Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 02 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

• How to Keep Cyber Attacks from Tanking Your Balance Sheet

According to a recent Forrester report, last year saw 1 billion records exposed in the top 35 breaches, $2.6 billion stolen in the top nine cryptocurrency breaches, and $2.7 billion in fines levied to the top 35 violators.

The average cost of a data breach reached $4.35 million in 2022, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report for that year, which represents a 2.6% increase over the prior year, and a 12.7% increase from 2020. For ransomware, a report found the average payment in 2021 was approximately $1.85 million, more than double the $760,000 figure from 2020. These are just direct costs; indirect costs are far greater and can include lost business, lost customers, reputational loss and regulatory fines.

When it comes to managing cyber risk, corporate boards should look to understand cyber security as a strategic business enabler, understand the impacts, align risk-management with business needs, ensure the organisation supports cyber security, incorporate cyber security expertise into governance and encourage systemic resilience.

https://hbr.org/2023/06/how-to-keep-cyberattacks-from-tanking-your-balance-sheet

• Company Size Doesn’t Matter When It Comes to Cyber Attacks

65% of large organisations suffered a cyber attack within the last 12 months, which is similar to the results among companies of all sizes (68%), according to a recent report. The most common security incidents were the same for all companies; these were phishing, ransomware and user account compromise, also known as business email compromise (BEC).

Smaller companies often underestimate their risk, with the reasoning that cyber criminals want the biggest targets as they will likely have more intellectual property, however all businesses have valuable data and are therefore a target. Additionally, smaller organisations can sometimes be seen as a way into larger organisations that use their services.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/29/larger-organizations-cyberattacks/

• ‘Exceptional’ Cyber Attacks Now Normal, says BT Security Chief

The threat of cyber attacks is growing at an “unprecedented” pace, according to the chief security officer at multinational teleco BT, Howard Watson, but it is not just large organisations such as BT who will be impacted by this increase.

Watson highlighted that the increase in sophisticated technology poses the biggest threat in the long run: “Technological advancement, as ever, is a double-edged sword in security. Quantum and AI have great potential for benefits in the right hands, or to cause massive damage in the wrong hands. But we know that cyber criminals will utilise these technologies, so we have to be able to respond in kind.”  Adding to this, the chief security officer highlighted that events that were previously considered as ‘exceptional’ need to be assessed and planned for as a probability, rather than a possibility.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exceptional-cyberattacks-now-normal-says-bt-security-chief-nd2kfp3gc

• How State-Sponsored/Advanced Persistent Threat Groups (APTs) Target SMBs

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are not exempt from being targeted by advanced persistent threat (APT) actors, according to Proofpoint researchers who collected data from over 200,000 SMB customers. Proofpoint identified a rise in phishing campaigns originating from such state-sponsored APT groups, who are highly skilled and typically state-sponsored groups with distinct strategic goals. These goals range from espionage and intellectual property theft to destructive attacks, state-sponsored financial theft, and disinformation campaigns.

Unfortunately, SMBs often lack adequate cyber security measures, making them vulnerable to all kinds of cyber threats. APT actors exploit this weakness by targeting SMBs as a stepping stone towards achieving their larger goals.

Alongside phishing campaigns, it was identified that APTs are increasingly targeting regional outsourced IT providers/Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to mount supply chain attacks. By compromising regional MSPs within geographies that align with the strategic collection requirements of APT actors, threat actors can gain access to multiple SMBs to extract sensitive information or execute further attacks.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/31/apt-targeting-smbs/

• Phishing Campaigns Thrive as Evasive Tactics Outsmart Conventional Detection

According to research, 2022 saw a 25% increase in the use of phishing kits. These phishing kits are a set of tools that enable cyber criminals to effortlessly create and maintain large scale sophisticated phishing campaigns. It is this sophistication that allows cyber criminals to circumnavigate conventional detections; in fact, the research found a 40% increase in the use of anti-bot technologies designed to prevent automated scanners from identifying content as phishing.

In some cases (11% of observed phishing kits) malicious links would not be detected when tested by anti-phishing controls because those controls do not use the exact device parameters, geolocation and referrer of the intended target victim’s profile; therefore the malicious link is allowed to be delivered to the intended target.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/06/01/advanced-detection-evasion-techniques/

• Don't be Polite When you Get a Text from a Wrong Number

You should immediately be suspicious of any text you get from a number not in your contacts, even if it may be innocent looking. Your first reaction may be to be polite and let them know they have the wrong number, but this person is a stranger. Strangely, despite teaching our children not to talk to strangers, many are comfortable with divulging information to them. Although letting them know they made a mistake seems harmless, responding opens you up to being scammed and you’ve just let them know you’re a real person. Every bit of helpful information you provide has the potential to be leveraged by an attacker.

https://www.kens5.com/article/money/consumer/wrong-number-text-messages/273-c94cd68b-6117-4add-bf16-e010f7e16726

• Capita Cyber Attack: 90 Downstream Organisations Reported Data Breaches

90 organisations have reported breaches of personal information held by Capita after the outsourcing group had suffered a cyber attack, according to Britain’s data watchdog. The attack on Capita, which occurred in March, is still impacting businesses, with the UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO) making enquiries. Organisations must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach.

The impact of the attack, and its knock-on effect, highlights the need for organisations to consider their third party security, no matter the size of the third party they use.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/30/capita-cyber-attack-data-breaches-ico

• Travel-Themed Phishing, BEC Campaigns Get Smarter as Summer Season Arrives

A recent survey from McAfee found that nearly a third (30%) of adults have fallen victim or know someone who has fallen victim to an online scam when bargain hunting for travel deals during the summer season, with a full two-thirds of victims losing up to $1,000.

This has extended to the corporate environment, with threat actors impersonating the HR department and exploiting the trust users place in their employers, a report has found. The attack leverages regular HR procedures associated with holiday requests and taps into the anticipation and excitement surrounding the summer travel season, to capitalise on exploiting the user.

https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/travel-themed-phishing-bec-campaigns-smarter-summer-season

• Organisations Spend 100 Hours Battling Post-Delivery Email Threats

Nearly every victim of a spear-phishing attack in the last 12 months saw impacts on their organisation, including malware infections, stolen data, and reputational damage, according to Barracuda Networks. The research shows that cyber criminals continue to barrage organisations with targeted email attacks, and many companies are struggling to keep up.

While spear-phishing attacks are low-volume, they are widespread and highly successful compared to other types of email attacks. On average, organisations take nearly 100 hours to identify, respond to, and remediate a post-deliver email threat: 43 hours to detect the attack and 56 hours to respond and remediate after the attack is detected.

Users at companies with more than a 50% remote workforce report higher levels of suspicious emails: 12 per day on average, compared to 9 per day for those with less than a 50% remote workforce. Companies with more than a 50% remote workforce also reported that it takes longer to both detect and respond to email security incidents: 55 hours to detect and 63 hours to respond and mitigate, compared to an average of 36 hours and 51 hours respectively for organisations with fewer remote workers.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/30/2023-spear-phishing-trends/

• Ransomware Gangs Adopting Business-like Practices to Boost Profits

Ransomware gangs are using a variety of business-like practices to boost profits, making it more difficult for defenders to differentiate various groups, a new report by WithSecure has surmised. This move towards mirroring legitimate businesses practices means that tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) are blurring.

The underground marketplace now includes entities including ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) groups, Initial Access Brokers (IAB), crypter-as-a-service (CaaS), cryptojackers, malware-as-a-service (MaaS) groups and nation-state actors. This allows nation-states to use tools available on the underground market to gain access to networks and systems without being detected. Ultimately, this trend towards professionalisation makes the expertise and resources to attack organisations accessible to lesser-skilled or poorly resourced threat actors.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-gangs-business-practices/

• The Sobering Truth about Ransomware—for the 80% Who Paid Up

Newly published research of 1,200 organisations impacted by ransomware reveals a sobering truth that awaits many of those who decide to pay the ransom. According to research, 80% of the organisations surveyed decided to pay the demanded ransom in order to both end the ongoing cyber attack and recover otherwise lost data. This is despite 41% of those organisations having a “do not pay” policy in place, which only goes to reinforce the cold hard fact that cyber crime isn’t an easy landscape to navigate. This is something that’s especially true when your business is facing the real-world impact of dealing with a ransomware attack.

Of the 960 organisations that paid a ransom, 201 of them (21%) were still unable to recover their lost data. The same number also reported that ransomware attacks were now excluded from their insurance policies. Of those organisations with cyber insurance cover, 74% reported a rise in premiums. Another report, published by Sophos, revealed that 32% of those surveyed opted to pay the ransom but a shocking 92% failed to recover all their data and 29% were unable to recover more than half of the encrypted data.

Some groups have switched to stealing sensitive customer or corporate data instead, with the ransom demanded in return for them not selling it to the highest bidder or publishing it online. Many groups combine the two for a double extortion ransomware attack.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2023/05/30/the-sobering-truth-about-ransomware-for-the-80-percent-who-paid-up 

• The Great CISO Resignation: Why Security Leaders are Quitting in Droves

With the rise in AI tools such as ChatGPT broadening an attacker’s arsenal, this places greater and greater pressure on security leaders who are already dealing with shrinking budgets, skeleton crew staff and a conglomeration of security tools and protocols — so much so that they are increasingly quitting. A recent report found that nearly a third (32%) of CISOs in the US and UK were considering leaving their current organisation and 9 out of 10 reported themselves as “moderately” or “tremendously” stressed.

This so-called Great CISO Resignation is concerning, because what happens when there’s nobody guarding the gate and rallying the troops?

https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/analysis/the-great-ciso-resignation-why-security-leaders-are-quitting-in-droves/2023/05/

• When is it Time for a Cyber Hygiene Audit?

Effective cyber hygiene practices limit threats against your systems, devices and users, preventing breaches that could compromise sensitive business information, database information, and personal data. But cyber hygiene isn’t a static or one-off process. It requires routine execution and, occasionally, a full audit. This audit typically covers a range of aspects including encryption, documentation, authentication, patches, security and ongoing cyber hygiene.

Good cyber hygiene is a necessary part of maintaining IT security. Setting up processes and procedures within your organisation’s regular operating procedures is an effective way to maintain cyber hygiene. Although the responsibilities may differ by position, everyone in the organisation plays a role.

