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Showing posts with label Threat Landscape. Show all posts
USAID
Cyber Security Data Leak DOGE Elon Musk Threat Landscape USAID

Threat Analysts Warn of the 'Largest Data Breach' After Elon Musk's DOGE Controversy

 

The debate over Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency continues, with the world's richest man accused of snooping on some of America's most sensitive data. The DOGE has been tasked with reducing government spending by a paltry $2 trillion, which Musk himself admits might be unfeasible. 

However, the billionaire and his crew have lost no time to shed the fat, targeting everything from the National Space Council to USAID. Concerns have been raised regarding the DOGE's level of access, and some staff members have received death threats as a result of the debate.

"You can’t un-ring this bell,” the anonymous source told the local media outlet. Once these DOGE guys have access to these data systems, they can ostensibly do with it what they want." 

Four sources spoke to the local media outlet, but only Scott Cory would go on record. The former CIO for an HHS agency said: "The longer this goes on, the greater the risk of potential fatal compromise increases.” 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Treasury have all apparently been accessed by the DOGE. "I don't think the public quite understands the level of danger," a federal agency administrator continued. 

With its newfound authority, the DOGE might prevent payments to government agencies and redirect funds to organisations it chooses. There are concerns that possible access to Federal Aviation could be "dire," even if Musk hasn't altered the current system yet. 

There have also been criticism that he has brought in a young team of technical wizards, but one payment-systems expert remarked that this is actually a good thing: "If you were going to organise a heist of the US Treasury, why in the world would you bring a handful of college students?" He went on to suggest that you'd need numerous people with at least ten years of experience with COBOL. 

Despite not being paid, working 120 hours a week, and sleeping in the offices, DOGE employees have been flexing their muscles to make some significant savings. Looking at the broad picture, one source concluded: "I'd want to believe that this is all so enormous and convoluted that they won't be successful in whatever they're attempting to do. But I wouldn't bet that outcome against their egos.”
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Threat Landscape
Cyber Security Home Security IoT Smart Device Threat Landscape

Three Ways to Safeguard Your Smart Home From Cybercriminals

 

Your smart home is a technological marvel. However, when camera flaws allow our neighbours to spy on us, smart speakers are manipulated with lasers, robot vacuums are breached to shout obscenities, and entire security systems are compromised by a smart plug, it's fair if you're hesitant to link your home to the internet. 

However, there is no reason to completely forgo the benefits of smart home devices. The idea is to recognise the risks and make use of available security features. Whether you have a network of smart kitchen gadgets or a single voice assistant, these measures will ensure that no one messes with your belongings. 

Secure your wi-fi network 

The majority of routers come with a model-specific SSID and either a random password or something generic, such as "admin," making it easier for cybercriminals to gain access to your home Wi-Fi and snoop about your linked smart home devices. Keep in mind that these manufacturer-supplied credentials are available online for anybody to use, so the first step is to secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password. 

The process differs slightly depending on the device, but the basics are the same; here's how to get started. Those employing a mesh system will be able to manage security settings via a handy smartphone app. If your router supports it, consider altering the SSID, which is simply the name of your Wi-Fi network (e.g., PCMag_Home). While older devices are limited to WPA2, newer routers support the more secure WPA3 protocol. 

Replace outdated routers

You presumably purchased a new phone or laptop during the last several years. But how about your router? Has it accumulated dust on a shelf for far too long? If your internet performance isn't already hurting, the security of your linked gadgets very likely is. 

An ageing router indicates ageing security protocols—and an easier access point for undesirable actors. If you need a new router, the latest home internet standard is Wi-Fi 6. Prices for Wi-Fi 6 routers have dropped dramatically in recent years, with more alternatives available. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 7 is still in its early stages of release. Check out our reviews of the finest wireless routers, gaming routers, and mesh networks.

Manage your account passwords

After securing the Wi-Fi network, it's time to safeguard the individual devices and services that connect to it. Numerous smart gadgets are managed by a smartphone app, so you'll need to create an account for each one. Using the same password for everything is handy, but it also poses a security risk.

If one of those accounts is compromised and the password is revealed, hackers may gain access to all of the other accounts on which you used that password. Instead, create a one-of-a-kind password that no one else will be able to guess. You may use a random password generator to generate difficult-to-guess codes, and a password manager to remember them all for you.
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Threat Landscape
Artificial Intelligence Crypto Hack Quantum computing Technology Threat Landscape

A Looming Threat to Crypto Keys: The Risk of a Quantum Hack

 


 The Quantum Computing Threat to Cryptocurrency Security

The immense computational power that quantum computing offers raises significant concerns, particularly around its potential to compromise private keys that secure digital interactions. Among the most pressing fears is its ability to break the private keys safeguarding cryptocurrency wallets.

While this threat is genuine, it is unlikely to materialize overnight. It is, however, crucial to examine the current state of quantum computing in terms of commercial capabilities and assess its potential to pose a real danger to cryptocurrency security.

Before delving into the risks, it’s essential to understand the basics of quantum computing. Unlike classical computers, which process information using bits (either 0 or 1), quantum computers rely on quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to exist in multiple states simultaneously (0, 1, or both 0 and 1, thanks to the phenomenon of superposition).

Quantum Computing Risks: Shor’s Algorithm

One of the primary risks posed by quantum computing stems from Shor’s algorithm, which allows quantum computers to factor large integers exponentially faster than classical algorithms. The security of several cryptographic systems, including RSA, relies on the difficulty of factoring large composite numbers. For instance, RSA-2048, a widely used cryptographic key size, underpins the private keys used to sign and authorize cryptocurrency transactions.

Breaking RSA-2048 with today’s classical computers, even using massive clusters of processors, would take billions of years. To illustrate, a successful attempt to crack RSA-768 (a 768-bit number) in 2009 required years of effort and hundreds of clustered machines. The computational difficulty grows exponentially with key size, making RSA-2048 virtually unbreakable within any human timescale—at least for now.

