Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 26 April 2024

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox

The 2024 Cyber Claims Report by insurer Coalition reveals critical vulnerabilities and trends affecting cyber insurance policyholders. Notably, over half of the claims in 2023 stemmed from funds transfer fraud (FTF) and business email compromise (BEC), underlining the critical role of email security in cyber risk management. The report also indicated heightened risks associated with boundary devices like firewalls and VPNs, particularly if they are exposed online and have known vulnerabilities. Additionally, the overall claims frequency and severity rose by 13% and 10% respectively, pushing the average loss to $100,000. These insights emphasise the necessity of proactive cyber security measures and the valuable role of cyber insurance in mitigating financial losses from cyber incidents.

Sources: [IT Security Guru] [Emerging Risks]

Unmasking the True Cost of Cyber Attacks: Beyond Ransom and Recovery

The global cost of cyber crime is expected to soar to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, a steep rise from $3 trillion in 2015, underscoring a significant improvement in the methods of cyber criminals, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Beyond direct financial losses like ransomware payments, the hidden costs of cyber attacks for businesses include severe operational disruptions, lost revenue, damaged reputations, strained customer relationships, and regulatory fines. These incidents, further exacerbated by increased insurance premiums, collectively contribute to substantial long-term financial burdens. The report indicates that 88% of data breaches are attributable to human error, underscoring the importance of comprehensive employee training alongside technological defences. To combat these evolving cyber threats effectively, organisations must adopt a multi-pronged strategy that includes advanced security technologies, regular system updates, employee education, and comprehensive security audits.

According to another report from SiliconAngle, cyber insurance claims increased 13% year-over-year in 2023, with the 10% rise in overall claims severity attributed to mounting ransomware attack claims.

Sources: [The Hacker News] [Huntress] [SC Media]

Why Cyber Security Should Be Driving Your Enterprise Risk Management Strategy

Cyber security has transformed from a secondary concern into the cornerstone of corporate risk management. The historical view of cyber security as merely a component of broader risk strategies is outdated; it now demands a central role in safeguarding against operational, financial, and reputational threats. Many businesses, recognising the vital role of technology in all operations, have begun elevating the position of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to integrate cyber security into their overall enterprise risk frameworks. This shift not only enhances visibility and strategic alignment at the highest organisational levels but also fosters more robust defences against cyber threats. As such, adopting a cyber security-centric approach is crucial for compliance and long-term resilience in the face of growing digital threats.

Source: [Forbes]

Ransomware Double-Dip: Re-Victimisation in Cyber Extortion

A recent cyber security study reveals a troubling trend of re-victimisation among organisations hit by cyber extortion or ransomware attacks. Analysis of over 11,000 affected organisations shows recurring victimisation due to repeated attacks, data reuse among criminal affiliates, or cross-affiliate data sharing. Notably, cyber extortion incidents have surged by 51% year-on-year. Additionally, a separate study reports payments exceeding $1 billion and a 20% increase in ransomware attack victims since early 2023. These findings underscore the increasing sophistication and persistence of cyber criminals. Despite law enforcement efforts, adaptable cyber crime groups swiftly resume operations, complicating effective threat mitigation. Organisations must enhance their cyber security measures to avoid becoming repeated targets.

Sources: [Security Magazine] [The Hacker News] [SC Media]

AI is a Major Threat and Many Financial Organisations Are Not Doing Enough

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a major concern for organisations, especially for the financial services sector due to the information they hold. Recent reports have found that AI has driven phishing up by 60% and AI tools have been linked to data exposure in 1 in 5 UK organisations. But it is not just attackers utilising AI: a separate report found that 20% of employees have exposed data via AI.

Currently, many financial organisations are not doing enough to secure themselves to fight AI. In a recent survey, 69% of fraud-management decision makers, AML professionals, and risk and compliance leaders reported that criminals are more advanced at using AI for financial crime than firms are in defending against it.

Sources: [Verdict] [Beta News] [Infosecurity Magazine] [TechRadar] [Security Brief]

[Biometric Update]

6 out of 10 Businesses Struggle to Manage Cyber Risk

A report has found that 6 in 10 businesses are struggling to manage their cyber risk and just 43% have confidence in their ability to address cyber risk. Further, 35% of total respondents worry that senior management does not see cyber attacks as a significant risk; the same percentage also reported a struggle in hiring skilled professionals. When it came to implementing their security policy, half of respondents found difficulty, and when it came to securing the supply chain, a third reported worries.

Given the inevitability of a cyber attack, organisations need to prepare themselves. Those that struggle to manage their cyber risk and/or hire skilled professions will benefit from outsourcing to skilled, reputable cyber security organisations who can guide them through the process.

Sources: [PR Newswire] [Beta News]

'Junk Gun' Ransomware: New Low-Cost Cyber Threat Targets SMBs

Sophos’ research reveals a concerning trend: ‘junk gun’ ransomware variants are now traded on the dark web. Rather than going the traditional route of selling or buying ransomware to or as an affiliate, attackers have now begun creating and selling unsophisticated ransomware variants for a one-time cost. Priced at a median of $375, they attract lower-skilled attackers, especially those targeting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). As major ransomware players fade, these variants pose significant threats, accounting for over 75% of cyber incidents affecting SMBs in 2023.

Source: [Security Brief] [Tripwire]

Penetration Testing Infrequency Leaves Security Gaps

Many organisations are struggling to maintain the balance between penetration testing and IT changes within the organisation, leaving security gaps according to a recent report. The report found that 73% of organisations reported changes to their IT environments at least quarterly, however only 40% performed penetration testing at the same frequency.

The issue arises where there is a significant duration during which changes have been implemented without undergoing assessment, leaving organisations open to risk for extended periods of time. Consider the situation in which an organisation moves their infrastructure from on-premise to the cloud: they now have a different IT environment, and with that, new risks.

Black Arrow always recommends that a robust penetration test should be conducted whenever changes to internet facing infrastructure have been made, and at least annually.

Source: [MSSP Alert]

Bank Prohibited from Opening New Accounts After Regulators Lose Patience with Poor Cyber Security Governance

A bank in India has been banned from signing up new customers, and instructed to focus on improving its cyber security after “serious deficiencies and non-compliances” were found within their IT environment. The compliances provided by the bank were described as “inadequate, incorrect or not sustained”. The bank is now subject to an external audit, which if passed, will consider the lifting of the restrictions placed upon them.

Source: [The Register]

The Psychological Impact of Phishing Attacks on Your Employees

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent attack vectors for bad actors, and its psychological impact on employees can be severe, with many employees facing a loss in confidence and job satisfaction as well as an increase in anxiety. In a study by Egress, it was found that 74% of employees were disciplined, dismissed or left voluntarily after suffering a phishing incident, which can cause hesitation when it comes to reporting phishing.

Phishing incidents and simulations where employees have clicked should be seen as an opportunity to learn, not to blame, and to understand why a phish was successful and what can be done in future to prevent it. Organisations should perform security education and awareness training to help employees lessen their chance of falling victim, as well as knowing the reporting procedures.

Source: [Beta News]

Where Hackers Find Your Weak Spots

A recent analysis highlights social engineering as a primary vector for cyber attacks, emphasising its reliance on meticulously gathered intelligence to exploit organisational vulnerabilities. Attackers leverage various intelligence sources; Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for public data, Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) for social media insights, Advertising Intelligence (ADINT) from advertising data, Dark Web Intelligence (DARKINT) from the DarkWeb, and the emerging AI Intelligence (AI-INT) using artificial intelligence. These methods equip cyber criminals with detailed knowledge about potential victims, enabling targeted and effective attacks. The report underscores the critical importance of robust information management and employee training to mitigate such threats, specifically advocating for regular training, AI-use policies, and proactive intelligence gathering by organisations to protect against the substantial risks posed by social engineering.

Source: [Dark Reading]

The Role of Threat Intelligence in Financial Data Protection

The financial industry’s reliance on digital processes has made it vulnerable to cyber attacks. Criminals target sensitive customer data, leading to financial losses, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. To combat these threats such as phishing, malware, ransomware, and social engineering, financial institutions must prioritise robust cyber security measures. One effective approach is threat intelligence, which involves ingesting reliable threat data, customised to your sector and the technology you have in place, and dark web monitoring.

Source: [Security Boulevard]

Government Cannot Protect Business and Services from Cyber Attack, Decision Makers Say

According to a recent report, 66% of surveyed IT leaders expressed a lack of confidence in their government’s ability to defend people and enterprises from cyber attacks, especially those from nation state actors. This scepticism arises from the growing complexity of threats and the rapid evolution of cyber warfare. While governments play a critical role in national security, their agility in adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape leaves organisations finding themselves increasingly responsible for their own protection.

Source: [TechRadar] [Security Magazine]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Ransomware triggers cyber insurance claims increase | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox - IT Security Guru

• Pen Testing Infrequency Leaves Security Gaps | MSSP Alert

• Six out of 10 businesses struggle to manage cyber risk (betanews.com)

• Email inbox cyber crime leaps as claims soar (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• It Costs How Much?!? The Financial Pitfalls of Cyber Attacks on SMBs | Huntress

• Why Cyber Security Should Be Driving Your Enterprise Risk Management Strategy (forbes.com)

• Cyber attacks are on the rise, and that includes small businesses. Here's what to know | AP News

• Cyber staff priority as threats continue – report (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• UK government cannot protect businesses and services from cyber attacks, IT pros say | TechRadar

• Why cyber attacks shouldn’t be viewed as isolated incidents - Raconteur

• Bank banned from opening new accounts over IT risks • The Register

• Battening down the hatches: Navigating third-party cyber threats  | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cyber Attacks Keep Rising. Here's What Small Businesses Need to Know | Inc.com

• 73% of SME security pros missed or ignored critical alerts - Help Net Security

• Unmasking the True Cost of Cyber Attacks: Beyond Ransom and Recovery (thehackernews.com)

• 4 steps CISOs can take to raise trust in their business | TechTarget

• NCSC Says Newer Threats Need Network Defence Strategy | Trend Micro (US)

• Uncertainty is the most common driver of noncompliance - Help Net Security

• More and more businesses now have CISOs - but they're increasingly taking the blame for attacks | TechRadar

• Cyber metrics journey | Professional Security

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware triggers cyber insurance claims increase | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox - IT Security Guru

• Report finds a near 20% increase in ransomware victims year-over-year | Security Magazine

• Risks to ransomware attack payment | Professional Security

• Ransomware Double-Dip: Re-Victimization in Cyber Extortion (thehackernews.com)

• 'Junk gun' ransomware: New low-cost cyber threat targets SMBs (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Mandiant: Attacker dwell time down, ransomware up in 2023 | TechTarget

• Behavioural patterns of ransomware groups are changing - Help Net Security

• Record ransomware attacks in March 2024, report finds (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Ransomware payments drop to record low of 28% in Q1 2024 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers use developing countries as testing ground for new ransomware attacks (ft.com)

• Ransomware Still On Rise Despite Better Defences, Firm Says - Law360

• Hackers are using developing countries for ransomware practice | Ars Technica

• Dark web inundated by cheap ransomware tools | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Unmasking the True Cost of Cyber Attacks: Beyond Ransom and Recovery (thehackernews.com)

• Action needed amid escalating ransomware attacks, record-high payments | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• HelloKitty ransomware rebrands, releases CD Projekt and Cisco data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Rising Ransomware Issue: English-Speaking Western Affiliates (govinfosecurity.com)

• Ransomware in Q1 2024: Frequency, size of payments trending downwards, SMBs beware! - Help Net Security

• CL0P ransomware gang is on the rise | Hogan Lovells - JDSupra

• Proportion paying ransoms declines in Q1 2024, even as takings break a new record (computing.co.uk)

• Megazord Ransomware Attacking Healthcare & Govt Entities (cybersecuritynews.com)

• CISA ransomware warning program set to fully launch by end of 2024 | CyberScoop

• DragonForce Ransomware Group Uses LockBit’s Leaked Builder - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber Hygiene Helps Organisations Mitigate Ransomware-Related Vulnerabilities  | CISA

• Ransomware attacks rise in global food & agriculture sector (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Preventing Ransomware Attacks at Scale (hbr.org)

Ransomware Victims

• Hackers Were in Change Healthcare 9 Days Before Attack (pymnts.com)

• UnitedHealth BlackCat Attack Cost is $872M in Q1 | MSSP Alert

• UnitedHealth admits breach could affect large chunk of US • The Register

• Back from the Brink: UnitedHealth Offers Sobering Post-Attack Update (darkreading.com)

• UnitedHealth Paid Ransom to Protect Patient Data | MSSP Alert

• Will the Change Healthcare case finally make providers do a business impact analysis? | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• UNDP, City of Copenhagen Targeted in Data-Extortion Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)

• Cannes Hospital Cancels Medical Procedures Following Cyber Attack - Security Week

• Small medical practices will close because of Change cyber attack, says AMA | Healthcare IT News

• HelloKitty ransomware rebrands, releases CD Projekt and Cisco data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Sweden's liquor shelves to run empty this week due to ransomware attack (therecord.media)

• Authentication failure blamed for Change Healthcare ransomware attack | CSO Online

• Ransomware feared as Octapharma Plasma closes 150+ centers • The Register

• Red Ransomware takes credit for Targus attack | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ransomware Gang Leaks Data Allegedly Stolen From Government Contractor - Security Week

• Carpetright unable to trade after cyber attack - Retail Gazette

• Street lights in Leicester City cannot be turned off due to a cyber attack (securityaffairs.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing attacks up 60 percent driven by AI (betanews.com)

• Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox - IT Security Guru

• The psychological impact of phishing attacks on your employees (betanews.com)

• Hackers Create Legit Phishing Links With Ghost GitHub, GitLab Comments (darkreading.com)

• Authorities investigate LabHost users after phishing service shut down | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Researchers Detail Multistage Attack Hijacking Systems with SSLoad, Cobalt Strike (thehackernews.com)

• LA County Health Services: Patients' data exposed in phishing attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

BEC

• Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox - IT Security Guru

• Email inbox cyber crime leaps as claims soar (emergingrisks.co.uk)

Other Social Engineering

• LastPass Users Lose Master Passwords to Ultra-Convincing Scam (darkreading.com)

• Open Source Groups Warn of Social Engineering Backdoors | MSSP Alert

Artificial Intelligence

• AI is a major threat and financial organisations are not doing enough to fight it | Biometric Update

• Phishing attacks up 60 percent driven by AI (betanews.com)

• Fifth of CISOs Admit Staff Leaked Data Via GenAI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Five Eyes agencies publish report on AI security | Hogan Lovells - JDSupra

• AI tools linked to data exposure in 1 in 5 UK organisations (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Security Leaders Braced for Daily AI-Driven Attacks by Year-End - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• CSOs say AI is 'biggest cyber threat' to organisations | TechRadar

• Man arrested for 'framing colleague' with AI-generated voice • The Register

• Microsoft Warns: North Korean Hackers Turn to AI-Fueled Cyber Espionage (thehackernews.com)

• People doubt their own ability to spot AI-generated deepfakes - Help Net Security

• A National Security Insider Does the Math on the Dangers of AI | WIRED

• 40% of organisations have AI policies for critical infrastructure | Security Magazine

• GPT-4 can exploit real vulnerabilities by reading advisories • The Register

• 25 cyber security AI stats you should know - Help Net Security

• Cyber Threats in the Age of AI: Protecting Your Digital DNA - Security Boulevard

• The Dark Side of Deepfakes: How Malicious Actors Use Synthetic Media to Manipulate and Deceive | Metaverse Post (mpost.io)

• 6 security items that should be in every AI acceptable use policy | CSO Online

• 'Poisoned' data could wreck AIs in wartime, warns Army software acquisition chief - Breaking Defence

• The use of AI in war games could change military strategy (theconversation.com)

2FA/MFA

• Strengths & Weaknesses of MFA Methods Against Cyber Attacks | Duo Security

• What is multi-factor authentication (MFA), and why is it important? - Help Net Security

Malware

• ToddyCat APT Is Stealing Data on 'Industrial Scale' (darkreading.com)

• Report says over 10 million devices were infected by data-stealing malware in 2023 - PhoneArena

• New Brokewell malware takes over Android devices, steals data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GitLab affected by GitHub-style CDN flaw allowing malware hosting (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft unmasks Russia-linked ‘GooseEgg’ malware (therecord.media)

• Hackers hijack antivirus updates to drop GuptiMiner malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• eScan Antivirus Update Mechanism Exploited to Spread Backdoors and Miners (thehackernews.com)

• Beware! Notorious Samurai Stealer Used in Targeted Attacks (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Threat Actor Uses Multiple Infostealers in Global Campaign - Security Week

• Seedworm Hackers Exploit RMM Tools to Deliver Malware (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Antivirus updates hijacked to drop dangerous malware | TechRadar

• Hackers infect users of antivirus service that delivered updates over HTTP | Ars Technica

• Researchers sinkhole PlugX malware server with 2.5 million unique IPs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Millions of IPs remain infected by USB worm years after its creators left it for dead | Ars Technica

• North Korea's Lazarus Group Deploys New Kaolin RAT via Fake Job Lures (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• Report says over 10 million devices were infected by data-stealing malware in 2023 - PhoneArena

• Ukrainian soldiers’ apps increasingly targeted for spying, cyber agency warns (therecord.media)

• iPhone password reset attacks are real – how to protect yourself | Mashable

• New Brokewell malware takes over Android devices, steals data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Godfather Banking Trojan Spawns 1.2K Samples Across 57 Countries (darkreading.com)

• Major Security Flaws Expose Keystrokes of Over 1 Billion Chinese Keyboard App Users (thehackernews.com)

• Give Your iPhone a Security Boost With This iOS 17.4 Feature - CNET

• A Briefing on SIM Hijacking | Intel471

Data Breaches/Leaks

• 5.3M World-Check records may be leaked; how to check your records | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers stole 7,000,000 people's DNA. But what can they do with it? | Tech News | Metro News

• AT&T Offers All Customers Free Security Bundle After Data Breach (tech.co)

• AT&T faces class action lawsuit over massive data breach exposing 70 million customers’ personal information (click2houston.com)

• App bug exposes 1M neighbourhood watchers to data harvesters • The Register

• Fifth of CISOs Admit Staff Leaked Data Via GenAI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Rising Ransomware Issue: English-Speaking Western Affiliates (govinfosecurity.com)

• Russian FSB Counterintelligence Chief Gets 9 Years in Cyber Crime Bribery Scheme – Krebs on Security

• Authorities investigate LabHost users after phishing service shut down | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• To Catch a Cyber Criminal -- and the Fallout That Follows (informationweek.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• eScan Antivirus Update Mechanism Exploited to Spread Backdoors and Miners (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus On the Hunt: How North Korean Hackers are Targeting Crypto via LinkedIn (bitcoinist.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Most people still rely on memory or pen and paper for password management - Help Net Security

• The rise of the outsmarted insider (betanews.com)

• CesiumAstro claims former exec spilled trade secrets to upstart competitor AnySignal | TechCrunch

Insurance

• Ransomware triggers cyber insurance claims increase | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Coalition Finds More Than Half of Cyber Insurance Claims Originate in the Email Inbox - IT Security Guru

• Email inbox cyber crime leaps as claims soar (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• Coalition: Insurance claims for Cisco ASA users spiked in 2023 | TechTarget

• Munich Re on the impact of cyber rate changes | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Battening down the hatches: Navigating third-party cyber threats  | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ransomware Gang Leaks Data Allegedly Stolen From Government Contractor - Security Week

• Tech Investments Help SMBs Fortify Supply Chains Amid Economic, Workforce, and Security Concerns | Business Wire

Cloud/SaaS

• How Attackers Can Own a Business Without Touching the Endpoint (thehackernews.com)

• 5 Hard Truths About the State of Cloud Security 2024 (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• How Attackers Can Own a Business Without Touching the Endpoint (thehackernews.com)

• Identity-based security threats are growing rapidly: report | CSO Online

Encryption

• Europol asks tech firms, governments to get rid of E2EE • The Register

• How tech firms are tackling the risks of quantum computing | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Australian authorities call for Big Tech help with decryption • The Register

Linux and Open Source

• Open Source Groups Warn of Social Engineering Backdoors | MSSP Alert

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Most people still rely on memory or pen and paper for password management - Help Net Security

• Apple @ Work: Over 52% of workers try to memorize and reuse the same password across multiple apps at work - 9to5Mac

• New Password Cracking Analysis Targets Bcrypt - Security Week

• Brute Force Password Cracking Takes Longer - Don't Celebrate Yet (technewsworld.com)

Social Media

• Dutch govt body: Don't use Facebook if unsure about privacy • The Register

• North Korea's Lazarus Group Deploys New Kaolin RAT via Fake Job Lures (thehackernews.com)

Malvertising

• Windows 11 now comes with its own adware (engadget.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• 10 colleges and universities shaping the future of cyber security education - Help Net Security

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• What is the EU Cyber Solidarity Act? | UpGuard

• International Lawyers Network Announces the Launch of Comprehensive Data Protection Guide (prleap.com)

• Preparing for NIS2: A Compliance Guide For Covered Entities | UpGuard

• NIS2: Preparing for EU’s New Cyber Security Rules | Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati – JDSupra

• Compliance in 2024: Cutting through the noise (federalnewsnetwork.com)

• Google Postpones Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Amid UK Regulatory Scrutiny (thehackernews.com)

• A view from Brussels: To be sovereign, or not to be (iapp.org)

• Cyber Security | UK Regulatory Outlook April 2024 - Lexology

• Net neutrality has been restored in the US - Help Net Security

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Fortifying your business with ISO 27001 - DCD (datacenterdynamics.com)

• Preparing for NIS2: A Compliance Guide For Covered Entities | UpGuard

• Taking Time to Understand NIS2 Reporting Requirements - Security Boulevard

Data Protection

• International Lawyers Network Announces the Launch of Comprehensive Data Protection Guide (prleap.com)

• Boost your data protection with insights from Dell's report - SiliconANGLE

• A view from Brussels: To be sovereign, or not to be (iapp.org)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Cyber staff priority as threats continue – report (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• Pluralsight Study Finds the Biggest Technical Skills Gaps are in Cyber Security, Cloud, and Software Development (prnewswire.com)

• Three Ways Organisations Can Overcome the Cyber Security Skills Gap - Security Boulevard

• Addressing the cyber skills shortage: 5 key steps to take | CSO Online

• Five Essential Steps To Land Your First Cyber Security Job (forbes.com)

• Expert Insight: Outdated Recruitment Methods Are Impeding The Global Cyber Army - IT Security Guru

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Exploring Law Enforcement Hacking as a Tool Against Transnational Cyber Crime - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Authorities investigate LabHost users after phishing service shut down | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Trend Micro Collaborated with Interpol in Cracking Down Grandoreiro Banking Trojan | Trend Micro (US)

• To Catch a Cyber Criminal -- and the Fallout That Follows (informationweek.com)

• Man arrested for 'framing colleague' with AI-generated voice • The Register

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Campaigns and political parties are in the crosshairs of election meddlers | CyberScoop

• Mandiant: Russia, Iran pose biggest threat to 2024 elections • The Register

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• State-Sponsored Hackers Exploit Two Cisco Zero-Day Vulnerabilities for Espionage (thehackernews.com)

China

• ToddyCat APT Is Stealing Data on 'Industrial Scale' (darkreading.com)

• Chinese, Russian espionage campaigns increasingly targeting edge devices (therecord.media)

• UK mulls fresh controls on 'sensitive tech' after China cyber claim (thenextweb.com)

• FBI Director Wray Issues Dire Warning on China's Cyber Security Threat (darkreading.com)

• Head of Belgian Foreign Affairs Committee says she was hacked by China | Reuters

• New tool used in China-linked attacks against Asia-Pacific | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Dutch intelligence warns of stronger threats from China, jihadists and extremists | NL Times

• MITRE breached by nation-state threat actor via Ivanti zero-days - Help Net Security

• Ads on .gov.uk websites raise eyebrows over privacy • The Register

• China's Vision for Global Security: Implications for Southeast Asia | United States Institute of Peace (usip.org)

Russia

• Microsoft: APT28 hackers exploit Windows flaw reported by NSA (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft issues warning over ‘GooseEgg’ tool used in Russian hacking campaigns | ITPro

• Chinese, Russian espionage campaigns increasingly targeting edge devices (therecord.media)

• Russia's Fancy Bear Pummels Windows Print Spooler Bug (darkreading.com)

• Who Are APT29? - Security Boulevard

• Overflowing Water Tank Linked to Russian Cyber Attack (govtech.com)

• Russia accused of jamming GPS signal on flights from UK causing route chaos (inews.co.uk)

• Russian Sandworm hackers targeted 20 critical orgs in Ukraine (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Rare Computer Virus Detected in Ukrainian Network, Confidential Document Potentially Compromised (kyivpost.com)

• Russian FSB Counterintelligence Chief Gets 9 Years in Cyber Crime Bribery Scheme – Krebs on Security

• Campaigns and political parties are in the crosshairs of election meddlers | CyberScoop

• Mandiant: Russia, Iran pose biggest threat to 2024 elections • The Register

• Ukrainian soldiers’ apps increasingly targeted for spying, cyber agency warns (therecord.media)

• MITRE breached by nation-state threat actor via Ivanti zero-days - Help Net Security

• Ukraine participates in NATO cyber security exercise in Estonia / The New Voice of Ukraine (nv.ua)

• Cyber attacks on Poland surged after election of pro-Ukraine regime (thenextweb.com)

Iran

• $10 Million Bounty on Iranian Hackers for Cyber Attacks on US Gov, Defence Contractors - Security Week

• Campaigns and political parties are in the crosshairs of election meddlers | CyberScoop

• Mandiant: Russia, Iran pose biggest threat to 2024 elections • The Register

• Iranian nationals charged with hacking US companies, Treasury and State departments | CyberScoop

• The Biggest 2024 Elections Threat: Kitchen-Sink Attack Chains (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• Over 10 Defence Industry Firms Targeted in Concentrated Cyber Attacks by N. Korean Hackers l KBS WORLD

• Hackers hijack antivirus updates to drop GuptiMiner malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft Warns: North Korean Hackers Turn to AI-Fuelled Cyber Espionage (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Hackers Target Dozens of Defence Companies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• North Korea's Lazarus Group Deploys New Kaolin RAT via Fake Job Lures (thehackernews.com)

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• Dutch intelligence warns of stronger threats from China, jihadists and extremists | NL Times

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Vulnerability Management

• Third-Party Software Patching: Your Cyber Armor in 2024 | MSSP Alert

• Automated patch management: 9 best practices for success | TechTarget

• Vulnerability Exploitation on the Rise as Attacker Ditch Phishing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Vulnerabilities Versus Intentionally Malicious Software Components - The New Stack

• GPT-4 can exploit real vulnerabilities by reading advisories • The Register

• CISA ransomware warning program set to fully launch by end of 2024 | CyberScoop

Vulnerabilities

• 22,500 Palo Alto firewalls "possibly vulnerable" to ongoing attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Palo Alto Networks Discloses More Details on Critical PAN-OS Flaw Under Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Nation-state actors exploited two zero-days in Cisco ASA and FTD firewalls to breach government networks - Security Affairs

• Russia's Fancy Bear Pummels Windows Print Spooler Bug (darkreading.com)

• 'MagicDot' Windows Weakness Allows Unprivileged Rootkit Activity (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft: APT28 hackers exploit Windows flaw reported by NSA (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MITRE says state hackers breached its network via Ivanti zero-days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GitLab affected by GitHub-style CDN flaw allowing malware hosting (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Patches Critical Chrome Vulnerability - Security Week

• Microsoft releases Exchange hotfixes for security update issues (bleepingcomputer.com)

• PoC Exploit Released For Critical Oracle VirtualBox Vulnerability (gbhackers.com)

• Critical Forminator plugin flaw impacts over 300k WordPress sites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dependency Confusion Vulnerability Found in Apache Project - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Major Security Flaw in Popular Keyboard Apps Puts Millions at Risk (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Patch Now: CrushFTP Zero-Day Cloud Exploit Targets US Orgs (darkreading.com)

• GitHub vulnerability leaks sensitive security reports | TechTarget

• New Password Cracking Analysis Targets Bcrypt - Security Week

• Maximum severity Flowmon bug has a public exploit, patch now (bleepingcomputer.com)

---

Tools and Controls

• Seedworm Hackers Exploit RMM Tools to Deliver Malware (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Third-Party Software Patching: Your Cyber Armour in 2024 | MSSP Alert

• The Role of Threat Intelligence in Financial Data Protection - Security Boulevard

• Automated patch management: 9 best practices for success | TechTarget

• Rethinking How You Work with Detection and Response Metrics (darkreading.com)

• Choosing SOC Tools? Read This First [2024 Guide] - Security Boulevard

• Research Shows How Attackers Can Abuse EDR Security Products - SecurityWeek

• What is multi-factor authentication (MFA), and why is it important? - Help Net Security

• Strengths & Weaknesses of MFA Methods Against Cyber Attacks | Duo Security

• Zero Trust Takes Over: 63% of Orgs Implementing Globally (darkreading.com)

• Pen Testing Infrequency Leaves Security Gaps | MSSP Alert

• 5 Hard Truths About the State of Cloud Security 2024 (darkreading.com)

• Explore CASB use cases before you decide to buy | TechTarget

• SD-WAN: Don't Build a Dead End, Prepare for Future-Proof Secure Networking - SecurityWeek

• Identity-based security threats are growing rapidly: report | CSO Online

• Microsoft criticized for charging for security add-ons • The Register

• 5 insights from new Microsoft CNAPP guide | Microsoft Security Blog

• The Peril of Badly Secured Network Edge Devices (inforisktoday.com)

• VPNs, Firewalls' Nonexistent Telemetry Lures APTs (darkreading.com)

• The first steps of establishing your cloud security strategy - Help Net Security

• 40% of organizations have AI policies for critical infrastructure | Security Magazine

• Understand the Benefits and Limitations of Automated Tools in Penetration Testing (prweb.com)

• World´s most advanced cyber defence exercise kicks off in Tallinn

• Tech Investments Help SMBs Fortify Supply Chains Amid Economic, Workforce, and Security Concerns | Business Wire

• CISA ransomware warning program set to fully launch by end of 2024 | CyberScoop

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• M-Trends 2024 | Google Cloud

• Mandiant's M-Trends Report Reveals New Insights from Frontline Cyber Investigations (prnewswire.com)

• Coalition's 2024 Cyber Claims Report (coalitioninc.com)

• Boost your data protection with insights from Dell's report - SiliconANGLE

• 2024 Cisco Cyber Security Readiness Index

• Rising Cyber Threats Pose Serious Concerns for Financial Stability (imf.org)

• Cyber Security in the UK - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

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Other News

• These sectors are top targets for cyber crime, and other cyber security news to know this month | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Online Banking Security Still Not Up to Par, Says Which? - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why Educating HR Professionals on Cyber Risk Is Crucial (thehrdirector.com)

• Where Hackers Find Your Weak Spots (darkreading.com)

• Network Threats: A Step-by-Step Attack Demonstration (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft is reportedly making security improvements its current top priority at the company - Neowin

• UK cyber agency NCSC announces Richard Horne as its next chief executive (therecord.media)

• Internet cable at Cali airport cut in apparent sabotage • The Register

• DOD establishes Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Cyber Policy (securityintelligence.com)

• EU Statement – UN General Assembly 1st Committee: Cyber Security | EEAS (europa.eu)

• US: The European Union and the United States hold the 9th Cyber Dialogue in Brussels | EEAS (europa.eu)

• Why Tourists Are Particularly Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks (maltatoday.com.mt)

• Microsoft needs to win back trust - The Verge

• AI Is Going Well For Microsoft, But Cyber Security Is Not - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) - Benzinga

• Questions for IT and cyber leaders from the CSRB Microsoft report | Computer Weekly

• World´s most advanced cyber defence exercise kicks off in Tallinn

• Why Cyber Security Is Key To Solving Global Crises (forbes.com)

• Cyber Security is Relentless! | Gray Reed - JDSupra

• Colleges spending more than ever on cyber security efforts (insidehighered.com)

• Foreign states targeting UK universities, MI5 warns - BBC News

• Cyber resilience in the public sector: lessons for UK Councils (techinformed.com)

• Digital Blitzkrieg: Unveiling Cyber Logistics Warfare (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 01 March 2024

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Risk-based spending: An Imperative for Cyber Security That Demands Board Attention

Staying ahead of the latest cyber security developments is essential to keeping your organisation safe. But with the rise of artificial intelligence and attackers dreaming up new techniques every day, a lot of organisations are left to question how they can create proactive, agile cyber security strategies and what approach gives the best return on investment, mitigating risks and maximising the value of their cyber security investments.

Unfortunately, most organisations do not have an unlimited budget, and for small and medium-sized businesses, there is even less to work with. What is needed is a risk-based approach, where organisations identify and prioritise their greatest vulnerabilities, correlating these to business impact; this is then used to form the cyber risk strategy for the organisation.

Sources: [Security Week] [The Hacker News] [Risk.net]

If you Pay Ransoms, You May not Get Your Data Back and Worse, You Will Probably Get Hit Again, with 78% of Firms who Paid Then Suffering Repeat Ransomware Attacks

Recent research from Proofpoint has found that 69% of organisations experienced a successful ransomware incident in the past year, a rise of 5% compared to the previous year. The report found that 60% reported four or more separate ransomware incidents and of the total involved, 54% admitted to paying a ransom. In a separate report, it was found that 78% of organisations suffering a ransomware attack suffered repeat attacks even after they paid.

Sources: [databreaches.net] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Claims Journal]

Cyber Resilience and Cyber Hygiene: Why They Matter to Your Business

Cyber resilience unites cyber security with business continuity and organisational durability, with proper implementation allowing the continuation of routine operations during adverse cyber incidents. Cyber hygiene, on the other hand, refers to having strong cyber security processes and procedures, to help the organisation mitigate the chance of an incident. The combination of both of these allows an organisation to reduce their likelihood of suffering a cyber incident, whilst improving their likelihood of continuing operations in the event of such an incident.

Sources: [Information Week] [Security Boulevard]

Why Governance, Risk and Compliance Must be Integrated with Cyber Security

With pressure from regulators, the evolving threat landscape and requirements for stronger oversight, governance, risk and compliance (GRC) has even more of an argument for alignment with cyber security. After all, cyber security is still security. Incorporating cyber security into the GRC programme of an organisation allows for cyber to become a business enabler.

Source: [CSO Online]

More and More UK Firms Concerned About Insider Threats

A report has found that 54% of UK business decision makers are concerned about the likelihood of their employees disclosing sensitive information or providing network access to fraudsters. In a separate report, 35% of respondents cited overworked and distracted staff making mistakes as a reason why they thought their business experienced insider risk. Certainly, insider risk does not just involve malicious employees; it can also include negligence and in some cases, employees may not be trained enough to identify the risk they are placing on the organisation such as not knowing or following an organisation’s call back procedure. It is important for organisations to consider whether their current training addresses this and whether the programme is doing enough to ensure that insider risk is mitigated.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

98% of Businesses Linked to Breached Third Parties

A new report has found that 98% of organisations are associated with a third party that has experienced a breach, and these breaches often take months or more to be discovered. 75% of external business-to-business (B2B) relationships that enabled third-party breaches involved software or other technology products and services. Third party security is an important part of an organisation’s cyber security and to manage it correctly, organisations need to implement a third party risk management programme.

Source: [Help Net Security]

Phishing, Smishing and Vishing Skyrocket 1,265%

According to a report, since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, vishing, smishing, and phishing attacks have increased by a staggering 1,265%. Despite different techniques, these attacks all have one focus, and that’s on the user. Organisations looking to protect themselves should consider a blend of mitigations, including advanced email filtering, enabling multi-factor authentication and arguably the most important, effective user education and awareness training. This training should go beyond ticking boxes, by instead teaching employees how to both recognise and report phishing attempts.

A separate report analysed over 1 billion emails. Some of the key findings included that the majority of phishing attempts (71%) rely on deceptive links, but attachments (22%) and predatory QR codes (7%) are on the rise. When it came to spoofs, Microsoft was the most spoofed entity and financial services were amongst those most targeted sectors.

Source: [Bleeping Computer] [Help Net Security] [Security Affairs]

Business Email Compromise Attacks Are Evolving, But What Can Be Done About It

Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks remain a dominant danger, with a staggering $51 billion lost over the last decade. A recent report underscores the prevalence of email as the primary battlefield, far outstripping other cyber attack methods. The low-cost, high-reach nature of email makes it an attractive starting point for cyber criminals. As organisations embrace cloud-based infrastructures, these attacks have morphed, presenting new challenges. Attackers have progressed from direct phishing attempts, to compromising business partners, vendors and other third parties. In this arms race, artificial intelligence (AI) assumes a pivotal role as an essential ally, efficiently discerning between benign and malicious content. This development signifies a significant milestone in the realm of email security resilience.

Source: [ITPro]

Vulnerabilities Count Set to Rise by 25% in 2024

The cyber threat landscape is rapidly evolving, with an anticipated 25% increase in published systems vulnerabilities for 2024. This surge, reaching approximately 2,900 vulnerabilities per month, underscores the critical need for robust vulnerability management strategies. Vulnerabilities serve as prime entry points for ransomware actors, heightening the urgency for organisations to fortify their defences. However, the sheer volume of vulnerabilities poses a daunting challenge for security and IT teams already thinly stretched. Timely risk-scoring remains a significant issue, leaving defenders vulnerable to exploits with threat actors often gaining a head start. Honeypot data reveals a concerning uptick in scans targeting remote desktop protocol (RDP), with businesses running end-of-life (EOL) software at heightened risk. In this dynamic cyber security climate, proactive risk management and expert intervention, such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), are imperative to safeguarding against emerging threats.

Source: [Help Net Security]

BYOD Increases Mobile Phishing; Risks Have Never Been Higher

The risk of cyber attacks looms large, with stolen employee login credentials serving as a prime target for malicious actors. Mobile phishing has emerged as a significant threat, with data revealing a surge in encounter rates, especially in hybrid work environments and amid Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. Personal devices, once considered outside the realm of corporate security, now pose substantial risks, as attackers exploit social engineering schemes to breach organisational networks. The financial implications of a successful phishing attack are staggering, with estimates suggesting potential losses of up to $4 million for organisations. As phishing encounter rates continue to rise, it's imperative for businesses to bolster their security strategies, ensuring comprehensive protection against mobile phishing threats across all employee devices. To navigate this evolving landscape and safeguard sensitive data, organisations must stay vigilant and adopt proactive measures.

Source: [MSSP Alert]

What Companies Should Know About Rising Legal Threats

The cyber security landscape is witnessing a significant shift as legal actions increasingly target both corporations and individual security officers. Recent cases including lawsuits by Tesla against ex-employees for cyber security breaches and charges by regulatory bodies like the US FTC and SEC, underscore the mounting legal risks associated with cyber security breaches. Notably, private companies are not exempt from such liabilities, facing scrutiny from authorities, regulators, customers and other affected parties. This environment has prompted many cyber security leaders to reconsider their roles, with concerns raised about the future of the profession. Amidst escalating threats and enforcement actions, there's a pressing need for enhanced cyber security budgets, robust risk-based controls and proactive audits or other independent assurance.

Source: [Darkreading]

CIOs Rethink All-In Cloud Strategies as Five Eyes Nations Warn of Evolving Russian Cyber Espionage Practices Targeting Cloud Environments

As organisations embrace the cloud, CIOs recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be optimal. Many now favour a nuanced strategy, shifting workloads from public clouds to platforms offering productivity gains and cost savings; a trend known as ‘cloud exit.’ CIOs are rethinking cloud strategies, assessing each application’s suitability and fostering context-aware hosting decisions.

This comes as a recent advisory issued jointly by cyber security agencies from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand reveals that Russian cyber espionage units, including APT29 and Cozy Bear, are adapting tactics to target cloud environments used by both public and private organisations. These sophisticated attacks pose significant threats across industries. Implementing basic cloud security measures is crucial to regularly evaluate dormant accounts, limit system-issued token validity, and enforce stringent device policies. As cloud adoption rises, prioritise cyber security fundamentals for effective defence.

Sources: [CyberScoop] [CIO]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Why governance, risk, and compliance must be integrated with cyber security | CSO Online

• Chart: Cyber Crime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years | Statista

• The Imperative for Modern Security: Risk-Based Vulnerability Management - Security Week

• Why Cyber Resilience May Be More Important Than Cyber Security (informationweek.com)

• Beating the drum on cyber risk: the battle for boardroom attention - Risk.net

• What is cyber hygiene and why businesses should know about it - Security Boulevard

• Bridging the Gap: Connecting Cyber Security Spending to Business Results - Security Boulevard

• What Companies & CISOs Should Know About Rising Legal Threats (darkreading.com)

• Essential Guide To Security Metrics For Businesses (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Essential Guide To Information Security Compliance (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Mastering Risk Management: The Art Of Effective Strategy (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• The CISO: 2024’s Most Important C-Suite Officer (forbes.com)

• UK Unveils Draft Cyber Security Governance Code - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Prioritize Cyber Security Spending: A Risk-Based Strategy for the Highest ROI (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber security 'blind spot' leaves businesses exposed - Accountancy Age

• MTTR: The Most Important Security Metric (darkreading.com)

• Building Your Cyber Incident Response Team - Security Boulevard

• 9 Steps to Fostering a Cyber Security-Aware Culture (newsweek.com)

• AWS on why CISOs should track 'the metric of no' | TechTarget

• 2024 will see more cyber threats emerge – here is what SMEs need to know | TechRadar

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Threat Actor Groups, Including Black Basta, are Exploiting Recent ScreenConnect Vulnerabilities (trendmicro.com)

• If you pay ransom, you may not get your data back and worse, you probably WILL get hit again – Cybereason Survey (databreaches.net)

• 78% of Organisations Suffer Repeat Ransomware Attacks After Paying - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 69% of Organisations Infected by Ransomware in 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Stages of LockBit Grief: Anger, Denial, Faking Resurrection? (inforisktoday.com)

• What CISOs Need To Know About The Lockbit Takedown - Security Boulevard

• Ransomware crews lean into infostealers for initial access • The Register

• 78% of Organisations Suffer Repeat Ransomware Attacks After Paying (claimsjournal.com)

• Challenges Remain in Evaluating Ransomware Crackdowns | Decipher (duo.com)

• Privacy Beats Ransomware as Top Insurance Concern (darkreading.com)

• Do ransomware attackers keep their word? - TechCentral.ie

• What Are Ransomware Attacks and Can They Be Stopped? Explainer - Bloomberg

• Study: Ransom payment not a shield against future attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• FBI, CISA warn US hospitals of targeted BlackCat ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Held to ransom: How criminal gangs are weaponising AI in the name of cyber extortion (holyrood.com)

• Is Now the Right Time for a Ransomware Payment Ban? (govtech.com)

• What is Old is New Again: Lessons in Anti-Ransom Policy | Recorded Future

• 3 Ways Your Organisation Could Be Susceptible To Ransomware Attacks (forbes.com)

• What the war on terrorism teaches us about the war on ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Cyber criminals follow the money to hit manufacturing sector • The Register

• Why your legitimate software is not safe from ransomware attacks (networkingplus.co.uk)

Ransomware Victims

• Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack: BlackCat Hackers Quickly Returned After FBI Bust | WIRED

• LoanDepot Ransomware Attack Exposed 16.9 Million Individuals - Security Week

• Rhysida ransomware wants $3.6 million for children’s stolen data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Stolen Donald Trump Court Files Will Be Published February 29, Hackers Say (forbes.com)

• Epic Games attacked by new ransomware group Mogilevich | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers claim to have stolen 7GB of data from Irish Department of Foreign Affairs | Independent.ie

• Insomniac Games alerts employees hit by ransomware data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• German Steelmaker Thyssenkrupp Confirms Ransomware Attack - Security Week

• US pharmacy outage caused by Blackcat attack on Optum (securityaffairs.com)

• MGM Resorts Says Regulators Probing September Cyber Attack (claimsjournal.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• European retailer Pepco loses €15.5 million in phishing (possibly BEC?) attack - Help Net Security

• Vishing, smishing, and phishing attacks skyrocket 1,265% post-ChatGPT - Help Net Security

• BYOD Increases Mobile Phishing; Risks Have Never Been Higher | MSSP Alert

• SMBs are being targeted by this new phishing scam — make sure you don't fall victim | TechRadar

• Need to Know: Key Takeaways from the Latest Phishing Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Unmasking 2024's Email Security Landscape (securityaffairs.com)

• Lookout Discovers Advanced Phishing Kit Targeting US Federal Agency and Cryptocurrency Exchange Organisations | Business Wire

• Registrars can now block all domains that resemble brand names (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Criminals hijacked more than 8,000 trusted domains, sent millions of malicious emails | TechSpot

Other Social Engineering

• Vishing, smishing, and phishing attacks skyrocket 1,265% post-ChatGPT - Help Net Security

• The Silent Threat: Why Vishing is Causing Major Problems for Businesses - Security Boulevard

• Registrars can now block all domains that resemble brand names (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How to stay safe from cyber criminal "quishing" attacks | TechRadar

• Scammers Often Rely on This Psychological Trick | TIME

Artificial Intelligence

• Blackstone's Schwarzman sees peril in “not bright” criminals getting their hands on AI | Fortune

• AI threats: The importance of a concrete strategy in fighting novel attacks | ITPro

• New Hugging Face Vulnerability Exposes AI Models to Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Putin's AI threat to democracy: Russian spies 'have developed artificial intelligence cyber tool to spread disinformation and meddle in elections across the West' | Daily Mail Online

• AI in cyber security presents a complex duality - Help Net Security

• AI and cyber security: Navigating the risks and opportunities | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Held to ransom: How criminal gangs are weaponising AI in the name of cyber extortion (holyrood.com)

• Cyber experts raise AI fears security fears in Parliament | IT Reseller Magazine (itrportal.com)

• UK ICO Vows to Safeguard Privacy in AI Era - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• BEAST AI attack can break LLM guardrails in a minute • The Register

2FA/MFA

• Strengths & Weaknesses of MFA Methods Against Cyber Attacks | Duo Security

Malware

• Ransomware crews lean into infostealers for initial access • The Register

• BobTheSmuggler: Open-source tool for undetectable payload delivery - Help Net Security

• New IDAT Loader Attacks Using Steganography to Deploy Remcos RAT (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Hackers Targeting Developers with Malicious npm Packages (thehackernews.com)

• Open-Source Xeno RAT Trojan Emerges as a Potent Threat on GitHub (thehackernews.com)

• GitHub besieged by millions of malicious repositories in ongoing attack | Ars Technica

• Pikabot returns with new tricks up its sleeve - Help Net Security

• TimbreStealer Malware Spreading via Tax-themed Phishing Scam Targets IT Users (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese Hackers Exploiting Ivanti VPN Flaws to Deploy New Malware (thehackernews.com)

• CISA warns against using hacked Ivanti devices even after factory resets (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cloud-focused malware campaigns on the increase (betanews.com)

• Hackers are infecting Macs with malware using calendar invites and meeting links | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• New Backdoor Targeting European Officials Linked to Indian Diplomatic Events (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• BYOD Increases Mobile Phishing; Risks Have Never Been Higher | MSSP Alert

• Kaspersky Finds Attacks on Mobile Devices Significantly Increased in 2023 (darkreading.com)

• Meet 'XHelper,' the All-in-One Android App for Global Money Laundering (darkreading.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Down, Not Out: Russian Hacktivists Claiming DDoS Disruptions (govinfosecurity.com)

• DDoS attacks against web apps and APIs surge (betanews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Half of IT Leaders Identify IoT as Security Weak Point - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The White House Warns Cars Made in China Could Unleash Chaos on US Highways | WIRED

Data Breaches/Leaks

• U-Haul says 67K customers' data was stolen in cyber attack • The Register

• Pharma giant hit by major cyber attack — Cencora confirms data was stolen | TechRadar

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Chart: Cyber Crime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years | Statista

• 8 Worrying Cyber Security Statistics You Need to Know in 2024 (tech.co)

• It’s only February and cyber crime is already running rampant (techinformed.com)

• Scottish Police Face Toil and Trouble From Cyber Crime (govinfosecurity.com)

• How active adversaries divide labour to more effectively target victims | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• SonicWall: Cryptojacking Attacks Spike 659% in 2023 | MSSP Alert

• Lookout Discovers Advanced Phishing Kit Targeting US Federal Agency and Cryptocurrency Exchange Organisations | Business Wire

• Cryptojacking is no longer the sole focus of cloud attackers - Help Net Security

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• US man accused of making $1.8m from listening in on wife’s remote work calls | Securities and Exchange Commission | The Guardian

• Are remote workers at greater risk of cyber security threats? | TechRadar

• Over Half of UK Firms Concerned About Insider Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Understanding employees' motivations behind risky actions - Help Net Security

• The human element of cyber security: Why people are the ultimate defence. (thecyberwire.com)

Insurance

• Privacy Beats Ransomware as Top Insurance Concern (darkreading.com)

• A Cyber Insurance Backstop - Schneier on Security

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• New Hugging Face Vulnerability Exposes AI Models to Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• 98% of businesses linked to breached third parties - Help Net Security

Cloud/SaaS

• Five Eyes nations warn of evolving Russian cyberespionage practices targeting cloud environments | CyberScoop

• Russia's 'Midnight Blizzard' Targeting Service Accounts for Initial Cloud Access (darkreading.com)

• CIOs rethink all-in cloud strategies | CIO

• Cryptojacking is no longer the sole focus of cloud attackers - Help Net Security

• Your Data Has Moved to the Cloud: Can Your Security Strategy Keep Up? | MSSP Alert

• Cloud-focused malware campaigns on the increase (betanews.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Superusers Need Super Protection: How to Bridge Privileged Access Management and Identity Management (thehackernews.com)

• How organisations can navigate identity security risks in 2024 - Help Net Security

• Echoes of SolarWinds in New 'Silver SAML' Attack Technique (darkreading.com)

Linux and Open Source

• From Open Source to Enterprise Ready: 4 Pillars to Meet Your Security Requirements - Security Week

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Russia's 'Midnight Blizzard' Targeting Service Accounts for Initial Cloud Access (darkreading.com)

Social Media

• Rights groups file GDPR suits on Meta's pay-or-consent model • The Register

• Meta Patches Facebook Account Takeover Vulnerability - Security Week

Malvertising

• How the Pentagon Learned to Use Targeted Ads to Find Its Targets—and Vladimir Putin | WIRED

• Google faces $2.27 billion lawsuit over advertising practices (searchengineland.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Cyber awareness education is a change-management initiative | CSO Online

• Cyber Security Training Not Sticking? How to Fix Risky Password Habits (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 4 Ways Organisations Can Drive Demand for Software Security Training (darkreading.com)

• Creating a cyber security training curriculum for SMBs and MSPs | TechRadar

• 9 Steps to Fostering a Cyber Security-Aware Culture (newsweek.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• 81% of security leaders predict SEC rules will impact their businesses | Security Magazine

• Orgs Face Major SEC Penalties for Failing to Disclose Breaches (darkreading.com)

• Getting Ahead of Cyber Security Materiality Mayhem - Security Boulevard

• NIST Publishes Final “Cyber Security Resource Guide” on Implementing the HIPAA Security Rule | Foley & Lardner LLP - JDSupra

• UK ICO Vows to Safeguard Privacy in AI Era - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Backup and Recovery

• MTTR: The Most Important Security Metric (darkreading.com)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIST CSF 2.0 released, to help all organisations, not just those in critical infrastructure - Help Net Security

• NIST Adds “Govern” Function to Cybersecurity Framework | MSSP Alert

• Top 3 NIST Cyber Security Framework 2.0 takeaways | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Preparing for the NIS2 Directive - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• UK ICO issues warning on biometric employee tracking, guidance for businesses | Biometric Update

• Privacy Beats Ransomware as Top Insurance Concern (darkreading.com)

• Rights groups file GDPR suits on Meta's pay-or-consent model • The Register

• UK ICO Vows to Safeguard Privacy in AI Era - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• A Perfect Cyber Storm is Leading to Burnout | Network Computing

• The Next Gen of Cyber Security Could Be Hiding in Big Tech (darkreading.com)

• Lost to the Highest Bidder: The Economics of Cyber Security Staffing - Security Boulevard

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Is the LockBit gang resuming its operation? (securityaffairs.com)

• Challenges Remain in Evaluating Ransomware Crackdowns | Decipher (duo.com)

• Russian hacker is set to face trial for the hack of a local power grid (securityaffairs.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Putin's AI threat to democracy: Russian spies 'have developed artificial intelligence cyber tool to spread disinformation and meddle in elections across the West' | Daily Mail Online

• US leading global alliance to counter foreign government disinformation | Cyberwar | The Guardian

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• 15 Countries with Cyber Warfare Capabilities (yahoo.com)

• Cyber Espionage France’s Top Threat Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Nation State Actors

China

• Hackers backed by Russia and China are infecting SOHO routers like yours, FBI warns | Ars Technica

• US Official Warns Of China’s Growing Offensive Cyber Power – Analysis – Eurasia Review

• When Hackers Are Hacked, A Chinese Spy Story - Worldcrunch

• Chinese Cyber Attacks:A 12-month Outlook (greydynamics.com)

• Chinese Cyber Espionage Set To Ramp Up This Year (forbes.com)

• The Drums of US-China Cyber War by Stephen S. Roach - Project Syndicate (project-syndicate.org)

• Chinese Hackers Exploiting Ivanti VPN Flaws to Deploy New Malware (thehackernews.com)

• The White House Warns Cars Made in China Could Unleash Chaos on US Highways | WIRED

• Foreign Firms in China Flag Lack of Feedback on Data Security (bloomberglaw.com)

• Beijing Silent Over Russia's Reported War-Gaming of China Invasion

Russia

• Two Years On: How Ukraine's Cyber Warfront Is Redefining Global Cyber Security Strategies | HackerNoon

• Hackers backed by Russia and China are infecting SOHO routers like yours, FBI warns | Ars Technica

• Five Eyes nations warn of evolving Russian cyberespionage practices targeting cloud environments | CyberScoop

• Russia may have just carried out its first direct action against the West (yahoo.com)

• Moscow Military Hackers Used Microsoft Outlook Vulnerability (inforisktoday.com)

• Russia's 'Midnight Blizzard' Targeting Service Accounts for Initial Cloud Access (darkreading.com)

• Ukraine signs security deals with Western allies to help counter Russian cyber attacks (therecord.media)

• Russia cyber spies behind SolarWinds breach adopting new tactics, warn Five Eyes agencies (therecord.media)

• Cyber Security Agencies Warn Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Users of APT28's MooBot Threat (thehackernews.com)

• Putin's AI threat to democracy: Russian spies 'have developed artificial intelligence cyber tool to spread disinformation and meddle in elections across the West' | Daily Mail Online

• Down, Not Out: Russian Hacktivists Claiming DDoS Disruptions (govinfosecurity.com)

• Lazarus APT exploited 0-day in Win driver to gain kernel privileges (securityaffairs.com)

• Lovers' Spat? North Korea Backdoors Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry (darkreading.com)

• Russia warns of "military-technical" response to Sweden's NATO membership (newsweek.com)

• Russian hacker is set to face trial for the hack of a local power grid (securityaffairs.com)

• Russia and Belarus targeted by at least 14 nation-state hacker groups, researchers say (therecord.media)

• Beijing Silent Over Russia's Reported War-Gaming of China Invasion

• Russia subjected to deluge of nation-state, hacktivist cyber threats | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• How the Pentagon Learned to Use Targeted Ads to Find Its Targets—and Vladimir Putin | WIRED

Iran

• Iran-Linked UNC1549 Hackers Target Middle East Aerospace & Defence Sectors (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Hackers Targeting Developers with Malicious npm Packages (thehackernews.com)

• Lovers' Spat? North Korea Backdoors Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• The Imperative for Modern Security: Risk-Based Vulnerability Management - Security Week

• CVE count set to rise by 25% in 2024 - Help Net Security

• Most Commercial Code Contains High-Risk Open Source Bugs - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The rising threat of zero-day attacks | Security Magazine

Vulnerabilities

• Threat Actor Groups, Including Black Basta, are Exploiting Recent ScreenConnect Vulnerabilities (trendmicro.com)

• Moscow Military Hackers Used Microsoft Outlook Vulnerability (inforisktoday.com)

• Lazarus APT exploited 0-day in Win driver to gain kernel privileges (securityaffairs.com)

• Cisco Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities in Data Center OS - Security Week

• CISA warns against using hacked Ivanti devices even after factory resets (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Five Eyes Agencies Warn of Active Exploitation of Ivanti Gateway Vulnerabilities (thehackernews.com)

• One of Apple's best iOS productivity tools had a pretty concerning security flaw, so patch now | TechRadar

• Critical Flaw in Popular 'Ultimate Member' WordPress Plugin - Security Week

• Meta Patches Facebook Account Takeover Vulnerability - Security Week

• MITRE Rolls Out 4 Brand-New CWEs for Microprocessor Security Bugs (darkreading.com)

• Citrix, Sophos software impacted by 2024 leap year bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ivanti integrity checker tool needs latest update to work, Five Eyes alert warns | CyberScoop

• Zyxel fixed four bugs in firewalls and access points (securityaffairs.com)

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Tools and Controls

• The Imperative for Modern Security: Risk-Based Vulnerability Management - Security Week

• Cyber awareness education is a change-management initiative | CSO Online

• Why Cyber Security Must Include Protective DNS (hyas.com)

• Championing ethical hackers: a vital defence for the financial industry during turbulent times (finextra.com)

• Strengths & Weaknesses of MFA Methods Against Cyber Attacks | Duo Security

• AI and cyber security: Navigating the risks and opportunities | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• How Zero Trust Data Detection & Response is Changing the Game - Security Boulevard

• APIs become the leading attack vector, cyber security research shows (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Superusers Need Super Protection: How to Bridge Privileged Access Management and Identity Management (thehackernews.com)

• How organisations can navigate identity security risks in 2024 - Help Net Security

• MTTR: The Most Important Security Metric (darkreading.com)

• 9 Steps to Fostering a Cyber Security-Aware Culture (newsweek.com)

• Artificial Arms Race: What Can Automation and AI do to Advance Red Teams - Security Week

• Savvy Seahorse gang uses DNS CNAME records to power investor scams (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cloud Apps Make the Case for Pentesting-as-a-Service (darkreading.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• A Comparative Study on Cyber Risk: Business vs. Security Perspectives (inforisktoday.com)

• Cyber threat landscape report | Professional Security

• Email Security in 2024: An Expert Look at Email-Based Threats - VIPRE

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Other News

• Cyber attacks on UK law firms on the rise - Spear's (spearswms.com)

• IntelBroker claimed the hack of the Los Angeles International Airport (securityaffairs.com)

• It's time to stop trusting your antivirus software | Digital Trends

• Three new advanced threat groups targeted industrial organisations last year | CSO Online

• What’s on the Radar for Aviation Industry Cyber Security? - Security Boulevard

• Business leaders warn of rising cyber security threat | The Herald (heraldscotland.com)

• Why Health Care Is Top Target for Cyber Criminals (govtech.com)

• RCMP investigating cyber attack as its website remains down (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers exploit 14-year-old CMS editor on govt, edu sites for SEO poisoning (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 15 December 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

MPs say UK Could be Brought to Standstill ‘At Any Moment’ as Scathing Report Calls for Greater Security Investment

According to the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS), the UK is one of the most targeted countries in the world for cyber attacks, predominantly coming from Russian-linked threat actors. The report describes the UK as being at high risk from catastrophic ransomware attacks, and warns that the country could face significant challenges in managing future attacks.

Further, the report noted that the UK’s regulatory frameworks are insufficient and large amounts of national infrastructure are still vulnerable to ransomware because of their reliance on legacy IT systems.

Sources: [ITPro] [Emerging Risks Media Ltd]

Gartner Finds 45% of Organisations Experienced Third Party-Related Business Interruptions

Despite increased investments in third-party cyber security risk management (TPCRM) over the last two years, 45% of organisations experienced third party-related business interruptions, according to a new Gartner survey. This is reinforced by a separate survey, in which 97% of respondents reported having suffered negative impacts from a breach in a third party or supplier partner in the last year; a figure that has remained unchanged for the past three years.

The results show that despite the increase in attention and investments in third party risk management, organisations are not carrying these out in a way that is decreasing the risk.

Sources: [CIR Magazine] [Gartner]

Major Cyber Attack Paralyzes Ukraine's Largest Telecom Operator; Russia Expected to Ramp Up Attacks on Ukraine’s Allies

Ukraine's biggest telecom operator Kyivstar has become the victim of a "powerful hacker attack," disrupting customer access to mobile and internet services. Its mobile app and website were down but they managed to restore some of its landline services on the same day of the attack. 24 million Kyivstar users have been urged to change all passwords following the attack.

So far, two Russia-aligned hacker groups have claimed responsibility for the hack: Killnet and Solntsepek. While Killnet have not provided any evidence of the attack, Solntsepek posted several screenshots of Kyivstar systems that it allegedly hacked, on its Telegram channel. The group said it “destroyed 10 thousand computers, more than 4 thousand servers, all cloud storage, and backup systems”.

Further, Russia is expected to ramp up their cyber campaign efforts targeting Ukraine’s allies as part of the ongoing conflict in the region. Last winter saw an increase in attacks that is likely to be repeated this year. The use of wiper malware to target critical national infrastructure (CNI) outside of Ukraine), similar to the attack on Kyivstar above, is just one tactic that could be deployed to disrupt Western allies’ ability, and motivation, to continue military support to Ukraine.

Sources: [Record Media] [New Voice of Ukraine] [Hacker news] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Gov Info Security]

81% of Companies had Malware, Phishing and Password Attacks in 2023

According to Verizon, 81% of organisations faced malware, phishing and password attacks last year, and these attacks were mainly targeted at users. Further, it was found that 62% percent of companies suffered a security breach connected to remote working. Certainly, attacks are not limited to particular sectors or organisations. Everyone can be a target and it is important to keep that in mind when focusing on securing the organisation; yet despite cyber security affecting everyone, 91% of CEOs/CFOs put the responsibility for cyber security squarely with IT.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Cyber Criminals Hit SMEs With Skills Once Limited to Nation State Actors

According to SentinelOne, mid-sized businesses are being targeted by cyber criminals who are displaying skills previously limited to expert government hackers. Cyber criminals are more organised than ever and have a better understanding of how businesses run; this, paired with technical acumen and AI, has created a difficult environment for medium-sized businesses who don’t possess the budget of a large organisation.

Sources: [Washington Times] [SiliconANGLE]

Russian Cyber Actors are Exploiting a Known Vulnerability with Worldwide Impact

The US National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and co-authoring agencies warn that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) cyber actors are exploiting a publicly known vulnerability to compromise victims globally, including in the United States and allied countries. To raise awareness and help organisations identify, protect, and mitigate this malicious activity, the authoring agencies have jointly released a Cyber Security Advisory (CSA) on SVR’s exploiting of JetBrain’s TeamCity software, widely used by developers and software providers.

The advisory warns that APT29, the notorious Russian group behind the 2020 SolarWinds hack, are actively exploiting this vulnerability, joining state-sponsored actors from North Korea. The exploit in TeamCity could give attackers enough access to manipulate a software's source code, sign certificates, and compile and deploy processes.

Sources: [NSA] [Dark Reading] [The Register]

Why Cyber Security Is a Competitive Advantage: Reaching Digital Success

In the tech-driven world, cyber security’s importance is paramount for protecting sensitive data and critical systems. Significant increases in vulnerabilities and breaches have led to stricter guidelines and regulations for most sectors; a trend we expect to see increasing with regulations becoming more and more stringent. Increased regulation can only be good for affected industries and sectors to drive increased security.

However, beyond regulatory compliance, cyber security is a critical competitive differentiator and should be seen as such, rather than simply as a tick box exercise to satisfy a regulator or viewed as an increase in regulatory burden. Data breaches can lead to severe financial setbacks and damage to a company's reputation and customer trust. The legal and financial consequences of non-compliance with cyber security regulations are significant.

Building a comprehensive cyber security strategy that includes risk assessments, incident response plans, and proactive measures is essential in this era of rapid vulnerability exploitation. Embracing cyber security is not just a choice but a necessity for success in the digital age.

Source: [Forbes]

Ransomware-as-a-Service: The Growing Threat You Can't Ignore

Ransomware attacks have become a significant and pervasive threat in the ever-evolving realm of cyber security. Among the various iterations of ransomware, one trend that has gained prominence is Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). This latest ransomware business model allows inexperienced hackers to use on-demand tools for attacks, reducing time and cost. They pay a fee, choose a target, and launch an attack with the provider’s tools. The effects of RaaS are starting to be noticed, as a recent survey showed the time from network breach to file encryption has dropped below 24 hours for the first time.

Source: [Hacker News]

66% of Employees Prioritise Daily Tasks Over Cyber Security

According to a recent survey, 66% of respondents stated that completing daily tasks is more crucial than cyber security, such as cyber security training. The tasks that were being prioritised over cyber security training include monthly targets, manager-assigned tasks and emails.

The survey highlights the need for improved cyber security training in organisations, with 64% of employees wanting time for this training during work hours, and 43% referring more engaging methods like videos and interactive sessions. The data suggests a shift from the annual training model, with 29% receiving quarterly training, 13% semi-quarterly, and 11% monthly. Addressing these needs is crucial for cyber security readiness.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Cyber Attack on Irish Utility Cuts Off Water Supply for Two Days

Last week, a cyber attack on a small Irish water utility disrupted the water supply for two days, affecting 180 people. The water utility’s representatives said the hackers may have breached the system due to their firewall not being “strong enough”. However, in most cases, hackers target internet-exposed devices or controllers that are either not protected at all or protected by a default password. This follows a warning from the US Government about the CyberAv3ngers group, an Iranian affiliated threat actor, which has been actively attacking water facilities in multiple US states.

Source: [Security Week]

Who Is Responsible for Cyber Security? You.

Cyber security is a concern that should resonate with every member of the C-suite and senior staff because when it fails, the entire business is impacted. Recent examples like the “bleach breach” at Clorox and the cyber attack on MGM Resorts illustrate the financial and reputational consequences of cyber security incidents, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. To effectively address this, C-suite executives and their teams must actively support cyber security initiatives led by CIOs and CISOs. The introduction of new government regulations, such as those from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), require organisations to swiftly report and manage cyber security incidents, impacting various departments beyond just the security team. To succeed in this environment, organisations must make cyber security information accessible across teams, allocate budgets for cyber security, and view cyber security as a catalyst for innovation and growth rather than a burden. For this to happen every single person within an organisation, from the very top to the very bottom, has a role to play in keeping the organisation secure and no one can think that security is someone else’s job.

Source: [Forbes]

Many Popular Websites Still Cling to Password Creation Policies From 1985

Website security, particularly password creation policies and login practices, requires immediate attention. A study of over 20,000 websites uncovers significant vulnerabilities with 75% of websites permitting passwords even shorter than 8 characters (which was the recommendation all the way back in 2012), and 12% even allow single-character passwords. Furthermore, 40% limit password length to being far shorter than current recommendations, and worse 72% permit dictionary words or known breached passwords.

The study also reveals that a third of websites do not support special characters in passwords. Remarkably, many websites continue to adhere to outdated password policies from 2004 or even 1985, and only 5.5% comply with stricter modern guidelines. This underscores the immediate need for standardising and strengthening password policies across the web, as well as enhancing education and outreach efforts to address these critical security weaknesses. Such passwords can influence people’s password choice, which can then enter the corporate environment. This can lead to their account having a higher risk of compromise, and in turn, risks to the data belonging to the organisation.

