Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Strong Data Foundations Give AI Leaders an Edge in Quantum SecurityCompanies leading in AI security are also better prepared for quantum threats. New Thales research shows that data visibility, governance, encryption and crypto agility are helping CIOs build stronger foundations for both AI adoption and post-quantum readiness.

Malware Targets Banks, Crypto Platforms and Social MediaNewly surfaced Android-based banking Trojan gives threat actors near-total control over infected devices, letting them steal user credentials for direct access to financial accounts, says researchers. Rokarolla tricks users into side-loading malicious versions of popular, high traffic apps.

Also: Zcash Patches Flaw, $32M Humanity Protocol HackThis week, a key player in a $97M laundering scheme got prison time, Humanity Protocol suffered $32M in losses, Zcash patched a flaw, the EU targeted crypto platforms tied to Russia, authorities froze $3.8M in illicit funds and researchers exposed a Trezor chip weakness.

Bitcoin Joining Fee for Affiliates and No Proven Victims Cited by ResearchersNewcomer ransomware group 0APT is being branded a "likely scam operation," not least after a list of over 200 supposed victims turned out to be bogus, if not entirely AI-generated - never mind a 1 bitcoin joining fee for would-be affiliates and outdated crypto-locking malware.

Government Agencies Targeted With Infostealers and Cryptomining MalwareA fake police alert is the social engineering cornerstone of an ongoing phishing campaign targeting Ukrainian government agencies, warn security researchers. They're tracking a surge in malicious SVG file attachments, in this case leading to information-stealing and cryptocurrency-mining malware.

AI Tools Can Steal Crypto Autonomously, Even From Audited CodeArmed with just a smart contract address, researchers developed an autonomous artificial intelligence tool that can scan for vulnerabilities, write working exploits in the Solidity blockchain programming language and siphon funds. "It behaves more like a human hacker," said its co-creator.

PoisonSeed Threat Actor Uses Cross-Device Login Feature and QR Code to Trick UsersExpel researchers have found a novel adversary-in-the-middle phishing technique used by PoisonSeed, a cybercrime group previously tied to large-scale cryptocurrency thefts, to sidestep one of the most secure forms of multifactor authentication - FIDO2 physical keys.

Stealthy Malware Installs Cryptomining SoftwareA botnet targeting Internet of Things devices works by brute forcing credentials and downloading cryptomining software. Researchers call the botnet "PumaBot," since its malware checks for the string "Pumatronix," the name of a Brazilian manufacturer of surveillance and traffic camera systems.

Collapse of LockBit and BlackCat/ALPHV Tied to Ongoing Decline in Big-Game HuntingRansomware may still be raking in massive cryptocurrency profits for practitioners, but 2024 turned out to be less of a banner year than predicted, with blockchain researchers reporting that the sum total of known ransom payments to ransomware groups in 2024 plummeted by 35%.

Researchers Trace 61% of Known Losses This Year to Pyongyang-Backed HackersHackers tied to North Korea's cash-strapped totalitarian dictatorship this year stole a record amount of cryptocurrency, totaling $1.34 billion across 47 incidents, or about double their known haul for 2023, reported blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

Lazarus Group in Particular Using Cross-Platform Languages to Hit macOS TargetsCryptocurrency-seeking hackers are increasingly targeting macOS users. So warn security researchers as they track a rise in macOS backdoors and information-stealing malware, much of which traces back to a well-known cryptocurrency heist culprit: North Korea.

Also: UwU Lend's Hacks, Terraform Labs' Dissolution, Gemini's SettlementThis week, CertiK researchers allegedly stole money from Kraken, UwU Lend was hacked, Terraform Labs shut down, Gemini will pay defrauded investors, three entities claimed seized FTX assets, a Chinese bank suffered embezzlement and money laundering, and the SEC's crypto head is leaving.

Researchers Say Hackers Used Fake Login Pages to Trick 100 Victims, Crypto WorkersA new phishing campaign is targeting victims through mobile devices by mirroring legitimate login pages for the Federal Communications Commission and large cryptocurrency platforms including Binance and Coinbase. At least 100 victims, including crypto company employees, have fallen for the scam.

Numerous Impediments Remain If Administrators Attempt to Reboot the OperationThe notorious ransomware-as-a-service group LockBit, disrupted by law enforcement this week, was developing a new version of its crypto-locking malware prior to being shut down, security researchers reported. Even so, experts say it's unlikely the group would be able to successfully reboot.

Numerous Impediments Remain, Should Administrators Attempt to Reboot OperationThe notorious ransomware-as-a-service group LockBit, disrupted by law enforcement this week, was developing a new version of its crypto-locking malware prior to being disrupted, security researchers report. Even so, experts say it's unlikely the group would be able to successfully reboot.

Numerous Impediments Remain, Should Administrators Attempt to Reboot OperationThe notorious ransomware-as-a-service group LockBit, disrupted by law enforcement this week, was developing a new version of its crypto-locking malware prior to being disrupted, security researchers report. Even so, experts say it's unlikely the group would be able to successfully reboot.

$295 Million in Digital Assets Lost Last Year to Wallet Drainers, Researchers WarnCryptocurrency phishing scams designed to send crypto owners to fake versions of legitimate sites, recently disseminated via hijacked high-profile social media accounts, highlight the ongoing use of drainer scam-as-a-service offerings, which researchers say last year led to $295 million in losses.

Browser Data, Crypto Wallets and Chat Apps Are Also Top Targets, Researchers ReportInfo-stealer malware built for stealing lucrative, sensitive data - including cryptocurrency wallet and remote access credentials - continues to remain popular for criminally inclined individuals. Researchers reports that RedLine, LokiBot, Mars and Aurora remain attackers' top info-stealer choices.