Commercial quantum computing offerings, such as IBM Q System One, Google Sycamore, Rigetti Aspen-9, and AWS Braket, are available today for those with the resources to use them. However, the number of qubits these systems offer remains limited — typically only a few dozen. This is far from sufficient to break even moderately sized cryptographic keys within any realistic timeframe. Breaking RSA-2048 would require millions of years with current quantum systems.

Beyond insufficient qubit capacity, today’s quantum computers face challenges in qubit stability, error correction, and scalability. Additionally, their operation depends on extreme conditions. Qubits are highly sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances, necessitating cryogenic temperatures and advanced magnetic shielding for stability.

Future Projections and the Quantum Threat

Unlike classical computing, quantum computing lacks a clear equivalent of Moore’s Law to predict how quickly its power will grow. Google’s Hartmut Neven proposed a “Neven’s Law” suggesting double-exponential growth in quantum computing power, but this model has yet to consistently hold up in practice beyond research and development milestones.

Hypothetically, achieving double-exponential growth to reach the approximately 20 million physical qubits needed to crack RSA-2048 could take another four years. However, this projection assumes breakthroughs in addressing error correction, qubit stability, and scalability—all formidable challenges in their own right.

While quantum computing poses a theoretical threat to cryptocurrency and other cryptographic systems, significant technical hurdles must be overcome before it becomes a tangible risk. Current commercial offerings remain far from capable of cracking RSA-2048 or similar key sizes. However, as research progresses, it is crucial for industries reliant on cryptographic security to explore quantum-resistant algorithms to stay ahead of potential threats.

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Threat Landscape
Chinese Hackers Cyber Attacks Japan MirrorFace Threat Landscape

Japan Attributes Ongoing Cyberattacks to China-Linked MirrorFace Group

 


Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) and the National Centre of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) have officially attributed a prolonged cyberattack campaign targeting Japanese organizations and individuals since 2019 to the China-linked threat actor MirrorFace, also known as Earth Kasha.

The cyberattacks were designed to steal sensitive information related to Japan's national security and emerging technologies. MirrorFace is reportedly a subgroup of the Chinese state-sponsored hacking collective APT10, notorious for deploying malware tools such as ANEL, LODEINFO, and NOOPDOOR.

Authorities have identified three distinct phases in MirrorFace's attack operations:
  • December 2019 – July 2023: Spear-phishing emails carrying malware like LODEINFO, LilimRAT, and NOOPDOOR targeted government agencies, think tanks, politicians, and media outlets.
  • February – October 2023: Malware such as Cobalt Strike Beacon, LODEINFO, and NOOPDOOR was deployed through vulnerabilities in network devices to infiltrate sectors like semiconductors, aerospace, and academic institutions.
  • June 2024 – Present: Phishing emails loaded with ANEL malware were sent to think tanks, political figures, and media organizations.

Sophisticated Cyberattack Techniques

MirrorFace utilized advanced methods to evade detection and maintain persistence, including:
  • Windows Sandbox Deployment: Malware was executed within the Windows Sandbox, a virtualized environment that limits malware persistence by erasing data upon system reset.
  • Evasion of Security Tools: This technique allowed malware to operate undetected by antivirus software.

Scale and Impact of the Cyberattacks

The NPA has connected MirrorFace to over 200 cyber incidents spanning five years. The affected sectors include:
  • Government Agencies
  • Defense Organizations
  • Space Research Centers
  • Private Enterprises in Advanced Technologies

Phishing emails often used compelling subjects like "Japan-US alliance" and "Taiwan Strait" to deceive recipients into downloading malicious attachments. Notable attacks linked to similar tactics include:
  • Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA): Targeted in a sophisticated cyberattack.
  • Port of Nagoya (2023): Disrupted by a ransomware incident.

In response to these threats, the NPA issued a public warning:

“This alert aims to raise awareness among targeted organizations, businesses, and individuals about the threats they face in cyberspace by publicly disclosing the methods used in the cyber-attacks by ‘MirrorFace.’ It also seeks to encourage the implementation of appropriate security measures to prevent the expansion of damage from cyber-attacks and to avert potential harm.”

The warning underscores the need for heightened cybersecurity practices across sectors to mitigate risks from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
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Threat Landscape
Apple Artificial Intelligence Cyber Security Fake News Alert Threat Landscape

Apple Faces Backlash Over Misinformation from Apple Intelligence Tool

 



Apple made headlines with the launch of its Apple Intelligence tool, which quickly gained global attention. However, the tech giant now faces mounting criticism after reports emerged that the AI feature has been generating false news notifications, raising concerns about misinformation.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was the first to report the problem, directly complaining to Apple that the AI summaries were misrepresenting their journalism. Apple responded belatedly, clarifying that its staff are working to ensure users understand these summaries are AI-generated and not official news reports.

Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian, criticized Apple, suggesting the company should withdraw the product if it is not yet ready. He warned that Apple’s technology poses a significant risk of spreading misinformation globally, potentially causing unnecessary panic among readers.

Rusbridger further emphasized that public trust in journalism is already fragile. He expressed concern that major American tech companies like Apple should not use the media industry as a testing ground for experimental features.

Pressure from Journalist Organizations

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ), a leading global body representing journalists, joined the criticism, urging Apple to take swift action to curb the spread of misinformation. The NUJ's statement echoes previous concerns raised by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Laura Davison, NUJ’s general secretary, stressed the urgency of the matter, stating,

"At a time when access to accurate reporting has never been more important, the public must not be placed in a position of second-guessing the accuracy of news they receive."

Apple is now under increasing pressure from media organizations and watchdog groups to resolve the issue. If the company fails to address these concerns promptly, it may be forced to remove the Apple Intelligence feature altogether.

With legal and regulatory scrutiny intensifying, Apple’s next steps will be closely watched. Prolonging the issue could invite further criticism and potential legal consequences.