An audit provides important information on where and where you need to improve. It also provides a baseline for measuring improvement and effectiveness. The key to success is to integrate hygiene into routine process starting top down from policies into every part of the business and making use of third party experts to help aid in the process.

https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/devops/23/e/cyber-hygiene-audit-best-practices.html

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Company size doesn't matter when it comes to cyber attacks - Help Net Security

• How to Keep Cyber attacks from Tanking Your Balance Sheet (hbr.org)

• When is it Time for a Cyber Hygiene Audit? (trendmicro.com)

• The great CISO resignation: Why security leaders are quitting in droves - SDxCentral

• ‘Exceptional’ cyber attacks now normal, says BT security chief (thetimes.co.uk)

• HowTo: Improve Your Cyber Resilience - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The strategic importance of digital trust for modern businesses - Help Net Security

• Vendors: Threat actor taxonomies are confusing but essential | TechTarget

• Experts Not Willing To Wager A Candy Bar On Their Security (forbes.com)

• Breaking Enterprise Silos and Improving Protection – Security Week

• Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: 17 Consequences And Complications (forbes.com)

• Insider risk management: Where your program resides shapes its focus | CSO Online

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Attackers leave organisations with no recovery option - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Gangs Adopting Business-like Practices to Boost Profits - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Sobering Truth About Ransomware—For The 80% Who Paid Up (forbes.com)

• Rogue IT security worker failed to cover his tracks | Tripwire

• Organisations Worldwide Targeted in Rapidly Evolving Buhti Ransomware Operation – Security Week

• The Week in Ransomware - May 26th 2023 - Cities Under Attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyble — Obsidian ORB Ransomware Demands Gift Cards as Payment

• AceCryptor: Cyber criminals' Powerful Weapon, Detected in 240K+ Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• BlackCat (ALPHV) Ransomware Levels Up for Stealth, Speed and Exfiltration (securityintelligence.com)

• BlackCat claims the hack of the Casepoint legal technology platform used by US agencies - Security Affairs

• Investigating BlackSuit Ransomware’s Similarities to Royal (trendmicro.com)

• Fighting ransomware: Perspectives from cyber security professionals - Help Net Security

Ransomware Victims

• New York county still dealing with ransomware 8 months later • The Register

• ABB confirms data stolen in Black Basta ransomware attack | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• SAS Airlines hit by $3 million ransom demand following DDoS attacks (bitdefender.com)

• Industrial Giant ABB Confirms Ransomware Attack, Data Theft – Security Week

• MCNA Dental data breach impacts 8.9 million people after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care ransomware attack hits 2.5 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cyble — Bl00dy Ransomware Targets Indian University: Actively Exploiting PaperCut Vulnerability

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Phishing campaigns thrive as evasive tactics outsmart conventional detection - Help Net Security

• Organisations spend 100 hours battling post-delivery email threats - Help Net Security

• Phishing remained the top identity abuser in 2022: IDSA report | CSO Online

• DocuSign-themed email leads to script-based infection

• New phishing technique poses as a browser-based file archiver | CSO Online

• Nigerian Cyber crime Ring's Phishing Tactics Exposed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Sustained 'Red Deer' Phishing Attacks Impersonate Israel Post, Drop RATs (darkreading.com)

• North Korean phishing gang stole rocket tech info • The Register

Artificial Intelligence

• AI is 'a nuclear bomb and the entire world has already got it,' Palantir ethics expert warns (yahoo.com)

• Artificial intelligence is similar extinction risk as nuclear war and pandemics, say experts | Science & Tech News | Sky News

• AI: War crimes evidence erased by social media platforms - BBC News

• Artificial Intelligence's Risks and Rewards in Cyber security (analyticsinsight.net)

• ChatGPT Plugins Open Security Holes From PDFs, Websites and More | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• What not to share with ChatGPT if you use it for work | Mashable

• Is ChatGPT a cyber security disaster? We asked the experts | Digital Trends

• Generative AI: The new attack vector for trust and safety - Help Net Security

• What are the concerns around AI and are some of the warnings 'baloney'? | Science & Tech News | Sky News

2FA/MFA

• PyPI announces mandatory use of 2FA for all software publishers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malware

• QBot malware abuses Windows WordPad EXE to infect devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Stealthy Bandit Stealer Targeting Web Browsers and Cryptocurrency Wallets (thehackernews.com)

• Raspberry Pi Malware Infects Using Default Username and Password | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• Tracking down a trojan: An inside look at threat hunting in a corporate network (malwarebytes.com)

• RomCom malware spread via Google Ads for ChatGPT, GIMP, more (bleepingcomputer.com)

• DogeRAT Malware Impersonates BFSI, Entertainment, E-commerce Apps - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Stealthy SeroXen RAT malware increasingly used to target gamers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Terminator antivirus killer is a vulnerable Windows driver in disguise (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Top macOS Malware Threats: Here Are 6 to Watch (darkreading.com)

• PyPI malware ramps up the threat to the code repository • The Register

• Evasive QBot Malware Leverages Short-lived Residential IPs for Dynamic Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber criminals use legitimate websites to obfuscate malicious payloads - Help Net Security

• North Korean ScarCruft Hackers Exploit LNK Files to Spread RokRAT (thehackernews.com)

Mobile

• Don't be polite when you get a text from a wrong number | kens5.com

• Predator Android Spyware: Researchers Uncover New Data Theft Capabilities (thehackernews.com)

• Android threat: 'Guerrilla' virus sneakily snuck onto 8.9m phones (citizen.co.za)

• Operation Triangulation: previously undetected malware targets iOS devices - Security Affairs

• Russian government accuses Apple of colluding with NSA in iPhone spy operation | CyberScoop

• Android apps with spyware installed 421 million times from Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• Active Mirai Botnet Variant Exploiting Zyxel Devices for DDoS Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Threatening botnets can be created with little code experience… – Unified Networking (unifiedguru.com)

• What Are Botnet Attacks & Explained Prevention Techniques | EC-Council (eccouncil.org)

• CAPTCHA-Breaking Services with Human Solvers Helping Cyber criminals Defeat Security (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• SAS Airlines hit by $3 million ransom demand following DDoS attacks (bitdefender.com)

• Active Mirai Botnet Variant Exploiting Zyxel Devices for DDoS Attacks (thehackernews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Active Mirai Botnet Variant Exploiting Zyxel Devices for DDoS Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Home routers helped Chinese hackers breach US Navy networks (mybroadband.co.za)

• How Safe Is Your Wearable Device? (darkreading.com)

• Hackers Win $105,000 for Reporting Critical Security Flaws in Sonos One Speakers (thehackernews.com)

• Solar panels vulnerable to hackers, concern for network security - DutchNews.nl

• Amazon to Pay $31m After FTC's Security and Privacy Allegations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Tesla Whistleblower Leaks 100GB of Data, Revealing Safety Complaints (darkreading.com)

• Dutch watchdog looking into alleged Tesla data breach | Reuters

• NHS data breach: trusts shared patient details with Facebook without consent | Health | The Guardian

• The root causes of API incidents and data breaches - Help Net Security

• Pentagon Leaks Emphasise the Need for a Trusted Workforce (darkreading.com)

• Retailer Database Error Leaks Over One Million Customer Records - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Yet Another Toyota Cloud Data Breach Jeopardises Thousands of Customers (darkreading.com)

• Hacking forum hacked, user database leaked online • Graham Cluley

• Risk & Repeat: A troubling trend of poor breach disclosures | TechTarget

• New MOVEit Transfer zero-day mass-exploited in data theft attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Workforce platform Prosperix leaks drivers licenses and medical records - Security Affairs

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Types of Cyber Crime: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncover and Prevent Digital Attacks - Security Boulevard

• US intelligence research agency examines cyber psychology to outwit criminal hackers | CyberScoop

• What is the Cyber Crime Atlas? How it can help disrupt cyber crime | CSO Online

• New hacking forum leaks data of 478,000 RaidForums members (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Hacking forum hacked, user database leaked online • Graham Cluley

• Tricks of the trade: How a cyber crime ring operated a multi‑level fraud scheme | WeLiveSecurity

• 3 signs your kids may be hackers and what to do about it | Euronews

• “I was a teenage hacker”: Two child hackers share their stories | Euronews

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• New Stealthy Bandit Stealer Targeting Web Browsers and Cryptocurrency Wallets (thehackernews.com)

• Hacked DJ's Twitter account costs cryptocurrency investors $170,000 (bitdefender.com)

• Cyber criminals Targeting Apache NiFi Instances for Cryptocurrency Mining (thehackernews.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Report: ‘massive’ Tesla leak reveals data breaches, thousands of safety complaints | Tesla | The Guardian

• Rogue IT security worker failed to cover his tracks | Tripwire

• Pentagon Leaks Emphasise the Need for a Trusted Workforce (darkreading.com)

• Insider risk management: Where your program resides shapes its focus | CSO Online

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Don't be polite when you get a text from a wrong number | kens5.comTricks of the trade: How a cyber crime ring operated a multi‑level fraud scheme | WeLiveSecurity

• HMRC in New Tax Credits Scam Warning - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• US sanctions orgs behind North Korea’s ‘illicit’ IT worker army (bleepingcomputer.com)

Insurance

• Why You Need Cyber Insurance and How to Obtain It - Arctic Wolf

• Cyber Insurance: A Growth Market for Insurers With Some Caveats (carriermanagement.com)

Dark Web

• The Dark Web: Exploring the Hidden Internet | TechSpot

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita cyber attack: 90 organisations report data breaches | Capita | The Guardian

• Cyber Actors Impact Daily Life in Attacks on Critical Infrastructure, Supply Chains, Report Says - MSSP Alert

Software Supply Chain

• CISO-approved strategies for software supply chain security - Help Net Security

• Where SBOMs Stand Today (darkreading.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• One of Microsoft Azure's top tools has a serious security flaw | TechRadar

• Top public cloud security concerns for the media and entertainment industry - Help Net Security

• Disaster recovery in the cloud | InfoWorld

• Cloud Security: Don’t Confuse Vendor and Tool Consolidation - The New Stack

• Why organisations should adopt a cloud cyber security framework - Help Net Security

