Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Also, Medusa Ransomware, Grafana Flaw, German Political Party BreachThis week, German police unmasked a REvil leader, a critical Docker flaw, Medusa ransomware surged, DPRK hackers abused GitHub, Grafana AI bugs enabled data theft, scams hit $20B in the United States, Ivanti exploited and attacks hit Northern Ireland schools and a German political party.

The Federal Police in Germany (BKA) has identified two Russian nationals as the leaders of GandCrab and REvil ransomware operations between 2019 and 2021. [...]

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka BKA or the Bundeskriminalamt) has unmasked the real identities of two of the key figures associated with the now-defunct REvil (aka Sodinokibi) ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation

An elusive hacker who went by the handle "UNKN" and ran the early Russian ransomware groups GandCrab and REvil now has a name and a face. Authorities in Germany say 31-year-old Russian Daniil Maksimovich Shchukin headed both cybercrime gangs and helped carry out at least 130 acts of computer sabotage and extortion against victims across the country between 2019 and 2021.

The Qilin ransomware group has claimed responsibility for an attack against Die Linke ('The Left'), forcing an IT systems outage at the political party, and threatening sensitive data leak. [...]

Ukrainian and German law enforcement authorities have identified two Ukrainians suspected of working for the Russia-linked ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group Black Basta

The identity of the Black Basta ransomware gang leader has been confirmed by law enforcement in Ukraine and Germany, and the individual has been added to the wanted list of Europol and Interpol. [...]

Ransomware kingpin who escaped Armenian custody is believed to be lying low back home German cops have added Russian national Oleg Evgenievich Nefekov to their list of most-wanted criminals for his services to ransomware.…

Also, a Renault Breach, WhatsApp Malware and Qilin Claims Asahi AttackThis week, insurer cybersecurity spending, a Renault breach, a WhatsApp malware campaign in Brazil. Germany skeptical of Chat Control. Two UK teens arrested for ransomware attack. Qilin claimed the attack on Japan's Asahi. Hackers weaponized Nezha. An Invoice data breach exposed personal records.

Founder miffed over prosecutors holding onto its Bitcoin The founder of a German mobile phone repair and insurance biz has begun insolvency proceedings for some operations in his company after struggling financially following a costly ransomware attack in 2023.…

The Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (Bundeskriminalamt or BKA) claims that Stern, the leader of the Trickbot and Conti cybercrime gangs, is a 36-year-old Russian named Vitaly Nikolaevich Kovalev. [...]

Also: Ransomware Hackers Demand BaguettesThis week, Chinese spying, Italian hacking scandal, an FBI warning and Okta fixed a bug. Google mandated MFA, zero days in PTZOptics and a Mexican airport didn't pay ransom. Cybercriminals demanded baguettes, breach lettersin Ohio and Germany will shield white hats. The Italian DPA rebuked a bank.

Firm Supplies More Than 6,000 PharmaciesA ransomware attack on German pharmaceutical distributor AEP detected Monday has not led to medication shortages so far, report local media. AEP disclosed Wednesday that hackers successfully encrypted some of its IT systems. Pharmacies usually work with several wholesalers.

The German car giant appears to be unconcerned The 8Base ransomware crew claims to have stolen a huge data dump of Volkswagen files and is threatening to publish them, but the German car giant appears to be unconcerned.…

German law enforcement seized 47 cryptocurrency exchange services hosted in the country that facilitated illegal money laundering activities for cybercriminals, including ransomware gangs. [...]

Computer infrastructure in the US, UK, and Germany associated with the cybercriminal group, which targeted SMBs using double extortion, is officially out of commission.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday announced the disruption of online infrastructure associated with a nascent ransomware group called Dispossessor (aka Radar)

U.S. and German law enforcement seized the domain of the crypto wallet platform Cryptonator, used by ransomware gangs, darknet marketplaces, and other illicit services, and indicted its operator. [...]

Experts See Surge in Attacks, Including in Russia, Using Leaked LockBit CodeWhat do a German healthcare network, a Russian security company and an American bridal clothing retailer have in common? All seem to have been compromised in recent months by attackers who wielded LockBit crypto-locking malware - but who weren't tied to the actual LockBit operation.

The Hessen Consumer Center in Germany has been hit with a ransomware attack, causing IT systems to shut down and temporarily disrupting its availability. [...]