Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Email attacks overtook exploits as the top ransomware root cause last year. Multifactor authentication (MFA) was deployed in 97% of credential-based attacks but failed to prevent compromise.

Threat actors brute-forced VPN credentials and bypassed multi-factor authentication (MFA) on SonicWall Gen6 SSL-VPN appliances to deploy tools used in ransomware attacks. [...]

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.

Ransomware defense requires focusing on business resilience. This means patching issues promptly, improving user education, and deploying multi-factor authentication.

'Opportunistic, Mass Exploitation' Campaign Surging, Say Cybersecurity ResearchersAttackers wielding Akira ransomware appear to be engaged in an "opportunistic, mass exploitation" of SonicWall SSL VPN servers, even when they're using the latest firmware and configured to require multifactor authentication one-time passwords, warn cybersecurity researchers.

Akira ransomware attacks on SonicWall SSL VPN appliances are bypassing its MFA for rapid deployment

Ongoing Akira ransomware attacks targeting SonicWall SSL VPN devices continue to evolve, with the threat actors found to be successfully authenticating despite OTP MFA being enabled on accounts. [...]

Patch, turn on MFA, and restrict access to trusted networks…or else Affiliates of the Akira ransomware gang are again exploiting a critical SonicWall vulnerability abused last summer, after a suspected zero-day flaw actually turned out to be related to a year-old bug.…

Akira Ransomware Exploited MFA-Protected SonicWall SSL VPNs, Say ResearchersSonicWall said it is probing a surge in attacks against its Gen 7 firewalls, running various firmware versions, which have SSL VPN enabled. Researchers said attackers may have been exploiting a zero-day vulnerability and that multiple victims have been infected with Akira ransomware.

Bypassing MFA and deploying ransomware…sounds like something that rhymes with 'schmero-day' SonicWall on Monday confirmed that it's investigating a rash of ransomware activity targeting its firewall devices, following multiple reports of a zero-day bug under active exploit in its VPNs.…

No MFA? No problem – as long as you show you’ve learned your lesson The UK's data protection overlord is not going to pursue any further investigation into the British Library's 2023 ransomware attack.…

Also, Blue Shield Breach Exposes 4.7M, Cyberattack Disrupts City Systems in TexasThis week, Cookie Bite bypasses MFA in Azure Entra ID, Microsoft fixed RDP Freezes, a ransomware attack in Catalonia, Blue Shield exposed data to Google, a cyberattack disrupted city systems in Texas, South Korean telecom breach exposed USIM data and a warning about North Korean IT deepfakes.

In this blog, we discuss about how Shadowpad is being used to deploy a new undetected ransomware family. They deploy the malware exploiting weak passwords and bypassing multi-factor authentication

Also: VPN Vulnerabilities Attract Hackers, Hackers Use Swiss Mail to Send MalwareThis week, Russia suspected in Balctic Sea cable sabotage, VPNs draw ransomware attackers and Swiss snail mail malware. An AI training company reported a cybertheft of $250,000 and a U.S. space firm reported a breach. Microsoft said it will pay $$$ for AI vulnerabilities and a MFA success story.

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.

Plus: More stalkerware exposure; a $16M TracFone fine; Ransomware victims don't use MFA, and more Infosec in brief Protecting computers' BIOS and the boot process is essential for modern security – but knowing it's important isn't the same as actually taking steps to do it.…

The cybersecurity threat landscape has witnessed a dramatic and alarming rise in the average ransomware payment, an increase exceeding 500%. Sophos, a global leader in cybersecurity, revealed in its annual "State of Ransomware 2024" report that the average ransom payment has increased 500% in the last year with organizations that paid a ransom reporting an average payment of $2 million, up from

'I'm blown away by the fact that they weren't using MFA' Interview The cybersecurity practices that led up to the stunning Change Healthcare ransomware infection indicate "egregious negligence" on the part of parent company UnitedHealth, according to Tom Kellermann, SVP of cyber strategy at Contrast Security.…

Testifies that Citrix authentication snafu has cost the health giant dearly UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty will tell US lawmakers Wednesday the cyber-criminals who hit Change Healthcare with ransomware used stolen credentials to remotely access a Citrix portal that didn't have multi-factor authentication enabled.…

UnitedHealth confirms that Change Healthcare's network was breached by the BlackCat ransomware gang, who used stolen credentials to log into the company's Citrix remote access service, which did not have multi-factor authentication enabled. [...]