Ransom note left after Karma ransomware crypto-locks a Windows system (Source: Cyble)

Karma Seeks Free Publicity to Fulfill Ransomware Destiny

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 24, 2021

A new and still little-known ransomware group called Karma has been pursuing a novel strategy to pressure victims into paying: Get journalists to publicize businesses hit by the ransomware operation, adding pressure on victims to pay the ransom demand.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

Good News: REvil Ransomware Victims Get Free Decryptor

Latest

Critical Infrastructure Security

REvil Ransomware Group's Latest Victim: Its Own Affiliates

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 25, 2021

Ransomware-wielding attackers love to lie to victims. But REvil - aka Sodinokibi - has reportedly been running double negotiations to make affiliates think a victim hasn't paid a ransom, using a backdoor in the malware that allows administrators to decrypt victims' systems, so affiliates don't get their cut.

3rd Party Risk Management

ISMG Editors’ Panel: The Rise of Quadruple Extortion Attacks

Anna Delaney • September 24, 2021

Four editors at Information Security Media Group discuss important cybersecurity issues, including the rise of quadruple extortion attacks employed by ransomware gangs, the FBI reportedly withholding the Kaseya ransomware decryption key for weeks, and raising security posture during a pandemic.

Business Continuity Management / Disaster Recovery

Ransomware Updates: Conti Attacks Rise, New Players Surface

Anna Delaney • September 24, 2021

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of how the U.S. government has been tracking an increase in the pace of attacks tied to Conti ransomware. Also featured are what "protection" means today and building a new cybersecurity operating model.

Governance & Risk Management

Applying Critical, Systems and Design Thinking to Security

Steve King • September 24, 2021

Brian Barnier, a director of analytics who is developing a course on critical and design thinking in cybersecurity for CyberEd.io, is a firm believer in the importance of critical thinking today. He discusses how that, plus systems and design thinking, can improve the way cybersecurity functions.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Lawmakers Share Huawei Concerns with US State Department

Dan Gunderman • September 23, 2021

Republican lawmakers have expressed additional concerns around Chinese telecom giant Huawei to the nation's top diplomat. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Mike Gallagher outline Huawei's global cloud services and seek answers on privacy concerns.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Senators Debate Cyber Rules for US Critical Infrastructure

Scott Ferguson • September 23, 2021

As the Senate Homeland Security Committee considers new cyber rules and regulations for U.S. critical infrastructure, lawmakers heard testimony from CISA's Jen Easterly and National Cyber Director Chris Inglis on Thursday in support of these measures, which include updates to FISMA.

3rd Party Risk Management

US DHS, FBI Face Ransomware Questions from Congress

Dan Gunderman • September 22, 2021

U.S. FBI and Department of Homeland Security leaders fielded several cybersecurity questions from House lawmakers Wednesday, particularly around the surge in ransomware attacks, diplomatic efforts to curb ransomware's financial model, and the nation-states that harbor cybercriminals.

Anti-Phishing, DMARC

Microsoft Analyzes Phishing-as-a-Service Operation

Doug Olenick • September 22, 2021

Microsoft Security on Tuesday issued a detailed report on a massive phishing-as-a-service operation named BulletProofLink that offered as a subscription all the tools needed to conduct a campaign. The gang remains operational.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

Coinbase Contracts With DHS for Blockchain Analytics

Dan Gunderman • September 21, 2021

U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has contracted with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide its blockchain monitoring software, according to government tracking sites. The U.S.-based exchange also withdrew plans to launch a crypto lending program amid tensions with the SEC.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Ransomware Reportedly Hits Iowa Farm Services Cooperative

Scott Ferguson , Doug Olenick • September 20, 2021

NEW Cooperative, an Iowa-based farm services cooperative, has reportedly been targeted by the BlackMatter ransomware gang, demanding a $5.9 million payment from the organization, according to security researchers and published reports. The cooperative is working with law enforcement agencies.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

Hacker Makes Off With $12 Million in Latest DeFi Breach

Dan Gunderman • September 20, 2021

In the latest security incident involving a decentralized finance protocol, cross-chain project pNetwork announced Sunday it had been hacked for 277 pBTC, a form of wrapped bitcoin, with losses worth over $12 million at current value.

3rd Party Risk Management

US Warns Nation-State Groups May Exploit Flaw in Zoho Tool

Scott Ferguson • September 17, 2021

CISA, the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command warn users of Zoho Corp.'s single sign-on and password management tool to patch for a vulnerability that nation-state groups may look to exploit. Attackers could use the bug to compromise credentials and exfiltrate data from Active Directory.