Source: [Help Net Security]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Who Is Responsible For Cyber Security? You. (forbes.com)

• How C-Level Executives Can Increase Cyber Resilience (forbes.com)

• Increased Cyber Regulation in the Offing as Attacks Mount (darkreading.com)

• Ex-Uber CSO: Lessons Learned from the Breach and Legal Case (darkreading.com)

• The SEC action against SolarWinds highlights how tough it can get for CISOs | CSO Online

• How to Enlist the CFO as a Cyber Security Budget Ally | Mimecast

• 7 Must-Ask Questions for Leaders on Security Culture | MSSP Alert

• Why Cyber Security Is A Competitive Advantage: Reaching Digital Success (forbes.com)

• Cyber Security Attacks Are On the Rise — Is Your Business Prepared? | Entrepreneur

• Tech prediction #2: Businesses will turn to Cyber Security as a Service - Digital Journal

• Is Cyber Security as a Service (CSaaS) the Answer? (automation.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• UK ransomware attack could bring country to a "standstill" as scathing report calls for greater security investment | ITPro

• UK Downplays Ransomware Threat at Its Peril, Says Committee (inforisktoday.com)

• Ransomware Surge is Driving UK Inflation, Says Veeam - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware Groups' Latest Tactic: Weaponized Marketing (inforisktoday.com)

• CNI 'vulnerable to ransomware' | Professional Security

• Ransomware-as-a-Service: The Growing Threat You Can't Ignore (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware most wanted — part 2, LockBit & Clop (techinformed.com)

• The end of ransomware payments: how businesses fit into the fight | ITPro

• Vulnerabilities Now Top Initial Access Route For Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• OpenText Cyber Security 2023 Global Ransomware Survey | MSSP Alert

• Russian banker of Hive ransomware network arrested in Paris (databreaches.net)

• US reveals email addresses used to send ransomware demands • The Register

• Virtual Kidnapping: The Dark World of Cyber Extortion (govinfosecurity.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Kraft Heinz launches investigation after ransomware gang claims to have stolen data - SiliconANGLE

• Norton Healthcare disclosed a data breach after ransomware attack (securityaffairs.com)

• US healthcare giant Norton says hackers stole millions of patients’ data during ransomware attack | TechCrunch

• Insomniac Reportedly Hacked, Blackmailed With Game Leaks And Doxing (thegamer.com)

• BAUER Group is operational again after cyber attack | Corporate - EQS News (eqs-news.com)

• Nissan dealerships in ANZ crippled by cyber attack - Drive

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• 81% of companies had malware, phishing and password attacks in 2023 | Security Magazine

• 39% of security leaders cite phishing as most feared cyber attack | Security Magazine

• Quishing is the new phishing: Why you need to think before you scan that QR code | ZDNET

• Cyber Criminals Exploit OAuth Apps for BEC, Phishing Attacks (petri.com)

• Google Forms Used in Call-Back Phishing Scam | Tripwire

• Approval Phishing Scams Drain $1bn of Cryptocurrency from Victims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• US reveals email addresses used to send ransomware demands • The Register

• Dental Plan Administrator Fined $400K for Phishing Breach (govinfosecurity.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• SMEs "losing" battle against AI-powered cyber attacks, say experts - Tech Monitor

• ICO Warns of Fines for “Nefarious” AI Use - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI in 2024: More business use, more fraud risks | Premium | Compliance Week

• Europe Reaches a Deal on the World’s First Comprehensive AI Rules - Security Week

• The White House's private fears over the rise of AI in the Middle East (telegraph.co.uk)

• Holiday Scams Propelled By Artificial Intelligence | Foodman CPAs & Advisors - JDSupra

• Responsibly Implementing AI, the Unstoppable Force (darkreading.com)

• How to stop Dropbox from sharing your personal files with OpenAI (cnbc.com)

• Israel's AI can produce 100 bombing targets a day in Gaza. Is this the future of war? (theconversation.com)

Malware

• 81% of companies had malware, phishing and password attacks in 2023 | Security Magazine

• Researchers Unveal GuLoader Malware's Latest Anti-Analysis Techniques (thehackernews.com)

• Hacker Uses Infostealer Data to Gain Access to Brazil’s Police Portal | Info Stealers

• Stealthy Linux rootkit found in the wild after going undetected for 2 years | Ars Technica

• Lazarus Group Using Log4j Exploits to Deploy Remote Access Trojans (thehackernews.com)

• Recruiters, beware of cyber crooks posing as job applicants! - Help Net Security

• How criminals disguise URLs | Kaspersky official blog

• Iranian State-Sponsored OilRig Group Deploys 3 New Malware Downloaders (thehackernews.com)

• 29 malware families targeted 1800 banking apps in 61 countries | Security Magazine

• Stealthy new botnet targets VPN devices and routers while staying disguised | TechRadar

• Ten new Android banking trojans targeted 985 bank apps in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Surge in deceptive simplicity exploitation by cyber attackers (securitybrief.co.nz)

Mobile

• Apple Releases Security Updates to Patch Critical iOS and macOS Security Flaws (thehackernews.com)

• Apple Testing New Stolen Device Protection Feature for iPhones - Security Week

• Hackers outsmart Apple to install keyloggers on iPhones - PhoneArena

• Android barcode scanner app exposes user passwords (securityaffairs.com)

• New 5G Modem Flaws Affect iOS Devices and Android Models from Major Brands (thehackernews.com)

• Six of the most popular Android password managers are leaking data | ZDNET

• SpyLoan Scandal: 18 Malicious Loan Apps Defraud Millions of Android Users (thehackernews.com)

• '5Ghoul' Vulnerabilities Haunt Qualcomm, MediaTek 5G Modems - Security Week

• WhatsApp, Slack, Teams, and other messaging platforms face constant security risks - Help Net Security

• 29 malware families targeted 1800 banking apps in 61 countries | Security Magazine

• Ten new Android banking trojans targeted 985 bank apps in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Geopolitics to Blame For DoS Surge in Europe, Says ENISA - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Websites down as Newsquest hit by cyber attack - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage

Internet of Things – IoT

• How Cyber Security Can Build Consumer Trust In Self-Driving Vehicles (forbes.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Apple: 2.5B Records Exposed, Marking Staggering Surge in Data Breaches (darkreading.com)

• UK Ministry of Defence Fined For Afghan Data Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• DNA companies should receive severe penalties for losing our data | TechCrunch

• Why the 23andMe Data Breach Is Such a Disaster (gizmodo.com)

• US nuclear research lab data breach impacts 45,000 people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ubiquiti users claim to have access to other people’s devices (securityaffairs.com)

• 2.5m people's data lost in Norton hospital ransomware hit • The Register

• Dubai’s largest taxi app exposes 220K+ users (securityaffairs.com)

• Toyota Financial Services discloses data breach (securityaffairs.com)

• US Air Force Disciplines 15 as IG Finds That Security Failures Led to Massive Classified Documents Leak - Security Week

• DonorView exposes 1M records for unknown time frame • The Register

• Dental Plan Administrator Fined $400K for Phishing Breach (govinfosecurity.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cyber criminals hit businesses with skills once limited to Chinese, Russian government hackers - Washington Times

• Cyber Crime Orgs Increasingly Use Human Trafficking to Staff Scam Mills (darkreading.com)

• Interpol strikes slavers who force people to scam you online • The Register

• Microsoft goes after a cyber criminal group that sold millions of fraudulent accounts online - Neowin

• Cyber criminals and nation states up their game in persistent global attacks - SiliconANGLE

• Dark web forums reveal next year’s cyber security threats - Digital Journal

• Trafficking for cyberfraud an increasingly globalized crime, Interpol says (nbcnews.com)

• Kelvin Security hacking group leader arrested in Spain (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware most wanted — part 2, LockBit & Clop (techinformed.com)

• New cyber crime market 'OLVX' gains popularity among hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How cyber criminals are using Wyoming shell companies for global hacks | Reuters

• Exploitation of the internet and the mind: How cyber criminals operate | TechRadar

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Approval Phishing Scams Drain $1bn of Cryptocurrency from Victims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Crypto Startup Ledger Users’ Wallets Drained in Hack - Bloomberg

• Ledger says attacker conducted phishing attack on former employee - Blockworks

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• 66% of employees prioritize daily tasks over cyber security | Security Magazine

• Privilege elevation exploits used in over 50% of insider attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Prison for man who wiped bank's data after being fired for accessing porn in the office (bitdefender.com)

• Employees are weaponizing private emails with colleagues | Fortune

Insurance

• Making Cyber Insurance Available for Small Biz, Contractors (darkreading.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Gartner Survey Finds 45% of Organisations Experienced Third Party-Related Business Interruptions During the Past Two Years

• UK firms increasing their focus on supply chain cyber risk – report - CIR Magazine

• US officials say Russian targeting JetBrains servers for potential SolarWinds-style operations | Reuters

• Manchester Public Schools Lose $180K to Hacked Vendor (govtech.com)

• Software & Security: How to Move Supply Chain Security Up the Agenda (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Multi-Cloud vs. Hybrid Cloud: The Main Difference (techtarget.com)

• SAP's attempt to migrate security tools to cloud failed • The Register

• Cloud engineer wreaks havoc on bank's network after firing • The Register

Linux and Open Source

• Stealthy Linux rootkit found in the wild after going undetected for 2 years | Ars Technica

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• 81% of companies had malware, phishing and password attacks in 2023 | Security Magazine

• Almost 90 percent say they're prepared for password-based attacks -- but half still fall for them (betanews.com)

• Android barcode scanner app exposes user passwords (securityaffairs.com)

• Six of the most popular Android password managers are leaking data | ZDNET

• Many popular websites still cling to password creation policies from 1985 - Help Net Security

Social Media

• How a social engineering hack turned these Facebook pages into a dumping ground for spam (engadget.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Increased Cyber Regulation in the Offing as Attacks Mount (darkreading.com)

• ICO Warns of Fines for “Nefarious” AI Use - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How European countries are implementing new cyber security framework – EURACTIV.com

• Cyber Solidarity Act moves ahead in EU Parliament with key committee vote – EURACTIV.com

• Europe Reaches a Deal on the World’s First Comprehensive AI Rules - Security Week

• FBI Issues Guidance for Delaying SEC-Required Data Breach Disclosure  - Security Week

• The SEC action against SolarWinds highlights how tough it can get for CISOs | CSO Online

• SEC Cyber Security Breach Rule: What it Means for MSSPs | MSSP Alert

• Ex-Uber CSO Joe Sullivan on why he ‘had to get over’ shock of data breach conviction | TechCrunch

• Government plans to regulate to tackle datacentre threats | Computer Weekly

• eIDAS: EU’s internet reforms will undermine a decade of advances in online security - Help Net Security

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• MITRE Launches Critical Infrastructure Threat Model Framework - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK IT staff working nearly as much overtime as law enforcement | ITPro

• Getting Into Cyber Security: A Guide for IT Security Careers | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Cloud engineer wreaks havoc on bank's network after firing • The Register

• Kelvin Security hacking group leader arrested in Spain (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft goes after a cyber criminal group that sold millions of fraudulent accounts online - Neowin

• Russian banker of Hive ransomware network arrested in Paris (databreaches.net)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• Another Cyber Attack on Critical Infrastructure and the Outlook on Cyberwarfare (informationweek.com)

• Geopolitics to Blame For DoS Surge in Europe, Says ENISA - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• International justice – France offers support to the International Criminal Court to step up cyber security (12 Dec. 2023) - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (diplomatie.gouv.fr)

• Debate Roils Over Extent of Nation-State Cyber Involvement in Gaza (darkreading.com)

• Think tank report labels NSO, Lazarus, 'cyber mercenaries' • The Register

Nation State Actors

• What CISOs Need to Know About Nation State Actors (informationweek.com)

China

• Warning: Russia and China Target Cyber Security Weak Points (govinfosecurity.com)

• China's Cyber Attacks Target US Infrastructure In Preparation For Potential Conflict: Report - Benzinga

• Microsoft: Mystery Group Targeting Telcos Linked to Chinese APTs (darkreading.com)

• China’s cyber intrusions have hit ports and utilities, officials say - The Washington Post

• CISA unveils Google Workspace guidelines informed by Chinese breach of Microsoft | CyberScoop

• Chinese APT Volt Typhoon Linked to Unkillable SOHO Router Botnet  - Security Week

• Stealthy new botnet targets VPN devices and routers while staying disguised | TechRadar

• China warns its geographic data breach puts industry at risk (techinformed.com)

Russia

• Major Cyber Attack Paralyzes Kyivstar - Ukraine's Largest Telecom Operator (thehackernews.com)

• Ukraine’s Largest Phone Operator Hacked in “Act of War” - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 24 million Kyivstar users urged to change all passwords due to cyber attack / The New Voice of Ukraine (nv.ua)

• Hackers damaged some infrastructure of Ukraine’s Kyivstar telecom company (therecord.media)

• Warning: Russia and China Target Cyber Security Weak Points (govinfosecurity.com)

• Russia Set to Ramp Up Attacks on Ukraine’s Allies This Winter - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK government takes steps to thwart Russia's FSB hackers (techmonitor.ai)

• Cyber criminals hit businesses with skills once limited to Chinese, Russian government hackers - Washington Times

• Russian APT28 Hackers Targeting 13 Nations in Ongoing Cyber Espionage Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• US officials say Russian targeting JetBrains servers for potential SolarWinds-style operations | Reuters

• Global TeamCity Exploitation Opens Door to SolarWinds-Style Nightmare (darkreading.com)

• NCSC warning on Russian targeting | Professional Security

• Iranian Parliament Approves Information Security Deal With Russia | Iran International (iranintl.com)

• Ukrainian intelligence takes down Russia's tax system in major cyber warfare operation

• MI6 chief thanks Russian state television for its 'help' in encouraging Russians to spy for the UK | AP News

• Russian foreign intelligence service spotted exploiting JetBrains vulnerability (therecord.media)

• User activity showed greater increase in traffic on 3G network compared to 4G (LTE) network / The New Voice of Ukraine (nv.ua)

• Leader of Russian hacktivist group Killnet ‘retires,' appoints new head (therecord.media)

• Russian banker of Hive ransomware network arrested in Paris (databreaches.net)

Iran

• Another Cyber Attack on Critical Infrastructure and the Outlook on Cyberwarfare (informationweek.com)

• Two-day water outage in remote Irish region caused by pro-Iran hackers (therecord.media)

• Iranian Parliament Approves Information Security Deal With Russia | Iran International (iranintl.com)

• Iranian State-Sponsored OilRig Group Deploys 3 New Malware Downloaders (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• Stronger action against North Korean cyber threats pushed by US, South Korea, Japan | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Lazarus sub-group targets South Korean defence firms | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Lazarus hackers drop new RAT malware using 2-year-old Log4j bug (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus Operation Blacksmith Attacking Organisations Worldwide (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Think tank report labels NSO, Lazarus, 'cyber mercenaries' • The Register

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• Geopolitics to Blame For DoS Surge in Europe, Says ENISA - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Debate Roils Over Extent of Nation-State Cyber Involvement in Gaza (darkreading.com)

• Think tank report labels NSO, Lazarus, 'cyber mercenaries' • The Register

• Leader of Russian hacktivist group Killnet ‘retires,' appoints new head (therecord.media)

• Cyber Attack Disrupts TV Services Across UAE, AI Anchor Broadcasts Graphic Content from Gaza | Metaverse Post (mpost.io)

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Vulnerability Management

• Vulnerabilities Now Top Initial Access Route For Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Over 30% of Log4J apps use a vulnerable version of the library (bleepingcomputer.com)

• One in four apps remain exposed to Log4Shell • The Register

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft's Final 2023 Patch Tuesday: 33 Flaws Fixed, Including 4 Critical (thehackernews.com)

• New RCE vulnerability in Apache Struts 2 fixed, upgrade ASAP (CVE-2023-50164) - Help Net Security

• Apple Releases Security Updates to Patch Critical iOS and macOS Security Flaws (thehackernews.com)

• SAP Security Patch Day December 2023 | SAP Blogs

• Adobe Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products | CISA

• Chrome 120 Update Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• 50K WordPress sites exposed to RCE attacks by critical bug in backup plugin (bleepingcomputer.com)

• '5Ghoul' Vulnerabilities Haunt Qualcomm, MediaTek 5G Modems - Security Week

• Lazarus hackers drop new RAT malware using 2-year-old Log4j bug (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Sophos backports RCE fix after attacks on unsupported firewalls (bleepingcomputer.com)

• One in four apps remain exposed to Log4Shell • The Register

• Russian foreign intelligence service spotted exploiting JetBrains vulnerability (therecord.media)

• This is how to protect your computers from LogoFAIL attacks | ZDNET

• Over 1,450 pfSense servers exposed to RCE attacks via bug chain (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Attacks abuse Microsoft DHCP to spoof DNS records • The Register

• Balancing AI advantages and risks in cyber security strategies - Help Net Security

• What is Cyber security threat intelligence sharing (att.com)

• The Cyber Security Conundrum: Best-Of-Breed Vs. Single Pane Of Glass (forbes.com)

• Discord adds Security Key support for all users to enhance security (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Modern Attack Surface Management (ASM) for SecOps (trendmicro.com)

• Cyber Security Attacks Are On the Rise — Is Your Business Prepared? | Entrepreneur

• Are business cyber security measures really fit for purpose? - Digital Journal

• New Microsoft Incident Response team guide shares best practices for security teams and leaders | Microsoft Security Blog

• Which cyber security controls are organisations struggling with? - Help Net Security

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Other News

• UK must improve cyber risk management in face of catastrophic threats - Emerging Risks Media Ltd

• Positive Technologies: successful cyber attacks on financial organisations have doubled (zawya.com)

• Sellafield nuclear plant: I pray fears of a leak at the site are being taken seriously | The Independent

• Is macOS as secure as its users think? | Kaspersky official blog

• The 3 Most Prevalent Cyber Threats of the Holidays (darkreading.com)

• Over 3,800 Ministry of Defence passes lost or stolen (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

• My home, my castle: Only 1 in 6 Brits are concerned about cyberthreats at home – PCR (pcr-online.biz)

• NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron to step down in 2024 | Computer Weekly

• Reflecting On The Evolution Of Cyber Security In 2023 (forbes.com)

• Unveiling the Cyber Threats to Healthcare: Beyond the Myths (thehackernews.com)

• This is how to protect your computers from LogoFAIL attacks | ZDNET

• Polish train maker denies claims it geofenced trains • The Register

• Positive Technologies: successful cyber attacks on financial organisations have doubled (zawya.com)

• Cyber criminals continue targeting open remote access products - Help Net Security

• Threat actors misuse OAuth applications to automate financially driven attacks | Microsoft Security Blog

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 24 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

The Human Element- Cyber Security’s Great Challenge

According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of all breaches involved a human element. It is important for organisations to understand that it is not simply malicious employees or employees falling for social engineering attacks; it includes things such as negligent, or intentional but not malicious actions. In fact, a recent separate report by Kaspersky found that 26% of incidents over the past two years involved the result of intentional security protocol violations; in comparison, external hacking attempts made up 20%.

Further, Kaspersky found 25% of incidents occurred due to neglecting system software or application updates, followed by 22% resulting from deliberate use of weak passwords or failing to change them promptly, and 18% from staff visiting unsecured websites. One potential cause for these incidents is a lack of training on why such protocols need to be followed.

Black Arrow provides live in person and online instructor lead cyber security training including Cyber Risk and Governance Workshops for Senior Leadership, and Awareness, Behaviour and Culture Training for employees and contractors.

Sources [Beta News] [ Infosecurity Magazine] [The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)]

Good Cyber Hygiene is a Strategic Imperative for SMEs, Report Shows

Small or large, no company is immune to a cyber attack and therefore good cyber hygiene is an imperative for all. Whilst large firms may already have more mature defences in place, smaller firms are definitely catching on to this, with 47% of respondents to a recent survey stating they were more worried about their organisation’s security posture now than compared to six months ago.

The survey found that ransomware (35%), software vulnerability exploits (28%) and using the same password across different applications (25%) were amongst the largest concerns. Interestingly, in a separate report, 44% of incidents were found to lack any element of malware, indicating that attackers are moving beyond traditional methods. The same report found 65% of cases included remote monitoring and management tools as the vector for initial access, something a number of organisations do not secure.

Business email compromise (BEC) attacks are also a key concern for businesses of all sizes but can be especially damaging to smaller organisations for whom the financial loss can be devastating.

Sources [Computer Weekly]  [Beta News] [Beta News]

Despite Increasing Ransomware Attacks, Some Companies are in Denial

A recent study has highlighted a contradiction in the way organisations perceive ransomware threats. Although many do not consider themselves likely targets, they are, nevertheless, bolstering their security measures, expanding their teams, and fortifying cyber defences, acknowledging the risks despite their assumed invulnerability.

Simultaneously, ransomware tactics are undergoing significant changes. The past three quarters have seen a marked increase in double-extortion attacks, with data leaks from these incidents rising by 50% compared to the previous year. This trend is predominantly driven by a few active groups, some newly emerged this year, amplifying the threat landscape.

In a tactical shift, the ransomware group ALPHV, also known as Blackcat, has lodged a formal complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against a victim for failing to comply with new disclosure regulations. Meanwhile, LockBit, infamous for attacks on high-profile targets, is modifying its extortion tactics due to lower-than-anticipated ransom returns. These developments point to an evolving and adaptive ransomware environment.

Sources: [Dark Reading] [SC Media] [Insurance Journal] [MSSP Alert] [Security Brief]

A Single Supply Chain Related Ransomware Incident Spurred UK Decision Makers to Spend Big on Cyber as Latest Victim Count exceeds 2.6K Organisations and 77M People

It is reported that 2,620 organisations and more than 77 million individuals have been impacted to date by the MOVEit supply chain ransomware attack, with millions in the past week alone having received notifications that their information had either been accessed, leaked, or both.

In a survey involving directors of UK companies with over 500 seats that had suffered a ransomware or extortion attack in the past 18 months, it was found that 24% had become significantly more anxious about ransomware attacks as a direct result of the MOVEit breach, and 66% were slightly more anxious. This anxiety translated into action, with 42% of respondents investing more into backup and recovery, and 29% tweaking existing cyber strategies. 29% had taken the decision to amend their existing cyber strategies. Staff training was also found to rise, with 42% looking to spend on skills development and 40% upping their investment in training.

Sources: [The Register] [Computer Weekly]

The True Cost of a Ransomware Attack

While the demand is often financial, the impact and reach of ransomware goes far beyond the ransomware demand. Alongside the financial impact, comes the reputational impact, loss of customers, resources in returning to business as normal and time lost in recovery. For some companies, it can take months to return to where they were before and for others, it marks the end of their organisation.

For an attacker, it doesn’t matter. Their goal is not limited by the size or sector of an organisation and it is therefore imperative that every organisation is prepared for the event of an incident. Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [ITPro]

Largest Study of Its Kind Shows Outdated Password Practices Are Putting Millions at Risk

A recent study has exposed serious flaws in passwords on the internet, revealing that three out of four popular websites are compromising user security by not meeting basic password standards. The study examined 20,000 websites, finding many allowed simple passwords, didn’t block common ones and adhered to outdated complexity requirements. It was found that over half the websites accept passwords of six characters or fewer, with 75% not requiring the advised minimum of eight characters, and 30% not supporting spaces or special characters. The study showcases the gap in security measures implementation across the web and emphasises the importance of ongoing improvement in web security standards.

The problem is further exacerbated by employees using work email for non-work approved websites and reusing the same passwords, meaning any breach of a compromised site hands the user’s credentials to an attacker. Further, many organisations are not even aware this is going on.

Source: [TechXplore]

Cyber Security Investment Involves More Than Just Technology

C-suite business leaders and senior IT professionals within large organisations, found that the top five cyber security investment areas were technologies (49%), threat intelligence (46%), risk assessment (42%), cyber insurance (42%), and third-party risk management (40%). Fewer organisations highlighted technology as good value for money in 2023 (49%) than in 2022 (58%). suggesting an awareness that technology investments go hand-in-hand with investing in governance and personnel to effectively enable and manage the technology.

Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Questions Leaders Must Ask Themselves on Security Culture

In today's corporate landscape, there's a growing emphasis on the human aspect of cyber security, with Stanford University research indicating that about 88% of data breaches result from employee errors. Companies are now focusing on enhancing security awareness through marketing campaigns and integrating cyber security performance into job reviews. This shift acknowledges that as technological defences evolve, cyber attackers increasingly exploit human vulnerabilities, as evidenced by major ransomware incidents like those impacting Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods.

Developing a strong security culture is essential, by complementing robust policies with ingraining security-minded beliefs and behaviours in employees. Key to this is the role of leadership in embedding and continuously assessing this culture. This involves evaluating training effectiveness, reporting mechanisms, proactive security approaches, and the impact of security initiatives, while also considering the complexity of human behaviour and the example set by top management. Emphasising these aspects is crucial for maintaining a secure and resilient organisational environment, and in so doing protecting an organisation's reputation and financial integrity.

Source: [AT&T]

There’s a Crossover Between Organised Crime, Financial Crime, and Nation-State Crime

The convergence of organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime is a growing concern in today’s interconnected world. This crossover, driven by the digital revolution, globalisation, economic factors, and state fragility, is reshaping the global criminal landscape. Organised crime syndicates, traditionally involved in activities like drug trafficking and extortion, are now branching out into financial crimes, offering higher profits with lower risks.

Financial crime, once the domain of individual fraudsters and white-collar criminals, has become a lucrative venture for organised crime groups. They exploit the global financial system to launder proceeds of crime, finance their operations, and evade law enforcement. Nation-state crime, involving state-sponsored or state-condoned criminal activities, often overlaps with organised and financial crime. Some governments turn a blind eye to these activities, while others actively support them for political, economic, or strategic reasons.

Sources: [The Currency]

Cyber Attack on British Library Highlights Lack of UK Resilience

A recent ransomware attack on the British Library has spotlighted the vulnerabilities in the UK's public sector IT infrastructure, amid rising state-backed cyber attacks. This major incident, which caused a significant technical outage at the library, underscores the concerns of cyber intelligence experts about the government's inadequate investment in cyber resilience in critical areas like education, healthcare, and local government. The hacking group Rhysida, targeting essential infrastructure, claimed responsibility and auctioned stolen data, including British Library employees’ passports, for 20 bitcoin (approximately £600,000).

The attack on the British Library, a key public service institution, highlights the escalating threat of ransomware attacks and their potential exploitation by state actors. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported a significant increase in cyber attacks in 2023, with incidents more than doubling compared to the previous year. In response, the UK government, which had already allocated £2.6bn for cyber security improvements and IT system updates, is actively assessing the situation with the support of the National Protective Security Authority.

Source: [FT]

Organisations Rethink Cyber Security Investments to Meet NIS2 and DORA Directive Requirements

The European Union (EU) is seeking to improve cyber resilience across all member states by bringing in two new regulations: the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which focuses on financial services companies, and its counterpart the Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS2). The effects of the two regulations are likely to be wider reaching, bringing in more stringent processes and controls and redefining service provision to organisations.

With NIS2 coming into effect in October 2024, the mandatory directive will have teeth, with strict penalties for non-compliance for both the business and senior board personnel, who can be held directly accountable and prevented from holding similar positions in the future. It also aims to increase intelligence sharing between member states and enhance supply chain security. This latter measure will see the directive have a global impact.

Many organisations supplying services to firms that fall under DORA and NIS2 will themselves be subject to the full force of the regulations, with many of these suppliers, including IT providers, unaware that this will have far reaching ramifications for them and their ability to continue to provide these services.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Help Net Security]

The Cyber Security Lawsuit Boards are Talking About

For the last month, an under-the-radar lawsuit has privately been a hot topic of conversation in boardrooms and corporate security departments alike. The lawsuit involved the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accusing SolarWinds and their CISO of fraud. SolarWinds, like many organisations, had disclosed some facts, however what was reported was not sufficient to satisfy the regulator. The lawsuit is the first in which the SEC has charged a company with intentional fraud related to cyber security disclosures and it paints a picture for the wider movement of the cyber landscape. Whilst the SEC is US based you can expect regulatory counterparts in other jurisdictions globally to follow suit.

Source: [The New York Times]

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Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Why boards must prioritize cyber security expertise - Help Net Security4 data loss examples keeping backup admins up at night | TechTarget

• Accelerating Security Risk Management (trendmicro.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• CISOs can marry security and business success - Help Net Security

• 7 must-ask questions for leaders on security culture (att.com)

• The human element -- cyber security's greatest challenge (betanews.com)

• Employee Policy Violations Cause 26% of Cyber Incidents - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why good cyber hygiene is a strategic imperative for UK SMEs (betanews.com)

• MOVEit incident spurred UK decision makers to spend big on cyber | Computer Weekly

• Cyber security Investment Involves More Than Just Technology (darkreading.com)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Corporate Boards Mulling Effects of SEC Cyber Enforcement and CISO Exposure, and Possibly Hacker Complaints to SEC | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

• The Cyber security Lawsuit That Boards Are Talking About - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Only 9% of IT budgets are dedicated to security - Help Net Security

• Inflation, cyber risks the biggest worry for firms | Nation

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• “There's a crossover between organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime” - The Currency :The Currency

• Why transparency and accountability are important in cyber security | Computer Weekly

• ‘I employ a lot of hackers’: how a stock exchange chief deters cyber attacks | Cyberwar | The Guardian

• SolarWinds lawsuit puts corporate security chiefs on high alert By Investing.com

• Humans Are Notoriously Bad at Assessing Risk - SecurityWeek

• The role experience plays in risk mitigation (betanews.com)

• Internal audit leaders are wary of key tech investments - Help Net Security

• Maximize Cyber security Returns: 5 Key Steps to Enhancing ROI (darkreading.com)

• Over Half of Organisations Are at Risk of Cyber attack Due to Exhausted and Stressed Staff - IT Security Guru

• Stressed staff put enterprises at risk of cyber attack (betanews.com)

Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 2023 ransomware statistics: Number of double-extortion attacks skyrocket | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• More than money: The true cost of a ransomware attack | ITPro

• Despite Increasing Ransomware Attacks, Some Companies In Denial | MSSP Alert

• Ransomware attacks doubIe in two years says Akamai Technologies report (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Logs missing in 42% cyber attacks; small business most vulnerable: Report (business-standard.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• Ransomware Gang LockBit Revises Its Tactics to Get More Blackmail Money (insurancejournal.com)

• The shifting sands of the war against cyber extortion - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Crews Develop GenAI Tools for Cyber attacks | MSSP Alert

• Play Ransomware Goes Commercial - Now Offered as a Service to Cyber criminals (thehackernews.com)

• Scattered Spider Hops Nimbly from Cloud to On-Prem in Complex Attack (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware groups rack up victims among corporate America | CyberScoop

• Scattered Spider Casino Hackers Evade Arrest in Plain Sight (darkreading.com)

• Paying ransom for data stolen in cyber attack bankrolls further crime, experts caution | CBC Radio

• UK signs joint statement against ransomware payments - “New norm” or status quo? - Lexology

• Capita to axe up to 900 jobs as it battles to recover from Russian cyber attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• Schools Look to Improve Cyber security, but Many Vulnerable to Ransomware (insurancejournal.com)

• 4 Ways Fintech Companies Can Protect Themselves from Ransomware (financemagnates.com)

• A cyber attack on a UK accounting firm wound up leaking US patient data. Now what? (databreaches.net)

• Cyber security should not be a gamble: Latest data breach hits major casino - Digital Journal

Ransomware Victims

• Royal Mail spent £10 million recovering from LockBit breach - Tech Monitor

• British Library staff passports leaked online as hackers demand £600,000 (telegraph.co.uk)

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• ICBC partners wary to resume trading with bank after cyber attack - Bloomberg News - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• ‘Sex life data’ stolen from UK government among record number of ransomware attacks (therecord.media)

• MOVEit victim count latest: 2.6K+ orgs, 77M+ people • The Register

• Allen & Overy Given 5 Days to Meet Hackers’ Demands: Expert Q&A | Law.com International

• London & Zurich ransomware attack causes customer chaos • The Register

• CitrixBleed Vulnerability Exploitation Suspected in Toyota Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Lockbit Gang Behind ICBC Attack Hacks Into Chicago Trading Company - Bloomberg

• Russian hackers claim attack on Ukraine fighter jet supplier (telegraph.co.uk)

• Rhysida claims it hacked the British Library - Tech Monitor

• Clorox Scapegoats Cyber Chief, Rewards Board After Crisis (forbes.com)

• Fortune 500 insurance and mortgage firm FNF shuts down network following cyber attack | TechRadar

• Yamaha Motor confirms ransomware attack on Philippines subsidiary (bleepingcomputer.com)

• St Helens Council suspected cyber attack caused significant disruption - BBC News

• Western Isles Council backup systems 'inaccessible' following cyber attack | STV News

• Auto parts giant AutoZone warns of MOVEit data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BlackCat claims attack on Fidelity National Financial • The Register

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing Simulations Boost Cyber Awareness and Defences | Mimecast

• How to combat AI-produced phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• More Than 50% of Online Retailers Not Blocking Fraudulent Emails | MSSP Alert

• How Multi-Stage Phishing Attacks Exploit QRs, CAPTCHAs, and Steganography (thehackernews.com)

• DarkGate and PikaBot Malware Resurrect QakBot's Tactics in New Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Bloomberg Twitter account hijacked to send users to phishing malware | TechRadar

• The Most Common Indicators of a Phishing Attempt (With Screenshots) | HackerNoon

Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber threats reached a new high this year, with AI playing a major role | TechRadar

• How to combat AI-produced phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• IT Pros Worry That Generative AI Will Be a Major Driver of Cyber security Threats (darkreading.com)

• Smaller businesses embrace GenAI, overlook security measures - Help Net Security

• AI Solutions Are the New Shadow IT (thehackernews.com)

• The Good, The Bad And The Reality: The Impact Of AI On Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Ransomware Crews Develop GenAI Tools for Cyber attacks | MSSP Alert

• Over a Dozen Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found in AI/ML Tools - SecurityWeek

• AI threats prompt Virgin Money to invest $250 million in cyber security (proactiveinvestors.com.au)

• OII | Large Language Models pose risk to science with false answers, says Oxford study

Malware

• 5 Of The Most Common Ways Malware Is Spread (And How To Stay Protected) (slashgear.com)

• Report finds malware is no longer the biggest cyberthreat to smaller businesses - SiliconANGLE

• Over half of SME cyber incidents now ‘malware-free’ | Computer Weekly

• Bloomberg Twitter account hijacked to send users to phishing malware | TechRadar

• Mirai malware infects routers and cameras for new botnet • The Register

• InfectedSlurs Botnet Spreads Mirai via Zero-Days | Akamai

• This devious malware will let hackers restore deleted cookies and hijack your Google account | TechRadar

• MySQL servers hit by DDoS malware botnet | TechRadar

• 27 Malicious PyPI Packages with Thousands of Downloads Found Targeting IT Experts (thehackernews.com)

• Beware: Malicious Google Ads Trick WinSCP Users into Installing Malware (thehackernews.com)

• DarkGate and PikaBot Malware Resurrect QakBot's Tactics in New Phishing Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Gamaredon's LittleDrifter USB malware spreads beyond Ukraine (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malware Uses Trigonometry to Track Mouse Strokes (darkreading.com)

• Atomic Stealer Malware is tricking Mac users with fake browser updates - gHacks Tech News

• USB worm unleashed by Russian state hackers spreads worldwide | Ars Technica

• DarkGate and Pikabot malware emerge as Qakbot’s successors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How Ducktail steals Facebook accounts | Kaspersky official blog

• Cyber criminals turn to ready-made bots for quick attacks - Help Net Security

• 3 Ways to Stop Unauthorized Code From Running in Your Network (darkreading.com)

• Konni Campaign Deploys Advanced RAT With UAC Bypass Capabilities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New botnet malware exploits two zero-days to infect NVRs and routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Mobile

• FCC Tightens Telco Rules to Combat SIM-Swapping - SecurityWeek

• Inside Apple’s Secretive War to Protect iPhones from Hacking • iPhone in Canada Blog

• Cyber criminals Are Targeting App Beta-Testing, and This Is What to Look Out For (makeuseof.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• NoEscape gang continues to use DDoS to pressure reluctant victims to negotiate (databreaches.net)

• MySQL servers hit by DDoS malware botnet | TechRadar

Internet of Things – IoT

• Mirai malware infects routers and cameras for new botnet • The Register

• InfectedSlurs Botnet Spreads Mirai via Zero-Days | Akamai

Data Breaches/Leaks

• 4 data loss examples keeping backup admins up at night | TechTarget

• Morgan Stanley Fined $6.5 Million for Exposing Customer Information - SecurityWeek

• Secretary Fined For Accessing Scores of Patient Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Canadian government discloses data breach after contractor hacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US Cyber security Lab Suffers Major Data Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Sabre Insurance hit by cyber attack | Insurance Times

• Hacktivists breach US nuclear research lab, steal employee data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Welltok data breach exposes data of 8.5 million US patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber attackers leaked data of 27,000 NYC Bar Association membersers (therecord.media)

• Enterprise software provider TmaxSoft leaks 2TB of data (securityaffairs.com)

• A cyber attack on a UK accounting firm wound up leaking US patient data. Now what? (databreaches.net)

• Sumo Logic says customer data untouched during breach • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• “There's a crossover between organised crime, financial crime, and nation-state crime” - The Currency :The Currency

• Indian Hack-for-Hire Group Targeted US, China, and More for Over 10 Years (thehackernews.com)

• Shadowy Hack-for-Hire Group Behind Sprawling Web of Global Cyber attacks (darkreading.com)

• A Hacker Faked His Own Death–Then Claimed To Have Sold Marriott Customer Data To Russians, FBI Says (forbes.com)

• Police Professional | Five-year plan launched to tackle fraud, economic and cyber crime

• Outsmarting cyber criminals is becoming a hard thing to do - Help Net Security

• Cyber security firm executive pleads guilty to hacking hospitals (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• US cyber cops trace and return nearly $9M stolen by scammers • The Register

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• The human element -- cyber security's greatest challenge (betanews.com)

• Employee Policy Violations Cause 26% of Cyber Incidents - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• cyber security: Security violations by employees as harmful as hacking: Report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Secretary Fined For Accessing Scores of Patient Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Microsoft: Lazarus hackers breach CyberLink in supply chain attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Supply Chain Threat is Booming, UK and South Korea Warn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Three Questions To Ask Third-Party Vendors About Cyber security Risk (forbes.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Scattered Spider Hops Nimbly from Cloud to On-Prem in Complex Attack (darkreading.com)

• Navigating the complexities of cyber security in a SaaS-dominated era (securitybrief.co.nz)

Encryption

• Some unbreakable RSA encryption keys are accidentally leaking online | New Scientist

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Largest study of its kind shows outdated password practices are putting millions at risk (techxplore.com)

• Your password hygiene remains atrocious, says NordPass • The Register

• US Teen Pleads Guilty to Credential Stuffing Attack on Fantasy Sports Website - SecurityWeek

Social Media

• How Ducktail steals Facebook accounts | Kaspersky official blog

Malvertising

• Beware: Malicious Google Ads Trick WinSCP Users into Installing Malware (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• The 7 Deadly Sins of Security Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Hackers Weaponize SEC Disclosure Rules Against Corporate Targets (darkreading.com)

• The Cyber security Lawsuit That Boards Are Talking About - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• SolarWinds lawsuit puts corporate security chiefs on high alert By Investing.com

• What CISOs Need to Know About Materiality | Mimecast

• Morgan Stanley Fined $6.5 Million for Exposing Customer Information - SecurityWeek

• Does claiming you were hacked when you had really just screwed up violate the FTC Act? (databreaches.net)

• Secretive White House Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to Trillions of US Phone Records | WIRED

• UK watchdog threatens enforcement action over ad cookies • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIS2 and its global ramifications - Help Net Security

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• DORA Set to Drive Significant Change in Sell-Side Third Party Risk Management | Financial IT

• Understanding the UK government’s new cyber security regime, GovAssure - IT Security Guru

Data Protection

• 1 in 5 executives question their own data protection programs - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Over Half of Organisations Are at Risk of Cyber attack Due to Exhausted and Stressed Staff - IT Security Guru

• Half of Cyber security Professionals Kept Awake By Workload Worries - IT Security Guru

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Wirecard hacker sentenced to 80 months in prison (ft.com)

• US Teen Pleads Guilty to Credential Stuffing Attack on Fantasy Sports Website - SecurityWeek

• Europol Launches OSINT Taskforce to Hunt For Russian War Crimes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A Hacker Faked His Own Death–Then Claimed To Have Sold Marriott Customer Data To Russians, FBI Says (forbes.com)

• Scattered Spider Casino Hackers Evade Arrest in Plain Sight (darkreading.com)

• US cyber cops trace and return nearly $9M stolen by scammers • The Register

• Police Professional | Five-year plan launched to tackle fraud, economic and cyber crime

• Cyber security firm executive pleads guilty to hacking hospitals (bleepingcomputer.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• "We are getting very good at identifying a Russian campaign," Microsoft weighs in on disinformation and national security at recent events | Windows Central

• AI Helps Uncover Russian State-Sponsored Disinformation in Hungary (darkreading.com)

---

Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• Why cyber war readiness is critical for democracies - Help Net Security

• Fog of War | How the Ukraine Conflict Transformed the Cyber Threat Landscape (inforisktoday.com)

Nation State Actors

China

• Understanding the Ransomware Attack Fallout on China’s ICBC (informationweek.com)

• ICBC partners wary to resume trading with bank after cyber attack - Bloomberg News - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• Mustang Panda Hackers Targets Philippines Government Amid South China Sea Tensions (thehackernews.com)

Russia

• USB worm unleashed by Russian state hackers spreads worldwide | Ars Technica

• Almost 4,000 cyber attacks on Ukraine detected – US Treasury Department | Ukrainska Pravda

• "We are getting very good at identifying a Russian campaign," Microsoft weighs in on disinformation and national security at recent events | Windows Central

• Russian hackers use Ngrok feature and WinRAR exploit to attack embassies (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian hackers claim attack on Ukraine fighter jet supplier (telegraph.co.uk)

• Potential cyberespionage campaign against Ukraine involves Remcos tool | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Embezzlement Scandal Consumes a Top Ukrainian Cyber Official, Jolting Relationship With US - The Messenger

• Konni Campaign Deploys Advanced RAT With UAC Bypass Capabilities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Europol Launches OSINT Taskforce to Hunt For Russian War Crimes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Reveals that Russia’s Civil Aviation Industry Is on the Brink of Collapse | Defence Express (defence-ua.com)

Iran

• Possible Iranian Group Behind 'Flood' of New Cyber attacks in Israel - Bloomberg

• Cyber attacks on Israel intensify as the war against Hamas rages: Check Point | CSO Online

North Korea

• Microsoft: Lazarus hackers breach CyberLink in supply chain attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Supply Chain Threat is Booming, UK and South Korea Warn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacking Employers and Seeking Employment: Two Job-Related Campaigns Bear Hallmarks of North Korean Threat Actors (paloaltonetworks.com)

• DPRK Hackers Masquerade as Tech Recruiters, Job Seekers (darkreading.com)

• Hackers pose as officials to steal secrets and cryptocurrency for North Korea (bitdefender.com)

Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence

• Cyber attacks on Israel intensify as the war against Hamas rages: Check Point | CSO Online

Vulnerability Management

• Reflecting on 20 years of Patch Tuesday | MSRC Blog | Microsoft Security Response Center

Vulnerabilities

• MOVEit victim count latest: 2.6K+ orgs, 77M+ people • The Register

• Citrix Bleed WFH Hack and Exploit: News on Data Loss Flaw - Bloomberg

• Citrix warns admins to kill NetScaler user sessions to block hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Exploiting Windows SmartScreen Zero-day Vulnerability (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Security researchers bypass Windows Hello fingerprint authentication - gHacks Tech News

• CISA warns of actively exploited Windows, Sophos, and Oracle bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Sophos Web Appliance vulnerability exploited in the wild (CVE-2023-1671) - Help Net Security

• Over a Dozen Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found in AI/ML Tools - SecurityWeek

• A critical OS command injection flaw affects Fortinet FortiSIEM (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian hackers use Ngrok feature and WinRAR exploit to attack embassies (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adobe Releases Security Updates for ColdFusion | CISA

• Splunk RCE Vulnerability Let Attackers Upload Malicious File (cybersecuritynews.com)

Tools and Controls

• Only 9% of IT budgets are dedicated to security - Help Net Security

• Accelerating Security Risk Management (trendmicro.com)

• MOVEit incident spurred UK decision makers to spend big on cyber | Computer Weekly

• Phishing Simulations Boost Cyber Awareness and Defences | Mimecast

• Logs missing in 42% cyber attacks; small business most vulnerable: Report (business-standard.com)

• Cyber attack on British Library raises concerns over lack of UK resilience (ft.com)

• Companies step up investment in ransomware protection (betanews.com)

• Organisations rethink cyber security investments to meet NIS Directive requirements - Help Net Security

• DORA Set to Drive Significant Change in Sell-Side Third Party Risk Management | Financial IT

• The role experience plays in risk mitigation (betanews.com)

• The 7 Deadly Sins of Security Awareness Training (darkreading.com)

• Identity And Access Management: 18 Important Trends And Considerations

• The Good, The Bad And The Reality: The Impact Of AI On Cyber security (forbes.com)

• MFA under fire, attackers undermine trust in security measures - Help Net Security

• AI threats prompt Virgin Money to invest $250 million in cyber security (proactiveinvestors.com.au)

• New Flaws in Fingerprint Sensors Let Attackers Bypass Windows Hello Login (thehackernews.com)

• Security researchers bypass Windows Hello fingerprint authentication - gHacks Tech News

• Detection & Response That Scales: A 4-Pronged Approach (darkreading.com)

• Maximize Cyber security Returns: 5 Key Steps to Enhancing ROI (darkreading.com)

• 6 Steps to Accelerate Cyber security Incident Response (thehackernews.com)

• The CISO view: Navigating the promise and pitfalls of cyber security automation (betanews.com)

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Other News

• Why Defenders Should Embrace a Hacker Mindset (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers are taking over planes’ GPS — experts are lost on how to fix it (nypost.com)

• UK proposes 'super-complaints' to help keep internet safe • The Register

• Consumers plan to be more consistent with their security in 2024 - Help Net Security

• Security trends public sector leaders are watching | CyberScoop

• Even gas pumps aren't safe from cyber attacks at the moment | TechRadar

• Scottish cyber security organisation calls for greater awareness of rising threat - Business Insider

• Cyber security: New plan to tackle ‘fastest-growing threat’ confronting Australia | The West Australian

• The US government wants to offer better cyber security to major infrastructure firms | TechRadar

• This devious malware will let hackers restore deleted cookies and hijack your Google account | TechRadar

• Australia’s cyber security strategy focuses on protecting small businesses and critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Cyber security at EU institutions: European Parliament adopt proposed Cyber security Regulation and EU institutions organise cyber security exercise | Practical Law (thomsonreuters.com)

• The retail sector is under threat from… Gmail, WhatsApp and Google Drive? | TechRadar

• Sekoia: Latest in the Financial Sector Cyber Threat Landscape (techrepublic.com)

• Shields Ready: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience

• Crimeware and financial cyberthreat predictions for 2024 | Securelist

• Terrorism, cyber attacks main Paris 2024 threats as security plan finalised | Reuters

• Read again: Decoding cyber security, safeguarding educational institutions | Edexec

• What direction for the EU Cyber security Competence Centre? – EURACTIV.com

• Unveiling the Most Common Cyber Threats in Retail – International Supermarket News

• Mideast Oil & Gas Facilities Could Face Cyber Related Energy Disruptions (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 03 November 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Surviving a Ransomware Attack Begins by Acknowledging it’s Inevitable

The best defence against a ransomware attack is assuming it will happen before it does.  Research by Visa Inc found that ransomware continues to rapidly rise. One of the main factors is the use of AI services to mass produce highly personalised and plausible emails. The second is the proliferation of highly professional do-it-yourself ransomware kits, which frequently come with 24/7 tech support. These two factors drastically lower the skill level required for cyber criminals to successfully pull off an attack.

Another new ransomware trend is “dual ransomware attacks”. This is where criminals carry out two or more attacks in close proximity of each other, ranging between 48 hours to a maximum of 10 days. With an 80% chance of re-attack, small and medium sized businesses in hard-hit industries including healthcare and manufacturing are primary targets; organisations must be extra vigilant as the holidays approach because this is when cyber criminals are most likely to attack.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [Venture Beat] [SC Media] [Help Net Security] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Help Net Security] [Tech Crunch]

Are You and Your Clients Soft Targets?

Cyber attacks are not a matter of "if" but "when," and the question you need to ask yourself is, ‘Are you a soft target?’. A soft target is a network or organisation that is relatively unprotected or vulnerable to cyber attacks.

You may feel confident in your ability to recover from an attack, but if you've never thoroughly tested your backup and recovery procedures, and when the time comes you find that it does not work, the result will leave you more likely to pay a ransom in an encryption based ransomware scenario. Reliance on legacy antivirus, which often fails to detect modern threats, can also render your network a soft target. Additionally, the absence of a rigorous vulnerability scanning and patching process leaves vulnerabilities undiscovered, and attackers are quick to exploit them. If you rely solely on prevention measures like firewalls and endpoint protection platforms, you are making yourself an appealing soft target for cyber criminals.

No organisation is entirely immune to cyber attacks. The key to defending you and your client's information effectively is to anticipate attacks, understand your security posture, recognise potential adversaries, and recover correctly in the event of an attack.

Source: [MSSP Alert]

Cyber Attacks Cause Revenue Losses in 42% of Small Businesses

Small businesses may be discouraged from investing in preventive cyber security measures due to the expense involved and the mistaken belief that only larger companies are the target of cyber crimes. However, according to a recent report nearly 8 in 10 small business leaders admit they are anxious about the safety of their company’s sensitive data and information. The report found that employee and customer data continue to be the most impacted categories of information in data breaches with 42% of small businesses losing revenue due to a cyber event.

The widespread use of internet-connected devices has given rise to a substantial surge in threat actors targeting small and medium-sized businesses, with malware, phishing and botnets being the most common threats. Daily malware activity has doubled year over year, and peaks in holiday seasons.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security] [JDSupra]

Executives May be The Biggest Risk to Your Business as One in Five Share Work Passwords Outside the Company

According to a recent report, nearly half (49%) of C-level executives have requested to bypass one or more security measures in the past year, highlighting a concerning disparity between what business leaders say about cyber and what they do. The research reported one in five sharing their work password with someone outside the company, 77% using easy-to-remember passwords including birth dates, and a third admitting to accessing unauthorised files and data with nearly two-thirds having the ability to edit those files/data.

Additionally, the C-suite was found to be more than three times as likely than regular users to share work devices with unauthorised users. An essential approach to reducing the risks is a tailored training programme that enables all users, including the C-suite, to understand the objective of security controls and the risks caused by bypassing them. Black Arrow offers bespoke training to all roles within the organisation as well as upskilling tailored to those at the board level.

Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [Tech Radar] [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security]

Organisations Can Only Stop 57 Percent of Cyber Attacks

According to a report from Tenable, over the last two years, the average organisation's cyber security program was prepared to preventatively defend against, or block, just 57 percent of the cyber attacks it encountered. The report found that 58% of respondents focus almost entirely on fighting successful attacks rather than working to prevent them in the first place. This is put down largely to a struggle to obtain an accurate picture of their attack surface. When it came to risks, 75% viewed cloud infrastructure as the greatest source of exposure risk in their organisation.

Source: [Beta News]

Many Businesses Remain Unprepared for AI as Phishing Attacks Rise 1,265% Since Launch of ChatGPT

Generative AI has revolutionised many aspects of life, offering new opportunities that have also greatly benefited malicious actors. A report has found that since the launch of ChatGPT, phishing attacks have increased by 1,265%. A separate report found that many businesses remain unprepared for the impact of AI, with just 16% of respondents satisfied in their organisation’s understanding of these AI tools.

Sources: [Decrypt] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Emerging Risks]

Business Email Compromise is Most Common Entry Point for Cyber Attack

According to cyber insurance provider Hiscox, almost half of UK businesses have experienced a cyber attack in the last year, an increase of 9% from the previous year. Business email compromise was recorded as the most common point of entry, mentioned by 35% of companies who suffered an attack.

The report found that 20% of attacked organisations received a ransomware demand, slightly up from 19% the previous year. The proportion paying the ransom fell from 66% to 63%, but the median ransom rose 13%.

Sources: [Hiscox] [Digital Journal]

US Regulator Charges Firm and its CISO For Fraud and Cyber Security Failures

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced plans to charge a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with fraud for their role in allegedly lying to investors, overstating cyber security practices, and understating or failing to disclose known risks. A key piece of evidence presented by the SEC involved a presentation that was shared with the CISO, detailing a lack of security in the CISO employer’s setup. The presentation highlighted how exploitation could lead to major reputational and financial loss.

The case represents a larger shift in the dynamics and corporate reporting of security issues and within this, lies the professionalism of the CISO role. It is likely that this incident could become the start of something larger.

Sources: [The Record] [Security Week ] [Forbes]

Companies Scramble to Integrate Immediate Recovery into Ransomware Plans

A survey found that 66% of companies are reevaluating their data protection and cyber resilience strategies. Despite this, 35% are not prioritising recovery and only half (56.6%) focused on both recovery and prevention.

Whilst it is important to prevent attacks, nothing is 100% secure and organisations need to ensure that their ransomware plans include recovery as a part of this. If, or when, you experience an attack, you will not want to improvise your recovery.

Source: [Help Net Security]

Your End-Users are Reusing Passwords: That’s a Big Problem

Password reuse is a difficult vulnerability for IT teams to get full visibility over. The danger is often hidden until it turns up in the form of hackers using compromised credentials as an initial access vector. A recent survey revealed that 53% of people admit to reusing passwords, making it easier for attackers to gain access to multiple applications with a single compromised password.

While it is difficult for organisations to maintain visibility over who is reusing passwords, especially if employees are reusing passwords outside of the organisation, there are still ways to combat this. Implementing tools that can check for compromised passwords, using multi-factor authentication and ensuring all employees carry out cyber security and awareness training are a few methods to help combat password re-use.

Source: [Bleeping Computer]

Cyber Workforce Demand is Outpacing Supply

A study by ISC2 stated that we would need to double the cyber workforce to adequately protect organisations and their critical assets. The study found that the gap between the demand and supply grew 12.6%. For organisations, this can mean a struggle in hiring cyber expertise.

To address the challenge of attracting and retaining quality senior security professionals, Black Arrow offers a fractional CISO service that gives flexible access to a whole team of specialists with wide expertise, experience and backgrounds in technology, governance and transformation, for less than the cost of hiring one individual.

Source: [Cyber Scoop]

What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs

According to a new study only 12% of S&P 500 companies have board directors with relevant cyber credentials, highlighting a major gap in expertise needed to keep organisations secure. As most organisations shift to digital and cloud-first strategies, businesses of all shapes and sizes must protect their assets. Unfortunately, there's a considerable gap between security leaders and the board directors responsible for managing businesses. A recent Harvard Business Review survey revealed just 47% regularly interact with their company's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). That's a severe knowledge gap for a company's security and business leaders.

Introducing CISOs to the boardroom is not just about compliance, it's also about ensuring transparency and accountability. CISOs are already building security programs from the ground up. They provide business compliance, hire the right people, and find the right technology to supplement their team's efforts. Security posture is critical to an enterprise's future success, and having a CISO on the board that speaks the language can help a board understand if their business is making suitable security investments.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• SEC Charges SolarWinds and Its CISO With Fraud and Cyber security Failures - SecurityWeek

• SolarWinds Is A Game Changer - You Cannot Sugarcoat Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Part of an executive team? You might be the biggest security risk to your business | TechRadar

• One in five executives have shared work passwords outside the company | Security Magazine

• Half of Execs Request Security Bypass Over Past Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Organisations can only stop 57 percent of cyber attacks (betanews.com)

• Cyber attacks cause revenue losses in 42% of small businesses - Help Net Security

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• Only 1 in 5 Business Leaders 'Extremely Prepared' to Manage Cyber security Threats at Workplace: Survey Report, Business News - AsiaOne

• 'Are we adversary aligned?' is the new 'Are we secure?' (betanews.com)

• Cyber security habits and behaviours executives need to be aware of - Help Net Security

• The hidden costs of data breaches for small businesses - Help Net Security

• Cyber workforce demand is outpacing supply, survey finds | CyberScoop

• How Do We Truly Make Security 'Everyone's Responsibility'? (darkreading.com)

• Why lack of training can put cyber security at risk [Q&A] (betanews.com)

• Cyber security Awareness Month Series: Cyber security is Important for Small Business Too. | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

• Threat Prevention Begins With IT & Security Team Collaboration (darkreading.com)

• Are startups underestimating their cyber vulnerability? | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• The CISO’s toolkit must include political capital within the C-suite | CSO Online

• Do You Really Need a CISO? (securityintelligence.com)

• CISO Skills in a Changing Security Market: Are You Prepared? (darkreading.com)

• What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs (darkreading.com)

• Is it time to merge your fraud and cyber teams? - Raconteur

• OODA Loop - Deciphering the CISO Accountability Landscape: A Comparative Analysis with the AML Officer's Evolution

• Why there’s no one-size-fits all solution to security maturity | TechRadar

Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Never Sleeps - But It Strikes Whilst You Do - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransom Groups Threaten Physical Violence as Social Engineering Tactic (darkreading.com)

• Companies scramble to integrate immediate recovery into ransomware plans - Help Net Security

• Surviving a ransomware attack begins by acknowledging it's inevitable | VentureBeat

• Mass exploitation of CitrixBleed vulnerability, including a ransomware group | by Kevin Beaumont | Oct, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• The dangers of dual ransomware attacks - Help Net Security

• Do government sanctions against ransomware groups work? | TechCrunch

• Why rookie hackers are capitalizing on ransomware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Experts Reconsider Banning Ransom Payments as Ransomware Attacks Surge (pymnts.com)

• Why ransomware victims can’t stop paying off hackers | TechCrunch

• Key Learnings from “Big Game” Ransomware Campaigns - SecurityWeek

• New Hunters International ransomware possible rebrand of Hive (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SIM Swappers Are Working Directly with Ransomware Gangs Now (404media.co)

• One of the most dangerous ransomware kits around might have just gotten a rebrand | TechRadar

• Forty Countries Agree Not to Pay Cyber crime Ransoms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks set to break records in 2023 - Help Net Security

• Know When and How to Stop Ransomware Attacks (finextra.com)

• HelloKitty Ransomware Group Exploiting Apache ActiveMQ Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Data Encrypted in 75% of Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Organisation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Boeing Confirms Cyber Attack, System Compromise (darkreading.com)

• CCleaner says hackers stole users’ personal data during MOVEit mass-hack | TechCrunch

• Stanford University investigating security incident • The Register

• Clop group obtained access to the email addresses of about 632,000 US federal employees (securityaffairs.com)

• Massive ransomware attack hinders services in 70 German municipalities (therecord.media)

• Medical research exec hit in SIM-swap attack by Alphv gang • The Register

• Caesars Hackers Accessed Customer Data; Costs to Be Determined (bloomberglaw.com)

• Mortgage and loan giant Mr. Cooper blames cyber attack for ongoing outage | TechCrunch

• Ransomware attack shuts down Central Florida radiology imager sites (wmfe.org)

• British, Toronto Libraries Struggle After Cyber Incidents (darkreading.com)

• Ace Hardware says 1,202 devices were hit during cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Report Links ChatGPT to 1,265% Rise in Phishing Emails - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• McAfee Celebrity Hot List 2023 - gHacks Tech News

• Phishing Scams, Bad Actors Bedevil Military Mass Tort Settlements (bloomberglaw.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Email Phishing Attacks Up 1,265% Since ChatGPT Launched: SlashNext - Decrypt

• AI poses new cyber threats with many businesses unprepared (emergingrisks.co.uk)

• AI is making cyber attacks even smarter and more dangerous | TechRadar

• The People Hacker: AI a Game-Changer in Social Engineering Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Risk managers beware – generative AI spells serious concerns for security | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• 28 Countries Sign Bletchley Declaration on Responsible AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK AI Safety Summit is targeting evil sentience, but there are bigger problems to solve | Tom's Guide

• AI Safety Summit: OWASP Urges Governments to Agree on AI Standards - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Enterprise AI applications are threatening security | TechRadar

• What Lurks in the Dark: Taking Aim at Shadow AI (darkreading.com)

• ChatGPT, Bard, lack effective defences against fraudsters, Which? warns | Computer Weekly

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• The future of AIs fighting AIs is already here - POLITICO

• AI promises incredible benefits, but also terrible risks. It’s not luddism to rein it in | Sonia Sodha | The Guardian

Malware

• Over a million Windows and Linux systems infected by this tricky new malware | TechRadar

• DUCKTAIL Malware employs LinkedIn messages Execute Attacks (gbhackers.com)

• Daily malware activity doubled year over year for small businesses | Security Magazine

• Iranian Group Tortoiseshell Launches New Wave of IMAPLoader Malware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Malvertising via Dynamic Search Ads delivers malware bonanza (malwarebytes.com)

• Windows PCs are being targeted with a nasty new malware - here's what you need to know | TechRadar

• Pro-Hamas Hacktivists Targeting Israeli Entities with Wiper Malware (thehackernews.com)

• These Seemingly Innocent Search Terms Could Lead Kids to Malware-Filled Websites (pcmag.com)

• Malware 'Meal Kits' Serve Up No-Fuss RAT Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Arid Viper Camouflages Malware in Knockoff Dating App (darkreading.com)

• Scarred Manticore Targets Middle East With Advanced Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ghostpulse Malware Targets Windows PCs With Fake App Installers (pcmag.com)

• Latest RAT attack surge bypasses Microsoft's XLL block • The Register

• Mozi malware botnet goes dark after mysterious use of kill-switch (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Iranian Cyber Spies Use 'LionTail' Malware in Latest Attacks - SecurityWeek

• Turla Updates Kazuar Backdoor with Advanced Anti-Analysis to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• 16 more infected Android apps you need to delete ASAP (bgr.com)

• iOS 17.1 finally fixes a three-year-old Private Wi-Fi Address security hole | Macworld

• Android 14’s user-profile data bug seems indistinguishable from ransomware | Ars Technica

• New banking scams delivered instantly via WhatsApp - F-Secure Blog

• Every day, half a million malware apps are created for scamming. Who’s behind them? - CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

• Security Expert: Apple's Lockdown Mode Still Defeats Commercial Spyware | PCMag

• Google One data breach: Dark web report at your hand - gHacks Tech News

• SIM swapping crypto crook jailed, ordered to pay $945,833 • The Register

• SIM Swappers Are Working Directly with Ransomware Gangs Now (404media.co)

• Israel Calls In Hackers And Spyware Companies To Break Into Abductees’ Phones (forbes.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS attacks are getting bigger and more powerful, and that's a really bad thing | TechRadar

• Why Does "Anonymous" Launch DDoS Cyber Attacks? (makeuseof.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• IoT's convenience comes with cyber security challenges - Help Net Security

• RCE exploit for Wyze Cam v3 publicly released, patch now (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• CCleaner says hackers stole users’ personal data during MOVEit mass-hack | TechCrunch

• Okta discloses a data breach after a third-party vendor was hacked (securityaffairs.com)

• ServiceNow Data Exposure: A Wake-Up Call for Companies (thehackernews.com)

• LastPass breach linked to theft of $4.4 million in crypto (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Public exposure of data breaches is becoming inevitable – Help Net Security

• Browser extensions could capture passwords and sensitive info as plain text (techxplore.com)

• Seiged Sec Breach Top Israeli Telecom, Leak Customers Data (dailydot.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• ‘Prolific Puma’ Hacker Gives Cyber criminals Access to .us Domains (darkreading.com)

• Two Russians indicted for hacking JFK taxi dispatch system • The Register

• How cyber criminals adapt and thrive amidst changing consumer trends – Help Net Security

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto thief steals $4.4M in a day as toll rises from LastPass breach (cointelegraph.com)

• UK's National Crime Agency Establishes Crypto Investigative Team (mpost.io)

• Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty of defrauding FTX customers out of billions | Sam Bankman-Fried | The Guardian

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• How human behaviour research informs security strategies - Help Net Security

Insurance

• The rise of the cyber security insurance market | CSO Online

• Cyber insurance: why it pays to be responsible | TechRadar

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• N. Korean Lazarus Group Targets Software Vendor Using Known Flaws (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Hackers Are Trying to Stage Another Supply Chain Hack (pcmag.com)

• Okta discloses a data breach after a third-party vendor was hacked (securityaffairs.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Within 5 Minutes, Hackers Were Able to Get AWS Credentials From GitHub (cyber securitynews.com)

• Cryptojackers steal AWS credentials from GitHub in 5 minutes • The Register

• Microsoft is Getting Serious About Security. Again. - Thurrott.com

• Microsoft is overhauling its software security after major Azure cloud attacks - The Verge

Identity and Access Management

• Identity-based security threats are growing rapidly: report | CSO Online

Encryption

• UK Banks Warn Quantum Will Imperil Entire Payment System - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Your end-users are reusing passwords – that’s a big problem (bleepingcomputer.com)

• One in five executives have shared work passwords outside the company | Security Magazine

• Within 5 Minutes, Hackers Were Able to Get AWS Credentials From GitHub (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Browser extensions could capture passwords and sensitive info as plain text (techxplore.com)

Social Media

• DUCKTAIL Malware employs LinkedIn messages Execute Attacks (gbhackers.com)

• Russian hacking tool floods social networks with bots, researchers say (therecord.media)

Malvertising

• Malvertising via Dynamic Search Ads delivers malware bonanza (malwarebytes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Finding the right approach to security awareness - Help Net Security

• Why lack of training can put cyber security at risk [Q&A] (betanews.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• FTC orders non-bank financial firms to report breaches in 30 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SEC Charges SolarWinds and Its CISO With Fraud and Cyber security Failures - SecurityWeek

• Why The SEC Cyber Security Disclosure Rules Will Improve Cybersecurity (forbes.com)

• The UK Online Safety Bill Becomes Law, What Does It Mean? | Hackaday

• Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure AI - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Setting the standard for cyber security across the EU | Business Post

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Top 12 IT security frameworks and standards explained | TechTarget

• MITRE Releases ATT&CK v14 With Improvements to Detections, ICS, Mobile  - SecurityWeek

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK cyber skills gap grows 29% despite record hiring (computing.co.uk)

• Cyber workforce demand is outpacing supply, survey finds | CyberScoop

• Cyber security workforce shortages: 67% report people deficits - Help Net Security

• CISO Skills in a Changing Security Market: Are You Prepared? (darkreading.com)

• What the Boardroom Is Missing: CISOs (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Pirate IPTV network in Austria dismantled and $1.74 million seized (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SIM swapping crypto crook jailed, ordered to pay $945,833 • The Register

• UK's National Crime Agency Establishes Crypto Investigative Team (mpost.io)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare/Cyber Espionage

• Cyber War: Power, Prestige, International Governance, and Strategy in the Age of Global Polycrisis

Geopolitical Threats/Activity

• Hacktivist Activity Related to Gaza Conflict Dwindles (darkreading.com)

• New BiBi-Linux wiper malware targets Israeli orgs in destructive attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Scarred Manticore Targets Middle East With Advanced Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Israel Calls In Hackers And Spyware Companies To Break Into Abductees’ Phones (forbes.com)

China

• Spies and Lies: China’s Cyber Espionage Is on an Unprecedented Level | Mind Matters

• Microsoft upgrades security for signing keys in wake of Chinese breach | CyberScoop

Russia

• Boeing. ‘Sensitive Data’ Reportedly Stolen by Ransomware Group Linked to Russia - The Messenger

• IT Army of Ukraine disrupted internet providers in territories occupied by Russia (securityaffairs.com)

• Russian hacking tool floods social networks with bots, researchers say (therecord.media)

• Palo Alto Reveals New Features in Russian APT Turla's Kazuar Backdoor - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FSB arrests Russian hackers working for Ukrainian cyber forces (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russia to launch its own version of VirusTotal due to US snooping fears (therecord.media)

• A Ukrainian Company Shares Lessons in Wartime Resilience (darkreading.com)

• Two Russians indicted for hacking JFK taxi dispatch system • The Register

Iran

• Iranian Group Tortoiseshell Launches New Wave of IMAPLoader Malware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian Cyber Spies Use 'LionTail' Malware in Latest Attacks - SecurityWeek

• In Cyber attacks, Iran Shows Signs of Improved Hacking Capabilities - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• New Iranian state-sponsored hacking campaign uncovered - SiliconANGLE

• FBI Director Warns of Increased Iranian Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Iran's MuddyWater Targets Israel in New Spear-Phishing Cyber Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• 'Scarred Manticore' Unleashes the Most Advanced Iranian Cyber Espionage Yet (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Hackers Are Trying to Stage Another Supply Chain Hack (pcmag.com)

• Lazarus Group Looking for Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• North Korean Hackers Target macOS Crypto Engineers With Kandykorn - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Lazarus Group Looking for Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• 20 Years Later, Is Patch Tuesday Enough? (darkreading.com)

• CVSS 4.0 keys-in on threat intelligence metrics and OT, ICS and IoT | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Vulnerability management metrics: How to measure success - Help Net Security

• From Windows 9x to 11: Tracing Microsoft's security evolution - Help Net Security

• It's Cheap to Exploit Software — and That's a Major Security Problem (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Exploit released for critical Cisco IOS XE flaw, many hosts still hacked (bleepingcomputer.com)

• F5 fixes BIG-IP auth bypass allowing remote code execution attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mass exploitation of CitrixBleed vulnerability, including a ransomware group | by Kevin Beaumont | Oct, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• Hackers use Citrix Bleed flaw in attacks on govt networks worldwide (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco Patches 27 Vulnerabilities in Network Security Products - SecurityWeek

• Chrome 119 Patches 15 Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Atlassian warns users: patch critical Confluence flaw ASAP • The Register

• Researchers Find 34 Windows Drivers Vulnerable to Full Device Takeover (thehackernews.com)

• Urgent: New Security Flaws Discovered in NGINX Ingress Controller for Kubernetes (thehackernews.com)

• D-LINK SQL Injection Vulnerability Let Attacker Escalate Privileges (gbhackers.com)

• 3,000 Apache ActiveMQ servers vulnerable to RCE attacks exposed online (bleepingcomputer.com)

• More Than 100 Vulns in Microsoft 365 Tied to SketchUp 3D Library (darkreading.com)

• No patches yet for Apple iLeakage side-channel attack | TechTarget

• HelloKitty Ransomware Group Exploiting Apache ActiveMQ Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• iOS 17.1 finally fixes a three-year-old Private Wi-Fi Address security hole | Macworld

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Tools and Controls

• Companies scramble to integrate immediate recovery into ransomware plans - Help Net Security

• Vulnerability management metrics: How to measure success - Help Net Security

• 6 steps to accelerate cyber security incident response | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ethical hackers are helping more and more business stay safe | TechRadar

• Getting Smart With Cyber security: AI Can Help the Good Guys, Too (darkreading.com)

• Massive cyber crime URL shortening service uncovered via DNS data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The state of API security in 2023 | InfoWorld

• Is There a Silver Bullet in Threat Detection? | MSSP Alert

• Huge Cyber security Industry Survey Reveals Concerns Over Cuts Amid New Threats - The Messenger

• Defence in depth: Layering your security coverage (securityintelligence.com)

• Finding the right approach to security awareness - Help Net Security

• Is state intervention needed for cyber insurance? (ft.com)

• CISA Announces New Release of Logging Made Easy | CISA

• Security Advice For Virtualization: Protecting Information And Programs (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Mainframes are around to stay, it’s time to protect them - Help Net Security

• Responsible Cyber Operations: From Theory to Reality - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

Cyber Readiness Report 2023 UK - Hiscox

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Other News

• Are You and Your Clients Soft Targets? | MSSP Alert

• Four Under-The-Radar Security Risks That Can Endanger Your Business (forbes.com)

• ING CISO says data sharing is key to financial cyber security (finextra.com)

• Threat Prevention Begins With IT & Security Team Collaboration (darkreading.com)

• F5 Labs Report Reveals Rise in Malicious Automation | The Fintech Times

• Microsoft Vows to Revamp Security Products After Repeated Hacks - Bloomberg

• Microsoft launches Secure Future Initiative to bolster security | TechTarget

• The 5 Cs of effective cyber defence: Beyond traditional technical skills | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 9 Innovative Ways to Boost Security Hygiene for Cyber Awareness Month (darkreading.com)

• How governments can keep data secure in a digital age - New Statesman

• Are startups underestimating their cyber vulnerability? | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Preventing and preparing for law firm cyber security attacks is fundamental to success | Casetext - JDSupra

• Cyber security insights for secure manufacturing - Aerospace Manufacturing and Design

• Demystifying the top five OT security myths | Computer Weekly

• 20 scary cyber security facts and figures for a haunting Halloween (welivesecurity.com)

• Construction among industries most at risk from cyber attacks, insurer warns | News | Building

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 20 October 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Cyber Insecurity: Many Businesses Scared They May be Hit by a Cyber Attack at Any Moment

A report from the Commvault and the International Data Corporation (IDC) found that 61% of respondents believe that a data loss within the next 12 months is "likely" or "highly likely" to occur due to increasingly sophisticated attacks. Unfortunately, most businesses do not have an unlimited budget; cyber security related spending must therefore be effective, taking an informed risk based approach to prioritise the biggest threats to businesses. To understand these threats, businesses must know the current threat landscape and how that relates to their business specifically. In order to be able to apply any threat intelligence, organisations must first ascertain what they need to protect through a documented asset register; after all you cannot protect something you do not know exists.

Sources: [PR Newswire] [TechRadar]

Cyber Security Investments Show Mature Business Mindset

Companies need to start embracing cyber security as a business enabler, rather than being viewed as a pure cost or as a regulatory burden. Good cyber security is a strong indicator of a mature business mindset, giving customers, employees, and suppliers confidence that you are running a mature, responsible operation that takes the value of its data and IP very seriously. With the perception of customers changing to be more security-based, having a high level of cyber security can establish trust and therefore distinguish a business in the marketplace.

Source: [Insider Media] [Compare the Cloud]

SMBs Struggle to Keep Pace as Cyber Threats Reach All Time High

Research conducted by Sage has found UK small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly struggling with cyber security preparedness, with 57% asking for more support with education and training and 45% not understanding what security is needed for their business. The report found that globally, 70% of SMBs highlighted cyber threats as a major concern, with 51% struggling to keep on top of new threats and 48% experiencing a cyber incident in the past year.

SMBs globally, found that their struggle related to making sure employees know what is expected of them in protecting the organisation (45%), providing education and awareness training (44%) and cost (43%).

Source: (IT Security Guru)

Phishing Attacks Hit Record Highs in Q2 2023, with Emails from HR still the Most Effective Lure

Research has found in the third quarter of this year, phishing attacks soared by 173% compared with the previous three months, and malware was up 110% over the same period, with 233.9 million malicious emails detected. Banks and financial services organisations remained a top target, with a 121% rise in phishing attacks.

In a separate report, human resource topics were found to account for more than half of the top-clicked phishing email subjects. This included emails that related to a change in dress code and updates on annual leave. It’s important for organisations to take this into account when training employees.

