Hackers and cybercrime prevention

China ramps up use of AI misinformation

Microsoft researchers have identified a growing pattern of AI-laced misinformation and political interference coming from Chinese threat actors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Europol offers law enforcement agencies data on Europe’s most threatening crime networks

Europol has collected and analysed data from over 40 countries to identify 800 most threatening criminal networks operating in Europe in what it describes as a unique dataset for law enforcemnt Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

UKtech50 2024 – help us find the most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly’s annual search for the 50 most influential people in UK IT is on – let us know who you would like to nominate for this year's list Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

How Oracle Red Bull Racing guards against cyber threats

The F1 team is tapping managed security services, conducting penetration tests and improving security awareness among employees to fend off cyber threats such as phishing and ransomware Continue Reading

By

• Stephen Withers

Changes needed for SOCs and CSIRTs, claims Dutch research institute

Cyber security specialists need a game-changer to keep up with their adversaries, who increasingly use automation and AI for their attacks Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Obituary: Professor Ross Anderson, pioneer in security engineering and campaigner

Ross Anderson, a titan in the field of security engineering and campaigner for privacy and security, has passed away Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Security Think Tank: Banning ransomware payments is not so straightforward

In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading

By

• John Scott

RDP abused in over 90% of cyber attacks, Sophos finds

Threat actors continue to see great success using simple, tried and tested methods, and many defenders are failing to do the basics Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware kill switch may save 99% of files from encryption

MDR specialist Adlumin says its new features will help customers stop in-progress ransomware attacks before they can cause significant damage Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: How to tackle the scourge of ransomware?

In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading

By

• Toby Sibley and Louise Barber

Open source alert over intentionally placed backdoor

A backdoor in the open source XZ Utils data compression library could have led to widespread compromise across the Linux ecosystem - and the community is on the trail of a developer who seems to be behind it Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: Ransomware lessons from the armed forces

In the wake of renewed calls for lawmakers to consider enacting legal bans on ransomware payments, the Computer Weekly Security Think Tank weighs in to share their thoughts on how to tackle the scourge for good. Continue Reading

By

• Rob Dartnall, SecAlliance

Organisations getting better at spotting identity fraud

As the barriers to committing identity fraud continue to drop, organisations should consider more sophisticated technical measures to successfully up their game, according to a report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Sellafield to be prosecuted over alleged cyber compliance failure

Sellafield Ltd, the organisation responsible for cleaning up and decommissioning the UK's largest nuclear waste site, is to be prosecuted over alleged cyber security failings dating back to 2019 Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ransomware gang leaks data stolen from Scottish NHS board

Data stolen from an earlier attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway has been leaked by a ransomware gang that claims to be in possession of much more content Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber spies, not cyber criminals, behind most zero-day exploitation

Analysis from Google has found that zero-day vulnerabilities are much more heavily exploited for espionage purposes than for financially motivated cyber crime Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Qilin ransomware gang claims cyber attack on the Big Issue

A ransomware attack on the systems of publisher and social enterprise Big Issue Group has been claimed by the Qilin gang Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange given temporary reprieve over extradition

Court seeks assurances from the US that Assange will be given First Amendment Rights, will not prejudiced at trial because of his nationality, and will not be subject to the death penalty Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly
• Sander Priston

NCSC reaffirms guidance for those at risk of Chinese state hacking

As the UK and US governments announce sanctions and indictments of a Chinese state threat actor, the NCSC has reiterated its security advice for individuals at risk of being targeted for espionage purposes Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US authorities charge seven over Chinese hacking

The US Department of Justice has charged seven Chinese nationals linked to the APT31 threat actor that targeted politicians in the UK and US Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Which? calls for government action on fake banking sites

Amid high volumes of spoofed, fraudulent banking websites, Which? is calling for the government to implement new legal obligations for domain registrars Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Chinese hackers responsible for two ‘malicious’ cyber campaigns against UK

Government sanctions two Chinese nationals and a Chinese company identified as responsible for cyber campaigns against government officials and members of parliament Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Britain’s democracy under threat from Chinese cyber attackers, government warns

The deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, is due to tell Parliament that Beijing is behind a hacking attack that obtained details of 40 million UK voters and has targeted parliamentarians who have criticised the regime Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Court finds EncroChat hacked messages admissible as former footballer is jailed

A judge in ‘lead’ EncroChat case found that messages obtained by police from the encrypted phone network can be lawfully used in evidence Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

NCSC guidance to help CEOs work through cyber incidents

The NCSC has published in-depth guidance on how business leaders should respond to a cyber attack or data breach. Learn about some of the key steps you will need to follow Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Ukrainians crack network that stole 100m email, social accounts

Three members of an organised cyber criminal group who hacked and appropriated personal email and social media accounts face up to 15 years in prison Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s cyber resilience stagnates as more fall victim to attacks

The government is calling on businesses to ramp up their cyber protections as study shows improvements to resilience are stagnating amid an ever-growing volume of attacks Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Australia’s cyber security spending to grow 11.5% this year

