Photo: Korean Central News Agency

US Sanctions 3 North Korean Hacking Groups

Jeremy Kirk • September 16, 2019

As part of the U.S. government's continuing efforts to highlight the North Korean government's cyberattacks, the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned three alleged North Korean hacking groups that have been blamed for the WannaCry ransomware, online bank heists and destructive malware attacks.

Critical Infrastructure Security

Apple Accuses Google of 'Stoking Fear' With iOS Bug Report

Latest

Multi-factor & Risk-based Authentication

PSD2 Authentication Requirements: The Implementation Hurdles

Geetha Nandikotkur • September 13, 2019

Because banks, fintech firms, merchants and payments processors in the EU have struggled to meet the Sept. 14 deadline for compliance with the new PSD2 "strong customer authentication" requirements for electronic payments, it may take a while for European consumers to notice authentication changes.

Cybercrime

For Sale: Admin Access Credentials to Healthcare Systems

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee • September 13, 2019

Cybercriminals are "upping their game" by stealing and then auctioning off on the dark web administrative access credentials to healthcare organizations' clinician and patient portals, says Etay Maor of IntSights.

Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Ransomware Gangs Practice Customer Relationship Management

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 13, 2019

Ransomware-wielding attackers treat infecting endpoints as a business and put customer relationship management principles to work, says Bill Siegel, CEO of ransomware incident response firm Coveware. He notes criminals "go after the low-hanging fruit because it's cheap and the conversion rate is high."

Governance

Tips on Countering Insider Threat Risks

Jeremy Kirk • September 13, 2019

Insider threats are difficult to counter. What happens when an employee goes rogue, and how do you catch them? Charles Carmakal of Mandiant, who says his firm is dealing with more insider threat investigations, shares tips for better defenses.

Account Takeover

Analysis: The Impact of Business Email Compromise Attacks

Nick Holland • September 13, 2019

This week's ISMG Security Report analyzes the cost of business email compromise attacks and the recent arrest of dozens of suspects. Also featured: updates on the easy availability of low-cost hacking tools and the latest payment card fraud trends.

Cybercrime

Attacks Targeting IoT Devices and Windows SMB Surge

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 12, 2019

Two years after WannaCry wreaked havoc via flaws in SMB_v1 and three years after Mirai infected internet of things devices en masse via default credentials, attackers are increasingly targeting the same flaws, security experts warn.

Cybercrime

Iranian Hacking Group Continues Targeting Universities

Scott Ferguson • September 12, 2019

"Cobalt Dickens," a threat group with suspected ties to Iran, is continuing its attempts to steal intellectual property from schools and universities, according to an analysis by SecureWorks. The group's work continues even though several alleged members have been indicted by the Justice Department.

Cybercrime

Australia to Update National Cybersecurity Strategy

Akshaya Asokan • September 12, 2019

The Australian government is looking to update its national cybersecurity strategy by 2020. In preparation, it's released a discussion paper that seeks input from citizens, the business community, academics and other stakeholders.

Governance

Cyber-Intelligence Firm NSO Group Tries to Boost Reputation

Akshaya Asokan • September 12, 2019

Israel-based cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group, which has been accused of selling technology that enables governments to spy on citizens, is pledging to adopt human rights guidelines developed by the United Nations. But critics of the firm question whether its moves are meaningful.

Governance

Software Bugs: Gotta Catch 'Em All?

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 9, 2019

Every week seems to bring a fresh installment of "patch or perish." But security experts warn that patch management, or the larger question of vulnerability management, must be part of a much bigger-picture approach to managing risk. And the challenge continues to get more complex.

Governance

Weaponized BlueKeep Exploit Released

Akshaya Asokan • September 9, 2019

A new weaponized proof-of-concept exploit for the BlueKeep vulnerability in Windows has been released by researchers at Rapid7 and Metasploit in an effort to help create a sense of urgency to patch the flaw.

Cybercrime

Wikipedia Investigates DDoS Attack

Apurva Venkat • September 9, 2019

Online encyclopedia Wikipedia is investigating a DDoS attack that temporarily blocked access to several of its European and Middle Eastern sites over the weekend.