Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 11 August 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

75% of Organisations Worldwide Set to Ban ChatGPT and Generative AI Apps on Work Devices

Newly released research found that 75% of organisations worldwide are currently implementing or considering bans on ChatGPT and other generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications within the workplace, with 61% stating that it will be a long term or permanent solution. Despite this, the majority recognised the opportunity such applications bring to the workplace, with 55% believing it would increase efficiency. All in all, 81% remained in favour of AI, highlighting that whilst organisations see the benefit, they are not ready to take the plunge for fear of being caught flat-footed.

Many organisations may simply not have the expertise-in house or confidence to employ AI effectively. These organisations lack an effective AI management plan, which governs the usage of AI in the corporate environment, rather than banning it outright. By having a clear-set AI plan, organisations can use AI to improve their efficiency, whilst maintaining cyber resilience. An increasing number of organisations have approached us at Black Arrow to discuss how to embrace AI securely; contact us to see how we can help you.

Source: [Dark Reading]

How an Eight-Character Password Could be Cracked in Just a Few Minutes

Strong and complex passwords are necessary to protect online accounts and data from cyber criminals. Complex passwords typically use lowercase and uppercase characters, numbers, and special characters. But complexity by itself can still open your password to cracking if it doesn’t contain enough characters, according to research by security firm Hive Systems. The report found that a complex password of eight characters can be cracked in only five minutes, and other weaker or shorter passwords are cracked instantly. However, passwords that have a greater number of characters are less vulnerable: for example an 18 character password, even if only lowercase letters, would take 481,000 years for a computer to crack.

Since creating and remembering multiple complex and lengthy passwords on your own is impossible, a password manager is your best bet. By using a password manager for yourself or within your organisation, you can generate, store and apply strong passwords for websites and online accounts.

Source: [Techrepublic]

Ransomware Victims Surge 143% as Threat Actors Pivot to Zero-Day Exploits

The number of organisations that became victims of ransomware attacks surged 143% between the first quarter of 2022 and first quarter of this year, as attackers increasingly leveraged zero-day vulnerabilities to break into target networks.

In many of these attacks, threat actors did not bother to encrypt data belonging to victim organisations. Instead, they focused solely on stealing their sensitive data and extorting victims by threatening to sell or leak the data to others. The tactic left even those with otherwise robust backup and restoration processes backed into a corner; this highlights the need for organisations to be able to detect and ideally block anomalous exfiltration of data, and have effective and rehearsed incident response plans to address the concept of pure exfiltration, because having backups is not enough.

The costs of these types of controls continue to fall making them viable for even smaller businesses. Without tools like Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP), attacks of this nature cannot be detected until it is too late to do anything to stop them.

Source: [Dark Reading]

How Executives’ Personal Devices Threaten Business Security

Individuals, including executives, are considered a major target for cyber attacks. Motivated attackers know the right individual people they want to go after to achieve their larger organisational goal, and they’ll use any means necessary to be successful.

A recent report found that most executives are using their personal devices for work, creating a “backdoor” for cyber criminals to access large organisations. 50% of executive respondents reported receiving work-related scams in their personal emails.

Personal device use can be effective for organisations, however they need to implement an effective bring-your-own-device (BYOD) procedure and provide employees, including executives, with frequent user awareness and education training. All users at all levels within an organisation need to understand the risks, and importantly the role they play in keeping the organisation secure.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Security Affairs]

77% of Financial Firms Saw an Increase in Cyber Attack Frequency

According a recent report on the financial services sector, 77% of firms reported an increase in attack frequency, and 87% said attacks were more severe. These firms unanimously said they would look to outsource their cyber security programs to third-party providers to shore up their cyber defences. Among the respondents, firms need to protect hybrid work environments (62%), consolidate cyber security and managed IT services (41%) and tap industry-specific and regulatory expertise (33%).

Source: [SecurityMagazine]

Protecting Against Sophisticated Cyber Attacks Requires Layered Defences

Faced with an influx of sophisticated cyber threats, including usage of AI to further enhance the efficacy of social engineering attacks, and the growth of both malware-as-a-service (MaaS) and ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), it is critical for organisations to invest in layered security defences.

Services like managed detection and response (MDR) are integral to monitoring, investigating and responding to threats in real time. But without a strong and comprehensive foundational cyber security posture, managed services alone cannot effectively mitigate threats. To ensure comprehensive defences against emerging threats, organisations must prioritise proactive measures that can stop attacks before they even start. As adversaries continue to refine their attack techniques, layered protection that covers every stage in the attack chain becomes imperative.

Source: [Forbes]

Managing Human Cyber Risks Matters Now More Than Ever

As artificial intelligence (AI) amplifies the sophistication and reach of phishing, vishing, and smishing attacks, understanding and managing human cyber risks has become increasingly vital, according to the SANS Institute. It makes sense as no matter the technological advancement, the human element has always been a point of entry for attackers.