This situation highlights the growing responsibility of tech companies to prevent the spread of misinformation, especially when deploying advanced AI tools. Apple must act decisively to regain public trust and ensure its technologies do not compromise the integrity of reliable journalism.
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User Security
Cyber Crime Email scam Indian Citizens Threat Landscape User Security

Threat Actors Are Sending Fraudulent Legal Notices to Target Indians

 

The Indian authorities have issued an urgent warning to residents over the widespread circulation of counterfeit emails impersonating Rajesh Kumar, CEO of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). 

These fraudulent emails, with misleading subject lines like "Urgent Notification!" and "Court Notification," falsely accuse recipients of cybercrime and pressure them to respond. The PIB Fact Check team has identified these emails as fraudulent, emphasising that they were sent with malicious purpose to trick recipients and exploit their fears. 

Fake email threat

The bogus emails exploit the logos of prominent Indian institutions, such as the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Delhi Police, as proof of legitimacy. They also represent themselves by using the names and contact information of senior officials to deceive recipients. These fake emails have been sent to government offices, people, and organisations, posing as official correspondence. 

In a tweet from its official handle, @PIBFactCheck, the bureau clarified that these emails are absolutely fraudulent and deceitful. "It is vital to note that neither the undersigned nor this unit originated such emails. Furthermore, no permission has been obtained for the creation or distribution of such content," the release noted. 

Cybercrime impact in India 

Concern over the rise in cybercrime in India is growing. Avinash Mohanty, the commissioner of police for Cyberabad, claims that cybercrime makes up more than 30% of the commissionerate's cognisable offences and that it may soon reach 50%. It is alarming to learn that every minute, Indian residents lose between 1.3 and 1.5 lakh rupees to hackers. This startling statistic emphasises the importance of raising awareness and vigilance against online fraud and scams. 

The recovery rate for cybercrime damages in the nation remains dismally low, averaging less than 20%. This increases the financial and emotional toll on sufferers. The increase in cybercrime impacts not only individuals and businesses, but also government institutions, which have been targeted in cases of espionage and data breaches.

In recent years, India has had a number of high-profile data breaches, the most significant of which involved Aadhaar, the country's unique citizen identification system. This breach affected over a billion Indians' personal information, including bank account numbers, addresses, and fingerprints. In 2024, the cost of data breaches in India would exceed two million US dollars, illustrating the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and their devastating consequences.
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VoIP Servers
Cyber Security DDOS Attacks Proxy Server Threat Landscape VoIP Servers

Understanding VoIP DDoS Attacks: Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

 


A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targets a VoIP server by overwhelming it with phony user requests. This excessive traffic can exceed the network’s capacity, causing service disruptions and making genuine user requests unprocessable. Online criminals exploit these attacks to disrupt Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network services, the backbone of modern business phone systems and customer service software. VoIP services are particularly susceptible to DDoS attacks, as even a failed attempt can significantly degrade voice call quality and reliability. 
  
Modus Operandi of VoIP DDoS Attacks 
 
DDoS attacks aim to overwhelm a network with fake traffic, resulting in service denial for legitimate users. A typical VoIP server managing hundreds of calls per hour might struggle to respond to thousands of requests per second during an attack. Key attack methods include:
  • Botnets: Hackers deploy large networks of compromised devices, such as PCs, routers, mobile phones, and IoT devices, to generate attack traffic.
  • SIP Flood Attack: The attacker sends numerous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call requests, crashing the victim's VoIP server.
  • SIP Reflection Attack: Hackers spoof the victim's IP address and send queries to random servers, which flood the victim’s server with responses, overloading it.
Mitigation Tips to Defend Against VoIP DDoS Attacks 
 
Adopting robust defense mechanisms can help protect VoIP systems from DDoS attacks. Key strategies include: 
  
1. Use a Reverse Proxy A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary between clients and servers, handling and filtering requests to shield the server. Benefits include:
  • Regulating inbound traffic to ensure only legitimate requests pass through.
  • Disguising the origin server's IP address to prevent direct targeting by hackers.
  • Minimizing latency by offloading tasks such as encrypting and decrypting TLS/SSL communications.
2. Real-Time Network Monitoring Real-time monitoring tools establish a baseline of regular activity to detect anomalies. These tools:
  • Identify unusual network behavior, enabling rapid responses to DDoS-induced traffic spikes.
  • Protect endpoint protocols and IP blocks from malicious requests.
  • Help prevent VoIP fraud by detecting and mitigating suspicious activities.
3. Implement Rate Limiting Rate limiting reduces the impact of malicious bot traffic by controlling the volume of requests. It works by:
  • Delaying or blocking excessive requests from a single IP or multiple sources.
  • Setting thresholds to limit the frequency of actions within a specific time frame.
  • Ensuring only legitimate traffic reaches critical resources.
Rate limiting effectively curtails attackers' ability to sustain a successful DDoS attack. 

VoIP DDoS attacks pose significant risks to modern communication systems, but proactive measures can mitigate these threats. By using reverse proxies, adopting real-time monitoring tools, and implementing rate-limiting techniques, organizations can safeguard their VoIP infrastructure against malicious traffic and ensure uninterrupted services.
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User Privacy
Google Mobile Security RCS Threat Landscape User Privacy

Here's Why You Need A New App After Google RCS Issue

 

Google Messages has suddenly gone haywire. After years of campaigning, the "seamless messaging" dream was finally realised, but it vanished as quickly as it arrived. Currently, the question is whether it has any prospect of ever returning. 

Like a slow-motion train crash, Google quickly appreciated Apple for its long-awaited adoption of RCS, but as soon as it went live, it was criticised for its awkward security flaw. Despite iMessage's constant praise of its end-to-end encryption, those green bubbles are still without it. 

Quick to react, Google and the GSMA said that end-to-end encryption for RCS is currently being developed. China comes along to ruin the fun, even though that might have won the day. Apple, Google, and other companies insist on end-to-end encryption since it appears that state-sponsored hackers have infiltrated US telco networks. 

Cross-platform RCS has suffered severely as a result of the FBI and CISA are now both cautioning the public to utilise encrypted platforms properly. There is no security when texting from an Android phone to an iPhone, as Samsung has warned customers. 

