Those indicted are (clockwise, from top left) Yuriy Sergeyevich Andrienko, Sergey Vladimirovich Detistov, Pavel Valeryevich Frolov, Anatoliy Sergeyevich Kovalev, Artem Valeryevich Ochichenko and Petr Nikolayevich Pliskin. (Source: US Justice Department)

6 Russians Indicted for Destructive NotPeyta Attacks

Scott Ferguson • October 19, 2020

The U.S. Justice Department unsealed indictments against six Russian military officers on Monday, alleging that they carried out a series of major hacking operations, including deploying destructive NotPetya malware - tied to more than $10 billion in damages - and attacking the 2018 Olympics.

Cybercrime

Cisco's $2.6 Billion Network Security Patent Infringement

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Governance & Risk Management

Sensitive Voicemail Transcripts Exposed

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee • October 19, 2020

A security researcher recently discovered an unsecure Elasticsearch database cluster exposed on the internet that contained transcripts of sensitive voicemail messages, including some for medical clinics and financial service companies.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

FCC Wants More Information on Threat Posed by China Unicom

Chinmay Rautmare • October 19, 2020

The FCC is asking the Justice Department and other executive branch agencies if China Unicom's operations within the U.S. pose a significant enough national security threat to merit revoking the company's business license.

Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Instagram Investigated for Exposure of Minors' Details

Jeremy Kirk • October 19, 2020

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner has launched an investigation into whether Facebook's Instagram service improperly displayed the email addresses and phone numbers of minors on its platform. Facebook, Instagram's owner, could face a GDPR fine if it's found to have violated privacy requirements.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Google Offers Fresh Details on China-Linked Hacking Group

Akshaya Asokan • October 17, 2020

A report from Google's Threat Analysis Group offers fresh details about the hacking group that targeted Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign with phishing emails earlier this year. The phishing effort was linked to a little-known hacking group called APT31, which has connections to China.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

British Airways' GDPR Fine Dramatically Reduced

Doug Olenick • October 16, 2020

Britain's Information Commissioner's Office announced this week a dramatic reduction in its fine against British Airways for violating the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The company will pay a $26 million fine instead of $238 million in a case tied to a 2018 breach.

ATM / POS Fraud

'Black Box' and Physical Attacks Against ATMs Surge

Mathew J. Schwartz • October 16, 2020

Criminals have been seeking innovative new ways to steal cash from ATMs. In the U.S., there has been a surge in physical attacks, while Europe has seen a sharp increase in "black box" attacks designed to make ATMs dispense cash on demand.

Business Continuity Management / Disaster Recovery

Iranian Hacking Group Suspected of Deploying Ransomware

Akshaya Asokan • October 16, 2020

A hacking group with links to Iran's government is suspected of using ransomware in attempts to damage the systems of organizations in Israel and other countries, the security firm ClearSky reports.

Endpoint Security

Singapore Launches IoT Cybersecurity Labelling

Jeremy Kirk • October 16, 2020

Singapore has launched an IoT cybersecurity labelling program intended to improve the baseline security of internet-connected consumer products. The program is voluntary, but Singapore eventually intends to make it mandatory.

Cybercrime as-a-service

Analysis: Ransomware Dominates the Cybercrime Landscape

Anna Delaney • October 16, 2020

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report analyzes a new report that labels ransomware as the No. 1 cybercrime threat. Also featured: A former FBI agent offers an update on "disruptionware" attacks; how Tesla's autopilot is tricked by phantom images.

Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Ransomware: Would Banning Ransom Payments Mitigate Threat?

Mathew J. Schwartz • October 16, 2020

As ransomware continues to slam organizations, a lively debate has ensued about whether ransom payments should be banned in all cases. Attempting to ban ransom payments, however, likely would only make the problem worse.

Business Continuity Management / Disaster Recovery

Another Threat Group Joins Ransomware Extortion Racket

Chinmay Rautmare • October 15, 2020

A newly identified financially motivated threat group, dubbed "FIN11," is deploying Clop ransomware and exfiltrating data from its targets for extortion efforts, according to researchers at FireEye Mandiant.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Iranian Hacking Group Again Targets Universities

Akshaya Asokan • October 15, 2020

A hacking group with suspected ties to Iran's government is again targeting universities in the U.S. and around the world, according to researchers with security firm Malwarebytes. "Silent Librarian" typically attempts to steal intellectual property.