Scam of the Week: Ransoming Businesses Is a Successful Business
On Christmas Eve, cybercriminals targeted three hospitals in Germany using Lockbit 3.0 ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that infects computers and networks. It holds data and other sensitive information “hostage” in exchange for payment. If you refuse to meet their payment demands, the cybercriminals could destroy the files. Or they could make them available to the public, resulting in data theft and leaks of sensitive information.
How To Stay Safe and Secure From VPN Security Threats
Virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a safe path through the digital landscape. VPNs make a secure tunnel that encodes your information. This encryption protects details like what websites you visit or which apps you use. However, recent reports have shown that some VPNs need to be safer.
This Cyber Threat Is Targeting Cisco VPNs To Attack Businesses
Attention all businesses! A cyber threat specifically targeting Cisco VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) has managed to infiltrate secure business systems, putting their sensitive information and financial assets in jeopardy. Ransomware deployed by members of Akira heightens the looming threat.
LinkedIn User Accounts Have Been Hijacked
As cybercriminals continue to take advantage of people who use social media, many LinkedIn accounts are at the center of a hijacking scheme. This targeted attack is very dangerous for professionals and business owners who use the platform. Hackers can take over your account and send damaging messages to your connections, among other malicious activities.
Learn more about this issue and how you can protect your LinkedIn account.
VPN Security Tips for Your Business
Virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a safe path through the digital landscape. VPNs make a secure tunnel and that encodes your information. This encryption protects details like what websites you visit or which apps you use. However, recent reports have shown that some VPNs need to be safer.
Protecting Your Business: Preventing and Detecting Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is malware that accesses your network and locks you out of your system. It steals important data and files, locks them, and demands payment in exchange. Preventing and detecting ransomware attacks protects your business, digital assets, and staff from these subtle threats.
Windows Update Ransomware
When you see a Windows update, you anticipate a security improvement, not a threat. However, a sneaky extortion scam disguised as a Windows update page has recently appeared.
Its danger lies in encrypting files on your computer. The scammers then demand payment to return your files. This extortion scam is known as Big Head ransomware. Currently, it is aimed at U.S. consumers.
Ransomware Attacks on the Rise: Why Businesses Are Paying the Ransom
A small retail business was hit by a ransomware attack. Cybercriminals encrypted their critical data and demanded a ransom of $50,000 for decryption. Despite having a backup system, the company decided to pay the ransom due to the lack of knowledge about the time required for restoration and the cybercriminals' promise of faster decryption.
This scenario highlights the increasing threat of ransomware attacks that businesses of all sizes face. Understanding the implications of such attacks and having a clear action plan can help mitigate the risk of being held hostage by cybercriminals.
The Growing Trend of Telegram as a Marketplace for Phishing Tools and Services
Cybercrime is becoming increasingly common as businesses continue to rely on technology to conduct their operations. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to exploit businesses and individuals. One of the methods gaining popularity is using Telegram, a popular messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption. Telegram has become a hub for selling phishing tools and services due to its secure and anonymous nature.
AlienFox Malware: The Swiss Army Knife of Cloud Attacks
Researchers at SentinelLabs have uncovered a new, modular malware toolkit called "AlienFox." Cybercriminals use AlienFox to breach email and web hosting services. It compromises misconfigured hosts on cloud platforms and takes sensitive data.
You can often find this new toolkit in Telegram groups. Researchers call AlienFox a "Swiss Army knife" toolkit because of its versatility.
US Government: Royal Ransomware Targets Critical Infrastructure
The United States government is alerting organizations about the Royal ransomware operation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in a joint advisory that the Royal ransomware gang poses an increasing threat to critical infrastructure of numerous sectors in the U.S.
The Royal ransomware group has been targeting different sectors across the country and abroad. Among its victims are health care, education, communications, and manufacturing organizations.
Ransomware Attack on Dole
Ransomware is a threat businesses cannot afford to ignore. Such a cyberattack often blocks user access to systems until the perpetrator receives ransom. A recent cautionary tale is a ransomware attack on Dole Food Company.
Dole reported on Feb. 22 a cybersecurity incident involving ransomware. Although it is unclear when or how the attack occurred, Dole said it had a limited impact on its operations. However, there are reports saying the disruption may be more serious than the company let on.
State of Emergency Declared in Oakland to Combat Ransomware Attack
On Feb. 8, 2023, the City of Oakland suffered a ransomware attack. It forced several city systems to go offline. Fortunately, it did not affect emergency services. 911 and fire rescue
were still online.
Digital security experts investigated the incident. They assume the attack started with an email that contained a malicious ransomware program. When a user clicks on a link or attachment, the ransomware gets into the system and steals valuable data.
Over 3 Million Patients Affected in California Hospital Ransomware Attack
A ransomware attack exposed the information of more than 3.3 million patients on Dec. 1, 2022. Multiple medical groups are affected under the Heritage Provider Network in California.
Schools in Arizona and Massachusetts Most Recent Victims of Cyberattacks
Schools in Tucson, AZ, and Nantucket, MA, became the most recent targets of cyberattacks within hours of each other during the last week of January. The two attacks appear to be unrelated.
The hackers behind the Tucson Unified District ransomware attack specifically mentioned low spending on crucial cyber services as a reason for infecting their systems. A note allegedly written by the attackers states, “If you are reading this it means that your system(s) were hit by Royal. Most likely what happened was that you decided to save some money on your security.”