Google and the GSMA were quick to respond, promising that end-to-end encryption for RCS is in the works. But, although that might have won the day, China arrives to spoil the fun. It appears that state-sponsored hackers have broken into US telco networks, highlighting why Apple, Google, and others advocate for end-to-end encryption in the first place. With the FBI and CISA now warning citizens to use appropriately encrypted systems, cross-platform RCS has taken a significant knock. Even Samsung has advised consumers that texting from Android to iPhone is not secure. 

Apple has never denied that iMessage is only secure within its own walled garden. Google, not Apple, pushed for cross-platform RCS. When it finally arrived with iOS 18, Google sent out public messages about non-blurry images and other new capabilities, whereas Apple said little, if anything at all. 

So now it's up to Google Messages to pick up the pieces of this security catastrophe and figure out what to do next. How quickly can RCS be beefed up to meet the "responsible encryption" standard specified by the US government officials? Given the official warnings, how do Google and Apple encourage consumers to send basic RCS/SMS texts? How quickly will network confidence get better? 

However, with timing being everything, the ultimate impediment to that RCS train could be Apple's upcoming iPhone update—iOS 18.2. To everyone's surprise, the iMaker has chosen to provide all of its users—not just those in controlled Europe—the ability to choose their default apps. For the first time, choose an over-the-top service like WhatsApp or Signal as your primary call and message provider. 

The 2024 RCS dream has suffered a setback, though whether it has been buried beneath the waters remains to be seen. What is evident is that this benefits Meta, which owns the world's largest end-to-end encrypted messaging systems, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, even if they are not "responsibly" encrypted, as defined by the FBI, which requires authorised access to content when necessary. 

Google Messages customers who use that platform to text friends, family, and colleagues will now require a new app. If you don't already have WhatsApp, Messenger, or Signal, you should download them right now. WhatsApp is the clear winner, striking the ideal combination between security, functionality, and scalability. Many of the people you communicate with will already have the app installed.

In keeping with the security theme, you must take two steps to guarantee the integrity of end-to-end encryption. Start by correctly configuring WhatsApp (or a substitute). This includes passkeys when they are available and two-factor authentication. Second, make sure you avoid taking any chances when installing apps, downloading files, or clicking links. It's as if you haven't secured your stuff at all if an attacker uses malware to take over your phone or lures you into installing malicious software, regardless of the messenger you use. 

The irony for Google has continued with the announcement that Samsung is discontinuing RCS for millions of Galaxy users who are still using Samsung Messages and advising they migrate to Google Messages. The Galaxy maker told Verizon customers that "Samsung Messages will no longer support RCS after 1.6.2025." Switch to Google Messages to keep the more robust messaging you're accustomed to.”
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User Security
Data Privacy Mobile Security Threat Landscape User Security

Turn Your Phone Off Daily for Five Minutes to Prevent Hacking

 

There are numerous ways in which critical data on your phone can be compromised. These range from subscription-based apps that covertly transmit private user data to social media platforms like Facebook, to fraudulent accounts that trick your friends into investing in fake cryptocurrency schemes. This issue goes beyond being a mere nuisance; it represents a significant threat to individual privacy, democratic processes, and global human rights.

Experts and advocates have called for stricter regulations and safeguards to address the growing risks posed by spyware and data exploitation. However, the implementation of such measures often lags behind the rapid pace of technological advancements. This delay leaves a critical gap in protections, exacerbating the risks for individuals and organizations alike.

Ronan Farrow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, offers a surprisingly simple yet effective tip for reducing the chances of phone hacking: turn your phone off more frequently. During an appearance on The Daily Show to discuss his new documentary, Surveilled, Farrow highlighted the pressing need for more robust government regulations to curb spyware technology. He warned that unchecked use of such technology could push societies toward an "Orwellian surveillance state," affecting everyone who uses digital devices, not just political activists or dissidents.

Farrow explained that rebooting your phone daily can disrupt many forms of modern spyware, as these tools often lose their hold during a restart. This simple act not only safeguards privacy but also prevents apps from tracking user activity or gathering sensitive data. Even for individuals who are not high-profile targets, such as journalists or political figures, this practice adds a layer of protection against cyber threats. It also makes it more challenging for hackers to infiltrate devices and steal information.

Beyond cybersecurity, rebooting your phone regularly has additional benefits. It can help optimize device performance by clearing temporary files and resolving minor glitches. This maintenance step ensures smoother operation and prolongs the lifespan of your device. Essentially, the tried-and-true advice to "turn it off and on again" remains a relevant and practical solution for both privacy protection and device health.

Spyware and other forms of cyber threats pose a growing challenge in today’s interconnected world. From Pegasus-like software that targets high-profile individuals to less sophisticated malware that exploits everyday users, the spectrum of risks is wide and pervasive. Governments and technology companies are increasingly being pressured to develop and enforce regulations that prioritize user security. However, until such measures are in place, individuals can take proactive steps like regular phone reboots, minimizing app permissions, and avoiding suspicious downloads to reduce their vulnerability.

Ultimately, as technology continues to evolve, so too must our awareness and protective measures. While systemic changes are necessary to address the larger issues, small habits like rebooting your phone can offer immediate, tangible benefits. In the face of sophisticated cyber threats, a simple daily restart serves as a reminder that sometimes the most basic solutions are the most effective.

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User Security
Cyber Security Data Privacy Insider Threat Threat Landscape User Security

Internal Threats Loom Large as Businesses Deal With External Threats

 

Most people have likely been forced by their employer to undergo hour-long courses on how to prevent cyberattacks such as phishing, malware, and ransomware. Companies compel their staff to do this since cybercrime can be quite costly. According to FBI and IMF estimates, the cost is predicted to rise from $8.4 trillion in 2022 to $23 trillion by 2027. There are preventative methods available, such as multifactor authentication. 

