Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

If they don't know what they're doing, you might never get your data back interview It's the biggest threat today, but it took her a while to appreciate it. After spending two decades at the FBI and much of that time working to intercept and stop cyber threats from the likes of China and Russia, Halcyon Ransomware Research Center SVP Cynthia Kaiser says she was a "latercomer to really wanting to focus on ransomware."…

Moscow Crackdowns 'Less About Enforcement and More About Optics,' Say ExpertsChanging forces are reshaping the Russian cybercrime ecosystem, as the Kremlin takes a more direct role in leveraging ransomware and other groups for geopolitical influence, while not hesitating to occasionally burn lower-level players as a diplomatic token gesture, say researchers.

Signs Point to Multiple Exploit Chains, One Including a Zero-Day, Being EmployedData-stealing attacks targeting Oracle E-Business Suite, for which an affiliate of Russian-speaking Clop ransomware group is claiming credit, appear to have begun by August and involved multiple attack chains, of which one targeted a zero-day vulnerability, report Google threat researchers.

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a new malware loader codenamed CountLoader that has been put to use by Russian ransomware gangs to deliver post-exploitation tools like Cobalt Strike and AdaptixC2, and a remote access trojan known as PureHVNC RAT

If you wanted to hurt Putin’s ransomware racketeers, these info-stealing npm packages are one way to do it Researchers at software supply chain security outfit Safety think they’ve found malware that targets Russian cryptocurrency developers, and perhaps therefore Russia’s state-linked ransomware crews…

Hackers Use Stolen Certificates to Bypass Endpoint Detection and ResponseA Russian-speaking ransomware group has been deploying a malicious Windows PE driver that imitates a legitimate CrowdStrike Falcon driver to bypass endpoint security, warn researchers. The driver disables endpoint detection and response software by stripping process protections.

Researchers say there's dissent in the ranks. Plus: An AI tool lets you have a go yourself at analysing the data Hundreds of thousands of internal messages from the Black Basta ransomware gang were leaked by a Telegram user, prompting security researchers to bust out their best Russian translations post haste.…

Russian, Iranian and Chinese APTs Among Most Active Ransomware CollaboratorsSecurity researchers are increasingly finding it challenging to attribute cyberattacks due to surging cooperation between nation-state hackers and ransomware groups, especially for espionage purposes. They say it reflects the blurring of the lines between state-directed and criminal activities.

Russia, China, Iran and North Korea Tapping Cybercrime Services, Google SaysThe cybercrime-as-a-service economy continues to power ransomware and other criminal enterprises, as well as serve as "an accelerant for state-sponsored hacking," collectively posing an increasing risk to Western national security, cybersecurity researchers warn.

Social Engineering Moves Mirror Nation-State Groups' Tactics, Researchers SayThe Black Basta ransomware group has been refining its social engineering tactics to amass more victims despite escalating law enforcement disruptions, together with a shift to more "strategic, long-term planning" that security experts said suggests Russian state ties.

Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a new ransomware family called Ymir that was deployed in an attack two days after systems were compromised by a stealer malware called RustyStealer

Hackers Part of Callisto and Armageddon GroupsThe European Union sanctioned four Russian domestic intelligence agency hackers including two military officers who participated in what researchers have described as "hack and leak" operations. Also coming under sanctions are ransomware hackers part of the Wizard Spider criminal group.

Researchers See Waning Mystique, Use of Ghost Groups, Breach Tricks, Trauma of WarWhile overall ransomware profits might remain high, many of the remaining or rebooted top-tier groups are "really struggling" with scarce talent, trauma from the Russia-Ukraine war and repeated disruptions by law enforcement, say researchers from threat intelligence firm RedSense.

Evidence mounts of an exploit gatekept within Russia's borders Security researchers believe the Akira ransomware group could be exploiting a nearly four-year-old Cisco vulnerability and using it as an entry point into organizations' systems.…

Also: Ivanti Exploitation Continues; Apple Fixes First Zero-Day of 2024This week, U.S. short seller lender EquiLend Holdings was hacked, the Ivanti exploitation continued, Apple addressed the first zero-day of 2024, Ukraine said hackers had hit a Russian research center, Kasseika ransomware evolved, North Korean hackers were active, and Trello experienced a data leak.

Cybersecurity researchers have shed light on the inner workings of the ransomware operation led by Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, a Russian national who was indicted by the U.S. government earlier this year for his alleged role in launching thousands of attacks across the world

Russia-linked ransomware gang Black Basta has raked in at least $100 million in ransom payments from more than 90 victims since it first surfaced in April 2022, according to joint research from Corvus Insurance and Elliptic. [...]

Kaspersky cracks the code, so get busy before the next update comes Good news for ransomware victims: Kaspersky security researchers say they've cracked the Conti ransomware code and released a decryptor tool after uncovering leaked data belonging to the notorious Russian crime group.…

Security researchers have noticed a spike in devices infected with the TrueBot malware downloader created by a Russian-speaking hacking group known as Silence. [...]

Security researchers have noticed a spike in devices infected with the TrueBot malware downloader created by a Russian-speaking hacking group known as Silence. [...]