Highly publicised cyber attacks and growing regulatory obligations are keeping security and risk top of mind for Australian organisations this year, says Gartner Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

UK’s AI ambitions pointless while cyber security is still neglected

The UK’s AI ambitions may be at considerable risk without stronger cyber defences across the private and public sectors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Microsoft AI-powered cyber service to go live in April

After a year being previewed by beta customers, Microsoft’s much vaunted Copilot for Security service is about to go on general release, promising time savings and improved accuracy for hard-pressed security pros Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

British Library opens up over ransomware attack to help others

The British Library has opted for full transparency after experiencing a devastating ransomware attack, publishing details of the intrusion, its response and the lessons it has learned Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

More DDoS attacks launched against APAC financial firms

The financial sector in Asia-Pacific saw more DDoS attacks in 2023, but no notable impact was reported, according to a report by Akamai and FS-ISAC Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government not facing up to CNI cyber risks, committee warns

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has accused the government of burying its head in the sand over the cyber threat to UK critical infrastructure Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Podcast: Immutable storage essential against ransomware, but...

...not all immutable storage is created equal. That’s the message from Paul Speciale of Scality, who looks at immutable storage, its variants and what’s needed to secure data Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Dutch organisations vulnerable to deepfake fraud

With the information many employees share on social media, Dutch companies are especially vulnerable to a new form of fraud Continue Reading

By

• Kim Loohuis

Cash-strapped cyber pros go rogue on the dark web

Research conducted by CIISec has turned up worrying evidence of hard-up legitimate cyber professionals offering their services to the cyber criminal underground Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Nation states buying hacking tools from underground Russian cyber forums

State-sponsored hacking groups, posing as hacktivists, are using Russian cyber crime forums to stock up on cyber weapons, says Check Point Software’s threat analyst, Sergey Shykevich Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Rapid7 hits out over botched vulnerability disclosure

Software development firm JetBrains and security specialist Rapid7 fall out over the handling of a critical vulnerability disclosure, while customers are left rushing to patch Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

ALPHV/BlackCat gang vanishes amid ransomware ‘turmoil’

Mystery surrounds the apparent disappearance of the ALPHV/BlackCat cyber crime gang amid reports that a prominent US victim paid a $22m ransom Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

American Express customers exposed through third-party breach

US card giant warns customers that their personal details may have been exposed after a third party experienced a systems breach Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Banning ransomware payments back on the agenda

The idea of banning ransomware payments to cyber criminals is back on the agenda, with former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin arguing that tougher measures need to be taken Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

The Security Interviews: Cyber security is about managing risk effectively

Effective cyber security must lead to cyber resilience – that is, the ability to anticipate, protect against, withstand and recover from any adverse condition, disruption or compromise, as Kyndryl’s security practice leader explains Continue Reading

By

• Melisa Osores, Managing Editor para América Latina

Ivanti vulnerabilities explained: Everything you need to know

A series of vulnerabilities in Ivanti products have caused concern worldwide. Delve into some of the key issues arising from the Ivanti disclosures, looking at the vulnerabilities and their impact, what affected users should do, and learn about new developments Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Fancy Bear sniffs out Ubiquiti router users

The authorities have warned users of Ubiquiti EdgeRouter products to take remedial action after a number of devices were hijacked into a malicious botnet by a Russian cyber espionage unit Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

APAC firms bullish on IT spending

More than half of organisations plan to spend more on key areas such as cyber security, generative AI and cloud in a sign of growing optimism across the region Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Okta doubles down on cyber in wake of high-profile breaches

Okta launches Secure Identity Commitment to shore up its technology in the wake of a damaging breach and elevate best practice around identity Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

New version of ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware hits victims

An updated version of the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware has been spotted in the wild amid a series of attacks on American healthcare providers, prompting a new alert from the authorities Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

75% of third-party breaches target software, IT supply chains

Data drawn from SecurityScorecard’s telemetry reveals how supply chain breaches are becoming a weapon of choice for threat actors Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Black Basta and Bl00dy ransomware gangs exploiting ConnectWise vulns

More ransomware gangs have been observed exploiting two dangerous vulnerabilities in ConnectWise ScreenConnect software, prompting new warnings for users to get patching Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

VulnCheck bug listing to help track new threats quicker

Exploit intelligence firm VulnCheck launches a proprietary Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue in hopes of improving end-user access to intel on emerging threats and reaching those that the likes of CISA do not Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Majority of UK employees ‘willingly gamble’ with security

Human-centric threats originating from employees continue to damage organisations both financially and reputationally, according to a report Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cozy Bear and other APTs changing tack as cloud adoption increases

A change in APT tactics has been observed resulting from greater adoption of cloud-based services, according to the NCSC Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

LockBit bids to save face after NCA takedown

The LockBit gang’s ringleader resurfaces with new infrastructure and new victims, claiming to have shrugged off a multinational police sting Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

ConnectWise users see cyber attacks surge, including ransomware

ConnectWise ScreenConnect users who have yet to patch against a critical vulnerability are now being targeted by a barrage of cyber attacks, including ransomware Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

NCA trolls under fire LockBit gang leaders

The NCA has teased details of the identity of LockBit's main admin via the gang’s compromised dark web site, and hinted that he has been engaging with law enforcement Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Cyber experts alarmed by ‘trivial’ ConnectWise vulns

The disclosure of two dangerous vulnerabilities in the popular ConnectWise ScreenConnect product is drawing comparisons with major cyber incidents, including the 2021 Kaseya attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Inside LockBit: A ransomware gang in decline?