The fact is, all of these threats are external. As companies develop the ability to handle these concerns, leadership's attention will move to an even more important concern: risks emanating from within the organisation. Being on "the inside" generally entails having access to highly sensitive and confidential information required to perform their duties. 

This can include financial performance statistics, product launch timelines, and source code. While this seems reasonable at first look, allowing access to this information also poses a significant risk to organizations—from top-secret government agencies to Fortune 500 companies and small businesses—if employees leak it.

Unfortunately, insider disclosures are becoming increasingly common. Since 2019, the number of insider occurrences reported by organisations has increased from 66% to an astounding 76%. Furthermore, these insider leaks are costly. In 2023, organisations spent an average of $16.2 million on resolving insider threats, with North American companies incurring the greatest overall cost of $19.09 million. 

There are several recent examples. Someone has leaked Israeli documents regarding an attack on Iran. An Apple employee leaked information about the iPhone 16. Examples abound throughout history. For example, in 1971, the Pentagon Papers altered public perception of the Vietnam War. However, the widespread use of internet media has made these risks simpler to propagate and more difficult to detect. 

Prevention tips 

Tech help: Monitoring for suspicious behaviour with software and AI is one technique to prevent leaks. Behaviour modelling technology, particularly AI-powered ones, can be quite effective at generating statistical conclusions using predictive analytics to, well, forecast outcomes and raise red flags. 

These solutions can provide an alarm, for example, if someone in HR, who would ordinarily not handle product design files, suddenly downloads a large number of product design files. Or if an employee has saved a large amount of information to a USB drive. Companies can use this information to conduct investigations, adjust access levels, or notify them that they need to pay more attention. 

Shut down broad access: Restricting employee access to specific data and files or eliminating certain files completely are two other strategies to stop internal leaks. This can mitigate the chance of leakage in the short term, but at what cost? Information exchange can inspire creativity and foster a culture of trust and innovation. 

Individualize data and files: Steganography, or the act of concealing information in plain sight, dates back to Ancient Greece and is a promising field for preventing leaks. It employs forensic watermarks to change a piece of content (an email, file, photo, or presentation) in imperceptible ways that identify the content so that sharing can be traced back to a single person. 

In recent times, the film industry was the first to employ steganography to combat piracy and theft of vital content. Movies and shows streamed on Hulu or Netflix are often protected with digital rights management (DRM), which includes audio and video watermarking to ensure that each copy is unique. Consider applying this technology to a company's daily operations, where terabytes of digital communications including potentially sensitive information—emails, presentations, photos, customer data—could be personalised for each individual. 

One thing is certain, regardless of the approach a business takes: it needs to have a strategy in place for dealing with the escalating issue of internal leaks. The danger is genuine, and the expenses are excessive. Since most employees are good, it only takes one bad actor to leak information and bring significant damage to their organisation.
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Threat Landscape
Artificial Intelligence Cyber Security Machine learning Quantum Computers Threat Landscape

Quantum Computing Meets AI: A Lethal Combination

 

Quantum computers are getting closer to Q-day — the day when they will be able to crack existing encryption techniques — as we continue to assign more infrastructure functions to artificial intelligence (AI). This could jeopardise autonomous control systems that rely on AI and ML for decision-making, as well as the security of digital communications. 

As AI and quantum converge to reveal remarkable novel technologies, they will also combine to develop new attack vectors and quantum cryptanalysis.

How far off is this threat?

For major organisations and governments, the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) will take at least ten years, if not much more. Since the last encryption standard upgrade, the size of networks and data has increased, enabling large language models (LLMs) and related specialised technologies. 

While generic versions are intriguing and even enjoyable, sophisticated AI will be taught on expertly picked data to do specialised tasks. This will quickly absorb all of the previous research and information created, providing profound insights and innovations at an increasing rate. This will complement, not replace, human brilliance, but there will be a disruptive phase for cybersecurity.

If a cryptographically relevant quantum computer becomes available before PQC is fully deployed, the repercussions are unknown in the AI era. Regular hacking, data loss, and even disinformation on social media will bring back memories of the good old days before AI driven by evil actors became the main supplier of cyber carcinogens.

When AI models are hijacked, the combined consequence of feeding live AI-controlled systems personalised data with malicious intent will become a global concern. The debate in Silicon Valley and political circles is already raging over whether AI should be allowed to carry out catastrophic military operations. Regardless of existing concerns, this is undoubtedly the future. 

However, most networks and economic activity require explicit and urgent defensive actions. To take on AI and quantum, critical infrastructure design and networks must advance swiftly and with significantly increased security. With so much at stake and new combined AI-quantum attacks unknown, one-size-fits-all upgrades to libraries such as TLS will not suffice. 

Internet 1.0 was built on old 1970s assumptions and limitations that predated modern cloud technology and its amazing redundancy. The next version must be exponentially better, anticipating the unknown while assuming that our current security estimations are incorrect. The AI version of Stuxnet should not surprise cybersecurity experts because the previous iteration had warning indications years ago.
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User Security
Cyber Security Data Leak Data Privacy Threat Landscape User Security

Five Common Cybersecurity Errors and How to Avoid Them

 

In the cultural mishmash of modern tech-savvy consumers, the blue screen of death looms large. The screen serves as a simple reminder informing the user that the device is unable to resolve the issue on its own. A computer crash can indicate that your CPU is degrading after years of use, but a cybersecurity compromise can also cause hardware to malfunction or operate unexpectedly. 

A significant portion of the total amount of theft and illegal conduct that impacts people today is carried out by cybercriminals. According to the FBI's 2023 Internet Crime Report, cybercrime complaints resulted in losses above $12.5 billion. The numbers showed a 10% increase in complaints and a 22% increase in financial losses.

As defenders, we must constantly look for what we have missed and how we can get better. Five common cybersecurity errors are listed below, along with tips on how to prevent them: 

Using simple password:  Employing strong passwords to safeguard your sensitive data is a vital part of any effective cybersecurity plan. Strong passwords can make it difficult for hackers to access your credentials. These passwords must include capital letters, symbols, and broken words, if any. Nearly everyone is aware of this aspect of internet use, and many online systems require users to include these security features in their profiles. However, 44% of users hardly ever change their passwords (though over a third of internet users participate in monthly refreshes), and 13% of Americans use the same password for every online account they create. 

