Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

An NCC Group report warns state-backed hackers are attempting to hide activity by posing as ransomware groups and deploying commercially available malware

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, for facilitating payments related to terrorist activities. [...]

Also, YellowKey Bypasses BitLocker, Škoda Breach, Kingdom Market Operator JailedThis week, U.S. lawmakers urged action on AI, a BitLocker exploit. Škoda, Nvidia’s GeForce NOW partner and telehealth firm OpenLoop reported breaches. Patch Tuesday. A dark market operator sentenced and pro-Ukraine and Iranian-linked hacking. Nitrogen ransomware attack on Foxconn.

MOIS-linked cyber outfit puts on a ransomware show to disguise the wide-open backdoor behind the scenes

The MuddyWater Iranian hackers disguised their operations as a Chaos ransomware attack, relying on  Microsoft Teams social engineering to gain access and establish persistence. [...]

The Iranian state-sponsored hacking group known as MuddyWater (aka Mango Sandstorm, Seedworm, and Static Kitten) has been attributed to a ransomware attack in what has been described as a "false flag" operation

Rapid7 reveals an Iranian false flag operation masquerading as a Chaos ransomware attack

Also, Lloyds Data Leak, Dutch Treasury Breach, Citrix Bug Exploit, Pay2Key ActivityThis week, Lloyds data leak hits 450K, Dutch treasury breach, Citrix flaw exploited, Iran-linked ransomware ops, TrueConf zero-day, Russian fraud ring sentenced, Romania targeted, patch gaps persist, and U.S. hospital breach affects 257K.

Iranian APTs are blurring the lines between state-sponsored and cybercriminal activities to target high-impact US organizations.

Also, Russian Signal Phishing, Iran-Linked Malware, Breaches in Spain and FranceThis week, Tycoon 2FA, Trio-Tech, messaging app spying and a ransomware broker sentenced. Iran-linked hackers. Mazda disclosed a breach. Oracle patched a flaw. North Korean actors weaponized VS Code, a Spanish port ransomware attack, a French teacher data breach and a healthcare firm victim surge.

Halcyon and Beazley Security track the return of Iranian ransomware group Pay2Key

Ransomware, malware-as-a-service, infostealers benefit MOIS, too Iranian government-backed snoops are increasingly using cybercrime malware and ransomware infrastructure in their operations - not just hiding behind criminal masks as a cover for destructive cyber activity, according to security researchers.…

Experts Warn of DDoS, Ransomware, Proxy And Other Attacks on Health SectorThe escalating conflict emerging from the U.S. and Israel military strikes this weekend on Iran, which killed the country's top leadership and crippled its internet connectivity, could erupt into cyberattacks against the healthcare sector by Iranian sympathizers and proxies, experts warn.

John Hultquist suggests “aggressive” Iranian cyber attackers will target the US and its Gulf allies with plausibly deniable ransomware attacks, hacktivist campaigns and more

The ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, which has been tied to an Iranian advanced persistent threat (APT) group, recently boosted its affiliate profit share to 80% for attacks on Western targets.

An Iranian-backed ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) named Pay2Key has resurfaced in the wake of the Israel-Iran-U.S. conflict last month, offering bigger payouts to cybercriminals who launch attacks against Israel and the U.S

Tells would-be affiliates they don't need to worry because cyberattacks don't violate a cease fire An Iranian ransomware-as-a-service operation with ties to a government-backed cyber crew has reemerged after a nearly five-year hiatus, and is offering would-be cybercriminals cash to infect organizations in the US and Israel.…

Geopolitical Conflict Involving Iran, Israel, US Ripe for Attacks on SectorGovernment authorities are warning of increased risk of Iranian cyber and related threats against healthcare and public health sector organizations - including ransomware, distributed denial-of-service and other attacks related to that nation's escalated conflicts with Israel and the U.S.

An Iranian national has pleaded guilty in the U.S. over his involvement in an international ransomware and extortion scheme involving the Robbinhood ransomware

A RobbinHood Attack Against Baltimore Cost City $19 MillionAn Iranian national behind a spate of ransomware attacks against U.S. municipalities including an attack that cost the city of Baltimore $19 million to rectify pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court Tuesday afternoon. Sina Gholinejad, 37, admitted to deploying Robinhood ransomware.