump administration reversed course by arranging a deal in which the federal government would take a 10 per cent stake in Intel, thereby strengthening Intel's manufacturing base.

With this backdrop in mind, the partnership between Intel and Nvidia brings together two of the biggest players in the industry. By combining Intel’s established x86 ecosystem with Nvidia’s advanced artificial intelligence and accelerated computing technologies, it brings together the industry’s two most influential players.

The market responded quickly to Intel's announcement: shares soared by more than 2 per cent on Thursday morning after the announcement, as analysts argued that the momentum could boost the S&P 500 to another record level. It is a significant achievement in the technology sector that Intel and Nvidia have come to an agreement that signals a transformational shift in the way innovation is being driven in an era of rapid digital transformation.

Intel and NVIDIA have formed an alliance to combine Intel's x86 architecture and manufacturing capabilities with Nvidia's advanced artificial intelligence and accelerated computing capabilities. The alliance is expected to boost artificial intelligence infrastructure and improve processing efficiency, as well as unlock the next generation of computing solutions.

Investors and stakeholders have many reasons to get excited about this collaboration, since it offers substantial opportunities for investors and stakeholders in the form of enhanced market confidence and an enhanced environment for the development of robust AI ecosystems for enterprise-level and consumer applications.

The partnership not only provides financial and technological benefits, but it also illustrates the value of proactive adaptation to technological changes, showing how partnerships with government agencies and government-sponsored initiatives can enable businesses to maintain competitiveness.

Furthermore, as cyber threats continue to rise alongside the digital transformation, integrating advanced artificial intelligence into computing platforms will strengthen security analytics, threat detection, and operational resilience at the same time.

The Intel and Nvidia collaborations are creating a benchmark for industry leadership, sustainable growth, and market stability through aligning innovation with strategic foresight and risk-aware practices, demonstrating how forward-looking collaboration will shape the future of AI-driven computing and digital financial ecosystems.

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