A recent study found that mature security programs, marked by robust teams and leadership support, are characterised by having at least three full-time employees in their security awareness teams. In some cases, this isn’t feasible for an organisation and this is where outsourcing comes in. By outsourcing security awareness, organisations can ensure that they have access to security awareness experts, to keep their organisation educated. Here at Black Arrow we offer regular security and awareness training, bespoke to your organisation, for your employees and leadership team.

Source: [Help Net Security]

Hackers are Targeting Top Executives’ Microsoft 365 Accounts to Steal Work Logins

Cyber security provider Proofpoint reported that high-level execs at some of the world’s leading companies are repeatedly targeted with credential-stealing attacks. More alarmingly, according to Proofpoint, around one-third (35%) of the compromised users had multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled.

The attacks come amid a rise in cases of EvilProxy, a phishing tool that allows attackers to steal even MFA-protected credentials. In the three months to June 2023, around 120,000 EvilProxy phishing emails were observed being sent to hundreds of targeted organisations globally, with many targeting Microsoft 365 user accounts in particular. Approximately 39% of the victims were C-level executives of which 17% were Chief Financial Officers, and 9% were Presidents and CEOs. Users must be trained effectively, to help mitigate the chance of them suffering a phishing attack. The C-suite is no exception.

Sources: [Help Net Security] [Security Affairs]

UK Shaken by Major Data Breaches

Recent major data breaches impacting crucial institutions like the UK Electoral Commission (which exposed the data of 40 million UK voters) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have brought attention to potential risks. Following a recent freedom of information request 10,000 police officers and staff details where published including details such as first name and surname, their rank or grade and the unit and where they are based. This breach occurred when a junior member of staff forgot to remove the master spreadsheet containing sensitive data when responding to the request.

Sources: [Telegraph] [Tech Crunch]

Threat of Cyber Attacks to UK National Security Upgraded: Compared to Chemical Weapons or Nuclear Attack

The UK government has raised the threat level posed by cyber attacks, now deeming the risk of cyber attacks to be more severe than that presented by small-scale chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attacks according to the latest National Risk Register (NRR) report for 2023. The report also highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) as a “chronic risk” – that is, one that poses “continuous challenges that erode our economy, community, way of life, and/or national security”.

Sources: [ITPro] [Infosecurity Magazine]

Mac Users are Facing More Dangerous Security Threats Than Ever Before

Apple’s MacBook Pro or iPhone devices are often perceived as safer, from a cyber security standpoint, compared to those from Microsoft or Google, mostly because of its “walled garden” approach. However, another key reason why hackers were not historically as interested in Apple was the smaller market share Apple held. That is no longer the case and as attacks are rising against Apple devices, this is something we expect to see continuing to accelerate.

In the last 10 years, Apple’s market share on desktop has increased from less than 7.5% to just over 20% today. Apple frequently patches actively exploited vulnerabilities, with overall 261 security vulnerabilities addressed so far this year. A recent report found that Mac users are targeted by three key threats: Trojans, Adware, and Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA). Of the three, Trojans are the biggest single threat, making up more than half of all threat detections. Of all those detections, around half (52.7%) were for the EvilQuest encryption malicious software.

Source: [Techradar]

Cyber Attack to Cost Outsourcing Firm Capita up to £25m

Capita expects to take a financial hit of as much as £25m as a result of a cyber attack that began in March, pushing the outsourcing group to a pre-tax loss of almost £68m for the first half of the year. The group is still recovering from the attack by the Black Basta ransomware group, which hacked its Microsoft Office 365 software and accessed the personal data of staff working for the company and dozens of clients. Capita, which runs crucial services for local councils, the military, and the NHS, estimated that the financial costs associated with what it called the “cyber incident” would be between £20m and £25m. Previous estimates had put the cost at £15m to £20m.

The group said this new figure reflected the complexities of analysing the “exfiltrated” data, as well as costs of recovery and remediation and new investment to improve its cyber security. However, Capita said it was not currently able to estimate the level of any potential fine related to the incident and had not yet made any provision to cover any future costs. The company’s shares fell by more than 12% in morning trading on Friday after the release of its results, making it the biggest faller on the FTSE 250.

Source: [Guardian]

Government and Public Services Face 40% More Cyber Attacks and Struggle to Protect Due to Lack of Resources

A report published by BlackBerry noted a 40% rise in cyber attacks against public sector organisations and government institutions. One of the reasons is the limited resources and resistance that these government and public have; this makes it much easier for an attacker. An easy target is an attractive target.