• Can Cloud Services Encourage Better Login Security? Netflix's Accidental Model (darkreading.com)

• Google Drive Deficiency Allows Attackers to Exfiltrate Workspace Data Without a Trace (darkreading.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Navigating cyber security in the age of remote work - Help Net Security

Shadow IT

• The shadow IT fight — 2023 style | Computerworld

Identity and Access Management

• Digital nomads drive changes in identity verification - Help Net Security

Encryption

• After 28 years, SSLv2 is still not gone from the internet... but we're getting there

API

• The root causes of API incidents and data breaches - Help Net Security

Open Source

• 2 Lenses for Examining the Safety of Open Source Software (darkreading.com)

• EU’s Proposed Cyber Resilience Act Raises Concerns for Open Source and Cyber security | Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Raspberry Pi Malware Infects Using Default Username and Password | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• Swiss real estate agency Neho fails to put a password on its systems - Security Affairs

• Can Cloud Services Encourage Better Login Security? Netflix's Accidental Model (darkreading.com)

Social Media

• NHS data breach: trusts shared patient details with Facebook without consent | Health | The Guardian

• Twitter pulls out of voluntary EU disinformation code - BBC News

• AI: War crimes evidence erased by social media platforms - BBC News

Malvertising

• RomCom malware spread via Google Ads for ChatGPT, GIMP, more (bleepingcomputer.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Building an Effective Cyber security Training Program (hbr.org)

Travel

• Travel-Themed Phishing, BEC Campaigns Get Smarter as Summer Season Arrives (darkreading.com)

• US court finds that border phone searches need a warrant • The Register

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• 3 signs your kids may be hackers and what to do about it | Euronews

• “I was a teenage hacker”: Two child hackers share their stories | Euronews

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• OneMain pays $4.5M after ignored security flaws caused data breaches | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Amazon to Pay $31m After FTC's Security and Privacy Allegations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Netflix warns it may remove content from UK catalogue over government media bill | The Independent

• EU’s Proposed Cyber Resilience Act Raises Concerns for Open Source and Cyber security | Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org)

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Why organisations should adopt a cloud cyber security framework - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• OneMain pays $4.5M after ignored security flaws caused data breaches | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Ways to Help Cyber security's Essential Workers Avoid Burnout (darkreading.com)

• Managing mental health in cyber security - Help Net Security

• ISACA pledges to help grow cyber security workforce in Europe | CSO Online

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• US intelligence research agency examines cyber psychology to outwit criminal hackers | CyberScoop

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• The answer to the FBI's advanced persistent threat • The Register

• Amazon to Pay $31m After FTC's Security and Privacy Allegations - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• How giant pieces of spyware are shaping our views and our world | Evening Standard

• Twitter pulls out of voluntary EU disinformation code - BBC News

• The 2024 race promises to be 'very, very active' in terms of foreign and domestic meddling, says former CISA chief | CyberScoop

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Ukraine war blurs lines between cyber crims and state hacks • The Register

• Pegasus Spyware Is Detected in a War Zone for the First Time | WIRED

• Chinese State-Backed Cyber Operatives Threaten Critical Infrastructure in Espionage Campaign - MSSP Alert

• Russian government accuses Apple of colluding with NSA in iPhone spy operation | CyberScoop

• How giant pieces of spyware are shaping our views and our world | Evening Standard

• Predator may have more spyware capabilities than we know • The Register

• Cyber Army! US Mulls Creating A New Military Unit That Can 'Track & Whack' Chinese, Russian Aggression (eurasiantimes.com)

• Cyberweapon manufacturers plot to stay on the right side of US | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Suspected Russia-trained spy whale reappears off Sweden’s coast | Sweden | The Guardian

• Pentagon Cyber Policy Cites Learnings from Ukraine War - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI: War crimes evidence erased by social media platforms - BBC News

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Nation State Actors

• How APTs target SMBs - Help Net Security

• Chinese hackers seeking ways to cripple infrastructure 'likely to have targeted UK operators' (inews.co.uk)

• China hacking Guam: Can the US stop foreign cyber attacks? | The Week

• Russian government accuses Apple of colluding with NSA in iPhone spy operation | CyberScoop

• US sanctions orgs behind North Korea’s ‘illicit’ IT worker army (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Home routers helped Chinese hackers breach US Navy networks (mybroadband.co.za)

• Investigation Launched After London City Airport Website Hacked (simpleflying.com)

• Taiwan rushes to prevent China from cutting off internet and phones | The Japan Times

• North Korea says spy satellite launch crashed into sea - BBC News

• Pentagon Cyber Policy Cites Learnings from Ukraine War - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Dark Pink hackers continue to target govt and military organisations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The next Chinese tech threat is already here | The Spectator

• North Korean phishing gang stole rocket tech info • The Register

• North Korea's Kimsuky Group Mimics Key Figures in Targeted Cyber Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• North Korean ScarCruft Hackers Exploit LNK Files to Spread RokRAT (thehackernews.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: 17 Consequences And Complications (forbes.com)

• Implementing Risk-Based Vulnerability Discovery and Remediation (thehackernews.com)

• 3 Challenges in Building a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) Program and How to Beat Them (thehackernews.com)

• Focus Security Efforts on Choke Points, Not Visibility (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• New MOVEit Transfer zero-day mass-exploited in data theft attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zero-day vulnerability in MoveIt Transfer under attack | TechTarget

• Alert: Hackers Exploit Barracuda Email Security Gateway 0-Day Flaw for 7 Months (thehackernews.com)

• Chrome 114 Released With 18 Security Fixes – Security Week

• WordPress plugin ‘Gravity Forms’ vulnerable to PHP object injection (bleepingcomputer.com)

• WordPress force installs critical Jetpack patch on 5 million sites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft finds macOS bug that lets hackers bypass SIP root restrictions (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zyxel patches vulnerability in NAS devices (CVE-2023-27988) - Help Net Security

• Critical Firmware Vulnerability in Gigabyte Systems Exposes ~7 Million Devices (thehackernews.com)

• Millions of Gigabyte Motherboards Were Sold With a Firmware Backdoor | WIRED

• Barracuda Email Security Gateway under active attack • The Register

• MacOS 'Migraine' Bug: Big Headache for Device System Integrity (darkreading.com)

• FTC accuses Amazon of nightmare IoT security fails • The Register

• Critical Vulnerabilities Found in Faronics Education Software – Security Week

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Tools and Controls

• HowTo: Improve Your Cyber Resilience - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• When is it Time for a Cyber Hygiene Audit? (trendmicro.com)

• The strategic importance of digital trust for modern businesses - Help Net Security

• Vendors: Threat actor taxonomies are confusing but essential | TechTarget

• 6 Steps to Effectively Threat Hunting: Safeguard Critical Assets and Fight Cyber crime (thehackernews.com)

• Artificial Intelligence's Risks and Rewards in Cyber security (analyticsinsight.net)

• Digital nomads drive changes in identity verification - Help Net Security

• Tracking down a trojan: An inside look at threat hunting in a corporate network (malwarebytes.com)

• The Top 10 endpoint security challenges and how to overcome them | VentureBeat

• Why You Need Cyber Insurance and How to Obtain It - Arctic Wolf

• Disaster recovery in the cloud | InfoWorld

• Cloud Security: Don’t Confuse Vendor and Tool Consolidation - The New Stack

• Disaster recovery challenges enterprise CISOs face - Help Net Security

• Implementing Risk-Based Vulnerability Discovery and Remediation (thehackernews.com)

• Research Reveals UK Firms Plan to Embrace New Era of Digital Identity- IT Security Guru

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• Global Threat Intelligence Report April (blackberry.com)

• Top Cyber attacks Revealed in New Threat Intelligence Report (darkreading.com)

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Other News

• Undetected Attacks Against Middle East Targets Conducted Since 2020 (darkreading.com)

• 8 best practices for securing your Mac from hackers in 2023 (techrepublic.com)

• Hot Pixels attack checks CPU temp, power changes to steal data (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 24 March 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

• Majority of SMBs Lack Dedicated Cyber Experts and Cyber Incident Response Plans

A recent report conducted by security provider Huntress found some worrying results regarding SMBs lack of dedicated cyber experts and lack of cyber incident response plans. Some of the reports key findings were 24% of SMBs suffering a cyber attack or unsure if they had suffered a cyber attack in the last 12 months, 61% of SMBs not having a dedicated cyber security expert and 47% having no incident response plan. The report found that SMBs struggled to implement basic training and only 9% of employees adhered to security best practices, potentially due to the previously mentioned training struggles. The report highlights a clear need for SMBs to increase their cyber resilience and conduct effective user education and awareness training.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/majority-of-smbs-lack-dedicated-cyber-experts-incident-response-plan/

• Controlling Third-Party Data Risk Should be a Top Cyber Security Priority

Nearly 60% of all data breaches are initiated via third-party vendors and this is often hard to detect. The ever-increasing use of third party services has led to the average organisation sharing sensitive data with 583 third parties, a worrying number of attack vectors. Due to the impact a third party breach can have on an organisation it is imperative that organisations assess and risk manage their supply chains to increase the organisations cyber resilience.

https://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/controlling-third-party-data-risk-should-be-a-top-cybersecurity-priority-

• IT Security Spending to Reach Nearly $300 Billion by 2026

Worldwide spending on security is forecast to be $219 billion in 2023, an increase of 12.1% compared to 2022. This figure is expected to continually rise, reaching nearly $300 billion by 2026. In Europe, it is predicted that the biggest portion of spending will still be represented by services, which will be increasingly leveraged by organisations with limited cyber security experience. Additionally the finance sector, which will have to constantly ensure regulatory adherence, is predicted to be the largest spending sector. Organisations should perform due diligence and ensure that they are using reputable services.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/03/20/it-security-spending-2026/

• 2023 Cyber Security Maturity Report Reveals Organisational Unpreparedness for Cyber Attacks

In 2022 alone cyber attacks increased by 38%, highlighting the need for organisations to have a high level of cyber maturity; despite this, a recent cyber security maturity report ranked UK organisations as 12th  globally. Some of the findings from the report included that 32% of organisations were found to have weak passwords and 23% had weak authentication systems.

https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/2023-cybersecurity-maturity-report.html

• Board Cyber Shortage: Don’t Get Caught Swimming Naked

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently released their rules on cyber security risk management, strategy governance and incident disclosure by public companies. As part of the rules, the public disclosure of board directors’ cyber risk biographies is mandated. Worryingly, recent research has found that there is a drastic gap in cyber expertise at the board director level, with 90% of companies not having a single director with cyber security expertise. Board directors are able to address this issue by retaining outside expert advisors, upskilling board members or hiring new cyber security board directors. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/03/20/board-cyber-shortage-dont-get-caught-swimming-naked/?sh=6ea732895af8

• Should your Organisation be Worried about Insider Threats?