Sources: [SiliconANGLE1] [Beta News] [SiliconANGLE2] [TechRadar] [Security Brief]

Cyber Attacks Are a Matter of When, Not If; The Best Time to Deal with Them Is Before They Happen

Another week brings more companies added to the list of victims of cyber attacks. Just this week, UK based social care provider CareTech’s childcare subsidiary Cambian was criticised for keeping a cyber attack quiet, with individuals who had data stolen having to chase Cambian for details.

Cyber attacks happen, and companies need to admit when they have happened and inform relevant people. Honesty and clarity are key. After an attack, there are a number of things going on at once such as finding out what has happened, identifying stolen or encrypted data, fulfilling legal and regulatory requirements and communicating both internally and externally. Unfortunately, many companies do not expect to be attacked and therefore do not have anything in place to respond to an attack. In addition to having the necessary defences in place, organisations must be prepared for the event of an attack. This can be outlined in an incident response plan (IRP).

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Sources: [Euronews] [The Times] [AI-CIO]

Lloyd's Of London Warns of Worst-Case-Scenario Cyber Attack

In recent modelling by a Lloyds of London researcher, a worst-case-scenario was found to have the potential to cause $3.5 trillion of economic damage within 5 years. While this may seem implausible, with the increased number of cyber attacks, especially to the financial sector, this figure is not as incredulous as it may seem.

The FBI has also stated that the average annual cost of cyber crime worldwide is expected to soar from $8.4 trillion in 2022 to more than $23 trillion in 2027.

Sources: [Reinsurance News] [ABS-CBN News] [The Motley Fool] [City AM]

20,000 Britons Approached by Chinese Agents on LinkedIn, Says MI5 Head

An estimated 20,000 Britons have been approached by Chinese state actors on LinkedIn in the hope of stealing industrial or technological secrets, the head of MI5 stated ahead of the Five Eyes agencies summit. This summit is a meeting of the heads of security from the Five Eyes nations – UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The summit discussed how industrial espionage was happening at “real scale”, with 10,000 UK businesses being at risk, particularly in artificial intelligence, quantum computing or synthetic biology where China was trying to gain a march.

A 'secure innovation' guideline has been released to assist small to medium-sized enterprises, especially tech start-ups, in bolstering their defences against threats from foreign states, criminals, and competitors. This guideline offers basic security advice on areas like investments, supply chains, IT networks, and cloud computing to safeguard emerging technologies.

Sources: [Computer Weekly] [Tech Monitor] [Guardian]

Ransomware - All it Takes is One Employee Mistake, As Criminals are Aiming Third-Party Vendors

According to a report, human error is the root cause of more than 80% of all cyber breaches. The solution in this case, is for organisations to provide effective training to employees to reduce the risk of such an error happening. However, this does not have any impact on third parties that the  organisations use. A separate report found that nearly a third of ransomware claims involved a third-party vendor as a point of failure.

Whilst organisations often focus on improving their own cyber security, third parties can become an easily overlooked area. You don’t want to invest a significant amount into your organisation’s cyber security, only for it to fail due to a third party. This is why it is important for organisations to have an effective way of measuring supply chain risk, to ensure that they know what data their third parties have access to and what is being done by the third parties to protect it.

Black Arrow have helped many clients carry out third party risk assessments on a large number of suppliers and this can be done as a standalone offering or as part of a fractional CISO engagement.

Sources: [Security Affairs] [Claims Journal]

39% of Individuals Use the Same Password for Multiple Accounts

According to a recent survey by Yubico, 80% of respondents are concerned about the security of their online accounts. Additionally, 39% admitted to using the same passwords for multiple accounts. The report found that Boomer-generation users are the least likely to reuse passwords at 20%. In comparison, Millennials are twice as likely to reuse passwords for multiple accounts at 47%. This survey highlights that whilst younger generations may be more tech savvy, having grown up with this technology, it also brings with it a more relaxed and complacent attitude when it comes to cyber security hygiene.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Why Fourth-Party Risk Management Is a Must-Have

Most organisations today are acutely aware of the risks that third-party relationships pose, and many employ some form of third-party risk management to understand and monitor these alliances. Another danger also needs to be borne in mind: the threats organisations face from their third parties’ third parties. These ‘fourth parties’, the vendors of an organisation's vendor, are becoming an increasing concern among regulators, particularly those in the banking and financial services sector. Attackers exploit fourth parties just the same as they do third parties to indirectly target an organisation. As a result, these fourth parties greatly increase an IT environment's attack surface.

Fourth parties pose reputational, operational and regulatory risks, and with new regulations such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) in Europe coming into place, organisations need to implement a comprehensive third-party risk management program that extends to cover fourth-party risk management. This is the only way to ensure fourth parties are vetted appropriately.

Source: [Tech Target]

AI Adoption Surges but Security Awareness Lags Behind

A new survey found that security is reportedly not the primary concern for organisations when using tools such as ChatGPT and Google Bard. Respondents are more worried about inaccurate responses than the exposure of customer and employee personally identifiable information (PII), disclosure of trade secrets (33%) and financial loss (25%). Basic security practices are lacking, however, with 82% of respondents confident in their security stacks but less than half investing in technology to monitor generative AI use, exposing them to data loss risks. Only 46% have established security policies for data sharing.

Organisations need to rigorously assess and control how large language models (LLMs) handle data, ensuring alignment with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. This involves employing strong encryption, consent mechanisms and data anonymisation techniques, and ensuring control over how the organisation’s data is used, alongside regular audits and updates to ensure data handling practices remain compliant.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

UK Watchdog Fines Equifax £11 Million For Role in Cyber Breach

Britain's financial watchdog has fined the consumer credit rating body Equifax £11 million ($13.4 million) for its role in "one of the largest" cyber security breaches in history. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) stated that "The cyber attack and unauthorised access to data was entirely preventable", identifying that the UK arm of Equifax did not find out data had been accessed until six  weeks after their parent company discover the hack.

Source: [Reuters]

Why Boards Must Understand and Govern Cyber Security Risk

The boardroom is a critical control in every company’s system of cyber security risk management. An ineffective approach to cyber security governance creates an overall system of cyber security that is weaker than it needs to be. Boards have typically viewed cyber security as something that it left to IT and have not been able to challenge or interpret the reports that they receive, if any, from their IT departments or IT providers. Governing bodies such as the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) have identified this and have started bringing in regulations that force the board of directors to fully understand digital cyber security risk and have a more vital role as part of the system.
Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security, by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Forbes]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber Insecurity: Report Finds Majority of Enterprises Expect an Imminent Cyber Attack (prnewswire.com)

• Cyber Crime Costs Soar to $8 Trillion, Spotlighting the Critical Need for Cyber security Experts (globenewswire.com)

• Many cyber bosses just aren't confident in their company's defences | TechRadar

• SMBs seek help as cyber threats reach an all-time high - Help Net Security

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• The real impact of the cyber security poverty line on small organisations - Help Net Security

• Cyber security investments show mature business mindset, says IT expert | Insider Media

• Is Cyber security Finally Becoming a Business Enabler? - Compare the Cloud

• The best time to deal with cyber attacks is before they happen (thetimes.co.uk)

• ‘A matter of when not if’: Why is it crucial for businesses to protect themselves from cyber attacks? | Euronews

• Preparations Are Key to Weathering Cyber security Incidents | Chief Investment Officer (ai-cio.com)

• Over 70% of firms hit by cyber attack in last 12 months (rte.ie)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• Getting ready for NIS2 with strong identity controls | ITPro

• Lloyd’s systemic risk scenario reveals potential cyber attack losses of $3.5tn (insuranceinsider.com)

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• 10 Ways Boards Are Setting Their Companies Up For Cyber security Failure (forbes.com)

• NIST Cyber security Framework for Small Businesses: Key Benefits (smallbiztrends.com)

• AI and the Imperative to Take Cyber security Precautions (inforisktoday.com)

• Cyber attacks to cost $23 trillion in 2027: US official | ABS-CBN News

• How Cyber security Provides the Green Light for Business Innovation (govinfosecurity.com)

• Essential cyber hygiene: Making cyber defence cost effective - Help Net Security

• New CISO research sets out priorities, challenges and tips for success in a challenging landscape post - BSS

• The Need for a Cyber security-Centric Business Culture (darkreading.com)

• The double-edged sword of heightened regulation for financial services - Help Net Security

• Report: Cyber attacks No. 1 cause of downtime and data loss | Security Magazine

• Will CISOs Become Personally Liable for Breach Response? (inforisktoday.com)

• Keeping control in complex regulatory environments - Help Net Security

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• 7 risk mitigation strategies to protect business operations | TechTarget

• How to go from collecting risk data to actually reducing risk? - Help Net Security

• SEC’s New Cyber Disclosure Rule: Challenges, Consequences, And Compliance | K2 Integrity - JDSupra

• Regulations are still necessary to compel adoption of cyber security measures | ZDNET

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

• How do we measure cyber risk? | ITPro

• Ready For Cyber Readiness - Any Time Now (forbes.com)

• CISOs and board members are finding a common language - Help Net Security

• IT Disaster Recovery Best Practices: Preparing For The Worst (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• When And How To Hire A vCISO For Your Company's Cyber security Program (forbes.com)

• 18 Factors And Metrics To Show The Value Of Cyber security Initiatives (forbes.com)

• Improve your cyber threat understanding with geopolitical context | CSO Online

• Cyber Insecurity, AI and the Rise of the CISO | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Attacks Double: Are Companies Prepared for 2024's Cyber Threats? (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware realities in 2023: one employee mistake can cost a company millions (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware Criminals Aiming at Third-Party Vendors in Hunt for ‘Big Game’ (claimsjournal.com)

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Feds: Beware AvosLocker Ransomware Attacks on Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Giant health insurer struck by ransomware didn't have antivirus protection (malwarebytes.com)

• CISA shares vulnerabilities, misconfigs used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What Are the Legal Implications of Paying Ransomware Demands? | HackerNoon

• Healthcare Sector Warned About New Ransomware Group NoEscape - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New trend in ransomware: Anonymity (betanews.com)

• 63% of organisations restore data after a ransomware attack | Security Magazine

• Hacker Group GhostSec Unveils New Generation Ransomware Implant - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Black Basta ransomware is out and about, again. (thecyberwire.com)

• Ukrainian activists hack Trigona ransomware gang, wipe servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Elastic Global Threat Report 2023 Reveals Dominance of Ransomware | Business Wire

• Scammers are targeting plastic surgery clinics with extortion scams | TechRadar

• BlackCat ransomware uses new ‘Munchkin’ Linux VM in stealthy attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Law enforcement operation seized Ragnar Locker group's infrastructure (securityaffairs.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Lockbit ransomware gang demanded an 80 million ransom to CDW (securityaffairs.com)

• Alphv gang stole 5TB of data from Morrison Community Hospital (securityaffairs.com)

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Kansas Supreme Court Probes Potential Ransomware Attack (govinfosecurity.com)

• KwikTrip all but says IT outage was caused by a cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Some people whose personal data stolen in HWL Ebsworth hack not told for six months | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• Another small firm suffers a serious ransomware attack: Cadre Services gets mauled by AlphV (databreaches.net)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• More than 95 per cent of phishing attacks target the banking and finance sectors (bizhub.vn)

• Phishing attacks hit record high in third quarter, with malware not far behind - SiliconANGLE

• VIPRE finds 233.9 million malicious emails detected in Q3 2023 (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Make sure that email from HR is legit - it could be another phishing scam | TechRadar

• Human resources emails remain top phishing targets - SiliconANGLE

• CISA, NSA, FBI publish phishing guidance | TechTarget

• Generative AI's impact on phishing attacks | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing: What’s in a Name? | CISA

• D-Link Confirms Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to Phishing Attack (thehackernews.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• AI and the Imperative to Take Cyber security Precautions (inforisktoday.com)

• AI Adoption Surges But Security Awareness Lags Behind - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• Exploring the Realm of Malicious Generative AI: A New Digital Security Challenge (thehackernews.com)

• AI-generated cyber attacks pose new risk to key UK infrastructure, experts warn | The Independent

• North Korea has got its hands on AI - and is testing its ability to commit cyberwarfare | TechRadar

• Research: GPT-4 Jailbreak Easily Defeats Safety Guardrails

• Generative AI is scaring CISOs – but adoption isn’t slowing down | CSO Online

• Generative AI's impact on phishing attacks | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber criminals register .AI domains of trusted brands for malicious activity | CSO Online

• The impact of artificial intelligence on cyber offence and defence | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

2FA/MFA

• Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns | TechTarget

Malware

• Phishing attacks hit record high in third quarter, with malware not far behind - SiliconANGLE

• Valve upgrades Steam's security after several games are hacked and filled with malware | Rock Paper Shotgun

• DarkGate malware spreads through compromised Skype accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BLOODALCHEMY provides backdoor to ASEAN secrets • The Register

• Discord still a hotbed of malware activity — Now APTs join the fun (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers warn of increased malware delivery via fake browser updates - Help Net Security

• The forgotten malvertising campaign (malwarebytes.com)

• Malicious Notepad++ Google ads evade detection for months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus Group Targeting Defence Experts with Fake Interviews via Trojanized VNC Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Google-hosted malvertising leads to fake Keepass site that looks genuine | Ars Technica

• Russian Hackers Bypass EDR to Deliver Weaponized TeamViewer (gbhackers.com)

• Beware - that Google Chrome update alert might actually just be malware | TechRadar

Mobile

• SpyNote: Beware of This Android Trojan that Records Audio and Phone Calls (thehackernews.com)

• The top 9 mobile security threats and how you can avoid them | ZDNET

• Hackers exploit security flaw to target iOS 17 iPhones with 'notification attack' | Macworld

• Google Play Protect adds real-time scanning to fight Android malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake 'RedAlert' rocket alert app for Israel installs Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS Attacks in 2024: Distributed DoS Explained | Splunk

Internet of Things – IoT

• Inadequate IoT protection can be a costly mistake - Help Net Security

• Israelis told to secure their home security cameras against hackers • Graham Cluley

• Logistics Matters - Alert: How hackers use printers to gain access

• Microsoft HoloLens for the military: Hacker attacks on VR headset may cause physical pain - NotebookCheck.net News

Data Breaches/Leaks

• UK watchdog fines Equifax $13.4 million for role in cyber breach | Reuters

• Casio discloses data breach impacting customers in 149 countries (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 530K people's info stolen from cloud PC gaming's Shadow • The Register

• Colonial Pipeline was hacked. No, wait, Accenture was hacked. No, wait….. untangling claims. (2) (databreaches.net)

• D-Link Confirms Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to Phishing Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers stole a million people's DNA. But what will they do with it? | Tech News | Metro News

• 23AndMe Hacker Leaks New Tranche of Stolen Data (darkreading.com)

• Healthcare breach costs soar requiring new thinking for safeguarding data (securityintelligence.com)

• Lost and Stolen Devices: A Gateway to Data Breaches and Leaks - SecurityWeek

• Twitter glitch allows CIA informant channel to be hijacked - BBC News

• Care provider under fire over response to cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• Some people whose personal data stolen in HWL Ebsworth hack not told for six months | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• ServiceNow leak: thousands of companies at risk | Cybernews

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cyber attacks -- where they come from and the tactics they use (betanews.com)

• Cyber criminals register .AI domains of trusted brands for malicious activity | CSO Online

• Highest percentage of cyber crime activity originates in Russia (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Single Sign On and the Cyber crime Ecosystem (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• US authorities monitor China-linked Bitcoin miners amid national security concerns: Report (cointelegraph.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• Employees leaving businesses open to cyber attack – QBE research - CIR Magazine

• Why disaffected employees are your greatest cyber security risk | Federal News Network

• Ex-Navy IT head gets 5 years for selling people’s data on darkweb (bleepingcomputer.com)

Insurance

• Lloyd’s systemic risk scenario reveals potential cyber attack losses of $3.5tn (insuranceinsider.com)

• How MOVEit Is Likely to Shift Cyber Insurance Calculus (darkreading.com)

• Cyber insurance represents ‘small proportion’ of potential economic losses from major attack | Insurance Times

• How Data Changes the Cyber Insurance Market Outlook (darkreading.com)

• What to Look for in Cyber Insurance Coverage | Proofpoint US

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Colonial Pipeline attributes ransomware claims to ‘unrelated’ third-party data breach (therecord.media)

• Why fourth-party risk management is a must-have | TechTarget

Identity and Access Management

• Fighting off cyber attacks? Make sure user credentials aren’t compromised (bleepingcomputer.com)

Encryption

• Microsoft to Phase Out NTLM in Favor of Kerberos for Stronger Authentication (thehackernews.com)

Linux and Open Source

• Open To Attack: The Risks Of Open-Source Software Attacks (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Can open source be saved from the EU's Cyber Resilience Act? • The Register

• Report Finds Few Open Source Projects are Actively Maintained - Slashdot

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• IT Admins Are Just as Guilty For Weak Password Use- IT Security Guru

• Over 40,000 admin portal accounts use 'admin' as a password (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 39% of individuals use the same password for multiple accounts | Security Magazine

• Fighting off cyber attacks? Make sure user credentials aren’t compromised (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Passkeys Are Cool, But They Aren't Enterprise-Ready (darkreading.com)

• A worrying amount of corporate IDs still aren't properly protected | TechRadar

• Rising AI-Fueled Phishing Drives Demand for Password Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Social Media

• Hamas Hijacked Victims’ Social Media Accounts to Spread Terror - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Twitter glitch allows CIA informant channel to be hijacked - BBC News

Malvertising

• The forgotten malvertising campaign (malwarebytes.com)

• Malicious Notepad++ Google ads evade detection for months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Guide to detecting and disrupting fake ads | Netcraft

• Google-hosted malvertising leads to fake Keepass site that looks genuine | Ars Technica

• Clever malvertising attack uses Punycode to look like KeePass's official website (malwarebytes.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats: Cisco’s Samir Mishra (techcircle.in)

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• UK watchdog fines Equifax $13.4 million for role in cyber breach | Reuters

• A Third of Organisations Not Ready to Comply with NIS2 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One year left for companies to implement NIS2 cyber security directive (wbj.pl)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• NIS2: Why organisations need a unified cyber security standard | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

• Can open source be saved from the EU's Cyber Resilience Act? • The Register

• Security Pros Warn That EU's Vulnerability Disclosure Rule Is Risky (darkreading.com)

• SEC stepping up cyber security efforts | Inquirer Business

• The double-edged sword of heightened regulation for financial services - Help Net Security

• Top US Cyber Agency Pushing Toward First Hack Reporting Rule (bloomberglaw.com)

• Keeping control in complex regulatory environments - Help Net Security

• UN cyber crime treaty: A menace in the making – EURACTIV.com

• SEC’s New Cyber Disclosure Rule: Challenges, Consequences, And Compliance | K2 Integrity - JDSupra

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• A Third of Organisations Not Ready to Comply with NIS2 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One year left for companies to implement NIS2 cyber security directive (wbj.pl)

• The future of cyber security regulation: what to look out for with NIS2 | TechRadar

• NIST Cyber security Framework for Small Businesses: Key Benefits (smallbiztrends.com)

• NIS2: Why organisations need a unified cyber security standard | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

Backup and Recovery

• Principles for ransomware-resistant cloud backups - NCSC.GOV.UK

• 63% of organisations restore data after a ransomware attack | Security Magazine

Data Protection

• Care provider under fire over response to cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Over half of cyber security pros say they want to switch jobs (betanews.com)

• Compelling Reasons Why You Should Study Cyber Security - Minutehack

• Your guide to landing a job in cyber security (fastcompany.com)

• New Cyber security Salary Report Guides Hiring in an $8 Trillion Cyber Crime Landscape (prnewswire.com)

• One in five CISOs miss out on pay raise - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Law enforcement operation seized Ragnar Locker group's infrastructure (securityaffairs.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Gaza Conflict Paves Way for Pro-Hamas Information Operations (darkreading.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• ‘Only a matter of time’ before cyber attacks are viewed as acts of war: Ex-NSA chief

• Five Eyes Warn Deep Tech Start-Ups Against Nation-State Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Five Eyes issues five tips on thwarting nation state threats | Computer Weekly

• APT trends report Q3 2023 | Securelist

• Discord: A Playground for Nation-State Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• TetrisPhantom: Cyber Espionage via Secure USBs Targets APAC Governments (thehackernews.com)

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• The evolution of deception tactics from traditional to cyber warfare - Help Net Security

• Exclusive: Ukraine says joint mission with US derailed Moscow’s cyber attacks (therecord.media)

• Government officials debate effectiveness of multilateral relations in cyber security | ZDNET

• Defence leaders recognise need to adapt to win in ‘information battlespace’ | BAE Systems

Geopolitical Threats/Activity

• How Cyber attacks Could Affect the Israel-Hamas War (govinfosecurity.com)

• Growing Concern Over Role of Hacktivism in Israel-Hamas Conflict - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Israelis told to secure their home security cameras against hackers • Graham Cluley

• Gaza Conflict Paves Way for Pro-Hamas Information Operations (darkreading.com)

• Pro-Israeli Hacktivist Group Predatory Sparrow Reappears (darkreading.com)

• AI-Powered Israeli 'Cyber Dome' Defence Operation Comes to Life (darkreading.com)

• Fake 'RedAlert' rocket alert app for Israel installs Android spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mideast War Has Cyber Implications | Newsmax.com

• Hamas Hijacked Victims’ Social Media Accounts to Spread Terror - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Pro-Iranian Hacktivists Set Sights on Israeli Industrial Control Systems (darkreading.com)

China

• Mandia: China replaces Russia as top cyber threat | CyberScoop

• FBI boss slams ‘unprecedented’ Chinese cyberespionage and IP theft   | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Five Eyes Warn Of Chinese Cyber Espionage | Silicon UK

• Five Eyes warn of growing threat of IP 'theft' by China's hackers (techmonitor.ai)

• 20,000 Britons approached by Chinese agents on LinkedIn, says MI5 head | MI5 | The Guardian

• Researchers Unveil ToddyCat's New Set of Tools for Data Exfiltration (thehackernews.com)

• US authorities monitor China-linked Bitcoin miners amid national security concerns: Report (cointelegraph.com)

• BLOODALCHEMY provides backdoor to ASEAN secrets • The Register

• TetrisPhantom: Cyber Espionage via Secure USBs Targets APAC Governments (thehackernews.com)

• Huawei wants to know why EU labelled it high security risk • The Register

• Google TAG Detects State-Backed Threat Actors Exploiting WinRAR Flaw (thehackernews.com)

Russia

• Mandia: China replaces Russia as top cyber threat | CyberScoop

• Russia-based Wizard Spider is Top Threat Group: Netskope Report | MSSP Alert

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• Russian Sandworm hackers breached 11 Ukrainian telcos since May (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exclusive: Ukraine says joint mission with US derailed Moscow’s cyber attacks (therecord.media)

• Russian Hackers Bypass EDR to Deliver Weaponized TeamViewer (gbhackers.com)

• Russian Hackers Target Romanian Media - Valahia.News

• Highest percentage of cyber crime activity originates in Russia (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Five Eyes Warn Deep Tech Start-Ups Against Nation-State Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Iran

• Iranian hackers lurked in Middle Eastern govt network for 8 months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hamas-linked app offers window into cyber infrastructure, possible links to Iran | CyberScoop

North Korea

• North Korea has got its hands on AI - and is testing its ability to commit cyberwarfare | TechRadar

• Lazarus Group Targeting Defence Experts with Fake Interviews via Trojanized VNC Apps (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean hackers exploit critical TeamCity flaw to breach networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FBI: Thousands of Remote IT Workers Sent Wages to North Korea to Help Fund Weapons Program - SecurityWeek

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Vulnerability Management

• Vulnerability Scanning: How Often Should I Scan? (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Needs to Get Serious About Its Windows 10 Upgrade Problem (pcmag.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Number of Cisco Devices Hacked via Unpatched Vulnerability Increases to 40,000 - SecurityWeek

• Cisco working on fix for critical IOS XE zero-day | TechTarget

• Oracle Patches 185 Vulnerabilities With October 2023 CPU - SecurityWeek

• Critical Citrix NetScaler Flaw Exploited to Target from Government, Tech Firms (thehackernews.com)

• You Need to Update WinRAR, Right Now (gizmodo.com)

• Juniper Networks Patches Over 30 Vulnerabilities in Junos OS - SecurityWeek

• Hackers exploit critical flaw in WordPress Royal Elementor plugin (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical Vulnerabilities Uncovered in Open Source CasaOS Cloud Software (thehackernews.com)

• Zoom, Investors Reach $150 Million Deal Over Security Flaws Suit (bloomberglaw.com)

• Pro-Russian Hackers Exploiting Recent WinRAR Vulnerability in New Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• ServiceNow leak: thousands of companies at risk | Cybernews

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Tools and Controls

• Well-informed employees act as 1st line of defence against cyber threats

• SMBs seek cyber training, support as attack risk surges | CIO Dive

• Vulnerability Scanning: How Often Should I Scan? (thehackernews.com)

• Essential cyber hygiene: Making cyber defence cost effective - Help Net Security

• Preparations Are Key to Weathering Cyber security Incidents | Chief Investment Officer (ai-cio.com)

• Improve your cyber threat understanding with geopolitical context | CSO Online

• Why Zero Trust Is the Cloud Security Imperative (darkreading.com)

• 3 Essential Steps to Strengthen SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

• Cyber expert calls for renewed focus on zero-trust and recovery as threat actors scale-up - SiliconANGLE

• How hackers use printers to gain access

• Google Authenticator synchronization raises MFA concerns | TechTarget

• Cyber insurance represents ‘small proportion’ of potential economic losses from major attack | Insurance Times

• Email Security Best Practices for Phishing Prevention (trendmicro.com)

• The impact of artificial intelligence on cyber offence and defence | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

• What to Look for in Cyber Insurance Coverage | Proofpoint US

• Reinforcing cyber security: The network's role to prevent, detect, and respond to attacks - Help Net Security

• How to go from collecting risk data to actually reducing risk? - Help Net Security

• October Is Cyber security Awareness Month – It’s a Good Time to Update Your Training Program | Clark Hill PLC - JDSupra

• How do we measure cyber risk? | ITPro

• Generative AI an Emerging Risk as CISOs Shift Cyber Resilience Strategies (informationweek.com)

• OSINT isn't immediate ground truth--it's the result of analysis. (thecyberwire.com)

• How Data Changes the Cyber Insurance Market Outlook (darkreading.com)

• What is Structured Threat Information eXpression (STIX)? (techtarget.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Trustwave SpiderLabs Research: Cyber security in the Financial Services Sector

• APT trends report Q3 2023 | Securelist

• New CISO research sets out priorities, challenges and tips for success in a challenging landscape post - BSS

• ENISA THREAT LANDSCAPE REPORT 2023 REPORT IS OUT! (securityaffairs.com)

• Elastic Global Threat Report 2023 Reveals Dominance of Ransomware | Business Wire

• The CISO Report | Splunk

• VIPRE Security Group’s Q3 2023 Email Threat Report Reveals PDFs, Callback Phishing and Malware Via Google Drive Growing in Popularity Among Criminals - VIPRE

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Other News

• SMBs Struggle to Keep Pace with Cyber Security Threats - IT Security Guru

• Many SMBs really don't know exactly what security tools they need | TechRadar

• Hackers Hit The IT Industry: 12 Companies Targeted In 2023 | CRN

• What the Hollywood Writers Strike Resolution Means for Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• Progress gets SEC subpoena over MOVEit breach – and more! • The Register

• 51% of Financial Services Firms Reporting Breaches are From US: Trustwave Threat Landscape Report | The Fintech Times

• Cyber attacks on healthcare organisations affect patient care - Help Net Security

• Zoom, Investors Reach $150 Million Deal Over Security Flaws Suit (bloomberglaw.com)

• Thinking about the phrase 'cyber security' | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

• Cyber risk report says shipping remains ‘easy target’, paying an average $3.2m In cyber attacks (shipmanagement idcinternational.com)

• Space industry group turns up volume on satellite vulnerabilities - SpaceNews

• 5 Tips for Improving Security in Public Sector (govinfosecurity.com)

• Marketers Must Make Cyber security A Priority Every Day (forbes.com)

• UK at risk of massive security breach from national HMRC IT meltdown | The Independent

• UK warns nuclear power plant operator of cyber security failings (therecord.media)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 13 October 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Small Businesses Hit by Frequent Cyber Attacks, as 90% of CISOs of Larger Firms Faced at least One Attack Last Year

A survey by Payroll provider Sage found that nearly 48% of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have experienced at least one cyber incident in the past year; of note, this is only based on SMEs self-reporting, and requires SMEs to have both the ability to detect an incident and to have actually identified an incident and then self-report it. The survey found that cyber security was a priority with 68% of respondents reporting that they would use a more expensive security control if it demonstrated better security.

In a separate report by Splunk, it was found that 90% of CISOs reported experiencing at least one disruptive attack in the past year. The difference in numbers could be because organisations who have a CISO are more likely to have tools in place to detect an incident.

Regardless, cyber criminals are showing that any size of organisation can be a victim of a cyber incident and in some cases, smaller organisations may not have the necessary budget and controls to prevent an attack.

Sources: [Security Magazine] [Insurance Times] [Infosecurity Magazine]

The Most Effective Cyber Attacks Never Touch Your Organisation’s Firewall, and HR’s Role in Defending the Organisation

In 2022, total spending on cyber security technologies increased to 71.1 billion USD, illustrating just how much effort goes into protecting companies, their data, and their customers. Regardless of all this spending, there remains a popular attack which can bypass this all: social engineering. Attackers know how much technology protection is placed in organisations, so they often try to bypass this and go straight through the employees.

Cyber security will never work if organisations do not go beyond IT; it is a business-wide issue and requires the engagement and input from across the business, including functions like Human Resources. Having effectively trained employees is a crucial part of creating a culture of security within an organisation, and this starts with HR. Employees will often have training as part of their onboarding and then regular training to ensure competencies; as part of HR’s role, this should include commissioning training on cyber security that is delivered by cyber security experts that understand what attackers are doing.

Source: [News Week] [Beta News]

Ransomware Infection Times Fall from 5 Days to 5 Hours

The amount of time it takes an attacker to infect a system with ransomware has fallen drastically over the last 12 months according to a recent report. The median dwell time (the time that an attacker spends in a victim’s network before being detected) was 5.5 days in 2021, reducing to 4.5 days in 2022, and this year it fell to less than 24 hours with, in 10% of cases, the time taken to deploy ransomware being within 5 hours. As threat actors continue to leverage Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) to execute attacks, dwell times will continue to decrease and the number of attacks will increase.

This coincides with a recent survey by Hornetsecurity that revealed that almost 60% of businesses are concerned about ransomware attacks. 92% of businesses are reported to be aware of ransomware’s potential negative impact, but just 54% of respondents say their leadership is actively involved in conversations and decision making to help prevent attacks.

The report highlights that ransomware is still at large, with the first half of 2023 seeing more ransomware victims than in the whole of 2022. Having good cyber security protection and hygiene is the key to ongoing success. Organisations cannot afford to become victims. Ongoing security awareness training and multi-layered ransomware protection are critical to help avoid insurmountable losses.

Sources: [Cision] [PC Mag] [Security Magazine]

80% of Security Leaders See AI as the Biggest Threat to Business

A report has found that a large majority of security leaders (80%) believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the biggest cyber threat to their business, and that the risks of AI outweigh the many advantages.

In a separate report, 58% agreed that AI is increasing the number of cyber attacks. The benefits of AI were also recognised however, with 73% reporting AI to be an increasingly important tool for security operations.

With AI finding itself both sides of the coin, it is important for organisations to effectively implement their AI solutions, so that they can improve their security whilst reducing the risk that AI presents to their organisation.

Sources: [Diginomica] [Infosecurity Magazine]

Is Your Board Cyber-Ready?

With the recent US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requirements entering effect, and the impending Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) requirements for Europe, there is yet another layer added to the complicated issues of managing cyber security risks. However, it is clear that strong corporate governance equips companies to address them efficiently and accurately.

Governance starts with the board, as it is responsible for the oversight of the organisation’s cyber security programs. For a board to do this effectively, the leadership team must be able to understand cyber security; yet despite this, a study found that only 12% of boards had a cyber expert. Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to gain a strong practical understanding of the fundamentals of cyber security risk management, and to demonstrate governance in implementing their cyber security strategy by leveraging their existing internal and external resources.

Sources: [Harvard.edu] [JDSupra]

Cyber Security Should Be a Business Priority for CEOs

A recent report found that despite 96% of CEOs saying that cyber security is critical to organisational growth and stability, 74% of CEOs are concerned about their organisation’s ability to avert or minimise damage arising from a cyber attack. The report also highlighted that 60% of CEOs don’t incorporate cyber security into their business strategies, products or services from the beginning. 44% believe that cyber security requires episodic intervention rather than ongoing attention.

Adding to this reactive stance is the incorrect assumption by 54% of CEOs that the cost of implementing cyber security is higher than the cost of suffering a cyber attack, despite history showing otherwise. For instance, the report notes that a global shipping and logistics company breach resulted in a 20% drop in business volume, with losses hitting $300 million. In addition, despite 90% of CEOs saying cyber security is a differentiating factor for their products or services to help them build customer trust, only 15% have dedicated board meetings to discuss cyber security issues. This disconnect might be explained by the fact that 91% of CEOs said cyber security is a technical function that is the responsibility of the CIO or CISO.

Source: [HelpNet Security]

The Looming Threat of a Single Phishing Click to Your Business

A single click could be all it takes to get the ball rolling and allow an attacker entry into your organisation. From there, the possibilities are endless. Phishing impacts any employee within the organisation with an email account, phone number or access to the web.

Organisations can mitigate this risk however, by conducting training and awareness programmes, aimed at improving employees’ abilities to identify, report and avoid falling victim to phishing incidents. Such training should be held regularly to maintain their knowledge as well as adapting to the ever-changing landscape of cyber crime. Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes help secure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation. 

Source: [CMS-lawnow]

40% of Organisations Leave Ransomware to IT

A report found that 93% of respondents said they believe ransomware protection is “very” to “extremely” important in terms of IT priorities for their organisation, yet only 54% reported that the leadership were actively involved in conversations and decision-making around ransomware attacks, and 40% of total respondents were happy to leave the IT team to deal with ransomware attacks.

By only involving the IT team and excluding the leadership, organisations are at risk of not addressing regulatory requirements, or failing to manage such cyber incidents within a business context. This would also suggest a lack of an effective Incident Response Plan to ensure that considerations such as legal, communications, customers, employees and other stakeholders are not forgotten. Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [MSSP Alert]

Auditors’ Growing Concern About Cyber Security

The majority of chief audit executives and information technology audit leaders consider cyber security to be a top risk over the next year. The survey found that found that nearly 75% of respondents, and an even higher percentage (82%) of technology audit leaders, consider cyber security to be a high-risk area over the next 12 months.

Source: [Accounting Today]

Preparing for the Unexpected: A Proactive Approach to Operational Resilience

Recent insights highlight a pressing need: ensuring operational resilience in financial firms. As the financial sector remains a prime target for cyber threats, the increasing interconnectedness presents evolving challenges. While cyber security aims to defend against attacks, operational resilience ensures the continuity of operations even when incidents occur.

Notably, the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) stresses preparedness, providing a framework for the industry. Although business continuity practices exist, operational resilience offers a more proactive stance, ensuring system reliability that is crucial for global financial trust. Achieving this requires a comprehensive risk assessment, laying the groundwork for a resilient strategy tailored to a firm’s unique position in the financial landscape.

Source: [Dark Reading]

Staggering Losses to Social Media and Social Engineering Since 2021, as Victims Take $2.7 Billion Hit in US Alone

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that Americans alone, have lost $2.7 billion to social media and social engineering scams since 2021. The losses were incurred through websites, phone calls and email.

It is important for organisations to consider that such scams could very well find themselves in the corporate environment. Already, there has been a significant rise in attacks on employees through LinkedIn. As such, it is important for organisations to provide education and awareness training to users.

Sources: [Bleeping Computer] [Infosecurity Magazine]

Organisations Grapple with Detection and Response Despite Rising Security Budgets

A study by EY found that only a fifth of cyber security leaders today are confident about their organisation’s cyber security approach, with only half trusting the training they provide in-house. CISO respondents reported an average annual spend of $35 million on cyber security, with the median cost of a breach jumping 12% to $2.5 million. The leaders said they anticipate the cost per breach to reach $4 million by the end of the year.

The report found that the biggest internal challenges to the organisation's cyber security approach were "too many potential attack surfaces" at 52%, and "difficulty balancing security and innovation speed" at 50%. The study also noted big discrepancies between the CISOs and other C-suite leaders when it came to their organisation's cyber security preparedness. While 60% of CISOs were confident about the C-suite integration of cyber security into key business decisions, only over half of other C-suite officers believed they were effective. There was also a significant gap (12%) between their satisfaction with the overall cyber security preparedness.

Source: [CSO Online]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Half of CISOs Now Report to CEO as Influence Grows - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Auditors more worried about cyber security than AI risks | Accounting Today

• 77% of Cyber security Breaches Linked to Third-Party Risks: Navigating the New Threat Landscape (govinfosecurity.com)

• CEOs concerned about organisations’ ability to avert cyber attacks, despite understanding their impact: Report - The Hindu

• Cyber Security Survey: 40% of Orgs “Leave” Ransomware to IT | MSSP Alert

• Cyber attacks are only getting worse for business, so what are CISOs doing about it? | TechRadar

• Warning as more businesses fall victim to cyber attacks | Insurance Times

• PwC survey reveals rising concerns over cyber security and generative AI in 2024 - Reinsurance News

• The Role of HR in Engaging the Workforce for Holistic Cyber Security (newsweek.com)

• 90% firms experienced cyber attacks; 83% opted to pay attackers: Report (business-standard.com)

• The world was already horrifying — technology is making it more so - The Hustle

• State of Cyber Awareness in the Boardroom (harvard.edu)

• What The Board Needs To Know: Cyber Attack Costs - WSJ

• Cyber security is a mindset, not just a set of tools and technologies. (techuk.org)

• Is Your Board Cyber-Ready? Leadership Steps to Support Corporate Cyber Security | Jackson Lewis P.C. - JDSupra

• Cyber security should be a business priority for CEOs - Help Net Security

• Organisations grapple with detection and response despite rising security budgets | CSO Online

• The undeniable benefits of making cyber resiliency the new standard | CSO Online

• Preparing for the Unexpected: A Proactive Approach to Operational Resilience (darkreading.com)

• Cyber insurance costs pressure business budgets - Help Net Security

• C-suite weighs in on generative AI and security (securityintelligence.com)

• Cyber security overtakes cloud as top area of investment - The Recycler - 10/10/2023

• New Wave of Cyber Threats Challenges In-House Legal Departments (bloomberglaw.com)

• Should businesses follow Google’s footsteps in cyber security? | TechRadar

• Cyber security is booming but it comes at a human cost (betanews.com)

• A Primer on Cyber Risk Acceptance and What it Means to Your Business (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What is Risk Appetite? | Definition from TechTarget

• A Cyber security Risk Assessment Guide for Leaders (trendmicro.com)

• Addressing a Breach Starts With Getting Everyone on the Same Page (darkreading.com)

• Uber's Ex-CISO Appeals Conviction Over 2016 Data Breach (darkreading.com)

• 6 steps to getting the board on board with your cyber security program (welivesecurity.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• First half of 2023 sees more ransomware victims than all of 2022 | Security Magazine

• Cyber security Survey: 40% of Orgs “Leave” Ransomware to IT | MSSP Alert

• Cyber criminals can go from click to compromise in less than a day - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Infection Times Fall From 5 Days to 5 Hours (pcmag.com)

• Almost 60% Of Businesses Are 'Very' To 'Extremely' Concerned About Ransomware Attacks - Hornetsecurity Annual Ransomware Survey (Prnewswire.Com)

• Ransomwared health insurer wasn't using anti-virus software • The Register

• Everest searching for corporate insiders amid rare pivot • The Register

• HelloKitty ransomware source code leaked on hacking forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How to Prevent Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) Attacks (trendmicro.com)

• SEC Investigating Progress Software Over MOVEit Hack - Security Week

• Ransomware attacks now target unpatched WS_FTP servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware Attack on Hospitals Highlights Need to Ensure Continuity of Patient Care (fdd.org)

Ransomware Victims

• MGM Suffers $100mn loss following cyber attack, hopes insurance cover will be sufficient (insuranceinsider.com)

• Cyber attack victim Estes making ‘steady progress’ - FreightWaves

• Caesars Offers Two Years of IDX Services to Compromised Data Victims - GamblingNews

• Ransomwared health insurer wasn't using anti-virus software • The Register

• BianLian extortion group claims recent Air Canada breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware group starts leaking data allegedly from NJ cardiology consultants group (databreaches.net)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• The looming threat of a single phishing click to your business (cms-lawnow.com)

• Hackers are using AI for phishing | Windows Central

• What to do if you’ve clicked on a phishing link or talked to scammers | Kaspersky official blog

• LinkedIn Smart Links attacks return to target Microsoft accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Phishing, the campaigns that are affecting Italy (securityaffairs.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• What is business email compromise (BEC)? | ITPro

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Social Dominates as Victims Take $2.7bn Fraud Hit - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Boss of world’s largest cinema chain victim of catfish blackmail plot | Business | The Guardian

Artificial Intelligence

• PwC survey reveals rising concerns over cyber security and generative AI in 2024 - Reinsurance News

• 'Really frightening': IT leaders on cyber security in the age of AI (computing.co.uk)

• Cyber security pros predict rise of malicious AI - Help Net Security

• Downing Street trying to agree statement about AI risks with world leaders | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• Why 80% of CISOs see AI as the biggest threat to their business (diginomica.com)

• C-suite weighs in on generative AI and security (securityintelligence.com)

• Hackers are using AI for phishing | Windows Central

• 68 percent of IT decision makers are worried about the rise of deepfakes (betanews.com)

• US Space Force Pauses Generative AI Based on Security Concerns (bloomberglaw.com)

• Generative AI Security: Preventing Microsoft Copilot Data Exposure (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How to Guard Your Data from Exposure in ChatGPT (thehackernews.com)

2FA/MFA

• Account Hacking Over Starlink Sparks Calls For Two-Factor Authentication (pcmag.com)

Malware

• Mirai DDoS malware variant expands targets with 13 router exploits (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft to kill off VBScript in Windows to block malware delivery (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How Keyloggers Have Evolved From the Cold War to Today (darkreading.com)

• Endpoint malware attacks decline as campaigns spread wider - Help Net Security

Mobile

• Beware - GoldDigger malware will drain your bank accounts without you even realizing | TechRadar

• China-based Supply Chain Cyber Attacks Hit Thousands of Android Devices | MSSP Alert

• Android devices shipped with backdoored firmware as part of the BADBOX network (securityaffairs.com)

• Operation Behind Predator Mobile Spyware Is 'Industrial Scale' (darkreading.com)

• Hacktivists send fake nuclear attack warning via Israeli Red Alert app (bitdefender.com)

• 5 quick tips to strengthen your Android phone security today | ZDNET

Botnets

• Mirai DDoS malware botnet variant expands targets with 13 router exploits (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• HTTP/2 Zero-Day Vulnerability Results in Record-Breaking DDoS Attacks (cloudflare.com)

• Google, Amazon Face Massive Denial-of-Service Attack | MSSP Alert

Internet of Things – IoT

• Connected vehicles can be at risk of hacking, consumer awareness paramount: experts - Victoria Times Colonist

• Automotive cyber security: A decade of progress and challenges - Help Net Security

• Android TV malware case worsens: Tens of millions of devices infected - FlatpanelsHD

• Have You Changed the Default Passwords on Your IoT Devices? (makeuseof.com)

• Android devices shipped with backdoored firmware as part of the BADBOX network (securityaffairs.com)

• High-Severity Flaws in ConnectedIO's 3G/4G Routers Raise Concerns for IoT Security (thehackernews.com)

• Mirai Variant IZ1H9 Adds 13 Exploits to Arsenal - Security Week

• Exposed security cameras in Israel and Palestine pose significant risks (securityaffairs.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• 3.81 billion records compromised by cyber security incidents in September 2023 (itsecuritywire.com)

• US Smashes Annual Data Breach Record With Three Months Left - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 23andMe Cyberbreach Exposes DNA Data, Potential Family Ties (darkreading.com)

• Hackers compile database of people of Jewish descent using stolen 23andMe user data - Washington Times

• DC Board of Elections confirms voter data stolen in site hack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lyca Mobile says customer data was stolen during cyber attack | TechCrunch

• Third Flagstar Bank data breach since 2021 affects 800,000 customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Caesars Offers Two Years of IDX Services to Compromised Data Victims - GamblingNews

• Air Europa customers urged to cancel cards following hack on payment system (therecord.media)

• Dymocks breach happened while changing providers | Information Age | ACS

• 88% of Hospitals And Other Health-Care Organisations Faced Cyber Attacks Last Year (databreaches.net)

• Shadow PC warns of data breach as hacker tries to sell gamers' info (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The cyber villains are getting bolder. Businesses need to up their game - Raconteur

• Minister:  ‘Cyber criminals are often in uncooperative jurisdictions – making international collaboration essential’ – PublicTechnology

• Protecting your business against the cyber criminal enterprise (techuk.org)

• Cyber attackers are combining attacks to bypass detection (siliconrepublic.com)

• Hackers 'don't break in anymore, they log in,' expert explains (yahoo.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• North Korea-linked Lazarus APT laundered over $900 million through cross-chain crime (securityaffairs.com)

• ‘I felt powerless’: how a crypto scam cost a finance boss £300,000 | Scams | The Guardian

• Inside FTX’s All-Night Race to Stop a $1 Billion Crypto Heist | WIRED

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Everest searching for corporate insiders amid rare pivot • The Register

• Time to safeguard the financial sector? Navigating employee turnover to defend against cyber attacks - Digital Journal

• Former US soldier accused of trying to pass secrets to China • The Register

• The Mind of the Inside Attacker (informationweek.com)

• Understanding the human factor of digital safety | TechRadar

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Fooled by cyber criminals: The humanitarian CEO scammed by hackers - GZERO Media

• Global job scam to cause $100 mn in losses for over 1,000 companies: Report (odishatv.in)

• FTC warns of ‘staggering’ losses to social media scams since 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The dark side of solar panels – how crooks are exploiting net zero (telegraph.co.uk)

• Chinese Criminals Backdoor Android Devices for Ad Fraud (govinfosecurity.com)

• UK users of illicit streaming services warned of risk of fraud or police visit | TV streaming | The Guardian

• Social Dominates as Victims Take $2.7bn Fraud Hit - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• ‘I felt powerless’: how a crypto scam cost a finance boss £300,000 | Scams | The Guardian

• Inside FTX’s All-Night Race to Stop a $1 Billion Crypto Heist | WIRED

• What to do if you’ve clicked on a phishing link or talked to scammers | Kaspersky official blog

• Never click on bank-draining words if message pops up, expert warns (ladbible.com)

• Boss of world’s largest cinema chain victim of catfish blackmail plot | Business | The Guardian

Deepfakes

• 68 percent of IT decision makers are worried about the rise of deepfakes (betanews.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• North Korea-linked Lazarus APT laundered over $900 million through cross-chain crime (securityaffairs.com)

Insurance

• Cyber insurance costs pressure business budgets - Help Net Security

• Insurance industry faces growing concerns over cyber cat risk: Gallagher Re - Reinsurance News

• Cyber Insurance Lessens the Sting of Corporate Cyber Attacks (bloomberglaw.com)

• Keeping up with the demands of the cyber insurance market - Help Net Security

• Insurance cover ‘sufficient’ for $100mn cyber attack hit: MGM (insuranceinsider.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• 77% of Cyber security Breaches Linked to Third-Party Risks: Navigating the New Threat Landscape (govinfosecurity.com)

• Cyber attack hits electronics firm Volex (cityam.com)

Software Supply Chain

• Why open-source software supply chain attacks have tripled in a year | CSO Online

• New One-Click Exploit Is a Supply Chain Risk for Linux OSes (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• The Need for Speed: When Cloud Attacks Take Only 10 Minutes (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft and Cabinet Office issue government-wide security guidelines for M365 – PublicTechnology

• Microsoft Releases October 2023 Patches for 103 Flaws, Including 2 Active Exploits (thehackernews.com)

• Securely Moving Financial Services to the Cloud (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Why identity infrastructure is the new cyber attack surface (siliconrepublic.com)

Encryption

• New cryptographic protocol aims to bolster open-source software security | ZDNET

• Linux Foundation Announces OpenPubkey Open Source Cryptographic Protocol - Security Week

API

• You can't avoid APIs, so you need to secure them (betanews.com)

Open Source and Linux

• New cryptographic protocol aims to bolster open-source software security | ZDNET

• Why open-source software supply chain attacks have tripled in a year | CSO Online

• Linux Foundation Announces OpenPubkey Open Source Cryptographic Protocol - Security Week

• Security Patch for Two New Flaws in Curl Library Arriving on October 11 (thehackernews.com)

• Maintainers warn of vulnerability affecting foundational open-source tool (therecord.media)

• New One-Click Exploit Is a Supply Chain Risk for Linux OSes (darkreading.com)

• US Government Issues Open-Source Security Guidance for Critical Infras - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• CISA publishes top 10 most common security misconfigurations • The Register

• Have You Changed the Default Passwords on Your IoT Devices? (makeuseof.com)

• Take an Offensive Approach to Password Security by Continuously Monitoring for Breached Passwords (thehackernews.com)

Social Media

• FTC warns of ‘staggering’ losses to social media scams since 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Social Dominates as Victims Take $2.7bn Fraud Hit - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Elon Musk’s vision for free speech on X tested by Israel-Hamas war misinformation | Financial Times (ft.com)

• LinkedIn Smart Links attacks return to target Microsoft accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Brands Beware: X's New Badge System Is a Ripe Cyber-Target (darkreading.com)

• What should you do if your Facebook is hacked? (pocket-lint.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• New Report: Child Sexual Abuse Content and Online Risks to Children on the Rise (thehackernews.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC Adopts New and Burdensome Cyber Cecurity Disclosure Rules | Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP - JDSupra

• SEC Investigating Progress Software Over MOVEit Hack - Security Week

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Reassessing the Impacts of Risk Management With NIST Framework 2.0 (darkreading.com)

Data Protection

• Caesars Offers Two Years of IDX Services to Compromised Data Victims - GamblingNews

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Work-related stress “keeps cyber professionals up at night” | ITPro

• Fifth of UK Cyber Security Pros Work Excessive Hours - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber security is booming but it comes at a human cost (betanews.com)

• eBook: Cyber security career hacks for newcomers - Help Net Security

• Turning military veterans into cyber security experts - Help Net Security

• CISO Pay Increases Are Slowing – a Look Behind the Figures - Security Week

• Skills-based Hiring Can Address Cyber Workforce Shortfalls (fdd.org)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• European Police Hackathon Hunts Down Traffickers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Elon Musk’s vision for free speech on X tested by Israel-Hamas war misinformation | Financial Times (ft.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• Cyber Attacks Targeting Israel Are on the Rise After Hamas Attack | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• Hacking Groups, Including Some Tied to Russia, Are Attacking Israeli Websites (insurancejournal.com)

• Cyber Metamorphosis: Ukraine Conflict's Impact on the Threat Landscape (govinfosecurity.com)

• Hackers For Hire Hit Both Sides in Israel-Hamas Conflict (darkreading.com)

• Beyond the Front Lines: How the Israel-Hamas War Impacts the Cyber security Industry - Security Week

• Israel Cyber Attacks: What MSSPs Need to Know | MSSP Alert

• Hamas 'using social engineering attacks' in conflict with Israel (techmonitor.ai)

• The cyber phases of two wars show signs of intersecting. Developments in cyberespionage and cyber crime. (thecyberwire.com)

• Could Middle Eastern Cyberwarfare Spill Into Health Sector? (inforisktoday.com)

• The Cyberwar Between the East and the West Goes Through Africa (darkreading.com)

• Hamas 'using social engineering attacks' in conflict with Israel (techmonitor.ai)

Russia

• Dark Horse Ukraine Proves Resistant to Onslaught of Russian Cyber Attacks (kyivpost.com)

• Kremlin-Linked Hacker Group Launches Cyber-Attack Against Israel (kyivpost.com)

• Russian hacker group "Killnet" declares cyberwar on Israel | Al Bawaba

• Gaza-linked hackers and Pro-Russia groups are targeting Israel (securityaffairs.com)

• Hacking Groups, Including Some Tied to Russia, Are Attacking Israeli Websites (insurancejournal.com)

• Cyber Metamorphosis: Ukraine Conflict's Impact on the Threat Landscape (govinfosecurity.com)

China

• A Frontline Report of Chinese Threat Actor Tactics and Techniques (darkreading.com)

• Why One Of The Largest Cyber-Attacks Is Still A Mystery (slashgear.com)

• Chinese Hackers Target Semiconductor Firms in East Asia with Cobalt Strike (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese Criminals Backdoor Android Devices for Ad Fraud (govinfosecurity.com)

• China-based Supply Chain Cyber Attacks Hit Thousands of Android Devices | MSSP Alert

• Former US soldier accused of trying to pass secrets to China • The Register

• Researchers Uncover Grayling APT's Ongoing Attack Campaign Across Industries (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft: China's Behind Atlassian Confluence Attacks; PoCs Available (darkreading.com)

• Researchers Uncover Ongoing Attacks Targeting Asian Governments and Telecom Giants (thehackernews.com)

Iran

• Escalation In Iranian Cyber Operations: A Shift Toward Espionage | Iran International (iranintl.com)

North Korea

• North Korea-linked Lazarus APT laundered over $900 million through cross-chain crime (securityaffairs.com)

• North Korea's State-Sponsored APTs Organise & Align (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Developers take as long as one month to patch security flaws, Synopsys finds (axios.com)

• Microsoft Patch Tuesday turns 20 • The Register

• Vulnerability Behind “Largest Attack in Internet History” Found | MSSP Alert

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft Patch Tuesday updates for October 2023 fixed three actively exploited zero-day flaws (securityaffairs.com)

• Patch Now: Massive RCE Campaign Wrangles Routers Into Botnet (darkreading.com)

• Patch Tuesday: Code Execution Flaws in Adobe Commerce, Photoshop - Security Week

• Google Chrome 118 is a massive security update - gHacks Tech News

• Security Patch for Two New Flaws in Curl Library Arriving on October 11 (thehackernews.com)

• Adobe Acrobat Reader Vuln Now Under Attack (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware attacks now target unpatched WS_FTP servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical Zero-Day Bug in Atlassian Confluence Under Active Exploit (informationweek.com)

• WhatsApp exploits commanding multi-million prices (computing.co.uk)

• High-Severity Vulnerabilities Discovered in WebM Project’s Libraries (paloaltonetworks.com)

• Credential Harvesting Campaign Targets Unpatched NetScaler Instances - Security Week

• Over 17,000 WordPress sites hacked in Balada Injector attacks last month (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Thousands of WordPress sites have been hacked through tagDiv plugin vulnerability | Ars Technica

• New WordPress backdoor creates rogue admin to hijack websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• libcue Library Flaw Opens GNOME Linux Systems Vulnerable to RCE Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• D-Link WiFi range extender vulnerable to command injection attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Maintainers warn of vulnerability affecting foundational open-source tool (therecord.media)

• Apple releases iOS 16.7.1 to plug critical security holes | Macworld

• The SEC is said to be investigating a Twitter security flaw from the pre-Musk era (engadget.com)

• Microsoft: China's Behind Atlassian Confluence Attacks; PoCs Available (darkreading.com)

• 35 Squid proxy bugs still unpatched after 2 years • The Register

• Fortinet Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products | CISA

• High-Severity Flaws in ConnectedIO's 3G/4G Routers Raise Concerns for IoT Security (thehackernews.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Organisations grapple with detection and response despite rising security budgets | CSO Online

• Preparing for the Unexpected: A Proactive Approach to Operational Resilience (darkreading.com)

• A Primer on Cyber Risk Acceptance and What it Means to Your Business (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What is Risk Appetite? | Definition from TechTarget

• Reassessing the Impacts of Risk Management With NIST Framework 2.0 (darkreading.com)

• 16 Essential Factors To Cover In A Disaster Recovery Plan (forbes.com)

• A Cyber Security Risk Assessment Guide for Leaders (trendmicro.com)

• Addressing a Breach Starts With Getting Everyone on the Same Page (darkreading.com)

• Google, Yahoo Push DMARC, Forcing Companies to Catch Up (darkreading.com)

• You can't avoid APIs, so you need to secure them (betanews.com)

• What is External Attack Surface Management (EASM)? | UpGuard

• Why You Should Phish In Your Own (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why zero trust delivers even more resilience than you think - Help Net Security

• Take an Offensive Approach to Password Security by Continuously Monitoring for Breached Passwords (thehackernews.com)

• Unmasking the limitations of yearly penetration tests - Help Net Security

• Keeping up with the demands of the cyber insurance market - Help Net Security

• Cyber attackers are combining attacks to bypass detection (siliconrepublic.com)

• Keep on keeping your organisation informed to stay cyber secure (techuk.org)

• Why identity infrastructure is the new cyberattack surface (siliconrepublic.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Global Incident Response Threat Report (vmware.com)

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Other News

• Cyber security is a mindset, not just a set of tools and technologies. (techuk.org)

• Large law firms experiencing two 'cyber incidents' a month - Legal Futures

• Small businesses growing target for cyber criminals (planetradio.co.uk)

• The world was already horrifying — technology is making it more so - The Hustle

• Legions of Critical Infrastructure Devices Subject to Cyber Targeting (darkreading.com)

• Subsea cable business seeks to plug its security holes (lightreading.com)

• Old-School Attacks Are Still a Danger, Despite Newer Techniques (darkreading.com)

• Protect Critical Infrastructure With Same Rigor as Classified Networks (darkreading.com)

• Drug dealers hijack NHS, police and Crimestoppers websites to sell coke in plain sight - Daily Star

• Proactive not reactive: adjusting the approach to cyber crime in education

• Magecart Campaign Hijacks 404 Pages to Steal Data (darkreading.com)

• As biohacking evolves, how vulnerable are we to cyber threats? - Help Net Security

• Social care and cyber-crime - Social care (blog.gov.uk)

• Electric Power System Cyber Security Vulnerabilities (trendmicro.com)

• Cable Giant Volex Targeted in Cyber Attack - Security Week

• Securing the Food Pipeline from Cyber Attacks (newswise.com)

• US construction giant reports cyber security incident • The Register

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 6 October 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Many Cyber Attacks Begin by Breaking Human Trust

One of the most visible cyber attacks in recent months has reminded us that we all play a role in security, and people remain a favourite route for attackers. In the recent attack on MGM Resorts, an employee unwittingly helped the attacker to access the organisation’s systems and information. The attack highlights the power of social engineering as an attack vector, and that any size of business can fall victim.

One of the ways organisations can help to protect themselves is to provide social engineering training to employees. This builds resilience by helping employees to understand, recognise and avoid becoming a victim, recognising that cyber security involves more than just technology.

Despite some improvements in awareness programs, organisations face hurdles including budget constraints, limited training time and understaffing. Training should be continuous and target major risk areas such as phishing, vishing and password management, while fostering a proactive security culture.

Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes ensure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation.

Sources: [GovTech] [Bloomberg] [Security Week]

BYOD Should Stand for Bring Your Own Disaster, According to Microsoft Ransomware Data

Microsoft research says that 80-90 percent of ransomware attacks over the past year originated from unmanaged devices. Many organisations welcome a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, yet are not managing these devices effectively.

Without appropriate management of BYOD devices, organisations are allowing a number of unknown devices onto the corporate scene; these devices can be unpatched, unregulated and can lack adequate security measures, without the organisation even being aware.

Source: [The Register]

SME Cyber Security Knowledge Gap Widens

Recent findings underscore a growing concern: a significant cyber security knowledge gap among small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). The report found that 22% of employees are concerned their actions could contribute to a cyber attack or data breach. Alarmingly, more than three-quarters of senior executives are unable to identify cyber threats or distinguish phishing emails from legitimate ones.

Despite the clear risks, three out of four SMEs do not provide any form of cyber security training to their staff. This reveals a concerning disconnect: while the majority of business owners do not perceive their staff as potential cyber security risks, many employees themselves acknowledge that they could inadvertently cause such issues.

Adding to the concern, 60% of SMEs have no plans to increase their security budget in the coming year. Two-thirds of these businesses do not view cyber security as a priority. In fact, only one in five SMEs are even considering investing in cyber insurance. This widening knowledge gap in SME cyber security is indeed troubling and calls for immediate attention.

Sources: [Insurance Journal] [Dealer Support] [IT Security Guru]

UK Security Budgets Under Strain as Cyber Incidents Soar

A recent report found that UK businesses have suffered a 25% increase in cyber incidents in the last year, against a backdrop of budgetary constraints on implementing cyber security strategies. The report found that, despite spending more than £40,000 a year on cyber security protection, more than a quarter of organisations think their cyber security budget is inadequate to fully protect them from growing threats. This is as UK businesses have experienced, on average, 30 cyber incidents over the last 12 months, a 25% increase compared to last year.

The report identified that a lack of key skills remains one of the main concerns in tackling rising cyber threats. So much so that 30% of cyber staff admit to currently facing burnout. This pressure also means that less than half of companies are confident in their ability to handle the biggest threats facing organisations, including phishing (56%) and malware (55%).

Sources: [Silicon] [Verdict] [CSO Online]

Cyber Leaders’ Confidence in Their Organisation’s Defences Plummets, But Costs Mount

A recent EY survey of cyber security leaders reported that just 1 in 5 found their organisation’s approach to cyber defences to  effective and just 36% are satisfied with the levels of best practices by teams outside the IT department. The report also found that despite higher levels of spending, the organisation’s cyber security detection and response appeared slow; 76% of respondents took six months or longer to detect and respond to an incident.

Source: [EY]

FBI Warns of Dual Ransomware as Data Destruction Dwell Times Hit Low of 24 Hours

The FBI has flagged dual ransomware attacks, where attackers will attack a company twice within a few hours, as an emerging trend. This comes as an increasing number of ransomware actors are deploying their ransomware within 24 hours of initial access, and in 10% of cases, within just a few hours. Comparing this to last year, where the median time was four and a half days, organisations have significantly less time to enact their response, if they have one.

Sources: [Tech Monitor] [The Cord] [Information Security] [Beta News] [Cision] [The Record] [Malware Bytes]

Tech-Savvy Young Workers Might Be the Biggest Cyber Liability to Your Business

A new report from Ivanti into hidden threats finds that one in three employees believe their actions do not impact their organisation's security. The research shows that Millennial and Gen Z office workers are more likely to have unsafe cyber security habits when compared to Gen X and older (those above 40 years of age). The report also finds that men and leaders are more comfortable contacting a security employee with a question or concern, with leaders at an organisation the most likely to reach out with a question at 72%.

The report also highlighted that phishing scams were found to be greatly underreported by those aged 40 and under, with 23% saying that they did not report the last phishing attempt they received, the most the most likely reason for this being “I didn’t think it was important”. In contrast, of the older demographic only 12% failed to report. Cyber security has only recently become the leading concern among C-suites and executives; however, security leaders need to enable all employees to play defence against threat actors and proactively build an open and welcoming security culture.

Sources: [Techradar] [Beta News] [HelpNet Security]

Half of Cyber Security Professionals Report Increase in Cyber Attacks, with 60% of Attacks Going Unreported

Over half (52%) of cyber security professionals are experiencing an increase in cyber attacks compared to a year ago, according to new research. Further findings revealed that only 40% of organisations conducted a cyber risk assessment annually. By conducting risk assessments, organisations are able to identify their vulnerabilities and address them, before an attacker gets the chance to exploit them.

Further, in a recent survey conducted by ISACA, which collated insights from over 2,000 security leaders globally, a significant 62% of respondents say that organisations are under-reporting cyber crime incidents. The report also revealed 59% indicate their cyber security teams are undermanned, and the challenge of retaining skilled cyber security professionals remains, with 56% experiencing retention issues.

Sources: [MSSP Alert] [Security Brief] [InfoSecurity Magazine ]

Global Cyber Survey Finds 50% Rise in Cyber Insurance Premiums

According to a recent survey, budgets for cyber security have grown 70% in the last five years and whilst these have risen, so have cyber insurance premiums (50%), due to the increase in ransomware attacks.

Insurance firms have not been able to sustain losses they were incurring without passing on these costs to their customers. At the same time, obtaining cyber insurance is getting exponentially harder, with more and more stringent controls and measures being mandated by insurance companies before underwriting to minimise their exposure.

Black Arrow supports business leaders in organisations of all sizes to demonstrate governance of their cyber security, by owning their cyber security strategy and leveraging their existing internal and external resources to build resilience against a cyber security incident.

Source: [Global Reinsurance]

Evolving Conversations: Cyber Security as a Business Risk

According to a report, only 53% of board members report having regular interactions with their cyber security experts, leaving nearly half without a strong and distinct Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) perspective in the decision making process.

By including CISOs or virtual CISOS (vCISOS) in board processes, the board can better understand the cyber implications of decisions, after all, you wouldn’t make a board-level financial decision without involving the CFO.

Source: [HelpNet Security]

Threats in Cloud Top the List of Executive Cyber Concerns

A recent report published by PwC has found that cloud-related threats are the top concern for organisations that have adopted the technology. These security concerns intensify for organisations with multiple clouds or hybrid infrastructures, with the report finding more than half of respondents citing cloud security as their most pressing concern.

The report highlighted that despite the focus on cloud security, nearly every organisation had risk management lapses. Nearly a third of respondents had yet to address disaster recovery and backup with their cloud service provider, and more than two in five pointed to in-house cloud skills gaps as a lingering risk factor.

Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Source: [CIO Dive]

Over Half of Phishing Emails Now Use Obfuscation Tactics to Avoid Detection

Recent research shows that hackers are increasingly using sophisticated tactics to get their phishing emails past companies’ cyber security defences. One key finding of the report is the percentage of phishing emails that use obfuscation techniques to avoid detection jumped by 24.4% in 2023. More than half of malicious emails, or 55.2%, now use such tactics. The report found that the most widely used obfuscation technique is HTML smuggling. This is the practice of hiding malicious raw code in a seemingly legitimate HTML page; the code only turns into malware after clearing the cyber security filtering.

The use of chatbots or large language models have lowered the barrier for entry to cyber crime, making it possible to create well-written phishing campaigns and generate malware that less capable coders could not produce alone. The reports found that tools designed to detect AI-generated phishing emails work unreliability or don’t work at all in 71.4% of cases.

