ransomware

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei issued a stark warning to U.S. institutions, revealing their AI model Mythos uncovered tens of thousands of software vulnerabilities. He emphasized a critical, narrow window to patch these flaws before China's AI catches up, potentially leading to widespread breaches and financial damage.

Names doing the rounds include senior faculty such as Dr Nikhil Tandon, professor and head of endocrinology, Dr Radhika Tandon, Chief, Professor of Ophthalmology and Prof Sandeep Chauhan head of cardiac anaesthesia department, though sources cautioned that no decision has been taken yet. “There are established conventions, but nothing is final yet. Typically, the senior-most person is asked to hold charge,” a senior doctor said.

ADT, a major US home security provider, has confirmed a data breach where hackers accessed customer information including names, phone numbers, and addresses. The notorious ShinyHunters group is threatening to leak 10 million records unless a ransom is paid by April 27, though ADT states financial data and security systems were not compromised.

Iconic toymaker Hasbro has confirmed a cyberattack, detected on March 28, impacting its systems. The company has engaged cybersecurity experts and is working to secure operations, though the full extent of the breach, including potential data theft, remains under investigation. Hasbro anticipates resolution could take several weeks, warning of potential delays.

Medical device provider Stryker confirmed a global network disruption due to a cyberattack, impacting its internal Microsoft environment. While no malware or ransomware is indicated, an Iran-linked group claimed responsibility, alleging the seizure of 50 terabytes of company data. Stryker assures customers that products remain safe and is working to restore systems.

Medical device giant Stryker is grappling with a cyberattack that has disrupted its global network, with an Iranian-linked group claiming responsibility. While services remain impacted, the company is prioritizing customer-facing systems like ordering and shipping.

The region is ablaze with conflict as Israel's military operations hit Iran's essential gas facilities, inciting a fierce retaliation from Iran against Gulf Arab energy hubs. Amidst this chaos, the targeted killings of influential Iranian leaders by Israel have exacerbated the already high tensions.

The UAE Cyber Security Council has issued a critical alert regarding the escalating threat of wiper malware, a destructive software designed to permanently delete data and cripple systems. Residents and organizations are urged to bolster digital safety practices, as this advanced threat targets both individuals and businesses, emphasizing the need for robust backups and vigilance against sophisticated cyber warfare tactics.

Iran vs US-Israel war: A major US medical device maker, Stryker, has recently faced a cyberattack and investigators are linking it to pro-Iranian hackers amid geopolitical tensions. The incident signals healthcare companies are now strategic targets in global cyber conflicts. Experts warn of disruptions affecting patient care. The attack underscores cyber warfare's expanding role in modern geopolitics.

President Trump has signed an executive order to aggressively combat cybercrime and fraud targeting Americans. The directive mandates a review of tools to disrupt foreign criminal networks and prioritizes prosecuting cyber-enabled offenses. It also pushes for international cooperation, threatening consequences for nations tolerating these schemes, aiming to protect families and businesses.

American medical giant Stryker faces a major cyberattack. Hackers disabled employee laptops and phones globally. The Iran-linked Handala group claimed responsibility. They wiped data and systems. This disruption impacts Stryker's worldwide operations. The company is working to restore services. The attack follows a reported military strike in Iran.

Following a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran, millions of Iranian phone users received unsettling notifications from a prayer app. Messages urged military personnel to surrender and hinted at retribution against the regime. This cyber operation coincided with significant internet disruptions across Iran, raising questions about the perpetrators and Iran's potential response.

Windows 11's ransomware Protection, part of Microsoft Defender, offers Controlled folder access for critical folders. Enable in Windows Security app for added security. Backup strategies and offline backups further protect against ransomware attacks.

In 2023, targeted ransomware attacks surged by 70%. Cybercriminals threaten to expose stolen data and file complaints. ransomware payments exceeded $1.1 billion, reaching an unprecedented high. An in-depth research has found that 2023 saw an increase in the number of targeted ransomware groups globally by 30% when compared to 2022.

LockBit, one of the well-known ransomware gangs, is now targeting Macs, suggests a group of security researchers. While the ransomware has profoundly affected Windows, Linux, and virtual host machines, the researchers have found evidence of a Lockbit ransomware build that can compromise macOS devices.

ransomware manifests in different types, including crypto, locker, scareware, doxware, double extortion, RaaS, and mobile ransomware. It infiltrates devices through methods such as phishing emails, third-party websites, unfamiliar links, SMS scams, and infected USB drives. The focus of ransomware is on vital files such as Microsoft Office documents, images, data, and videos.

New Delhi, Sep 2 () The government today issued an alert on spread of new malware 'Locky ransomware' that can lock computers and demand ransom for unlocking them. "Alert regarding spam spreading Locky ransomware issued today by @IndianCERT...

The government on Saturday issued an alert on spread of new malware 'Locky ransomware' that can lock computers and demand ransom for unlocking them. ransomware is a malicious software and the Locky ransomware is learnt to be demanding ransom of half bitcoin, which at present rate is equivalent to over Rs 1.5 lakh.

According to Kaspersky Incident Response Analyst Report, "The nature of cyber incidents", almost 43% of ransomware attacks investigated by Kaspersky experts in 2022 started with public facing applications' exploitation. Public facing applications are the ones that the public can access. These include web applications, mobile apps and VPN gateways, among others.

As ransomware attacks surge, the FBI is doubling down on its guidance to affected businesses: Don't pay the cybercriminals. But the US government also offers a little-noticed incentive for those who do pay: The ransoms may be tax deductible.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is alerting organisations to be careful about a new ransomware called Egregor. As per CERT-In, the Egregor ransomware breaks into organisations IT systems, steals sensitive data, and runs the malware to encrypt their files and threatens "Mass-Media" release of corporate data if ransom is not paid in due time.

Atos SE faces claims of a ransomware attack by the Space Bears group, alleging database compromise. The French tech company, specializing in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital transformation, is investigating but has found no evidence of a breach so far.

A lone attacker, leveraging commercial AI tools, has breached over 600 organizations globally in just over a month. Exploiting common FortiGate firewall vulnerabilities, the hacker used AI for planning, coding, and scaling attacks, demonstrating how AI lowers cybercrime barriers. This efficiency allowed them to target credentials and backups, highlighting a new era of AI-augmented cyber threats.

The basic idea of a ransomware attack is to make the victim shell out some money, but paying money does not mean you would get the data stolen. As per the Sophos State of ransomware 2021 report, around 92 per cent of organisations do not get all of the lost data back, and those who get it can not retrieve more than half of it.

LockBit ransomware group, involved in 17% of ransomware engagements in 2023, had its dark web site taken down by law enforcement units. The group steals sensitive data, locks systems, and demands a high ransom. It aims to monopolize the ransomware sector and has faced disruptions in its operations, including a ban in Russia.

A report by cybersecurity company Sophos said that in 77% of ransomware attacks against surveyed organisations, hackers succeeded in encrypting data. About 44% of victim companies paid the ransom to get their data back – a considerable drop from last year’s rate of 78%. The most common reason was an exploited vulnerability.

Cybersecurity researchers at Sophos have reported that this ransomware group is using a new technique for the attacks. This new technique allows attackers to hide ransomware from security products (like anti-virus). The BlackByte ransomware can exploit a security flaw that is present in more than 1,000 drivers and is common in several antivirus software.