Cyber crime is predicted to reach $10.5 trillion worth, making it a lucrative business venture for opportunist criminals. One of the threats companies face is insider threat; this is where the threat comes from within the organisation. Insider threat can include third-party vendors, business partners and others with access to an organisations systems and networks. The threat an insider poses is commonly thought of as malicious but it can also be negligent, where insiders haven’t received proper user education and awareness training. Worryingly, insider threat is rising and research has shown a significant amount of under-reporting; over 70% of insider attacks never reach the headlines. As such, it is difficult for organisations to gauge the risk of insider threats.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/03/17/should-your-organization-be-worried-about-insider-threats/

• UK Ransomware Incident Volumes Surge 17% in 2022

According to recent research, attacker-reported ransomware incidents increased by 17% annually in the UK last year and 2023 is showing signs of a continual rise. With this continual rise, it is important for organisations to assess and build upon their cyber resilience.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/uk-ransomware-incident-surge-17/

• Financial Industry Hit by Rising Ransomware Attacks and BEC

According to a recent report by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) ransomware remained the biggest concern for the financial industry with an increase in attacks due to ransomware-as-a-service. Furthermore, FS-ISAC found a 300% increase in the number of business email compromise attacks from 2021 to 2022. Artificial intelligence was identified as an upcoming area of concern due to its ability to obfuscate detection.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-21/banks-financial-industry-buffeted-by-rising-ransomware-attacks?

• 55 zero-day Flaws Exploited Last Year Show the Importance of Security Risk Management

According to a report from intelligence provider Mandiant 55 zero-days were exploited in 2022 and 13 of those were used in cyber espionage attacks. Of the espionage attacks, 7 related to Chinese threat actors and 2 related to Russian threat actors. The report found that effective security management and patching remained the best protections for organisations.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3691609/55-zero-day-flaws-exploited-last-year-show-the-importance-of-security-risk-management.html#tk.rss_news

• Security Researchers Spot $36m BEC Attack

Security experts recently identified a single business email compromise attack which amounted to $36.4m. The attack in question contained an invoice, payment instructions, a forged letterhead and even cc’d a legitimate and well known company. The attacker also changed “.com” to “.cam” to imitate a domain. The total cost of BEC based on reported incidents is around $2.7 billion and this is excluding unreported incidents. Organisations should ensure that staff are adequately trained in identifying and reporting such attacks.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/security-researchers-spot-36m-bec/

• New Victims Come Forward After Mass Ransomware Attack

Russia-linked Ransomware gang “Clop” has claimed a mass hack of 130 organisations via the vendor GoAnywhere, with more victims coming forward. Clop adds names of victims to its dark web site, which is used to extort companies further by threatening to publish the stolen files unless a ransom is paid.

https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/22/fortra-goanywhere-ransomware-attack/

• Ransomware Gangs’ Harassment of Victims is Increasing

Analysis by Palo Alto Networks found that harassment was a factor in 20% of ransomware cases, a significant jump from less than 1% in mid 2021. The harassment campaign by threat attackers is intended to make sure that ransom payments are met. This adds to the stress that organisations already face with ransomware incidents.

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/ransomware-gangs-harassment-victims-increasing/

• Wartime Hacktivism is Spilling Over into the Financial Services Industry

The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) has identified that financial firms in countries that Russia considers hostile have been singled out for attacks and these attacks are going to continue if the Russia and Ukraine war persists.

https://www.scmagazine.com/analysis/risk-management/report-wartime-hacktivism-is-spilling-over-into-the-financial-services-industry

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• LockBit 3.0 Ransomware: Inside the Cyberthreat That's Costing Millions (thehackernews.com)

• UK Ransomware Incident Volumes Surge 17% in 2022 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Banks, Financial Sector Hit By Rising Ransomware Attacks - Bloomberg

• BianLian ransomware crew swaps encryption for extortion • The Register

• New victims come forward after mass-ransomware attack | TechCrunch

• Ransomware Gangs' Harassment of Victims Is Increasing (techrepublic.com)

• LockBit ransomware gang now also claims City of Oakland breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Free decryptor released for Conti-based ransomware following data leak | Tripwire

• New 'Trigona' Ransomware Targets US, Europe, Australia - SecurityWeek

• Ransomware Strongly Influencing SOC Modernization Strategies, Cybereason Research Shows - MSSP Alert

• US govt agencies released an alert on the Lockbit 3.0 ransomware- Security Affairs

• Security News This Week: Ring Is in a Standoff With Hackers | WIRED UK

• CISA kicks off ransomware vulnerability pilot to help spot ransomware-exploitable flaws | CSO Online

• Clop ransomware claims Saks Fifth Avenue, retailer says mock data stolen (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Researchers Shed Light on CatB Ransomware's Evasion Techniques (thehackernews.com)

• Why CISOs Are Looking to Lateral Security to Mitigate Ransomware | CIO

• Dole discloses employee data breach after ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ransomware Attacks Double in Europe's Transport Sector - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Prevent Ransomware with Cyber security Monitoring (trendmicro.com)

• Getting Ahead of the Ransomware Epidemic: CISA’s Pre-Ransomware Notifications Help Organisations Stop Attacks Before Damage Occurs | CISA

• Ferrari in a spin as crims steal customer data • The Register

• Play ransomware gang hit Dutch shipping firm Royal Dirkzwager- Security Affairs

• Hitachi Energy confirms data breach after Clop GoAnywhere attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• City of Toronto confirms data theft, Clop claims responsibility (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• 7 guidelines for identifying and mitigating AI-enabled phishing campaigns | CSO Online

• Just 1% of Dot-Org Domains Are Fully DMARC Protected - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Security Researchers Spot $36m BEC Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Vishing Campaign Targets Social Security Administration - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Threat actors are experimenting with QR codes - Help Net Security

• Over 2400 Fake Pages Found Targeting Job Seekers in Middle East, Africa - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

2FA/MFA

• Massive Phishing Campaign Bypasses MFA and Mimics Microsoft Office (techrepublic.com)

• How Cyber-Criminals are Circumventing Multifactor Authentication - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Malware

• Emotet malware now distributed in Microsoft OneNote files to evade defences (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ChatGPT Polymorphic Malware Bypasses Endpoint Detection Filters (cybersecuritynews.com)

• RAT developer arrested for infecting 10,000 PCs with malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google flags apps made by popular Chinese e-commerce giant as malware | TechCrunch

• Mispadu Banking Trojan Targets Latin America: 90,000+ Credentials Stolen (thehackernews.com)

• Custom 'Naplistener' Malware a Nightmare for Network-Based Detection (darkreading.com)

• New ShellBot DDoS Malware Variants Targeting Poorly Managed Linux Servers (thehackernews.com)

• ScarCruft's Evolving Arsenal: Researchers Reveal New Malware Distribution Techniques (thehackernews.com)

• Python info-stealing malware uses Unicode to evade detection (bleepingcomputer.com)

Mobile

• Nexus: A New Rising Android Banking Trojan Targeting 450 Financial Apps (thehackernews.com)

• The FBI Warns SIM Swapping Attacks Are Rising. What's That? - ReHack

• Android apps are spying on you — with no easy way to stop them | Digital Trends

• Your Samsung phone may have a big security flaw – here's how to stay safe | TechRadar

• UK emergency alert system launched to warn of life-threatening events - with test set for next month | UK News | Sky News

• Google Pixel phones had a serious data leakage bug – here’s what to do! – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• How to keep your phone safe from the scary Exynos modem vulnerability (androidpolice.com)

Botnets

• New GoLang-Based HinataBot Exploiting Router and Server Flaws for DDoS Attacks (thehackernews.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• New ‘HinataBot’ botnet could launch massive 3.3 Tbps DDoS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• KillNet Group Uses DDoS Attacks Against Azure-Based Healthcare Apps - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Mirai Hackers Use Golang to Create a Bigger, Badder DDoS Botnet (darkreading.com)

• New ShellBot DDoS Malware Variants Targeting Poorly Managed Linux Servers (thehackernews.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Eufy security cam 'stored unique ID' of everyone filmed • The Register

• Google sounds alarm on Samsung modem bugs in Android devices • The Register

• EU Council extends product lifetime, clarifies scope in cyber security law – EURACTIV.com

• Tesco to ditch Chinese-made CCTV cameras over security and human rights fears (telegraph.co.uk)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Complacency of staff to blame for data breaches (thesundaily.my)

• Hitachi Energy confirms data breach after Clop GoAnywhere attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Latitude customers are furious: some have had data hacked before through Medibank and Optus - ABC News

• Data breaches cost businesses nearly $6M on average: Mastercard | CTV News

• Healthcare provider ILS warns 4.2 million people of data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• NBA is warning fans of a data breach after a third-party newsletter service hack- Security Affairs

• Lowe’s Market chain leaves client data up for grabs- Security Affairs

• Ferrari discloses data breach after receiving ransom demand (bleepingcomputer.com)

• South Korea fines McDonalds for data leak from raw SMB share • The Register

• A million at risk from user data leak at Korean beauty platform PowderRoom- Security Affairs

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• New York Man Arrested for Running BreachForums Cyber crime Website - SecurityWeek

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Fireblocks Discloses Critical Vulnerability in BitGo Ethereum Wallets - Decrypt

• General Bytes Bitcoin ATMs hacked using zero-day, $1.5M stolen (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Linus Tech Tips' YouTube Channel has been hacked by Crypto Scammers | OC3D News (overclock3d.net)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Should Your Organisation Be Worried About Insider Threats? - IT Security Guru