Source: [Silicon Angle]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Small Businesses Underestimate Cyber Risks Despite Increased Threats: IBC Survey (insurancejournal.com)

• Half of Cyber security Professionals Report Increase in Cyber Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber security: Still No. 1 on Every CIO's Agenda (govtech.com)

• SME cyber security knowledge gap widens | Dealer Support

• UK SME cyber threat concerns on the rise in last 12 months as a quarter admit to being breached - IT Security Guru

• Poor cyber security habits are common among younger employees - Help Net Security

• Many Cyber Attacks Begin by Breaking Human Trust (govtech.com)

• After MGM and Caesars hacks, cyber security experts warn ‘anybody is vulnerable’  - The Nevada Independent

• People Still Matter in Cyber security Management (darkreading.com)

• UK businesses face tightening cyber security budgets as incidents spike | CSO Online

• Threats in cloud top list of executive cyber concerns, PwC finds | CIO Dive

• Ransomware Crisis, Recession Fears Leave CISOs in Tough Spot (darkreading.com)

• Evolving conversations: Cyber security as a business risk - Help Net Security

• Cyber security preparedness pays big dividends for businesses - Help Net Security

• Breaches Are the Cost of Doing Business, but NIST Is Here to Help (darkreading.com)

• Your Company's Cyber security Depends on Every Employee--Train Them Well and Instill the Importance of Security | Inc.com

• Gartner: Spending On Cyber security Services Is Outpacing Expectations In 2023 | CRN

• Cyber leaders’ confidence in their organisation’s defences plummets, but costs mount | EY - Global

• CISO's compass: Mastering tech, inspiring teams, and confronting risk - Help Net Security

• Kroll Launches Detection and Response Maturity Model and Finds 91% of Businesses Overestimate Their Cyber Maturity, Increasing Their Vulnerability to Cyber attacks

• Gartner Forecasts Global Security and Risk Management Spending to Grow 14% in 2024 (darkreading.com)

• A Tool to Help Boards Measure Cyber Resilience (hbr.org)

• High-business-impact outages are incredibly expensive - Help Net Security

• 78% of organisations under-report cyber attacks: ISACA (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Moody’s cyber survey reveals growing budgets and improved governance - Reinsurance News

• How To Talk To Your Board And C-suite About Cyber Preparedness | Scoop News

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Moody’s global cyber survey finds 50% rise in cyber insurance premiums | Global Reinsurance

• Ransomware is deployed faster as cyber criminals seek to avoid detection (betanews.com)

• Ransomware Dwell Time Hits Low of 24 Hours (prnewswire.com)

• Microsoft: Human-operated ransomware attacks tripled over past year (therecord.media)

• Bad BYOD facilitates most ransomware attacks, says Microsoft • The Register

• Dual ransomware attacks: FBI warns of twin threat to businesses (techmonitor.ai)

• Ransomware gangs destroying data, using multiple strains during attacks: FBI (therecord.media)

• Why the public sector is an easy target for ransomware | TechCrunch

• Banks beware: Why one ransomware victim decided to pay up | American Banker

• LUCR-3: Scattered Spider Getting SaaS-y in the Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• Data Theft Overtakes Ransomware as Top Concern for IT Decision Makers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Feds hopelessly behind the times on ransomware trends • The Register

• MOVEit cyber attacks: keeping tabs on the biggest data theft of 2023 - The Verge

• Ransomware reinfections on the rise from improper remediation (malwarebytes.com)

• Meet LostTrust ransomware — A likely rebrand of the MetaEncryptor gang (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gangs now exploiting critical TeamCity RCE flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Two hacker groups are back in the news, LockBit 3.0 Black and BlackCat/AlphV (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware disrupts hospitality, healthcare in September | TechTarget

• Ransomware Attacks: Bad for Hospitals, Deadly for Patients - Tradeoffs

• Lorenz ransomware embroiled in its own two-year data leak • The Register

Ransomware Victims

• LockBit crime spree includes FDF and UK law firm (techmonitor.ai)

• Motel One discloses data breach following ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MOVEit cyber attacks: keeping tabs on the biggest data theft of 2023 - The Verge

• Record Numbers of Ransomware Victims Named on Leak Sites - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MGM Resorts Refused to Pay Ransom in Cyber attack on Casinos - WSJ

• BlackCat gang claims they stole data of 2.5 million patients of McLaren Health Care (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware attack on Johnson Controls may have exposed sensitive DHS data (securityaffairs.com)

• South African insurance clients hit in massive global cyber attack (mybroadband.co.za)

• Sony sent data breach notifications to about 6,800 individuals (securityaffairs.com)

• Clorox Warns of a Sales Mess After Cyber attack - WSJ

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• EvilProxy Phishing Attack Strikes Indeed, Targets Executives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Report: Over half of phishing emails now use obfuscation tactics to avoid detection - SiliconANGLE

• Phishing, Smishing Surge Targets USPS - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Will generative AI really supercharge phishing attacks? - Tech Monitor

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Many Cyber Attacks Begin by Breaking Human Trust (govtech.com)

• MGM Cyber attack Shows How Hackers Deploy Social Engineering - Bloomberg

• Casino Hackers Use Low-Tech Tricks to Exploit Corporate Targets (bloomberglaw.com)

• Lazarus Group Impersonates Recruiter from Meta to Target Spanish Aerospace Firm (thehackernews.com)

• USPS Anchors Snowballing Smishing Campaigns (darkreading.com)

• Phishing, Smishing Surge Targets USPS - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Bing Chat's ads unleash malware mayhem: Users lured into dangerous websites - OnMSFT.com

• Harvard cyber security guru Bruce Schneier warns of ChatGPT, AI effect on election disinformation, propaganda | Fortune

• Protecting against FraudGPT, ChatGPT's evil twin - Help Net Security

• GenAI in software surges despite risks - Help Net Security

• Boardroom Blueprint: AI's Cyber security Risks (forbes.com)

• The top AI cyber crime threats and solutions | Inquirer Technology

• Kaspersky Issues Crimeware Report, Uncovers “WormGPT” | MSSP Alert

• The big debate: is AI a blessing or curse for cyber security? - Raconteur

• Global internet freedoms fell again last year as the threat of AI looms (therecord.media)

• Survey Finds Most Cyber security Experts Believe Offensive AI Will Outpace Defensive AI (thefastmode.com)

• LLMs lower the barrier for entry into cyber crime - Help Net Security

• Will generative AI really supercharge phishing attacks? - Tech Monitor

• Are we doomed to make the same security mistakes with AI? (securityintelligence.com)

• AI facial recognition: Campaigners and MPs call for ban - BBC News

• From Cyber crime to Cyber security: Fighting AI With AI | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

Malware

• Hackers are spreading malware through Indeed job messages | Digital Trends

• Cyber criminals Using New ASMCrypt Malware Loader Flying Under the Radar (thehackernews.com)

• There's a dangerous new malware-as-a-service on the rise - here's what you need to know | TechRadar

• BunnyLoader: New Malware-as-a-Service Threat Emerges in the Cyber crime Underground (thehackernews.com)

• North Korea's Lazarus Group upgrades its main malware • The Register

• Malware-Infected Devices Sold Through Major Retailers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Prolific malware and botnet operator Qakbot still operating despite FBI takedown - SiliconANGLE

• Hundreds of malicious Python packages found stealing sensitive data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Mobile

• Bad BYOD facilitates most ransomware attacks, says Microsoft • The Register

• Android's October 2023 Security Updates Patch Two Exploited Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• Backdoored Android phones, TVs used for ad fraud - and worse! - Help Net Security

• Are executives adequately guarding their gadgets? - Help Net Security

Botnets

• AWS Using MadPot Decoy System to Disrupt APTs, Botnets - Security Week

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Flights grounded by DDoS cyber attack on Russia's airports (techmonitor.ai)

• Cloudflare DDoS protections ironically bypassed using Cloudflare (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Royal Family's official website targeted in cyber attack | UK News | Sky News

• Global events fuel DDoS attack campaigns - Help Net Security

BYOD

• Bad BYOD facilitates most ransomware attacks, says Microsoft • The Register

• Are executives adequately guarding their gadgets? - Help Net Security

Internet of Things – IoT

• Malware-Infected Devices Sold Through Major Retailers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• IoT and the law | Professional Security

• Backdoored Android phones, TVs used for ad fraud - and worse! - Help Net Security

• Eyes everywhere: How to safely navigate the IoT video revolution - Help Net Security

• FDA cyber mandates for medical devices goes into effect | CyberScoop

Data Breaches/Leaks

• European Telecommunications Standards Institute Discloses Data Breach - Security Week

• MOVEit cyber attacks: keeping tabs on the biggest data theft of 2023 - The Verge

• Data Theft Overtakes Ransomware as Top Concern for IT Decision Makers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• NATO says it is addressing an apparent cyber attack after strategy documents posted online | CNN Politics

• SiegedSec Hacktivists Claim to Have Stolen 3,000 NATO Files in Second Attack | MSSP Alert

• Blackbaud Pays $49.5M to Settle With State AGs in Breach (inforisktoday.com)

• PSNI: Concerns over computer security as new figures reveal 161 data incidents | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

• Sony confirms data breach impacting thousands in the US (bleepingcomputer.com)

• DNA testing service 23andMe investigating theft of user data | CyberScoop

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Odds Are 1 in 4 Americans Will Fall Victim to Online Crime (prnewswire.com)

• People Still Matter in Cyber security Management (darkreading.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto firms beware: Lazarus’ new malware can now bypass detection (cointelegraph.com)

• Scammers Impersonate Companies to Steal Cryptocurrency from Job Seeker - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• There's a dangerous new malware-as-a-service on the rise - here's what you need to know | TechRadar

• BunnyLoader: New Malware-as-a-Service Threat Emerges in the Cyber crime Underground (thehackernews.com)

• The crypto market bears the scars of FTX's collapse | Reuters

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Many Cyber Attacks Begin by Breaking Human Trust (govtech.com)

• Tech-savvy young workers might be the biggest cyber liability to your business | TechRadar

• Younger employees more likely to have unsafe cyber security habits (betanews.com)

• Addressing the People Problem in Cyber security - Security Week

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• FBI warns phantom hacker scams are emptying financial accounts — how to stay safe | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Three men found guilty of laundering $2.5 million in Target gift card tech support scam (bitdefender.com)

• Online fraud can cost you more than money - Help Net Security

• The crypto market bears the scars of FTX's collapse | Reuters

• How to deal with your brand's doppelgangers | Kaspersky official blog

• Visa Program Combats Friendly Fraud Losses For Small Businesses Globally (darkreading.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• Lazarus Group Impersonates Recruiter from Meta to Target Spanish Aerospace Firm (thehackernews.com)

• Supply Chain Attackers Escalate With GitHub Dependabot Impersonation (darkreading.com)

• Scammers Impersonate Companies to Steal Cryptocurrency from Job Seeker - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Three men found guilty of laundering $2.5 million in Target gift card tech support scam (bitdefender.com)

Insurance

• Moody’s global cyber survey finds 50% rise in cyber insurance premiums | Global Reinsurance

• Insurance Companies Have a Lot to Lose in Cyber attacks (darkreading.com)

• 5 Cyber Insurance Trends To Watch Right Now | CRN

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Tackling cyber risks head-on using security questionnaires - Help Net Security

Software Supply Chain

• Software firms under cyber attack | Microscope (computerweekly.com)

• Upstream Supply Chain Attacks Triple in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Supply Chain Attackers Escalate With GitHub Dependabot Impersonation (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Threats in cloud top list of executive cyber concerns, PwC finds | CIO Dive

• Microsoft Warns of Cyber Attacks Attempting to Breach Cloud via SQL Server Instance (thehackernews.com)

• LUCR-3: Scattered Spider Getting SaaS-y in the Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• AWS Using MadPot Decoy System to Disrupt APTs, Botnets - Security Week

• Fast-Growing Dropbox Campaign Steals Microsoft SharePoint Credentials (darkreading.com)

• EvilProxy uses indeed.com open redirect for Microsoft 365 phishing (bleepingcomputer.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Employers must be clear with staff over workplace monitoring, warns privacy watchdog | UK News | Sky News

• Surge in workplace monitoring prompts new ICO guidelines on employee privacy | ITPro

Encryption

• New Marvin attack revives 25-year-old decryption flaw in RSA (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Quantum Computers Could Crack Encryption Sooner Than Expected With New Algorithm (singularityhub.com)

API

• The Silent Threat of APIs: What the New Data Reveals About Unknown Risk (darkreading.com)

• APIs: Unveiling the Silent Killer of Cyber Security Risk Across Industries (thehackernews.com)

Open Source

• New 'Looney Tunables' Linux bug gives root on major distros (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The root cause of open-source risk - Help Net Security

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Your Long Password Is Still Easy to Crack (pcmag.com)

• Fast-Growing Dropbox Campaign Steals Microsoft SharePoint Credentials (darkreading.com)

Biometrics

• AI facial recognition: Campaigners and MPs call for ban - BBC News

• The rise and fall of Clearview.AI and the evolution of facial recognition - SiliconANGLE

• The inadequacy of voice biometrics | TechRadar

Social Media

• Norway Urges Europe-Wide Ban on Meta's Targeted Ad Data Collection (darkreading.com)

• Lazarus Group Impersonates Recruiter from Meta to Target Spanish Aerospace Firm (thehackernews.com)

• Elon Musk ‘Cut Off Good Guys, Empowered Bad’: Stanford Cyber security Wonk - The Messenger

Malvertising

• Backdoored Android phones, TVs used for ad fraud - and worse! - Help Net Security

Training, Education and Awareness

• Your Company's Cyber security Depends on Every Employee--Train Them Well and Instill the Importance of Security | Inc.com

• Addressing the People Problem in Cyber security - Security Week

• How to Improve Cyber security Awareness and Training (trendmicro.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Child abuse site taken down, organised child exploitation crime suspected – exclusive (securityaffairs.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Cyber experts urge EU to rethink vulnerability disclosure plans | Computer Weekly

• EU Cyber Resilience Act Could be Exploited for Surveillance, Experts W - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Keeping SEC-ure: Using Threat Intelligence to Stay Ahead of the New SEC Regulations (recordedfuture.com)

• Many Companies Far From Ready for Fast-Approaching SEC Cybersecurity Deadline | Corporate Counsel (law.com)

• Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules | CSO Online

• Employers must be clear with staff over workplace monitoring, warns privacy watchdog | UK News | Sky News

• Blackbaud Pays $49.5M to Settle With State AGs in Breach (inforisktoday.com)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Breaches Are the Cost of Doing Business, but NIST Is Here to Help (darkreading.com)

• What is Compliance as a Service (CaaS)? - Definition from WhatIs.com (techtarget.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK government plans 2,500 new tech recruits by 2025 with focus on cyber security | CSO Online

• Up to 500,000 staff required to field off growing cyber security threat to Europe | Business Post

• The State of Cyber security: Cyber Skills Gap Leaves Business Vulnerable to Attacks, New Research Reveals | Business Wire

• Blue teams on the edge: cyber pros seem to hate their jobs | Cybernews

• Soft skills continue to challenge the cyber security sector - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Child abuse site taken down, organised child exploitation crime suspected – exclusive (securityaffairs.com)

• Prolific malware and botnet operator Qakbot still operating despite FBI takedown - SiliconANGLE

• Three men found guilty of laundering $2.5 million in Target gift card tech support scam (bitdefender.com)

• UK student found guilty of 3D printing 'kamikaze' drone • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• EU Cyber Resilience Act Could be Exploited for Surveillance, Experts W - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Surge in workplace monitoring prompts new ICO guidelines on employee privacy | ITPro

• AI facial recognition: Campaigners and MPs call for ban - BBC News

• Norway Urges Europe-Wide Ban on Meta's Targeted Ad Data Collection (darkreading.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Harvard cyber security guru Bruce Schneier warns of ChatGPT, AI effect on election disinformation, propaganda | Fortune

• Elon Musk ‘Cut Off Good Guys, Empowered Bad’: Stanford Cyber security Wonk - The Messenger

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Misc Nation State, Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

• Espionage fuels global cyber attacks - Microsoft On the Issues

• Microsoft: Nation-state cyber espionage on rise in 2023 | Computer Weekly

• ‘Cyberwar Is Going on All Day, Every Day’: CEO | NTD

• CISA and UK NCSC Hold Inaugural Meeting of Strategic Dialogue on Cyber security of Civil Society Under Threat of Transnational Repression | CISA

• US and UK Lead Fight Against Civil Society Cyber Threats - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Harvard cyber security guru Bruce Schneier warns of ChatGPT, AI effect on election disinformation, propaganda | Fortune

• The sixth domain: The role of the private sector in warfare - Atlantic Council

• How this unassuming cable became the world’s most powerful weapon (telegraph.co.uk)

• Joint Statement from 21 Countries and the Organisation of American States Following the Department of Homeland Security Western Hemisphere Cyber Conference | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

Russia

• Russian Cyber Attacks in 2023: Shifting Patterns, Goals, and Capacities

• Russian Hacktivism Takes a Toll on Organisations in Ukraine, EU, US (darkreading.com)

• Russia-Ukraine war: Cyber space is the latest frontline | Semafor

• Flights grounded by DDoS cyber attack on Russia's airports (techmonitor.ai)

• Joint Statement from 21 Countries and the Organisation of American States Following the Department of Homeland Security Western Hemisphere Cyber Conference | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

• Ukrainian Man Calls Russian Tech Support to Help With Captured Tank: Report (businessinsider.com)

China

• China Poised to Disrupt US Critical Infrastructure with Cyber Attacks, - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How digital threats from East Asia are increasing in breadth and effectiveness | CSO Online

• Belgian intelligence service VSSE accused Alibaba of ‘possible espionage’ at European hub in Liege (securityaffairs.com)

Iran

• Iran-Linked APT34 Spy Campaign Targets Saudis (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• North Korea's Lazarus Group upgrades its main malware • The Register

• Crypto firms beware: Lazarus’ new malware can now bypass detection (cointelegraph.com)

• Lazarus Group Impersonates Recruiter from Meta to Target Spanish Aerospace Firm (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean hackers are targeting aerospace - Lazarus Group tricks employees into installing malware themselves | TechRadar

• North Korea goes phishing in South’s shipyards • The Register

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Vulnerability Management

• How to Measure Patching and Remediation Performance (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog, Removes Five KEVs | CISA

• October 2023 Patch Tuesday forecast: Operating system updates and zero-days aplenty - Help Net Security

• Exploit released for Microsoft SharePoint Server auth bypass flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft Edge, Teams get fixes for zero-days in open-source libraries (bleepingcomputer.com)

• A new Chrome 0-day is sending the Internet into a new chapter of Groundhog Day | Ars Technica

• Apple fixed the 17th zero-day flaw exploited in attacks (securityaffairs.com)

• Apple Warns of Newly Exploited iOS 17 Kernel Zero-Day - Security Week

• Move Over, MOVEit: Critical Progress Bug Infests WS_FTP Software (darkreading.com)

• Mass exploitation attempts against WS_FTP have begun • The Register

• Millions of Exim mail servers exposed to zero-day RCE attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical zero-days in Exim revealed, only 3 have been fixed - Help Net Security

• Patch Confusion for Critical Exim Bug Puts Email Servers at Risk--Again (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft won’t say if its products were exploited by spyware zero-days | TechCrunch

• Companies Address Impact of Exploited Libwebp Vulnerability  - Security Week

• Zero-day in Arm GPU drivers exploited in targeted attacks (CVE-2023-4211) - Help Net Security

• Arm warns of Mali GPU flaws likely exploited in targeted attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Qualcomm says hackers exploit 3 zero-days in its GPU, DSP drivers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Atlassian patches critical Confluence zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vulnerabilities in Supermicro BMCs could allow for unkillable server rootkits | Ars Technica

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Tools and Controls

• Does your security program suffer from piecemeal detection and response? (securityintelligence.com)

• Keeping SEC-ure: Using Threat Intelligence to Stay Ahead of the New SEC Regulations (recordedfuture.com)

• The Silent Threat of APIs: What the New Data Reveals About Unknown Risk (darkreading.com)

• APIs: Unveiling the Silent Killer of Cyber Security Risk Across Industries (thehackernews.com)

• 5 common browser attacks and how to prevent them | TechTarget

• Rationalizing Your Hybrid Cloud Security Tools (securityintelligence.com)

• Protecting your IT infrastructure with Security Configuration Assessment (SCA) (thehackernews.com)

• The big debate: is AI a blessing or curse for cyber security? - Raconteur

• Is your threat protection giving you a false sense of cyber security? | The Independent

• 5 Cyber Insurance Trends To Watch Right Now | CRN

• Quash EDR/XDR Exploits With These Countermeasures (darkreading.com)

• How to Improve Cyber security Awareness and Training (trendmicro.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Microsoft Digital Defence Report 2023 (MDDR) | Microsoft Security Insider

• STUDY: 37% Intimidated, 39% Frustrated with Online Security (globenewswire.com)

• Oh Behave! The Annual Cyber security Attitudes and Behaviours Report 2023 - National Cyber security Alliance (staysafeonline.org)

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Other News

• Cyber attacks on UK pension funds on the rise – study | Pensions & Investments (pionline.com)

• Are we smart enough for smart cities? | TechRadar

• The trust deficit in CNI: How to address a growing concern | Computer Weekly

• Third sector highly exposed to cyber risk - CIR Magazine

• 10 Emerging Cyber security Threats And Hacker Tactics In 2023 | CRN

• Lyca Mobile UK Confirm Cyber Attack Responsible for Disruption - ISPreview UK

• Global internet freedoms fell again last year as the threat of AI looms (therecord.media)

• Cyber security in the Age of Industry 4.0 (automation.com)

• How Private Equity Firms Can Protect ‘Treasure Trove’ from Digital Threats (ai-cio.com)

• 10 Routine Security Gaffes the Feds Are Begging You to Fix (darkreading.com)

• NSA: Here Are the Dumbest Cyber security Mistakes We See at Large Organisations (pcmag.com)

• The changing face of cyber security threats in 2023 | CIO

• Edinburgh Trams websites targeted by 'potential cyber attack' - Edinburgh Live

• Making Sense of Today's Payment Cyber security Landscape (darkreading.com)

• GAO tears into State Department's cyber security management • The Register

• First pan-European cyber analysis centre opens (airportsinternational.com)

• Nearly 100,000 Industrial Control Systems Exposed to the Internet - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Mobile customers unable to make or receive calls after firm hit by cyber attack - Mirror Online

• Malicious HDMI Cables Steals Photos, Videos, and Location Data (gbhackers.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 22 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

New Ransomware Victims Surge by 47% as Small Businesses Targeted

Ransomware attackers are shifting away from “big game” targets and towards easier, less defended organisations, a new report from Trend Micro has found. The report observed a 47% increase in the number of new victims of this vector from the second half of 2022, many of which were small organisations with less mature cyber postures. In fact, 57% of victims of the infamous ransomware gang LockBit, were of organisations up to 200 employees.

Small businesses can be attractive targets; they don’t have the budget of a large organisation and therefore they are more likely to have gaps that can be exploited. To combat this, small businesses need to prioritise their security budgets effectively, to allow themselves the most protection that their budget allows.

Source [Infosecurity Magazine]

MGM Resorts Lost Millions of Dollars a Day in What Should be a Wakeup Call for Corporate Boards

The recent ransomware attack on MGM Resorts has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars daily, not accounting for ransomware fees and reputational damage. MGM Resorts are a client of Okta, who noted that Caesars entertainment and three (not named) other organisations have been hit. Although the other victims have not yet been named, it has been revealed that they are in the manufacturing, retail and technology sectors. As a result of the attacks, Beazley and AIG, who provide cyber insurance, are likely to face significant losses.

The attack should act as wakeup call for corporate boards, as it once again highlights how anyone can be a victim, and if the right controls are not in place, an attack won’t be stopped. Cyber incidents are a matter of when, not if, and boards need to ensure they are prepared, and prepared to handle the fallout when an attack happens. 

Sources: [Proactive Investors] [Reuters] [Insurance Insider] [OODA Loop] [Claims Journal]

SMEs Overestimate Their Cyber Security Preparedness

According to a recent report, 57% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have experienced a cyber security breach, with 31% facing such an incident in the past year. Despite the increasing threat, 70% are confident in their defences, though 44% solely rely on their antivirus solutions, and a quarter don't regularly train employees on cyber security best practices or never have.

The report also found that many SMEs either underestimate the importance of robust security, believing they’re too small to be targeted, or put too much trust in their current defences. The increasing number of evolving cyber threats poses a significant risk to SMEs. Rising patterns show frequent and sophisticated attacks, highlighting the urgent need for effective security measures. Understandably, not all small business owners have the resources to obtain in-house cyber security experts. Black Arrow works with organisations of all sizes and sectors to design and prepare for managing a cyber security incident; this can include an Incident Response Plan and an educational tabletop exercise for the leadership team that highlights the proportionate controls to help the organisation prevent and mitigate an incident.

Sources: [Helpnet Security] [Security Magazine]

China’s Hacking Power Bigger Than Rest of World Combined

In a recent conference the director of the FBI highlighted the magnitude of China’s cyber power, most notably explaining that China has a bigger hacking program than the competition combined.

This comes as recent attacks have seen malicious USB drives used to spread malware and now, something we’ve not seen much before, financially motivated hacks by Chinese-speaking actors through a piece of malware known as “ValleyRAT”.

Sources: [Reuters] [Infosecurity Magazine] [WIRED] [Inforisk Today] [TechRadar]

Cyber Insurance Claims for Ransomware Reach Record High

A new report from cyber insurance provider Coalition shows a 12% increase in cyber claims over the first six months of this year, driven by the notable spikes in ransomware (19%), business email compromise (BEC) attacks (26%) and funds transfer fraud (FTF) (31%). The report found that claims severity also increased 61% from the previous six months and 117% over the last year. The average ransom demand was $1.62 million, a 47% increase over the previous six months and a 74% increase over the past year.

The report comes as the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)  released a joint advisory warning that ransomware gangs are increasingly evolving their tactics while targeting critical infrastructure sectors, including Information Technology, and Food and Agriculture. The advisory strongly discourages organisations from paying ransoms and encourages victims to report ransomware incidents to a local agency’s reporting channel. Similar advisories were released earlier in the year warning of ransomware groups such as Cl0p who exploited the vulnerability in MOVEit earlier this year.

Sources: [NextGov] [BetanNews] [Security Magazine] [CSO Online]

Cyber Security Still Remains the Greatest Concern for Many C-Suite Executives

Almost three-quarters (73%) of nearly 700 board members surveyed in a new study, believe their organisations are at risk of cyber attack, including targeted attacks; a sizable increase from the 65% last year, according to a recently released Proofpoint report. Worryingly, with the high number believing they are at risk from an attack, 53% still believed they would be unprepared for such an attack. When it came to their main concerns, malware was the top concern (40%), followed by insider threat (36%) and cloud account compromise (36%).

C-suite concern has propelled budgets, with a third of businesses increasing cyber security spending by a significant margin. As IT has become less centralised with a move towards cloud-based systems, combined with a shortage of skilled cyber security workers, businesses are having to rely more heavily on third party security according to a recent report.

This investment, along with improved security communications to executives, should enhance IT upskilling and employee awareness of cyber security.

Sources: [MSSP Alert] [Tech Radar]

Bad Torts: Law Firms Feel the Heat from Rising Cyber Threats

Publicly available reports of ransomware attacks on law firms have accelerated this year, with massive amounts of sensitive client data now in the hands of threat actors, highlighting a growing trend of cyber incidents afflicting the legal business.

One of the reasons law firms are increasingly targeted is due to the amount of sensitive data that they hold. This data can be used for extortion, insider training and general ransom purposes. In addition, many law firms utilise third parties to handle their data, increasing their risk of becoming a victim through their supply chain.

Source: [Synack]

Attacker Deepfakes IT Employees’ Voice in Phone Call to Breach Company

A recent cyber attack used AI to deepfake an IT employee’s voice. The attack started off with a phishing mail, which the unsuspecting victim employee clicked. The attacker then hit a challenge: multi-factor authentication (MFA). That was until they decided to use artificial intelligence to clone the voice of an IT employee. The attacker, now speaking as if they were the IT employee, was then able to convince the victim employee to provide the needed MFA code. As a result, the attack was successful.

The attack highlights the increase in AI for attacks, whilst also demonstrating that cyber security is more than just technology: it is people and operations too. Think about voice cloning, how would your organisation prepare for this?

Sources [PC Mag]

Insider Risks are Getting Increasingly Costly as Organisations Fail to Proactively Address Them

With the cost of insider risk the highest it has ever been (£13.25m per incident), organisations need to effectively budget and find ways to proactively address insider risk. A report found that 55% of money spent on insider incident response went toward problems caused by negligence or mistakes, and 25% for those were caused by actively malicious insiders, with the remaining 20% being attacks that out-smarted employees.

The cost and damage is acknowledged by organisations, with a separate report finding 46% of organisations self-reported that they were actively planning to spend more on proactively addressing insider risk in 2024. Budgets are not infinite however, and organisations need to effectively allocate their spending to ensure they are getting the most protection for their spend.

Sources: [Computer Weekly] [CSO Online]

Half of Executives Expect Supply Chain Challenges

With the surge in the number of attacks taking place through the software supply chain, it is no wonder almost half of executives expect supply chain challenges in the year ahead according to a survey by Deloitte. When asked about their experience, 34% of respondents self-reported that their organisation has experienced one or more supply chain cyber security events during the past year.

One of the ways to improve organisations’ supply chain security is to conduct assessments on the third parties they use, yet 21% of respondents did not do this at all. Potentially, one of the reasons for this is not knowing the correct questions to ask. Black Arrow can support you through a structured approach to asking a suite of targeted questions to your third parties, and assessing the responses for indicators of risk to your business.  

Sources [PRnewswire] [SiliconANGLE]

How Social Engineering Takes Advantage of Your Kindness

Last week, MGM Resorts disclosed a massive systems issue that reportedly rendered slot machines, room keys and other critical devices inoperable. What elaborate methods were required to crack a nearly $34 billion casino and hotel empire? According to the hackers themselves, all it took was a ten minute phone call, allowing them to gain access through a simple social engineering attack. Social engineering psychologically manipulates a target into doing what the attacker wants, or giving up information that they shouldn’t. The consequences range from taking down global corporations to devastating the personal finances of unfortunate individual victims.

Extroverted, agreeable, and open individuals are often cyber victims; fear is an attack vector and so is helpfulness. As comfort increases, so too does vulnerability to being hacked. Social engineering attacks target both corporations and individuals. A person’s positive traits can be weaknesses against such threats. Balancing kindness with scepticism is essential.

Source: [Engadget]

Employers Blame Employees as 54% of Firms Face Cyber Attacks Annually

A survey found that despite the percentage of companies that have encountered a cyber security incident in the last 12 months, a worrying 24% of employees have never had any cyber security training. The survey further found that alarmingly 42% of respondents used the same password for both home and work accounts, increasing the risk of exposing their organisational passwords. This risk was furthered by 40% of the total number of respondents keeping their password in an open file or physical notebook.

Organisations, including those already providing training, should look to ensure they implement training from experts that covers such areas; by effectively training employees, organisations will increase their cyber resilience and reduce their risk of suffering a cyber attack. Black Arrow supports organisations of all sizes in designing and delivering proportionate user education and awareness programmes, including in-person and online training as well as simulated phishing campaigns. Our programmes are secure employee engagement and build a cyber security culture to protect the organisation.  

Source: [Information Security Buzz]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber security still remains the greatest concern for many executives | TechRadar

• Cyber attacks are constant and test even the best | Newsroom

• Companies Struggling With Cyber security: Big Players In Bad Situations (forbes.com)

• SMEs overestimate their cyber security preparedness - Help Net Security

• Survey Reveals: 50% Of Respondents Face Cyber attacks Yearly — Employers Blame Employees (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Almost Half of Executives Expect Supply Chain Security Challenges in Year Ahead (prnewswire.com)

• Organisations failing to proactively address insider cyber risk | Computer Weekly

• Expensive Investigations Drive Surging Data Breach Costs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OODA Loop - The MGM Cyber attack Should be a Wakeup Call for Corporate Boards: Will they hit the snooze alarm again?

• Most Global Board Members Unprepared for “Targeted” Cyber attack, Report Finds | MSSP Alert

• Changing Role of the CISO: A Holistic Approach Drives the Future (darkreading.com)

• How to Get Your Board on Board With Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• Security concerns and outages elevate observability from IT niche to business essential - Help Net Security

• Regulatory activity forces compliance leaders to spend more on GRC tools - Help Net Security

• Going Up! How to Handle Rising Cyber security Costs (securityintelligence.com)

• Balancing budget and system security: Approaches to risk tolerance - Help Net Security

• Is Director Liability For Cyber security Failure An Immediate Risk? (forbes.com)

• Over a Third of UK Population Believe Prison is the Most Suitable Punishment for Individuals Responsible for Data Breach - IT Security Guru

• 83% of IT Security Professionals Say Burnout Causes Data Breaches (prnewswire.com)

• Why Cyber security Compliance Standards Still Have A Long Way To Go (forbes.com)

• Bot Attack Costs Double to $86m Annually - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Adapting to new rule changes in cyber risk management: How the SEC changed the game - SiliconANGLE

• Poor digital experience a blocker for cyber resilience | Computer Weekly

• What is Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)? | TechTarget Definition

• How to prevent and prepare for a cyber catastrophe (securityintelligence.com)

• The rise of CISO stress: Recognising and reconciling the threat of litigation for CISOs (securitybrief.co.nz)

• 2023 Cyber Risk and Resiliency Report: How CIOs Are Dueling Disaster (informationweek.com)

• The realities of modern cyber security: CrowdStrike CSO weighs in on how businesses must adapt - SiliconANGLE

• Why more security doesn’t mean more effective compliance - Help Net Security

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Digesting the Digits - 2023 ‘record year’ for ransomware attacks - PaymentExpert.com

• New Ransomware Victims Surge by 47% with Gangs Targeting Small Busines - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Attacks on Casino Giants Heralds Resurgence in Ransomware Attacks (claimsjournal.com)

• Beazley and AIG likely to face cyber attack losses on casinos (insuranceinsider.com)

• LockBit Is Using RMMs to Spread Its Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• ‘Top’ ransomware gangs favour smaller businesses | Computer Weekly

• US cyber insurance claims spike amid ransomware, funds transfer fraud, BEC attacks | CSO Online

• Ransomware group's evolving tactics pose growing threat - Nextgov/FCW

• Malware distributor Storm-0324 facilitates ransomware access | Microsoft Security Blog

• Who is behind the latest wave of UK ransomware attacks? | Cyber crime | The Guardian

• NCSC: Why Cyber Extortion Attacks No Longer Require Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• Scattered Spider, Alphv, and the MGM hack, explained - The Hustle

• Quadruple extortion ransomware maximising monetisation (securitybrief.co.nz)

• What is Extortionware? How is it Different from Ransomware? (techtarget.com)

• Ransomware cyber insurance claims rose by 27% | Security Magazine

• Cyber insurance claims for ransomware reach record high (betanews.com)

• Ransomware gang targeting defence firms, FBI warns - Defence One

• Scattered Spider snares 100+ victims, moves into ransomware • The Register

• Cyber criminals Combine Phishing and EV Certificates to Deliver Ransomware Payloads (thehackernews.com)

• BlackCat ransomware hits Azure Storage with Sphynx encryptor (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FBI, CISA Issue Joint Warning on 'Snatch' Ransomware-as-a-Service (darkreading.com)

• Critical Infrastructure Organisations Warned of Snatch Ransomware Attacks - Security Week

• Healthcare's ransomware defences need more preventative action (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Ransomware vs. resources: A higher education dilemma - eCampus News

Ransomware Victims

• Two Vegas casinos fell victim to cyber attacks, shattering the image of impenetrable casino security | AP News

• Hackers who breached casino giants MGM, Caesars also hit 3 other firms, Okta says | Reuters

• Okta Agent Involved in MGM Resorts Breach, Attackers Claim (darkreading.com)

• Las Vegas casinos face ‘social engineering’ threat amid hacks | Las Vegas Review-Journal (reviewjournal.com)

• Hackers claim it only took a 10-minute phone call to shut down MGM Resorts (engadget.com)

• MGM, Caesars Face Regulatory, Legal Maze After Cyber Incidents (darkreading.com)

• Beazley and AIG likely to face cyber attack losses on casinos (insuranceinsider.com)

• Greater Manchester Police Hack Follows Third-Party Supplier Fumble (darkreading.com)k

• Clorox expects August’s cyber security attack to have a ‘material’ impact on first-quarter results - MarketWatch

• Clorox products in short supply after cyber attack disrupts operations | CNN Business

• Psychiatric hospital near Jerusalem hit by suspected cyber attack | The Times of Israel

• HWL Ebsworth hack: 65 Australian government agencies affected by cyber attack | Crime - Australia | The Guardian

• UMass Medical School Sued Over MOVEit File-Transfer Data Breach (bloomberglaw.com)

• UK IT services provider Agilitas hit by Donut ransomware attack? (techmonitor.ai)

• Cyber attack blamed for outages at hospitals in Illinois, Wisconsin (scrippsnews.com)

• Major trucking software provider confirms ransomware incident (therecord.media)

• Handbag maker Radley London hit by RansomHouse cyber attack? (techmonitor.ai)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Scams, phishing made up over 75% of digital threats in first half of 2023: Report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• HR phishing: self-evaluation questionnaire | Kaspersky official blog

• Phishing victim sends eye-watering $4.5M in USDT to scammer (cointelegraph.com)

• Cyber criminals Combine Phishing and EV Certificates to Deliver Ransomware Payloads (thehackernews.com)

• Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Targeting Chinese Users with ValleyRAT and Gh0st RAT (thehackernews.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• US cyber insurance claims spike amid ransomware, funds transfer fraud, BEC attacks | CSO Online

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Hackers claim it only took a 10-minute phone call to shut down MGM Resorts (engadget.com)

• How social engineering takes advantage of your kindness (engadget.com)

• Las Vegas casinos face ‘social engineering’ threat amid hacks | Las Vegas Review-Journal (reviewjournal.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Hacker Deepfakes Employee's Voice in Phone Call to Breach IT Company | PCMag

• NSA Report: Deepfakes Threaten National Security | MSSP Alert

• Microsoft AI Researchers Accidentally Expose 38 Terabytes of Confidential Data (thehackernews.com)

• WormGPT: AI tool designed to help cyber criminals will let hackers develop attacks on large scale, experts warn | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• Artificial Intelligence Making Cyber Crime Harder to Fight (govtech.com)

• Companies still don’t know how to handle generative AI risks - Help Net Security

• 85% of cyber leaders believe AI will outpace cyber defences (electronicspecifier.com)

• McAfee CEO Greg Johnson on the Cyber security Threat From Generative AI (businessinsider.com)

• Companies Rely on Multiple Methods to Secure Generative AI Tools (darkreading.com)

• Poland investigates OpenAI over privacy concerns | Reuters

2FA/MFA

• Retool blames breach on Google Authenticator MFA cloud sync feature (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malware

• NodeStealer Malware Now Targets Facebook Business Accounts on Multiple Browsers (thehackernews.com)

• Malware distributor Storm-0324 facilitates ransomware access | Microsoft Security Blog

• macOS MetaStealer attacks take aim at business Mac users (appleinsider.com)

• Earth Lusca Employs New Linux Backdoor, Uses Cobalt Strike for Lateral Movement (trendmicro.com)

• A mysterious new Chinese malware strain is targeting large firms across the globe | TechRadar

• New SprySOCKS Linux malware used in cyber espionage attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Bumblebee malware returns in new attacks abusing WebDAV folders (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fake WinRAR exploit PoC drops VenomRAT malware | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• P2PInfect botnet activity surges 600x with stealthier malware variants (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ukrainian Hacker Suspected to be Behind "Free Download Manager" Malware Attack (thehackernews.com)

• ‘Sandman’ hackers backdoor telcos with new LuaDream malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Kaspersky uncovers 3-year old supply chain attack campaign (securitybrief.co.nz)

Mobile

• Dangerous permissions detected in top Android health apps (securityaffairs.com)

• Android security updates: Everything you need to know | Android Central

• Google releases an update for compatible Pixel devices; Android 14 no, September security patch yes - PhoneArena

• Hook: New Android Banking Trojan That Expands on ERMAC's Legacy (thehackernews.com)

• APT36 state hackers infect Android devices using YouTube app clones (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• Bot Attack Costs Double to $86m Annually - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• P2PInfect botnet activity surges 600x with stealthier malware variants (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vast majority of bot attacks emanate from China and Russia | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Pro-Russia hacker group NoName launched a DDoS attack on Canadian airports causing severe disruptions (securityaffairs.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• DDoS 2.0: IoT Sparks New DDoS Alert (thehackernews.com)

• IoT threats in 2023 | Securelist

• Hikvision Intercoms Allow Snooping on Neighbors (darkreading.com)

• No dedicated hardware security for 66% IoT modules: IoT Analytics (securitybrief.co.nz)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Pirated Software Likely Cause of Airbus Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft AI Researchers Accidentally Expose 38 Terabytes of Confidential Data (thehackernews.com)

• Police data breach: 20,000 data points 'at risk' (computing.co.uk)

• CardX released a data leak notification impacting their customers in Thailand (securityaffairs.com)

• Pizza Hut Australia hack: data breach exposes customer information and order details | Australia

• Air Canada says unauthorized group breached employee data, hacked internal system (databreaches.net)

• 83% of IT Security Professionals Say Burnout Causes Data Breaches (prnewswire.com)

• T-Mobile app glitch let users see other people's account info (bleepingcomputer.com)

• T-Mobile Racks Up Third Consumer Data Exposure of 2023 (darkreading.com)Over a Third of UK

• Population Believe Prison is the Most Suitable Punishment for Individuals Responsible for Data Breach - IT Security Guru

• TransUnion says dump of customer data came from third party • The Register

• US govt IT worker accused of leaking top secrets • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Europol lifts the lid on cyber crime tactics (malwarebytes.com)

• One of the FBI’s most wanted hackers is trolling the US government | TechCrunch

• India's biggest tech centres named as cyber crime hotspots • The Register

• Scattered Spider snares 100+ victims, moves into ransomware • The Register

• Financially Motivated Hacks by Chinese-Speaking Actors Surge (inforisktoday.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Multiple crypto raids net Lazarus Group $290M in 15 weeks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• TikTok flooded by 'Elon Musk' cryptocurrency giveaway scams (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Phishing victim sends eye-watering $4.5M in USDT to scammer (cointelegraph.com)

• Mark Cuban loses $870k to a crypto scam: ‘They must have been watching’ – DL News

• How Sam Bankman-Fried's parents enabled his criminal empire | Fortune Crypto

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Organisations failing to proactively address insider cyber risk | Computer Weekly

• HR’s role in cyber security and insider threat mitigation - Hindustan Times

• Insider risks are getting increasingly costly | CSO Online

• Can Users Be Trusted to Skirt Hackers’ Lures? | MSSP Alert

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Brits Lose $9.3bn to Scams in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• cyber criminals: Scams, phishing made up over 75% of digital threats in first half of 2023: Report - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Another $40m Dispersed to Western Union Fraud Victims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• US cyber insurance claims spike amid ransomware, funds transfer fraud, BEC attacks | CSO Online

• TikTok flooded by 'Elon Musk' cryptocurrency giveaway scams (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mark Cuban loses $870k to a crypto scam: ‘They must have been watching’ – DL News

• How Sam Bankman-Fried's parents enabled his criminal empire | Fortune Crypto

• Illegal Betting Ring Used Satellite Tech to Get Scoop on Results - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Payment Card-Skimming Campaign Now Targeting Websites in North America (darkreading.com)

• Court sentences pair for India-based robocall scam • The Register

• Shift from UK Analogue to Digital Phone Lines Breeds New SCAMs - ISPreview UK

• Singapore to detail fraud liability split for bank & victim • The Register

Deepfakes

• Hacker Deepfakes Employee's Voice in Phone Call to Breach IT Company | PCMag

Insurance

• Cyber insurance claims for ransomware reach record high (betanews.com)

• US cyber insurance claims spike amid ransomware, funds transfer fraud, BEC attacks | CSO Online

• Beazley and AIG likely to face cyber attack losses on casinos (insuranceinsider.com)

• Ransomware cyber insurance claims rose by 27% | Security Magazine

Dark Web

• Brits Are in the Dark About the Dark Web - IT Security Guru

• Finnish Authorities Dismantle Notorious PIILOPUOTI Dark Web Drug Marketplace (thehackernews.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Almost Half of Executives Expect Supply Chain Security Challenges in Year Ahead (prnewswire.com)

• Okta Agent Involved in MGM Resorts Breach, Attackers Claim (darkreading.com)

• OODA Loop - The MGM Cyber attack Should be a Wakeup Call for Corporate Boards: Will they hit the snooze alarm again?

• Greater Manchester Police Hack Follows Third-Party Supplier Fumble (darkreading.com)

• High-stakes digital heists: Enterprise software supply chains become new battleground for cyber criminals - SiliconANGLE

• Kaspersky uncovers 3-year old supply chain attack campaign (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Evaluating New Partners and Vendors from an Identity Security Perspective (darkreading.com)

• HWL Ebsworth hack: 65 Australian government agencies affected by cyber attack | Crime - Australia | The Guardian

• How cyber attacks on Taiwan are hurting global business - Raconteur

Software Supply Chain

• Do You Really Trust Your Web Application Supply Chain? (thehackernews.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Cloud to Blame for Almost all Security Vulnerabilities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why Shared Fate is a Better Way to Manage Cloud Risk (darkreading.com)

• Future Cyber security: Hybrid Threats Require Balanced Preparation | Center for Internet and Society (stanford.edu)

• IBM X-Force: Use of compromised credentials darkens cloud security picture | Network World

• Retool blames breach on Google Authenticator MFA cloud sync feature (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mastering Defence-In-Depth and Data Security in the Cloud Era (darkreading.com)

• Understanding the Differences Between On-Premises and Cloud Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• The Rise of the Malicious App (thehackernews.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Future Cyber security: Hybrid Threats Require Balanced Preparation | Center for Internet and Society (stanford.edu)

• Spies working from home despite fears they could be hacked by foreign states (telegraph.co.uk)

Shadow IT

• Shadow IT: Security policies may be a problem - Help Net Security

Identity and Access Management

• CISA Releases New Identity and Access Management Guidance - Security Week

Encryption

• Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users (pogowasright.org)

• EU's quest to fix the internet could become a privacy nightmare | TechRadar

• UK Minister Warns Meta Over End-to-End Encryption - Security Week

• Signal Messenger Introduces PQXDH Quantum-Resistant Encryption (thehackernews.com)

Open Source

• Kaspersky uncovers 3-year old supply chain attack campaign (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Chinese hackers have unleashed a never-before-seen Linux backdoor | Ars Technica

• New SprySOCKS Linux malware used in cyber espionage attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ukrainian Hacker Suspected to be Behind "Free Download Manager" Malware Attack (thehackernews.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Are your end-users' passwords compromised? Here's how to check. (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Why employee login credentials are 'the weakest link in security' (siliconrepublic.com)

Social Media

• TikTok fined 345m euro by watchdog over how it processed children’s data | The Independent

• Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users (pogowasright.org)

• NodeStealer Malware Now Targets Facebook Business Accounts on Multiple Browsers (thehackernews.com)

• APT36 state hackers infect Android devices using YouTube app clones (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Donald Trump Jr.'s X Account Appears To Have Been Hacked (dailydot.com)

• UK Minister Warns Meta Over End-to-End Encryption - Security Week

• TikTok flooded by 'Elon Musk' cryptocurrency giveaway scams (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malvertising

• Probe reveals secret Israeli spyware that infects via ads • The Register

Training, Education and Awareness

• Survey Reveals: 50% Of Respondents Face Cyber attacks Yearly — Employers Blame Employees (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• TikTok fined 345m euro by watchdog over how it processed children’s data | The Independent

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• UK Minister Warns Meta Over End-to-End Encryption - Security Week

• Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users (pogowasright.org)

• EU's quest to fix the internet could become a privacy nightmare | TechRadar

• TikTok Is Hit With $368 Million Fine Under Europe's Strict Data Privacy Rules - Security Week

• MGM, Caesars Face Regulatory, Legal Maze After Cyber Incidents (darkreading.com)

• California Settles With Google Over Location Privacy Practices for $93 Million - Security Week

• Why Cyber security Compliance Standards Still Have A Long Way To Go (forbes.com)

• Adapting to new rule changes in cyber risk management: How the SEC changed the game - SiliconANGLE

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• How to Interpret the 2023 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation Results (darkreading.com)

• How NIST Cyber security Framework 2.0 Tackles Risk Management (securityintelligence.com)

Data Protection

• UK-US Confirm Agreement for Personal Data Transfers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Digital Deficit: 93% of UK Employers Identify An IT Skills Gap Within The UK Job Market - IT Security Guru

• Expert: Three Skills Cyber security Professionals Should Have in 2024 (newswise.com)

• 83% of IT Security Professionals Say Burnout Causes Data Breaches (prnewswire.com)

• IT pros told to accept burnout as normal part of their job - Help Net Security

• Wanted: another 3mn cyber professionals | Financial Times (ft.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• How the FBI Fights Back Against Worldwide Cyber attacks (securityintelligence.com)

• Court sentences pair for India-based robocall scam • The Register

• Finnish Authorities Dismantle Notorious PIILOPUOTI Dark Web Drug Marketplace (thehackernews.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• California Settles With Google Over Location Privacy Practices for $93 Million - Security Week

• TikTok fined 345m euro by watchdog over how it processed children’s data | The Independent

• Researchers used Wi-Fi signals to see through walls. Game-changing breakthrough? Or privacy nightmare waiting to happen? | TechRadar

• Today The UK Parliament Undermined The Privacy, Security, And Freedom Of All Internet Users (pogowasright.org)

• EU's quest to fix the internet could become a privacy nightmare | TechRadar

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• EU warns China on Ukraine disinformation and cyber attacks  – POLITICO

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russian and North Korea artillery deal paves the way for dangerous cyberwar alliance (theconversation.com)

• China, Russia ‘Prepared’ to Use Cyber If War Breaks Out, US Warns (thedefencepost.com)

• International Criminal Court hacked amid Russia probe • The Register

• Portuguese company detects 961 pro-Russian cyber attacks in Western Europe – EURACTIV.com

• Vast majority of bot attacks emanate from China and Russia | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• One of the FBI’s most wanted hackers is trolling the US government | TechCrunch

• Pro-Russia hacker group NoName launched a DDoS attack on Canadian airports causing severe disruptions (securityaffairs.com)

• Senators want clarity from Pentagon on Ukraine Starlink access fiasco | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian allegedly smuggled US weapons electronics to Moscow • The Register

China

• Chinese Cyber Power Bigger Than the Rest of the World Combined - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China, Russia ‘Prepared’ to Use Cyber If War Breaks Out, US Warns (thedefencepost.com)

• FBI chief says China has bigger hacking program than the competition combined | Reuters

• EU warns China on Ukraine disinformation and cyber attacks  – POLITICO

• Chinese Spies Infected Dozens of Networks With Thumb Drive Malware | WIRED

• Chinese hackers have unleashed a never-before-seen Linux backdoor | Ars Technica

• Trouble brews after embassy worker finds spy bug in China teapot (thetimes.co.uk)

• Vast majority of bot attacks emanate from China and Russia | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• A mysterious new Chinese malware strain is targeting large firms across the globe | TechRadar

• Financially Motivated Hacks by Chinese-Speaking Actors Surge (inforisktoday.com)

• Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Targeting Chinese Users with ValleyRAT and Gh0st RAT (thehackernews.com)

• Growing Chinese Tech Influence in Africa Spurs 'Soft Power' Concerns (darkreading.com)

• How cyber attacks on Taiwan are hurting global business - Raconteur

• Multi-year Chinese APT Campaign Targets South Korean Academic, Government, and Political Entities | Recorded Future

• DoD: China's ICS Cyber Onslaught Aimed at Gaining Kinetic Warfare Advantage (darkreading.com)

Iran

• Microsoft: 'Peach Sandstorm' Cyber attacks Target Defence, Pharmaceutical Orgs (darkreading.com)

• Iranian state-backed hackers target global satellite, defence, and pharma companies (databreaches.net)

• Pro-Iranian Attackers Target Israeli Railroad Network (darkreading.com)

North Korea

• Multiple crypto raids net Lazarus Group $290M in 15 weeks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian and North Korea artillery deal paves the way for dangerous cyberwar alliance (theconversation.com)

• How a North Korean cyber group impersonated a Washington D.C. analyst (cnbc.com)

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• New Research Finds Cyber attacks Against Critical Infrastructure on the Rise, State-affiliated Groups Responsible for Nearly 60% | Business Wire

• Operation Rusty Flag: Azerbaijan Targeted in New Rust-Based Malware Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• APT36 state hackers infect Android devices using YouTube app clones (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OODA Loop - Is Future Escalation in Cyber Conflict a Foregone Conclusion?

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Vulnerability Management

• KEV Catalog Reaches 1000, What Does That Mean and What Have We Learned  | CISA

• Vulnerability management, its impact and threat modeling methodologies (securityintelligence.com)

• How SBOMs Help Uncover Vulnerabilities In Enterprise Applications (forbes.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Fortinet Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products | CISA

• Critical Trend Micro vulnerability exploited in the wild (CVE-2023-41179) - Help Net Security

• iOS 17.0.1 re-patches 3 actively exploited security flaws - 9to5Mac

• Nearly 12,000 Juniper Firewalls Found Vulnerable to Recently Disclosed RCE Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• If you're still using WinRAR, watch out for this dangerous exploit - and please stop | TechRadar

• GitLab Releases Urgent Security Patches for Critical Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft releases firmware update for all Surface devices | TechSpot

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Tools and Controls

• Expensive Investigations Drive Surging Data Breach Costs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Enterprise networks are evolving; your security architecture needs to evolve, too (betanews.com)

• Think Your MFA and PAM Solutions Protect You? Think Again (thehackernews.com)

• Do You Really Trust Your Web Application Supply Chain? (thehackernews.com)

• Regulatory activity forces compliance leaders to spend more on GRC tools - Help Net Security

• Going Up! How to Handle Rising Cyber security Costs (securityintelligence.com)

• Shadow IT: Security policies may be a problem - Help Net Security

• Balancing budget and system security: Approaches to risk tolerance - Help Net Security

• How NIST Cyber security Framework 2.0 Tackles Risk Management (securityintelligence.com)

• How Choosing Authentication Is a Business-Critical Decision (darkreading.com)

• Understanding the Differences Between On-Premises and Cloud Cyber security (darkreading.com)

• Adapting to new rule changes in cyber risk management: How the SEC changed the game - SiliconANGLE

• What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)? (techtarget.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• QBE Mid-sized Business Risk Report | QBE US

• 2023 Cyber Risk and Resiliency Report: How CIOs Are Dueling Disaster (informationweek.com)

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Other News

• Why automakers are worried your car is the next target for cyber attacks - CityAM

• Consumers are being bombarded with billions of threats every year | TechRadar

• Bad torts: Law firms feel the heat from rising cyber threats (synack.com)

• 8 new threats to Mac security in 2023 - TechFruit

• SME Cyber Security – Time for a New Approach? - IT Security Guru

• Time to Demand IT Security by Design and Default - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Australia’s new cyber security strategy: Build “cyber shields” around the country | CSO Online

• Home Office sets up cyber security for Emergency Services Network | UKAuthority

• Cyber security Tops Business Risks Challenging European Auditors (bloomberglaw.com)

• Energy Is the Most-Targeted Sector for Cyber attacks: Here’s What to Do (powermag.com)

• Cyber on the battlefield is about more than IT - Nextgov/FCW

• From national threats to click-happy employees: Decoding the multifaceted cyber security landscape - SiliconANGLE

• Hidden dangers loom for subsea cables, the invisible infrastructure of the internet - Help Net Security

• Every Network Is Now an OT Network. Can Your Security Keep Up? - Security Week

• Pentagon's 2023 Cyber Strategy Focuses on Helping Allies - Security Week

• Singapore's retail banks take steps to enhance cyber security (finextra.com)

• Cyber pros warn Congress that government shutdown will create open season for cyber attacks - Washington Times

• Experts fret over fate of CISA cyber programs as shutdown clouds loom | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Strong compliance management is crucial for fintech-bank partnerships - Help Net Security

• Rail Travel Free in Estonia as Cyber Attack Disrupts Ticketing (eturbonews.com)

• Five easy wins in cyber security | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Dairy industry teams with cyber security group to beef up defences | Food Dive

• Securing Eurovision’s online voting system against cyber attacks (computerweekly.com)

• GCHQ chief takes job in private security company | The Independent

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 15 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Overconfident Organisations Prone to Cyber Breaches

A study found that 95% of UK enterprises were very confident or somewhat confident that they do not have gaps in their security controls, yet despite this, 69% have fallen victim to a cyber attack in the last two years. One of the reasons given for this false sense of confidence was the belief that more tools meant more security; worryingly, 45% of organisations struggled with the implementation of tools due to the need for expertise. Attackers are constantly adapting their tactics to bypass the security controls that most organisations implement. It is difficult for IT teams and business leaders to maintain an objective assessment of how effective their chosen security controls are against today’s attackers. Black Arrow provides the impartial and expert advice that businesses require, including a free initial assessment, with no vested interest other than helping our clients achieve pragmatic and proportionate security.

Source: [IT Security Guru]

Board Members Struggling to Understand Cyber Risks

Board members frequently struggle to understand cyber risks, putting businesses at higher risk of attacks, a new report has found. The report noted that Board interest is being piqued as a result of growing media reporting of cyber incidents, a heightened Board focus on operational resilience post-pandemic, investor pressure and a tightening regulatory environment.

Worryingly, despite the increase in interest and increased internal and external focus on cyber risk, a number of Board-level respondents reported that they felt scared or embarrassed to ask their CISO for fear of exposing their lack of understanding.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

Cyber Criminals are Targeting Top Executives and Could be Using Sensitive Information to Extort Them

Senior executives in today's evolving work landscape face growing cyber security threats, including extortion and device theft. The rise of ‘workcations’, which blend work and leisure, has blurred professional and personal boundaries, exposing leaders to heightened risks, and necessitating a strong focus on cyber security.

These executives are particularly attractive targets due to their access to critical information and decision-making authority. To protect their organisations, they must prioritise robust security measures, such as stronger passwords, anti-theft safeguards for devices, multi factor authentication, and, where appropriate or necessary, the use of virtual private networks. As guardians of their businesses' well-being, executives carry the responsibility of upholding stringent cyber security practices, ensuring that the benefits of remote work do not compromise their organisations' security.

Source: [Fortune]

Cyber Attacks Reach Fever Pitch in Q2 2023

A report has found the global landscape of increasing digitisation, political unrest, the emergence of AI and the widespread adoption of work from home, have all contributed to an increase in attacks, which have increased 314% in the first half of this year compared the first half of 2022.  Rather worryingly, between the first and second quarter this year, there was a 387% increase in activity.

Source: [Data Centre & Network News]

Ransomware Attacks Hit Record Levels in UK as More Companies Fail to Tackle Growing Threats

A report from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK found ransomware attacks on UK organisations reached record levels last year, impacting over 700 organisations. This isn’t the true count though, as it does not factor the overwhelming majority of victims who do not report attacks, so the true number will be many times this. This increase comes as reports are finding that UK companies are struggling to address the growing threats, and this includes a lack of understanding at the Board level. In fact, 59% of directors say their Board is not very effective in understanding the drivers and impacts of cyber risks for their organisation.

Sources: [The Record] [The Fintech Times] [Financial Times]

Microsoft Warns of More Attacks as Ransomware Spreads Through Teams Phishing

Microsoft says an initial access broker known for working with ransomware groups has recently switched to Microsoft Teams phishing attacks to breach corporate networks. Referring to one of the groups, Microsoft said “In July 2023, Storm-0324 began using phishing lures sent over Teams with malicious links leading to a malicious SharePoint-hosted file,". This tactic has also been used by Russian Nation State Actors.

Source: [Bleeping Computer]

Europol - Financial Crime Makes “Billions” and Impacts “Millions”

The European policing alliance’s first ever European Financial and Economic Crime Threat Assessment was compiled from “operational insights and strategic intelligence” contributed by member states and Europol partners. The assessment highlighted a criminal economy worth billions of euros and that impacts millions of victims each year.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

Almost One in Three Parents Have Never Spoken to Their Children About Cyber Security

A recent report found that 30% of parents have never spoken to their children about cyber security. Additionally, over 40% of parents, who themselves admitted that they didn’t know how to create strong passwords, still give their child access to their mobile phones and almost a third (32%) give them access to their computers. By doing so, parents are not only putting their children at risk, but inadvertently, themselves and the organisations they work for as well.

Black Arrow offers a range of training, including formal and informal training, for individuals, employees and business leaders. Contact us today for a free initial conversation.

Source: [IT Security Guru]

Hackers are Dropping USB Drives Outside Buildings to Target Networks

A mid-year cyber security report found that along with the explosive growth in AI, bad actors are still using tried and tested, but unfortunately still very effective, tactics such as dropping USB drives outside target buildings in the hope that an employee will pick them up and plug them into devices connected to the corporate network. Many times, these actors are banking on their targets lacking protections against these attacks. Think about your organisation, would someone plug a device they found in the street into their work computer out of curiosity? Does your organisation have controls in place to prevent this type of attack?

Source: [Tech Republic]

Data Theft is Now the No. 1 Cyber Security Threat Keeping Execs Awake at Night

According to a recent survey, 55% of IT decision-makers cited data theft as their main concern, with ransomware placed third, after phishing. This comes as ransomware attackers are moving towards more exfiltration-based techniques. Exfiltration creates a significant number of issues for an organisation including the regulatory requirements of telling customers, to not knowing what data has been exfiltrated.

Source: [Information Security Buzz]

If You Didn’t Change Your Passwords After the LastPass Data Breach, Do It Now

Criminals have had plenty of time to use encryption keys stolen in the 2022 LastPass hack to open vaults, and there has been a reported increase in the number of vaults that have been cracked. For those attackers that haven’t been able to crack your password, they're under no time constraints.

Whilst successful attackers may not directly target your email accounts, PayPal wallets, or banks, these assets can be packaged and sold to other criminal third parties. If any of the passwords stored in a LastPass vault prior to 2022 are still in use, you should change them immediately.

Source: [Make Use Of]

Cloud Vulnerabilities Surge Nearly 200% as Cloud Credentials Become the New Hot Ticket on the Dark Web

IBM tracked 632 new cloud-related vulnerabilities (CVEs) between June 2022 and June 2023, a 194% increase from the previous year, according to a new report. The latest haul of new CVEs brings the total number tracked by the vendor to 3,900; a number that has doubled since 2019. Similarly, a separate report from Palo Alto Networks found that 80% of security exposures exist in the cloud.

IBM highlighted that this has led to a number of cloud credentials being actively sold on the dark web, in some cases for the same price as a dozen doughnuts. These credentials are believed to account for almost 90% of goods and services for sale on the dark web.

Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [The Register] [TechTarget]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• More UK companies failing to tackle cyber security, reveals new report - The Intermediary - Latest UK mortgage news

• Deputy PM urges UK plc not to lose focus on cyber | Computer Weekly

• Cyber criminals are now targeting top executives–and could be using sensitive information to extort them | Fortune

• Why Data Theft Is Now The #1 Cyber Security Threat Keeping IT Pros Awake At Night (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Overconfident Organisations Prone to Cyber Breaches, Study Finds - IT Security Guru

• Global companies to hike security spending as threats rise - survey | Reuters

• CISOs need to be forceful to gain leverage in the boardroom - Help Net Security

• Board Members Struggling to Understand Cyber Risks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Board And CISO Disconnect On Cyber Security Preparedness 'Rings Alarm Bells'– Expert Comments (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Don't Leave Cyber Security to Chance, the Hidden Risk when Staff Depart - IT Security Guru

• Evaluating & Managing Service Provider Security Risks (in 2023) | UpGuard

• Cyber Security risks dampen corporate enthusiasm for tech investments - Help Net Security

• CISOs and Board Reporting – an Ongoing Problem - SecurityWeek

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware attacks hit record level in UK, according to neglected official data (therecord.media)

• Ransomware tracker: The latest figures [September 2023] (therecord.media)

• Ransomware access broker steals accounts via Microsoft Teams phishing (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware thrives as cyber security remains lax, says UK report | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Rust-Written 3AM Ransomware: A Sneak Peek into a New Malware Family (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware and the cyber crime ecosystem - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Ransomware in top three threats for 65% of organisations | Security Magazine

• The 10 biggest ransomware attacks in history | TechTarget

• Sophos on the State of Ransomware - GovInfoSecurity

• TrickBot & Conti Sanctions for CISOs & Board Members (trendmicro.com)

• Don’t focus on ransomware variants, say UK’s national cyber and crime agencies (therecord.media)

• Cuba Ransomware Gang Continues to Evolve With Dangerous Backdoor (darkreading.com)

• Recent Rhysida Attacks Show Focus on Healthcare By Ransomware Actors (darkreading.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Greater Manchester Police officers' details targeted in 'ransomware attack' | Breaking News News | Sky News

• A phone call to helpdesk was likely all it took to hack MGM | Ars Technica

• MGM Resorts cyber attack: Casinos warned to be on 'high alert' as £11bn firm remains crippled | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• MGM, Caesars File SEC Disclosures on Cyber Security Incidents (darkreading.com)

• Caesars paid millions in ransom to cybercrime group prior to MGM hack – NECN

• Group in Casino Hacks Skilled at Duping Workers for Access (1) (bloomberglaw.com)

• Ransomware tracker: The latest figures [September 2023] (therecord.media)

• IT Systems Encrypted After UK School Hit By Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware Attack Wipes Out Four Months of Sri Lankan Government Data - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Rhysida gang claims to have hacked three more US hospitals (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware crew claims to have hit Save The Children • The Register

• Shell says Australian unit BG Group hit by MOVEit cyber security breach | Reuters

• Dutch football association pays ransom to Russian cyber criminals – EURACTIV.com

• Cyber security incident affects services at The Weather Network | CFJC Today Kamloops

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• New Microsoft Teams Phishing Campaign Targets Corporate Employees - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Email forwarding flaws enable attackers to impersonate high-profile domains - Help Net Security

• Attackers Abuse Google Looker Studio to Evade DMARC, Email Security (darkreading.com)

• Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Deploying Agent Tesla, OriginBotnet, and RedLine Clipper (thehackernews.com)

• $24 Million Worth of Crypto Wiped out Overnight in Massive Phishing Attack

• Thousands of Microsoft 365 accounts under threat from W3LL phishing kit | TechRadar

• Ransomware access broker steals accounts via Microsoft Teams phishing (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Facebook Messenger phishing wave targets 100K business accounts per week (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Journalists, authors, and other writers targeted by phishing emails | TechRadar

• Associated Press Stylebook Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Following Data Breach - SecurityWeek

• Windows Systems Targeted in Multi-Stage Malware Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How should SMBs navigate the phishing minefield? - Help Net Security

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Understanding the dangers of social engineering - Help Net Security

• How to Avoid Smishing Attacks Targeting Subscription Service Users (securityintelligence.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber Criminals Feasting On Artificial Intelligence (forbes.com)

• Jen Easterly and Sami Khoury: Threats From China, Russia, AI Top US, Canada Cyber Agenda (foreignpolicy.com)

• ChatGPT Jailbreaking Forums Proliferate in Dark Web Communities (darkreading.com)

• Cloud security in the era of artificial intelligence (securityintelligence.com)

• Deepfake cyberthreats keep rising. Here's how to prevent them - SiliconANGLE

2FA/MFA

• Organisation Still Aren't Adopting Enterprisewide Multifactor Authentication — What's the Holdup? (securityintelligence.com)

Malware

• Microsoft Teams phishing attack pushes DarkGate malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Millions of Facebook Business Accounts Bitten by Python Malware (darkreading.com)

• Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Deploying Agent Tesla, OriginBotnet, and RedLine Clipper (thehackernews.com)

• Free Download Manager site redirected Linux users to malware for years (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Windows Systems Targeted in Multi-Stage Malware Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Intel-based Macs under attack from new MetaStealer malware — how to stay safe | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Protecting Your Microsoft IIS Servers Against Malware Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• 3 Strategies to Defend Against Resurging Infostealers (darkreading.com)

• New HijackLoader Modular Malware Loader Making Waves in the Cybercrime World (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian hackers backdoor 34 orgs with new Sponsor malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 'Steal-It' Campaign Uses OnlyFans Models as Lures (darkreading.com)

• Sponsor with batch-filed whiskers: Ballistic Bobcat’s scan and strike backdoor (welivesecurity.com)

• Cybersecurity alert: Malware hidden in Microsoft Teams messages targeting users - OnMSFT.com

• Iranian Cyberspies Deployed New Backdoor to 34 Organizations - SecurityWeek

Mobile

• 'Evil Telegram' Spyware Campaign Infects 60K+ Mobile Users (darkreading.com)

• France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels - BBC News

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Massive DDoS attack on US financial company thwarted by cyber firm (therecord.media)

• Akamai prevented largest DDoS attack on a US financial company (securityaffairs.com)

• After Microsoft and X, Hackers Launch DDoS Attack on Telegram - SecurityWeek

• Yukon gov't website back after cyber attack, Nunavut gov't site still down | CBC News

Internet of Things – IoT

• Co-op to ban Chinese CCTV after security risk warnings (telegraph.co.uk)

• Wyze security camera owners report seeing strangers' camera feeds | Mashable

• Hackers Are Salivating Over Electric Cars - The Atlantic

• Hackers will hack anything — including your sex toys - The Hustle

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Overconfident Organisations Prone to Cyber Breaches, Study Finds - IT Security Guru

• LastPass Hackers Cracking Password Vaults - Experts Warns - Cyber Kendra

• Dymocks Booksellers suffers data breach impacting 836k customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lessons from the DuoLingo data breach – Digital Journal

• How Do Hackers Sell and Trade Your Data in the Metaverse? (makeuseof.com)

• Capita class action: 2,000 sign up in wake of data theft • The Register

• Airbus data leaked via infected customer computer • The Register

• Threat actor leaks sensitive data belonging to Airbus (securityaffairs.com)

• UK businesses could escape data breach fines if they engage with NCSC over cyber incidents (therecord.media)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cyber criminals are now targeting top executives–and could be using sensitive information to extort them | Fortune

• Europol: Financial Crime Makes “Billions” and Impacts “Million" - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How Next-Gen Threats Are Taking a Page From APTs - SecurityWeek

• How Do Hackers Sell and Trade Your Data in the Metaverse? (makeuseof.com)

• Influx of Russian fraudsters gives Turkish cyber crime hub new lease of life | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Europol's spotlight report sheds light on evolving cyber attacks (amlintelligence.com)

• Ransomware in the underworld. (thecyberwire.com)

• Cyber criminals Use Webex Brand to Target Corporate Users (darkreading.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Cyber Criminals Weaponizing Legitimate Advanced Installer Tool in Crypto-Mining Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Top blockchain Cyber security threats to watch out for (att.com)

• $24 Million Worth of Crypto Wiped out Overnight in Massive Phishing Attack

• Blockchain Security Firm Unveils APT Attack by Lazarus Group - DailyCoin

• Hackers steal $53 million worth of cryptocurrency from CoinEx (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cryptoqueen: Accomplice jailed for 20 years for OneCoin financial scam - BBC News

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Human behaviour as both threat and defence | Professional Security

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Latest fraud schemes targeting the payments ecosystem - Help Net Security

• Cryptoqueen: Accomplice jailed for 20 years for OneCoin financial scam - BBC News

• Glasgow firm issues warning following recent cyber attack | Glasgow Times

Impersonation Attacks

• Email forwarding flaws enable attackers to impersonate high-profile domains - Help Net Security

• Cyber criminals Use Webex Brand to Target Corporate Users (darkreading.com)

Deepfakes

• Deepfake cyber threats keep rising. Here's how to prevent them - SiliconANGLE

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• TrickBot & Conti Sanctions for CISOs & Board Members (trendmicro.com)

Insurance

• Insurance industry grapples with rising cyber crime threat, climate change concerns: PwC - Reinsurance News

• Cyber security is top insurance concern as global attacks increase - Insurance Post (postonline.co.uk)

Dark Web

• Dark Web Threats to Businesses - DevX

• ChatGPT Jailbreaking Forums Proliferate in Dark Web Communities (darkreading.com)

• Cloud credentials are the hot ticket item on the dark web • The Register

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Evaluating & Managing Service Provider Security Risks (in 2023) | UpGuard

• Lazarus Group Targets macOS in Supply Chain Assault - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Airbus Cyber Attack: Over 3,200 Vendor Data Accessed by Hackers (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Capita class action: 2,000 sign up in wake of data theft • The Register

• The rise and evolution of supply chain attacks - Help Net Security

• A 2-Week Prescription for Eliminating Supply Chain Threats (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• New Microsoft Teams Phishing Campaign Targets Corporate Employees - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Thousands of Microsoft 365 accounts under threat from W3LL phishing kit | TechRadar

• Finding Your Way in Cloud Security - SecurityWeek

• 7 Steps to Kickstart Your SaaS Security Program (thehackernews.com)

• Cloud storage security: What's new in the threat matrix | Microsoft Security Blog

• Cloud CVEs Surge 200% in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cloud credentials are the hot ticket item on the dark web • The Register

• Palo Alto Networks: 80% of security exposures exist in cloud | TechTarget

• Cloud security in the era of artificial intelligence (securityintelligence.com)

Containers

• Kubernetes Admins Warned to Patch Clusters Against New RCE Vulns (darkreading.com)

• Alert: New Kubernetes Vulnerabilities Enable Remote Attacks on Windows Endpoints (thehackernews.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Root Admin User: When Do Common Usernames Pose a Threat? (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• Companies need to rethink how they implement identity security - Help Net Security

• Enterprises persist with outdated authentication strategies - Help Net Security

• Why Identity Management Is the Key to Stopping APT Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

Encryption

• OpenSSL 1.1.1 reaches end of life... unless you can pay up • The Register

• When a Quantum Computer Is Able to Break Our Encryption, It Won’t Be a Secret | Lawfare (lawfaremedia.org)

API

• API Expanding Attack Surfaces: 74% Reporting Multiple Breaches – Approov Comments (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How to Prevent API Breaches: A Guide to Robust Security (thehackernews.com)

• Elevating API security to reinforce cyber defence - Help Net Security

• Machine Learning is a Must for API Security - IT Security Guru

Open Source

• Free Download Manager site redirected Linux users to malware for years (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Linux Malware! Read This If You Use Free Download Manager (itsfoss.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• If You Didn’t Change Your Passwords After the LastPass Data Breach, Do It Now (makeuseof.com)

• Root Admin User: When Do Common Usernames Pose a Threat? (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• New WiKI-Eve attack can steal numerical passwords over WiFi (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Wi-Fi radio signal data can be used 'to predict passwords' • The Register

• Cloud credentials are the hot ticket item on the dark web • The Register

• Iranian hackers breach defence orgs in password spray attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Facebook Messenger phishing wave targets 100K business accounts per week (bleepingcomputer.com)

• After Microsoft and X, Hackers Launch DDoS Attack on Telegram - SecurityWeek

• How Do Hackers Sell and Trade Your Data in the Metaverse? (makeuseof.com)

• Millions of Facebook Business Accounts Bitten by Python Malware (darkreading.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• How to Transform Security Awareness Into Security Culture (darkreading.com)

• Elevating Cyber Awareness: A Strategic Approach (informationweek.com)

• How end-user phishing training works (and why it doesn’t) (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Great security training is a real challenge - Help Net Security

Digital Transformation

• Was the digital transformation worth it security-wise? (securityintelligence.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Almost One in Three Parents Have Never Spoken to Their Children About Cyber Security- IT Security Guru

• Parents, children and cyber security: Time for a big conversation – Digital Journal

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• How To Answer The General Counsel’s Questions After A Cyber Incident (forbes.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC Issues Final Rules on Cyber Security Disclosures | Kelley Drye & Warren LLP - JDSupra

• Cyber risk is business risk, and the SEC knows it (fdd.org)

• What Makes an Incident ‘Material’? | Calloquy, PBC - JDSupra

• The International Criminal Court will now prosecute cyberwar crimes | Ars Technica

• Preparing For Cyber Security Disclosures Set For Public Companies (forbes.com)

• UK ICO and NCSC Set to Share Anonymized Threat Intelligence - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One Year After the Colonial Pipeline Attack, Regulation Is Still a Problem (securityintelligence.com)

• UK businesses could escape data breach fines if they engage with NCSC over cyber incidents (therecord.media)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Understanding the HITRUST CSF and its Benefits | UpGuard

Backup and Recovery

• How to develop a cloud backup ransomware protection strategy | TechTarget

• How To Backup Data From NAS: A Complete Guide (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Data Protection

• UK businesses could escape data breach fines if they engage with NCSC over cyber incidents (therecord.media)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Cyber Security Skills Gap: Roadies & Gamers Are Untapped Talent (darkreading.com)

• Three ways to overcome cyber security staff shortages (securitybrief.co.nz)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Wyze security camera owners report seeing strangers' camera feeds | Mashable

• Your Car Is Spying On You, From Your Sex Life To How Fast You Go | Carscoops

• Google Chrome just rolled out a new way to track you and serve ads. Here's what you need to know (theconversation.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Jen Easterly and Sami Khoury: Threats From China, Russia, AI Top US, Canada Cyber Agenda (foreignpolicy.com)

China

• Risk & Repeat: Big questions remain on Storm-0558 attacks | TechTarget

• Parliamentary researcher ‘who spied for China’ arrested | UK news | The Guardian

• Arrest of alleged spy raises questions around UK’s China policy | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Microsoft, Apple versus China, spyware actors (techrepublic.com)

• Co-op to ban Chinese CCTV after security risk warnings (telegraph.co.uk)

• Powerful Ethnic Militia in Myanmar Repatriates 1,200 Chinese Suspected of Involvement in Cyber Crime - SecurityWeek

• Spies, Hackers, Informants: How China Snoops on the West - SecurityWeek

• Jen Easterly and Sami Khoury: Threats From China, Russia, AI Top US, Canada Cyber Agenda (foreignpolicy.com)

• China caught with its malware in another nation's power grid • The Register

• China Threat Recap: A Deeper Insight (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• As China steps up cyber security enforcement, smaller businesses are feeling the heat | South China Morning Post (scmp.com)

• British and Chinese academic research collaborations quadruple despite security fears (telegraph.co.uk)

Iran

• Iranian hackers backdoor 34 orgs with new Sponsor malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ‘Scan-and-exploit’ campaign snares unpatched Exchange servers | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Iranian Nation-State Actors Employ Password Spray Attacks Targeting Multiple Sectors (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• Lazarus Group Targets macOS in Supply Chain Assault - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Blockchain Security Firm Unveils APT Attack by Lazarus Group - DailyCoin

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• ‘Cyber attacks lower warfare bar, rules key’ | Mint (livemint.com)

• Polish election questioned after Pegasus spyware used to smear opposition, investigation finds | Computer Weekly

• How Next-Gen Threats Are Taking a Page From APTs - SecurityWeek

• How Cyber Attacks Are Transforming Warfare (thehackernews.com)

• OODA Loop - The ICC Will Now Investigate Cyber War Crimes

• The Double-Edged Sword of Cyber Espionage (darkreading.com)

• Why Identity Management Is the Key to Stopping APT Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Severe vulnerability found in all browsers, and it's being attacked | PCWorldOvercoming the Rising Threat of Session Hijacking (darkreading.com)

• Cloud CVEs Surge 200% in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• With 0-days hitting Chrome, iOS, and dozens more this month, is no software safe? | Ars Technica

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft September 2023 Patch Tuesday fixes 2 zero-days, 59 flaws (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Unpatched Cisco ASA flaw exploited by attackers (CVE-2023-20269) - Help Net Security

• Severe vulnerability found in all browsers, and it's being attacked | PCWorld

• Google Rushes to Patch Critical Chrome Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild - Update Now (thehackernews.com)

• After Apple and Google, Mozilla Also Patches Zero-Day Exploited for Spyware Delivery - SecurityWeek

• CISA Adds Critical RocketMQ Bug to Must-Patch List - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Notepad++ 8.5.7 released with fixes for four security vulnerabilities (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adobe warns of critical Acrobat and Reader zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Alert: New Kubernetes Vulnerabilities Enable Remote Attacks on Windows Endpoints (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco warns of VPN zero-day exploited by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cloud CVEs Surge 200% in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Global companies to hike security spending as threats rise - survey | Reuters

• Don't Leave Cyber Security to Chance, the Hidden Risk when Staff Depart - IT Security Guru

• What Is XDR and Why It's Changing the Security Industry - ReadWrite

• Organisations Still Aren't Adopting Enterprisewide Multifactor Authentication — What's the Holdup? (securityintelligence.com)

• Remote Desktop Protocol exposures leave 85% of organisations vulnerable to attack - SiliconANGLE

• How CISOs Can Effectively Manage Firewall Vulnerabilities | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• The Dark Web Is Expanding (As Is the Value of Monitoring It) (darkreading.com)

• How to Prevent API Breaches: A Guide to Robust Security (thehackernews.com)

• Elevating Cyber Awareness: A Strategic Approach (informationweek.com)

• Great security training is a real challenge - Help Net Security

• Companies need to rethink how they implement identity security - Help Net Security

• Enterprises persist with outdated authentication strategies - Help Net Security

• Why Identity Management Is the Key to Stopping APT Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Easy Configuration Fixes Can Protect Your Server from Attack (securityintelligence.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Ransomware and the Cyber Crime ecosystem - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Sophos on the State of Ransomware - GovInfoSecurity

• The State of Pentesting 2023 Report | Cobalt

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Other News

• Record number of cyber attacks targeting critical IT infrastructure reported to UK gov’t this year (therecord.media)

• The Weaponization of Operational Technology (securityintelligence.com)

• ICS Computers in Western Countries See Increasing Attacks: Report - SecurityWeek

• Cyber Trends: The Gunpowder of the Twenty-First Century (e-ir.info)

• The 9 Top Technology Trends That Are Shaping the Future of Cyber Security (makeuseof.com)

• Some of TOP universities wouldn’t pass cyber security exam: left websites vulnerable - Security Affairs

• The Cyber Security Risks In Education Cannot Be Ignored (forbes.com)

• A new Repojacking attack exposed over 4,000 GitHub repositories to hack (securityaffairs.com)

• Cyber attacks reach fever pitch in Q2 2023 - Data Centre & Network News (dcnnmagazine.com)

• Rising OT/ICS cyber security incidents reveal alarming trend - Help Net Security

• Building cyber resiliency in public services | UKAuthority

• Brits happy to break cyber law if the price is right | Computer Weekly

• Chilling Lack of Cyber Experts in UK Government: Parliamentary Inquiry - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• British Military Hit by Six Million Cyber Attacks in 2022 (thedefensepost.com)

• Trustwave report on hospitality industry security threats | Cyber Magazine

• Cyber security impact on construction, engineering projects (csemag.com)

• Cyber criminals come for schools — and schools aren’t ready (hechingerreport.org)

• Professional Sports: The Next Frontier of Cyber Security? (darkreading.com)

• How Dangerous Is the Cyber Attack Risk to Transportation? (securityintelligence.com)

• Poison in the Water: The Physical Repercussions of IoT Security Threats (securityintelligence.com)

• Australia Inc roiled by raft of cyber attacks since late 2022 | Reuters

• Death by digital: attacks on healthcare put people at risk (synack.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 08 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

More Than Half of UK Organisations Know They Aren’t Well Protected

According to a recent report, just 49% of business leaders report their organisation is well or very well protected. Cyber security featured as the third highest-rated business priority, with increasing revenues and reducing costs forming the top two. One of the ways an organisation can reduce cost is to outsource, and 63% of respondents agreed, reporting that they wanted to work with an external cyber security partner to improve their security.