Source: [Financial Express]

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• SMB cyber security: Cyber Security challenge: SMBs and large enterprises face common threat but separate response routes - The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)

• Protecting Against Sophisticated Cyber attacks Requires Layered Defense (forbes.com)

• Managing human cyber risks matters now more than ever - Help Net Security

• Executives 'sleepwalking into cyber catastrophe', warns cyber security boss (cityam.com)

• How To Deal With the Vagueness in New Cyber Regulations (darkreading.com)

• Recent threat intelligence study indicates reactive measures are prioritized by most organisations over proactive | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Digital skills gap is challenging the cyber security of UK businesses - IT Security Guru

• Cyber attack to cost outsourcing firm Capita up to £25m | Capita | The Guardian

• 9 common risk management failures and how to avoid them | TechTarget

• Alarming survey: Many tech experts fail a test of their cyber security knowledge - SiliconANGLE

• Safeguarding Businesses From Data Privacy And Cyber security Risk (forbes.com)

• How Do Some Companies Get Compromised Again and Again? (securityintelligence.com)

• What happens if cyber insurance becomes unviable? - Raconteur

• Only 22% of Firms Have Mature Threat Intelligence Programs - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• NIST announces rare overhaul of security framework, focusing on organisational leadership | ITPro

• Protection is No Longer Straightforward – Why More Cyber Security Solutions Must Incorporate Context - Security Week

• Cyber Security Must Focus on the Goals of Criminals (informationweek.com)

• Going Up! How to Handle Rising Cyber Security Costs (securityintelligence.com)

• Maintaining Data Security Amidst Rising Concerns of Cyber attacks (techreport.com)

• Why it’s time for everyone to reorient their thinking about cyber security | Federal News Network

• 'Confusing, misleading or just plain wrong': Researchers explain why cyber security is needlessly complex - Study Finds

• It's Time for Cyber security to Talk About Climate Change (darkreading.com)

• Prioritizing cyber attacks still needs a lot of work, according to new Picus Labs report - SiliconANGLE

• It's not always malware (betanews.com)

• Act Before You're Hacked (forbes.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Healthcare and Finance Firms Ranked as Leading Targets for Cyber Attacks - MSSP Alert

• Ransomware victim numbers surge as attackers target zero-day vulnerabilities | CSO Online

• Definitive Guide to Ransomware 2023 | IBM whitepaper | ITPro | ITPro

• UK Think Tank Proposes Greater Ransomware Reporting From Cyber Insurance to Government – Security Week

• The ransomware rollercoaster continues as criminals advance their business models - Help Net Security

• Data exfiltration is now the go-to cyber extortion strategy - Help Net Security

• Clop ransomware now uses torrents to leak data and evade takedowns (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Spot Fake Extortion Attacks Without Wasting Time and Money (securityintelligence.com)

• The number of ransomware attacks targeting Finland increased fourfold since it started the process to join NATO - Security Affairs

• New Yashma Ransomware Variant Targets Multiple English-Speaking Countries (thehackernews.com)

• Ransomware Victims Surge as Threat Actors Pivot to Zero-Day Exploits (darkreading.com)

• Recent ransomware attacks share curiously similar tactics - Help Net Security

• Ransomware Attacks: 20 Essential Considerations For Prep And Response (forbes.com)

• Ransomware attacks cost manufacturing sector $46 billion in downtime since 2018, report claims | Tripwire

• Navigating the gray zone of ransomware payment practices - Help Net Security

• Anatomy of a Black Basta Ransomware Attack on BankCard USA - MSSP Alert

• Mallox Ransomware Group Revamps Malware Variants, Evasion Tactics (darkreading.com)

• Clop Gang Offers Data Downloads Via Torrents - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The volume of ransomware attacks is dropping - but it’s no time to get complacent (networkingplus.co.uk)

• FortiGuard Labs: Organisations Detecting Ransomware Decline as the Volume and Impact of Targeted Attacks Continue to Rise (fortinet.com)

• Suspected Vietnamese hacker targets Chinese, Bulgarian organisations with new ransomware (therecord.media)

• Ransomware gangs are targeting public schools | Fortune

• New Report Exposes Vice Society's Collaboration with Rhysida Ransomware (thehackernews.com)

• White House Holds First-Ever Summit on Ransomware Crisis Plaguing Public Schools (insurancejournal.com)

• Dallas pays millions for ransomware expenses after May attack – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (nbcdfw.com)

• Strong authentication best defence against Ransomware: Yubico (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Best practices for reporting ransomware attacks | TechTarget

• Ransomware, healthcare and incident response: Lessons from the Allscripts attack | CSO Online

• Microsoft OneDrive is a willing 'ransomware double agent' • The Register

• Threat Report: Ransomware Down, Targeted Attacks on the Rise (inforisktoday.com)

• Rasnake: Ransomware Now Threatens All, Not Just Elites | Newsmax.com

• The Ransomware Prevention Guide For SMBs - GovInfoSecurity

Ransomware Victims

• Hospital System Goes Back To Paper Following Ransomware Attack (forbes.com)

• ‘Data Security Incident’: 16 Hospitals across Four States Forced to Close after Cyber attack - News18

• Cyber attack forces hospitals to divert ambulances in Connecticut and Pennsylvania | CNN Politics

• Dallas pays millions for ransomware expenses after May attack – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (nbcdfw.com)

• Colorado Department of Higher Education warns of massive data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Israel hospital hacking disrupts services; cyber attackers unknown - Israel News - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

• Bnei Brak hospital hit by cyber attack, bringing down computers | The Times of Israel

• LockBit posts Siemens company Varian to its victim blog (techmonitor.ai)