• Top 5 Insider Threats to Look Out For in 2023- Security Affairs

• Preventing Insider Threats in Your Active Directory (thehackernews.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Voice deepfakes are calling – here's what they are and how to avoid getting scammed (theconversation.com)

• Detecting face morphing: A simple guide to countering complex identity fraud - Help Net Security

• ‘My bank did not stop £6,500 payment to holiday scammers despite my pleas’ | Scams | The Guardian

• The FBI Warns SIM Swapping Attacks Are Rising. What's That? - ReHack

• Hackers inject credit card stealers into payment processing modules (bleepingcomputer.com)

Deepfakes

• Voice deepfakes are calling – here's what they are and how to avoid getting scammed (theconversation.com)

• Detecting face morphing: A simple guide to countering complex identity fraud - Help Net Security

Insurance

• SMBs don't see need for cyber insurance since they won't experience security incidents | ZDNET

• Cyber insurance carriers expanding role in incident response | TechTarget

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Controlling Third-Party Data Risk Should Be a Top Cyber security Priority (darkreading.com)

• Companies vulnerable to cyber-attack via suppliers - research | RNZ News

• Why you should treat ChatGPT like any other vendor service - Help Net Security

• MITRE Rolls Out Supply Chain Security Prototype (darkreading.com)

Software Supply Chain

• Why Business Software Buyers Are Demanding Baked-in Security - MSSP Alert

Cloud/SaaS

• How access management helps protect identities in the cloud | VentureBeat

• Bitcoin ATM maker shuts cloud service after user hot wallets compromised (cointelegraph.com)

• The cloud backlash has begun: Why big data is pulling compute back on premises | TechCrunch

• Shouldering the Increasingly Heavy Cloud Shared-Responsibility Model (darkreading.com)

• 4 cloud API security best practices | TechTarget

• 8 cloud detection and response use cases | TechTarget

• How to Transfer Data Securely When Moving to the Cloud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The hidden danger to zero trust: Excessive cloud permissions • Graham Cluley

• New CISA tool detects hacking activity in Microsoft cloud services (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 4 Tips for Better AWS Cloud Workload Security (trendmicro.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Bridging the cyber security readiness gap in a hybrid world - Help Net Security

Identity and Access Management

• How access management helps protect identities in the cloud | VentureBeat

• The impact of AI on the future of ID verification - Help Net Security

• Preventing Insider Threats in Your Active Directory (thehackernews.com)

• CISA, NSA push identity and access management framework as risks grow | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

API

• 4 cloud API security best practices | TechTarget

Open Source

• New ShellBot DDoS Malware Variants Targeting Poorly Managed Linux Servers (thehackernews.com)

• Open Source Vulnerabilities Still Pose a Big Challenge for Security Teams (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Okta Post-Exploitation Method Exposes User Passwords (darkreading.com)

Social Media

• BBC presses staff to uninstall TikTok from corporate kit • The Register

• TikTok cannot be considered a private company: report • The Register

• TikTok CEO plans rigorous defences in Congress against claims the app is a US security threat | CyberScoop

• Five brutal hours for TikTok: CEO raked over coals amid privacy, security concerns | CyberScoop

• Linus Tech Tips' YouTube Channel has been hacked by Crypto Scammers | OC3D News (overclock3d.net)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Complacency of staff to blame for data breaches (thesundaily.my)

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• Board Cyber Shortage: Don’t Get Caught Swimming Naked (forbes.com)

• ICO Reprimands Metropolitan Police for Data Snafu - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• EU Council extends product lifetime, clarifies scope in cyber security law – EURACTIV.com

• India’s infosec reporting rules observed by just 15 orgs • The Register

• Why Organisations Need To Go Beyond Federal Cyber security Compliance Standards (forbes.com)

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• How CISOs Can Work With the CFO to Get the Best Security Budget (darkreading.com)

• CIOs Build New Bonds With CISOs - WSJ

• How to best allocate IT and cyber security budgets in 2023 - Help Net Security

• IT security spending to reach nearly $300 billion by 2026 - Help Net Security

• Board Cyber Shortage: Don’t Get Caught Swimming Naked (forbes.com)

• How Your Cyber security Strategy Enables Better Business (trendmicro.com)

• 55 zero-day flaws exploited last year show the importance of security risk management | CSO Online

• How Can CISOs Connect With the Board of Directors? (darkreading.com)

• Achieving The Five Levels Of Information Security Governance (forbes.com)

• Enhance security while lowering IT overhead in times of recession - Help Net Security

• Why organisations shouldn't fold to cyber criminal requests - Help Net Security

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• Meta Proposes Revamped Approach to Online Kill Chain Frameworks (darkreading.com)

• MITRE Rolls Out Supply Chain Security Prototype (darkreading.com)

Backup and Recovery

• Data backup, security alerts, and encryption viewed as top security features - Help Net Security

• Top 5 security risks for enterprise storage, backup devices - Help Net Security

Data Protection

• Use of Meta tracking tools found to breach EU rules on data transfers | TechCrunch

• ICO Reprimands Metropolitan Police for Data Snafu - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• How training and recognition can reduce cyber security stress and burnout | CSO Online

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• RAT developer arrested for infecting 10,000 PCs with malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New York Man Arrested for Running BreachForums Cyber crime Website - SecurityWeek

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Eufy security cam 'stored unique ID' of everyone filmed • The Register

• Use of Meta tracking tools found to breach EU rules on data transfers | TechCrunch

• How to protect online privacy in the age of pixel trackers - Help Net Security

• Windows 11 Snipping Tool privacy bug exposes cropped image content (bleepingcomputer.com)

• French govt clears AI facial scans for Paris Olympics • The Register

Artificial Intelligence

• EU's AI regulation vote looms. We’re still not sure how unrestrained AI should be | Euronews

• ChatGPT Leaves Governments Scrambling for AI Regulations - Bloomberg

• ‘We are a little bit scared’: OpenAI CEO warns of risks of artificial intelligence | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

• ChatGPT Polymorphic Malware Bypasses Endpoint Detection Filters (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Detecting face morphing: A simple guide to countering complex identity fraud - Help Net Security

• We need to create guardrails for AI | Financial Times (ft.com)

• GPT-4 devises plan to ‘escape’ by gaining control of a user's computer | Mint (livemint.com)

• Mastercard strengthens customer security with new AI ‘Cyber Shield’ | Mastercard Newsroom

• The impact of AI on the future of ID verification - Help Net Security

• 7 guidelines for identifying and mitigating AI-enabled phishing campaigns | CSO Online

• AI news latest: Google lets people talk to ‘Bard’ bot as ChatGPT taken offline after it goes haywire | The Independent

• Why you should treat ChatGPT like any other vendor service - Help Net Security

• Mozilla launches a new startup focused on ‘trustworthy’ AI | TechCrunch

• French govt clears AI facial scans for Paris Olympics • The Register

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Financial cyber threats heightened by ideologically motivated hacktivism amidst geopolitical tension | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Threat actors linked to nation-states exploited zero-days the most in 2022 | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• New Espionage Group 'YoroTrooper' Targeting Entities in European, CIS Countries - SecurityWeek

• Pro-Russian Winter Vivern APT Targets Governments and Telecom Firm - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Palantir: NHS trusts ordered to share patient data with US ‘spy-tech’ firm | openDemocracy

• Tesco to ditch Chinese-made CCTV cameras over security and human rights fears (telegraph.co.uk)

• Purported Chinese warships interfering with passenger planes • The Register

• Putin to staffers: throw out your iPhones over security • The Register

• Russia-backed Iridium Hackers Set to Launch Attacks on Ukrainian Government Sites - MSSP Alert

• Facebook Security Exec Seaford Hacked by Greek Predator Spyware (gizmodo.com)

• BBC presses staff to uninstall TikTok from corporate kit • The Register

• New 'Bad Magic' Cyber Threat Disrupt Ukraine's Key Sectors Amid War (thehackernews.com)

• Hacker tied to DC Health Link breach says attack 'born out of Russian patriotism' | CyberScoop

• Unknown actors target orgs in Russia-occupied Ukraine • The Register

• Xi, Putin, declare intent to rule the world of AI, infosec • The Register

• North Korean hackers using Chrome extensions to steal Gmail emails (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Fact or fiction, hacktivists' claims of industrial sabotage in Russia or Ukraine get attention online | CyberScoop

• Stealthy hacks show advancements in China's cyberespionage operations, researchers say | CyberScoop

• China-Aligned "Operation Tainted Love" Targets Middle East Telecom Providers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Nation State Actors

• Financial cyber threats heightened by ideologically motivated hacktivism amidst geopolitical tension | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Threat actors linked to nation-states exploited zero-days the most in 2022 | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• New Espionage Group 'YoroTrooper' Targeting Entities in European, CIS Countries - SecurityWeek

• Pro-Russian Winter Vivern APT Targets Governments and Telecom Firm - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Huawei Has Replaced Thousands of US-Banned Parts With Chinese Versions: Founder - SecurityWeek

• Tesco to ditch Chinese-made CCTV cameras over security and human rights fears (telegraph.co.uk)

• Purported Chinese warships interfering with passenger planes • The Register

• TikTok cannot be considered a private company: report • The Register

• Five brutal hours for TikTok: CEO raked over coals amid privacy, security concerns | CyberScoop

• BBC presses staff to uninstall TikTok from corporate kit • The Register

• Google flags apps made by popular Chinese e-commerce giant as malware | TechCrunch

• Putin to staffers: throw out your iPhones over security • The Register

• Russia-backed Iridium Hackers Set to Launch Attacks on Ukrainian Government Sites - MSSP Alert

• New 'Bad Magic' Cyber Threat Disrupt Ukraine's Key Sectors Amid War (thehackernews.com)

• Hacker tied to D.C. Health Link breach says attack 'born out of Russian patriotism' | CyberScoop

• Unknown actors target orgs in Russia-occupied Ukraine • The Register

• Xi, Putin, declare intent to rule the world of AI, infosec • The Register

• Chinese-linked hackers deployed the most zero-day vulnerabilities in 2022, researchers say | CyberScoop

• Fact or fiction, hacktivists' claims of industrial sabotage in Russia or Ukraine get attention online | CyberScoop

• The pressing threat of Chinese-made drones flying above US critical infrastructure  | CyberScoop