Even if you’re in the 49% of organisations that believes it is well protected, this can be a dangerous self-assessment based on a lack of experience and impartiality. Business leaders need independent assurance to ensure their security controls are appropriate and in line with the organisation’s risk appetite. It is essential to dispel assumptions, by investigating your security before an attacker does.

Black Arrow Cyber Consulting offers a free, no-obligation, introductory consultation to help you gain an unbiased perspective on how your current security approach could withstand an attacker. We help our clients to know the questions to ask of their external or internal IT provider, and how to leverage other security controls from existing resources.

Sources: [IT Security Guru][Beta News]

Generative AI Considered a Security Risk by 60% of Board Members. How Organisations Can Prepare

A recent report conducted by Proofpoint found that 60% of board members consider generative AI a security risk.

The rapid development and adoption of AI is double-edged in nature. Whilst it can yield positive benefits if used safely and responsibility within organisations, AI is also being used to great effect by malicious actors with AI abuse growing beyond phishing to increasing the efficacy of multistage attacks, being used to generated malware, and carrying out different types of social engineering attacks.

For this reason Boards and senior leaders are right to be concerned and should ensure appropriate measures are being taken.

Sources: [TheNationalNews] [SCMagazine] [CyberSecurityNews]

Further reading: [BusinessCloud.co.uk] [WIRED UK] [Help Net Security]

Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril

According to a UK Government report, a quarter of businesses don’t regard cyber incident response skills as essential and almost half said they weren’t confident they could put together an incident response plan. This led to 41% saying they were not very or not at all confident that they would be able to deal with a cyber security breach or attack.

Unfortunately, this leaves many organisations in a situation where they will have to learn the hard way about the implications of not having an incident response plan. A separate government report found that 37% of those hit by a cyber attack said it impacted operations and a quarter experienced negative consequences such as loss of money or data.

One of the ways organisations can circumnavigate their lack of confidence in their ability to construct an incident response plan is to use cyber security experts to construct it. 

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

Blame Culture: An Organisation’s Ticking Time Bomb

An organisation’s attitude and responses to cyber security are almost as important as the actions taken to prevent cyber attacks. “Lessons learnt” are a common feature within mature and cyber resilient organisations. Incidents are a matter of when not if, and it is important that organisations know how to react.

Taking the example of a phishing attack, it is easy to blame the employee who opened it, potentially firing them. With phishing simulations, it is equally easy to discipline an employee who fell for it. The problem is, neither of these focus on what can be learned, such as why the employee fell for it in the first place. Additionally, there is the potential that employees become reserved or reticent about reporting potential events, due to the fear of being disciplined. This can be the difference between an organisation having an early detection of an incident and being able to invoke incident response plans sooner, or leaving the attacker in the system doing damage for longer before being reported.

Source: [ IT Security Guru]

Spend to Save: CFOs and Cyber Security Investment

For chief financial officers (CFOs), the increasing impact of data breaches creates a paradox. While more spending is necessary to combat these challenges, this spending isn’t directly tied to profit. Instead, cyber security spending is all about return on investment.

When looking at spending, CFOs need to keep in mind that the total cost of a breach is more than the initial currency loss: there is the knock-on effect of reputation and losses in customers. But it is not a case of spending more to protect more; spending must be tailored to the organisation and prioritise in terms of business needs.

Source: [Security Intelligence]

Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets for Attackers, Including Nation-State Actors

An increasing number of attacks by nation-state attackers are targeting cyber security tools in their campaigns. This includes the recent attacks on US officials which attacked and gained access through the firewalls of the victim. Security vendors, just like anyone, will have flaws in their software: there will be vulnerabilities. As such, organisations need to be aware of these vulnerabilities and when support runs out for their cyber security tools, to better protect themselves.

Source: [News Week]

Attackers Access UK Military Data Through Third Party Supplier as Relentless Russian Cyber Attacks Raise Spectre of WW3

Top secret military data from the UK’s Ministry of Defence was stolen and then sold by the ransomware gang LockBit. How, you might ask? Through a rogue Windows 7 PC that belonged to their fencing supplier, Zaun. The LockBit Ransom group conducted the attack on the supplier’s network, and Zaun admitted the group may have exfiltrated 10GB of data.

Many attackers have realised that if you cannot directly attack an organisation, then the supplier can present a way in. Organisations need to be sure of their suppliers’ security, and conduct third party security assessments to identify the risk the supplier may present to the organisation itself.

Black Arrow have helped many clients carry out third party risk assessments on a large number of suppliers and this can be done as a standalone offering or as part of a fractional CISO engagement.

Source: [The Register] [Tech Monitor]

Common Tactics Used by Threat Actors to Weaponise PDFs

PDFs are often seen as safe, something that cannot be used by an attacker, but that’s wrong. Actors are using this trustworthiness, as well as the difficulty in detection and ubiquity of PDFs, to weaponise them. Common tactics involve malicious hyperlinks within PDFs and macros that run when a PDF is opened, and in some cases attackers are disguising a malicious Word document as a PDF to evade detection.

Source: [Cyber Security News]

Years-old Microsoft Security Holes Still Hot Targets for Cyber Criminals

A recent report has found that Microsoft vulnerabilities as old as 6 years are still being exploited, with one recorded as being exploited as recently as 31 August. In fact, since this particular vulnerability was fixed, it has been used to deploy 467 different malware types. This is not the number of attacks, but the number of different types of malware used in attacks.

The concept isn’t just for Microsoft. Many organisations do not employ effective patching strategies, and as such leave the doors open to attackers. Sometimes, these doors are open for years.

Source: [The Register]

Popular ‘As-a-Service’ Operations Have Earned Cyber Criminals over $64m

As-a-service operations allow attackers to employ sophisticated attacks without the need for extensive knowledge; they simply just purchase the ability.  Take phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS), where an attacker with very limited cyber knowledge simply needs to purchase a phishing kit and they are then well-equipped to target organisations. This availability in tools creates a significant surge in the number of cyber criminals, with one scheme alone raking in $64.5 billion in illegal gains.

Source: [IT Security Guru]

71% of Organisations are Impacted by Cyber Security Skills Shortage

Most organisations (71%) report that they’ve been impacted by the cyber security skills shortage, leading to an increased workload for the cyber security team (61%), unfilled open job requisitions (49%) and high burnout among staff (43%). Further, 95% respondents state the cyber security skills shortage and its associated impacts have not improved over the past few years and 54% (up 10% from 2021) say it has got worse.

Organisations need to continue maintaining and improving their security while their cyber security positions remain unfilled. Black Arrow supports firms to achieve this by providing expert resources on a flexible basis for technical, governance and transformational positions.

Source: [Security Magazine] [Digital Journal]

Multiple Schools Hit by Cyber Attacks Before Term Begins

Ahead of the new school term, a number of schools have become the victim of serious cyber attacks. The education sector isn’t a new target, with previous ransomware reports finding the education sector to account for 16% of victims.

The education sector remains a target due to the valuable data they hold, large attack surfaces and frequently a lack of resources and budgets, something many small and medium-sized business may share.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• The importance of CISOs is not recognised by senior leadership - IT Security Guru

• Why Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Blame Culture: An Organisation's Ticking Time Bomb - IT Security Guru

• Spend to save: The CFO’s guide to cyber security investment (securityintelligence.com)

• More than half of UK organisations know they aren’t well protected against cyber threats - IT Security Guru

• Boards show confidence in their cyber security but still think they're at risk of attack (betanews.com)

• SEC tells companies to “show their work” on cyber security - Red Canary

• Cyber security: a life cycle, not a destination | Hydrocarbon Engineering

• Rising Physical Incidents Should Drive C-Level Investment & Action (forbes.com)

• Compliance budgets under strain as inflation and workload grow - Help Net Security

• Cyber Security pros battle discontent amid skills shortage - Help Net Security

• CISOs weigh in on building security-focused culture | Healthcare IT News

• How Do Some Companies Get Compromised Again and Again? (securityintelligence.com)

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked by LockBit (techmonitor.ai)

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Yes, Ransomware is Still a Huge Problem | CSO Online

• Ransomware attackers are targeting exposed Microsoft SQL databases, report says (therecord.media)

• Ransomware and Data Breaches: Impacts Continue to Grow Louder (govtech.com)

• Ransomware attacks go beyond just data - Help Net Security

• Education Sector Heavily Targeted as the School Year Begins (databreaches.net)

• Killware vs. Ransomware: What's the Difference? (makeuseof.com)

• Is this the next target for international ransomware attacks? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• To Pay or Not to Pay? The Ransomware Dilemma (informationweek.com)

• Snake Ransomware Endangers Your Data: How Can You Stop It? (makeuseof.com)

• How to Prevent Ransomware: 6 Key Steps to Safeguard Assets (techtarget.com)

Ransomware Victims

• LockBit Leaks Documents Filched From UK Defence Contractor (darkreading.com)

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked in cyber attack (civilserviceworld.com)

• Maidstone: Secondary school hit by cyber attack - BBC News

• Debenham High School IT system hit by cyber attack - BBC News

• Highgate Wood School delays term by 6 days after cyber attack | This Is Local London

• Cyber attack hits Suffolk school (computing.co.uk)

• Cyber attack hits Wokingham's Maiden Erlegh School | Reading Chronicle

• Russian ransomware gang AlphV targets pathology company, law firms in latest string of attacks - ABC News

• LockBit ransomware gang hit the Commission des services electriques de Montréal (CSEM) (securityaffairs.com)

• Ransomware gang claims credit for Sabre data breach | TechCrunch

• Hackers claim to publish prominent Israeli hospital’s patient data (therecord.media)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• AI abuse grows beyond phishing to multistage cyber attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Google is enabling Chrome real-time phishing protection for everyone (bleepingcomputer.com)New phishing tool hijacked thousands of Microsoft business email accounts (therecord.media)

• Beware of New Fileless Malware that Propagates Via Spam Mail (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Spam is up, QR codes emerge as a significant threat vector - Help Net Security

• From unsuspecting click to data compromise - Help Net Security

• Alert: Phishing Campaigns Deliver New SideTwist Backdoor and Agent Tesla Variant (thehackernews.com)

• Getting off the hook: 10 steps to take after clicking on a phishing link (welivesecurity.com)

• What Is Spear Phishing? A Comprehensive Guide - Sapphire

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Chinese-Speaking Cyber Criminals Launch Large-Scale iMessage Smishing Campaign in US. (thehackernews.com)

• Okta Warns of Social Engineering Attacks Targeting Super Administrator Privileges (thehackernews.com)

• How cyber criminals use look-alike domains to impersonate brands - Help Net Security

Artificial Intelligence

• Generative AI considered a security risk by 60% of board members, survey finds (thenationalnews.com)

• AI ‘triggers DeepTech anxiety for senior leaders’ (businesscloud.co.uk)

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• AI abuse grows beyond phishing to multistage cyber attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• UK tech tsar warns of AI cyber threat to NHS | Financial Times (ft.com)

• It's the summer of adversarial chatbots. Here's how to defend against them - SiliconANGLE

• Will the AI Arms Race Lead to the Pollution of the Internet? (darkreading.com)

• Cyber Security Concerns In AI: NCSC Flags Vulnerabilities In Chatbots And Language Models (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• UK cyber chief urges ‘Security by Design’ in AI development (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

• Generative AI’s Biggest Security Flaw Is Not Easy to Fix | WIRED UK

• Developers have security, other generative AI concerns but use it anyway - ARN (arnnet.com.au)

• How Companies Can Cope With the Risks of Generative AI Tools (darkreading.com)

• 3 ways to strike the right balance with generative AI - Help Net Security

• Peril vs. Promise: Companies, Developers Worry Over Generative AI Risk (darkreading.com)

• Experts Probe AI Risks Around Malicious Use, China Influence (govinfosecurity.com)

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Malware

• Common Tactics Used by Threat Actors to Weaponise PDFs (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Beware of MalDoc in PDF: A New Polyglot Attack Allowing Attackers to Evade Antivirus (thehackernews.com)

• 'Atomic macOS Stealer' Malware Delivered via Malvertising Campaign - SecurityWeek

• Hackers Using ChatGPT to Generate Malware & Social Engineering Threats (cybersecuritynews.com)

• UNRAVELING EternalBlue: inside the WannaCry’s enabler (securityaffairs.com)

• Malware Report: The Evolution of BumbleBee - Understanding the Emerging New Threat (govinfosecurity.com)

• Malware configurations How to find and use them? (govinfosecurity.com)

• Beware of New Fileless Malware that Propagates Via Spam Mail (cybersecuritynews.com)

• New Python Variant of Chaes Malware Targets Banking and Logistics Industries (thehackernews.com)

• New BLISTER Malware Update Fuelling Stealthy Network Infiltration (thehackernews.com)

• Alert: Phishing Campaigns Deliver New SideTwist Backdoor and Agent Tesla Variant (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• Hacking device Flipper Zero can spam nearby iPhones with Bluetooth pop-ups | TechCrunch

• September Android updates fix zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hacker exploits security flaw to target iPhone users with 'notification attack' | Macworld

Botnets

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS attack took down the site of German financial agency BaFin (securityaffairs.com)

• Mirai variant infects low-cost Android TV boxes for DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA Releases Capacity Enhancement Guide to Strengthen Agency Resilience to DDoS Attack | CISA

BYOD

• Many businesses still aren't using BYOD protection | TechRadar

Internet of Things – IoT

• Securing The IoT From The Threat China Poses To US Infrastructure (forbes.com)

• Tech Company Says Cars Collect 25 Gigabits of Data per Hour, Making Them Targets for Hacking | The Epoch Times

• Connected cars and cyber crime: A primer - Help Net Security

• Hacking device Flipper Zero can spam nearby iPhones with Bluetooth pop-ups | TechCrunch

• Mirai variant infects low-cost Android TV boxes for DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Why consumer drones represent a special cyber security risk (securityintelligence.com)

• Like privacy? Then smart devices are a dumb idea • The Register

• Maker of ‘smart’ chastity cage left users’ emails, passwords, and locations exposed | TechCrunch

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Electoral Commission failed basic security test before hack - BBC News

• Insurer fined $3M for exposing data of 650k clients for two years (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Golf gear giant Callaway data breach exposes info of 1.1 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Freecycle confirms massive data breach impacting 7 million users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pizza Hut Australia leaks one million customers' details, claims ShinyHunters hacking group (bitdefender.com)

• Thousands of Popular Websites Leaking Secrets - SecurityWeek

• Johnson & Johnson discloses IBM data breach impacting patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Northern Ireland police chief quits in wake of data breach • The Register

• Lawsuit blames Tesla for data breach it sued ex-staff over • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Popular 'As-a-Service' Operations Have Earned Cyber Criminals over $64m - IT Security Guru

• Cyber Crime Tremors: Experts Forecast Qakbot Resurgence (govinfosecurity.com)

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

• Cyber crime to cost Germany 206 billion euros in 2023, survey finds | Reuters

• Anonymity and illicit activities: Cyber security expert warns of risks and dangers associated with the dark web (newswise.com)

• Cyber criminals coercing children in their own bedrooms | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• YouTuber Loses $60K Worth of Crypto After Showing Seed Phrases on Stream - Decrypt

• Who Pulled Off a $41M Online Casino Heist? North Korea, FBI Says (vice.com)

• Russian Malware Targets Crypto Wallet: US and UK Intelligence Agencies Issue Joint Warning (cryptopotato.com)

• Is this the next target for international ransomware attacks? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Bitcoin exchange exec admits he ignored anti-laundering laws • The Register

• Cyber criminals target graphic designers with GPU miners (talosintelligence.com)

• LastPass under fire again as users report stolen crypto keys and losses | Cybernews

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Lawsuit blames Tesla for data breach it sued ex-staff over • The Register

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Popular 'As-a-Service' Operations Have Earned Cyber criminals over $64m - IT Security Guru

• Smishing Triad: China-Based Fraud Network Exposed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fake YouPorn extortion scam threatens to leak your sex tape (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Four Convicted in $18m Investment Fraud Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Global roaming fraud losses to surpass $8 billion by 2028 - Help Net Security

• Three men arrested for stealing thousands of dollars by hacking into ATMs with a Raspberry Pi device | PC Gamer

• Airlines Battle Surge in Loyalty Program Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How We Track Crypto Money Laundering for Off-Chain Crime (chainalysis.com)

• District of Massachusetts | Russian Businessman Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison in $93 Million Hack-to-Trade Conspiracy | United States Department of Justice

• Hundreds of Scam Pages Uncovered in Major Investment Fraud Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• See Tickets Alerts 300,000 Customers After Another Web Skimmer Attack - SecurityWeek

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Impersonation Attacks

• 'Smishing Triad' Targeted USPS and US Citizens for Data Theft (securityaffairs.com)

• How cyber criminals use look-alike domains to impersonate brands - Help Net Security

Deepfakes

• Emerging threat: AI-powered social engineering - Help Net Security

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How We Track Crypto Money Laundering for Off-Chain Crime (chainalysis.com)

• Four Convicted in $18m Investment Fraud Scheme - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Bitcoin exchange exec admits he ignored anti-laundering laws • The Register

Insurance

• Insights Into the Changing Landscape of Cyber Insurance - Frost Brown Todd | Full-Service Law Firm

• Time and effort to obtain cyber insurance increasing for US businesses | CSO Online

• Beazley expects to sponsor more cyber catastrophe bonds in 2024 - Artemis.bm

• Lloyd’s categorises cyber war wordings in aggregation clarity push (insuranceinsider.com)

Dark Web

• Anonymity and illicit activities: Cyber security expert warns of risks and dangers associated with the dark web (newswise.com)

• The Initial Access Broker Economy: A Deep Dive into Dark Web Hacking Forums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Ministry of Defence documents leaked by LockBit (techmonitor.ai)

• Supply chain related security risks, and how to protect against them (malwarebytes.com)

• 5 ways to improve your supply chain security posture | IT Reseller Magazine (itrportal.com)

• University of Sydney suffered a security breach caused by a third-party service provider (securityaffairs.com)

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

• Creating a more cyber secure supply chain requires group effort - FreightWaves

• Facing Third-Party Threats With Non-Employee Risk Management (darkreading.com)

• Cyber attacks attempt to crash 6 media sites globally using US. company RayoByte - Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)

Software Supply Chain

• Software Supply Chain Strategies to Parry Dependency Confusion Attacks (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Step Up Your Defence Against Cloud-loving Cyber Criminals (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Beware: Deepfake Scams Could Target Your Next Zoom Meeting | Entrepreneur

Attack Surface Management

• What OSINT is, and why it’s dangerous | Kaspersky official blog

• Armis report sheds light on top 10 targeted assets by cyber attackers - SiliconANGLE

• Top 10 riskiest assets threatening global business - IT Security Guru

Encryption

• Government denies U-turn on encrypted messaging row - BBC News

• UK lawmakers back down on encryption-busting 'spy clause' | CyberScoop

API

• API Vulnerabilities: 74% of Organisations Report Multiple Breaches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Open Source

• Software industry urged to assume risk on open source security | CIO Dive

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• It's a Zero-day? It's Malware? No! It's Username and Password (thehackernews.com)

• Chrome extensions can steal plaintext passwords from websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hacker gains admin control of Sourcegraph and gives free access to the masses | Ars Technica

• Passwords From The November 2022 LastPass Breach Being Cracked? - PC Perspective

• LastPass under fire again as users report stolen crypto keys and losses | Cybernews

• Maker of ‘smart’ chastity cage left users’ emails, passwords, and locations exposed | TechCrunch

• 75% of education sector attacks linked to compromised accounts - Help Net Security

Social Media

• Twitter accused of helping Saudi Arabia commit human rights abuses | Saudi Arabia | The Guardian

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

Malvertising

• 'Atomic macOS Stealer' Malware Delivered via Malvertising Campaign - SecurityWeek

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Children's snack recalled after its website caught serving porn (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber criminals coercing children in their own bedrooms | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• SEC tells companies to “show their work” on cyber security - Red Canary

• Verizon to pay feds $4M over cyber security lapse | Light Reading

• Government denies U-turn on encrypted messaging row - BBC News

• UK drops 'spy clause' for scanning encrypted messages • The Register

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• CIS Benchmarks Communities: Where configurations meet consensus - Help Net Security

• Explaining The New NIST Cyber Security Framework to the C-Suite

Backup and Recovery

• Best practices for implementing a proper backup strategy - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• 71% of organisations are impacted by cyber security skills shortage | Security Magazine

• Cyber Security Skills Gap set to cost UK £120 billion by 2023 - Essex-TV

• 6 free resources for getting started in cyber security - Help Net Security

• Cyber professionals say industry urgently needs to confront mental health crisis | CyberScoop

• Cyber security pros battle discontent amid skills shortage - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• FBI Qakbot Takedown: Unanswered Questions (trendmicro.com)

• It might be too soon to claim victory against Qakbot | Computer Weekly

• Cops drill into chat apps to thwart coke-smuggling ring • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Revealed: Home Office secretly lobbied for facial recognition ‘spy’ company | Facial recognition | The Guardian

• Like privacy? Then smart devices are a dumb idea • The Register

• Streetlights as Spyware (techpolicy.press)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study • The Register

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Russia-linked attackers hit UK Ministry of Defence, leak stolen data | CSO Online

• NCSC Report Reveals Persistent Threat and Russia’s Ongoing Cyber Operations in Ukraine | Defense Express (defence-ua.com)

• An inside look at Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• Meet the man leading the front-line effort in Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• China and Russia are pushing the boundaries of cyber attacks to harm other states - CityAM

• Ukraine's CERT Thwarts APT28's Cyber Attack on Critical Energy Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• Attackers access military data through fencing supplier • The Register

• Russia-linked hack on Trident base sparks 'World War Three' warning from expert (yahoo.com)

• UK and US Sanction 11 Russians Tied to Conti/TrickBot Ransomware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russia, China behind majority of cyber attacks targeting German businesses (aa.com.tr)

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Russian Malware Targets Crypto Wallet: US and UK Intelligence Agencies Issue Joint Warning (cryptopotato.com)

• Elon Musk's Father Fears Possible Assassination Attempt on His Son (businessinsider.com)

• Big Tech failed to police Russian disinformation: EU study • The Register

• North Korea hackers going after Russian targets, Microsoft says, World News - AsiaOne

China

• How China gets free intel on tech companies’ vulnerabilities | Ars Technica

• Experts Probe AI Risks Around Malicious Use, China Influence (govinfosecurity.com)

• How Microsoft's highly secure environment was breached (malwarebytes.com)

• Chinese-Speaking Cyber Criminals Launch Large-Scale iMessage Smishing Campaign in US. (thehackernews.com)

• Securing The IoT From The Threat China Poses To US Infrastructure (forbes.com)

• China and Russia are pushing the boundaries of cyber attacks to harm other states - CityAM

• Russia, China behind majority of cyber attacks targeting German businesses (aa.com.tr)

• German companies report more cyber attacks from Russia, China | Meta.mk

• Meta Takes Down Thousands of Accounts Involved in Disinformation Ops from China and Russia (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft reveals hackers compromised engineer account to gain access to government accounts - SiliconANGLE

• Microsoft finally explains cause of Azure breach: An engineer’s account was hacked | Ars Technica

• South Korean Cyber Security Concerns Over Chinese-Made Cranes, Meteorological Gear | The Epoch Times

• Huawei hits back in Portugal over 5G 'ban' with lawsuit - DCD (datacenterdynamics.com)

Iran

• Hackers push anti-Iranian government messages to millions via breached app | CyberScoop

• Iranian hackers breach US aviation org via Zoho, Fortinet bugs (bleepingcomputer.com)

North Korea

• Lazarus hackers deploy fake VMware PyPI packages in VMConnect attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers Warn of Cyber Weapons Used by Lazarus Group's Andariel Cluster (thehackernews.com)

• Meet the man leading the front-line effort in Ukraine's cyber war with Russia : NPR

• North Korean hackers target security researchers with new zero-day (therecord.media)

• North Korea hackers going after Russian targets, Microsoft says, World News - AsiaOne

• Who Pulled Off a $41M Online Casino Heist? North Korea, FBI Says (vice.com)

Misc Nation State/Cyber Warfare

• Nation-state 'hot zones' offer view of the future of cyber war – report - CIR Magazine

• Global cyber weapon market set for substantial growth | Insurance Business America (insurancebusinessmag.com)

• Policy, Guns and Money: Cyber conflict, competition and cooperation | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

• Lloyd’s categorises cyber war wordings in aggregation clarity push (insuranceinsider.com)

• Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets For Nation-State Hackers (newsweek.com)

• Multiple Nation-State Threat Actors Exploit CVE-2022-47966 and CVE-2022-42475 | CISA

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Vulnerability Management

• Years-old Microsoft bugs are still hot targets for criminals • The Register

• Old vulnerabilities are still a big problem - Help Net Security

• Overcoming Open Source Vulnerabilities in the Software Supply Chain (darkreading.com)

• How China gets free intel on tech companies’ vulnerabilities | Ars Technica

Vulnerabilities

• How to detect and patch a Log4J vulnerability  - IBM Blog

• Apple discloses 2 actively exploited zero-days in iPhones, Macs (securityaffairs.com)

• Google patches 4 high-rated security issues in latest Chrome 116 update - gHacks Tech News

• High-Severity Vulnerability Discovered in Popular CMS - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Two flaws in Apache SuperSet allow to remotely hack servers (securityaffairs.com)

• Cisco Patches Critical Vulnerability in BroadWorks Platform - SecurityWeek

• Adobe ColdFusion Critical Vulnerabilities Exploited Despite Patches - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Multiple Notepad++ Flaws Let Attackers Execute Arbitrary Code (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Hackers exploit MinIO storage system to breach corporate networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ASUS routers vulnerable to critical remote code execution flaws (bleepingcomputer.com)

• September Android updates fix zero-day exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA Adds One Known Vulnerability to Catalog | CISA

• Cisco SSO authentication bug patched - Security - Networking - iTnews

• Eight vulnerabilities in Open Automation Software Platform could lead to information disclosure, improper authentication (talosintelligence.com)

• Multiple Nation-State Threat Actors Exploit CVE-2022-47966 and CVE-2022-42475 | CISA

• Security or performance? Zenbleed forces you to choose | Digital Trends

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Tools and Controls

• Many businesses still aren't using BYOD protection | TechRadar

• Why Businesses Ignore Incident Response at Their Peril - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Insights Into the Changing Landscape of Cyber Insurance - Frost Brown Todd | Full-Service Law Firm

• Spend to save: The CFO’s guide to cyber security investment (securityintelligence.com)

• An Overview of ENISA’s Risk Management Standards Report | UpGuard

• IOCs vs Artifacts How to Filter Out the Noise (govinfosecurity.com)

• Time and effort to obtain cyber insurance increasing for US businesses | CSO Online

• Chrome extensions can steal plaintext passwords from websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dangling DNS Used to Hijack Subdomains of Major Organisations  - SecurityWeek

• Why DNS Security Can Be Your Most Problematic Blind Spot (hyas.com)

• Cyber Security Tools Are New Targets For Nation-State Hackers (newsweek.com)

• Rising Physical Incidents Should Drive C-Level Investment & Action (forbes.com)

• Why Cyber Security Risk Assessment Matters in the Banking Industry (securityintelligence.com)

• Cut through cyber security vendor hype with these 6 tips | TechTarget

• IAM, cloud security to drive new cyber security spending | CSO Online

• Best practices for implementing a proper backup strategy - Help Net Security

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Other News

• Education Sector Heavily Targeted as the School Year Begins (databreaches.net)

• Schools warned of cyberattack threat as new year begins | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• Ways to protect WordPress sites and blogs from hacking | Kaspersky official blog

• New Nozomi Networks Study Finds EU Critical Infrastructure Companies Are Not Ready for NIS2 Compliance - IT Security Guru

• Insecure by design: What you need to know about defending critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Half of Switzerland's large companies have been the victim of a cyber attack | Euronews

• Dangling DNS Used to Hijack Subdomains of Major Organizations  - SecurityWeek

• Securing the future: Safeguarding cyber-physical systems | CSO Online

• The tangible threat of cyber-kinetic attacks | CSO Online

• 25 Major Car Brands Get Failing Marks From Mozilla for Security and Privacy  - SecurityWeek

• Cyber security In Focus Ahead Of Berlin NATO Conference | OilPrice.com

• Trustwave SpiderLabs Report Highlights Hospitality Industry Cybersecurity Threats (hotelnewsresource.com)

• 10 old-school security principles that (still) rule | CSO Online

• Surge in Hospital Hacks Endangers Patients, Cyber Official Says - WSJ

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 01 September 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

66 Percent of Businesses Don't Understand Their Cyber Risks

A survey has found that 67% of organisations have experienced a breach requiring attention within the last two years, despite having traditional security measures in place. Worryingly, 66% self-reported having limited visibility and insight into their cyber risk profiles.

83% of organisations agreed that a comprehensive cyber risk reduction strategy would yield a reduction in the likelihood of a significant cyber incident occurring, yet a number of organisations are finding it difficult to implement this and as a result are looking for outside assistance too. The report found that 93 percent of organisations plan to offload specific segments of cyber risk reduction workstreams or projects to security service providers within the next two years.

Source: [Beta News]

Massive Supplier Cyber Breach Puts London’s Metropolitan Police on Red Alert After Officer and Staff Details Hacked

All 47,000 personnel working for the Met Police were warned of the risk their photos, names and ranks having been stolen when cyber crooks penetrated the IT systems of a contractor printing warrant cards and staff passes. The supplier had access to names, ranks, photos, vetting levels and pay numbers of officers and staff, but did not hold information such as addresses, phone numbers or financial details.

The attack shows the importance of understanding the supply chain, and what access your supplier has access to. Without knowing who has your data, and what data, you will be left clueless if a breach on a supplier occurs.

Sources [Data Breaches] [UKAuthority]

Pay our Ransom Instead of a GDPR Fine, Cyber Crime Gang Tells Targets, as Attacks Against Small Businesses Ramp Up

Ransomware actors are always evolving their tactics, with gangs now telling victims if they don’t pay, then they will face fines under data protection laws. Additionally, small businesses are on the radar, partially due to them being easier targets for actors; some gangs have shifted from asking for millions from a large organisation, to requesting small ransoms from multiple small businesses.

As a result in both the number and sophistication of ransomware attacks, 80% of organisations expect their spending to increase. Not every organisation has an unlimited budget and so it is important that organisations are able to prioritise and allocate their budget effectively, to give them the most protection that their budget allows, especially small to medium-sized businesses.

Sources [Dark Reading] [The Record] [Security Magazine]

Survey Finds In-house Counsel Cyber Anxiety Skyrocketing

In a recent report, only 25% of legal professionals said they felt fully prepared to deal with a cyber attack, with 78% ranking the task of shielding their organisation from cyber attacks as the greatest regulatory concern over the next 12 months; previously, this figure was only 30% in 2021.

There has been a growing number of attacks, due to the sensitive data that is held and the number of attacks will continue to rise. With regulatory concerns adding to this, in-house counsel should be looking to have their concerns heard and drive the organisation to bolster their defences, and this may include outsourcing expert advice to make sure it is done correctly.

Source: [Law.com]

58% of Malicious Emails Contained Spoofed Content

According to a recent report, 58% of malicious emails contained spoof content and spam emails had increased by 30% from Q1 to Q2 2023. The report identified a surge in the number of uses of QR codes as a primary attack method, showing that attack methods are evolving, and in some cases, choosing not to use traditional methods.

The report reinforces the need for constant user education training, to reduce the risk of an employee falling for a phishing email. With this training, new evolving techniques such as that with QR codes, should also be addressed.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Cyber Attacks Remain a Top Concern for Organisations Across All Industries

Cyber attacks remain a top threat to organisations’ ability to do business across all industries. When asked in a recent report, 18% of respondents reported that cyber attacks threatened or disrupted their business.

With cyber attacks being a huge concern, many organisations have an incident response plan in place; yet despite this, nearly one quarter (23%) of companies surveyed have either never conducted tests or are unsure if their teams have tested. Cyber incidents are a matter of when, not if, and a strong incident response plan is always needed and can prevent a bad situation from being made worse by doing the wrong things in the immediate aftermath of an attack.

Source: [Business Wire]

BYOD Security Gap: Survey Finds 49% of European Firms Unprotected

A recent survey found that a concerning 49% of European businesses are operating without having a formal bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, highlighting a lack of visibility and control over such devices. The report found that organisations are concerned about compliance-based issues, with 43% noting increased worries.

The benefits of BYOD are clear, allowing organisations to save money and eliminate the need for multiple devices. But without a formal BYOD policy, organisations are risking having employees bring in devices that are effectively invisible to IT. This means that the vulnerabilities that come with it, and the risks it can bring, also go unnoticed. To mitigate the risk, a formalised BYOD policy is required.

Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]

13% of Employees Admit to Falling for Phishing Attacks Working at Home, 9% Would Wait to Report After the Weekend

In a recent report, it was found that 13% of employees admitted they had fallen for a phishing attack whilst working from home. Rather worryingly, 21% said they would continue working business as usual in the event of falling victim to a phishing attack whilst working remotely on a Friday, with 9% indicating they’d wait until after the weekend to report it, effectively, giving the attacker a 48 hour period in which they go unnoticed, if the employee even remembers to report it on the Monday.

It is important that users are educated, both on spotting phishing attacks and the reporting process, so that organisations can be best protected. By providing regular and effective user training, employees will be at less risk of falling victim to a phishing attack, even from home. Additionally, by understanding the reporting process and why there is a need to report as soon as possible, organisations will shorten their detection time.

Source: [Security Magazine]

Numbers Don't Lie: Exposing the Harsh Truths of Cyber Attacks in New Report

In their most recent quarterly report, BlackBerry focused on a 90-day window, identifying over 1.5 million malware-based attacks, over 200,000 unique attacks, 17,000 attacks per day and 12 per minute to name a few. The report found that financial institutions were amongst the most targeted.

Source: [The Hacker News]

Kroll’s Breach Highlights SIM-Swapping Risk

A recent supply chain breach at Kroll, the risk and financial advisory firm, affected downstream customers and exposed personal information on hundreds of claimants in bankruptcy proceedings. The breach occurred when a threat actor had transferred an employee’s phone number to a device in the attackers possession, which was then subsequently used to access sensitive information.

In this attack, the actor had convinced T-Mobile to port the employee’s number over, allowing the actor to access files containing bankruptcy details. A mitigation recommended for this is to ask your network provider if they offer port freeze or number lock, to protect it from unauthorised transfer.

Source [Dark Reading]

Reducing The Risk of AI, What Can You Do?

Threat actors' use of generative AI has fuelled a significant rise in attacks worldwide during the last 12 months according to a recent report. Yet despite this, AI is still seen as a positive thing for organisations, with the power of generative AI quickly realised.

Certainly, AI can be used in the organisation to increase efficiency and automate tasks, but it must be used with vigilance. Organisations implementing AI should have governance over the usage of AI to eliminate the chance of data leaking. This governance may include policies, procedures and approved AI software.

Sources: [CSO Online] [UKTech News]

Debunking Popular Cyber Security Myths

At a time when cyber security is a constant feature in the news and our daily lives, it is important to debunk a few myths surrounding it. One of the biggest, is the assumption that cyber defence is all about the technical controls; in fact, 89% of cyber attacks involved social engineering. The prevalence of social engineering further shows that strong passwords, firewalls and antivirus are not enough; what’s the use in having a password that takes years to crack if you hand it over to someone?

When we think cyber security, we often think of external threat actors, but insider risk is a real threat: whether by malicious actions, negligence or misunderstanding, those inside your organisation can be a real risk to your organisation.

So what’s the take home? Cyber is more than just technology, and it is not just an outside attacker. Organisations’ cyber efforts should focus on more than just the technical requirements; by having things such as user education training, organisations can mitigate their cyber risk.

Sources: [Forbes] [Trend Micro]

3 Malware Loaders Responsible for 80% of Intrusions

Three malware loaders, QBot, SocGholish, and Raspberry Robin, are responsible for 80 percent of observed attacks on computers and networks so far this year. The malware are all distributed differently; Qbot is typically deployed through a phishing email, SocGholish is downloaded without user interaction, and Raspberry Robin is through USB devices.

Sources: [The Register] [Infosecurity Magazine]

MOVEit Hack Shows Attackers Still Use Old Tricks

SQL injection has been around for a quarter of a century, yet it still features amongst the top 10 list of security vulnerabilities. In fact, SQL injection was the method of attack for the infamous MOVEit hacks, which has impacted over 700 organisations, with the number still growing.

The MOVEit attack highlights just how easily old, over-looked vulnerabilities can be used to target an organisation. Consider your organisation now: are there any legacy systems or software in place?

Source: [Dark Reading]

Barracuda Thought it Drove 0-day Hackers out of Customers’ Networks. It was Wrong.

In late May, security vendor Barracuda had released a patch for their email security gateway (ESG), which was being actively exploited. Having already accounted for this, the threat actors utilised a new attack, which meant infected devices would reinfect themselves, effectively negating Barracuda’s patch. Unfortunately, this meant that for a while, Barracuda thought it was in the clear, when it was still under attack.

Upon realising this, Barracuda’s security advisory changed from recommending a patch to requiring an immediate replacement of compromised ESG appliances, regardless of the patch level. This shows the need for organisations to keep up to date with the latest threat intelligence, as missing the second update could mean infected devices are still in the wild, with organisations under the false perception that they were safe.

Source: [Ars Technica]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber Attacks and Other Threats Remain a Top Concern for Organisations Across All Industries, Finds InformationWeek’s State of Cyber Risk and Resiliency Report | Business Wire

• 66 percent of businesses don't understand their cyber risks (betanews.com)

• Survey of In-House Counsel Finds Cyber Anxiety Skyrocketing | Law.com

• Numbers Don't Lie: Exposing the Harsh Truths of Cyber Attacks in New Report (thehackernews.com)

• SEC Probe Targets SolarWinds Executives - DevX

• Cyber Security Enters Conversation About Executive Pay - WSJ

• Cyber defence makes up majority of cyber security budgets | Security Magazine

• How international cyber security frameworks can help CISOs | CSO Online

• Balancing risk and compliance: implications of the SEC’s new cyber security regulations | CSO Online

• SEC cyber attack regulations prompt 10 questions for CISOs | TechTarget

• Should Senior IT Professionals Be Accountable for Professional Decisions? (darkreading.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 80% of organisations expect ransomware spending to increase | Security Magazine

• Akira Ransomware gang targets Cisco ASA without Multi-Factor Auth (securityaffairs.com)

• Citrix NetScaler Alert: Ransomware Hackers Exploiting Critical Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• MOVEit Was a SQL Injection Accident Waiting to Happen (darkreading.com)

• Nearly 1,000 Organisations, 60 Million Individuals Impacted by MOVEit Hack - SecurityWeek

• Ransomware With an Identity Crisis Targets Small Businesses, Individuals (darkreading.com)

• Pay our ransom instead of a GDPR fine, cyber crime gang tells its targets (therecord.media)

• Ransomware Attack Cleanup Costs: $11M So Far for Rackspace (govinfosecurity.com)

• LogicMonitor customers who didn’t change default passwords were hit by hackers (databreaches.net)

• LockBit 3.0 Ransomware Builder Leak Gives Rise to Hundreds of New Variants (thehackernews.com)

• Deconstructing ransomware, cyber criminals and their modus operandi | TechRadar

• Ransomware Evolution: Smaller Actors, Bigger Impact (govinfosecurity.com)

• Ransomware hackers dwell time drops to 5 days, RDP still widely used (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Making Sense of Ransomware Attack Statistics in 2023 | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

• Financial Firms Breached in MOVEit Cyber Attacks Now Face Lawsuits (darkreading.com)

• Should Companies Pay After Ransomware Attacks? Is It Illegal? (techtarget.com)

• How Ransomware Groups Respond to External Pressure (inforisktoday.com)

• Decoding the DNA of Ransomware Attacks: Unveiling the Anatomy Behind the Threat (trellix.com)

• Rackspace Faces Massive Cleanup Costs After Ransomware Attack (darkreading.com)

• EDITORIAL | Time to Cut Off North Korea from Funding Sources for its Missiles | JAPAN Forward (japan-forward.com)

• International ransomware gangs are evolving their techniques. The next generation of hackers will target weaknesses in cryptocurrencies (theconversation.com)

• 8 Types of Ransomware: Examples of Past and Current Attacks (techtarget.com)

• Black Basta Besting Your Network? (securityintelligence.com)

Ransomware Victims

• Financial Firms Breached in MOVEit Cyber Attacks Now Face Lawsuits (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware Attack Cleanup Costs: $11M So Far for Rackspace (govinfosecurity.com)

• St Helens Council still dealing with suspected cyber-attack - BBC News

• Rhysida claims ransomware attack on Prospect Medical, threatens to sell data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• University of Michigan shuts down network after cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Social Security Numbers leaked in ransomware attack on Ohio History Connection (malwarebytes.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing as a service continues to plague business users - SiliconANGLE

• 58% of malicious emails contained spoof content | Security Magazine

• 13% of employees admit to falling for phishing attacks working at home | Security Magazine

• Top 5 most abused brands by hackers

• New phishing attacks target FTX users following Kroll data breach – Cryptopolitan

• Phishing-as-a-Service Gets Smarter: Microsoft Sounds Alarm on AiTM Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Spain warns of LockBit Locker ransomware phishing attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US govt email servers hacked in Barracuda zero-day attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• QR Code' Surge in Popularity Brings Along a Rise in QR-Linked Phishing Scams | Metaverse Post (mpost.io)

• Rising Phishing Scams Impact Small Businesses Relying on Social Media (smallbiztrends.com)

• Can You Spot Phishing Emails? Test Your Awareness With These Quizzes (makeuseof.com)

• How to Spot Phishing Emails & Tips to Avoid Them | Proofpoint US

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Kroll Suffers Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to SIM Swapping Attack (thehackernews.com)

• New phishing attacks target FTX users following Kroll data breach – Cryptopolitan

• 3 Cryptocurrency Firms Suffer Data Breach After Kroll SIM Swapping Attack - SecurityWeek

Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber security agency gives AI chatbot warning (uktech.news)

• Why generative AI is a double-edged sword for the cyber security sector | VentureBeat

• IT leaders alarmed by generative AI's SaaS security implications - Help Net Security

• Is Bias in AI Algorithms a Threat to Cloud Security? (darkreading.com)

• Shifting Cyber Security: The Impact and Implications of LLMs (inforisktoday.com)

• Vendors Training AI With Customer Data is an Enterprise Risk (darkreading.com)

• Advanced Malware: Why AI Can't Help All Hackers (inforisktoday.com)

• Hacking the future: Notes from DEF CON’s Generative Red Team Challenge | CSO Online

• Building cyber resilience in an age of AI (betanews.com)

• How to minimize data risk for generative AI and LLMs in the enterprise | VentureBeat

• Google launches tool to identify AI-generated images - Help Net Security

2FA/MFA

• Akira Ransomware gang targets Cisco ASA without Multi-Factor Auth (securityaffairs.com)

AITM/MITM

• Microsoft Warns of Adversary-in-the-Middle Uptick on Phishing Platform - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Malware

• These 3 loaders were behind 80% of intrusions this year • The Register

• 20+ Malware Statistics You Need to Know in 2023 (techreport.com)

• Cisco Talos Research: New Lazarus Group Attack Malware Campaign Hits UK & US Businesses (techrepublic.com)

• 'Whiffy Recon' Malware Transmits Device Location Every 60 Seconds (darkreading.com)

• Infamous Raccoon Stealer Malware Returns - DevX

• Top 3 Malware Threatening Businesses in Q2 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Malware Unleashed: Public Sector Hit in Sudden Surge, Reveals New Research (darkreading.com)

• KmsdBot Malware Gets an Upgrade: Now Targets IoT Devices with Enhanced Capabilities (thehackernews.com)

• Japan's JPCERT warns of new 'MalDoc in PDF' attack technique (securityaffairs.com)

• Advanced Malware: Why AI Can't Help All Hackers (inforisktoday.com)

• DarkGate Malware Activity Spikes as Developer Rents Out Malware to Affiliates (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers are now hiding malicious Word documents in PDFs — how to stay safe | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• DreamBus malware exploits RocketMQ flaw to infect servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Kaspersky malware report for Q2 2023 | Securelist

• Microsoft is using malware-like pop-ups in Windows 11 to get people to ditch Google - The Verge

• APT Attacks From 'Earth Estries' Hit Gov't, Tech With Custom Malware (darkreading.com)

• CISA and International Partners Release Malware Analysis Report on Infamous Chisel Mobile Malware | CISA

• SapphireStealer Malware: A Gateway to Espionage and Ransomware Operations (thehackernews.com)

• Battling malware in the industrial supply chain

Mobile

• Kroll's Crypto Breach Highlights SIM-Swapping Risk (darkreading.com)

• This new Android malware can unlock your phone and drain your bank accounts | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Privacy Regulator Warns of Surging Number of “Text Pest” Cases - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Is Mobile Hacking Still a Big Threat in 2023? (makeuseof.com)

• New Android MMRat malware uses Protobuf protocol to steal your data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What Are Overlay Attacks? How Do You Protect Against Them? (makeuseof.com)

• New Android Banking Trojan Targets Southeast Asia Region (inforisktoday.com)

• China-Linked BadBazaar Android Spyware Targeting Signal and Telegram Users (thehackernews.com)

• Five Eyes Report: New Russian Malware Targeting Ukrainian Military Android Devices - Security Week

• Chinese APT Uses Fake Messenger Apps to Spy on Android Users (inforisktoday.com)

• 8 Ways To Boost Your Android Phone's Security (slashgear.com)

Botnets

• Online exclusive: Rise of the botnets (securitymiddleeastmag.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• DDoS attacks rise 40% in Q2 2023, affecting banks, gaming & e-commerce | Security Magazine

BYOD

• BYOD Security Gap: Survey Finds 49% of European Firms Unprotected - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• KmsdBot Malware Gets an Upgrade: Now Targets IoT Devices with Enhanced Capabilities (thehackernews.com)

• The power of passive OS fingerprinting for accurate IoT device identification - Help Net Security

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Metropolitan Police reports supplier cyber breach | UKAuthority

• UK: Metropolitan Police on red alert after details of officers and staff hacked in massive security breach (databreaches.net)

• Kroll Suffers Data Breach: Employee Falls Victim to SIM Swapping Attack (thehackernews.com)

• American Express admits APAC employees' data leak, blames a third-party payroll service

• National Safety Council data leak: Credentials of NASA, Tesla, DoJ, Verizon, and 2K others leaked by workplace safety organisation (securityaffairs.com)

• Leaseweb is restoring ‘critical’ systems after security breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• French employment agency Pôle emploi data breach impacted 10M peopleSecurity Affairs

• Mom’s Meals discloses data breach impacting 1.2 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 3 Cryptocurrency Firms Suffer Data Breach After Kroll SIM Swapping Attack - Security Week

• Paramount discloses data breach following security incident (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Another data breach at Forever 21 leaks details of 500,000 current and former employees (bitdefender.com)

• Cost of a data breach 2023: Financial industry impacts (securityintelligence.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Moscow helping cyber criminals operate with 'near impunity': report | The Province

• Hacking gangs launch cyber crime syndicate the Five Families (techmonitor.ai)

• Microsoft weighs in on Russian-led UN cyber crime treaty • The Register

• ‘Billion Dollar Heist’: The Wild Story That Should Have Us All Petrified (thedailybeast.com)

• New Research Exposes Airbnb as Breeding Ground For Cyber Crime - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft: UN treaty creates 'ideal conditions' for cyber crime (telecomstechnews.com)

• Cyber Criminals use research contests to create new attack methods - Help Net Security

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Kroll data breach exposes info of FTX, BlockFi, Genesis creditors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• International ransomware gangs are evolving their techniques. The next generation of hackers will target weaknesses in cryptocurrencies (theconversation.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• New Research Exposes Airbnb as Breeding Ground For Cyber Crime - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Classiscam Spreads: $64.5M Scheme Targets 79 Countries - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• Top 5 most abused brands by hackers

• New York Times Spoofed to Hide Russian Disinformation Campaign (darkreading.com)

Deepfakes

• 4 Strategies to Safeguard the Finance Industry Against Deepfake Onslaught (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• Insurers End Tussle Over Ransomware Attack Coverage - Law360 UK

• Delinea Research Reveals a Cyber Insurance Gap (darkreading.com)

• Understand the fine print of your cyber insurance policies - Help Net Security

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• American Express admits APAC employees' data leak, blames a third-party payroll service

• Met should thoroughly investigate cyber security practices, say experts | Evening Standard

Cloud/SaaS

• CrowdStrike CTO: 'Rookie mistakes' are hurting cloud security | TechTarget

• Better SaaS Security Goes Beyond Procurement (darkreading.com)

• How to secure your cloud-based business without cloud-security expertise - Partner Content - Security - iTnews

• Experts Uncover How Cyber Criminals Could Exploit Microsoft Entra ID for Elevated Privilege (thehackernews.com)

• Considerations for Reducing Risk When Migrating to the Cloud (darkreading.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• 13% of employees admit to falling for phishing attacks working at home | Security Magazine

Identity and Access Management

• The Rising Tide of Identity-Based Attacks - GovInfoSecurity

Encryption

• Quantum threats loom in Gartner's 2023 Hype Cycle for data security | VentureBeat

• How Quantum Computing Will Impact Cyber Security - Security Week

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• National Safety Council data leak: Credentials of NASA, Tesla, DoJ, Verizon, and 2K others leaked by workplace safety organisation (securityaffairs.com)

• Four common password mistakes hackers love to exploit (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Launch Brute-Force Attack Cisco ASA SSL VPNs (cybersecuritynews.com)

• 3 out of 4 cyber attacks in the education sector are associated with a compromised on premises user or admin account - IT Security Guru

• LogicMonitor customers who didn’t change default passwords were hit by hackers (databreaches.net)

Biometrics

• Police Scotland digital strategy seeks real-time biometrics within 5 years | Biometric Update

• Elon Musk's X to collect biometric data, work and school history - The Japan Times

• Home Office and MoD seeking new facial-recognition tech | Computer Weekly

Social Media

• ICO calls social media firms to protect people's data from scraping (bleepingcomputer.com)

• EU safety laws start to bite for TikTok, Instagram and others - BBC News

• How the EU Digital Services Act affects Facebook, Google and others | Technology sector | The Guardian

• Rising Phishing Scams Impact Small Businesses Relying on Social Media (smallbiztrends.com)

• X Plans to Collect Biometric Data, Job and School History (1) (bloomberglaw.com)

• Anonymous Sudan hacks X to put pressure on Elon Musk over Starlink - BBC News

• Hackers Are Selling Hacked Police Emails to Try to Grab Personal Data From TikTok, Facebook (404media.co)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Can You Spot Phishing Emails? Test Your Awareness With These Quizzes (makeuseof.com)

• Cyber awareness education is a change-management initiative | CSO Online

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Privacy Regulator Warns of Surging Number of “Text Pest” Cases - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Pay our ransom instead of a GDPR fine, cyber crime gang tells its targets (therecord.media)

• SEC Probe Targets SolarWinds Executives - DevX

• New law could turn UK into a hacker's playground | Computerworld

• Changes to UK Surveillance Regime May Violate International Law (justsecurity.org)

• EU safety laws start to bite for TikTok, Instagram and others - BBC News

• Draft Cyber Security Audit and Risk Assessment Regulations Issued by CPPA | Mintz - JDSupra

• SEC’s New Cyber Security Rule—Including Key Disclosure Requirements | Smith Gambrell Russell - JDSupra

• Balancing risk and compliance: implications of the SEC’s new cyber security regulations | CSO Online

• Legal Liability for Insecure Software Might Work, but It's Dangerous (darkreading.com)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• What are the Cyber Security Standards of Basel III? | UpGuard

• Best practices for MITRE ATT&CK(R) mapping. (thecyberwire.com)

• Is the new OWASP API Top 10 helpful to defenders? - Help Net Security

• How international cyber security frameworks can help CISOs | CSO Online

Data Protection

• ICO calls social media firms to protect people's data from scraping (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Are you properly protecting your employees' personal information? | Burr & Forman - JDSupra

• Data Protection: One of These Incidents Is Not Like the Other | Troutman Pepper - JDSupra

• Draft Cyber Security Audit and Risk Assessment Regulations Issued by CPPA | Mintz - JDSupra

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Addressing Cyber Security's Talent Shortage & Its Impact on CISOs (darkreading.com)

• Unfilled Cyber Security Positions Threaten the Future of Businesses Everywhere | Inc.com

• How the Talent Shortage Impacts Cyber Security Leadership (securityintelligence.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Two Men Arrested Following Poland Railway Hacking - Security Week

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Police Scotland digital strategy seeks real-time biometrics within 5 years | Biometric Update

• Privacy Regulator Warns of Surging Number of “Text Pest” Cases - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Expert shares stark safety warning over Twitter updates | Tech News | Metro News

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• New York Times Spoofed to Hide Russian Disinformation Campaign (darkreading.com)

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• 'Five Eyes' nations release technical details of Sandworm malware 'Infamous Chisel' | CyberScoop

• New York Times Spoofed to Hide Russian Disinformation Campaign (darkreading.com)

• NCSC, SBU reveal overt Russian cyber campaign as cyber war continues to evolve | ITPro

• Czech banks hit by Russian cyber attacks – EURACTIV.com

• Cyber security experts lament west’s failure to learn lessons from Ukraine | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Russian 'hybrid' war threatens NATO's eastern flank, Poles warn - Washington Times

• Microsoft weighs in on Russian-led UN cyber crime treaty • The Register

• Five Eyes Report: New Russian Malware Targeting Ukrainian Military Android Devices - Security Week

• Anonymous Sudan hacks X to put pressure on Elon Musk over Starlink - BBC News

• Russian APT Intensifies Cyber Espionage Activities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• CISA and International Partners Release Malware Analysis Report on Infamous Chisel Mobile Malware | CISA

China

• Microsoft signing keys keep getting hijacked, to the delight of Chinese threat actors | Ars Technica

• China-Based APT Flies Under Radar in Espionage Attacks | Decipher (duo.com)

• China-Linked Flax Typhoon Cyber Espionage Targets Taiwan's Key Sectors (thehackernews.com)

• Barracuda flaw: FBI warns customers over ineffective patch | ITPro

• Almost a third of compromised Barracuda ESGs were govt owned • The Register

• James Cleverly's China cyber security talks unlikely to spur change (techmonitor.ai)

• Japan’s cyber security agency suffers months-long breach | Financial Times (ft.com)

• China-Linked BadBazaar Android Spyware Targeting Signal and Telegram Users (thehackernews.com)

• APT Attacks From 'Earth Estries' Hit Gov't, Tech With Custom Malware (darkreading.com)

• Chinese APT Uses Fake Messenger Apps to Spy on Android Users (inforisktoday.com)

North Korea

• Cisco Talos Research: New Lazarus Group Attack Malware Campaign Hits UK & US Businesses (techrepublic.com)

• North Korea’s Lazarus Group hits organisations with two new RATs | CSO Online

• Lazarus Group Debuts Tiny Trojan for Espionage Attacks (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• Cyber Scams Keep North Korean Missiles Flying – Analysis – Eurasia Review

• North Korea’s Lazarus hackers behind recent crypto heists: FBI (therecord.media)

• North Korean hackers behind malicious VMConnect PyPI campaign (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• New law could turn UK into a hacker's playground | Computerworld

• 40% of Log4j Downloads Still Vulnerable (securityintelligence.com)

• How did Clop get its hands on the MOVEit zero day? (therecord.media)

Vulnerabilities

• Cisco fixes 3 high-severity DoS flaws in NX-OS and FXOS software (securityaffairs.com)

• Citrix NetScaler Alert: Ransomware Hackers Exploiting Critical Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Critical Vulnerability Alert: VMware Aria Operations Networks at Risk from Remote Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Teams attack exposes collab platform security gaps | TechTarget

• Barracuda flaw: FBI warns customers over ineffective patch | ITPro

• Barracuda thought it drove 0-day hackers out of customers’ networks. It was wrong. | Ars Technica

• CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog | CISA

• Exploit released for Juniper firewall bugs allowing RCE attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Chrome 116's second point update addresses a security issue - gHacks Tech News

• Forminator WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Affects Up To 400,000+ Websites (searchenginejournal.com)

• Threat actors started exploiting Juniper flaws shortly after PoC release (securityaffairs.com)

• Hackers Launch Brute-Force Attack Cisco ASA SSL VPNs (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Splunk Patches High-Severity Flaws in Enterprise, IT Service Intelligence - Security Week

• This WordPress plugin with 5 million users could have a serious security flaw | TechRadar

• Cyber Attackers Swarm OpenFire Cloud Servers With Takeover Barrage (darkreading.com)

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Tools and Controls

• BYOD Security Gap: Survey Finds 49% of European Firms Unprotected - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Why generative AI is a double-edged sword for the cyber security sector | VentureBeat

• Cyber defence makes up majority of cyber security budgets | Security Magazine

• Ransomware hackers dwell time drops to 5 days, RDP still widely used (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Think twice before accepting notifications on Chrome: threats on the rise | Cybernews

• Considerations for Reducing Risk When Migrating to the Cloud (darkreading.com)

• Enterprise dark web monitoring: Why it's worth the investment | TechTarget

• Phishing Simulations Boost Cyber Awareness and Defences | Mimecast

• Is the new OWASP API Top 10 helpful to defenders? - Help Net Security

• Here's What Your Breach Response Plan Might Be Missing (darkreading.com)

• The Middleware Threats to Microsoft's Monopoly | HackerNoon

• Why Traditional Firewalls Are Not Adequate for Your Network Security (makeuseof.com)

• Combining EPP and EDR tools can boost your endpoint security (securityintelligence.com)

• Automated Threat Hunting: AI Helps Spot Shady Network Activity (readwrite.com)

• Detecting the Undetected: The Risk to Your Info (securityintelligence.com)

• National Grid plots ‘honeypots’ to catch hackers as cyber attacks ramp up (telegraph.co.uk)

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Other News

• Cyber attacks reveal threat to democracy (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)

• Hackers Use $30 Gear To Bring Poland's Railways To A Grinding Halt

• When lives rely on equipment, cyber security is essential | Healthcare IT News

• Think twice before accepting notifications on Chrome: threats on the rise | Cybernews

• Rising cyber incidents challenge healthcare organisations - Help Net Security

• Updated Best Practice Playbook for Healthcare Cyber Threats (inforisktoday.com)

• Navigating Legacy Infrastructure: A CISO's Actionable Strategy for Success (thehackernews.com)

• Legal Liability for Insecure Software Might Work, but It's Dangerous (darkreading.com)

• 3 out of 4 cyber attacks in the education sector are associated with a compromised on premises user or admin account - IT Security Guru

• 69% of educational organisations suffered cyber attack in the past year - Netwrix survey

• Claroty's 2023 Global Healthcare Cyber Security Study Exposes Widespread Vulnerabilities And Impact (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Out-Of-Office: How To Ensure Cyber Security During Vulnerable Periods (forbes.com)

• Debunking The Top Five Cyber Security Myths (forbes.com)

• Manufacturing firms hit by the worst encryption rate in three years (manufacturing-today.com)

• Cyber Attacks Targeting E-commerce Applications (thehackernews.com)

• Industrial networks need better security as attacks gain scale | ZDNET

• National Grid plots ‘honeypots’ to catch hackers as cyber attacks ramp up (telegraph.co.uk)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·         Automotive

·         Construction

·         Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·         Defence & Space

·         Education & Academia

·         Energy & Utilities

·         Estate Agencies

·         Financial Services

·         FinTech

·         Food & Agriculture

·         Gaming & Gambling

·         Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·         Health/Medical/Pharma

·         Hotels & Hospitality

·         Insurance

·         Legal

·         Manufacturing

·         Maritime

·         Oil, Gas & Mining

·         OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·         Retail & eCommerce

·         Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·         Startups

·         Telecoms

·         Third Sector & Charities

·         Transport & Aviation

·         Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 28th July 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Half of UK Businesses Struggle to Fill Cyber Security Skills Gap

Half of UK businesses have a cyber security skills gap that they are struggling to fill amid a challenging labour market, according to data published by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which found that there were more than 160,000 cyber security job postings in the last year – a 30% increase on the previous period. In all, the UK requires an additional 11,200 people with suitable cyber skills to meet the demands of the market, the report estimates.

In a separate report, it was found that a lack of executive understanding and an ever-widening talent gap is placing an unsustainable burden on security teams to prevent business-ending breaches. When asked how long it takes to fill a cyber security role, 82% of organisations report it takes three months or longer, with 34% reporting it takes seven months or more. These challenges have led one-third (33%) of organisations to believe they will never have a fully-staffed security team with the proper skills.

With such a gap, some organisations have turned to outsourcing cyber security roles, such as chief information security officers (CISOs), leading to a rise in virtual CISOs (vCISO). With outsourcing, organisations can ensure that they are easily able to pick up and use cyber security experts, greatly reducing the delay were they to hire. Black Arrow supports clients as their vCISO with specialist experience in cyber security risk management in a business context.

https://www.uktech.news/cybersecurity/uk-cybersecurity-skills-gap-20230725

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/26/security-teams-executive-burden/

• Deloitte Joins Fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY as Victims Exceed 500

The global auditing and accounting firm Deloitte appeared alongside a further 55 MOVEit victims that were recently named by the Cl0p ransomware gang, making them the third Big Four accounting firm to be affected and amongst over 500 organisations in total with that number expected to continue to increase.

Research by Kroll has also uncovered a new exfiltration method used by Cl0p in their the MOVEit attacks, highlighting constant efforts by the ransomware gang. Worryingly, it has been reported that Cl0p have made between $75-100 million from ransom payments and it is expected this, along with the victim count, will rise.

https://cybernews.com/security/deloitte-big-four-moveit-pwc-ey-clop/

https://www.kroll.com/en/insights/publications/cyber/moveit-vulnerability-investigations-uncover-additional-exfiltration-method

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/clop-could-make-100m-moveit/

• Why Cyber Security Should Be Part of Your ESG Strategy

Organisations need to consider cyber security risks in their overall environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy amid growing cyber threats and regulatory scrutiny. The ESG programme is, in many ways, a form of risk management to mitigate the risks to businesses, societies and the environment, all of which can be impacted by cyber security. The investment community has been singling out cyber security as one of the major risks that ESG programmes will need to address due to the potential financial losses, reputational damage and business continuity risks posed by a growing number of cyber attacks and data breaches.

Various ESG reporting frameworks have emerged in recent years to provide organisations with guidelines on how they can operate ethically and sustainably, along with metrics that they can use to measure their progress. There are also specific IT security standards and frameworks, including ISO 27001 and government guidelines. Some regulators have gone as far as mandating the adoption of baseline security standards by critical infrastructure operators and firms in industries like financial services, but that does not mean organisations outside of regulated sectors are less pressured to shore up their cyber security posture.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366545432/Why-cyber-security-should-be-part-of-your-ESG-strategy

• Lawyers Take Frontline Role in Business Response to Cyber Attacks

Cyber security risk has shot to the top of general counsels’ agendas as the sophistication and frequency of attacks has grown. According to security company Sophos’s State of Ransomware 2023 report, 44% of UK businesses surveyed said they had been hit with ransomware in the past year. Of those affected, 33% said their data was encrypted and stolen and a further 6% said that their data was not encrypted but they experienced extortion.