• Breach Connected to MOVEit Flaw Affects Missouri Medicaid Recipients - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacker stole more than $6 million from New Haven Public Schools (wfsb.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Hackers are targeting top executives to steal their work logins | TechRadar

• Microsoft 365 accounts of execs, managers hijacked through EvilProxy - Help Net Security

• 9 of 10 Cyber attacks Start with a Phish, Comcast Study Shows - MSSP Alert

• Microsoft Teams used in phishing campaign to bypass multi-factor authentication (malwarebytes.com)

• AI tools like ChatGPT increasingly used by cyber criminals for phishing, experts warn | NL Times

• First quarter of 2023 saw 88% rise in phishing attacks: Kaspersky | The Peninsula Qatar

• RTL Today - Up to 80% of all cyber attacks: Phishing attempts surge in post-pandemic age

• 100K+ VIP Microsoft 365 users got targeted by phishers - OnMSFT.com

• Microsoft’s Role in Email Breach to Be Part of US Cyber Inquiry - BNN Bloomberg

• Interpol takes down phishing-as-a-service platform used by 70,000 people (therecord.media)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• 37% of third-party applications have high-risk permissions - Help Net Security

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Social engineering biggest threat to online safety - Avast (securitybrief.co.nz)

Artificial Intelligence

• 75% of Organisations Worldwide Set to Ban ChatGPT and Generative AI Apps on Work Devices (darkreading.com)

• When your teammate is a machine: 8 questions CISOs should be asking about AI | CSO Online

• Generative AI In Cyber Should Worry Us, Here’s Why (forbes.com)

• How to Prepare for ChatGPT's Risk Management Challenges (darkreading.com)

• AI chatbots like ChatGPT could be security nightmares - and experts are trying to contain the chaos | TechRadar

• Experience: scammers used AI to fake my daughter’s kidnap | Family | The Guardian

• White House offers prize money for hacker-thwarting AI (techxplore.com)

• Criminals Have Created Their Own ChatGPT Clones | WIRED UK

• AI making cyber attacks more effective - Tech Monitor

• AI tools like ChatGPT increasingly used by cyber criminals for phishing, experts warn | NL Times

• Data attacks set to enter new era under 'FraudGPT', warn cyber security execs (cityam.com)

• Hackers Released New Black Hat AI Tool Evil-GPT (cybersecuritynews.com)

• Cyber security In The Age Of AI (forbes.com)

• In the age of ChatGPT, Macs are under malware assault | Digital Trends

• AI can now steal your passwords with almost 100% accuracy | Digital Trends

• Microsoft AI Red Team building future of safer AI | Microsoft Security Blog

• ChatGPT Security Concerns: Credentials on the Dark Web and More (techrepublic.com)

• Why We Need to Manage the Risk of AI Browser Extensions - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• AI hacking gets White House backing; some already go rogue (9to5mac.com)

• Zoom trains its AI model with some user data, without giving them an opt-out option - Security Affairs

• OpenAI to Unleash New Web Crawler to Devour More of the Open Web - Decrypt

• 5 Pitfalls and Possibilities AI Brings to Cyber Insurance (informationweek.com)

2FA/MFA

• Microsoft Teams used in phishing campaign to bypass multi-factor authentication (malwarebytes.com)

• Microsoft Authenticator will soon provide codes via WhatsApp - gHacks Tech News

• LastPass removes the master password from customers’ login with FIDO2 authenticators - Help Net Security

Malware

• In the age of ChatGPT, Macs are under malware assault | Digital Trends

• Mac users are facing more dangerous security threats than ever before | TechRadar

• Threat intelligence's key role in mitigating malware threats - Help Net Security

• This PowerPoint could help hackers empty your bank account | Digital Trends

• Safeguarding Against Silent Cyber Threats: Exploring the Stealer Log Lifecycle (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Israel cyber security agency says no breach after senior official self-infects home PC with malware | TechCrunch

• Latest Batloader Campaigns Use Pyarmor Pro for Evasion (trendmicro.com)

• Reptile Rootkit: Advanced Linux Malware Targeting South Korean Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Malicious npm Packages Found Exfiltrating Sensitive Data from Developers (thehackernews.com)

• Fake VMware vConnector package on PyPI targets IT pros (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Malware Campaign Targets Inexperienced Cyber Criminals with OpenBullet Configs (thehackernews.com)

• Ukrainian state agencies targeted with open-source malware MerlinAgent (therecord.media)

• QakBot Malware Operators Expand C2 Network with 15 New Servers (thehackernews.com)

• This Mac Utility Is Now Malware (howtogeek.com)

• Hackers use open source Merlin post-exploitation toolkit in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Statc Stealer Malware Emerges: Your Sensitive Data at Risk (thehackernews.com)

• Gafgyt malware exploits five-years-old flaw in EoL Zyxel router (bleepingcomputer.com)

• CISA: New Whirlpool backdoor used in Barracuda ESG hacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Mobile

• Google explains how Android malware slips onto Google Play Store (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Czech cyber security experts warn against BaiRBIE.me app | Radio Prague International