• Stealthy hacks show advancements in China's cyberespionage operations, researchers say | CyberScoop

• China-Aligned "Operation Tainted Love" Targets Middle East Telecom Providers - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Russian hacktivists deploy new AresLoader malware via decoy installers | CSO Online

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Vulnerability Management

• 55 zero-day flaws exploited last year show the importance of security risk management | CSO Online

• Hackers mostly targeted Microsoft, Google, Apple zero-days in 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Move, Patch, Get Out the Way: 2022 Zero-Day Exploitation Continues at an Elevated Pace | Mandiant

• From Ransomware to Cyber Espionage: 55 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Weaponized in 2022 (thehackernews.com)

• Threat actors linked to nation-states exploited zero-days the most in 2022 | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• 10 Vulnerabilities Types to Focus On This Year (darkreading.com)

• Vulnerability vs. Risk: How MSSPs Can Prioritize Remediating Cyber security Vulnerabilities - MSSP Alert

• What Is the Microsoft Print Spooler Vulnerability? - ReHack

• Chinese-linked hackers deployed the most zero-day vulnerabilities in 2022, researchers say | CyberScoop

• Windows 11, Tesla, Ubuntu, and macOS hacked at Pwn2Own 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Top 5 security risks for enterprise storage, backup devices - Help Net Security

• Open Source Vulnerabilities Still Pose a Big Challenge for Security Teams (darkreading.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft Outlook Vulnerability Could Be 2023's 'It' Bug (darkreading.com)

• CVE-2023-23397 Outlook exploit: "A proliferation event" (thestack.technology)

• Patch CVE-2023-23397 Immediately: What You Need To Know and Do (trendmicro.com)

• Cisco fixed severe vulnerabilities in its IOS and IOS XE software- Security Affairs

• Exploit released for Veeam bug allowing cleartext credential theft (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experts published PoC exploit code for Veeam Backup & Replication bug- Security Affairs

• WordPress force patching WooCommerce plugin with 500K installs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Windows 11 bug warns Local Security Authority protection is off (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Bitwarden addresses autofill issue that could be exploited to steal logins - gHacks Tech News

• Hackers mostly targeted Microsoft, Google, Apple zero-days in 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft’s blunders with new Windows 10 update are causing serious headaches | TechRadar

• Microsoft: Defender update behind Windows LSA protection warnings (bleepingcomputer.com)

• ZenGo uncovers 'red pill attack' vulnerability in popular Web3 apps (cointelegraph.com)

• Windows 11 Snipping Tool privacy bug exposes cropped image content (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Patch Tuesday -> Exploit Wednesday: Pwning Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock (afd.sys) in 24 Hours (securityintelligence.com)

• If your Netgear Orbi router isn’t patched, you’ll want to change that pronto | Ars Technica

• Attackers Are Probing for Zero-Day Vulns in Edge Infrastructure Products (darkreading.com)

• Chinese-linked hackers deployed the most zero-day vulnerabilities in 2022, researchers say | CyberScoop

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Tools and Controls

• Data backup, security alerts, and encryption viewed as top security features - Help Net Security

• Majority of SMBs Lack Dedicated Cyber Experts, Incident Response Plan - MSSP Alert

• 55 zero-day flaws exploited last year show the importance of security risk management | CSO Online

• Complacency of staff to blame for data breaches (thesundaily.my)

• How access management helps protect identities in the cloud | VentureBeat

• Why CISOs Should Prioritize Extended Detection & Response (XDR) - VMware Security Blog - VMware

• The Ethics of Network and Security Monitoring (darkreading.com)

• Fighting VPN criminalization should be Big Tech’s top priority, activists say | Ars Technica

• Just 1% of Dot-Org Domains Are Fully DMARC Protected - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How network perimeters secure enterprise networks | TechTarget

• Top 5 security risks for enterprise storage, backup devices - Help Net Security

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• State of Cybersecurity for Mid-Sized Businesses in 2023 | Huntress

• Move, Patch, Get Out the Way: 2022 Zero-Day Exploitation Continues at an Elevated Pace | Mandiant

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Other News

• Web Fingerprinting gets frighteningly good: sees through VPNs and Incognito Mode - gHacks Tech News

• Journalist plugs in unknown USB drive mailed to him—it exploded in his face | Ars Technica

• What Is Shoulder Surfing? How Does It Affect Cyber security (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Inside the DEA Tool Hackers Allegedly Used to Extort Targets (vice.com)

• Top ways attackers are targeting your endpoints - Help Net Security

• What Is a Dirty IP Address and How Does It Affect Your Security? (makeuseof.com)

• 5 rules to make security user-friendly - Help Net Security

• Techno-nationalism explained: What you need to know (techtarget.com)

• How Emerging Trends in Virtual Reality Impact Cyber security - IT Security Guru

• Pipeline Cyber security Rules Show the Need for Public-Private Partnerships (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 17 March 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

• Almost Half of IT Leaders Consider Security as an Afterthought

A recent industry report found that security is an afterthought for almost half of UK IT leaders, despite 92% of respondents agreeing that security risks had risen in the last five years. Additionally, 48% of respondents felt that the rapid development of new tools had caused challenges around security. The concept of security as an afterthought is worrying when considering that 39% of UK businesses identified a cyber attack within the past 12 months.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/03/14/almost-half-of-it-leaders-consider-security-as-an-afterthought-research-reveals

• Over $10bn Lost to Online Frauds, with Pig Butchering and Investment Scams Accounting for $3B, Overtaking BEC – FBI Report Says

According to the latest FBI crime report pig butchering now accounts for $3 billion of the $10 billion total lost to online fraud. Pig butchering is a rising investment scam that uses the promise of romance and the lure of making easy cryptocurrency profit against its unsuspecting targets. The concept of pig butchering is to “fatten up” the victim, with small returns on cryptocurrency and personal interactions, often with an element of romance; eventually, the victim is lured into making a larger investment with the scammer. In addition to pig butchering, other investment scams are growing in provenance and are set to overtake Business Email Compromise (BEC) as a major earner for cyber criminals.

https://www.darkreading.com/application-security/pig-butchering-investment-scams-3b-cybercrime-threat-overtaking-bec

• Over 721 Million Passwords were Leaked in 2022

A report published this week discovered 721.5 million exposed credentials online in 2022. Additionally, the report identified 72% of users reusing previously compromised passwords. The study also uncovered 8.6 billion personally identifiable information assets, including 67 million credit card numbers which were publicly available.

https://www.neowin.net/news/study-over-721-million-passwords-were-leaked-in-2022/

• How Much of a Cyber Security Risk are Suppliers?

When your business is digitally connected to a service provider, you need to understand how a cyber security attack on their business can affect yours. You can have all the right measures in place to manage your own cyber risks, but this doesn’t matter if there are undiscovered vulnerabilities in your supply chain. Organisations need to audit the cyber security of suppliers at several stages of their relationship; you may benefit from specialist cyber security support if you can’t do this in-house. Ask hard questions and consider advising your suppliers that if their cyber security is not enough then you may take your business elsewhere. Many businesses now require suppliers to be certified to schemes such as ISO 27001; demonstrating your security posture to your customers is an important ticket to trade.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-much-of-a-cybersecurity-risk-are-my-suppliers-mqbwcf7p2

• 90% of £5m+ Businesses Hit by Cyber Attacks

A study from Forbes found that 57% of small and medium-sized enterprises had suffered an online attack. Businesses with an annual turnover in excess of £5 million were even more likely to experience a cyber crime with the figure rising to nearly 90% of firms of this size suffering a cyber attack. To make matters worse, the study found that a significant proportion of British businesses are without any form of protection against online attacks.

https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2023/03/13/nine-in-10-5m-businesses-hit-by-cyber-attacks/

• Rushed Cloud Migrations Result in Escalating Technical Debt

A cloud service provider found 83% of CIO’s are feeling pressured to stretch their budgets even further than before. 72% of CIOs admitted that they are behind in their digital transformation because of technical debt and 38% believed the accumulation of this debt is largely because of rushed cloud migrations. Respondents believed these rushed migrations caused for miscalculations in the cloud budget, which resulted in significant overspend.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/03/16/managing-cloud-costs/

• Microsoft: 17 European Nations Targeted by Russia in 2023 as Espionage Ramping Up

According to an intelligence report from Microsoft, Russia has been ramping up its cyber espionage operations and this now includes 17 European nations. Of all 74 countries targeted, the UK ranked third, after the US and Poland.

https://www.securityweek.com/microsoft-17-european-nations-targeted-by-russia-in-2023-as-espionage-ramping-up/

• Microsoft Warns of Large-Scale Use of Phishing Kits

Microsoft have found that phishing kits are being purchased and used to perform millions of phishing emails every day. In their report, Microsoft found the availability of purchasing such phishing kits was part of the industrialisation of the cyber criminal economy and lowered the barrier of entry for cyber crime. Microsoft identified phishing kits which had the capability to bypass multi factor authentication selling for as little as $300. The emergence of AI is only going to compound this.

https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/microsoft-warns-of-large-scale-use-of.html

• BEC Volumes Double on Phishing Surge

The number of Business Email Compromise (BEC) incidents doubled last year according to security provider Secureworks. In their report, they found that the main initial access vectors for BEC were phishing and systems with known vulnerabilities, with each accounting for a third of initial accesses.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-volumes-double-on-phishing/

• The Risk of Pasting Confidential Company Data in ChatGPT

Researchers analysed the use of artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT and found that 4.9% of employees have provided company data to the tool; ChatGPT builds its knowledge on this and in turn, this knowledge is shared publicly. The risk is serious, with employees putting their organisation at risk of leaking sensitive and confidential information. The research found that 0.9% of employees are responsible for 80% of leaks caused by pasting company data into ChatGPT and this number is expected to rise.

https://securityaffairs.com/143394/security/company-data-chatgpt-risks.html

• Ransomware Attacks have Entered a Heinous New Phase

With an increasing amount of victims refusing to pay, cyber criminal gangs are now resorting to new techniques; this includes the recent release of stolen naked photos of cancer patients and sensitive student records. Where encryption and a demand for payment were previously the de facto method for cyber criminals, this has now shifted to pure exfiltration. In a report, the FBI highlighted evolving and increasingly aggressive extortion behaviour, with actors increasingly threatening to release stolen data.