Underestimating the human element: This is a fatal error because you would be overlooking a significant contributor to 74% of data breaches. According to the Ponemon Cost of a Data Breach 2022 Report, the top attack vector last year was stolen or compromised credentials; it appears that many of us are falling for scams and disclosing critical information. That's why black hats keep coming back: we provide a consistent, predictable source of funds. To tighten those reigns, implement an employee Security Awareness Training (SAT) program and follow the principle of least privilege. 

Invincible thinking:  Small firms frequently fall into this attitude, believing they have nothing of value to an outside attacker. If all attackers were pursuing billions of money and governmental secrets, this could be accurate. But they aren't. There are innumerable black hats who profit from "small" payments, compounded dividends, and the sale of credential lists. Any company having users and logins can find what they're looking for. This same approach can and should be applied to organisations of all sizes. Combat the "it can't happen to me" mentality with regular risk assessments, pen tests, SAT training, and red teaming to prepare your organisation; because it can. 

Not caring enough:   This is exactly where fraudsters want you: clueless and "I don't care." This can happen all too easily when SOCs become overwhelmed by the 1,000-plus daily notifications they receive, let alone attempting to stay ahead of the game with proactive preventive measures (or even strategy). Threat actors take advantage of teams that are overburdened. If your resources are stretched thin, the correct investment in the right area might alleviate some of the stress, allowing you to do more with less. 

Playing a defensive game:   We've all heard that the best defence is a good offence. And that is true. Cybersecurity frequently receives a solely defensive rap, which unfairly underestimates its value. Cybercriminals are continuously catching organisations off guard, and all too often, SOCs on the ground have never dealt with anything like them before. They patched vulnerabilities. They dodged phishing emails. However, an APT, advanced threat, or even a true red-alert cyber incursion might all be new territory. Prepare your digital and people nervous systems for an attack by instilling offensive security techniques such as penetration testing and red teaming in them before day zero.
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User Security
Artificial Intelligence Dark Patterns Generative AI Technology Threat Landscape User Security

AI-Powered Dark Patterns: What's Up Next?

 

The rapid growth of generative AI (artificial intelligence) highlights how urgent it is to address privacy and ethical issues related to the use of these technologies across a range of sectors. Over the past year, data protection conferences have repeatedly emphasised AI's expanding role in the privacy and data protection domains as well as the pressing necessity for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) to handle the issues it presents for their businesses. 

These issues include the creation of deepfakes and synthetic content that could sway public opinion or threaten specific individuals as well as the public at large, the leakage of sensitive personal information in model outputs, the inherent bias in generative algorithms, and the overestimation of AI capabilities that results in inaccurate output (also known as AI hallucinations), which often refer to real individuals. 

So, what are the AI-driven dark patterns? These are deceptive UI strategies that use AI to influence application users into making decisions that favour the company rather than the user. These designs employ user psychology and behaviour in more sophisticated ways than typical dark patterns. 

Imagine getting a video call from your bank manager (created by a deepfake) informing you of some suspicious activity on your account. The AI customises the call for your individual bank branch, your bank manager's vocal patterns, and even their look, making it quite convincing. This deepfake call could tempt you to disclose sensitive data or click on suspicious links. 

Another alarming example of AI-driven dark patterns may be hostile actors creating highly targeted social media profiles that exploit your child's flaws. The AI can analyse your child's online conduct and create fake friendships or relationships that could trick the child into disclosing personal information or even their location to these people. Thus, the question arises: what can we do now to minimise these ills? How do we prevent future scenarios in which cyber criminals and even ill-intentioned organisations contact us and our loved ones via technologies on which we have come to rely for daily activities? 

Unfortunately, the solution is not simple. Mitigating AI-driven dark patterns necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes consumers, developers, and regulatory organisations. The globally recognised privacy principles of data quality, data collection limitation, purpose specification, use limitation, security, transparency, accountability, and individual participation are universally applicable to all systems that handle personal data, including training algorithms and generative AI. We must now test these principles to discover if they can actually protect us from this new, and often thrilling, technology.

Prevention tips 

First and foremost, we must educate people on AI-driven dark trends and fraudulent techniques. This can be accomplished by public awareness campaigns, educational tools at all levels of the education system, and the incorporation of warnings into user interfaces, particularly on social media platforms popular with young people. Cigarette firms must disclose the risks of their products, as should AI-powered services to which our children are exposed.

We should also look for ways to encourage users, particularly young and vulnerable users, to be critical consumers of information they come across online, especially when dealing with AI systems. In the twenty-first century, our educational systems should train members of society to question (far more) the source and intent of AI-generated content. 

Give the younger generation, and even the older ones, the tools they need to control their data and customise their interactions with AI systems. This might include options that allow users or parents of young users to opt out of AI-powered suggestions or data collection. Governments and regulatory agencies play an important role to establish clear rules and regulations for AI development and use. The European Union plans to propose its first such law this summer. The long-awaited EU AI Act puts many of these data protection and ethical concerns into action. This is a positive start.
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Threat Landscape
BlueNoroff macOS malware North Korea Hackers Threat Landscape

North Korean Hackers Employ macOS Malware to Target Crypto Firms

 

BlueNoroff, a North Korean threat actor, has been attacking crypto firms with a new multistage malware for macOS systems. 

According to the researchers, the campaign is known as Hidden Risk, and it lures victims with emails that include fake data on the current activities in the cryptocurrency market.

The malware employed in these attacks depends on a novel persistence method on macOS that does not generate any alerts on the most recent versions of the operating system, allowing it to bypass detection. 

BlueNoroff is known for cryptocurrency theft and has previously targeted macOS with a payload malware called 'ObjCShellz' that opens remote shells on affected Macs. 