• Removing Spyware From Your Android Phone: A How-To Guide (slashgear.com)

• How executives' personal devices threaten business security - Help Net Security

• Invisible Ad Fraud Targets Korean Android Users - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google Play apps with 2.5M installs load ads when screen's off (bleepingcomputer.com)

• 40 Vulnerabilities Patched in Android With August 2023 Security Updates - Security Week

• Android 14 to let you block connections to unencrypted cellular networks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Botnets

• QakBot Malware Operators Expand C2 Network with 15 New Servers (thehackernews.com)

• Two-Thirds of UK Sites Vulnerable to Bad Bots - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Analysing Network Chaos Leads to Better DDoS Detection (darkreading.com)

• How to accelerate and access DDoS protection services using GRE - Help Net Security

• Researchers Strengthen Defences Against Common Cyber attack - CleanTechnica

Internet of Things – IoT

• What is IoT Security? | TechTarget

• Panasonic Warns That IoT Malware Attack Cycles Are Accelerating | WIRED

• Disposed-of Gadgets Can Lead to Wi-Fi Network Hacks, Kaspersky Says (darkreading.com)

• The new technology that is making cars easier for criminals to steal, or crash (techxplore.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Executives 'sleepwalking into cyber catastrophe', warns cyber security boss (cityam.com)

• Over 200 Million Brits Have Data Compromised in Four Years - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Top 10 Countries Being Bombarded by Data Breaches (gizmodo.com)

• UK Shaken by Major Data Breaches: Security Concerns Surge Over Data Protection Changes | Open Rights Group

• UK Electoral Commission hacked by 'hostile actors' | Reuters

• PSNI officers who work with MI5 face relocation after ‘humongous’ security breach (telegraph.co.uk)

• Northern Ireland police investigate second data breach after documents containing officers' names stolen | UK News | Sky News

• Burger King Serves Up Sensitive Data, No Mayo (darkreading.com)

• Norway to fine Meta $98,500 a day over user privacy breach from 14 August | Meta | The Guardian

• TunnelCrack attack may cause vulnerable VPNs to leak traffic • The Register

• Phishing-resistant authentication a key to breach prevention (securitybrief.co.nz)

• How safe is my data after a hack or leak? - BBC News

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Cloud Company Assisted 17 Different Government Hacking Groups: US Researchers | NTD

• New Malware Campaign Targets Inexperienced Cyber Criminals with OpenBullet Configs (thehackernews.com)

• IRS confirms takedown of bulletproof hosting provider Lolek (therecord.media)

• Interpol Shuts Down African Cyber crime Group, Seizes $2 Million (darkreading.com)

• Cyber security Must Focus on the Goals of Criminals (informationweek.com)

• How fame-seeking teenagers hacked some of the world’s biggest targets | Ars Technica

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• BlackBerry Discloses Major Crypto-Based Malware - The Tech Report

• FBI warns of phishing scams and social media account hijackers (cointelegraph.com)

• Crypto heavyweights back new cyber security standards after nearly $4 billion was lost to hacks in 2022 | Fortune Crypto

• Only 6 out of 45 crypto wallet brands have undergone penetration testing: Report (cointelegraph.com)

• Worldcoin is scanning eyeballs to build a global ID and finance system. Governments are not impressed (theconversation.com)

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Managing human cyber risks matters now more than ever - Help Net Security

• History’s Greatest Insider Threats - IT Security Guru

• US Navy sailors charged with stealing secret info for China • The Register

• Get consent before you monitor your staff, UK MPs suggest • The Register

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Rise in fraudsters spoofing the websites of leading UK banks | Computer Weekly

• Extended warranty robocallers fined $300 million after 5 billion scam calls (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Experience: scammers used AI to fake my daughter’s kidnap | Family | The Guardian

• Data attacks set to enter new era under 'FraudGPT', warn cyber security execs (cityam.com)

Impersonation Attacks

• Rise in fraudsters spoofing the websites of leading UK banks | Computer Weekly

Insurance

• What happens if cyber insurance becomes unviable? - Raconteur

• Cyber Insurance Experts Make a Case for Coverage, Protection (darkreading.com)

• 5 Pitfalls and Possibilities AI Brings to Cyber Insurance (informationweek.com)

• 10 Key Controls to Show Your Organisation Is Worthy of Cyber Insurance (darkreading.com)

• Lower Data Breach Insurance Costs with These Tips (trendmicro.com)

Dark Web

• Dark web activity targeting the financial sector - Help Net Security

• ChatGPT Security Concerns: Credentials on the Dark Web and More (techrepublic.com)

• Dark Web Threat Actors Targeting macOS | Accenture

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Government contractor plunges after £25m cyber attack - The Mail (mailplus.co.uk)

• 37% of third-party applications have high-risk permissions - Help Net Security

Software Supply Chain

• Unravelling the importance of software supply chain security - Help Net Security

• OWASP Lead Flags Gaping Hole in Software Supply Chain Security (darkreading.com)