https://www.wired.com/story/ransomware-tactics-cancer-photos-student-records/

• MI5 Launches New Agency to Tackle State-Backed Attacks

British intelligence agency MI5 have announced the creation of the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), created as part of a major review of government defences. The NPSA is to operate out of MI5 and absorb and extend the responsibilities for the protection of national infrastructure. The NPSA will work with existing agencies such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Counter Terrorism Security Office (CTSO) to provide defensive advice to UK organisations.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/mi5-new-agency-tackle-statebacked/

• Why Cyber Awareness Training is an Ongoing Process

A survey conducted by Hornetsecurity found that 80% of respondents believed remote working introduced extra cyber security risks and 75% were aware that personal devices are used to access sensitive data, fuelling the need for employees to be cyber aware. Where IT security training is only undertaken once, for example in block training, it is likely that participants will have forgotten a lot of the content after as little as a week; this means that for organisations to get the most out of training, they need to conduct frequent awareness training. By conducting frequent training there is more chance of trainees retaining the training content and allowing the organisation to shape a culture of cyber security.

https://www.hornetsecurity.com/en/security-information/why-cyber-awareness-training-is-an-ongoing-process/

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• BianLian Ransomware Pivots From Encryption to Pure Data-Theft Extortion (darkreading.com)

• The changing face of ransomware attacks (pandasecurity.com)

• Rise of Ransomware Attacks Main Focus for SOCs, research finds - IT Security Guru

• 'Vile' Gang Duo Breaches Police Database, Impersonates Officers in Extortion Gambit (darkreading.com)

• FBI: Ransomware hit 860 critical infrastructure orgs in 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft fixes Windows zero-day exploited in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Clop ransomware gang begins extorting GoAnywhere zero-day victims (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Staples-owned Essendant facing multi-day "outage," orders frozen (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA now warns critical infrastructure of ransomware-vulnerable devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• LockBit Ransomware gang claims to have stolen SpaceX confidential data from Maximum Industries- - Security Affairs

• Dissecting the malicious arsenal of the Makop ransomware gang- - Security Affairs

• The Prolificacy of LockBit Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• Blackbaud agrees to pay $3m to settle SEC ransomware probe • The Register

• CatB Ransomware | File Locker Sharpens Its Claws to Steal Data with MSDTC Service DLL Hijacking - SentinelOne

• Ransomware Gang Claims It Hacked Amazon's Ring (gizmodo.com)

• 5 Reasons MSSP Clients Need Strong AppSec Strategies to Thwart Ransomware - MSSP Alert

• Dish customers kept in the dark as ransomware fallout continues | TechCrunch

• Cancer patient sues hospital over stolen naked photos • The Register

• ChipMixer platform seized for laundering ransomware payments, drug sales (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lawyers suspect Arnold Clark hackers have now leaked 45GB of personal data on dark web – Car Dealer Magazine

• Kaspersky Updates Decryption Tool for Conti Ransomware - MSSP Alert

• Conti-based ransomware ‘MeowCorp’ gets free decryptor (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Universities and colleges cope silently with ransomware attacks | CSO Online

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Top 50 most impersonated brands in phishing attacks and new tools you can use to protect your employees from them (cloudflare.com)

• Microsoft Warns of Large-Scale Use of Phishing Kits to Send Millions of Emails Daily (thehackernews.com)

• Software for sale is fueling a torrent of phishing attacks that bypass MFA | Ars Technica

• Cyber criminals Devising More Tactics For Phishing Attacks (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• 6 reasons why your anti-phishing strategy isn’t working | CSO Online

• Cyberthreat On New Email By Exotic Lily (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Botnet that knows your name and quotes your email is back with new tricks | Ars Technica

• Analysts Spot a Wave of SVB-Related Cyber Fraud Striking the Business Sector (darkreading.com)

• How two-step phishing attacks evade detection and what you can do about it - Help Net Security

• Humans Still More Effective Than ChatGPT at Phishing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Pig Butchering & Investment Scams: The $3B Cyber crime Threat Overtaking BEC (darkreading.com)

• Organizations need to re-examine their approach to BEC protection - Help Net Security

• BEC Volumes Double on Phishing Surge - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

2FA/MFA

• When Partial Protection is Zero Protection: The MFA Blind Spots No One Talks About (thehackernews.com)

• Outlook app to get built-in Microsoft 365 MFA on Android, iOS (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Software for sale is fuelling a torrent of phishing attacks that bypass MFA | Ars Technica

Malware

• SpyCloud Report: Malware Infections the Most Prolific & Persistent Threat to Businesses | Business Wire

• Microsoft OneNote to get enhanced security after recent malware abuse (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Version of Prometei Botnet Infects Over 10,000 Systems Worldwide (thehackernews.com)

• Malware Targets People Looking to Pirate Oscar-Nominated Films (darkreading.com)

• Law enforcement seized the website selling the NetWire RAT- - Security Affairs

• BATLOADER Malware Uses Google Ads to Deliver Vidar Stealer and Ursnif Payloads (thehackernews.com)

• KamiKakaBot Malware Used in Latest Dark Pink APT Attacks on Southeast Asian Targets (thehackernews.com)

• Warning: AI-generated YouTube Video Tutorials Spreading Infostealer Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Emotet attempts to sell access after infiltrating high-value networks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• What is Zeus Trojan Malware? - CrowdStrike

• Emotet, QSnatch Malware Dominate Malicious DNS Traffic (darkreading.com)

• Winter Vivern APT hackers use fake antivirus scans to install malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese and Russian Hackers Using SILKLOADER Malware to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

• New malware sample of defunct TeamTNT threat group raises concerns | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Adobe Acrobat Sign abused to push Redline info-stealing malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Tracking the global spread of malware - Help Net Security

Mobile

• Xenomorph Android malware now steals data from 400 banks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GoatRAT Android Banking Trojan Targets Mobile Automated Payment System (darkreading.com)

• WhatsApp Tells UK Government It’s Still Not Willing To Undermine Its Encryption | Techdirt

• Convincing Twitter 'quote tweet' phone scam targets bank customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Warns Samsung and Pixel Phone Owners About 18 Dire Exploits - CNET

• FakeCalls Android malware returns with new ways to hide on phones (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• New Version of Prometei Botnet Infects Over 10,000 Systems Worldwide (thehackernews.com)

• Botnet that knows your name and quotes your email is back with new tricks | Ars Technica

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Record Breaking DDoS Attack - 158.2 Million Packets Per Second (gbhackers.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• Researchers Uncover Over a Dozen Security Flaws in Akuvox E11 Smart Intercom (thehackernews.com)

• Tesla App Lets Man Accidentally Steal Model 3 That Wasn't His (gizmodo.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Negative Impacts of Data Loss and How to Avoid Them - MSSP Alert

• Mental health provider Cerebral alerts 3.1M people of data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• BMW exposes data of clients in Italy, experts warn- - Security Affairs

• Acronis states that only one customer's account was compromised- - Security Affairs

• Security giant Rubrik says hackers used Fortra zero-day to steal internal data | TechCrunch

• Key aerospace player leaks sensitive data | Cybernews

• Hundreds of thousands of customer records stolen from lender Latitude in cyber-attack | Business | The Guardian

• 'Vile' Gang Duo Breaches Police Database, Impersonates Officers in Extortion Gambit (darkreading.com)

• LA Housing Authority Suffers Year-Long Breach - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacker selling data allegedly stolen in US Marshals Service hack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cryptojacking Group TeamTNT Suspected of Using Decoy Miner to Conceal Data Exfiltration (thehackernews.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cyber crime Losses Exceeded $10 Billion in 2022: FBI - SecurityWeek

• Nine In 10 £5m+ Businesses Hit By Cyber Attacks - IT Security Guru

• CISA: Federal civilian agency hacked by nation-state and criminal hacking groups | CyberScoop

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• FBI Warns of Crypto-Stealing Play-to-Earn Games - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Massive vulnerabilities revealed at Dogecoin, Litecoin, Zcash | Fortune Crypto

• UK Crypto Firm Loses $200m in Cyber-Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• One of the darkweb’s largest cryptocurrency laundromats washed out | Europol (europa.eu)

• UK Bank Limits Crypto Payments to Smother Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Phishing Campaigns Use SVB Collapse to Harvest Crypto - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cryptojacking Group TeamTNT Suspected of Using Decoy Miner to Conceal Data Exfiltration (thehackernews.com)

• CrowdStrike discovered the first-ever Dero crypto mining campaign- - Security Affairs

• Claim: FTX leaders helped themselves to $3.2B in cash • The Register

• Feds charge exiled Chinese billionaire over crypto fraud • The Register

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Future-Proofing Your Business Against Insider Threats (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams Are Now a $3 Billion Threat | WIRED

• Cyber crime Losses Exceeded $10 Billion in 2022: FBI - SecurityWeek

• Investment Fraud is Now Biggest Cyber crime Earner - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Nine In 10 £5m+ Businesses Hit By Cyber Attacks - IT Security Guru

• ChatGPT fraud is on the rise: Here's what to watch out for | ZDNET

• Analysts Spot a Wave of SVB-Related Cyber Fraud Striking the Business Sector (darkreading.com)

• The SVB demise is a fraudster's paradise, so take precautions - Help Net Security

• Fighting financial fraud through fusion centers - Help Net Security

• UK Crypto Firm Loses $200m in Cyber-Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK Bank Limits Crypto Payments to Smother Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Convincing Twitter 'quote tweet' phone scam targets bank customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Claim: FTX leaders helped themselves to $3.2B in cash • The Register

• Feds charge exiled Chinese billionaire over crypto fraud • The Register

Impersonation Attacks

• 'Vile' Gang Duo Breaches Police Database, Impersonates Officers in Extortion Gambit (darkreading.com)

Deepfakes

• Deepfakes, Synthetic Media: How Digital Propaganda Undermines Trust (darkreading.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• One of the darkweb’s largest cryptocurrency laundromats washed out | Europol (europa.eu)

• Russia’s Cyber security Companies Shrug Off Sanctions - CEPA

Dark Web

• One of the darkweb’s largest cryptocurrency laundromats washed out | Europol (europa.eu)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Top 10 operational risks: focus on third-party risk - Risk.net