In-house lawyers have a key role around the boardroom table when dealing with a breach including war-gaming and discussing cases in which a company will pay a ransom. The advent of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation in Europe, and equivalents elsewhere, demands that businesses hit by a data breach notify a regulator, and the individuals whose data was stolen, or both, depending on certain factors. This has led to far greater exposure of cyber incidents which companies previously could have tried to deal with privately.

https://www.ft.com/content/2af44ae8-78fc-4393-88c3-0d784a850331

• Organisations Face Record $4.5M Per Data Breach Incident

In a recent report conducted by IBM, the average cost per data breach for US business in 2023 jumped to $4.45 million, a 15% increase over three years. In the UK, the average cost was found to be £3.4 million, rising to £5.3 million for financial services. It is likely that the cost per breach will maintain a continual rise, with organisations struggling to crack down on cyber crime, something threat groups like Cl0p are taking advantage of.

https://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/orgs-record-4.5m-data-breach-incident

https://uk.newsroom.ibm.com/24-07-2023-IBM-Security-Report-Cost-of-a-Data-Breach-for-UK-Businesses-Averages-3-4m

• Cryptojacking Soars as Cyber Attacks Diversify

According to a recent report, a variety of attacks have increased globally, including cryptojacking (399%), IoT malware (37%) and encrypted threats (22%). This reflects the increase in actors who are changing their methods of attacks. The report found that we can expect more state-sponsored activity targeting a broader set of victims in 2023, including SMBs, government entities and enterprises.

Cryptojacking, sometimes referred to as malicious cryptomining, is where an attacker will use a victim’s device to mine cryptocurrency, giving the attacker free money at the expense of your device, network health and electricity.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/27/cryptojacking-attacks-rise/

• Ransomware Attacks Skyrocket in 2023

Ransomware attacks surged by 74% in Q2 2023 compared to the first three months of the year, a new report has found. The significant increase in ransomware over April, May and June 2023 suggests that attackers are regrouping. In July 2023, the blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis found that in the first half of 2023, ransomware attackers extorted $176m more than the same period in 2022, reversing a brief downward trend in 2022.

The report also observed an uptick in “pure extortion attacks,” with cyber criminals increasingly relying on the threat of data leaks rather than encrypting data to extort victims. Such schemes may not trigger any ransomware detection capability but could potentially be picked up by a robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-attacks-skyrocket-q2/

• Blocking Access to ChatGPT is a Short-Term Solution to Mitigate AI Risk

Despite the mass adoption of generative AI, most companies don’t know how to assess its security, exposing them to risks and disadvantages if they don’t change their approach. A report found that for every 10,000 enterprise users, an enterprise organisation is experiencing approximately 183 incidents of sensitive data being posted to ChatGPT per month. Worryingly, despite the security issues, only 45% have an enterprise-wide strategy to ensure a secure, aligned deployment of AI across the entire organisation.

Blocking access to AI related content and AI applications is a short term solution to mitigate risk, but comes at the expense of the potential benefits that AI apps offer to supplement corporate innovation and employee productivity. The data shows that in financial services and healthcare nearly 1 in 5 organisations have implemented a blanket ban on employee use of ChatGPT, while in the technology sector, only 1 in 20 organisations have done likewise.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/28/chatgpt-exposure/

https://www.techradar.com/pro/lots-of-sensitive-data-is-still-being-posted-to-chatgpt

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/25/generative-ai-strategy/

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends on It (Because it Does)

Data breaches can be incredibly costly. Be it lawsuits, regulatory fines, or a fall in stock price, the financial consequences of a breach can bring even the largest organisation to its knees. However, in the face of economic damage, it’s too easy to overlook the vast reputational impacts that often do more harm to a business. After all, it’s relatively easy to recoup monetary losses, less so to regain customer trust.

It’s important to remember that reputational damage isn’t limited to consumer perceptions. Stakeholder, shareholder, and potential buyer perception is also something that needs to be considered. By having effective defence in depth controls including robust data loss prevention (DLP) solutions in place, organisations can reduce the risk of a breach from happening.

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/protect-your-data-like-your-reputation-depends-on-it-because-it-does/

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved with Cyber Insurance Negotiation

Generally negotiating cyber insurance policies falls to the general counsel, chief financial officer, or chief operations officer. Having the chief information security officer (CISO) at the table when negotiating with insurance brokers or carriers is a best practice for ensuring the insurers understand not only which security controls are in place, but why the controls are configured the way they are and the organisation's strategy. That said, often best practices are ignored for reasons of expediency and lack of acceptance by other C-suite executives.

Sometimes being the CISO can be a no-win position. According to a recent survey more than half of all CISOs report to a technical corporate officer rather than the business side of the organisation. This lack of recognition by the board can diminish the CISO's ability to deliver business-imperative insights and recommendations, leaving operations to have a more commanding influence on the board than cyber security. Too often the CISO gets the responsibility to protect the company without the authority and budget to accomplish their task.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/why-cisos-should-get-involved-with-cyber-insurance-negotiation

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber Security Experts, SEC Says

A recent report has found that only five Fortune 100 companies currently list a security professional in the executive leadership pages of their websites. This is largely unchanged from five of the Fortune 100 in 2018. One likely reason why a great many companies still don’t include their security leaders within their highest echelons is that these employees do not report directly to the company’s CEO, board of directors, or chief risk officer.

The chief security officer (CSO) or chief information security officer (CISO) position traditionally has reported to an executive in a technical role, such as the chief technology officer (CTO) or chief information officer (CIO). But workforce experts say placing the CISO/CSO on unequal footing with the organisation’s top leaders makes it more likely that cyber security and risk concerns will take a backseat to initiatives designed to increase productivity and generally grow the business.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently implemented new regulations necessitating publicly traded companies to report cyber attacks within four business days, once they're deemed material incidents. While the SEC is not presently advocating for the need to validate a board cyber security expert's credentials, it continues to insist that cyber security expertise within management be duly reported to them. The increased disclosure should help companies compare practices and may spur improvements in cyber defences, but meeting the new disclosure standards could be a bigger challenge for smaller companies with limited resources.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/companies-must-have-corporate-cybersecurity-experts-sec-says

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sec-now-requires-companies-to-disclose-cyberattacks-in-4-days/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/07/few-fortune-100-firms-list-security-pros-in-their-executive-ranks/

• Over 400,000 Corporate Credentials Stolen by Info-stealing Malware

Information stealers are malware that steal data stored in applications such as web browsers, email clients, instant messengers, cryptocurrency wallets, file transfer protocol (FTP) clients, and gaming services. The stolen information is packaged into archives called 'logs,' which are then uploaded back to the threat actor for use in attacks or sold on cyber crime marketplaces. Worryingly, employees use personal devices for work or access personal stuff from work computers, and this may result in many info-stealer infections stealing business credentials and authentication cookies. A report has found there are over 400,000 corporate credentials stolen, from applications such as Salesforce, Google Cloud and AWS. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the number containing OpenAI credentials; this is alarming as where AI is used without governance, the credentials may leak things such as internal business strategies and source code.

With such an array of valuable information for an attacker, it is no wonder incidents involving info stealers doubled in Q1 2023. Organisations can best protect themselves by utilising password managers, enforcing multi-factor authentication and having strict usage controls. Additionally, user awareness training can help avoid common infection channels such as malicious websites and adverts.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-400-000-corporate-credentials-stolen-by-info-stealing-malware/

https://www.scmagazine.com/news/infostealer-incidents-more-than-doubled-in-q1-2023

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Data Breaches Cost Businesses $4.5M on Average (darkreading.com)

• Deciphering The IBM Cost Of A Data Breach Report: A Statistical Perspective For Business Leaders (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved With Cyber Insurance Negotiation (darkreading.com)

• SEC now requires companies to disclose cyber attacks in 4 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber security Experts, SEC Says (darkreading.com)

• Companies encounter months-long delays in filling critical security positions - Help Net Security

• Why Today's CISOs Must Embrace Change (darkreading.com)

• Enterprises should layer-up security to avoid legal repercussions - Help Net Security

• Aligning Risk Appetite, Tolerance, And Thresholds With Business Planning: A Comprehensive Guide To Enterprise Risk Management (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Explaining risk maturity models and how they work | TechTarget

• Why cyber security should be part of your ESG strategy | Computer Weekly

• The old “trust but verify” adage should be the motto for every CISO | CSO Online

• Companies are rushing into generative AI without a cohesive, secure strategy - Help Net Security

• Few Fortune 100 Firms List Security Pros in Their Executive Ranks – Krebs on Security

• The critical cyber security backup plan too many companies are ignoring (cnbc.com)

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends On It (Because It Does) (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why Computer Security Advice Is More Confusing Than It Should Be (darkreading.com)

• Why whistleblowers in cyber security are important and need support | CSO Online

• The challenge of managing unlimited threats in a limited budget: cyber security experts comment | CSO Online

• 4 Cyber security Budget Management Tips (trendmicro.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Clop now leaks data stolen in MOVEit attacks on clearweb sites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MOVEit Vulnerability Investigations Uncover Additional Exfiltration Method (kroll.com)

• Clop Could Make $100m from MOVEit Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The tail of the MOVEit hack may be longer than we realize | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Millions of people's healthcare files accessed by Clop gang • The Register

• Ransomware Attacks Skyrocket in Q2 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Local Governments Targeted for Ransomware – How to Prevent Falling Victim (thehackernews.com)

• New Nitrogen malware pushed via Google Ads for ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dozens of Organisations Targeted by Akira Ransomware - SecurityWeek

• Ransomware Spotlight: Play - Security News (trendmicro.com)

• The FBI's Cynthia Kaiser on how the bureau fights ransomware | CyberScoop

• Risk & Repeat: Are data extortion attacks ransomware? | TechTarget

• ALPHV ransomware adds data leak API in new extortion strategy (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Education Sector Has Highest Ransomware Victim Count - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware: Sophos says most universities pay | Times Higher Education (THE)

Ransomware Victims

• PwC has data leaked on the clear web - Cyber Security Connect

• Deloitte joins fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY | Cybernews

• DHL investigating MOVEit breach as number of victims surpasses 20 million (therecord.media)

• Up to 11 Million People Hit by MOVEit Hack at Government Services Firm Maximus - SecurityWeek

• Millions of people's healthcare files accessed by Clop gang • The Register

• Tampa General Hospital Says Patient Information Stolen in Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Another Cl0p victim goes public | Cybernews

• Yamaha confirms cyber attack after multiple ransomware gangs claim attacks (therecord.media)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Chinese Hackers Breached Ambassador’s Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Stolen Microsoft key may have opened up more than inboxes • The Register

• KnowBe4 Phishing Test Results Reveal Half of Top Malicious Email Subjects Are HR Related (darkreading.com)

• The Email Threat Landscape, Q1 2023: Key Takeaways (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How to avoid LinkedIn phishing attacks in the enterprise | TechTarget

• Windows 11 just got a big upgrade to protect you from phishing attacks — here’s how it works | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Critical Infrastructure Workers More Likely to Detect and Report Phishing and Malicious Emails, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Repeatable VEC Attacks Target Critical Infrastructure - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• The Dark Side of AI (darkreading.com)

• Blocking access to ChatGPT is a short term solution to mitigate risk - Help Net Security

• UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks | Reuters

• Companies are rushing into generative AI without a cohesive, secure strategy - Help Net Security

• ChatGPT, Other Generative AI Apps Prone to Compromise, Manipulation (darkreading.com)

• Lots of sensitive data is still being posted to ChatGPT | TechRadar

• Dark Web Markets Offer New FraudGPT AI Tool - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Top FBI officials warn of 'unparalleled' threat from China and AI | CyberScoop

• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Generative AI - SecurityWeek

• OpenAI, Meta and other tech firms sign onto White House AI commitments | FedScoop

• Intel's deepfake detector tested on real and fake videos - BBC News

• Are AI-Engineered Threats FUD or Reality? (darkreading.com)

• How is the Dark Web Reacting to the AI Revolution? (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malware

• Over 400,000 corporate credentials stolen by info-stealing malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Infostealer incidents more than doubled in Q1 2023 | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The Alarming Rise of Infostealers: How to Detect this Silent Threat (thehackernews.com)

• Decoy Dog: New Breed of Malware Posing Serious Threats to Enterprise Networks (thehackernews.com)

• Rust-based malware used to hack both Windows and Linux servers - Neowin

• Rust-based Realst Infostealer Targeting Apple macOS Users' Cryptocurrency Wallets (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus hackers hijack Microsoft IIS servers to spread malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FIN8 is rewriting its backdoor malware to avoid detection | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• New Nitrogen malware pushed via Google Ads for ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New P2PInfect worm malware targets Linux and Windows Redis servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• HotRat: New Variant of AsyncRAT Malware Spreading Through Pirated Software (thehackernews.com)

• Who and What is Behind the Malware Proxy Service SocksEscort? – Krebs on Security

Mobile

• Chinese-backed Hacking Group Launches Two Bugs Targeting Android Devices - MSSP Alert

• Spyhide stalkerware is spying on tens of thousands of phones | TechCrunch

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

Botnets

• Hackers Target Apache Tomcat Servers for Mirai Botnet and Crypto Mining (thehackernews.com)

• Multiple DDoS Botnets Exploiting Recent Zyxel Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Critical UK Infrastructures in the crosshairs of DDoS attacks (link11.com)

• Zyxel users still getting hacked by DDoS botnet emerge as public nuisance No. 1 | Ars Technica

• Anonymous Sudan DDoS strikes dominate attacks by KillNet collective | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

BYOD

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

Internet of Things – IoT

• Peloton Bugs Expose Enterprise Networks to IoT Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft previews  Defender for IoT firmware analysis service (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Axis Door Controller Vulnerability Exposes Facilities to Physical, Cyber Threats - SecurityWeek

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Deciphering The IBM Cost Of A Data Breach Report: A Statistical Perspective For Business Leaders (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Capita breach class action nears 1,000 sign-ups • The Register

• VirusTotal: We're sorry for mistake that exposed 5,000 users • The Register

• Deloitte joins fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY | Cybernews

• NATO investigating apparent breach of unclassified information sharing platform | CyberScoop

• Tampa General Hospital Data Breach Impacts 1.2 Million Patients - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Australian Home Affairs cyber survey exposed personal data of participating firms | Data and computer security | The Guardian

• Data Breach Costs Hit Record High but Fall For Some - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacker Claims to Have Stolen Sensitive Medical Records from Egypt's Ministry of Health - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Nice Suzuki, sport: shame dealer left your data up for grabs - Security Affairs

• Johns Hopkins hit with class action lawsuit connected to data breach - CBS Baltimore (cbsnews.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The New Summer Vacation Necessity: Cyber Hygiene (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Cryptojacking soars as cyber attacks increase, diversify - Help Net Security

• Hackers Target Apache Tomcat Servers for Mirai Botnet and Crypto Mining (thehackernews.com)

• Cryptojacking: Understanding and defending against cloud compute resource abuse | Microsoft Security Blog

• Lazarus hackers linked to $60 million Alphapo cryptocurrency heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Realst macOS malware steals your cryptocurrency wallets (bleepingcomputer.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Dark Web Markets Offer New FraudGPT AI Tool - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Consumers demand more from businesses when it comes to security - Help Net Security

• CISOs gear up to combat the rising threat of B2B fraud - Help Net Security

• Booz Allen Pays $377m to Settle Government Fraud Case - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MPs launch inquiry into prosecution of Norton Motorcycles pension fraud | Crime | The Guardian

Insurance

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved With Cyber Insurance Negotiation (darkreading.com)

• Brave New World of Cyber Insurance Meets Old-World Contract Principles | New Jersey Law Journal

Dark Web

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How is the Dark Web Reacting to the AI Revolution? (bleepingcomputer.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita breach class action nears 1,000 sign-ups • The Register

• DHL investigating MOVEit breach as number of victims surpasses 20 million (therecord.media)

• The tail of the MOVEit hack may be longer than we realize | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Up to 11 Million People Hit by MOVEit Hack at Government Services Firm Maximus - SecurityWeek

• Banking Sector Targeted in Open-Source Software Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Strengthening the weakest links in the digital supply chain - Help Net Security

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Supply Chain Attack Hits NHS Ambulance Trusts - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Software Supply Chain

• Two ambulance services in UK lost access to patient records after a cyber attack on software provider - Security Affairs

Cloud/SaaS

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Microsoft 365 Breach Risk Widens to Millions of Azure AD Apps (darkreading.com)

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Wiz Says 62% of AWS Environments Exposed to Zenbleed Exploitation - SecurityWeek

• The 4 Keys to Building Cloud Security Programs That Can Actually Shift Left (thehackernews.com)

• Ubuntu Linux Cloud Workloads Face Rampant Root Take Takeovers (darkreading.com)

Shadow IT

• NCSC Publishes New Guidance on Shadow IT - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Encryption

• The UK Government Is Very Close To Eroding Encryption Worldwide  | Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org)

• Apple could opt to stop iMessage and FaceTime services due to the government's surveillance demands - Security Affairs

• Hacking police radios: 30-year-old crypto flaws in the spotlight – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Researchers Find ‘Backdoor’ in Encrypted Police and Military Radios (vice.com)

API

• Reining in API sprawl | TechCrunch

• ALPHV ransomware adds data leak API in new extortion strategy (bleepingcomputer.com)

Open Source

• New OpenSSH Vulnerability Exposes Linux Systems to Remote Command Injection (thehackernews.com)

• Rust-based malware used to hack both Windows and Linux servers - Neowin

• Banking Sector Targeted in Open-Source Software Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• New P2PInfect worm malware targets Linux and Windows Redis servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ubuntu Linux Cloud Workloads Face Rampant Root Take Takeovers (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• CISA: Most cyber attacks on gov’ts, critical infrastructure involve valid credentials (therecord.media)

Social Media

• How to avoid LinkedIn phishing attacks in the enterprise | TechTarget

• Stanford researchers find Mastodon has a massive child abuse material problem - The Verge

Training, Education and Awareness

• Why are computer security guidelines so confusing? - Help Net Security

Travel

• The New Summer Vacation Necessity: Cyber Hygiene (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Stanford researchers find Mastodon has a massive child abuse material problem - The Verge

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC now requires companies to disclose cyber attacks in 4 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber security Experts, SEC Says (darkreading.com)

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Apple could opt to stop iMessage and FaceTime services due to the government's surveillance demands - Security Affairs

• OpenAI, Meta and other tech firms sign onto White House AI commitments | FedScoop

• EU Agrees On Common Position For Cyber Resilience Act To Enhance Security Of Digital Products (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Data Protection

• More US States are ramping up data privacy laws in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends On It (Because It Does) (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Companies encounter months-long delays in filling critical security positions - Help Net Security

• UK Government Report Finds Cyber security Skills Gap Stagnant - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Bridging the cyber security skills gap through cyber range training - Help Net Security

• Overcoming the cyber security talent shortage with upskilling initiatives - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• The FBI's Cynthia Kaiser on how the bureau fights ransomware | CyberScoop

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• More US States are ramping up data privacy laws in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Need to Prove They Can Be Trusted with Technology (hbr.org)

• Ryanair Hit With Lawsuit Over Use of Facial Recognition Technology (darkreading.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• China Propaganda Spreads via US News Sites, Freelancers, Times Square (darkreading.com)

• Russia ‘using disinformation’ to imply Sweden supported Qur’an burnings | Sweden | The Guardian

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Anonymous Sudan DDoS strikes dominate attacks by KillNet collective | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian court jails cyber security executive for 14 years in treason case | Reuters

• Russia ‘using disinformation’ to imply Sweden supported Qur’an burnings | Sweden | The Guardian

• 69% of Russian gamers are pirating after Ukraine invasion pushback | Ars Technica

China

• Top FBI officials warn of 'unparalleled' threat from China and AI | CyberScoop

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Stolen Microsoft key may have opened up more than inboxes • The Register

• Chinese Hackers Breached Ambassador’s Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Chinese groups accused of hacking the US and others | Reuters

• Industrial Organisations in Eastern Europe Targeted by Chinese Cyber spies - SecurityWeek

• Chinese-backed Hacking Group Launches Two Bugs Targeting Android Devices - MSSP Alert

• China Propaganda Spreads via US News Sites, Freelancers, Times Square (darkreading.com)

• China-backed hackers suspected in NetScaler RCE attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• US Senator Wyden Accuses Microsoft of ‘Cyber security Negligence’ - SecurityWeek

• China’s Wuhan Earthquake Center Suffers Cyber Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Cyber spies Target GitHub Developers (darkreading.com)

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GitHub warns of Lazarus hackers targeting devs with malicious projects (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus hackers hijack Microsoft IIS servers to spread malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus hackers linked to $60 million Alphapo cryptocurrency heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• APT “Mysterious Elephant” Emerges in Q2 2023, Kaspersky Reports - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Detection and Mitigation (blueteamresources.in)

• Part 1: Historic To 2022 – The APT And Logical Threats (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Google: 41 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in 2022 | TechTarget

• CVSS 4.0 Is Here, But Prioritizing Patches Still a Hard Problem (darkreading.com)

• Want to live dangerously? Try running Windows XP in 2023 • The Register

• A step-by-step guide for patching software vulnerabilities - Help Net Security

Vulnerabilities

• Over 20,000 Citrix Appliances Vulnerable to New Exploit - SecurityWeek

• A flaw in OpenSSH forwarded ssh-agent allows remote code execution-Security Affairs

• Apple fixes new zero-day used in attacks against iPhones, Macs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Shadowserver reported that +15K Citrix servers are likely vulnerable to attacks exploiting the flaw CVE-2023-3519 - Security Affairs

• NetScaler RCE bug abused to pilfer critical infrastructure Active Directory data | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ivanti patches MobileIron zero-day bug exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zyxel users still getting hacked by DDoS botnet emerge as public nuisance No. 1 | Ars Technica

• Apache OpenMeetings Wide Open to Account Takeover, Code Execution (darkreading.com)

• Super Admin elevation bug puts 900,000 MikroTik devices at risk (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Norwegian government IT systems hacked using zero-day flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)

• VMware fixes bug exposing CF API admin credentials in audit logs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Major Security Flaw Discovered in Metabase BI Software – Urgent Update Required (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber security Agencies Warn Against IDOR Bugs Exploited for Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)

• Critical Zero-Days in Atera Windows Installers Expose Users to Privilege Escalation Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Atlassian RCE Bugs Plague Confluence, Bamboo (darkreading.com)

• Zenbleed attack leaks sensitive data from AMD Zen2 processors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft shares fix for some Outlook hyperlinks not opening (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical Flaws Found in Microsoft Message Queuing Service - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China-backed hackers suspected in NetScaler RCE attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Study reveals silent Python package security fixes • The Register

• Windows 10 KB5028244 update released with 19 fixes, improved security (bleepingcomputer.com)

• VMware Patches Vulnerability Exposing Admin Credentials - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Wiz Says 62% of AWS Environments Exposed to Zenbleed Exploitation - SecurityWeek

• Multiple DDoS Botnets Exploiting Recent Zyxel Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• Zimbra patches zero-day vulnerability exploited in XSS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• WordPress Ninja Forms plugin flaw lets hackers steal submitted data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Two flaws in Linux Ubuntu affect 40% of Ubuntu users - Security Affairs

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Tools and Controls

• Aligning Risk Appetite, Tolerance, And Thresholds With Business Planning: A Comprehensive Guide To Enterprise Risk Management (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why cyber security should be part of your ESG strategy | Computer Weekly

• Lawyers take frontline role in business response to cyber attacks | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Explaining risk maturity models and how they work | TechTarget

• Microsoft enhances Windows 11 Phishing Protection with new features (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Shadow Coding Is An Intoxicating Shortcut—And A Security Landmine (forbes.com)

• Zero trust rated as highly effective by businesses worldwide - Help Net Security

• 50% of Zero Trust Programs Risk Failure According to PlainID Survey (darkreading.com)

• Google Chrome to offer 'Link Previews' when hovering over links (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Why are computer security guidelines so confusing? - Help Net Security

• Threat Intelligence Is Growing — Here's How SOCs Can Keep Up (darkreading.com)

• The challenge of managing unlimited threats in a limited budget: cyber security experts comment | CSO Online

• Shaping the future of digital identity - Help Net Security

• How to Put the Sec in DevSecOps (darkreading.com)

• Designing a Security Strategy for Defending Multicloud Architectures (darkreading.com)

• How Microsoft Defender Experts for XDR helps triage, investigate, and respond to cyberthreats | Microsoft Security Blog

• Converging networking and security with SASE - Help Net Security

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

• KnowBe4 Phishing Test Results Reveal Half of Top Malicious Email Subjects Are HR Related (darkreading.com)

• Windows 11 just got a big upgrade to protect you from phishing attacks — here’s how it works | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Artificial Intelligence Continues To Revolutionize Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Key factors for effective security automation - Help Net Security

• Microsoft previews Defender for IoT firmware analysis service (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The 4 Keys to Building Cloud Security Programs That Can Actually Shift Left (thehackernews.com)

• CISOs consider zero trust a hot security ticket - Help Net Security

• How a Cyber Security Platform Addresses the 3 “S” (trendmicro.com)

• 4 Cyber security Budget Management Tips (trendmicro.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• The Email Threat Landscape, Q1 2023: Key Takeaways (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM

• Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) | Europol (europa.eu)

• Q1 Report: Email Threat Trends Discover Q1 trends and stay ahead of email based threats. - VIPRE

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Other News

• Maritime Cyber attack Database Launched by Dutch University - SecurityWeek

• Google’s new security pilot program will ban employee Internet access | Ars Technica

• Inspiring secure coding: Strategies to encourage developers' continuous improvement - Help Net Security

• macOS Under Attack: Examining the Growing Threat and User Perspectives (thehackernews.com)

• Why whistleblowers in cyber security are important and need support | CSO Online

• Cyber crime as a Public Health Crisis (darkreading.com)

• 7 in 10 MSPs Name Data Security and Network Security As Their Top IT Priorities for 2023 (darkreading.com)

• TETRA Radio Code Encryption Has a Flaw: A Backdoor | WIRED

• World's most internetty firm tries life off the net • The Register

• Exam board cyber attack investigation: Teenager arrested (schoolsweek.co.uk)

• Companies Need to Prove They Can Be Trusted with Technology (hbr.org)

• Heart monitor manufacturer hit by cyber attack, takes systems offline (bitdefender.com)

• How do companies protect customer data? | TechTarget

• Cyber security Agencies Warn Against IDOR Bugs Exploited for Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 9th June 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• 74% of Breaches Involve Human Element- Make Employees Your Best Asset

Verizon’s recent data breach report analysed 16,312 security incidents and 5,199 breaches. A total of 74% of breaches involved a human element, highlighting the role of employees in achieving good cyber resilience. Organisations looking to improve their resilience should therefore consider how well and how frequently they train their users. In a recent report, Fortinet found that 90% of leaders believed that increasing their employee cyber security awareness would help decrease the occurrence of cyber attacks. Worryingly, despite 85% of leaders having an awareness and training programme in place, 50% believed their employees still lacked cyber security knowledge.

With an effective training programme, organisations can increase their employees’ cyber risk awareness and empower them in defending the organisation, laying the foundation for a strong cyber security culture.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/06/verizon-data-breach-investigations-report-2023-dbir/

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/09/employees-cybersecurity-knowledge/

• Cyber Security Agency Urges Vigilance as MOVEit Attack Impacts Major Companies Including British Airways, Boots and the BBC

The recent cyber attacks on file transfer software MOVEit have impacted a number of major companies through their supply chain. The attack, which hit UK-based HR and payroll provider Zellis has had a huge knock-on effect, with major companies such as British Airways, Boots and the BBC suffering as a result of using Zellis in their supply chain. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has emphasised the need for organisations to exercise heightened vigilance.

Organisations must be aware of supply chain risks, and how an attack on a supplier or service provider can impact their own organisation. It is important for organisations to manage supply chain security, assess third party risks, communicate with suppliers and keep on top of emerging threats; it’s no simple task.

https://www.securityweek.com/several-major-organizations-confirm-being-impacted-by-moveit-attack/

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/british-cybersecurity-agency-urges-vigilance-major-companies-fall-victim-software-hack-1716493

• CISOs and IT Lack Confidence in Executives’ Cyber Defence Knowledge as the Spotlight Falls on the Boardroom

Nearly three-quarters of data breaches include an element of human failure, and senior business leaders were particularly at risk, according to a recent report. Not only do business leaders possess the most sensitive information, but they are often the least protected, with many organisations making security protocol exemptions for them. Such factors have pushed the boardroom into the spotlight more.

In another report, it was found that only 28% of IT professionals were confident in their executives’ ability to recognise a phishing email. The report found that as many as 71% of executives were reusing compromised passwords from personal accounts inside the company. Technology alone won’t solve the problem: user awareness training is required and this includes the boardroom.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3698708/cisos-it-lack-confidence-in-executives-cyber-defense-knowledge.html

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366539293/Cyber-spotlight-falls-on-boardroom-privilege-as-incidents-soar

• Only 1 in 10 CISOs are Board-ready as Nearly Half of Boards Lack Cyber Expertise

A recent study has found that only 1 in 10 chief information security officers (CISOs) have all the key traits thought to be crucial for success on a corporate board, with many lacking governance skills and experience and other attributes needed for board readiness. Worryingly, nearly half of the 1,000 companies in the study lacked at least one director with cyber security expertise. This is concerning as good cyber security starts from the board: the board is responsible for understanding the business risks of a cyber incident and for endorsing whether the cyber controls in place have reduced those risks to a level that the board is happy with. Similarly, the board would not sign off financial risks without ensuring they had someone with financial experience and qualifications present. The Black Arrow vCISO service is ideal for organisations that need expertise in assessing and managing cyber risks, underpinned by governance reporting and metrics presented to enable the board to make educated and informed decisions.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3698291/only-one-in-10-cisos-today-are-board-ready-study-says

• BEC Volumes and Ransomware Costs Double in a Year

The number of recorded business email compromise (BEC) attacks doubled over the past year, with the threat comprising nearly 60% of social engineering incidents studied by Verizon for its 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report. The report this year was based on analysis of 16,312 security incidents and 5,199 breaches over the past year.

Pretexting, which is commonly using in BEC attacks, is now more common than phishing in social engineering incidents, although the latter is still more prevalent in breaches, the report noted. The median amount stolen in pretexting attacks now stands at $50,000. The vast majority of attacks (97%) over the past year were motivated by financial gain rather than espionage.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-volumes-ransomware-costs/

• Hackers are Targeting C-Suite Executives Through Their Personal Email

As companies rely on chief financial officers (CFOs) to mitigate risk, cyber attacks and the costs associated with them are a major concern. Now there is also a growing trend of cyber criminals targeting C-suite executives in their personal lives, where it is easier to pull off a breach as there are fewer, if any, protections, instead of targeting them through their business accounts. Once attackers have access, they then try to use this to gain entry to the corporate systems. The report found that 42% of companies have experienced cyber criminal attacks on their senior-level corporate executives, which can compromise sensitive business data. The report found that 58% of respondents stated that cyber threat prevention for executives and their digital assets are not covered in their cyber, IT and physical securities strategies and budgets.

https://fortune.com/2023/06/08/hackers-targeting-c-suite-executives-personal-email-cybersecurity

• Proactive Detection is Crucial as Organisations Lack Effective Threat Research

In a recent study, it was found that CISOs are spending significantly less time on threat research and awareness, despite 58% having an increase in their budget for cyber security; the same number reported that their team is so busy, they may not detect an attack. In a different report, keeping up with threat intelligence was identified as one of the biggest challenges faced.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/06/cisos-cybersecurity-spending/

• Number of Vulnerabilities Exploited Rose by 55%

A recent report from Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 found that the number of vulnerabilities that attackers are exploiting has grown by 55% compared to 2021, with most of the increase resulting from supply chain vulnerabilities; along with this was a 25% rise in the number of CVE’s, the term used for identified vulnerabilities. Worryingly ChatGPT scams saw a 910% increase in monthly domain registrations, pointing to an exponential growth in fraudulent activities taking advantage of the widespread usage and popularity of AI-powered chatbots.

Such growth puts further strain on cyber security staff, making it even harder for organisations to keep up. A strong threat management programme is needed, to help organisations prioritise threats and use organisational resources effectively to address said threats.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/exploitation-vulnerabilities-grew/

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cves-surge-25-2022-another-record/

• Ransomware Behind Most Cyber Attacks, with Record-breaking May

2022 saw ransomware account for nearly one in four (24%) cyber attacks, with 95% of events resulting in a loss costing upwards of $2.25 million during 2021-2022. Ransomware remains a significant threat as evidenced by a different report, which stated that May 2023 saw a 154% spike in ransomware compared to May 2022. Other key findings include unreported attacks being five times more likely than reported attacks.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/ransomware-hit-new-attack-highs-in-may-2023-blackfog-report-says/

https://www.scmagazine.com/analysis/ransomware/ransomware-attacks-have-room-to-grow-verizon-data-breach-report-shows

• 4 Areas of Cyber Risk That Boards Need to Address

As technological innovations such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, robotic process automation, and predictive analytics are integrated into organisations, it makes them increasingly susceptible to cyber threats. This means that governing and assessing cyber risks becomes a prerequisite for successful business performance. This need for transparency has been recognised by the regulators and facilitated by the new cyber security rules to ensure companies maintain adequate cyber security controls and appropriately disclose cyber-related risks and incidents.

To ensure they fulfil the requirements, organisations should focus on the following areas: position security as a strategic business enabler; continuously monitor the cyber risk capability performance; align cyber risk management with business needs through policies and standards; and proactively anticipate the changing threat landscape by utilising threat intelligence sources for emerging threats.

https://hbr.org/2023/06/4-areas-of-cyber-risk-that-boards-need-to-address

• North Korea Makes 50% of Income from Cyber Attacks

The North Korean regime makes around half of its income from cyber attacks on cryptocurrency and other targets. A 2019 UN estimate claimed North Korea had amassed as much as $2bn through historic attacks on crypto firms and traditional banks.

North Korean hackers have been blamed for some of the biggest ever heists of cryptocurrency, including the $620m stolen from Sky Mavis’ Ronin Network last year and the $281m taken from KuCoin in 2020 and $35m from Atomic Wallet just this last weekend.

They are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to get what they want. The 3CX supply chain attacks, in which backdoor malware was implanted into a legitimate-looking software update from the eponymous comms provider, is thought to have been a targeted attempt at hitting crypto exchanges.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/north-korea-makes-50-income/

• Going Beyond “Next Generation” Network Security

Over a decade ago, the phrase “next generation” was used in the network security space to describe the introduction of application-layer controls with firewalls. It was a pivotal moment for the space, setting a new standard for how we protected the perimeter. A lot has happened in the last decade though, most notably, the rapid adoption of cloud and multicloud architectures and the loss of the “perimeter.” Today, 82% of IT leaders have adopted hybrid cloud architectures, and 58% of organisations use between two and three public Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds. On top of that, 95% of web traffic is encrypted which limits visibility. Applications are everywhere, access privileges are unstructured, increasing the attack surface, and businesses expect near-perfect availability and resilience. To make things more complicated, enterprises have tried to solve these challenges with disparate solutions, leading to vendor sprawl among security stacks and operational inefficiency. What was once considered “next-generation” network security no longer cuts it.

https://blogs.cisco.com/security/going-beyond-next-generation-network-security-cisco-platform-approach

• Worldwide 2022 Email Phishing Statistics and Examples

Remote and hybrid work environments have become the new norm. The fact that email has become increasingly integral to business operations, has led malicious actors to favour email as an attack vector. According to a report by security company Egress, 92% of organisations have fallen victim to phishing attacks in 2022, a 29% increase in phishing incidents from 2021. Phishing attacks aimed at stealing info and data, also known as credential phishing, saw a 4% growth in 2022, with nearly 7 million detections. Rather worryingly, there was a 35% increase in the number of detections that related to business email compromise (BEC); these attacks mostly impersonated executives or high-ranking management personnel. With the increase in AI tools, it is expected that cyber criminals will be better able to create and deploy more sophisticated phishing attacks.

https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/ciso/23/e/worldwide-email-phishing-stats-examples-2023.html

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Insurers Predict $33bn Bill for Catastrophic "Cyber Event" - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report: 74% of breaches involve human element - Help Net Security

• 4 Areas of Cyber Risk That Boards Need to Address (hbr.org)

• CISOs, IT lack confidence in executives’ cyber-defence knowledge | CSO Online

• Cyber spotlight falls on boardroom ‘privilege’ as incidents soar | Computer Weekly

• CISOs focus more on business strategy than threat research - Help Net Security

• With SEC Rule Changes on the Horizon, Research Reveals Only 14% of CISOs Have Traits Desired for Cyber Expert Board Positions (darkreading.com)

• Only one in 10 CISOs today are board-ready, study says | CSO Online

• Employee cyber security awareness takes centre stage in defence strategies - Help Net Security

• The Importance of Managing Your Data Security Posture (thehackernews.com)

• How CISOs Can Manage the Intersection of Security, Privacy, And Trust (darkreading.com)

• Why Companies Should Consider Developing A Chief Security Officer Position (forbes.com)

• Want Sustainable Security? Find Middle Ground Between Tech & Education (darkreading.com)

• VeeamON 2023: When Your Nightmare Comes True - The New Stack

• Make Your Employees Your Best Asset in Combating Cyber crime | CISO Collective (fortinet.com)

• UK Organisations lack clear path to achieve threat intelligence - IT Security Guru

• CIOs prioritize new technologies over tech stack optimization - Help Net Security

• Top factors driving enterprise demand for new cyber security technology - Help Net Security

• Why a proactive detection and incident response plan is crucial for your organisation | Microsoft Security Blog

• Factors influencing IT security spending - Help Net Security

• How to Boost Cyber Security Through Better Communication (securityintelligence.com)

• Generative AI's influence on data governance and compliance - Help Net Security

• Essential Cyber security Compliance Standards (trendmicro.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Verizon DBIR: Social Engineering Gains Lead to Spiraling Breach Costs (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware Behind Most Cyber Attacks, Verizon Business Reports - MSSP Alert

• Ransomware Hit New Attack Highs in May 2023, BlackFog Report Says - MSSP Alert

• Hacking Spree Feared After Breach of File-Sharing Software - Bloomberg

• Clop ransomware likely testing MOVEit zero-day since 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Clop extortion gang gives MOVEit exploit victims one week to reach out | CSO Online

• New Linux Ransomware Strain BlackSuit Shows Striking Similarities to Royal (thehackernews.com)

• Cyclops Ransomware group offers a multiplatform Info StealerSecurity Affairs

• 0mega ransomware gang changes tactics - Help Net Security

• Firms warned not to give in to blackmail threats after Russia-linked payroll data hack | Evening Standard

• Royal ransomware gang adds BlackSuit encryptor to their arsenal (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber Extortionists Seek Out Fresh Victims in LatAm and Asia - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Ransomware Victims

• BA, BBC and Boots staff data hit by Russia-linked cyber attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• Ransomware takes down multiple municipalities in May | TechTarget

• Several Major Organisations Confirm Being Impacted by MOVEit Attack - SecurityWeek

• Spanish Bank Globalcaja Hit By Ransomware Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 2.5M Impacted by Enzo Biochem Data Leak After Ransomware Attack (darkreading.com)

• Burton Snowboards discloses data breach after February attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Pharmaceutical Giant Eisai Hit By Ransomware Incident - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• City of Dallas Still Clawing Back Weeks After Cyber Incident (darkreading.com)

• Caribbean Island Suffers Cyber Attack, MSSP Expert Recommends Low-Code Automation - MSSP Alert

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Fixing email security: It's still a rocky road ahead - SiliconANGLE

• Worldwide 2022 Email Phishing Statistics and Examples (trendmicro.com)

• New Security Warning Issued For Google's 1.8 Billion Gmail Users (forbes.com)

• New Horabot campaign takes over victim's Gmail, Outlook accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese Phishing Gang "PostalFurious" Expands Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing Attack Prevention Checklist - A Detailed Guide (gbhackers.com)

• Gmail spoofing vulnerability sparks Google ‘Priority 1’ probe | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• BEC Volumes and Ransomware Costs Double in a Year - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Verizon DBIR: Social Engineering Gains Lead to Spiraling Breach Costs (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• AI poses national security threat, warns terror watchdog | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• ChatGPT creates mutating malware that evades detection by EDR | CSO Online

• The Growing Cyber Threats of Generative AI: Who's Accountable? (darkreading.com)

• Consumers overestimate their deepfake detection skills - Help Net Security

• Department of Defence AI principles have a place in the CISO’s playbook | CSO Online

• Generative AI's influence on data governance and compliance - Help Net Security

• Traditional malware increasingly takes advantage of ChatGPT for attacks | CSO Online

• AI drone 'kills' human operator during 'simulation' - which US Air Force says didn't take place | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• OWASP lists 10 most critical large language model vulnerabilities | CSO Online

• Japan privacy watchdog warns ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on user data | Reuters

• New ChatGPT Attack Technique Spreads Malicious Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Sextortionists are making AI nudes from your social media images (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber crooks Scrape OpenAI API Keys to Pirate GPT-4 (darkreading.com)

2FA/MFA

• PyPI's 2FA Requirements Don't Go Far Enough, Researchers Say (darkreading.com)

• How fraudsters undermine text passcodes - Help Net Security

Malware

• High-profile malware and targeted attacks in Q1 2023 | Securelist

• ChatGPT creates mutating malware that evades detection by EDR | CSO Online

• Malicious Chrome extensions with 75M installs removed from Web Store (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Qakbot: The trojan that just won't go away - Help Net Security

• Qbot malware adapts to live another day … and another … • The Register

• Alarming Surge in TrueBot Activity Revealed with New Delivery Vectors (thehackernews.com)

• New ChatGPT Attack Technique Spreads Malicious Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New PowerDrop Malware Targeting US Aerospace Industry (thehackernews.com)

• Dissecting the Dark Web Supply Chain: Stealer Logs in Context (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Minecraft Malware Spreading Through Mods, Plug-ins (darkreading.com)

• Online sellers targeted by new information-stealing malware campaign (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google puts $1M behind its mining-malware detection promise • The Register

Mobile

• Over 60,000 Android apps secretly installed adware for past six months (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Android security update fixes Mali GPU flaw exploited by spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New tool scans iPhones for 'Triangulation' malware infection (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Android feature drop will scan the dark web for your Gmail address | Trusted Reviews

• Apple announces next-level privacy and security innovations - Help Net Security

• How Does Android Stack Up Vs IOS? (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Botnets

• New Horabot campaign takes over victim's Gmail, Outlook accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Alarming Surge in TrueBot Activity Revealed with New Delivery Vectors (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Outlook.com hit by outages as hacktivists claim DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The evolution of DDoS attacks in 2023 - Help Net Security

• Microsoft OneDrive down worldwide following claims of DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Internet of Things – IoT             

• Britain to remove Chinese surveillance gear from government sites | Surveillance | The Guardian

• Morrisons and Tesco ban Chinese CCTV cameras over security fears (telegraph.co.uk)

• Amazon’s Ring doorbell employees spied on users’ bathrooms (telegraph.co.uk)

• High-risk vulnerabilities patched in ABB Aspect building management system - Help Net Security

• New York City sues Hyundai, Kia claiming cars easy to steal • The Register

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Verizon DBIR: Social Engineering Gains Lead to Spiraling Breach Costs (darkreading.com)

• BA, BBC and Boots staff data hit by Russia-linked cyber attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• This Google Workspace security flaw could let hackers quietly steal your Drive files | TechRadar

• Microsoft: Lace Tempest Hackers Behind Active Exploitation of MOVEit Transfer App (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers launch another wave of mass-hacks targeting company file transfer tools | TechCrunch

• Massive free VPN data breach exposes 360M records | Fox News

• 2.5M Impacted by Enzo Biochem Data Leak After Ransomware Attack (darkreading.com)

• Cloud misconfiguration causes massive data breach at Toyota Motor | CSO Online

• Honda API flaws exposed customer data, dealer panels, internal docs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Every Netherlands resident affected by data leak: watchdog | NL Times

• German recruiter Pflegia leaks sensitive job seeker info- Security Affairs

• What’s really changed 10 years after the Snowden revelations? | Edward Snowden | The Guardian

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• RaidForums: The child hacker facing extradition to the US | Euronews

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• North Korean Hackers Blamed for $35 Million Atomic Wallet Crypto Theft – Security Week

• Google puts $1M behind its mining-malware detection promise • The Register

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report: 74% of breaches involve human element - Help Net Security

• How to Boost Cyber Security Through Better Communication (securityintelligence.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Scammers publish ads for hacking services on government websites | TechCrunch

• Hackers hijack legitimate sites to host credit card stealer scripts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• A new wave of sophisticated digital fraud hits Europe - Help Net Security

• ID fraud a possibility forever, claims data breach lawsuit • The Register

• How fraudsters undermine text passcodes - Help Net Security

• Magento, WooCommerce, WordPress, and Shopify Exploited in Web Skimmer Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Brazilian Cyber criminals Using LOLBaS and CMD Scripts to Drain Bank Accounts (thehackernews.com)

• Virtual claims raise alarms among insurance carriers and customers - Help Net Security

• UK banks to reimburse fraud victims under new rules, regulator confirms | Scams | The Guardian

• Interpol: Human Trafficking is Fueling Fraud Epidemic - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• 'Picture-in-Picture' Obfuscation Spoofs Delta, Kohl's for Credential Harvesting (darkreading.com)

• Gmail spoofing vulnerability sparks Google ‘Priority 1’ probe | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Deepfakes

• Sextortionists are making AI nudes from your social media images (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Deepfakes being used in ‘sextortion’ scams, FBI warns • The Register

• Consumers overestimate their deepfake detection skills - Help Net Security

• Defenders Buckle Up for a Future of Detecting Deepfakes (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• Insurers Predict $33bn Bill for Catastrophic "Cyber Event" - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Virtual claims raise alarms among insurance carriers and customers - Help Net Security

Dark Web

• New Android feature drop will scan the dark web for your Gmail address | Trusted Reviews

• Dissecting the Dark Web Supply Chain: Stealer Logs in Context (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What is the dark web and how do you access it? (androidpolice.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Firms warned not to give in to blackmail threats after Russia-linked payroll data hack | Evening Standard

• Capita data breach ‘may affect millions’ (thetimes.co.uk)

• BA, BBC and Boots staff data hit by Russia-linked cyber attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• Microsoft: Lace Tempest Hackers Behind Active Exploitation of MOVEit Transfer App (thehackernews.com)

• Clop extortion gang gives MOVEit exploit victims one week to reach out | CSO Online

• Clop Ransomware Gang Likely Aware of MOVEit Transfer Vulnerability Since 2021 (thehackernews.com)

• Hacking Spree Feared After Breach of File-Sharing Software - Bloomberg

• data privacy: Swiss administration hit by cyber attack - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

Software Supply Chain

• SBOMs - Software Supply Chain Security’s Future or Fantasy? - SecurityWeek

• 10 security tool categories needed to shore up software supply chain security | CSO Online

Cloud/SaaS

• Cloud Security Tops Concerns for Cyber Security Leaders: EC-Council's Certified CISO Hall of Fame Report 2023 (thehackernews.com)

• The Annual Report: 2024 Plans and Priorities for SaaS Security (thehackernews.com)

• Cloud misconfiguration causes massive data breach at Toyota Motor | CSO Online

• This Google Workspace security flaw could let hackers quietly steal your Drive files | TechRadar

• Current SaaS security strategies don't go far enough - Help Net Security

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Filling the Gaps: How to Secure the Future of Hybrid Work (darkreading.com)

• Thought of Going Into Office Gives Quarter of Employees Sunday Scaries - IT Security Guru

• Surveilling your employees? You could be putting your company at risk of attack - Help Net Security

Shadow IT

• Shadow IT is increasing and so are the associated security risks | CSO Online

Encryption

• UK Government Official Offers Up Nonsensical Defence Of Criminalizing End-To-End Encryption | Techdirt

API

• Honda API flaws exposed customer data, dealer panels, internal docs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OWASP's 2023 API Security Top 10 Refines View of API Risks - SecurityWeek

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Watch brute force hacking attempts fail in realtime | Boing Boing

Social Media

• UK mental health charities handed sensitive data to Facebook for targeted ads | Mental health | The Guardian

• Microsoft Preps $425M Payment for LinkedIn GDPR Violations (darkreading.com)

• Hate speech is driving advertisers away from Twitter • Graham Cluley

• US government's TikTok ban extended to include contractors • The Register

Training, Education and Awareness

• Employee cyber security awareness takes center stage in defense strategies - Help Net Security

• Want Sustainable Security? Find Middle Ground Between Tech & Education (darkreading.com)

• Make Your Employees Your Best Asset in Combating Cyber crime | CISO Collective (fortinet.com)

• How to Boost Cyber security Through Better Communication (securityintelligence.com)

• Embracing realistic simulations in cyber security training programs - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• SEC drops 42 cases after staff bungle data protection • The Register

• Japan privacy watchdog warns ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on user data | Reuters

• Microsoft Preps $425M Payment for LinkedIn GDPR Violations (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft Fined $20M For Xbox Child Data Collection (darkreading.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Governments Need a Cyber Blueprint to Hire, Retain Cyber security Talent, Report Says - MSSP Alert

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• UK mental health charities handed sensitive data to Facebook for targeted ads | Mental health | The Guardian

• Amazon’s Ring doorbell employees spied on users’ bathrooms (telegraph.co.uk)

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• British Army organises major Western European cyber warfare exercise (ibtimes.co.uk)

• Still standing after 260m attacks: inside Ukraine’s cyber warfare squad (thetimes.co.uk)

• Hacks Against Ukraine's Emergency Response Services Rise During Bombings | WIRED

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Nation State Actors

• North Korea Makes 50% of Income from Cyber-Attacks: Report - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A Peek Behind the Curtain: Examining the Dimensions of a National-level Cyber Program | Mandiant

• Chinese Phishing Gang "PostalFurious" Expands Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• North Korean APT group targets email credentials in social engineering campaign | CSO Online

• UK to strip Chinese surveillance cameras from sensitive government sites | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Morrisons and Tesco ban Chinese CCTV cameras over security fears (telegraph.co.uk)

• US government's TikTok ban extended to include contractors • The Register

• Camaro Dragon Strikes with New TinyNote Backdoor for Intelligence Gathering (thehackernews.com)

• Kimsuky APT poses as journalists and broadcast writers in attacks- Security Affairs

• Meet TeamT5, the Taiwanese infosec outfit taking on Beijing • The Register

• China has closed unofficial ‘police stations’ in Britain, UK minister says | China | The Guardian

• Lazarus hackers linked to the $35 million Atomic Wallet heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Kimsuky Targets Think Tanks and News Media with Social Engineering Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Hostile states face contract ban amid security concerns (thetimes.co.uk)

• North Korean Hackers Blamed for $35 Million Atomic Wallet Crypto Theft - SecurityWeek

• Espionage Attacks in North Africa Linked to "Stealth Soldier" Backdoor - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Exploitation of Vulnerabilities Soared By 55% in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New vulnerabilities increase by 25 percent (betanews.com)

• OWASP lists 10 most critical large language model vulnerabilities | CSO Online

• Public sector apps show higher rates of security flaws - Help Net Security

Vulnerabilities

• CISA adds Progress MOVEit Transfer zero-day to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog- Security Affairs

• Zyxel vulnerability under 'widespread exploitation' | TechTarget

• Barracuda Urges Immediate Replacement of Hacked ESG Appliances (thehackernews.com)

• Experts Unveil Exploit for Recent Windows Vulnerability Under Active Exploitation (thehackernews.com)

• Urgent Security Updates: Cisco and VMware Address Critical Vulnerabilities (thehackernews.com)

• High-Severity Vulnerabilities Patched in Splunk Enterprise - SecurityWeek

• Zero Day Initiative — CVE-2023-24941: Microsoft Network File System Remote Code Execution

• Gigabyte Slams Backdoor Shut With Attack-Killing BIOS Update (darkreading.com)

• Zero-Day Alert: Google Issues Patch for New Chrome Vulnerability - Update Now! (thehackernews.com)

• Android security update fixes Mali GPU flaw exploited by spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Three Vulnerabilities Discovered in Game Dev Tool RenderDoc - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Firefox 114 is out: No 0-days, but one fascinating “teachable moment” bug – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• High-risk vulnerabilities patched in ABB Aspect building management system - Help Net Security

• Easily Exploitable Microsoft Visual Studio Bug Opens Developers to Takeover (darkreading.com)

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Tools and Controls

• CISOs focus more on business strategy than threat research - Help Net Security

• CIOs prioritize new technologies over tech stack optimization - Help Net Security

• Going Beyond “Next Generation” Network Security - Cisco Blogs

• Make Your Employees Your Best Asset in Combating Cybercrime | CISO Collective (fortinet.com)

• UK Organisations lack clear path to achieve threat intelligence - IT Security Guru

• Why a proactive detection and incident response plan is crucial for your organisation | Microsoft Security Blog

• Employee cybersecurity awareness takes center stage in defence strategies - Help Net Security

• Want Sustainable Security? Find Middle Ground Between Tech & Education (darkreading.com)

• Factors influencing IT security spending - Help Net Security

• Top factors driving enterprise demand for new cyber security technology - Help Net Security

• How to Boost Cyber security Through Better Communication (securityintelligence.com)

• MoD adopts ‘secure by design’ for cyber security | UKAuthority

• Everyone is selling VPNs, and that's a problem for security | Engadget

• ISMG Editors: Why Communications Skills Matter for CISOs (inforisktoday.com)

• Network Security Checklist - 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Phishing Attack Prevention Checklist - A Detailed Guide (gbhackers.com)

• Ransomware Attack Prevention Checklist - 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• OWASP lists 10 most critical large language model vulnerabilities | CSO Online

• This Google Workspace security flaw could let hackers quietly steal your Drive files | TechRadar

• How to make developers love security - Help Net Security

• Embracing realistic simulations in cyber security training programs - Help Net Security

• The Key to Zero Trust Identity Is Automation (darkreading.com)

• What generative AI's rise means for the cyber security industry | TechTarget

• Cisco spotlights generative AI in security, collaboration | Network World

• 10 security tool categories needed to shore up software supply chain security | CSO Online

• How to Improve Your API Security Posture (thehackernews.com)

• Consolidate Vendors and Products for Better Security - SecurityWeek

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Verizon 2023 DBIR: Ransomware remains steady but complicated | TechTarget

• The Annual Report: 2024 Plans and Priorities for SaaS Security (thehackernews.com)

• Threat Intelligence report 2023 | Nokia

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Other News

• The country with the best cyber security skills may surprise you | TechRadar

• CEO guilty of selling counterfeit Cisco devices to military, govt orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• NASA website flaw jeopardizes astrobiology fans- Security Affairs

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 28 April 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Navigating the Future of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber Security Training, and Digital Transformation are Key

Cyber investments have become table stakes for businesses around the world. Cyber crime is increasing, with 91% of organisations reporting at least one cyber incident in the past year. Not only are they growing in numbers, but they are becoming more sophisticated and diverse, with new threats constantly emerging. According to the 2023 Deloitte Global Future of Cyber survey, business leaders are changing how they think of cyber, and it’s emerging as a larger strategic discussion tied to an organisation’s long-term success.

Cyber is about more than protecting information—risk management, incident response planning, threat intelligence and training can often be directly correlated to increasing trust within businesses.

Cyber security training is essential for employees to ensure the safety and security of a business. Employees are often the first line of defence against cyber-attacks and frequently the weakest link in an organisation's security posture. Cyber security training can help employees recognise and avoid common cyber threats, such as phishing attacks, malware, and social engineering. 89% of organisations cited as high-performing cyber organisations have implemented annual cyber awareness training among all employees. With increased digital dependency year over year—effective employee training can raise awareness, reduce risk, improve security posture, and support compliance.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2023/04/20/navigating-the-future-of-cyber-business-strategy-cybersecurity-training-and-digital-transformation-are-key/?sh=1ab15c2c29c1

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises

There's no denying that software-as-a-service (SaaS) has entered its golden age. Software tools have now become essential to modern business operations and continuity. However, not enough organisations have implemented the proper procurement processes to ensure they're protecting themselves from potential data breaches and reputational harm.

A critical component contributing to concerns around SaaS management is the rising trend of shadow IT, which is when employees download and use software tools without notifying their internal IT teams. A recent study shows that 77% of IT professionals believe that shadow IT is becoming a major concern in 2023, with more than 65% saying their SaaS tools aren't being approved. Organisations are beginning to struggle with maintaining security as their SaaS usage continues to sprawl.

To combat shadow IT and the high risks that come along with it, organisations must gain greater visibility over their SaaS stacks and institute an effective procurement process when bringing on new software solutions.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/shadow-it-saas-pose-security-liability-for-enterprises

• The Strong Link Between Cyber Threat Intelligence and Digital Risk Protection

While indicators of compromise and attackers’ tactics, techniques, and processes (TTPs) remain central to threat intelligence, cyber threat intelligence needs have grown over the past few years, driven by things like digital transformation, cloud computing and remote working. In fact, these changes have led to a cyber threat intelligence (CTI) subcategory focused on digital risk protection (DRP). DRP is broadly defined as, “telemetry, analysis, processes, and technologies used to identify and mitigate risks associated with digital assets”.

According to research provider ESG, the most important functions of DRP as part of a mature CTI programme are: vulnerability exploit intelligence, takedown services, leaked data monitoring, malicious mobile application monitoring, brand protection and attack surface management. It should be noted that a mature CTI programme can utilise service providers to help carry out threat intelligence, it doesn’t have to be spun up by the organisation from nothing. Regardless, an organisation employing these DRP functions as part of a CTI programme will be increasing its cyber resilience and reducing the chance of a cyber incident.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3693754/the-strong-link-between-cyber-threat-intelligence-and-digital-risk-protection.html

• Weak Credentials, Unpatched Vulnerabilities, Malicious Open Source Packages Causing Cloud Security Risks

Threat actors are getting more adept at exploiting common everyday issues in the cloud, including misconfigurations, weak credentials, lack of authentication, unpatched vulnerabilities, and malicious open-source software (OSS) packages. Meanwhile, security teams take an average of 145 hours to solve alerts, with 80% of cloud alerts triggered by just 5% of security rules in most environments according to a recent report. The report, conducted by UNIT 42 analysed the workload of 210,000 cloud accounts across 1,300 organisations.

The report’s findings echoed similarities from the previous year, finding almost all cloud users, roles, services and resources grant excessive permissions. Some of the other key findings include as many as 83% of organisations having hard-coded credentials in their source control management systems, 53% of cloud accounts allowing weak password usage and 44% allowing password reuse and 71% of high or critical vulnerabilities exposed were at least two years old.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3693260/weak-credentials-unpatched-vulnerabilities-malicious-oss-packages-causing-cloud-security-risks.html

• Over 70 Billion Unprotected Files Available on Unsecured Web Servers

A recent report found that more than 70 billion files, including intellectual property and financial information, are freely available and unprotected on unsecured web servers. Other key findings of the report included almost 1 in 10 of all detected internet-facing assets having an unpatched vulnerability, with the top 10 vulnerabilities found unpatched at least 12 million times each.

The report predicted that there will be a significant rise in information stealing malware; the report had found that 50% of emails associated with customers were plaintext and unencrypted. Additionally, there will be more incidents due to an increase in assets which are not known to IT, known as shadow IT.

Organisations should look to employ efficient patch management, have an up to date asset register, and use encryption to better increase their cyber defences.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/24/critical-cybersecurity-exposures/

• Cyber Thieves Are Getting More Creative

Cyber criminals are constantly changing their tactics and finding new ways to steal money from organisations. An example of this can be seen where criminals are breaking into systems to learn who is authorised to send payments and what the procedures are. Eventually, this leads to the criminal instructing payment to their own account.

Unfortunately, it is only after such events that some organisations are taking actions, such as verifying payments through phone calls. Whilst it is important for organisations to learn from attacks, it is beneficial to take a pro-active approach and employ procedures such as call back procedures before an incident has occurred.

https://hbr.org/2023/04/cyber-thieves-are-getting-more-creative

• Modernising Vulnerability Management: The Move Toward Exposure Management

Managing vulnerabilities in the constantly evolving technological landscape is a difficult task. Although vulnerabilities emerge regularly, not all vulnerabilities present the same level of risk. Traditional metrics such as CVSS score or the number of vulnerabilities are insufficient for effective vulnerability management as they lack business context, prioritisation, and understanding of attackers' motivations, opportunities and means. Vulnerabilities only represent a small part of the attack surface that attackers can leverage.

Exposures are broader and can encompass more than just vulnerabilities. Exposures can result from various factors, such as human error, improperly defined security controls, and poorly designed and unsecured architecture. Organisations should consider that an attacker doesn’t just look at one exposure; attackers will often use a combination of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, permissions and other exposures to move across systems and reach valuable assets.

As such, organisations looking to improve their cyber resiliency should consider their vulnerability management system and assess both whether it is taking into account exposures and the context in relation to the organisation.

https://thehackernews.com/2023/04/modernizing-vulnerability-management.html

• Two-thirds of Cyber Attacks Involve Ransomware

A report from Sophos focusing on recent incident response cases, found that 68.4% of incidents resulted from ransomware. This was followed by network breaches, accounting for 18.4%. Regarding threat actor access, the report found that unpatched vulnerabilities were the single most common access method, followed by compromised credentials.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/365535467/Almost-three-quarters-of-cyber-attacks-involve-ransomware

• Corporate Boards Pressure CISOs to Step Up Risk Mitigation Efforts

A recent report found that the top challenges when implementing an effective cyber/IT risk management programme include an increase in the quantity (49%) and severity (49%) of cyber threats, a lack of funding (37%) and a lack of staffing/cyber risk talent (36%).

Cyber attacks have been increasing for several years now and resulting data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.35 million in 2022, according to the annual IBM ‘Cost of a Data Breach’ report. Given the financial and reputational consequences of cyber attacks, corporate board rooms are putting pressure on CISOs to identify and mitigate cyber/IT risk.

When it came to reporting to the board, 30% of CIO and CISO respondents say they do not communicate risk around specific business initiatives to other company leaders, indicating they may not know how to share that information in a constructive way.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/26/effective-it-risk-management/

• NSA Sees ‘Significant’ Russian Intel Gathering on European, US Supply Chain Entities

According to the US National Security Agency (NSA), Russian hackers could be looking to attack logistics targets more broadly. The NSA have noted a significant amount of intelligence gathering into western countries, including the UK and the US.

Although there is no indication yet regarding attacks from Russia in connection with the logistics related to Ukraine, organisations should be aware and look to improve their cyber security practices to be best prepared.

https://cyberscoop.com/nsa-russian-ukraine-supply-chain-ransomware/

• Email Threat Report 2023: Key Takeaways

According to a recent report, email phishing made up 24% of all spam types in 2022, a significant increase in proportion from 11% in 2021. The finance industry was the most targeted by far, accounting for 48% of phishing incidents. It is followed by the construction sector at 17%, overtaking 2021’s second-place industry, e-commerce. Both the finance and construction industries saw an increase in phishing since last year. Of all the emails analysed in 2022, an enormous 90% were spam emails.

With phishing as prevalent as ever, organisations should look to implement training for their staff to not only be able to spot phishing emails, but to be able to report these and aid in improving the cyber security culture of their organisation.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/04/27/email-threat-report-2023-key-takeaways/

• 5 Most Dangerous New Attack Techniques

Experts from security training provider SANS Institute have revealed the 5 most dangerous new attack techniques: adversarial AI, ChatGPT-powered social engineering, third-party developer attacks (also known as software supply chain attacks), SEO, and paid advertising attacks.

The new techniques highlight the ever changing environment of the attack environment. SEO and paid advertising attacks are leveraging fundamental marketing strategies to gain initial access, heightening the importance for organisations to incorporate scalable user awareness training programmes, tailored to new threats.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3694892/5-most-dangerous-new-attack-techniques.html  

• Many Public Salesforce Sites are Leaking Private Data

A shocking number of organisations — including banks and healthcare providers — are leaking private and sensitive information from their public Salesforce Community websites. The data exposures all stem from a misconfiguration in Salesforce Community that allows an unauthenticated user to access records that should only be available after logging in.

This included the US State of Vermont who had at least five separate Salesforce Community sites that allowed guest access to sensitive data, including a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programme that exposed the applicant’s full name, social security number, address, phone number, email, and bank account number. Similar information was leaked by TCF Bank on their Salesforce Community Website.