• 37% of third-party applications have high-risk permissions - Help Net Security

Cloud/SaaS

• Attackers Use EvilProxy to target C-suite Executives (inforisktoday.com)

• 100K+ VIP Microsoft 365 users got targeted by phishers - OnMSFT.com

• Credentials Account For Over Half of Cloud Compromises - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cloud Company Assisted 17 Different Government Hacking Groups: US Researchers | NTD

• Microsoft OneDrive is a willing 'ransomware double agent' • The Register

• Managing and Securing Distributed Cloud Environments - Security Week

• How hybrid cloud is transforming cyber security | ITPro

• Microsoft 365 guests + Power Apps = security nightmare • The Register

Containers

• Kubernetes clusters under attack in hundreds of organisations | CSO Online

Identity and Access Management

• CrowdStrike observes massive spike in identity-based attacks | TechTarget

• Keeper Security reveals SMBs at risk due to lack of PAM (securitybrief.co.nz)

• Understanding Active Directory Attack Paths to Improve Security (thehackernews.com)

• 91% of IT leaders better protected with PAM but want more affordable solutions - IT Security Guru

• Strong authentication best defence against Ransomware: Yubico (securitybrief.co.nz)

• WhatsApp is working on phishing-proof passkey authentication (androidpolice.com)

• Phishing-resistant authentication a key to breach prevention (securitybrief.co.nz)

Encryption

• Cyber security Breakthrough: New Cipher System Protects Computers Against Spy Programs (scitechdaily.com)

• UK minister defends plan to demand access to encrypted messages | Privacy | The Guardian

• Quantum computing: A threat to asymmetric encryption. (thecyberwire.com)

• What if WhatsApp really does leave the UK? - Tech Monitor

Open Source

• Is Open Source Security a Ticking Cyber Time Bomb? (securityintelligence.com)

• Reptile Rootkit: Advanced Linux Malware Targeting South Korean Systems (thehackernews.com)

• Kemba Walden: We need to secure open source software | TechTarget

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• Credentials Account For Over Half of Cloud Compromises - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• How an 8-character password could be cracked in just a few minutes (techrepublic.com)

• AI can now steal your passwords with almost 100% accuracy | Digital Trends

• US Dept. of the Interior Employees Use Accounts That Are Easily Hacked (businessinsider.com)

• LastPass removes the master password from customers’ login with FIDO2 authenticators - Help Net Security

Biometrics

• Worldcoin is scanning eyeballs to build a global ID and finance system. Governments are not impressed (theconversation.com)

• Woman Falsely Arrested Sues Detroit Over Facial Recognition (govtech.com)

Social Media

• Norway to fine Meta $98,500 a day over user privacy breach from 14 August | Meta | The Guardian

Malvertising

• Invisible Ad Fraud Targets Korean Android Users - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google Play apps with 2.5M installs load ads when screen's off (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Not so fast: Don’t click that fake Amazon or Microsoft ad. Here’s why | Fox News

Training, Education and Awareness

• Managing human cyber risks matters now more than ever - Help Net Security

• Why Do Cyber security Awareness Programs Often Fail? (databreachtoday.co.uk)

Travel

• I'm a cyber security expert, here's why your airport selfie is a gift to scammers | Daily Mail Online

• Free Airline Miles, Hotel Points, and User Data Put at Risk by Flaws in Points Platform | WIRED

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Cyber security expert warns parents of online predators, social media usage (wptv.com)

Cyber Bullying, Cyber Stalking and Sextortion

• Most domestic abuse cases feature spyware and remote monitoring, MPs warn | E&T Magazine (theiet.org)

• Baby monitors and smart speakers enabling abuse, say MPs - BBC News

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC Adopts Final Rules on Cyber security Risk Management, Strategy, Governance and Incident Disclosure by Public Companies | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP - JDSupra

• How To Deal With the Vagueness in New Cyber Regulations (darkreading.com)

• What does the Data Protection and Digital Information (DPID) Bill mean for small businesses? | ITPro

• The Problem With Cyber security (and AI Security) Regulation (darkreading.com)

• CISA Unveils Cyber security Strategic Plan for Next 3 Years - Security Week

• The 5 Ways The SEC Failed Investors On Cyber security (forbes.com)

• What if WhatsApp really does leave the UK? - Tech Monitor

• America’s messy cyber regulations are no match for its adversaries | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Norway to fine Meta $98,500 a day over user privacy breach from 14 August | Meta | The Guardian

• Banks hit with $549 million in fines for using Signal and WhatsApp to evade regulators (nbcnews.com)

• ICO threatens enforcement action against websites with 'harmful' cookie banners | ITPro

• UK minister defends plan to demand access to encrypted messages | Privacy | The Guardian

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• NIST Drafts Major Update to Its Widely Used Cyber security Framework | NIST

• Understanding NIST CSF and MITRE ATT&CK Security Frameworks - The New Stack

• OWASP Lead Flags Gaping Hole in Software Supply Chain Security (darkreading.com)