Infection chain 

The attacks begin with a phishing email containing crypto-related news and subjects, disguised as if forwarded by a bitcoin influencer to boost credibility. The mail includes a link to a PDF containing the information, but it actually points to the attackers' "delphidigital[.]org" domain. 

According to SentinelLabs experts, the "URL currently serves a benign form of the Bitcoin ETF document with titles that change over time," but it also serves the first step of a malicious application bundle known as 'Hidden Risk Behind New Surge of Bitcoin Price.app'. 

The researchers state that for the Hidden Risk campaign, the threat actor employed an original academic paper from the University of Texas. The first stage is a dropper software signed and notarised with a valid Apple Developer ID, "Avantis Regtech Private Limited (2S8XHJ7948)," which Apple has since revoked. 

When activated, the dropper gets a decoy PDF from a Google Drive link and opens it in the default PDF browser to distract the victim. In the background, however, the following stage payload is downloaded from "matuaner[.]com.”

Interestingly, the hackers have effectively circumvented Apple's App Transport Security standards by altering the app's 'Info. plist' file to permit unsafe HTTP connections to the attacker-controlled site. 

The "Hidden Risk" campaign, according to SentinelLabs, has been in operation for the past 12 months or more. It employs a more straightforward phishing strategy that excludes the customary "grooming" on social media that other DPRK hackers partake in. 

In order to get beyond macOS Gatekeeper, the researchers also point out that BlueNoroff has demonstrated a consistent capacity to find new Apple developer accounts and have their payloads notarised.
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Threat Landscape
APT36 Cyber Attacks Indian Organizations Pakistan Hacker Threat Landscape

Check Point Uncover Pakistan-Linked APT36’s New Malware Targeting Indian Systems

 

Pakistan's APT36 threat outfit has been deploying a new and upgraded version of its core ElizaRAT custom implant in what looks to be an increasing number of successful assaults on Indian government agencies, military entities, and diplomatic missions over the last year. 

Cybersecurity researchers at Check Point Research (CPR) identified that the latest ElizaRAT variant includes new evasion strategies, enhanced command-and-control (C2) capabilities, and an additional dropper component that makes it more difficult for defenders to spot the malware.

A new stealer payload known as ApoloStealer has been used by APT36 to collect specified file types from compromised systems, retain their metadata, and transport the data to the attacker's C2 server, therefore increasing the risk. 

"With the introduction of their new stealer, the group can now implement a 'step-by-step' approach, deploying malware tailored to specific targets," stated Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at Check Point Software. "This ensures that even if defenders detect their activities, they primarily find only a segment of the overall malware arsenal.”

The threat group's use of legitimate software, living off the land binaries (LoLBins), and lawful C2 communication services such as Telegram, Slack, and Google Drive complicates the situation. According to Shykevich, the adoption of these services has made it much more difficult to monitor malware transmissions in network traffic. 

APT36, also known as Transparent Tribe, Operation C-Major, Earth Karkaddan, and Mythic Leopard by security vendors, is a Pakistani threat group that has predominantly targeted Indian government and military entities in intelligence gathering operations from about 2013. Like many other tightly focused threat groups, APT36's attacks have occasionally targeted organisations in other nations, such as Europe, Australia, and the United States.

The malware that the threat actor now possesses comprises tools for infiltrating Android, Windows, and increasingly Linux devices. BlackBerry revealed earlier this year that in an APT36 campaign, ELF binaries (Linkable Executable and Linkable Format) accounted for 65% of the group's attacks against Maya OS, a Unix-like operating system created by India's defence ministry as a Windows substitute. Additionally, SentinelOne reported last year that APT36 was spreading the CopraRAT malware on Android devices owned by Indian military and diplomatic personnel by using romantic lures. 

ElizaRAT is malware that the threat actor included in their attack kit last September. The malware has been propagated using phishing emails that include links to malicious Control Panel files (CPL) hosted on Google Storage. When a user opens the CPL file, code is executed that starts the malware infection on their device, potentially granting the attacker remote access or control of the system. 

Over the last year, Check Point analysts detected APT36 operators using at least three different versions of ElizaRAT in three consecutive campaigns, all of which targeted Indian businesses. The first was an ElizaRAT variation that utilised Slack channels for C2 infrastructure. APT36 began employing that variation late last year, and approximately a month later began deploying ApoloStealer with it. 

Starting early this year, the threat group began using a dropper component to discreetly drop and unpack a compressed file carrying a new and enhanced version of ElizaRAT. The new variation, like its predecessor, initially checked to see if the machine's time zone was configured to Indian Standard Time before executing and engaging in malicious behaviour.

"Introducing new payloads such as ApolloStealer marks a significant expansion of APT36’s malware arsenal and suggests the group is adopting a more flexible, modular approach to payload deployment," CPR noted in its report. "These methods primarily focus on data collection and exfiltration, underscoring their sustained emphasis on intelligence gathering and espionage.”
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User Security
Cyber Crime LAPSUS$ Teen Hackers Threat Landscape User Security

Advanced Persistent Teenagers: A Rising Security Threat

 

If you ask some of the field's top cybersecurity executives what their biggest concerns are, you might not expect bored teenagers to come up. However, in recent years, this totally new generation of money-motivated hackers has carried out some of the biggest hacks in history and shows no signs of slowing. 

Meet the "advanced persistent teenagers," as stated by the security community. These are skilled, financially motivated attackers, such as Lapsus$ and Scattered Spider, who have proven capable of digitally breaching into hotel companies, casinos, and tech behemoths.

The hackers can deceive unsuspecting employees into giving over their company passwords or network access by using strategies such as believable email lures and convincing phone calls posing as a company's support desk. 

These attacks are extremely effective, have resulted in massive data breaches impacting millions of individuals, and have resulted in large ransoms paid to make the hackers vanish. By displaying hacking capabilities previously limited to only a few nation states, the threat from idle teenagers has forced numerous companies to confront the reality that they don't know if the personnel on their networks are who they say they are, and not a sneaky hacker. Has the threat posed by idle teens been understated, according to two respected security veterans? 