It's not just Salesforce though; misconfigurations in general are responsible for a number of leaked documents and or exposures relating to an organisation.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/04/many-public-salesforce-sites-are-leaking-private-data/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• New coercive tactics used to extort ransomware payments - Help Net Security

• Capita Admits That Its ‘Cyber Incident’ Was Ransomware and That Customer Data Was Breached - IT Governance UK Blog

• Russian hackers exfiltrated data from from Capita over a week before outage | by Kevin Beaumont | Apr, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• Almost three-quarters of cyber attacks involve ransomware | Computer Weekly

• #RSAC: Ransomware Poses Growing Threat to Five Eyes Nations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

• Effects of the Hive Ransomware Group Takedown (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft Confirms PaperCut Servers Used to Deliver LockBit and Cl0p Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MIT and Stanford researchers develop operating system with one major promise: Resisting ransomware | CyberScoop

• Tank storage company Vopak hacked, Ransomware groups report | NL Times

• Health insurer Point32Health suffered a ransomware attack-Security Affairs

• Hacker demands ransom after 'taking control' of Wiltshire school's IT | Swindon Advertiser

• US Navy Contractor Fincantieri Marine Group Hit by Cyber-attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Arnold Clark braced for cyber payout (thetimes.co.uk)

• RSAC speaker offers ransomware victims unconventional advice | TechTarget

• How ransomware victims can make the best of a bad situation | TechTarget

• Hackers Leaked Minneapolis Students' Psychological Reports, Allegations of Abuse (gizmodo.com)

• Linux version of RTM Locker ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CommScope employees left in the dark after ransomware attack | TechCrunch

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Email Threat Report 2023: Key Takeaways - IT Security Guru

• How Dangerous Is Phishing in 2023? - Duo Blog | Duo Security

• The New Frontier in Email Security: Goodbye, Gateways; Hello, Behavioural AI (darkreading.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• WhatsApp used in BEC scam to pilfer $6.4M | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

2FA/MFA

• CrowdStrike details new MFA bypass, credential theft attack | TechTarget

• Phishing-resistant MFA shapes the future of authentication forms - Help Net Security

Malware

• Malware-Free Cyber attacks Are On the Rise; Here's How to Detect Them (darkreading.com)

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ex-Conti and FIN7 Actors Collaborate with New Backdoor (securityintelligence.com)

• EvilExtractor malware activity spikes in Europe and the US (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zaraza Malware Exploits Web Browsers To Steal Stored Passwords (latesthackingnews.com)

• This evil malware disables your security software, then goes in for the kill | TechRadar

• Decoy Dog malware toolkit found after analysing 70 billion DNS queries (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus Subgroup Targeting Apple Devices with New RustBucket macOS Malware (thehackernews.com)

• A Security Team Is Turning This Malware Gang’s Tricks Against It | WIRED

• Evasive Panda APT group delivers malware via updates for popular Chinese software | WeLiveSecurity

• Google banned 173K developer accounts to block malware, fraud rings (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese Cyber spies Delivered Malware via Legitimate Software Updates - SecurityWeek

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

Mobile

• WhatsApp used in BEC scam to pilfer $6.4M | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 35M Downloads Of Android Minecraft Clones Spreads Adware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Botnets

• Google Gets Court Order to Take Down CryptBot That Infected Over 670,000 Computers (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• New SLP bug can lead to massive 2,200x DDoS amplification attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Top 15 DDoS Protection Best Practices - Security Boulevard

• 'Anonymous Sudan' Claims Responsibility for DDoS Attacks Against Israel (darkreading.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Government Agencies Release Blueprint for Secure Smart Cities - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• TP-Link Archer WiFi router flaw exploited by Mirai malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Over 70 billion unprotected files available on unsecured web servers - Help Net Security

• Many Public Salesforce Sites are Leaking Private Data – Krebs on Security

• American Bar Association data breach hits 1.4 million members (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CFPB Employee Sends 256,000 Consumers' Data to Personal Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• American Bar Association (ABA) suffered a data breach-Security Affairs

• Shields Health Breach Exposes 2.3M Users' Data (darkreading.com)

• Serving UK Armed Forces member charged under Official Secrets Act (telegraph.co.uk)

• Yellow Pages Canada confirms cyber attack as Black Basta leaks data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vantage Travel Experiences Data Security Incident (darkreading.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The IRS is sending four investigators across the world to fight cyber crime | TechCrunch

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Kubernetes RBAC abused to create persistent cluster backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• The IRS is sending four investigators across the world to fight cyber crime | TechCrunch

• How Startups Can Take Steps To Prevent Syphoning & Fraud

• US deploys more cyber forces abroad to help fight hackers | Reuters

• The ‘Your computer was locked’ scam is gaining traction (consumeraffairs.com)

• The true numbers behind deepfake fraud - Help Net Security

• Google banned 173K developer accounts to block malware, fraud rings (bleepingcomputer.com)

Deepfakes

• The true numbers behind deepfake fraud - Help Net Security

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

Insurance

• The Complexities of Cyber Insurance | Cyber Risk Management (telos.com)

Dark Web

• Metaverse Version of the Dark Web Could be Nearly Impenetrable (darkreading.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita Admits That Its ‘Cyber Incident’ Was Ransomware and That Customer Data Was Breached - IT Governance UK Blog

• Russian hackers exfiltrated data from from Capita over a week before outage | by Kevin Beaumont | Apr, 2023 | DoublePulsar

• At least 2 critical infrastructure orgs breached by North Korea-linked hackers behind 3CX attack - -Security Affairs-Security Affairs

• The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks | WIRED

• That 3CX supply chain attack keeps getting worse • The Register

• NSA sees 'significant' Russian intel gathering on European, US supply chain entities | CyberScoop

• North Korean hackers breach software firm in significant cyber attack | CNN Politics

• SD Worx hack: Payroll firm for M&S hit by cyber attack (thetimes.co.uk)

• A third-party’s perspective on third-party InfoSec risk management - Help Net Security

Software Supply Chain

• Securing Software Supply Chains Requires Outside-the-Box Thinking - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises (darkreading.com)

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• 14 Kubernetes and Cloud Security Challenges and How to Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware attacks, human error main cause of cloud data breaches: Report (business-standard.com)

• GhostToken Flaw Could Let Attackers Hide Malicious Apps in Google Cloud Platform (thehackernews.com)

• Saas Security: The Need For Continuous Sustenance (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How CISOs navigate security and compliance in a multi-cloud world - Help Net Security

• Cloud Complexity Means Bugs Are Missed in Testing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Study: 84% of Companies Use Breached SaaS Applications - Here's How to Fix it for Free! (thehackernews.com)

• Security experts found a major bug in Google Cloud | TechRadar

• Most SaaS adopters exposed to browser-borne attacks - Help Net Security

• Cloud-native security metrics for CISOs | TechTarget

• Exposed Artifacts Seen In Misconfigured Cloud Software Registries (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Google accounts attacked and hijacked by this devious security flaw | TechRadar

Containers

• Kubernetes RBAC abused to create persistent cluster backdoors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts spotted first-ever crypto mining campaign leveraging Kubernetes RBAC-Security Affairs

• Combating Kubernetes — the Newest IAM Challenge (darkreading.com)

Attack Surface Management

• Over 70 billion unprotected files available on unsecured web servers - Help Net Security

• Study of past cyber attacks can improve organisations' defence strategies - Help Net Security

Shadow IT

• Shadow IT, SaaS Pose Security Liability for Enterprises (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Rethinking the effectiveness of current authentication initiatives - Help Net Security

• Combating Kubernetes — the Newest IAM Challenge (darkreading.com)

Open Source

• The double-edged sword of open-source software - Help Net Security

• Linux Shift: Chinese APT Alloy Taurus Is Back With Retooling (darkreading.com)

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

• Linux version of RTM Locker ransomware targets VMware ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• Password reset woes could cost FTSE 100 companies $156 million each month - Help Net Security

• The War on Passwords Enters a Chaotic New Phase | WIRED

• A '!password20231#' password may not be as complex as you think (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Thousands of Social Media Takedowns Hit People Smugglers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Metaverse Version of the Dark Web Could be Nearly Impenetrable (darkreading.com)

• Vietnamese Hackers Linked to 'Malverposting' Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Malvertising

• Trojanized Installers Used to Distribute Bumblebee Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google ads push BumbleBee malware used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 35M Downloads Of Android Minecraft Clones Spreads Adware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

Digital Transformation

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Cyber security in Finance: Protecting Your Digital Transformation | CSO Online

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Tech giants and government have failed to stop child sex abuse online, says Sajid Javid (telegraph.co.uk)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• (ISC)2 Urges Countries to Strengthen Collaboration on Cyber security Regulation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Corporate boards pressure CISOs to step up risk mitigation efforts - Help Net Security

• How the Talent Shortage Impacts Cyber security Leadership (securityintelligence.com)

• Is your bank account safe? Mass layoffs weaken cyber security across finance sector | Fox Business

• The Tangled Web of IR Strategies (darkreading.com)

• The strong link between cyber threat intelligence and digital risk protection | CSO Online

• Cyber Thieves Are Getting More Creative (hbr.org)

• Organisations are stepping up their game against cyber threats - Help Net Security

• CISOs: unsupported, unheard, and invisible - Help Net Security

• The Relationship Between Security Maturity and Business Enablement | CSO Online

• CISOs Rethink Data Security with Info-Centric Framework (darkreading.com)

• UK Cyber Pros Burnt Out and Overwhelmed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Good, Better And Best Security (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• #RSAC: Organisations Warned About the Latest Attack Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SANS Reveals Top 5 Most Dangerous Cyber attacks for 2023 (darkreading.com)

• Cloud-native security metrics for CISOs | TechTarget

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Small Business is a Big Priority: NIST Expands Outreach to the Small Business Community | NIST

• Are you ready for PCI DSS 4.0? - Help Net Security

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• UK Cyber Pros Burnt Out and Overwhelmed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Begin a Career in Ethical Hacking in the Year 2023? (analyticsinsight.net)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• To combat cyber crime, US law enforcement increasingly prioritizes disruption | CyberScoop

• US to focus on stifling cyber attacks, not convictions • The Register

• US deploys more cyber forces abroad to help fight hackers | Reuters

• Effects of the Hive Ransomware Group Takedown (darkreading.com)

• Google Gets Court Order to Take Down CryptBot That Infected Over 670,000 Computers (thehackernews.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Hackers can find your home on Strava even if you use privacy settings, researchers find | Cycling Weekly

• Major US CFPB Data Breach Caused by Employee (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• The Growing Need for Cyber Security in an Age of AI Disruption (analyticsinsight.net)

• From pope’s jacket to napalm recipes: how worrying is AI’s rapid growth? | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• Cyber security Survival: Hide From Adversarial AI (darkreading.com)

• AI Experts: Account for AI/ML Resilience & Risk While There's Still Time (darkreading.com)

• 5 most dangerous new attack techniques | CSO Online

• NSA Cyber security Director Says ‘Buckle Up’ for Generative AI | WIRED

• The New Risks ChatGPT Poses to Cyber security (hbr.org)

• From ChatGPT to HackGPT: Meeting the Cyber security Threat of Generative AI (mit.edu)

• ChatGPT fans need 'defensive mindset' to avoid scammers • The Register

• DHS announces AI task force, security sprint on China-related threats | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The New Frontier in Email Security: Goodbye, Gateways; Hello, Behavioral AI (darkreading.com)

• Nvidia releases a toolkit to make text-generating AI ‘safer’ | TechCrunch

• Artificial intelligence takes RSA Conference by storm | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The good, the bad and the generative AI • The Register

• Secureworks CEO weighs in on XDR landscape, AI concerns | TechTarget

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• BCS Policy Jam : Cyberwar and Ukraine one year on | BCS

• FBI aiding Ukraine in collection of digital and physical war crime evidence | CyberScoop

• NSA sees 'significant' Russian intel gathering on European, US supply chain entities | CyberScoop

• #RSAC: Cyber-Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure Should Be War Crimes, says Ukraine Official - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK undersea cables worth £7.4 trillion a day under ‘real threat’ from Russia | The Independent

• Eurocontrol says website 'under attack' by pro-Russia crew • The Register

• Iran cyberespionage group taps SimpleHelp for persistence on victim devices | CSO Online

• Russian Hackers Tomiris Targeting Central Asia for Intelligence Gathering (thehackernews.com)

• CISA, Cyber Command Collaboration Blocks Attempted Attacks on US Interests - MSSP Alert

Nation State Actors

• APT Groups Expand Reach to New Industries and Geographies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chinese Cyber spies Delivered Malware via Legitimate Software Updates - SecurityWeek

• North Korean hackers breach software firm in significant cyber attack | CNN Politics

• Western cyber security must advance to counter China's cyber space progress, says NCSC director (computing.co.uk)

• China building cyber weapons to hijack enemy satellites, says US leak | Financial Times (ft.com)

• NCSC raises alert on cyber threat to infrastructure | UKAuthority

• Iran cyberespionage group taps SimpleHelp for persistence on victim devices | CSO Online

• DHS announces AI task force, security sprint on China-related threats | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• At least 2 critical infrastructure orgs breached by North Korea-linked hackers behind 3CX attack - -Security Affairs-Security Affairs

• North Korea's Kimsuky APT Keeps Growing, Despite Public Outing (darkreading.com)

• APT 'Mint Sandstorm' quickly exploits new PoC hacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian Hackers Suspected in Ongoing Exploitation of Unpatched PaperCut Servers (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean Foreign Trade Bank Representative Charged in Crypto Laundering Conspiracies (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Hackers Launch Sophisticated Attacks Targeting Israel with PowerLess Backdoor (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus Subgroup Targeting Apple Devices with New RustBucket macOS Malware (thehackernews.com)

• US Cyberwarriors Thwarted 2020 Iran Election Hacking Attempt - SecurityWeek

• Evasive Panda APT group delivers malware via updates for popular Chinese software | WeLiveSecurity

• Linux Shift: Chinese APT Alloy Taurus Is Back With Retooling (darkreading.com)

• Pro-Russia hacking group executed a disruptive attack against a Canadian gas pipeline-Security Affairs

• Charming Kitten's New BellaCiao Malware Discovered in Multi-Country Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian cyber spies deploy new malware implant on Microsoft Exchange Servers | CSO Online

• A component in Huawei network appliances could be used to take down Germany’s telecoms networks-Security Affairs

• Ukrainian arrested for selling data of 300M people to Russians (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FIN7 Hackers Caught Exploiting Recent Veeam Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• Chinese hackers launch Linux variant of PingPull malware | CSO Online

• CISA, Cyber Command Collaboration Blocks Attempted Attacks on US Interests - MSSP Alert

• Lazarus, Scarcruft North Korean APTs Shift Tactics, Thrive (darkreading.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Weak credentials, unpatched vulnerabilities, malicious OSS packages causing cloud security risks | CSO Online

• Modernizing Vulnerability Management: The Move Toward Exposure Management (thehackernews.com)

• GitLab’s new security feature uses AI to explain vulnerabilities to developers | TechCrunch

• Microsoft: Windows 10 22H2 is the final version of Windows 10 (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Vulnerabilities

• New Google Chrome Zero-Day Bug Actively Exploited in Wide (gbhackers.com)

• Flaw in Microsoft Process Explorer under active attack • The Register

• Hackers Exploit Outdated WordPress Plugin to Backdoor Thousands of WordPress Sites (thehackernews.com)

• APC warns of critical unauthenticated RCE flaws in UPS software (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Double zero-day in Chrome and Edge – check your versions now! – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Security experts found a major bug in Google Cloud | TechRadar

• TP-Link Archer WiFi router flaw exploited by Mirai malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Mozilla confirms memory leak in Firefox - gHacks Tech News

• SolarWinds Platform Update Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• VMware Releases Critical Patches for Workstation and Fusion Software (thehackernews.com)

• Apache Superset Vulnerability: Insecure Default Configuration Exposes Servers to RCE Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco discloses XSS zero-day flaw in server management tool (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft removes LSA Protection from Windows settings to fix bug (bleepingcomputer.com)

• PaperCut says hackers are exploiting ‘critical’ security flaws in unpatched servers | TechCrunch

• FIN7 Hackers Caught Exploiting Recent Veeam Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• New high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2023-29552) discovered in the Service Location Protocol (SLP) | Bitsight

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Tools and Controls

• Navigating The Future Of Cyber: Business Strategy, Cyber security Training, And Digital Transformation Are Key (forbes.com)

• Corporate boards pressure CISOs to step up risk mitigation efforts - Help Net Security

• The Tangled Web of IR Strategies (darkreading.com)

• 14 Kubernetes and Cloud Security Challenges and How to Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

• Six Key Considerations When Choosing a Web Application Firewall  - Security Boulevard

• The Complexities of Cyber Insurance | Cyber Risk Management (telos.com)

• Unified Endpoint Management: A Powerful Tool for Your Cyber security Arsenal | CSO Online

• GitLab’s new security feature uses AI to explain vulnerabilities to developers | TechCrunch

• Google Authenticator finally, mercifully adds account syncing for two-factor codes - The Verge

• The Needs of a Modernized SOC for Hybrid Cloud (securityintelligence.com)

• Rethinking the effectiveness of current authentication initiatives - Help Net Security

• Attack Surface Management Strategies (trendmicro.com)

• Google will add End-to-End encryption to Google Authenticator (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google 2FA Syncing Feature Could Put Your Privacy at Risk (darkreading.com)

• Embracing zero-trust: a look at the NSA’s recommended IAM best practices for administrators | CSO Online

• CISOs struggle to manage risk due to DevSecOps inefficiencies - Help Net Security

• Generative AI and security: Balancing performance and risk - Help Net Security

• #RSAC: GPT-4 Empowers Cyber security Leaders to Make Smarter Risk Decisions - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SSL vs TLS: Which Should You Be Using? (trendmicro.com)

• CISA aims to reduce email threats with serial CDR prototype | TechTarget

• Top 15 DDoS Protection Best Practices - Security Boulevard

• Threat Actor Names Proliferate, Adding Confusion (darkreading.com)

• AI Dominates RSA as Excitement and Questions Surround its Potential in Cyber security Tooling - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Email Threats - Discover the latest trends and stay one step ahead - VIPRE

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Other News

• Falling Dwell Time May Be Down to Faster Threat Activity - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The threat from commercial cyber proliferation - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Hackers could learn how to send fake terror threats on YouTube, warn experts (telegraph.co.uk)

• Government launches new cyber security measures to tackle ever growing threats - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Attackers are logging in instead of breaking in - Help Net Security

• NCSC unveils data driven cyber security model | UKAuthority

• Hacker Group Names Are Now Absurdly Out of Control | WIRED

• 38 Countries Take Part in NATO's 2023 Locked Shields Cyber Exercise - SecurityWeek

• Quad Countries Prepare For Info Sharing on Critical Infrastructure - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The White House National Cyber security Strategy Has a Fatal Flaw (darkreading.com)

• Threat Actor Names Proliferate, Adding Confusion (darkreading.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 21 April 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• March 2023 Broke Ransomware Attack Records with a 91% Increase from the Previous Month

March 2023 was the most prolific month recorded by cyber security analysts in recent years, measuring 459 attacks, an increase of 91% from the previous month and 62% compared to March 2022. According to NCC Group, which compiled the report based on statistics derived from its observations, the reason last month broke all ransomware attack records was CVE-2023-0669. This is a vulnerability in Fortra's GoAnywhere MFT secure file transfer tool that the Clop ransomware gang exploited as a zero-day to steal data from 130 companies within ten days.

Regarding the location of last month's victims, almost half of all attacks (221) breached entities in North America. Europe followed with 126 episodes, and Asia came third with 59 ransomware attacks.

The recorded activity spike in March 2023 highlights the importance of applying security updates as soon as possible, mitigating potentially unknown security gaps like zero days by implementing additional measures and monitoring network traffic and logs for suspicious activity.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/march-2023-broke-ransomware-attack-records-with-459-incidents/

• Organisations Overwhelmed with Cyber Security Alerts, Threats and Attack Surfaces

Many organisations are struggling to manage key security projects while being overwhelmed with volumes of alerts, increasing cyber threats and growing attack surfaces, a new report has said. Compounding that problem is a tendency by an organisation’s top brass to miss hidden risks associated with digital transformation projects and compliance regulations, leading to a false sense of confidence in their awareness of these vulnerabilities.

The study comprised IT professionals from the manufacturing, government, healthcare, financial services, retail and telecommunications industries. Five of the biggest challenges they face include:

• Keeping up with threat intelligence (70%)

• Allocating cyber security resources and budget (47%)

• Visibility into all assets connected to the network (44%)

• Compliance and regulation (39%)

• Convergence of IT and OT (32%)

The report also focused on breaches within organisations, finding that 64% had suffered a breach or ransomware attack in the last five years; 43% said it had been caused by employee phishing.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-news/organizations-overwhelmed-with-cybersecurity-alerts-threats-and-attack-surfaces-armis-study-shows/

• One in Three Businesses Faced Cyber Attacks Last Year

Nearly a third of businesses and a quarter of charities have said they were the subject of cyber attacks or breaches last year, new data has shown. Figures collected for the UK Government by polling company Ipsos show a similar proportion of larger and medium-sized companies and high-income charities faced attacks or breaches last year as in 2021.

Overall, 32% of businesses said they had been subject to attacks or breaches over a 12-month period, with 24% of charities saying the same. Meanwhile, about one in ten businesses (11%) and 8% of charities said they had been the victims of cyber crime – which is defined more narrowly – over the 12-month period. This rose to a quarter (26%) of medium-sized businesses, 37% of large businesses and 25% of high-income charities. The UK Government estimated there had been 2.4 million instances of cyber crime against UK businesses, costing an average of £15,300 per victim.

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/one-three-businesses-faced-cyber-105751822.html

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber Security Efforts Should Be Merged

Across early-stage startups and mature public companies alike, organisations are increasingly moving to a convergence of fraud prevention, identity and access management (IdAM), and cyber security. To improve an organisation's overall security posture, business, IT, and fraud leaders must realise that their areas shouldn't be treated as separate line items. Ultimately, these three disciplines serve the same purpose — protecting the business — and they must converge. This is a simple statement, but complex in practice, due mainly to the array of people, strategies, and tooling that today's organisations have built.

The convergence of these three functions comes at a seminal moment, as global threats are heightened due to several factors: geopolitical tensions like the war on Ukraine, the economic downturn, and a never-ending barrage of sophisticated attacks on businesses and consumers. At the same time, companies are facing slowing revenues, rising inflation, and increased pressure from investors, causing layoffs and budget reductions in the name of optimisation. Cutting back in the wrong areas, however, increases risk.

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/why-your-anti-fraud-identity-cybersecurity-efforts-should-be-merged

• Tight Budgets and Burnout Push Enterprises to Outsource Cyber Security

With cyber security teams struggling to manage the remediation process and monitor for vulnerabilities, organisations are at a higher risk for security breaches, according to cyber security penetration test provider Cobalt. As enterprises prioritise efficiencies, security leaders increasingly turn to third-party vendors to alleviate the pressures of consistent testing and to fill in talent gaps.

Cobalt’s recent report found:

• Budget cuts and layoffs plague security teams: 63% of US cyber security professionals had their department’s budget cut in 2023.

• Cyber security professionals deprioritise responsibilities to stay afloat: 79% of US cyber security professionals admit to deprioritising responsibilities leading to a backlog of unaddressed vulnerabilities.

• Inaccurate security configurations cause vulnerabilities: 40% of US respondents found the most security vulnerabilities were related to server security misconfigurations.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/19/cybersecurity-professionals-responsibilities/

• Complex 8 Character Passwords Can Be Cracked in as Little as 5 Minutes

Recently, security vendor Hive released their findings on the time it takes to brute force a password in 2023. This year’s study included the emergence of AI tools. The vendor found that a complex 8 character password could be cracked in as little as 5 minutes. This number rose to 226 years when 12 characters were used and 1 million years when 14 characters were used. A complex password involves the use of numbers, upper and lower case letters and symbols.

Last year, the study found the same 8 and 12 character passwords would have taken 39 minutes and 3,000 years, showing the significant drop in the time it takes to brute force a password. The study highlights the importance for organisations to be aware of their password security and the need for consistent review and updates to the policy.

https://www.hivesystems.io/blog/are-your-passwords-in-the-green

• 83% of Organisations Paid Up in Ransomware Attacks

A report this week found that 83% of victim organisations paid a ransom at least once. The report found that while entities like the FBI and CISA argue against paying ransoms, many organisations decide to eat the upfront cost of paying a ransom, costing an average of $925,162, rather than enduring the further operational disruption and data loss.

Organisations are giving ransomware attackers leverage over their data by failing to address vulnerabilities created by unpatched software, unmanaged devices and shadow IT. For instance, 77% of IT decision makers argue that outdated cyber security practices have contributed to at least half of security incidents. Over time, these unaddressed vulnerabilities multiply, giving threat actors more potential entry points to exploit and greater leverage to force companies into paying up.

https://venturebeat.com/security/83-of-organizations-paid-up-in-ransomware-attacks/

• Security is a Revenue Booster, Not a Cost Centre

Security has historically been seen as a cost centre, which has led to it being given as little money as possible. Many CISOs, CSOs, and CROs fed into that image by primarily talking in terms of disaster avoidance, such as data breaches hurting the enterprise and ransomware potentially shutting it down. But what if security presented itself instead as a way to boost revenue and increase market share? That could easily shift those financial discussions into something much more comfortable.

For example, Apple touted its investments into the secure enclave to claim that it offers users better privacy. Specifically, the company argued that it couldn't reveal information to federal authorities because the enclave was just that secure. Apple turned that into a powerful competitive argument against rival Android creator Google, which makes much of its revenue by monetising users' data.

In another scenario, bank regulations require financial institutions to reimburse customers who are victimised by fraudsters, but they carve out an exception for wire fraud. Imagine if a bank realises that covering all fraud — even though it is not required to do so — could be a powerful differentiator that would boost its market share by supporting customers better than competitors do.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/security-is-a-revenue-booster-not-a-cost-center

• Ex-CEO Gets Prison Sentence for Bad Security

A clinic was recently subject to a cyber attack and even though the clinic was itself the victim, the ex-CEO of the clinic faced criminal charges, too. It would appear that the CEO was aware of the clinic’s failure to employ data security precautions and was aware of this for up to two years before the attack took place.

Worse still, the CEO allegedly knew about the problems because the clinic suffered breaches in 2018 and 2019, and failed to report them; presumably hoping that no traceable cyber crimes would arise as a result, and thus that the company would never get caught out. However, modern breach disclosure and data protection regulations, such as GDPR in Europe, make it clear that data breaches can’t simply be “swept under the carpet” any more, and must be promptly disclosed for the greater good of all.

The former CEO has now been convicted and given a prison sentence, reminding business leaders that merely promising to look after other people’s personal data is not enough. Paying lip service alone to cyber security is insufficient, to the point that you can end up being treated as both a cyber crime victim and a perpetrator at the same time.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2023/04/18/ex-ceo-of-breached-pyschotherapy-clinic-gets-prison-sentence-for-bad-data-security/

• Warning From UK Cyber Agency for a New ‘Class’ of Russian Hackers

There is a new ‘class’ of Russian hackers, the UK cyber-agency NCSC warns. Due to an increased danger of attacks by state-aligned Russian hackers, the NCSC is encouraging all businesses to put the recommended protection measures into place. The NCSC alert states, “during the past 18 months, a new kind of Russian hacker has developed.” These state-aligned organisations frequently support Russia’s incursion and are driven more by ideology than money. These hacktivist organisations typically concentrate their harmful online activity on launching DDoS (distributed denial of service) assaults against vital infrastructure, including airports, the legislature, and official websites. The NCSC has released a special guide with a list of steps businesses should take when facing serious cyber threats. System patching, access control confirmation, functional defences, logging, and monitoring, reviewing backups, incident plans, and third-party access management are important steps.

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/warning-uk-cyberagency-russian-hackers/

• KnowBe4 Q1 Phishing Report Reveals IT and Online Services Emails Drive Dangerous Attack Trend

KnowBe4 announced the results of its Q1 2023 top-clicked phishing report, and the results included the top email subjects clicked on in phishing tests.

The report found that phishing tactics are changing with the increasing trend of cyber criminals using email subjects related to IT and online services such as password change requirements, Zoom meeting invitations, security alerts and more. These are effective because they would impact an end users’ daily workday and subsequent tasks to be completed.

71% of the most effective phishing lures related to HR (including leave, dress code, expenses, pay and performance) or tax, and these types of emails continue to be very effective.

Emails that are disguised as coming from an internal source such as the IT department or HR are especially dangerous because they appear to come from a more trusted, familiar place where an employee would not necessarily question it or be as sceptical. Building up an organisation’s human firewall by fostering a strong security culture is essential to outsmart bad actors.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/04/19/knowbe4-q1-phishing-report-reveals-it-and-online-services-emails-drive-dangerous-attack-trend/

• Outsourcing Group Capita Admits Customer Data May Have Been Breached During Cyber Attack

Capita, which runs crucial services for the UK NHS, Government, Military and Financial Services, has for the first time admitted that hackers accessed potential customer, staff and supplier data during a cyber attack last month. The company said its investigation into the attack – which caused major IT outages for clients – found that hackers infiltrated its systems around 22 March, meaning they had around nine days before Capita “interrupted” the breach on 31 March.

While Capita has admitted that data was breached during the incident, it raises the possibility that public sector information was accessed by hackers. Capita, which employs more than 50,000 people in Britain, is one of the government’s most important suppliers and holds £6.5bn-worth of public sector contracts. Capita stopped short of disclosing how many customers were potentially affected by the breach, and is still notifying anyone whose data might be at risk.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/20/capita-admits-customer-data-may-have-been-breached-during-cyber-attack

• Outdated Cyber Security Practices Leave Door Open for Criminals

A recent report found that as organisations increasingly find themselves under attack, they are drowning in cyber security debt – unaddressed security vulnerabilities like unpatched software, unmanaged devices, shadow IT, and insecure network protocols that act as access points for bad actors. The report found a worrying 98% of respondents are running one or more insecure network protocols and 47% had critical devices exposed to the internet. Despite these concerning figures, fewer than one-third said they have immediate plans to address any of the outdated security practices that put their organisations at risk.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/20/outdated-cybersecurity-practices/

• Quantifying Cyber Risk Vital for Business Survival

Organisations are starting to wake up to the fact that the impact of ransomware and other cyber attacks cause long term issues. The financial implications are far reaching and creating barriers for companies to continue operations after these attacks. As such, quantifying cyber risk is business-specific, and organisations must assess what type of loss they may face, which includes revenue, remediation, legal settlement, or otherwise.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/04/19/cyber-attacks-financial-impact/

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets

Over half of corporate network devices sold second-hand still contain sensitive company data, according to a new study. The study involved the purchase of recycled routers, finding that 56% contained one or more credentials as well as enough information to identify the previous owner.

Some of the analysed data included customer data, credentials, connection details for applications and authentication keys. In some cases, the data allowed for the location of remote offices and operators, which could be used in subsequent exploitation efforts.

In a number of cases the researchers were able to determine with high confidence — based on the data still present on the devices — who their previous owner was. The list included a multinational tech company and a telecoms firm, both with more than 10,000 employees and over $1 billion in revenue.

The study informed organisations who had owned the routers. Unfortunately, when contacted, some of the organisations failed to respond or acknowledge the findings.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/recycled-network-exposing/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• 83% of organisations paid up in ransomware attacks  | VentureBeat

• March 2023 broke ransomware attack records with 459 incidents (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers start abusing Action1 RMM in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Vice Society ransomware uses new PowerShell data theft tool in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• RTM Locker: Emerging Cyber crime Group Targeting Businesses with Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Western Digital Hackers Demand 8-Figure Ransom Payment for Data (darkreading.com)

• UK Education Sector Suffered Most from Ransomware in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• NCR was the victim of BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang - Security Affairs

• Darktrace Denies Getting Hacked After Ransomware Group Names Company on Leak Site - SecurityWeek

• LockBit ransomware encryptors found targeting Mac devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Abuse victims' data stolen in ransomware attack (rte.ie)

• Hackers publish sensitive employee data stolen during CommScope ransomware attack | TechCrunch

• Vice Society is using custom PowerShell tool for data exfiltrationSecurity Affairs

• Black Basta claims it's selling off stolen Capita data • The Register

• An Analysis of the BabLock Ransomware (trendmicro.com)

• Ransomware reinfection and its impact on businesses - Help Net Security

• Microsoft SQL servers hacked to deploy Trigona ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Play ransomware gang uses custom Shadow Volume Copy data-theft tool (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware gangs abuse Process Explorer driver to kill security software (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Medusa ransomware crew boasts of Microsoft code leak • The Register

• New Ransomware Attack Hits Health Insurer Point32Health (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing Attacks Surge as Threat Actors Leverage New AI Tools - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Qbot campaign delivers malware by hijacking business emails | CSO Online

• KnowBe4 Q1 Phishing Report reveals IT and online services emails drive dangerous attack trend - IT Security Guru

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• Phishing FAQ: How to Spot Scams and Stop Them in Their Tracks - CNET

• UK government employees receive average of 2,246 malicious emails per year - IT Security Guru

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• US charges three men with six million dollar business email compromise plot | Tripwire

2FA/MFA

• How to Prevent 2 Common Attacks on MFA (darkreading.com)

Malware

• Ex-Conti and FIN7 Actors Collaborate with New Domino Backdoor (securityintelligence.com)

• New Chameleon banking trojan is stealing account info — what you need to know | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• US, UK warn of govt hackers using custom malware on Cisco routers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New QBot campaign delivered hijacking business correspondenceSecurity Affairs

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Hackers Storing Malware in Google Drive as Encrypted ZIP Files (gbhackers.com)

• Raspberry Robin Adopts Unique Evasion Techniques - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MacStealer - newly-discovered malware steals passwords and exfiltrates data from infected Macs • Graham Cluley

• 'AuKill' Malware Hunts & Kills EDR Processes (darkreading.com)

• What Are Computer Worms And How To Prevent Them (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Mobile

• Android malware infiltrates 60 Google Play apps with 100M installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

• NSO Group is Back in Business With 3 New iOS Zero-Click Exploits (darkreading.com)

• Conversational Attacks Fastest Growing Mobile Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Global Spyware Attacks Spotted Against Both New & Old iPhones (darkreading.com)

Botnets

• 'Zaraza' Bot Targets Google Chrome to Extract Login Credentials (darkreading.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Military helicopter crash blamed on missing software patch • The Register

• Why xIoT Devices Are Cyberattackers' Gateway Drug for Lateral Movement (darkreading.com)

• Hikvision: Chinese surveillance tech giant denies leaked Pentagon spy claim - BBC News

• The Car Thieves Using Tech Disguised Inside Old Nokia Phones and Bluetooth Speakers (vice.com)

• Popular Fitness Apps Leak Location Data Even When Users Set Privacy Zones (darkreading.com)

• Five Eye nations release new guidance on smart city cyber security | CSO Online

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Ex-CEO of breached psychotherapy clinic gets prison sentence for bad data security – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Kodi Confirms Data Breach: 400K User Records and Private Messages Stolen (thehackernews.com)

• Volvo retailer leaks sensitive files - Security Affairs

• Rheinmetall suffers cyber attack, military business unaffected, spokesperson says | Reuters

• Jack Teixeira's charges in full: 'Top secret' access, leak searches and the Espionage Act - BBC News

• Online Gaming Chats Have Long Been Spy Risk for US Military - SecurityWeek

• Cyber attack on Insurance Information Bureau of India; data at risk - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Air Force Unit in Document Leaks Case Loses Intel Mission - SecurityWeek

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Inside look at cyber criminal organisations: Why size matters | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

• Standardized data collection methods can help fight cyber crime | TechTarget

• Why Cyber criminals Love The Rust Programming Language (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News

• Hundred Finance loses $7 million in Optimism hack (cointelegraph.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Human-Centered Approach Can Reduce Cyber security Failures, Gartner Predicts - MSSP Alert

• HR Magazine - UK government plans to make businesses liable for employee fraud

• Top risks and best practices for securely offboarding employees | CSO Online

• Critical Infrastructure Firms Concerned Over Insider Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How to Strengthen your Insider Threat Security - IT Security Guru

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Pre-pandemic techniques are fueling record fraud rates - Help Net Security

• HR Magazine - UK government plans to make businesses liable for employee fraud

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• Police disrupts $98M online fraud ring with 33,000 victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Trial and error in Kuwait | CyberScoop

• US extradites Nigerian charged in $6m email fraud scam • The Register

• Crypto phishing attacks up by 40% in one year: Kaspersky (cointelegraph.com)

• Three charged over banking fraud for hire website | Computer Weekly

• On the hunt for the businessmen behind a billion-dollar scam - BBC News

• Hundred Finance loses $7 million in Optimism hack (cointelegraph.com)

• Dennis Kozlowski and the Infamous $6,000 Shower Curtain | Entrepreneur

• FTC orders payments firm to pay $650k over tech support scam • The Register

• Conversational Attacks Fastest Growing Mobile Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Fraudsters impersonating genuine providers cost £177.6m in 2022, UK Finance data suggests | Business News | Sky News

• Scammers using social media to dupe people into becoming money mules - Help Net Security

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Police Crack Comms to Bust Money Laundering Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• Bank of America warns Lloyd’s over state-backed cyber attack exclusion | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Cyber insurance Backstop: Can the Industry Survive Without One? - SecurityWeek

• Cyber insurer launches InsurSec solution to help SMBs improve security, risk management | CSO Online

Dark Web

• Stolen ChatGPT premium accounts up for sale on the dark web | CSO Online

• How 'Operation Cookie Monster' took down a major dark web market | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita PLC falls on reports cyber attack was worse than admitted (proactiveinvestors.co.uk)

• 3CX Software Supply Chain Compromise Initiated by a Prior Software Supply Chain Compromise; Suspected North Korean Actor Responsible | Mandiant

• Capita admits customer, supplier or colleague data may have been accessed by hackers | Business News | Sky News

• Lazarus APT group employed Linux Malware in recent attacks-Security Affairs

• Hackers start abusing Action1 RMM in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Software Supply Chain

• CISA Introduces Secure-by-design and Secure-by-default Development Principles – Security Week

Cloud/SaaS

• Cloud Security Alerts Take Six Days to Resolve - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Linux kernel logic allowed Spectre attack on major cloud • The Register

• Western Digital Hackers Demand 8-Figure Ransom Payment for Data (darkreading.com)

• Is there really a march from the public cloud back on-prem? | TechCrunch

• Uncovering (and Understanding) the Hidden Risks of SaaS Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers Storing Malware in Google Drive as Encrypted ZIP Files (gbhackers.com)

• Microsoft 365 outage blocks access to web apps and services (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts disclosed 2 critical flaws in Alibaba cloud database services Security Affairs

Attack Surface Management

• Recycled Core Routers Expose Sensitive Corporate Network Info (darkreading.com)

Shadow IT

• The staying power of shadow IT, and how to combat risks related to it - Help Net Security

Identity and Access Management

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• The Attacks that can Target your Windows Active Directory (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The biggest data security blind spot: Authorization - Help Net Security

Encryption

• Crime agencies condemn Facebook and Instagram encryption plans | Meta | The Guardian

• Crooks’ Mistaken Bet on Encrypted Phones | The New Yorker

API

• Triple-digit Increase in API and App Attacks on Tech and Retail - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• There's Been a 400% Increase in Unique API Attackers - The New Stack

Open Source

• Linux kernel logic allowed Spectre attack on major cloud • The Register

• Security beyond software: The open source hardware security evolution - Help Net Security

• Report: Most IT Teams Can't Fix Open Source Software Security - DevOps.com

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• How Long It Would Take A Hacker To Brute Force Your Password In 2023, Ranked | Digg

Social Media

• LinkedIn deploys new secure identity verification for all members | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Crime agencies condemn Facebook and Instagram encryption plans | Meta | The Guardian

• Scammers using social media to dupe people into becoming money mules - Help Net Security

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• EU privacy regulators to create task force to investigate ChatGPT | Computerworld

• What Business Needs to Know About the New U.S. Cybersecurity Strategy (hbr.org)

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• As Consumer Privacy Evolves, Here's How You Can Stay Ahead of Regulations (darkreading.com)

• Brit cops rapped over app that recorded 200k phone calls • The Register

• Three Effective Ways For Boards To Prepare For Imminent SEC Cyber Rules (forbes.com)

• US imposes $300m penalty over hard disk drive exports to Huawei - BBC News

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Security Is a Revenue Booster, Not a Cost Centre (darkreading.com)

• Tight budgets and burnout push enterprises to outsource cyber security - Help Net Security

• Ex-CEO of breached psychotherapy clinic gets prison sentence for bad data security – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• 'One in three firms faced cyber attacks last year' (aol.co.uk)

• Skills shortage puts Europe’s cyber resilience to the test – EURACTIV.com

• Quantifying cyber risk vital for business survival - Help Net Security

• Wargaming an effective data breach playbook - Help Net Security

• Outdated cyber security practices leave door open for criminals - Help Net Security

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

• Why Your Anti-Fraud, Identity & Cyber security Efforts Should Be Merged (darkreading.com)

• Gartner Top Strategic Cyber security Trends 2023

• 3 Flaws, 1 War Dominated Cyber-Threat Landscape in 2022 (darkreading.com)

• Lack of Breach Info on Notices Surges in Q1 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ex-CIO must pay £81k over Total Shambles Bank migration • The Register

• Economic uncertainty drives upskilling as a key strategy for organisations - Help Net Security

• Top risks and best practices for securely offboarding employees | CSO Online

• How companies are struggling to build and run effective cyber security programs - Help Net Security

• Three Effective Ways For Boards To Prepare For Imminent SEC Cyber Rules (forbes.com)

• Small Business Interest in Cyber-Hygiene Wanes - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Secure Disposal

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Enterprises Exposed to Hacker Attacks Due to Failure to Wipe Discarded Routers - SecurityWeek

Backup and Recovery

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• Government reprimanded for serious breaches of data protection law - Jersey Evening Post

• Marketing biz sent 107M spam emails in a year, says watchdog • The Register

• Brit cops rapped over app that recorded 200k phone calls • The Register

• ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Skills shortage puts Europe’s cyber resilience to the test – EURACTIV.com

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Ex-CEO of hacked therapy clinic sentenced for failing to protect patients' session notes (bitdefender.com)

• Police disrupts $98M online fraud ring with 33,000 victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US extradites Nigerian charged in $6m email fraud scam • The Register

• How 'Operation Cookie Monster' took down a major dark web market | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Three charged over banking fraud for hire website | Computer Weekly

• Police Crack Comms to Bust Money Laundering Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• What the Recent Collapse of SVB Means for Privacy (darkreading.com)

• As Consumer Privacy Evolves, Here's How You Can Stay Ahead of Regulations (darkreading.com)

• Popular Fitness Apps Leak Location Data Even When Users Set Privacy Zones (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Phishing Attacks Surge as Threat Actors Leverage New AI Tools - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI tools like ChatGPT expected to fuel BEC attacks - Help Net Security

• Stolen ChatGPT premium accounts up for sale on the dark web | CSO Online

• Pen testing amid the rise of AI-powered threat actors | TechTarget

• EU privacy regulators to create task force to investigate ChatGPT | Computerworld

• Cyber crims hop geofences, clamor for stolen ChatGPT accounts • The Register

• AI-created malware sends shockwaves through cybersecurity world | Fox News

• Hard-to-detect malware loader distributed via AI-generated YouTube videos | CSO Online

• Tech Insight: Dangers of Using Large Language Models Before They Are Baked (darkreading.com)

• ChatGPT-Related Malicious URLs on the Rise - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• ChatGPT's Data Protection Blind Spots and How Security Teams Can Solve Them (thehackernews.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Russian hackers targeting UK more frequently (thetimes.co.uk)

• UK NCSC warns of new class of Russian cyber adversary threatening critical infrastructure | CSO Online

• Russian hackers want to ‘disrupt or destroy’ UK infrastructure, minister warns | Hacking | The Guardian

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Jack Teixeira's charges in full: 'Top secret' access, leak searches and the Espionage Act - BBC News

• Russian SolarWinds Culprits Launch Fresh Barrage of Espionage Cyberattacks (darkreading.com)

• Meet the hacker armies on Ukraine's cyber front line - BBC News

• Offensive cyber company QuaDream shutting down amidst spyware accusations | Ctech (calcalistech.com)

• Genius hackers help Russia’s neighbors thwart cyber incursions | Cybernews

• NSO Group is Back in Business With 3 New iOS Zero-Click Exploits (darkreading.com)

• UK, US sound the alarm on Russians exploiting Cisco flaws • The Register

• Microsoft: Iranian hackers behind retaliatory cyber attacks on US orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US citizens charged with pushing pro-Kremlin disinformation • The Register

• Heightened threat of state-aligned groups against western... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Microsoft shifts to a new threat actor naming taxonomy - Microsoft Security Blog

• How cyber support to Ukraine can build its democratic future | CyberScoop

• Google TAG Warns of Russian Hackers Conducting Phishing Attacks in Ukraine (thehackernews.com)

• Blind Eagle Cyber Espionage Group Strikes Again: New Attack Chain Uncovered (thehackernews.com)

• Britain sounds alarm on spyware, mercenary hacking market | Reuters

• Global Spyware Attacks Spotted Against Both New & Old iPhones (darkreading.com)

• The UK will need more than words in this cyber war | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Google: Ukraine targeted by 60% of Russian phishing attacks in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

Nation State Actors

• BT holds China-Taiwan war game to stress test supply chains | Financial Times (ft.com)

• 3CX Supply Chain Attack Tied to Financial Trading App Breach (darkreading.com)

• UK security chief’s alert over threat from China (thetimes.co.uk)

• Russia accuses NATO of launching 5,000 cyberattacks since 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Human rights groups raise alarm over UN Cyber crime Treaty • The Register

• CISA warns of Android bug exploited by Chinese app to spy on users (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Uncovers APT41's Use of Open Source GC2 Tool to Target Media and Job Sites (thehackernews.com)

• APT41 Taps Google Red Teaming Tool in Targeted Info-Stealing Attacks (darkreading.com)

• China starts ‘surgical’ retaliation against foreign companies after US-led tech blockade | Financial Times

• Iranian-Russian cooperation on hack attacks may challenge Israeli cyber supremacy | The Times of Israel

• US charges 44 members of alleged Chinese troll army • The Register

• Hikvision: Chinese surveillance tech giant denies leaked Pentagon spy claim - BBC News

• Iranian Hackers Using SimpleHelp Remote Support Software for Persistent Access (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft: Iranian hackers behind retaliatory cyber attacks on US orgs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Heightened threat of state-aligned groups against western... - NCSC.GOV.UK

• Microsoft shifts to a new threat actor naming taxonomy - Microsoft Security Blog

• Nation-state threat actor Mint Sandstorm refines tradecraft to attack high-value targets - Microsoft Security Blog

• MuddyWater Uses SimpleHelp to Target Critical Infrastructure Firms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Killnet Boss Exposes Rival Leader in Kremlin Hacktivist Beef (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Nation-State Actor "Mint Sandstorm" Weaponizes N-day Flaws - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Iranian Government-Backed Hackers Targeting U.S. Energy and Transit Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus Group Adds Linux Malware to Arsenal in Operation Dream Job (thehackernews.com)

• US imposes $300m penalty over hard disk drive exports to Huawei - BBC News

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Vulnerability Management

• Military helicopter crash blamed on missing software patch • The Register

• Google Outlines Initiatives to Fortify Vulnerability Management - MSSP Alert

• Beyond CVEs: The Key to Mitigating High-Risk Security Exposures (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• UK, US sound the alarm on Russians exploiting Cisco flaws • The Register

• Thousands at risk from critical RCE bug in legacy MS service | Computer Weekly

• CISA: Patch Bug Exploited by Chinese E-commerce App - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Critical Flaws in vm2 JavaScript Library Can Lead to Remote Code Execution (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers actively exploit critical RCE bug in PaperCut servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google patches another actively exploited Chrome zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts disclosed 2 critical flaws in Alibaba cloud database services - Security Affairs

• VMware Patches Pre-Auth Code Execution Flaw in Logging Product - SecurityWeek

• Cisco and VMware Release Security Updates to Patch Critical Flaws in their Products (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Defender update causes Windows Hardware Stack Protection mess (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Tools and Controls

• CISA Asks Manufacturers to Prioritize Cybersecurity in Product Design - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Pen testing amid the rise of AI-powered threat actors | TechTarget

• 7 countries unite to push for secure-by-design development | CSO Online

• Wargaming an effective data breach playbook - Help Net Security

• Where There's No Code, There's No SDLC (darkreading.com)

• Cloud Security Alerts Take Six Days to Resolve - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• DFIR via XDR: How to expedite your investigations with a DFIRent approach (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft opens up Defender with file hash, URL search • The Register

• Beyond CVEs: The Key to Mitigating High-Risk Security Exposures (darkreading.com)

• How to build a cybersecurity deception program | TechTarget

• Enterprises Exposed to Hacker Attacks Due to Failure to Wipe Discarded Routers - SecurityWeek

• Threat Posed by 'Irresponsible' Use of Commercial Hacking Tools Increasing, NCSC Warns - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• CISOs struggling to protect sensitive data records - Help Net Security

• Generative AI in SecOps and how to prepare | TechTarget

• AI defenders ready to foil AI-armed attackers • The Register

• Newer Authentication Tech a Priority for 2023 (darkreading.com)

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Other News

• Recycled Network Devices Exposing Corporate Secrets - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Misconfiguration leaves thousands of servers vulnerable to attack, researchers find | CyberScoop

• Fortra shares findings on GoAnywhere MFT zero-day attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How to defend against TCP port 445 and other SMB exploits | TechTarget

• Criminal Records Service still disrupted 4 weeks after hack - BBC News

• Attackers use abandoned WordPress plugin to backdoor websites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyberspace Solarium Commission says space systems should be considered critical infrastructure | CyberScoop

• UK Strengthens Cyber security Audits for Government Agencies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• EU launches Cyber Solidarity Act to respond to large-scale attacks – EURACTIV.com

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 Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 10 March 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber threat intelligence experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Business Email Compromise Attacks Can Take Just Hours

Microsoft’s security intelligence team found that Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks are moving rapidly, with some taking mere minutes. Microsoft found the whole process, from signing in using compromised credentials to registering typo squatting domains and hijacking an email thread, took threat actors only a couple of hours. Such a rapid attack leaves minimal time for organisations to identify and take preventative action. This is worrying when considering the cost of BEC is predicted to more than tens of billions.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-business-email-compromise-attacks-can-take-just-hours/

Research Reveals ‘Password’ is Still the Most Common Term used by Hackers to Breach Enterprise Networks

In a report of over 800 million breached passwords, vendor Specops identified some worrying results. Some of the key findings from the report include 88% of passwords used in successful attacks consisting of 12 characters or less and the most common base terms used in passwords involving ‘password’, ‘admin’, ‘welcome’ and ‘p@ssw0rd’. The report found that 83% of the compromised passwords satisfied both the length and complexity requirements of cyber security compliance standards such as NIST, GDPR, HIPAA and Cyber Essentials.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/03/08/research-reveals-password-still-the-most-common-term-used-by-hackers-to-breach-enterprise-networks/

Just 10% of Firms Can Resolve Cloud Threats in an Hour

Two-thirds (39%) of global organisations reported a surge in breaches over the past year, with IT complexity increasing and detection and response capabilities worsening, according to Palo Alto Networks. It found that as enterprises move more of their data and workloads to the cloud, they’re finding it increasingly difficult to discover and remediate incidents quickly. Over two-fifths (42%) reported an increase in mean time to remediate, while 90% said they are unable to detect, contain and resolve cyber-threats within an hour. Nearly a third (30%) reported a major increase in intrusion attempts and unplanned downtime. Part of the challenge appears to be the complexity of their cloud security environments – partly caused by tool bloat.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/10-firms-resolve-cloud-threats-hour/

MSPs in the Crosshairs of Ransomware Gangs

Many attacks have heightened attention around third-party risk and the security obligations of MSPs in meeting multiple customers’ IT needs. Attacks such as the ones on RackSpace and LastPass show that some ransomware actors are now intentionally targeting MSPs to access sensitive customer data. It is now believed that some advanced persistent threat (APT) groups could be stepping up their attacks on MSP’s in order to gain sensitive customer data.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/msps-in-the-crosshairs-of-ransomware-gangs/

Stolen Credentials Increasingly Empower the Cyber Crime Underground

Threat Intelligence provider Flashpoint found that last year threat actors exposed or stole 22.62 billion credentials and personal records, which often make their way to underground forums and cyber criminal markets. This follows a significant increase in market activity; just last year Flashpoint recorded 190 new illicit markets emerge and the continual rise in attacks focused on stealing credentials only further empowers cyber crime underground.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3690409/stolen-credentials-increasingly-empower-the-cybercrime-underground.html#tk.rss_news

It’s Time to Assess the Potential Dangers of an Increasingly Connected World

As global conflicts continue, cyber has become the fifth front of warfare. The world is approaching 50 billion connected devices, controlling everything from our traffic lights to our nuclear arsenal and we have already seen large-scale cyber attacks. Adding to this, a multitude of infrastructure runs on services ran by a handful of companies; Palo Alto Networks, Cisco and Fortinet control more than 50% of the market for security appliances. As such, an attack on one of these companies could cause a huge ripple effect on their customers.

https://www.darkreading.com/risk/it-s-time-to-assess-the-potential-dangers-of-an-increasingly-connected-world-

Mounting Cyber Threats Mean Financial Firms Urgently Need Better Safeguards

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 64% of banks and supervisory authorities do not mandate testing and exercising cyber security and 54% lack dedicated a cyber incident reporting regime. This increases the risk of experiencing a cyber attack. Regularly testing and exercising security will aid any organisation in its cyber resilience.

https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/03/02/mounting-cyber-threats-mean-financial-firms-urgently-need-better-safeguards

Insider Threat: Developers Leaked 10m Credentials Including Passwords in 2022

Security provider GitGuardian found that the rate at which developers leaked critical software secrets jumped by 0.5 to reach 5.5 out of every 1,000 commits to GitHub repositories; overall, this amounted to at least 10 million instances of secrets leaking to a public repository. Generic passwords accounted for the majority of leaked secrets (56%) and more than a third (38%) of leaks involved API keys, random number generator seeds and other sensitive strings. These leaks can have worrying consequences for organisations.

https://www.darkreading.com/application-security/inside-threat-developers-leaked-10m-credentials-passwords-2022

Cyber Threat Detections Surges 55% In 2022

Security Provider Trend Micro has said that it stopped 146 billion cyber threats in 2022, a 55% increase on the previous year and evidence of the increase of attacks ramping up. Trend Micro also found a 242% increase in the number of blocked malicious files and an 86% increase in backdoor malware detections with the latter showing an increase in attackers gaining initial access. Furthermore, the number of critical vulnerabilities in 2022 doubled compared to the previous year. Trend Micro noted that this is all likely due to an ever expanding attack surface of organisations.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cyberthreat-detections-surge-55/

European Central Bank Tells Banks to Run Cyber Stress Tests after Rise in Hacker Attacks

The European Central Bank (ECB) will ask all major lenders in the Eurozone to detail by next year, how they would respond to and recover from a successful cyber attack. The ECB is in the process of designing a scenario involving a theoretical breach of the financial system’s cyber defences, which will be sent to all of the 111 banks it assesses to see how they would react. The stress test stems from the increasing amount of cyber attacks. If cyber has shown us anything, it’s that anyone can be a target and performing a stress test would help any organisation prepare for the worst.

https://www.ft.com/content/f03d68a4-fdb9-4312-bda3-3157d369a4a6

Employees Are Feeding Sensitive Business Data to ChatGPT

1 in 20 employees have put sensitive corporate data into popular AI tool ChatGPT, raising concerns that this could result in massive leaks of proprietary information. In some cases, this has involved employees cutting and pasting strategic documents and asking ChatGPT to make a PowerPoint.

https://www.darkreading.com/risk/employees-feeding-sensitive-business-data-chatgpt-raising-security-fears

Is Ransomware Declining? Not So Fast Experts Say

Security provider CrowdStrike have explained that the perceived decline in ransomware reflects the abilities of threat actors to adapt, splinter and regroup against defensive measures. CrowdStrike expand on this, stating that whilst ransom payments dipped slightly in 2022, there was an uprise in data extortion and ransomware as a service (RaaS).

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/news/365532201/Is-ransomware-declining-Not-so-fast-experts-say

Preventing Corporate Data Breaches Starts with Remembering that Leaks have Real Victims

The impact a data breach can have on an individual is devastating and ultimately there’s not much an individual can do themselves if the organisation that holds their data isn’t taking the right steps. To best protect themselves and their clients’ data, organisations should look to have appropriate defence in depth controls, including effective asset management, an open security culture, close monitoring of access, utilising strong authentication and maintaining an awareness of the ever changing threat landscape.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/03/07/preventing-corporate-data-breaches/

Faced With Likelihood of Ransomware Attacks, Businesses Still Choosing to Pay Up

In a recent report Proofpoint found that globally 76% of organisations experienced ransomware attempts, with 64% eventually infected. Amongst those that had a cyber insurance policy, 82% of insurers stepped up to pay the ransom either in full or partially. The report found that with the rise in number and sophistication of attacks it is more important than ever for proper security training and awareness in organisations.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/faced-with-likelihood-of-ransomware-attacks-businesses-still-choosing-to-pay-up/

Experts See Growing Need for Cyber Security Workers as One in Six Jobs go Unfilled

A report by the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) found that 1 in 6 cyber security jobs are unfulfilled and this is only expected to grow in the coming years. The ICTC stated that “This is not just about education or government funding, but about companies willing to provide hands-on training and experience to the next generation of cyber security experts”.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/article-experts-see-growing-need-for-cybersecurity-workers-as-one-in-six-jobs/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Faced with likelihood of ransomware attacks, businesses still choosing to pay up | ZDNET

• MSPs in the Crosshairs of Ransomware Gangs - MSSP Alert

• Is ransomware declining? Not so fast, experts say | TechTarget

• FBI and CISA warn of increasing Royal ransomware attack risks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• City of Oakland Faces Major Data Leak - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Indigo Books Refuses LockBit Ransomware Demand (darkreading.com)

• Anatomy of a Ransomware Attack

• Core Members of DoppelPaymer Ransomware Gang Targeted in Germany and Ukraine (thehackernews.com)

• Ransom House ransomware attack hit Hospital Clinic de Barcelona- - Security Affairs

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• Ransomware's Favorite Target: Critical Infrastructure and Its Industrial Control Systems (darkreading.com)

• Ransomware review: March 2023 (malwarebytes.com)

• Ransomware gang posts video of data stolen from Minneapolis schools (bleepingcomputer.com)

• IceFire ransomware now encrypts both Linux and Windows systems (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Examining Ransomware Payments From a Data-Science Lens (trendmicro.com)

• DND: Black & McDonald reported ransomware attack | CTV News

• Cyble — BlackSnake Ransomware Emerges from Chaos Ransomware's Shadow

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• AI is taking phishing attacks to a whole new level of sophistication - Help Net Security

• Catches of the Month: Phishing Scams for March 2023 - IT Governance UK Blog

• Emotet starts post-break phishing campaign • The Register

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Microsoft: Business email compromise attacks can take just hours (bleepingcomputer.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Experts Warn of "SMS Pumping" Fraud Epidemic - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Vishing attacks increasing, but AI's role still unclear | TechTarget

• Defeating the Deepfake Danger - SecurityWeek

• Does Your Help Desk Know Who's Calling? (thehackernews.com)

2FA/MFA

• NCSC: Twitter Users Should Find MFA Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Malware

• DrayTek VPN routers hacked with new malware to steal data, evade detection (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malicious PyPI package signals direction of cyber crime • The Register

• How to prevent Microsoft OneNote files from infecting Windows with malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Snake Keylogger Malware Removal Guide (makeuseof.com)

• Stealthy UEFI malware bypassing Secure Boot enabled by unpatchable Windows flaw | Ars Technica

• New malware infects business routers for data theft, surveillance (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Old Windows ‘Mock Folders’ UAC bypass used to drop malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Emotet malware attacks return after three-month break (bleepingcomputer.com)

• AI-Powered 'BlackMamba' Keylogging Attack Evades Modern EDR Security (darkreading.com)

• New ScrubCrypt Crypter Used in Cryptojacking Attacks Targeting Oracle WebLogic (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers Exploiting Remote Desktop Software Flaws to Deploy PlugX Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Custom Chinese Malware Found on SonicWall Appliance - SecurityWeek

• Remcos Trojan Returns to Most Wanted Malware List After Ukraine Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FBI and international cops catch a NetWire RAT • The Register

Mobile

• Transparent Tribe Hackers Distribute CapraRAT via Trojanized Messaging Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Officials Targeted with Romance Scams and Android Trojan - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google One expands security features to all plans with dark web report, VPN access - Help Net Security

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Akamai mitigated a record-breaking DDoS that peaked 900Gbps- Security Affairs

Internet of Things – IoT

• TPM 2.0 Library Vulnerabilities May Affect Billions of IoT Devices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chinese Hikvision cameras ‘that pose security threat’ used on King’s Sandringham estate (thetimes.co.uk)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Preventing corporate data breaches starts with remembering that leaks have real victims - Help Net Security

• The LastPass Hack Somehow Gets Worse | WIRED

• LastPass Hack: Engineer's Failure to Update Plex Software Led to Massive Data Breach (thehackernews.com)

• Credential Stuffing attack on Chick-fil-A impacted +71K users- Security Affairs

• Popular fintech apps expose valuable, exploitable secrets - Help Net Security

• PayPal Sued Over Data Breach that Impacted 35,000 users (hackread.com)

• Acer Data Breach? Hacker Claims to Sell 160GB Trove of Stolen Data (hackread.com)

• Brazilian Conglomerate Suffers 3TB Data Breach: Report - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Data breach exposed millions of Verizon customers' account info (androidpolice.com)

• Congress’ Social Security Numbers Leaked in DC Health Link Hack (gizmodo.com)

• Data protection vendor Acronis admits to data leak • The Register

• AT&T confirms 9m wireless accounts exposed by third part • The Register

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• At Least 30% of "Cyber-Criminals" Are Women: Report - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber crime site shows off with a free leak of 2 million stolen card numbers - The Record from Recorded Future News

• BidenCash leaks 2.1M stolen credit/debit cards- Security Affairs

• Malicious PyPI package signals direction of cyber crime • The Register

• Where are the women in cyber security? • The Register

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• FTX Confirms $9 Billion in Customer Funds Vanished (gizmodo.com)

• Russia-Ukraine war: How both sides of the conflict have used crypto to win (cointelegraph.com)

• New ScrubCrypt Crypter Used in Cryptojacking Attacks Targeting Oracle WebLogic (thehackernews.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• 6 Ways To Go Beyond Awareness And Foster A Real Culture Of Cyber security (forbes.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Scams Security Pros Almost Fell For (darkreading.com)

• FTX Confirms $9 Billion in Customer Funds Vanished (gizmodo.com)

• Experts Warn of "SMS Pumping" Fraud Epidemic - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Scammers using voice-cloning A.I. to mimic relatives | Fortune

• Alleged security breach leaves millions of dollars missing from Flutterwave accounts | TechCrunch

• UK Government Plans Skills Boost for Public Sector Fraud Fight - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Officials Targeted with Romance Scams and Android Trojan - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Rise In ChatGPT Scams Reported By Fraudsters (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Deepfakes

• From Disinformation to Deep Fakes: How Threat Actors Manipulate Reality (thehackernews.com)

• Defeating the Deepfake Danger - SecurityWeek

Insurance

• Talking Cyber Insurance With Munich Re - SecurityWeek

Dark Web

• Cyber crime site shows off with a free leak of 2 million stolen card numbers - The Record from Recorded Future News

• Google One expands security features to all plans with dark web report, VPN access - Help Net Security

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Snap CISO talks risky supply chain security business • The Register

• SolarWinds IR lead: supply-chain attacks 'getting bigger' • The Register

• AT&T confirms 9m wireless accounts exposed by third part • The Register

Software Supply Chain

• SBOMs become a security staple for the software supply chain • The Register

Cloud/SaaS

• Just 10% of Firms Can Resolve Cloud Threats in an Hour - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Experts Reveal Google Cloud Platform's Blind Spot for Data Exfiltration Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers are quickly learning how to target cloud systems (axios.com)

• Understanding the Shared Responsibility Model, Critical Step to Ensure Cloud Security - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Attack Surface Management

• 5 Reasons You Should Care About Unmanaged Assets (darkreading.com)

Asset Management

• 5 Reasons You Should Care About Unmanaged Assets (darkreading.com)

Encryption

• New TPM 2.0 flaws could let hackers steal cryptographic keys (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Steganography Breakthrough Enables “Perfectly Secure” Digital Communications (scitechdaily.com)

API

• API Security for UK companies - IT Security Guru

• Attackers exploit APIs faster than ever before - Help Net Security

Open Source

• IceFire ransomware now encrypts both Linux and Windows systems (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Research Reveals 'Password' Still the Most Common Term Used by Hackers to Breach Enterprise Networks - IT Security Guru

• Stolen credentials increasingly empower the cyber crime underground | CSO Online

• The LastPass Hack Somehow Gets Worse | WIRED

• Credential Stuffing attack on Chick-fil-A impacted +71K users- Security Affairs

• The Role of Verifiable Credentials In Preventing Account Compromise (darkreading.com)

• Securing ways to share workplace passwords • The Register

• Young government workers show poor password management habits - Help Net Security

Social Media

• NCSC: Twitter Users Should Find MFA Alternatives - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• TikTok unveils new European data security regime | Reuters

Training, Education and Awareness

• 6 Ways To Go Beyond Awareness And Foster A Real Culture Of Cyber security (forbes.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Biden Administration's Cyber security Strategy Takes Aim at Hackers (gizmodo.com)

• Government Claims New UK GDPR Will Save Firms Billions - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Inadequate patches and advisories increase cyber risk - Help Net Security

• Why do Businesses Need to Focus More on Cyber security (hackread.com)

• Flashpoint: Threat vectors converging, increasing damage | TechTarget

• How to achieve and shore up cyber resilience in a recession - Help Net Security

• The cyber security landscape in the era of economic instability – Help Net Security

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Open letter demands OWASP overhaul, warns of mass project exodus | CSO Online

• PCI Compliance Requirements Guide (trendmicro.com)

• NIST Retooling Cyber security Framework to Reflect Changing Cyber scape – MSSP Alert

Data Protection

• Government Claims New UK GDPR Will Save Firms Billions – Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Experts see growing need for cyber security workers as one in six jobs go unfilled – The Globe and Mail

• How to Jump-Start Your Cyber security Career (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Core Members of DoppelPaymer Ransomware Gang Targeted in Germany and Ukraine (thehackernews.com)

• FBI and international cops catch a NetWire RAT • The Register

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Secret Service and ICE break the law with fake phone towers • The Register

• Thought you'd opted out of online tracking? Think again • The Register

Artificial Intelligence

• AI is taking phishing attacks to a whole new level of sophistication - Help Net Security

• Employees Are Feeding Sensitive Business Data to ChatGPT (darkreading.com)

• You can poison AI datasets for just $60, a new study shows (fastcompany.com)

• Microsoft and MITRE developed a tool to prepare security teams for attacks on ML systems - Help Net Security

• Thousands scammed by AI voices mimicking loved ones in emergencies | Ars Technica

• Vishing attacks increasing, but AI's role still unclear | TechTarget

• AI-Powered 'BlackMamba' Keylogging Attack Evades Modern EDR Security (darkreading.com)

• Criminals will use ChatGPT to unleash wave of fraud, warns Darktrace (telegraph.co.uk)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• From Disinformation to Deep Fakes: How Threat Actors Manipulate Reality (thehackernews.com)

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• What can security teams learn from a year of cyber warfare? | Computer Weekly

• New Backdoor MQsTTang Attributed to Mustang Panda Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Pegasus spyware used to spy on a Polish mayor- Security Affairs

• Russia-Ukraine war: How both sides of the conflict have used crypto to win (cointelegraph.com)

• Sharp Panda targets government entities in Southeast Asia- Security Affairs

• Russia’s Cyber Tactics in Ukraine Shift to Focus on Espionage - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Managed Service Provider Identifies Potential Chinese Spy Ring - MSSP Alert

• Chinese cyber spies target unpatched SonicWall gear • The Register

• What is Cyberwarfare? | Definition from TechTarget

Nation State Actors

• What can security teams learn from a year of cyber warfare? | Computer Weekly

• New Backdoor MQsTTang Attributed to Mustang Panda Group - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russia Bans Messengers, Including WhatsApp, Telegram, And More (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Russia-Ukraine war: How both sides of the conflict have used crypto to win (cointelegraph.com)

• Chinese Hikvision cameras ‘that pose security threat’ used on King’s Sandringham estate (thetimes.co.uk)

• China-aligned APT is exploring new technology stacks for malicious tools - Help Net Security

• Sharp Panda targets government entities in Southeast Asia- Security Affairs

• Lazarus Group Exploits Zero-Day Vulnerability to Hack South Korean Financial Entity (thehackernews.com)

• Russia’s Cyber Tactics in Ukraine Shift to Focus on Espionage - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Managed Service Provider Identifies Potential Chinese Spy Ring - MSSP Alert

• Chinese firm got Covid contract despite trying to hack NHS data, minister says | Politics | The Guardian

• Chinese cyber spies target unpatched SonicWall gear • The Register

• TikTok unveils new European data security regime | Reuters

• Lazarus group infiltrated South Korean finance firm twice last year | CSO Online

• Remcos Trojan Returns to Most Wanted Malware List After Ukraine Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New Chinese regulatory body expected to streamline data governance rules | CSO Online

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Vulnerability Management

• Inadequate patches and advisories increase cyber risk - Help Net Security

• Build Cyber Resiliency With These Security Threat-Mitigation Considerations

• Zero Day Threat Protection for Your Network (trendmicro.com)

• 557 CVEs Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog in 2022 - SecurityWeek

• Machine Learning Improves Prediction of Exploited Vulnerabilities (darkreading.com)

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defense (trendmicro.com)

• VulnCheck: CISA's KEV missing 42 vulnerabilities from 2022 | TechTarget

Vulnerabilities

• TPM 2.0 Library Vulnerabilities May Affect Billions of IoT Devices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Researchers discover 'kill switch' in Starlink terminals - Security - iTnews

• PoC exploit for recently patched Microsoft Word RCE is public (CVE-2023-21716) - Help Net Security

• CISA's KEV Catalog Updated with 3 New Flaws Threatening IT Management Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Exploitation of Critical Vulnerability in End-of-Life VMware Product Ongoing - SecurityWeek

• Fortinet warns of new critical unauthenticated RCE vulnerability (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Information Disclosure Vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager affecting multiple companies… | by Fat Selimi | Feb, 2023 | InfoSec Write-ups (infosecwriteups.com)

• Chinese cyber spies target unpatched SonicWall gear • The Register

• Chrome 111 Patches 40 Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Bitwarden flaw can let hackers steal passwords using iframes (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Veeam warns to install patches to fix a bug in Backup & Replication- Security Affairs

• Hackers Exploiting Remote Desktop Software Flaws to Deploy PlugX Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Vulnerability Exposes Cisco Enterprise Routers to Disruptive Attacks - SecurityWeek

• Jenkins Server Vulnerabilities Chained for Remote Code Execution  - SecurityWeek

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Tools and Controls

• The LastPass Hack Somehow Gets Worse | WIRED

• 3 Ways Security Teams Can Use IP Data Context (darkreading.com)

• Two-Thirds of European Firms Have Started Zero Trust - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• What is zero trust? A model for more effective security | CSO Online

• Too Many SOAR Vendors are Failing MSSPs - MSSP Alert

• Why enterprise SecOps strategies must include XDR and MDR | TechTarget

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Other News

• Biden Administration's Cyber security Strategy Takes Aim at Hackers (gizmodo.com)

• Tracking device technology: A double-edged sword for CISOs | CSO Online

• From Disinformation to Deep Fakes: How Threat Actors Manipulate Reality (thehackernews.com)

• What CISOs need to understand about document signing - Help Net Security

• Thousands of websites hacked as part of redirection campaign- Security Affairs

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 24 February 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Employees Bypass Cyber Security Guidance to Achieve Business Objectives

Researcher Gartner predicts that by 2025, lack of talent or human failure will be responsible for over half of significant cyber incidents. In a survey conducted by Gartner it was found that 69% of employees had bypassed their organisations cyber security guidance in the previous 12 months and 74% said they would bypass cyber security guidance if it helped them or their team achieve a business objective.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/02/24/bypass-cybersecurity-guidance/

• Three Quarters of Businesses Braced for Serious Email Attack this Year

According to a survey conducted by security provider Vanson Bourne, 76% of cyber security professionals predict that an email related attack will have serious consequences for their organisation in the coming year. The survey found that 82% of companies reported a higher volume of email in 2022 compared with 2021 and 2020 and 74% had said email-based threats had risen over the last 12 months. In addition, a worrying 91% had seen attempts to steal or use their email domain in an attack.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3688573/three-quarters-of-businesses-braced-for-serious-email-attack-this-year.html#tk.rss_news

• The Cost of Living Crisis is Triggering a Wave of Workplace Crime

Almost 6,000 people were caught stealing from their employer in 2022 according to insurance provider Zurich with the firms facing an average loss of £140,000.  Zurich have said “As cost of living pressures mount, employee theft has significantly increased, suggesting some workers could be turning to desperate measures to make ends meet”.

https://news.sky.com/story/the-cost-of-living-crisis-is-triggering-a-wave-of-workplace-crime-heres-how-12817082

• Fighting Ransomware with Cyber Security Audits

With the ever increasing number of devices and distributed environments, it’s easy for organisations to lose track of open IP addresses, administrator accounts and infrastructure configurations; all of this creates an increase in opportunities for threat actors to deploy ransomware. By conducting audits of IT assets, organisations can identify the data they hold and reduce the risk of forgotten devices. The need for auditing of an organisations assets is reinforced where a survey conducted by research provider Enterprise Strategy Group found that nearly 70% of respondents had suffered at least one exploit that started with an unknown, unmanaged, or poorly managed Internet-facing IT asset.

https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/ciso/23/b/cybersecurity-audit.html

• Record Levels of Fraud Impacting 90% of Payment Compliance Teams

New research from research provider VIXIO has found that 90% of payment company compliance teams are frequently overwhelmed and increased fraud was a particular concern for teams in the UK.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/02/17/overwhelm-impacts-90-of-payment-compliance-teams-as-they-combat-record-levels-of-fraud/

• CISOs Struggle with Stress and Limited Resources

A survey from security provider Cynet has found that 94% of CISOs report being stressed at work, with 65% admitting that this work stress has compromised their ability to protect their organisation. Furthermore, the survey found all respondents said they needed additional resources to adequately cope with current cyber challenges. Amongst some of the key findings were 77% of CISOs believing that a lack of resources had led to important security initiatives falling to the wayside.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/02/23/cisos-work-related-stress/

• Cyber Threats and Regulations Mount for Financial Industry

Nation-state adversaries, new reporting regulations, and a fast-paced threat landscape mean that financial services and technology firms need to bolster their security posture. For example, last year a report conducted by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) and security provider Akamai found that distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) attacks rose 73% more for European financial institutions compared to the previous year. This combination of attacks is followed by an increase in regulations such as the requirement to report breaches to the European Authorities to satisfy the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Such increase has caused financial institutions to bolster their security, with a survey conducted by security provider Contrast finding 72% of financial organisations plan to increase their investment in the security of their applications and 64% mandated cyber security requirements for their vendors.

https://www.darkreading.com/risk/cyberthreats-regulations-mount-for-financial-industry

• HardBit Ransomware Wants Insurance Details to Set the Perfect Price

Operators of a ransomware threat known as Hardbit are trying to negotiate ransom payments so that they would be covered by victim’s insurance companies. Typically, the threat actor tries to convince the victim that it is in their interest to disclose their insurance details so that the threat actor can adjust their demands so that insurance would cover it.

