Ransom note left by attackers wielding Cring ransomware (Source: Sophos)

Ransomware Patch or Perish: Attackers Exploit ColdFusion

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 27, 2021

For combating ransomware, doing the security basics is essential, including keeping systems updated and patched. Don't follow in the footsteps of one technology firm, which Sophos found got hit by Cring ransomware after attackers exploited ColdFusion software that hadn't been patched in 11 years.

Critical Infrastructure Security

FBI Director Questioned Over Kaseya Decryption Key

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3rd Party Risk Management

US Commerce Officials Seek Comment on IaaS Executive Order

Dan Gunderman • September 27, 2021

The U.S. Department of Commerce is soliciting input on a Trump administration cybersecurity executive order that requires cloud providers to verify the identities of certain users - particularly cyber actors potentially operating abroad and leveraging U.S. cloud technologies.

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.

Critical Infrastructure Security

US to Unveil Sanctions on Use of Cryptocurrency for Ransoms

Dan Gunderman • September 20, 2021

The Biden administration may soon unveil plans to curtail the ransomware attacks that have crippled corporate networks this year. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Treasury Department will announce sanctions and similar guidance designed to disrupt the ransomware model.

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.