“Maybe not for much longer,” noted Darren Gruber, technical advisor in the Office of Security and Trust at database giant MongoDB, during an onstage panel at TechCrunch Disrupt. “They don’t feel as threatened, they may not be in U.S. jurisdictions, and they tend to be very technical and learn these things in different venues.”

Plus, a key automatic advantage is that these threat groups also have a lot of time on their hands. “It’s a different motivation than the traditional adversaries that enterprises see.” Gruber has dealt with a few of these threats directly. There was no evidence of access to client systems or databases, however an intrusion at the end of 2023 in MongoDB resulted in the theft of certain metadata, such as customer contact information. 

According to Gruber, the attack mirrored Scattered Spider's strategies, and the vulnerability was reportedly minimal. "The attackers posed to be employees and used a phishing lure to get into MongoDB's internal network," he claimed.
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Threat Landscape
Linux malware Misconfiguration Security flaw Threat Landscape

Stealthy Malware Has Infected Thousands of Linux Systems Since 2021

 

Aqua Security researchers have raised concerns about a newly identified malware family that targets Linux-based machines in order to get persistent access and control resources for crypto mining. The malware, known as perfctl, purports to exploit over 20,000 different types of misconfigurations and known vulnerabilities and has been active for over three years. 

Aqua Security uncovered that perfctl uses a rootkit to hide itself on compromised systems, runs as a service in the background, is only active when the machine is idle, communicates via a Unix socket and Tor, installs a backdoor on the infected server, and attempts to escalate privileges. The malware's handlers have been detected deploying more reconnaissance tools, proxy-jacking software, and a cryptocurrency miner. 

The attack chain begins with the exploitation of a vulnerability or misconfiguration, followed by the deployment and execution of the payload from a remote HTTP server. Next, it copies itself to the temporary directory, terminates the old process, deletes the initial binary, and runs from the new location. 

The payload contains an attack for CVE-2021-4043, a medium-severity Null pointer dereference vulnerability in the open source multimedia framework Gpac, which it uses to get root access. The flaw was recently uploaded to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities database. 

In addition to the cryptominer, the malware was observed copying itself to numerous additional locations on the computers, dropping a rootkit and popular Linux applications modified to function as userland rootkits. It uses a Unix socket to handle local communications and the Tor anonymity network for external command-and-control (C&C). 

"All the binaries are packed, stripped, and encrypted, indicating significant efforts to bypass defence mechanisms and hinder reverse engineering attempts," the company said. 

Furthermore, the malware monitors specific files and, if a user logs in, it suspends activities to conceal its presence. It also ensures that user-specific configurations are executed in Bash contexts, allowing the server to run normally. 

For persistence, perfctl alters a script such that it is executed before the server's legitimate workload. It also attempts to terminate the processes of any additional malware it detects on the infected PC. 

The deployed rootkit hooks into various functions and modifies their functionality, including changes that allow "unauthorised actions during the authentication process, such as bypassing password checks, logging credentials, or modifying the behaviour of authentication mechanisms," according to Aqua Security. 

The cybersecurity firm found three download servers linked to the attacks, as well as other websites that were likely hacked by the threat actors, resulting in the finding of artefacts used in the exploitation of vulnerable or misconfigured Linux servers. 

“We identified a very long list of almost 20K directory traversal fuzzing list, seeking for mistakenly exposed configuration files and secrets. There are also a couple of follow-up files (such as the XML) the attacker can run to exploit the misconfiguration,” the company added.
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User Security
Cyber Security Healthcare Industry Patient Data Threat Landscape User Security

Healthcare Cybersecurity: Taking a Proactive Route

 

Cyberattacks in healthcare are growing more common and can disrupt an organization's operations. Healthcare organisations handle a lot of sensitive data, including financial information, patient health records, and identifying data, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. 

This vulnerability is exacerbated by the sector's sophisticated systems and the widespread dissemination of electronic health records across networks. Healthcare's economic model, with large volumes and poor margins, makes it particularly susceptible to attacks. 

Furthermore, the stakes are especially high in healthcare, where a breach or hack can have serious ramifications ranging from compromising patient privacy to life-threatening disruptions in medical services. Cybercriminals can shut down a whole healthcare system for weeks or even months, delaying critical patient treatment. They're also employing new tools like generative AI to develop sophisticated and difficult-to-detect cyberattacks. 

In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a record 725 reports of large healthcare security breaches. Healthcare security breaches are twice as common as they were seven years ago, with two major breaches recorded each day on average in 2023. Cybercrime expenses (estimated by some to reach $8 trillion by 2025) are anticipated to rise, highlighting the growing financial risks. 

According to Accenture research, leaders across industries recognise the importance of cybersecurity, yet only a tiny minority believe they are adequately equipped to deal with cyberattacks. Healthcare organisations are acutely aware of the changing cyberthreat landscape and are concerned about their ability to prevent or mitigate harm from a cyberattack. 

Changing nature of cyber attacks 

Patient identity theft has long been a common target of hackers in healthcare. However, recent trends indicate a shift towards more complex techniques in which attackers attempt to paralyse operations in order to extract ransoms. Protecting patient data remains critical, and organisations must continue to improve data security and network segmentation to mitigate the risk. However, ensuring the continuity of operations is as critical. 

Online criminals are increasingly targeting healthcare organisations with hacks that encrypt critical operating data and systems, rendering them inaccessible to medical professionals. Interestingly, not all breaches result in instant attacks. Once cybercriminals have gained access to a healthcare system, they can choose when to launch an assault. 

Researchers believe traditional cybersecurity techniques, which mainly focus on perimeter defence, are no longer sufficient given the sophistication of attacks. The healthcare industry requires a more robust strategy. In addition to continuing to work to prevent breaches and secure data, researchers advise healthcare businesses to shift focus to continuity initiatives so that when an assault inevitably occurs, they can restore operations promptly to minimize downtime and disruption.
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