 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hardbit-ransomware-wants-insurance-details-to-set-the-perfect-price/ 

• Social Engineering is Becoming Increasingly Sophisticated

The rapid development of deepfake technology is providing an increase in the sophistication of social engineering attacks. Deepfake technology refers to products created through artificial intelligence, which could allow an individual to impersonate another with likeness and voice during a video conversation. The accessibility of such technology has allowed threat actors to conduct more sophisticated campaigns, including the replication of the voice of a company executive.

https://securityaffairs.com/142487/hacking/social-engineering-increasingly-sophisticated.html

• A Fifth of Brits Have Fallen Victim to Online Scammers

Security founder F-Secure have found that a fifth of Brits had fallen victim to digital scammers in the past, yet a quarter had no security controls to protect themselves. When providing a reason for the lack of security, 60% said they found cyber security too complex. This is worrying for organisations who need to ensure these low levels of security awareness are not displayed in the corporate environment.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/fifth-brits-have-victim-online/

• Cyber Attacks Hit Data Centres to Steal Information from Companies

Cyber attacks targeting multiple data centres globally have resulted in the exfiltration of information relating to companies who used them. In addition, attackers have been seen to publish access credentials relating to these attacks on the dark web. This malicious activity reinforces the need for organisations to be aware of and properly manage their supply chain.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3688909/cyberattacks-hit-data-centers-to-steal-information-from-global-companies.html#tk.rss_news  

• Phishing Fears Ramp Up on Email, Collaboration Platforms

Three quarters of organisations are expecting a serious impact from an email-based attack and with the rapid growth and expansion of collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, it’s expected that these will also be used as a vector for threat actors. Combined with the emergence of Chat-GPT, the landscape provides an increasing amount of opportunities for threat actors.

https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/phishing-fears-ramp-up-on-e-mail-collaboration-platforms

• The War in Ukraine has Shaken up the Cyber Criminal Eco-System

One year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the war continues -- including an ever-evolving digital component that has implications for the future of cyber security around the world. Among other things, the war in Ukraine has upended the Eastern European cyber criminal ecosystem, according to cyber security experts from Google, shaking up the way ransomware attacks are playing out. Google later explained that “Lines are blurring between financially motivated and government-backed attackers in Eastern Europe”.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-war-in-ukraine-has-shaken-up-the-cybercriminal-ecosystem-google-says/

• Police Bust €41m Email Scam Gang

A coordinated police operation spanning multiple countries led to the dismantling of a criminal network which was responsible for tens of millions in Business Email Compromise (BEC) losses. In one of the attacks the gang used social engineering to target the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a real estate developer, defrauding them of 38 million euros.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/police-bust-41m-bec-gang/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• HardBit ransomware wants insurance details to set the perfect price (bleepingcomputer.com)

• An Overview of the Global Impact of Ransomware Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fight Ransomware with a Cyber security Audit (trendmicro.com)

• Time to Deploy Ransomware Drops 94% - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Majority of Ransomware Attacks Last Year Exploited Old Bugs (darkreading.com)

• A Deep Dive into the Evolution of Ransomware Part 1 (trendmicro.com)

• A Deep Dive into the Evolution of Ransomware Part 2 (trendmicro.com)

• Guardian staff forced to work out of former brewery after ransomware attack (telegraph.co.uk)

• Royal Ransomware Expands Attacks by Targeting Linux ESXi Servers (trendmicro.com)

• Chip company loses $250m after ransomware hits supply chain (malwarebytes.com)

• GoAnywhere zero-day opened door to Clop ransomware (malwarebytes.com)

• Derivatives market still hit by fallout from Ion Markets cyber attack | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Dutch Police arrest three ransomware actors extorting €2.5 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Royal Mail resumes overseas deliveries via post offices after cyber-attack | Royal Mail | The Guardian

• LockBit gang takes credit for attack on water utility in Portugal - The Record from Recorded Future News

• IBM: Ransomware defenders showing signs of improvement | TechTarget

• ESXiArgs Ransomware Has Spread to 500 New Targets in Europe. Will there be More? - MSSP Alert

• Ukraine Suffered More Wiper Malware in 2022 Than Anywhere, Ever | WIRED

• Food giant Dole hit by ransomware, halts North American production temporarily (bitdefender.com)

• Wiper Malware Surges Ahead, Spiking 53% in 3 Months (darkreading.com)

• Trellix Report: LockBit 3.0 Ransomware "Most Aggressive" with Demands - MSSP Alert

• Israel's Top Tech University Targeted by DarkBit Ransomware (darkreading.com)

• Warnings were issued over a log-in system used by Cork university in weeks before cyber attack (thejournal.ie)

• Russia’s Invasion Sparks Global Wiper Malware Surge - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Lockbit gang hit Portuguese municipal water utility Aguas do Porto-Security Affairs

• Student Medical Records Exposed After LAUSD Breach (darkreading.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Three-quarters of businesses braced for ‘serious’ email attack this year | CSO Online

• Phishing Fears Ramp Up on Email, Collaboration Platforms (darkreading.com)

• Big rise in 'email thread hijacking' by cyber criminals (rte.ie)

• Fifth of Brits Have Fallen Victim to Online Scammers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing as a Service (cyberark.com)

• Smishing, vishing and whaling: How phishing scams are evolving | The Star

• Microsoft Outlook flooded with spam due to broken email filters (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Coinbase Attack Linked to Group Behind Last Year's Twilio, Cloudflare Hacks - SecurityWeek

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Google Translate Helps BEC Groups Scam Companies in Any Language (darkreading.com)

• Police Bust €38m BEC Gang - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Social engineering, deception becomes increasingly sophisticated-Security Affairs

• Smishing, vishing and whaling: How phishing scams are evolving | The Star

• Coinbase cyber attack targeted employees with fake SMS alert (bleepingcomputer.com)

2FA/MFA

• Twitter Limits SMS-Based 2-Factor Authentication to Blue Subscribers Only (thehackernews.com)

Malware

• GoDaddy Discloses Multi-Year Security Breach Causing Malware Installations and Source Code Theft (thehackernews.com)

• Google Ads Spreads FatalRAT Malware, Disguised As Popular Apps (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Researchers unearth Windows backdoor that’s unusually stealthy | Ars Technica

• Researchers warn of 'Havoc' command and control tool • The Register

• New WhiskerSpy malware delivered via trojanized codec installer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Frebniis malware abuses Microsoft IIS feature to create a backdoor-Security Affairs

• New Stealc malware emerges with a wide set of stealing capabilities (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts Warn of RambleOn Android Malware Targeting South Korean Journalists (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers use fake ChatGPT apps to push Windows, Android malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Use S1deload Stealer to Target Facebook, YouTube Users - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Unanswered Questions Cloud the Recent Targeting of an Asian Research Org (darkreading.com)

• Hydrochasma Threat Group Bombards Targets with Slew of Commodity Malware, Tools (darkreading.com)

• Wiper Malware Surges Ahead, Spiking 53% in 3 Months (darkreading.com)

• Russian national accused of developing, selling malware appears in US. court | CyberScoop

• Defenders on high alert as backdoor attacks become more common - Help Net Security

Mobile

• Five easy steps to keep your smartphone safe from hackers | ZDNET

• Apple Updates Advisories as Security Firm Discloses New Class of Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Is Telegram the New Dark Web? Report Documents “Cybercrime Ecosystem” on Messaging App - CPO Magazine

• Accidental WhatsApp account takeovers? It's a thing • The Register

• Google will boost Android security through firmware hardening (bleepingcomputer.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Seven German Airports Hit by Suspected Cyber Attack (heimdalsecurity.com)

• 4 Tips to Guard Against DDoS Attacks (darkreading.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Locking down the remote printer • The Register

• Are your IoT devices at risk? Cyber security concerns for 2023 - Help Net Security

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Sensitive US military emails exposed by unsecured Azure server • The Register

• DNA testing firm inks settlement after forgotten DB break-in • The Register

• Activision did not notify employees of data breach for months | TechCrunch

• GoDaddy blasted for breach response | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• TELUS investigating leak of stolen source code, employee data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The war in Ukraine has shaken up the cyber criminal ecosystem, Google says | ZDNET

• Russian cyber crime alliances upended by Ukraine invasion • The Register

• Spain Orders Extradition of British Alleged Hacker to US. - SecurityWeek

• Is Telegram the New Dark Web? Report Documents “Cyber crime Ecosystem” on Messaging App - CPO Magazine

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Norwegian police recover $5.9m crypto stolen by North Korea • The Register

• Coinbase Attack Linked to Group Behind Last Year's Twilio, Cloudflare Hacks - SecurityWeek

• Coinbase breached by social engineers, employee data stolen – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• ‘Nevada Group’ hackers target thousands of computer networks | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Pirated Final Cut Pro infects your Mac with cryptomining malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SBF faces four additional charges in FTX collapse case • The Register

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Employees bypass cyber security guidance to achieve business objectives - Help Net Security

• Insider Threats Don't Mean Insiders Are Threatening (darkreading.com)

• Insider threats must be top-of-mind for organisations facing layoffs - Help Net Security

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Overwhelm impacts 90% of payment compliance teams as they combat record levels of fraud - IT Security Guru

• The cost of living crisis is triggering a wave of workplace crime - here's how | UK News | Sky News

• Fifth of Brits Have Fallen Victim to Online Scammers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• FTC: Americans lost $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022 after 30% surge (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Firm Fined £200K For "Exploitative" Call Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Europol busts ‘CEO fraud’ gang that stole €38M in a few days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Criminals are flooding the internet with fake advice scams and adware, so watch out | TechRadar

• ‘They bleed you dry’: the recruitment scammers preying on Australian job seekers | Australia news | The Guardian

• City Fund Managers Jailed for £8m Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Scammers Mimic ChatGPT to Steal Business Credentials (darkreading.com)

• SBF faces four additional charges in FTX collapse case • The Register

Insurance

• Lower Data Breach Insurance Costs with These Tips (trendmicro.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• UK NCSC Launches Recommendations on Supply Chain Mapping - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chip company loses $250m after ransomware hits supply chain (malwarebytes.com)

• Third-Party Providers Create Identity and Access Control Challenges for Fintech Apps (darkreading.com)

• 3 Steps to Automate Your Third-Party Risk Management Program (thehackernews.com)

Software Supply Chain

• This Will Be the Year of the SBOM, for Better or for Worse (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Google Cloud CISO Phil Venables: Zero trust ‘essential’ to protect the cloud | VentureBeat

• Four steps SMBs can take to close SaaS security gaps - Help Net Security

• Why Are My Employees Integrating With So Many Unsanctioned SaaS Apps? (darkreading.com)

• Four Reasons Why Web Security is as Important as Endpoint Security for MSSP Clients - MSSP Alert

Containers

• 87% of Container Images in Production Have Critical or High-Severity Vulnerabilities (darkreading.com)

Encryption

• Encrypted Traffic, Once Thought Safe, Now Responsible For Most Cyberthreats (darkreading.com)

• AI Helps Crack NIST-Recommended Post-Quantum Encryption Algorithm - SecurityWeek

API

• Why people-driven remediation is the key to strong API security - Help Net Security

• ‘Most web API flaws are missed by standard security tests’ – Corey J Ball on securing a neglected attack vector | The Daily Swig (portswigger.net)

Open Source

• At least one open source vulnerability found in 84% of code bases: Report | CSO Online

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Despite Breach, LastPass Demonstrates the Power of Password Management (darkreading.com)

Social Media

• Twitter Limits SMS-Based 2-Factor Authentication to Blue Subscribers Only (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers Use S1deload Stealer to Target Facebook, YouTube Users - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 7 Tips for Mitigating Cyber-Risks to Your Corporate Social Media (darkreading.com)

• Russia's information war against Ukraine went stealth after Meta crackdown | CyberScoop

Malvertising

• Google Ads Spreads FatalRAT Malware, Disguised As Popular Apps (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Global threats fuel cyber defence training • The Register

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Over confidence is putting children at risk online says Kaspersky research - IT Security Guru

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Cyber threats, Regulations Mount for Financial Industry (darkreading.com)

• Firm Fined £200K For "Exploitative" Call Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Employees bypass cyber security guidance to achieve business objectives - Help Net Security

• The financial system is alarmingly vulnerable to cyber attack | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Cyber threats, Regulations Mount for Financial Industry (darkreading.com)

• Fight Ransomware with a Cyber security Audit (trendmicro.com)

• Evolving Threat Landscape Leading to Cyber security Pro “Burnout,” Study Says - MSSP Alert

• Benchmarking your cyber security budget in 2023 | VentureBeat

• Security breach? Don’t blame your employees | TechCrunch

• 7 reasons to avoid investing in cyber insurance | CSO Online

• 5 top threats from 2022 most likely to strike in 2023 | CSO Online

• Cyber arms race, economic headwinds among top macro cyber security risks for 2023 | CSO Online

• Malicious actors push the limits of attack vectors - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• ICO Calls on Accountants to Improve SME Data Protection - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• CISOs struggle with stress and limited resources - Help Net Security

• Stress pushing CISOs out the door | CSO Online

• Complexity, volume of cyber attacks lead to burnout in security teams - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Police Bust €38m BEC Gang - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Spain Orders Extradition of British Alleged Hacker to US. - SecurityWeek

• Russian national accused of developing, selling malware appears in US. court | CyberScoop

• Dutch Police arrest three ransomware actors extorting €2.5 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Supreme Court declines to hear Wikimedia case against NSA surveillance program | CyberScoop

Artificial Intelligence

• MLOps Security AI power analysis breaks post-quantum security algorithm ... (eenewseurope.com)

• AI Helps Crack NIST-Recommended Post-Quantum Encryption Algorithm - SecurityWeek

• Hackers use fake ChatGPT apps to push Windows, Android malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Security Experts Warn of Foreign Cyber Threat to 2024 Voting - SecurityWeek

Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• ENISA and CERT-EU warns Chinese APTs targeting EU organisations-Security Affairs

• Russian cybercrime alliances upended by Ukraine invasion • The Register

• Google Report Reveals Russia's Elaborate Cyber Strategy in Ukraine - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Many cyber operations conducted by Russia are yet to be publicly disclosed, says Dutch intelligence-Security Affairs

• Musk restricts Starlink for Ukraine, cites World War III | Fortune

• America Loves Spying by Balloon, Just Like China (gizmodo.com)

• How Ukraine War Has Shaped US Planning for a China Conflict - SecurityWeek

• Armenia and Azerbaijan Hackers Use OxtaRAT to Monitor Conflict - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russia blames 'hackers' for fake missile strike alerts • The Register

• Russia’s Invasion Sparks Global Wiper Malware Surge - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ukraine says Russian hackers backdoored govt websites in 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russia's information war against Ukraine went stealth after Meta crackdown | CyberScoop

• British Army leads Western Europe’s largest cyber warfare exercise | The British Army (mod.uk)

Nation State Actors

• ENISA and CERT-EU warns Chinese APTs targeting EU organisations-Security Affairs

• The war in Ukraine has shaken up the cybercriminal ecosystem, Google says | ZDNET

• Russian cybercrime alliances upended by Ukraine invasion • The Register

• EU Cyber security Agency Warns Against Chinese APTs - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google Report Reveals Russia's Elaborate Cyber Strategy in Ukraine - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Many cyber operations conducted by Russia are yet to be publicly disclosed, says Dutch intelligence-Security Affairs

• Russian spy working inside as security in a British embassy has been jailed for 13 years | UK News | Sky News

• Norwegian police recover $5.9m crypto stolen by North Korea • The Register

• America Loves Spying by Balloon, Just Like China (gizmodo.com)

• EU Organisations Warned of Chinese APT Attacks - SecurityWeek

• How Ukraine War Has Shaped US Planning for a China Conflict - SecurityWeek

• Earth Zhulong Familiar Patterns Target Southeast Asian Firms (trendmicro.com)

• Earth Kitsune Delivers New WhiskerSpy Backdoor via Watering Hole Attack (trendmicro.com)

• Putin Speech Broadcast Temporarily Stopped By DDoS Attack (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Ukraine Suffered More Wiper Malware in 2022 Than Anywhere, Ever | WIRED

• Lazarus Group Likely Using New WinorDLL64 Backdoor to Exfiltrate Sensitive Data (thehackernews.com)

• Russia’s Invasion Sparks Global Wiper Malware Surge - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ukraine says Russian hackers backdoored govt websites in 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russia's information war against Ukraine went stealth after Meta crackdown | CyberScoop

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Vulnerability Management

• CVSS system criticized for failure to address real-world impact | The Daily Swig (portswigger.net)

• Majority of Ransomware Attacks Last Year Exploited Old Bugs (darkreading.com)

• At least one open source vulnerability found in 84% of code bases: Report | CSO Online

Vulnerabilities

• US Cybersecurity Agency CISA Adds Three New Vulnerabilities in KEV Catalog (thehackernews.com)

• Fortinet Issues Patches for 40 Flaws Affecting FortiWeb, FortiOS, FortiNAC, and FortiProxy (thehackernews.com)

• SolarWinds Announces Upcoming Patches for High-Severity Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• Fortinet FortiNAC CVE-2022-39952 flaw exploited in the wild hours after release of PoC exploit-Security Affairs

• A New Kind of Bug Spells Trouble for iOS and macOS Security | WIRED

• VMware Patches Critical Vulnerability in Carbon Black App Control Product (thehackernews.com)

• New Privilege Escalation Bug Class Found on macOS and iOS - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• PoC exploit code for critical Fortinet FortiNAC bug released online-Security Affairs

• Newly Disclosed Vulnerability Exposes EOL Arris Routers to Attacks - SecurityWeek

• Hackers Exploit Privilege Escalation Flaw on Windows Backup Service - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Emergency VMware ESXi update fixes Windows Server 2022 VM boot issues (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exploitation attempts observed against Fortinet FortiNAC flaw | TechTarget

• Researchers find hidden vulnerabilities in hundreds of Docker containers - Help Net Security

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Tools and Controls

• Despite Breach, LastPass Demonstrates the Power of Password Management (darkreading.com)

• Google Cloud CISO Phil Venables: Zero trust ‘essential’ to protect the cloud | VentureBeat

• 10 Best Network Security Solutions & Providers - 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Modern Software: What's Really Inside? (darkreading.com)

• Why privileged access management should be critical to your security strategy | VentureBeat

• The battle for data security now falls on developers; here’s how they can win | VentureBeat

• Zero trust, XDR prominent in Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Endpoint Security | VentureBeat

• Advantages of the AWS Security Maturity Model (trendmicro.com)

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Other News

• Army leads Western Europe’s largest cyber warfare exercise | The British Army (mod.uk)

• NSA shares guidance on how to secure your home network (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Encrypted Traffic, Once Thought Safe, Now Responsible For Most Cyberthreats (darkreading.com)

• Malicious actors push the limits of attack vectors - Help Net Security

• Researchers Hijack Popular NPM Package with Millions of Downloads (thehackernews.com)

• Is OWASP at Risk of Irrelevance? (darkreading.com)

• Justice Department Debuts 'Disruptive Technology Strike Force' (gizmodo.com)

• How to Detect New Threats via Suspicious Activities (thehackernews.com)

• At least one open source vulnerability found in 84% of code bases: Report | CSO Online

• White House cyber security strategy to force large companies to make systems secure by design | CyberScoop

• Microsoft urges Exchange admins to remove some antivirus exclusions (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 17 February 2023

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• High Risk Users May be Few, but the Threat They Pose is Huge

High risk users represent approximately 10% of the worker population according to research provider, Elevate Security research. The research found that high risk users were responsible for 41% of all simulated phishing clicks, 30% of all real-world phishing clicks, 54% of all secure-browsing incidents and 42% of all malware events. This is worrying, considering the rise in sophisticated targeted phishing campaigns.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/02/16/high-risk-behavior/

• The Cost of Cyber Security Insurance is Soaring so Firms Need to Take Prevention More Seriously

State-backed cyber attacks are on the rise, but they are not raising the level of alarm that they should in the corporate world. Unfortunately, this is not a productive way of thinking. Come the end of March, insurance provider Lloyds will no longer cover damage from cyber attacks carried out by state or state-backed groups. In the worst cases, this reduced insurance coverage could exacerbate the trend of companies taking a passive approach toward state-backed attacks as they feel there is now really nothing they can do to protect themselves. The uncertainty however, could be the motivation for companies to take the threat of state-backed attacks more seriously.

https://fortune.com/2023/02/15/cost-cybersecurity-insurance-soaring-state-backed-attacks-cover-shmulik-yehezkel/

• Cyber Attacks Worldwide Increased to an All-Time Record-Breaking High, Report Shows

According to a report by security provider Check Point, cyber attacks rose 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Some of the key trends in the report included an increase in the number of cloud-based networking attacks, with a 48% rise and non-state affiliated hacktivist groups becoming more organised and effective than ever before. Additionally, ransomware is becoming more difficult to attribute and track and extra focus should be placed on exfiltration detection.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/cyberattacks-worldwide-increased-to-an-all-time-high-check-point-research-reveals/

• Most Organisations Make Cyber Security Decisions Without Insights

A report by security provider Mandiant found some worrying results when it came to organisational understanding of threat actors. Some of the key findings include, 79% of respondents stating that most of their cyber security decisions are made without insight into the treat actors targeting them, 79% believing their organisation could focus more time and energy on identifying critical security trends, 67% believing senior leadership teams underestimate the cyber threats posed to their organisation and finally, 47% of respondents felt that they could not prove to senior leadership that their organisation has a highly effective cyber security program.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/mandiant-report-most-organizations-make-cybersecurity-decisions-without-insights/

• Ransomware Attackers Finding New Ways to Weaponise Old Vulnerabilities

Ransomware attackers are finding new ways to exploit organisations’ security weaknesses by weaponising old vulnerabilities.  A report by security provider Cyber Security Works had found that 76% of the vulnerabilities currently being exploited were first discovered between 2010-2019.

https://venturebeat.com/security/ransomware-attackers-finding-new-ways-to-weaponize-old-vulnerabilities/

• Are Executives Fluent in IT Security Speak? 5 Reasons Why the Communication Gap is Wider Than You Think

Using data from two different reports conducted by security provider Kaspersky, the combined data showed some worrying results. Some of the results include 98% of respondents revealing they faced at least one IT security miscommunication that regularly leads to bad consequences, 62% of managers revealing miscommunication led to at least one cyber security incident, 42% of business leaders wanting their IT security team to better communicate and 34% of C-level executives struggle to speak about adopting new security solutions.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/are-c-suite-executives-fluent-in-it-security-speak-five-reasons-why-the-communication-gap-is-wider-than-you-think/

• Business Email Compromise Groups Target Firms with Multilingual Impersonation Attacks

Security providers Abnormal Security have identified two Business Email Compromise (BEC) groups “Midnight Hedgehog” and “Mandarin Capybara” which are conducting impersonation attacks in at least 13 different languages. Like many payment fraud attacks, finance managers or other executives are often targeted. In a separate report by Abnormal Security, it was found that business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by more than 81% during 2022.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-groups-multilingual/

• EU Countries Told to Step up Defence Against State Hackers

European states have raced to protect their energy infrastructure from physical attacks but the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) said more needed to be done against cyber warfare against financial institutions and the telecommunications networks and power grids they rely on. "The war in Ukraine, the broader geopolitical landscape and the increasing use of cyber attacks have significantly heightened the cyber threat environment," the ESRB said in a report. In addition, the ESRB highlight an increased risk of cyber attacks on the EU financial system, suggesting that stress tests and impact analyses should be carried out to identify weaknesses and measure resilience.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-told-step-up-defence-against-state-hackers-2023-02-14/

• Cyber Criminals Exploit Fear and Urgency to Trick Consumers

Threats using social engineering to steal money, such as refund and invoice fraud and tech support scams, increased during Q4 of 2022 according to a report by software provider Avast. “At the end of 2022, we have seen an increase in human-centred threats, such as scams tricking people into thinking their computer is infected, or that they have been charged for goods they didn’t order. It’s human nature to react to urgency, fear and try to regain control of issues, and that’s where cyber criminals succeed” Avast commented.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/02/13/cybercriminals-exploit-fear-urgency-trick-consumers/

• How to Manage Third Party and Supply Chain Cyber Security Risks that are Too Costly to Ignore

Many organisations have experienced that “after the breach” feeling — the moment they realise they have to tell customers their personal information may have been compromised because one of the organisations’ vendors had a data breach. Such situations involve spending significant amount of money and time to fix a problem caused by a third party. An organisation’s ability to handle third-party cyber risk proactively depends on its risk management strategies.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/10/why-third-party-cybersecurity-risks-are-too-costly-to-ignore/

• Russian Spear Phishing Campaign Escalates Efforts Towards Critical UK, US and European Targets

Following the advisory from the NCSC, it is clear that Russian state-sponsored hackers have become increasingly sophisticated at launching phishing attacks against critical targets in the UK, US and Europe over the last 12 months. The attacks included the creation of fake personas, supported by social media accounts, fake profiles and academic papers, to lure targets into replying to sophisticated phishing emails. In some cases, the bad actor may never leverage the account to send emails from and only use it to make decisions based on intelligence collection.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/365531158/Russian-spear-phishing-campaign-escalates-efforts-toward-critical-UK-US-and-European-targets

• 5 Biggest Risks of Using Third Party Managed Service Providers

As business processes become more complex, companies are turning to third parties to boost their ability to provide critical services from cloud storage to data management to security. It’s often more efficient and less expensive to contract out work. But it does present risks. 5 of the biggest risks to be considered are: indirect cyber attacks, financial risks from incident costs, reputational damage, geopolitical risk and regulatory compliance risk.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3687812/5-major-risks-third-party-services-may-bring-along-with-them.html#tk.rss_news

• Cyber Crime as a Service: A Subscription Based Model in the Wrong Hands

Arguably nothing in tech has changes the landscape more than ‘as a Service’ offerings, the subscription-based IT service delivery model, in fact, the ‘as a Service’ offering has made its way into the cyber crime landscape. And cyber crime, for its part, has evolved beyond a nefarious hobby; today it’s a means of earning for cyber criminals. Organised cyber crime services are available for hire, particularly to those lacking resources and hacking expertise but willing to buy their way into cyber criminal activities. Underground cyber crime markets have thus emerged, selling cyber attack tools and services ranging from malware injection to botnet tools, Denial of Service and targeted spyware services.

https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/cybercrime-as-a-service.html

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware attackers finding new ways to weaponize old vulnerabilities | VentureBeat

• US, UK slap sanctions on Russians linked to Conti and more • The Register

• Threat Analysis: VMware ESXi Attacks Soared in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Clop ransomware claims it breached 130 orgs using GoAnywhere zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Members of Russian cyber crime network unmasked by US and UK authorities - The Verge

• December ransomware attack leads to massive data breach from California health network - The Record from Recorded Future News

• Over 500 ESXiArgs Ransomware infections in one day in Europe-Security Affairs

• New ESXi ransomware strain spreads, foils decryption tools | TechTarget

• Russian Government evaluates the immunity to hackers acting in the interests of Russia-Security Affairs

• North Korea Using Healthcare Ransomware To Fund More Hacking (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• DPRK fund malicious cyber activities with ransomware attacks on critical Infrastructure-Security Affairs

• US Warns Critical Sectors Against North Korean Ransomware Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cisco Talos spots new MortalKombat ransomware attacks | TechTarget

• Ion: after the hack, the clean-up - Risk.net

• Hackers Target Israel’s Technion Demanding Huge Sum In Bitcoin - I24NEWS

• City of Oakland systems offline after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MTU cyber breach: Probe after ransomware attacks 'like a murder investigation' (irishexaminer.com)

• MTU data appears on dark web after cyber attack – The Irish Times

• Oakland City Services Struggle to Recover From Ransomware Attack (darkreading.com)

• LockBit spree hits three large companies (techmonitor.ai)

• Ransomware gang uses new zero-day to steal data on 1 million patients | TechCrunch

• City of Oakland issued state of emergency after ransomware attack-Security Affairs

• Glasgow Arnold Clark customers at risk after major cyber attack | HeraldScotland

• LockBit and Royal Mail Ransomware Negotiation Leaked - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• No relief in sight for ransomware attacks on hospitals | TechTarget

• Burton Snowboards cancels online orders after 'cyber incident' (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dallas Central Appraisal District paid $170,000 to ransomware attackers (bitdefender.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Russian spear phishing campaign escalates efforts toward critical UK, US and European targets | Computer Weekly

• NameCheap's email hacked to send Metamask, DHL phishing emails (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber criminals target fans of The Last of Us with recent malware and phishing scams - IT Security GuruCyber

• Venmo Phishing Abusing LinkedIn "slink"

• Spain, US dismantle phishing gang that stole $5 million in a year (bleepingcomputer.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• BEC Groups Target Firms With Multilingual Impersonation Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

2FA/MFA

• Reddit Hack Shows Limits of MFA, Strengths of Security Training (darkreading.com)

Malware

• Experts Warn of Surge in Multipurpose Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Malicious Npm Package Uses Typosquatting, Downloads Malware - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft OneNote Abuse for Malware Delivery Surges - Security Week

• New TA886 group targets companies with Screenshotter malware-Security Affairs

• Novel phishing campaign takes screenshots ahead of payload delivery | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Great, hackers are now using ChatGPT to generate malware | Digital Trends

• Devs targeted by W4SP Stealer malware in malicious PyPi packages (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber criminals target fans of The Last of Us with recent malware and phishing scams - IT Security Guru

• Researchers Uncover 700+ Malicious Open Source Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Pepsi distributor blames info-stealing malware for breach • The Register

• Malware that can do anything and everything is on the rise - Help Net Security

• Lokibot, AgentTesla Grow in January 2023's Most Wanted Malware List - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• New stealthy 'Beep' malware focuses heavily on evading detection (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Thousands of WordPress sites have been infected by a mystery malware | TechRadar

• Beep: New Evasive Malware That Can Escape Under The Radar (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Hackers start using Havoc post-exploitation framework in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hackers Targeting US and German Firms Monitor Victims' Desktops with Screenshotter (thehackernews.com)

• Malware authors leverage more attack techniques that enable lateral movement | CSO Online

Mobile

• RedEyes hackers use new malware to steal data from Windows, phones (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• Mirai V3G4 botnet exploits 13 flaws to target IoT devices-Security Affairs

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Cloudflare blocks record-breaking 71 million RPS DDoS attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 87% of largest DDoS attacks in Q4 targeted telecoms: Lumen (fiercetelecom.com)

• The Tor network hit by wave of DDoS attacks for at least 7 months-Security Affairs

Internet of Things – IoT

• Digital burglaries: The threat from your smart home devices | Fox News

• Mirai V3G4 botnet exploits 13 flaws to target IoT devices-Security Affairs

• New Mirai malware variant infects Linux devices to build DDoS botnet (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches

• MP’s laptop and iPad stolen from pub in 'worrying' security breach | Metro News

• Reddit was hit with a phishing attack. How it responded is a lesson for everyone | ZDNET

• Reddit Hack Shows Limits of MFA, Strengths of Security Training (darkreading.com)

• 4 misconceptions about data exfiltration | VentureBeat

• Highmark data breach affecting about 300,000 members exposed personal information to hackers – WPXI

• Gulp! Pepsi hack sees personal information stolen by data-stealing malware (bitdefender.com)

• Nearly 50 million Americans impacted by health data breaches in 2022 (chiefhealthcareexecutive.com)

• My Password Manager was Hacked! How to Prevent a Catastrophe (bleepingcomputer.com)

• After apparent hack, data from Australian tech giant Atlassian dumped online | CyberScoop

• Atlassian: Leaked Data Stolen via Third-Party App (darkreading.com)

• Health info for 1 million patients stolen using critical GoAnywhere vulnerability | Ars Technica

• Scandinavian Airlines says cyber attack caused passenger data leak (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Russian Government evaluates the immunity to hackers acting in the interests of Russia-Security Affairs

• Cyber crime as a Service: A Subscription-based Model in The Wrong Hands | Splunk

• A Hacker’s Mind — how the elites exploit the system | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Dark Web Revenue Down Dramatically After Hydra's Demise (darkreading.com)

• Russian hacker convicted of $90 million hack-to-trade charges (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Enigma, Vector, and TgToxic: The New Threats to Cryptocurrency Users (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus hackers use new mixer to hide $100 million in stolen crypto (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 451 PyPI packages install Chrome extensions to steal crypto (bleepingcomputer.com)

• DeFi exploits and access control hacks cost crypto investors billions in 2022: Report (cointelegraph.com)

• Using the blockchain to prevent data breaches | VentureBeat

• SideWinder APT Spotted Stealing Crypto (darkreading.com)

• Quarter of Crypto Tokens in 2022 Linked to Pump-and-Dump - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• A former Credit Suisse employee leaked employees' historic bonus data (efinancialcareers.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Russian IT biz owner made $90M from stolen financial info • The Register

• Refund and Invoice Scams Surge in Q4 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MoneyGram Fraud Victims Get $115m in Compensation - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 'Pig butchering' scams on the rise, luring victims with promises of relationships and riches | CyberScoop

• Cyber security Experts Warn Against Valentine's Day Romance Scams - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russian Hackers Disrupt NATO Earthquake Relief Operations (darkreading.com)

• Romance scam targets security researcher, hilarity ensues • The Register

• 10 signs that scammers have you in their sights | WeLiveSecurity

• Hackers Leverage PayPal to Send Malicious Invoices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• US, UK slap sanctions on Russians linked to Conti and more • The Register

Insurance

• The cost of cyber security insurance is soaring–and state-backed attacks will be harder to cover. It’s time for companies to take threats more seriously | Fortune

Dark Web

• Dark Web Revenue Down Dramatically After Hydra's Demise (darkreading.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• How to manage third-party cyber security risks that are too costly to ignore | TechCrunch

• 5 biggest risks of using third-party services providers | CSO Online

Cloud/SaaS

• Reimagining zero trust for modern SaaS - Help Net Security

• Cloud security: Where do CSP and client responsibilities begin and end? | VentureBeat

• Application and cloud security is a shared responsibility - Help Net Security

Attack Surface Management

• To thwart cyber attacks, enterprises must have visibility of their assets: Sophos CEO - The Hindu BusinessLine

Open Source

• Researchers Uncover 700+ Malicious Open Source Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Configuration Issues in SaltStack IT Tool Put Enterprises at Risk (darkreading.com)

• Solving open-source security — from Alpha to Omega | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• New Mirai malware variant infects Linux devices to build DDoS botnet (bleepingcomputer.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Eek! You Can Steal Passwords From This Password Manager Using the Notepad App | PCMag

• Eurostar forces 'password resets' — then fails and locks users out (bleepingcomputer.com)

• My Password Manager was Hacked! How to Prevent a Catastrophe (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Metaverse Adds New Dimensions to Web 3.0 Cyber security | TechRepublic

• Hard drugs actively sold on Twitter in plain sight. Twitter says it doesn’t breach its safety policies • Graham Cluley

• Elon Musk Seems to Think His Own Employees Are Shadowbanning Him (gizmodo.com)

• Venmo Phishing Abusing LinkedIn "slink"

Malvertising

• AdSense fraud campaign relies on 10,890 sites that were infected since September 2022-Security Affairs

Training, Education and Awareness

• High-risk users may be few, but the threat they pose is huge - Help Net Security

• Reddit Hack Shows Limits of MFA, Strengths of Security Training (darkreading.com)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• 5th State of CCPA, CPRA, and GDPR Compliance Report Shows More Than 90% of Companies Are Not Compliant (darkreading.com)

• The Online Safety Bill: An attack on encryption (element.io)

• As regulations skyrocket, is compliance even possible anymore? - Help Net Security

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Security buyers lack insight into threats, attackers, report finds | Computer Weekly

• Cyber attacks Worldwide Increased to an All-Time High, Check Point Research Reveals - MSSP Alert

• The cost of cyber security insurance is soaring–and state-backed attacks will be harder to cover. It’s time for companies to take threats more seriously | Fortune

• Are C-Suite Executives Fluent in IT Security Speak? Five Reasons Why the Communication Gap is Wider Than You Think - MSSP Alert

• Actionable intelligence is the key to better security outcomes - Help Net Security

• To thwart cyber attacks, enterprises must have visibility of their assets: Sophos CEO - The Hindu BusinessLineT

• Majority of Firms Make Cyber security Decisions Without Attacker Insight - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 5 Ways Security and Compliance Can Break Down Silos to Save Money and Meet Increased Regulations - MSSP Alert

• Build Cyber Resiliency With These Security Threat-Mitigation Considerations (darkreading.com)

• 5th State of CCPA, CPRA, and GDPR Compliance Report Shows More Than 90% of Companies Are Not Compliant (darkreading.com)

• Evolving cyber attacks, alert fatigue creating DFIR burnout, regulatory risk | CSO Online

• Simplify to Survive: How Organisations Can Navigate Cyber-Risk (darkreading.com)Simplify to Survive: How Organisations Can Navigate Cyber-Risk (darkreading.com)

• As regulations skyrocket, is compliance even possible anymore? - Help Net Security

• Storage security for compliance and cyberwar in 2023 • The Register

Backup and Recovery

• A CISOs Practical Guide to Storage and Backup Ransomware Resiliency (thehackernews.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Get hired in cyber security: Expert tips for job seekers - Help Net Security

• 3 Ways CISOs Can Lead Effectively and Avoid Burnout (darkreading.com)

• Cyber security Jobs Remain Secure Despite Recession Fears (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Members of Russian cyber crime network unmasked by US and UK authorities - The Verge

• Spain, US dismantle phishing gang that stole $5 million in a year (bleepingcomputer.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• The FBI’s most controversial surveillance tool is under threat | Ars Technica

Artificial Intelligence

• Russian hackers are trying to break into ChatGPT, says Check Point | ZDNET

• Cyber criminals Bypass ChatGPT Restrictions to Generate Malicious Content - Check Point Software

• Great, hackers are now using ChatGPT to generate malware | Digital Trends

• Eric Schmidt Is Building the Perfect AI War-Fighting Machine | WIRED

• A.I. in the military could be a game changer in warfare | Fortune US issues declaration on responsible use of AI in the military | Reuters

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Revealed: the hacking and disinformation team meddling in elections | Technology | The Guardian

Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Russian Government evaluates the immunity to hackers acting in the interests of Russia-Security Affairs

• Russian spear phishing campaign escalates efforts toward critical UK, US and European targets | Computer Weekly

• EU countries told to step up defence against state hackers | Reuters

• Britain must ‘wake up’ to China security challenges, ex-MI6 head says | The Independent

• Hacks, leaks and wipers: Google analyses a year of Russian cyber attacks on Ukraine | Cyber scoop

• Google: Russia continues to set cyber sights on NATO nations | TechTarget

• US shoots down ‘high-altitude object’ above Alaska | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Military Organizations in Pakistan Targeted With Sophisticated Espionage Tool - security Week

• SpaceX curbed Ukraine's use of Starlink terminals - Militarnyi

• US shoots down ‘octagonal’ flying object near military sites in Michigan | US news | The Guardian

• Six companies join US entity list after Chinese spy balloon • The Register

• How Alan Turing still casts his genius in the age of cyberwar | Metro News

• US warns its citizens in Russia to get out immediately over security fears | Euronews

• Unidentified airborne objects: A trio of new intrusions leaves America's leaders grasping for explanations | CNN Politics

• Russian Hackers Disrupt NATO Earthquake Relief Operations (darkreading.com)

• ‘Significant’ debris from China spy balloon retrieved, says US military | US national security | The Guardian

• Use of Chinese cameras by College of Policing is risk to national security, says commissioner (telegraph.co.uk)

• Ukraine’s use of SpaceX satellites risks starting World War Three, says Elon Musk (telegraph.co.uk)

• Eric Schmidt Is Building the Perfect AI War-Fighting Machine | WIRED

• Albanian gangs set up hundreds of spy cameras to keep ahead of police | Financial Times (ft.com)

• A.I. in the military could be a game changer in warfare | Fortune

• Chinese cameras leave British police vulnerable to spying, says watchdog | Espionage | The Guardian

• China-based cyber espionage actor seen targeting South America | CSO Online

• What Happened to #OpRussia? (darkreading.com)

• The Lessons From Cyberwar, Cyber-in-War and Ukraine  - security Week

• Storage security for compliance and cyberwar in 2023 • The Register

Nation State Actors

• Russian Government evaluates the immunity to hackers acting in the interests of Russia-Security Affairs

• Russian spear phishing campaign escalates efforts toward critical UK, US and European targets | Computer Weekly

• EU countries told to step up defence against state hackers | Reuters

• Britain must ‘wake up’ to China security challenges, ex-MI6 head says | The Independent

• Hacks, leaks and wipers: Google analyses a year of Russian cyber attacks on Ukraine | CyberScoop

• Google: Russia continues to set cyber sights on NATO nations | TechTarget

• Military Organizations in Pakistan Targeted With Sophisticated Espionage Tool - Security Week

• MagicWeb Mystery Highlights Nobelium Attacker's Sophistication (darkreading.com)

• Russian hackers are trying to break into ChatGPT, says Check Point | ZDNET

• North Korean Hackers Are Attacking US Hospitals | WIRED

• Six companies join US entity list after Chinese spy balloon • The Register

• Lazarus hackers use new mixer to hide $100 million in stolen crypto (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Unidentified airborne objects: A trio of new intrusions leaves America's leaders grasping for explanations | CNN Politics

• Russian Hackers Disrupt NATO Earthquake Relief Operations (darkreading.com)

• Group-IB Blocks Attack By Chinese Tonto Team Hackers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chinese ship accused of using ‘military-grade laser’ against Philippine vessel | Philippines | The Guardian

• Chinese Hackers Targeting South American Diplomatic Entities with ShadowPad (thehackernews.com)

• Use of Chinese cameras by College of Policing is risk to national security, says commissioner (telegraph.co.uk)

• Ukraine’s use of SpaceX satellites risks starting World War Three, says Elon Musk (telegraph.co.uk)

• Chinese cameras leave British police vulnerable to spying, says watchdog | Espionage | The Guardian

• China-based cyber espionage actor seen targeting South America | CSO Online

• What Happened to #OpRussia? (darkreading.com)

• UK Policing Riddled with Chinese CCTV Cameras - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• A new operating system has been released in Russia! (gizchina.com)

• SideWinder APT Spotted Stealing Crypto (darkreading.com)

• Researchers Link SideWinder Group to Dozens of Targeted Attacks in Multiple Countries (thehackernews.com)

• SideWinder APT Attacks Regional Targets in New Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Ransomware attackers finding new ways to weaponize old vulnerabilities | VentureBeat

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft Patch Tuesday: 36 RCE bugs, 3 zero-days, 75 CVEs – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Citrix Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities in Windows, Linux Apps - Security Week

• Adobe Plugs Critical Security Holes in Illustrator, After Effects Software - Security Week

• Apple releases new fix for iPhone zero-day exploited by hackers | TechCrunch

• Intel issues patches for SGX vulnerabilities • The Register

• Firefox Updates Patch 10 High-Severity Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• Critical RCE Vulnerability Discovered in ClamAV Open-Source Antivirus Software (thehackernews.com)

• CISA Warns of Active Attacks Exploiting Fortra MFT, TerraMaster NAS, and Intel Driver Flaws (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft says Intel driver bug crashes apps on Windows PCs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Serious Security: GnuTLS follows OpenSSL, fixes timing attack bug – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Splunk Enterprise Updates Patch High-Severity Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• Dozens of Vulnerabilities Patched in Intel Products - Security Week

• High-severity DLP flaw impacts Trellix for Windows | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Critical Vulnerability Patched in Cisco Security Products - Security Week

• Health info for 1 million patients stolen using critical GoAnywhere vulnerability | Ars Technica

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Tools and Controls

• A CISOs Practical Guide to Storage and Backup Ransomware Resiliency (thehackernews.com)

• SOAR vs. SIEM: What's the difference? | TechTarget

• PAM is failing - IT Security Guru

• Combining identity and security strategies to mitigate risks - Help Net Security

• Defending against attacks on Azure AD: Goodbye firewall, hello identity protection | CSO Online

• Regular Pen Testing Is Key to Resolving Conflict Between SecOps and DevOps (thehackernews.com)

• Attack surface management (ASM) is not limited to the surface - Help Net Security

• How to filter Security log events for signs of trouble | TechTarget

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 09 December 2022

Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.

Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

• Economic Uncertainty Will Greatly Impact the Spread of Cyber Crime

Norton released its top cyber trends to watch in 2023, emphasising that the economy will have the greatest impact on the spread of cyber crime next year. Experts predict the pressures associated with economic uncertainty and rising costs will create the perfect environment for scammers to take advantage of people when they are more vulnerable.

It’s expected that cyber criminals will trick victims into surrendering personal information, emptying their bank accounts, or spending money for products, services or “lottery winnings” that never arrive. “We anticipate scammers will continue to prey on the vulnerability of people as economic pressures rise in 2023,” said Norton.

“Cyber criminals love to exploit seasonal opportunities, and consumers are facing a perfect storm of rising prices in the middle of the busiest shopping season of the year when scammers are particularly active. Scams are always harder to detect during the holiday season because consumers expect deep discounts and may believe prices that would normally seem too good to be true. This year, inflation and other unfavourable macroeconomic factors are likely to make people particularly eager to find good deals and they may therefore be at greater risk than in previous years. Taking a few proactive steps today could help you to be safer all year long.”

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/12/06/economic-uncertainty-cybercrime/

• Cyber Security Resilience Emerges as Top Priority, as 62% of Companies Say Security Incidents Impacted Business Operations

Cyber security resilience is a top priority for companies as they look to defend against a rapidly evolving threat landscape, according to the latest edition of Cisco's annual Security Outcomes Report.

Resilience has emerged as a top priority as a staggering 62 percent of organisations surveyed said they had experienced a security event that impacted business in the past two years. The leading types of incidents were network or data breaches (51.5 percent), network or system outages (51.1 percent), ransomware events (46.7 percent) and distributed denial of service attacks (46.4 percent).

These incidents resulted in severe repercussions for the companies that experienced them, along with the ecosystem of organisations they do business with. The leading impacts cited include IT and communications interruption (62.6 percent), supply chain disruption (43 percent), impaired internal operations (41.4 percent) and lasting brand damage (39.7 percent).

With stakes this high, it is no surprise that 96 percent of executives surveyed for the report said that security resilience is high priority for them. The findings further highlight that the main objectives of security resilience for security leaders and their teams are to prevent incidents, and mitigate losses when they occur.

Technology is transforming businesses at a scale and speed never seen before. While this is creating new opportunities, it also brings with it challenges, especially on the security front. To be able to tackle these effectively, companies need the ability to anticipate, identify, and withstand cyber threats, and if breached be able to rapidly recover from one. That is what building resilience is all about.

Security, after all, is a risk business. As companies don't secure everything, everywhere, security resilience allows them to focus their security resources on the pieces of the business that add the most value to an organisation, and ensure that value is protected.

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/cybersecurity-resilience-emerges-as-top-priority-as-62-of-companies-say-security-incidents-impacted-business-operations

• Cyber Security Should Focus on Managing Risk

Preventing all data breaches is an unrealistic goal. Instead, focus on finding and minimising the greatest risks.

There is a common misconception that all problems have clear, straightforward solutions — as long as you look hard enough. While this is a bold and ambitious goal, it's misguided when applied to cyber security. Organisations cannot prevent data breaches or cyberattacks altogether, and avoiding a breach or cyber incident is nearly impossible in the modern era. Organisations can, however, take steps to reduce an attack's negative impacts.

Eradicating risk is an impractical goal because you cannot "solve" something that constantly changes. To understand the risks you need to think like an attacker.

Threat actors are, first and foremost, opportunistic. They will always look for the easiest targets to maximise their financial gain. So intimately understanding an organisation's level of risk is the first step to managing and reducing it — and making yourself less of a target.

In line with Verizon’s "Data Breach Investigations Report" (DBIR) the four critical ways that threat actors most frequently use to compromise organisations large and small are credential compromise, phishing, vulnerability exploitation, and botnets, and these are the areas organisations should look reduce risks.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/cybersecurity-should-focus-on-managing-risk

• Fear of Cyber Attacks Drives SMBs to Spend More on Software

Despite fears of a looming recession, small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are spending more on software in 2023, according to Capterra’s 2023 SMB Software Buying Trends Survey. 75% of US SMBs estimate they’ll spend more on software in 2023 compared to 2022.

Alongside increased software budgets, Capterra’s survey of over 500 SMBs reveals four other major trends in software buying behaviours and challenges that will impact businesses in 2023:

• Fearful of cyber attacks, US businesses rate security as a top motivator for software purchases

• Implementation concerns are SMBs’ biggest purchase barrier

• Most SMB software purchases are solely handled by IT, disregarding other important stakeholders

• Customer reviews sway purchase decisions, and verified reviews are critical

Despite the expected increase in software investments, many US SMBs regret their technology purchases. 61% of US SMBs say they have buyer’s remorse over a technology purchase in the past 12-18 months. Inadequate support services (39%) and higher-than-anticipated costs (34%) are the top reasons behind such regrets.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/12/07/smbs-software-spending-2023/

• Business Email Compromise (BEC) Fraud Attacks Expand Beyond Email and Toward Mobile Devices

Business email compromise (BEC) scams have been increasingly targeting mobile devices, particularly with SMS-focused attacks. According to a new advisory by cyber security specialists at Trustwave, the trend indicates a broader shift towards phishing scams via text messages.

“Phishing scams are prevalent in the SMS threat landscape, and now, BEC attacks are also going mobile,” reads the report. Trustwave further added that scammers typically obtain mobile numbers from data breaches, social media and data brokers, among other methods. After that, attackers ask victims for a wire transfer, send a copy of an aging report or change a payroll account, luring them into paying for something that should be reimbursed later (but never will).

BEC attacks will always be here so long as they remain profitable. Their continued profitability proves that employee cyber security behaviour is neglected and mismanaged by the compliance-based approach to security awareness.

Security culture needs a reformation that begins with transforming the human layer into an asset which, when empowered by the right training and platform, augments the protect-detect-respond pillars of the [National Institute of Standards and Technology] NIST framework.

Trustwave’s findings were also confirmed in SlashNext’s State of Phishing 2022 report, which recently highlighted a 50% increase in attacks on mobile devices, with scams and credential theft at the top of the list of payloads. The document also suggested 83% of organisations reported that mobile device threats had been growing more quickly than other device threats.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-attacks-expand-toward-mobile/

• Ransomware Professionalisation Grows as Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) Takes Hold

Ransomware groups are getting their acts together, growing in sophistication and business acumen while monetising ransomware beyond encryption, including double and triple extortion, as the market for ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) matures.

In first half of 2022, LockBit, Conti, Alphv, Black Basta, and Vice Society were among the most prolific ransomware gangs, focusing their attack on US-based organisations, according to a LookingGlass report on the topic.

The report confirmed and attributed 1,133 ransomware attacks in the first six months of the year and attributed 207 data leaks across all active threat actor groups throughout the same period. Of the more than 1,300 incidents, the bulk came from the top 15 most active ransomware groups, led by LockBit, Conti, and Alphv.

Ransomware gangs have primarily targeted two sectors during the analysis period: manufacturing and industrial products, followed by engineering and construction and healthcare and life sciences, with the consumer and retail industry rounding out the top five.

The report highlighted the rise of sophisticated software and networks as a principal contributor to the professionalisation of ransomware, with malicious actors now offering RaaS, bug bounties, sales teams, and even customer support.

“This new, more professional ransomware structure can only mean that the problem will continue to grow in the months ahead," the report noted. "We anticipate the adoption of more traditional business practices as the underground economy continues to remain robust”.

https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/ransomware-professionalization-grows-as-raas-takes-hold

• Automated Dark Web Markets Sell Corporate Email Accounts For $2

Cyber crime marketplaces are increasingly selling stolen corporate email addresses for as low as $2 to fill a growing demand by hackers who use them for business email compromise and phishing attacks or initial access to networks.

Analysts at Israeli cyber-intelligence firm KELA have closely followed this trend, reporting at least 225,000 email accounts for sale on underground markets.

The largest webmail shops are Xleet and Lufix, claiming to offer access to over 100k breached corporate email accounts, with prices ranging between $2 and $30, if not more, for highly-desirable organisations.

Typically, these accounts were stolen via password cracking (brute-forcing) or credential stuffing, had their credentials stolen through phishing, or were bought from other cyber criminals.

Hackers use their access to corporate email accounts in targeted attacks like business email compromise (BEC), social engineering, spear-phishing, and deeper network infiltration.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/automated-dark-web-markets-sell-corporate-email-accounts-for-2/

• Cloud Hosting Provider Rackspace Warns of Phishing Risks Following Ransomware Attack

Cloud computing provider Rackspace warned customers on Thursday of increased risks of phishing attacks following a ransomware attack affecting its hosted Microsoft Exchange environment.

While the company is still investigating the incident and is working on bringing affected systems back online, it says that cyber criminals might also take advantage and exploit this incident for their own purposes.

"If you do receive a message from an individual you do not recognise, do not reply. Please login to your control panel and create a ticket, including details about the message you received," Rackspace said. "We understand that contact such as this may be alarming, but we currently have no evidence to suggest that you are at increased risk as a result of this direct contact."

Rackspace added that customers could easily spot scammers attempting to steal their sensitive information since:

• Emails from Rackspace will be sent from @rackspace.com emails (although attackers might still use a spoofed email address and redirect their targets to a landing phishing page)

• Rackspace support will not ask for login credentials or personal information (e.g., social security number, driver's license) during phone calls

Even though the company is yet to reveal if it has any evidence that the attackers have stolen data from its systems during the breach, customers were advised to remain vigilant and monitor their credit reports and banking account statements for suspicious activity.

Some customers are also reporting an increase in phishing emails impersonating Rackspace since the ransomware attack. Those affected by the Rackspace ransomware attack and outage should not open any suspicious email attachments or click any suspicious links.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/rackspace-warns-of-phishing-risks-following-ransomware-attack/

• Security Concerns Scupper Deals for Two-Thirds of Firms

Two-thirds (67%) of global organisations have admitted to losing out on acquiring potential customers due to concerns about their security posture, according to LogRhythm.

The security vendor polled 1175 security professionals and executives across five continents to compile its latest report, The State of the Security Team 2022. It found that security due diligence among customers and partners is increasingly rigorous.

Some 91% of respondents said that their security strategy must now align with customers’ security policies and standards, while 85% claimed their company must provide proof that they meet partners’ security requirements.

There was more worrying news from the report: 70% of respondents reported an increase in workplace stress for security teams, with nearly a third (30%) citing a “significant” increase. Among the key stress factors highlighted in the study were growing attack sophistication, greater responsibilities and increasing attack frequency.

Two-fifths (41%) claimed that better integrated solutions would help to relieve these pressures, while a similar number (42%) pointed to the need for more experienced security professionals. The latter would seem unlikely, given the coming recession’s likely impact on budgets, and persistent industry skills shortages. The gap is now 3.4 million globally, including 56,800 in the UK, a massive 73% year-on-year increase, according to ISC2.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/security-concerns-scupper-deals/

• Microsoft Encourages 'Strong Cyber Hygiene' in Light of Increasing Russian Cyber Attacks

Microsoft is gearing up for a slew of Russian cyber attacks this winter, and warns others to stay vigilant. Between missiles, drones, and cyber attacks the onslaught against Ukraine has been a brutal one, and reportedly only set to get worse in the coming months.

"Moscow has intensified its multi-pronged hybrid technology approach to pressure the sources of Kyiv’s military and political support," says Microsoft in a recent blog post. "Recent attacks in Poland suggest that Russian state-sponsored cyber attacks may increasingly be used outside Ukraine in an effort to undermine foreign-based supply chains."

In late October, Russian forces were pushed from formerly occupied territory, retaliating with missile, drone, and cyber strikes that left much of Kyiv in need of simple running water.

The Russian group known to Microsoft as IRIDIUM (aka Sandworm) is thought to be working with the Russian intelligence service, the GRU, in coordinated efforts to inflict suffering on the people of Ukraine. The group has been at large for almost a decade, as Microsoft notes, "Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, IRIDIUM launched a series of wintertime operations against Ukrainian electricity providers, cutting power to hundreds of thousands of citizens in 2015 and 2016."

https://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-encourages-strong-cyber-hygiene-in-light-of-increasing-russian-cyberattacks/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Rackspace customers rage following ransomware attack, as class-action lawsuits filed (bitdefender.com)

• Ransomware Professionalization Grows as RaaS Takes Hold (darkreading.com)

• Rackspace Admits Security Incident, Helps Customers Migrate to Microsoft 365 Accounts - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Medibank share price slumps ahead of major shutdown and cyber security overhaul (fool.com.au)

• Rackspace confirms ransomware behind days-long email outage • The Register

• Vice Society: Profiling a Persistent Threat to the Education Sector (paloaltonetworks.com)

• Wiper, Disguised as Fake Ransomware, Targets Russian Orgs (darkreading.com)

• Never-before-seen malware is nuking data in Russia’s courts and mayors’ offices | Ars Technica

• Rackspace rocked by ‘security incident’ in hosted Exchange • The Register

• Open Source Ransomware Toolkit Cryptonite Turns Into Accidental Wiper Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Understanding NIST CSF to assess your organisation's Ransomware readiness (thehackernews.com)

• New Ransom Payment Schemes Target Executives, Telemedicine – Krebs on Security

• South Pacific vacations may be wrecked by ransomware • The Register

• Gartner: 5 Considerations for I&O Leaders Planning Against Ransomware Attacks - IT Security Guru

• Intersport Data Posted On Hive Dark Web Blog - Information Security Buzz

• NZ Privacy Commissioner Investigates Mercury IT Ransomware Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Vice Society Ransomware Attackers Targeted Dozens of Schools in 2022 (thehackernews.com)

• Education sector hit by Hive ransomware in November | TechTarget

• Ransomware attack forces French hospital to transfer patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CommonSpirit Health ransomware attack exposed data of 623,000 patients (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware Gang Steals Employee and Customer Data From LJ Hooker (vice.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Rackspace warns of phishing risks following ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Phishing in the Cloud: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat (darkreading.com)

• Phishing scammers impersonate WhatsApp by buying a top ad spot on Google | PC Gamer

• Man who lost $149k after clicking on phishing e-mail among at least 10 victims in Case cyber attack | The Straits Times

• How to Recognize Phishing Emails: Cyber security Experts Give Advice - WSJ

• Investment Fraud Gang May Have Made $500m - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• BEC Attacks Expand Beyond Email and Toward Mobile Devices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Christmas Warning: Threat Actors Impersonate your Favourite Brands to Attack, Finds CSC - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Infostealer Malware Market Booms, as MFA Fatigue Sets In (darkreading.com)

• Hardening Identities With Phish-Resistant MFA (darkreading.com)

• 'I had £8,000 stolen but Revolut won't refund it' - BBC News

Malware

• Hack-for-Hire Group Targets Travel and Financial Entities with New Janicab Malware Variant (thehackernews.com)

• Infostealer Malware Market Booms, as MFA Fatigue Sets In (darkreading.com)

• Malware Authors Inadvertently Take Down Own Botnet (darkreading.com)

• New TrueBot Malware Variant Leveraging Netwrix Auditor Bug and Raspberry Robin Worm (thehackernews.com)

• Truebot Malware Activity Increases With Possible Evil Corp Connections - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Newly Discovered Trojan Steals 300,000 Facebook Users Details In 4 Year-Long Campaign - Information Security Buzz

• Artifact Poisoning in GitHub Actions Imports Malware via Software Pipelines (darkreading.com)

Mobile

• BEC Attacks Expand Beyond Email and Toward Mobile Devices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 'Scattered Spider' Cyber crime Group Targets Mobile Carriers via Telecom, BPO Firms | SecurityWeek.Com

• Code of practice for app store operators and app developers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Android malware apps with 2 million installs spotted on Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Privacy changes set Apple at odds with UK government over online safety bill | Apple | The Guardian

• Android malware infected 300,000 devices to steal Facebook accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers Uncover Darknet Service Allowing Hackers to Trojanize Legit Android Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Android December 2022 security updates fix 81 vulnerabilities (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Telcom and BPO Companies Under Attack by SIM Swapping Hackers (thehackernews.com)

• Darknet's Largest Mobile Malware Marketplace Threatens Users Worldwide (thehackernews.com)

• Eight Questions to Ask Your Aging Parents (and Yourself) to Keep Their Phones Safe From Hackers - WSJ

• SIM swapper gets 18-months for involvement in $22 million crypto heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Compromised Android keys used to sign info-stealing malware • The Register

• Largest mobile malware marketplace identified by Resecurity in the Dark Web - Security Affairs

Internet of Things – IoT

• How IoT is changing the threat landscape for businesses - Help Net Security

• What's the Matter with digital trust in smart home devices? - Help Net Security

• Security Risks Found in Millions of XIoT Devices - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Self-Propagating 'Zerobot' Botnet Targeting Spring4Shell, IoT Vulnerabilities | SecurityWeek.Com

• Eufy responds to camera security concerns | ZDNET

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Popular HR and Payroll Company Sequoia Discloses a Data Breach | WIRED

• Personal data of 10,000 Australians found for sale online | 7NEWS

• Stolen data of 600,000 Indians sold on bot markets so far - study | Reuters

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Of Exploits and Experts: The Professionalization of Cyber Crime (darkreading.com)

• Economic uncertainty will greatly impact the spread of cyber crime - Help Net Security

• Automated dark web markets sell corporate email accounts for $2 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• DHS Cyber Safety Board to review Lapsus$ gang’s hacking tactics (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BlackProxies proxy service increasingly popular among hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Gen Z Internet Users "Normalize" Cyber crime - Report - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Chart: Cyber crime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years | Statista

• Metaparasites: The cyber criminals who rip each other off • Graham Cluley

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Bitcoin ‘rarely’ used for legal transactions, on ‘road to irrelevance’, say European Central Bank officials | TechCrunch

• North Korean Hackers Spread AppleJeus Malware Disguised as Cryptocurrency Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft Warns Cryptocurrency Firms Against Complex Cyber-Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Threat Actors Use Malicious File Systems to Scale Crypto-Mining Operations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft: Hackers target cryptocurrency firms over Telegram (bleepingcomputer.com)

• UK finalises plans for regulation of ‘wild west’ crypto sector | Financial Times (ft.com)

• North Korean Lazarus Group Linked to New Cryptocurrency Hacking Scheme – Security Bitcoin News

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Insights into insider threats: Detecting and monitoring abnormal user activity - Help Net Security

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Even cyber criminals fall for online scams: $2.5m last year • The Register

• Why are Monzo, Revolut and Starling becoming scam targets? — Startup Europe, The Sifted Podcast | Sifted

• 'I had £8,000 stolen but Revolut won't refund it' - BBC News

• Suspects arrested for hacking US networks to steal employee data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Credit card skimming – the long and winding road of supply chain failure – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Australia arrests 'Pig Butchering' suspects for stealing $100 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyber criminals are scamming each other, tipping off law enforcement - Help Net Security

• Elon Musk "Freedom Giveaway" crypto scam promoted via Twitter lists (bleepingcomputer.com)

• SIM swapper gets 18-months for involvement in $22 million crypto heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Metaparasites: The cyber criminals who rip each other off • Graham Cluley

• Investment Fraud Gang May Have Made $500m - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Deepfakes

• Thanks to AI, it’s probably time to take your photos off the Internet | Ars Technica

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Santander UK fined £108m over anti-money laundering failings | Banco Santander | The Guardian

Insurance

• What you should know when considering cyber insurance in 2023 | CSO Online

• Cyber Insurance Policy Underwriting Explained (trendmicro.com)

Dark Web

• Dark web recruiting techniques: Malware, phishing, and carding - Help Net Security

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Iranian Hackers Strike Diamond Industry with Data-Wiping Malware in Supply-Chain Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Antwerp's city services down after hackers attack digital partner (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Credit card skimming – the long and winding road of supply chain failure – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Transport And Shipping Beware – Supply Chains Under Attack - Information Security Buzz

• Popular HR and Payroll Company Sequoia Discloses a Data Breach | WIRED

Software Supply Chain

• How Naming Can Change the Game in Software Supply Chain Security (darkreading.com)

Denial of Service DoS/DDoS

• 3 Types Of DDoS Attack Types You Should Care About - Information Security Buzz

• Microsoft warning after DDoS attack disrupts Russian bank • The Register

Cloud/SaaS

• Phishing in the Cloud: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat (darkreading.com)

• How to get cloud migration right - Help Net Security

• 3 Ways Attackers Bypass Cloud Security (darkreading.com)

• How to implement least privilege access in the cloud | TechTarget

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Remote workers losing laptops are bigger threat to companies than hackers (telegraph.co.uk)

Encryption

• WhatsApp raises threat of UK shutdown in encryption row (telegraph.co.uk)

• Governments want to avert quantum's encryption apocalypse (axios.com)

API

• 68% of IT leaders are worried about API sprawl - Help Net Security

Open Source

• Ping of death! FreeBSD fixes crashtastic bug in network tool – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Research reveals where 95% of open source vulnerabilities lie - Help Net Security

• Critical Ping Vulnerability Allows Remote Attackers to Take Over FreeBSD Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Threat Actors Use Malicious File Systems to Scale Crypto-Mining Operations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Password Reset Calls Are Costing Your Org Big Money (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Taiwan bans state-owned devices from running TikTok • The Register

• Critical Vulnerabilities Force Twitter Alternative Hive Social Offline | SecurityWeek.Com

• Does Hive's Security Problem Make It Unsafe to Use? (lifehacker.com)

• Elon Musk "Freedom Giveaway" crypto scam promoted via Twitter lists (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US States label TikTok a malicious and menacing threat • The Register

Training, Education and Awareness

• Making Cyber-awareness Training And Spoofing Protection Mandatory In The Digital Workplace - Information Security Buzz

• Engage your employees with better cyber security training - Help Net Security

• Lack of Cyber security Expertise Poses Threat for Public-Safety Orgs (darkreading.com)

• 4 cyber security predictions for 2023 --- SANS analysts look ahead | VentureBeat

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• US Sues TikTok Over Child Safety and Data Security Claims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Are Parents Feeding Kids’ Data To Threat Actors? Expert Comments - Information Security Buzz

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Five companies fined over £400,000 for targeting over-60s with illegal marketing calls | UK News | Sky News

• UK finalises plans for regulation of ‘wild west’ crypto sector | Financial Times (ft.com)

• What Stricter Data Privacy Laws Mean for Your Cyber security Policies (thehackernews.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Cyber security Risk Management In The Real World - Information Security Buzz

• Economic uncertainty will greatly impact the spread of cyber crime - Help Net Security

• Cyber security Plan: 3 Keys for CISOs (trendmicro.com)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Understanding NIST CSF to assess your organisation's Ransomware readiness (thehackernews.com)

• PCI Secure Software Standard 1.2 released - Help Net Security

• How compliance leaders can encourage employees to report misconduct - Help Net Security

• The changing role of the MITRE ATT@CK framework | CSO Online

• Don't Wait to Become CMMC Compliant - Information Security Buzz

• Three Ways to Improve Defence Readiness Using MITRE D3FEND | SecurityWeek.Com

Data Protection

• Remote workers losing laptops are bigger threat to companies than hackers (telegraph.co.uk)

• How companies time data leak disclosures - Help Net Security

• What Stricter Data Privacy Laws Mean for Your Cyber security Policies (thehackernews.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• 5 top qualities you need to become a next-gen CISO | CSO Online

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Suspects arrested for hacking US networks to steal employee data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Australia arrests 'Pig Butchering' suspects for stealing $100 million (bleepingcomputer.com)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• The Privacy War Is Coming (darkreading.com)

• Apple Faces Critics Over Its Privacy Policies | SecurityWeek.Com

• Privacy changes set Apple at odds with UK government over online safety bill | Apple | The Guardian

• Apple announces new security and privacy measures amid surge in cyber-attacks | Apple | The Guardian

Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• NATO Readies for Cyber War: Simulation Shows Unified Front Against Attack - MSSP Alert

• Microsoft warns of Russian cyber attacks throughout the winter (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft warning after DDoS attack disrupts Russian bank • The Register

• Lessons from Russia’s cyber-war in Ukraine | The Economist

• Russian Espionage APT Callisto Focuses on Ukraine War Support Organisations | SecurityWeek.Com

• Russian Actors Use Compromised Healthcare Networks Against Ukrainian Orgs (darkreading.com)

• Security Firms Aiding Ukraine During War Could Be Considered Participants in Conflict (substack.com)

• Russian Hackers Use Western Networks to Attack Ukraine - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Pegasus spyware was used to hack reporters’ phones. I’m suing its creators | Nelson Rauda Zablah | The Guardian

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Nation State Actors

Nation State Actors – Russia

• Microsoft encourages 'strong cyber hygiene' in light of increasing Russian cyber attacks | PC Gamer

• Russian Hackers Spotted Targeting US Military Weapons and Hardware Supplier (thehackernews.com)

• The surprising ineffectiveness of Russia’s cyber-war | The Economist

Nation State Actors – China

• Chinese Government Linked Hackers Swiped $20M in Targeted Pandemic Funds, Secret Service Says - MSSP Alert

• Chinese Hackers Using Russo-Ukrainian War Decoys to Target APAC and European Entities (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese Hackers Target Middle East Telecoms in Latest Cyber Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Chinese hackers stole millions worth of US COVID relief money, Secret Service says | Reuters

• Amnesty International Canada breached by suspected Chinese hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• China Operates More Than 100 Secret 'Police Stations' Globally: Report (businessinsider.com)

• US Congress rolls back proposal to restrict use of Chinese chips | Computerworld

Nation State Actors – North Korea

• North Korean tech freelancers' earnings fund nukes, missiles • The Register

• North Korean Hackers Spread AppleJesus Malware Disguised as Cryptocurrency Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Google Documents IE Browser Zero-Day Exploited by North Korean Hackers | SecurityWeek.Com

• APT37 Uses Internet Explorer Zero-Day to Spread Malware (darkreading.com)

• Google: State hackers still exploiting Internet Explorer zero-days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean Lazarus Group Linked to New Cryptocurrency Hacking Scheme – Security Bitcoin News

Nation State Actors – Iran

• Iranian APT Targets US With Drokbk Spyware via GitHub (darkreading.com)

• Iranian Hackers Strike Diamond Industry with Data-Wiping Malware in Supply-Chain Attack (thehackernews.com)

• Iranian State Hackers Targeting Key Figures in Activism, Journalism, and Politics (thehackernews.com)

• UK lawmakers warned of cyber-attacks and possible harassment from Iranian operatives | CNN

• Iran Arrests News Agency Deputy After Reported Cyber attack | SecurityWeek.Com

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Vulnerabilities

• Attackers take over expired domain to deliver web skimming scripts - Help Net Security

• Google discovers Windows exploit framework used to deploy spyware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco discloses high-severity IP phone bug with exploit code (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Chrome emergency update fixes 9th zero-day of the year (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Documents IE Browser Zero-Day Exploited by North Korean Hackers | SecurityWeek.Com

• For Cyber attackers, Popular EDR Tools Can Turn into Destructive Data Wipers (darkreading.com)

• A new Linux flaw can be chained with other two bugs to gain full root privileges - Security Affairs

• Self-Propagating 'Zerobot' Botnet Targeting Spring4Shell, IoT Vulnerabilities | SecurityWeek.Com

• Google Chrome Flaw Added to CISA Patch List (darkreading.com)

• Fortinet Patches High-Severity Authentication Bypass Vulnerability in FortiOS | SecurityWeek.Com

• Research reveals where 95% of open source vulnerabilities lie - Help Net Security

• Critical Ping Vulnerability Allows Remote Attackers to Take Over FreeBSD Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Google: State hackers still exploiting Internet Explorer zero-days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Multiple Zero Days Discovered In Leading Antivirus And Endpoint Solutions (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• APT37 Uses Internet Explorer Zero-Day to Spread Malware (darkreading.com)

• WAFs of Several Major Vendors Bypassed With Generic Attack Method | SecurityWeek.Com

• Google Chrome zero-day exploited in the wild (CVE-2022-4262) - Help Net Security

• Sophos fixed a critical flaw in its Sophos Firewall version 19.5 - Security Affairs

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Tools and Controls

• Security pros feel threat detection and response workloads have increased - Help Net Security

• Single Sign-on: It's Only as Good as Your Ability to Use It (darkreading.com)

• Leveraging the full potential of zero trust - Help Net Security

• Understanding malware analysis and its challenges | TechTarget

• Using XDR to Consolidate and Optimize Cyber security Technology (thehackernews.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• The promise of Open Everything (axway.com)

• Security Outcomes Report, Volume 3 - Cisco

• ENISA Threat Landscape 2022 — ENISA (europa.eu)

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Other News

• Over 4,000 Vulnerable Pulse Connect Secure Hosts Exposed to Internet | SecurityWeek.Com

• Where Advanced Cyber attackers Are Heading Next: Disruptive Hits, New Tech (darkreading.com)

• 43 Trillion Security Data Points Illuminate Our Most Pressing Threats (darkreading.com)

• 7 reasons why you must embed trust into the core of your business - Help Net Security

• Most convicted terrorists radicalised online, finds MoJ-backed study | UK security and counter-terrorism | The Guardian

• Risky online behaviour ‘almost normalised’ among young people, says study | Internet | The Guardian

• Top 7 factors boosting enterprise cyber security resilience - Help Net Security

• Machine Learning Models: A Dangerous New Attack Vector (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft's rough 2022 security year in review | CSO Online

• Consumers want convenience without sacrificing security - Help Net Security

• 4 cyber security predictions for 2023 --- SANS analysts look ahead | VentureBeat

• 3 of the Worst Data Breaches in the World That Could Have Been Prevented  - Security Affairs

• Removing the Barriers to Security Automation Implementation | SecurityWeek.Com

• Cyber security Should Focus on Managing Risk (darkreading.com)

• Deal with sophisticated bot attacks: Learn, adapt, improve - Help Net Security

• Want to detect Cobalt Strike? Look to process memory • The Register

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Sector Specific

Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.

Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.

·       Automotive

·       Construction

·       Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

·       Defence & Space

·       Education & Academia

·       Energy & Utilities

·       Estate Agencies

·       Financial Services

·       FinTech

·       Food & Agriculture

·       Gaming & Gambling

·       Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)

·       Health/Medical/Pharma

·       Hotels & Hospitality

·       Insurance

·       Legal

·       Manufacturing

·       Maritime

·       Oil, Gas & Mining

·       OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems

·       Retail & eCommerce

·       Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)

·       Startups

·       Telecoms

·       Third Sector & Charities

·       Transport & Aviation

·       Web3

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As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.

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