• Understanding Changes in the OWASP API Security Top 10 List - IT Security Guru

• 5 steps to ensure HIPAA compliance on mobile devices | TechTarget

Data Protection

• UK Shaken by Major Data Breaches: Security Concerns Surge Over Data Protection Changes | Open Rights Group

• Regulator: “Harmful” Web Design Could Break Data Protection Laws - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Norway to fine Meta $98,500 a day over user privacy breach from 14 August | Meta | The Guardian

• ICO threatens enforcement action against websites with 'harmful' cookie banners | ITPro

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Digital skills gap is challenging the cyber security of UK businesses - IT Security Guru

• Alarming survey: Many tech experts fail a test of their cyber security knowledge - SiliconANGLE

• Using creative recruitment strategies to tackle the cyber security skills shortage - Help Net Security

• Why cyber security is a blue-collar job - Help Net Security

• Will AI kill cyber security jobs? - Help Net Security

• Will CISOs become obsolete in the future? (betanews.com)

• 6 Essential Strategies for Enterprise Cyber security Workforce Development (govinfosecurity.com)

• Seasoned cyber pros are more complacent in their skills than junior staff - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• IRS confirms takedown of bulletproof hosting provider Lolek (therecord.media)

• Interpol takes down phishing-as-a-service platform used by 70,000 people (therecord.media)

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Missing persons NGO alliance kicks off global facial recognition initiative | Biometric Update

• China drafts rules for using facial recognition data - Japan Today

• Norway to fine Meta $98,500 a day over user privacy breach from 14 August | Meta | The Guardian

• Zoom trains its AI model with some user data, without giving them an opt-out option - Security Affairs

• ICO threatens enforcement action against websites with 'harmful' cookie banners | ITPro

• Worldcoin is scanning eyeballs to build a global ID and finance system. Governments are not impressed (theconversation.com)

• Woman Falsely Arrested Sues Detroit Over Facial Recognition (govtech.com)

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

Russia

• Electoral Commission cyber attack: Everything we know about the hack as Russia 'tops list' of suspects (inews.co.uk)

• BlueCharlie changes attack infrastructure in response to reports on its activity - Security Affairs

• The number of ransomware attacks targeting Finland increased fourfold since it started the process to join NATO - Security Affairs

• Microsoft Teams used in phishing campaign to bypass multi-factor authentication (malwarebytes.com)

• SpaceX's private control of satellite internet concerns military leaders | Space

• Analysts Say Use of Spyware During Conflict Is Chilling (voanews.com)

• Ukrainian state agencies targeted with open-source malware MerlinAgent (therecord.media)

• Cyber security experts discuss wins, losses and lessons at western Ukraine gathering : NPR

• Ukrainian official: Russian hackers change tactics from disruptive attacks | CyberScoop

• Ukraine Fends Off Sandworm Battlefield Espionage Ploy (govinfosecurity.com)

• Victor Zhora on cataloging cyber war crime evidence against Russian hackers targeting Ukraine | CyberScoop

• Microsoft addresses Office vulnerability attacked by Russian spooks in latest update | Computer Weekly

• Hackers with links to Pro-Russian groups compromised foreign embassies in Belarus, researchers say | CyberScoop

• New Cyber Threat 'MoustachedBouncer' Targets Embassies in Belarus - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Satellite hack on eve of Ukraine war was a coordinated, multi-pronged assault | CyberScoop

• US, Ukraine cyber leaders talk resilience, collaboration | TechTarget

• Kyiv Cyber Defenders Spot Open-Source RAT in Phishing Emails (govinfosecurity.com)

• North Korea compromised Russian missile engineering firm NPO Mashinostroyeniya - Security Affairs

• LockBit posts Siemens company Varian to its victim blog (techmonitor.ai)

China

• China-Linked Hackers Strike Worldwide: 17 Nations Hit in 3-Year Cyber Campaign (thehackernews.com)

• Electric vehicle threat: China will use its EV dominance to spy: UK warning (afr.com)

• UK security must not be sacrificed to net zero (telegraph.co.uk)

• Chinese cyber attacks on Japan prompts US push for stronger defences - Nikkei Asia

• China reportedly had ‘deep, persistent access’ to Japanese networks for months | Engadget

• Why the China cyber threat demands an airtight public-private response (federaltimes.com)

• China not ahead of US in cyber and surveillance, NSA head says - Nextgov/FCW

• China drafts rules for using facial recognition data - Japan Today

• US Navy sailors charged with stealing secret info for China • The Register

• RedHotel Checks in as Dominant China-Backed Cyber Spy Group (darkreading.com)

• US Navy sailors charged with stealing secret info for China • The Register

• APT31 Linked to Recent Industrial Attacks in Eastern Europe - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft’s Role in Email Breach to Be Part of US Cyber Inquiry - BNN Bloomberg

Iran

• Iranian state ‘now biggest threat to UK’ (thetimes.co.uk)

• Iranian cyber spies are targeting dissidents in Germany, warns intelligence service (therecord.media)

North Korea

• Reptile Rootkit: Advanced Linux Malware Targeting South Korean Systems (thehackernews.com)