• How much of a cyber security risk are my suppliers? (thetimes.co.uk)

Software Supply Chain

• We can't wait for SBOMs to be demanded by regulation - Help Net Security

• Best practices for securing the software application supply chain - Help Net Security

• Addressing Software Supply Chain Security - DevOps.com

Cloud/SaaS

• Rushed cloud migrations result in escalating technical debt - Help Net Security

• CrowdStrike report shows identities under siege, cloud data theft up | VentureBeat

• How to Apply NIST Principles to SaaS in 2023 (thehackernews.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Orgs Have a Long Way to Go in Securing Remote Workforce (darkreading.com)

Attack Surface Management

• Access Control Gap in Microsoft Active Directory Widens Enterprise Attack Surface (darkreading.com)

Identity and Access Management

• Access Control Gap in Microsoft Active Directory Widens Enterprise Attack Surface (darkreading.com)

• Navigating the future of digital identity - Help Net Security

Encryption

• Google Proposes Reducing TLS Cert Life Span to 90 Days (darkreading.com)

• WhatsApp Tells UK Government It’s Still Not Willing To Undermine Its Encryption | Techdirt

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Poor Passwords Still Weakest Link Hackers Seek, Report Reveals - MSSP Alert

• Study: Over 721 million passwords were leaked in 2022 - Neowin

• Understanding password behavior key to developing stronger cyber security protocols - Help Net Security

Social Media

• UK bans TikTok from government mobile phones | TikTok | The Guardian

• Spies, lies and influenced children: What TikTok must overcome to show us it can be trusted (telegraph.co.uk)

• Convincing Twitter 'quote tweet' phone scam targets bank customers (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malvertising

• BATLOADER Malware Uses Google Ads to Deliver Vidar Stealer and Ursnif Payloads (thehackernews.com)

Training, Education and Awareness

• Forgetting Curve according to Dr Ebbinghaus: Why cyber awareness training is an ongoing process - Hornetsecurity

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• UK's New Privacy Bill Could Mean More Work for Firms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• SEC Charges Software Company Blackbaud Inc. for Misleading Disclosures About Ransomware Attack That Impacted Charitable Donors (databreaches.net)

• When and how to report a breach to the SEC | CSO Online

• WhatsApp Tells UK Government It’s Still Not Willing To Undermine Its Encryption | Techdirt

• The US cyber security strategy won’t address today’s threats with regulation alone | CyberScoop

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Make Sure Your Cyber security Budget Stays Flexible (darkreading.com)

• Getting cyber security right requires a change of mindset | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)

• UK's New Privacy Bill Could Mean More Work for Firms - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 6 principles for building engaged security governance | TechTarget

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• How to Apply NIST Principles to SaaS in 2023 (thehackernews.com)

• Meet Data Privacy Mandates With Cyber security Frameworks (darkreading.com)

Data Protection

• Consumers Believe Vendors Don't Adequately Protect Their Personal Data, Report Finds - MSSP Alert

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• International authorities bring NetWire's malware infrastructure to a standstill | TechSpot

• One of the darkweb’s largest cryptocurrency laundromats washed out | Europol (europa.eu)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• German states rethink reliance on Palantir technology | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Consumers Believe Vendors Don't Adequately Protect Their Personal Data, Report Finds - MSSP Alert

• Meet Data Privacy Mandates With Cyber security Frameworks (darkreading.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• Warning: AI-generated YouTube Video Tutorials Spreading Infostealer Malware (thehackernews.com)

• How to stop AI waging war on humans (thetimes.co.uk)

• ChatGPT and the Growing Threat of Bring Your Own AI to the SOC - SecurityWeek

• How Businesses Can Get Ready for AI-Powered Security Threats (darkreading.com)

• Humans Still More Effective Than ChatGPT at Phishing - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK spy agency warns of security threat from ChatGPT and rival chatbots | Metro News

• Why red team exercises for AI should be on a CISO's radar | CSO Online

• GPT-4 Can’t Stop Helping Hackers Make Cyber criminal Tools (forbes.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Deepfakes, Synthetic Media: How Digital Propaganda Undermines Trust (darkreading.com)

• Russia disinformation looks to US far right to weaken Ukraine support | Russia | The Guardian

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Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• Microsoft: Russian hackers may be readying new wave of destructive attacks | CyberScoop

• UK bans TikTok from government mobile phones | TikTok | The Guardian

• Microsoft: 17 European Nations Targeted by Russia in 2023 as Espionage Ramping Up - SecurityWeek

• UK’s Royal Navy, Ukraine Jointly Repel Simulated, Russian Cyber attack on National Infrastructure - MSSP Alert

• Russians told to rush to nuclear bomb shelters after hackers take over state media (telegraph.co.uk)

• Remcos Trojan Linked to Cyber Espionage Operations Against Ukrainian Government - MSSP Alert

• YoroTrooper cyber spies target CIS energy orgs, EU embassies (bleepingcomputer.com)

• China sought control of telecoms to spy on Micronesia • The Register

• Russia disinformation looks to US far right to weaken Ukraine support | Russia | The Guardian

• This Is the New Leader of Russia's Infamous Sandworm Hacking Unit | WIRED

• Russia’s Cyber security Companies Shrug Off Sanctions - CEPA

• Polish intelligence dismantled a network of Russian spies- Security Affairs

• Microsoft sheds light on a year of Russian hybrid warfare in Ukraine- Security Affairs

• Wave of Stealthy China Cyber attacks Hits US., Private Networks, Google Says - WSJ

• Russian hackers plotting another cyber attack against Ukraine - Microsoft (ukrinform.net)

• Here's how Chinese spies exploited a critical Fortinet bug • The Register

Nation State Actors

• MI5 Launches New Agency to Tackle State-Backed Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• UK bans TikTok from government mobile phones | TikTok | The Guardian

• North Korean hackers used polished LinkedIn profiles to target security researchers | CyberScoop

• A new Chinese era: security and control | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Russians told to rush to nuclear bomb shelters after hackers take over state media (telegraph.co.uk)

• Attacks on SonicWall appliances linked to Chinese campaign: Mandiant | CSO Online

• Remcos Trojan Linked to Cyber Espionage Operations Against Ukrainian Government - MSSP Alert

• The slow Tick‑ing time bomb: Tick APT group compromise of a DLP software developer in East Asia | WeLiveSecurity

• Microsoft fixes Outlook zero-day used by Russian hackers since April 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• China sought control of telecoms to spy on Micronesia • The Register

• CISA: Federal civilian agency hacked by nation-state and criminal hacking groups | CyberScoop

• APT29 abuses EU information exchange systems in recent attacks- Security Affairs

• Chinese and Russian Hackers Using SILKLOADER Malware to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)

• Russia disinformation looks to US far right to weaken Ukraine support | Russia | The Guardian

• This Is the New Leader of Russia's Infamous Sandworm Hacking Unit | WIRED

• Russia’s Cyber security Companies Shrug Off Sanctions - CEPA

• Microsoft sheds light on a year of Russian hybrid warfare in Ukraine- Security Affairs

• Wave of Stealthy China Cyber attacks Hits US., Private Networks, Google Says - WSJ

• Russian hackers plotting another cyber attack against Ukraine - Microsoft (ukrinform.net)

• Here's how Chinese spies exploited a critical Fortinet bug • The Register

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Vulnerabilities

• Critical Microsoft Outlook/365 bug CVE-2023-23397 under attack (thestack.technology)

• Critical Microsoft Outlook bug PoC shows how easy it is to exploit (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft fixes Outlook zero-day used by Russian hackers since April 2022 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft and Fortinet fix bugs under active exploit • The Register

• CISA warns of actively exploited Plex bug after LastPass breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Cisco fixed CVE-2023-20049 DoS flaw affecting enterprise routers- Security Affairs

• Massive vulnerabilities revealed at Dogecoin, Litecoin, Zcash | Fortune Crypto

• SAP releases security updates fixing five critical vulnerabilities (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Adobe Warns of ‘Very Limited Attacks’ Exploiting ColdFusion Zero-Day - SecurityWeek

• Microsoft fixes Windows zero-day exploited in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft March 2023 Patch Tuesday fixes 2 zero-days, 83 flaws (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Firefox 111 patches 11 holes, but not 1 zero-day among them… – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Microsoft Pins Outlook Zero-Day Attacks on Russian Actor, Offers Detection Script - SecurityWeek

• Cyber attackers Continue Assault Against Fortinet Devices (darkreading.com)

• Security firm Rubrik is latest to be felled by GoAnywhere vulnerability | Ars Technica

• Google Warns Samsung and Pixel Phone Owners About 18 Dire Exploits - CNET

• Microsoft shares script to fix WinRE BitLocker bypass flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Here's how Chinese spies exploited a critical Fortinet bug • The Register

• Bitwarden's password manager browser extension has a known exploit it hasn't addressed in five years | TechSpot

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Tools and Controls

• Make Sure Your Cyber security Budget Stays Flexible (darkreading.com)

• What Is a Stateful Inspection Firewall? Ultimate Guide (enterprisestorageforum.com)

• When Partial Protection is Zero Protection: The MFA Blind Spots No One Talks About (thehackernews.com)

• Set up PowerShell script block logging for added security | TechTarget

• Brazil seizing Flipper Zero shipments to prevent use in crime (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Outlook app to get built-in Microsoft 365 MFA on Android, iOS (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 5 Reasons MSSP Clients Need Strong AppSec Strategies to Thwart Ransomware - MSSP Alert

• 5 Steps to Effective Cloud Detection and Response  - The New Stack

• Virtual patching: Cut time to patch from 250 days to (helpnetsecurity.com)

• ChatGPT may be a bigger cyber security risk than an actual benefit (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Change Is Coming to the Network Detection and Response (NDR) Market (darkreading.com)

• Rise of Ransomware Attacks Main Focus for SOCs, research finds - IT Security Guru

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Other News

• CASPER attack steals data using air-gapped computer's internal speaker (bleepingcomputer.com)

• US govt web server attacked by 'multiple' criminal gangs • The Register

• Security firm Rubrik is latest to be felled by GoAnywhere vulnerability | Ars Technica

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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.

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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.