• When the Absence of Noise Becomes Signal: Defensive Considerations for Lazarus FudModule (securityintelligence.com)

• North Korea compromised Russian missile engineering firm NPO Mashinostroyeniya - Security Affairs

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Cloud Company Assisted 17 Different Government Hacking Groups: US Researchers | NTD

• Security News This Week: The Cloud Company at the Center of a Global Hacking Spree | WIRED

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Vulnerability Management

• Five Eyes Agencies Call Attention to Most Frequently Exploited Vulnerabilities - Security Week

• How an unpatched Microsoft Exchange 0-day likely caused one of the UK’s biggest hacks ever | Ars Technica

• Will CVSS 4.0 be a vulnerability-scoring breakthrough or is it broken? | CSO Online

• Microsoft hits back at Tenable’s criticism of its infosec • The Register

• The Four Pillars of Vulnerability Management - GovInfoSecurity

• Has Microsoft cut security corners once too often? | Computerworld

• Why Shellshock Remains a Cyber security Threat After 9 Years (darkreading.com)

• The 7 Worst Software Vulnerabilities of All Time (makeuseof.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Microsoft Patch Tuesday for August 2023 fixed 2 actively exploited flaws - Security Affairs

• Microsoft, Intel lead this month's security fix emissions • The Register

• Raft of TETRA Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Endanger Industrial Communications (darkreading.com)

• Nearly every AMD CPU since 2017 vulnerable to Inception bug • The Register

• Microsoft fixes flaw after being called irresponsible by Tenable CEO (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New PaperCut critical bug exposes unpatched servers to RCE attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Google Chrome will get weekly security updates - gHacks Tech News

• Downfall: New Intel CPU Attack Exposing Sensitive Information - Security Week

• Adobe Releases Security Updates for Multiple Products | CISA

• New 'Inception' Side-Channel Attack Targets AMD Processors - Security Week

• Collide+Power, Downfall, and Inception: New Side-Channel Attacks Affecting Modern CPUs (thehackernews.com)

• Dell Credentials Bug Opens VMWare Environments to Takeover (darkreading.com)

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Tools and Controls

• Managing human cyber risks matters now more than ever - Help Net Security

• Windows Defender-Pretender Attack Dismantles Flagship Microsoft EDR (darkreading.com)

• MDR: Empowering Organisations with Enhanced Security (thehackernews.com)

• 9 common risk management failures and how to avoid them | TechTarget

• Why Do Cyber security Awareness Programs Often Fail? (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• Only 22% of Firms Have Mature Threat Intelligence Programs - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Here’s Why You Need Identity, Privacy, and Device Protection (finextra.com)

• What Is Content Disarm and Reconstruction? How CDR Tools Protect You From Malicious Files (makeuseof.com)

• Attacker Breakout Time Shrinks Again, Underscoring Need for Automation (darkreading.com)

• Managing and Securing Distributed Cloud Environments - Security Week

• How to handle API sprawl and the security threat it poses - Help Net Security

• Threat intelligence's key role in mitigating malware threats - Help Net Security

• What Is Comprehensive Cyber-Resiliency? - The Futurum Group

• The Role of AI in Cyber security and Threat Detection: 5 Use Cases | by David Silva | Aug, 2023 | UX Planet

• Phishing-resistant authentication a key to breach prevention (securitybrief.co.nz)

• 10 Key Controls to Show Your Organisation Is Worthy of Cyber Insurance (darkreading.com)

• Lower Data Breach Insurance Costs with These Tips (trendmicro.com)

• AI Risk Database Tackles AI Supply Chain Risks (darkreading.com)

Other News

• UK Sounds Warning Over Targeted Healthcare Attack (databreachtoday.co.uk)

• British Government Report Highlights Pressing Risks: Terrorism, Cyber Attacks, and International Conflicts - Shafaq News

• Budget constraints threaten cybersecurity in government bodies - Help Net Security

• Threat of cyber attacks to national security compared to that of chemical weapons | ITPro

• UK Government: Cyber Attacks Could Kill or Maim Thousands - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber Signals: Sporting events and venues draw cyberthreats at increasing rates | Microsoft Security Blog

• Cyber Security A Major Vulnerability In The Not For Profit Sector | Scoop News

• Government and public services face 40% more cyberattacks, struggle to protect due to lack of resources: Report | The Financial Express

• Hacker attacks on Mac users are 10x as high as they were in 2019, report says | iMore

• Venture Capital Investments at Risk: DynaRisk Identifies Critical Cybersecurity Gaps in Companies Backed By Some Of London’s Biggest VC Funds | Pressat

• Cyber Security Threats From Online Gaming – Analysis – Eurasia Review

• Satellites easier to hack than a Windows device | Cybernews

• Cyber attack cost Interserve more than £11m | News | Building

• Exploitable Vulnerabilities That Expose Healthcare Facilities Surged Nearly 60% Since 2022, New Research Report Finds (prweb.com)

• Environmental Regulations, OT & the Maritime Industry's New Challenges (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.

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