The LockBit ransomware gang was already on the ropes prior to the NCA-led takedown, according to security researchers Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Australian data breach report highlights supply chain risks

The OAIC has called for organisations to proactively address privacy risks from outsourcing personal information handling to third parties Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Assange created a ‘grave and immediate risk’, says US government, as it seeks extradition

Lawyers for the US government hit back at claims that extraditing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is politically motivated Continue Reading

By

• Charlie Moloney

How Indian fintechs can address compliance issues

Fintechs will need to bolster their know-your-customer practices and establish self-regulatory mechanisms, among other measures, to address compliance issues that have come under the spotlight Continue Reading

By

• Kavitha Srinivasa

LockBit locked out: Cyber community reacts

Reaction to the takedown of the LockBit ransomware gang is enthusiastic, but tempered with the knowledge that cyber criminals are often remarkably resilient Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US extradition of Julian Assange is ‘state retaliation’ for exposing war crimes, court hears

Lawyers argue that the US extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is politically motivated and in is breach of the UK-US extradition treaty Continue Reading

By

• Charlie Moloney

LockBit gang members arrested in Poland and Ukraine

The UK’s National Crime Agency and its global partners have shared more details on their audacious takedown of the LockBit ransomware operation, including news of two arrests Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Government agrees law to protect confidential journalistic material from state hacking

The government will update Investigatory Powers Act to require secret intelligence agencies to seek independent approval before accessing confidential journalistic material obtained by bulk hacking, but journalists remain vulnerable to other bulk surveillance powers Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Cops take down LockBit ransomware gang

The notorious LockBit ransomware crew has been disrupted in an international law enforcement sting led by the UK's National Crime Agency Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Bouncing back from a cyber attack

Organisations need to move away from victim blaming when cyber attacks on OT systems occur and focus on fostering collaboration between teams to minimise downtime, among other efforts to bounce back and return to business Continue Reading

By

• Marty Rickard

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces last appeal against ‘political’ extradition

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seeking leave to appeal against extradition to the US in a case that could have chilling implications for journalists reporting on national security Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Australia ups ante on cyber security

The country’s new cyber security strategy will focus on building threat-blocking capabilities, protecting critical infrastructure and improving the cyber workforce, among other priorities Continue Reading

CW APAC: February to April 2024 – Trend Watch: CIO trends

Organisations have plenty of technologies to keep track of when digitising their operations. In this handbook, focused on CIO trends in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at IT predictions for 2024, how India’s space missions will propel tech and Australia’s advances in cyber security. Continue Reading

Microsoft: Nation-state hackers are exploiting ChatGPT

Threat actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia have all been probing use cases for generative AI service ChatGPT, but have yet to use such tools in a full-blown cyber attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Dutch Supreme Court approves use of EncroChat evidence

Defence lawyers plan appeal to European Court of Human Rights after Supreme Court upholds a conviction based on intercepted messages from the EncroChat encrypted phone network Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Southern Water customer data was taken in ransomware attack

Southern Water has started to contact customers whose data was stolen in a January 2024 ransomware attack on its systems Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security experts: Investigatory powers plans will delay security updates

Cyber security experts warn that government proposals to amend the Investigatory Powers Act will limit tech companies’ ability to respond to security threats and could hamper the use of end-to-end encryption Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

New variants of Qakbot malware under development

Despite its infrastructure having been taken down by the FBI last year, someone appears to be actively working on a new and improved version of the infamous Qakbot malware Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Hunter-killer malware volumes seen surging

Latest Picus Security report on malware tactics, techniques and procedures reveals an increasing focus on disabling security defences Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Intelligent defence – the role of data in the military

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the role of data in tying together military operations across ground, air, sea and cyber. Has SAP finally convinced customers to migrate to cloud ERP? We assess the trends. And we talk to the CIO helping to set up the UK’s fastest supercomputer. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Executives must face down state-sponsored hacking groups targeting firmware

State-backed groups have ratcheted up the pressure for cyber security professionals and executives. But that’s not an excuse to cede them the territory. Continue Reading

By

• Michael Marcotte

Trends driving cyber security in 2024

While cyber security breaches are not going away, emerging threats are driving new and innovative approaches to IT security Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

MoD ethical hacking programme expands after initial success

The Ministry of Defence has expanded the scope of its defensive security partnership with HackerOne Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

cyberterrorism

Cyberterrorism is usually defined as any premeditated, politically motivated attack against information systems, programs, and data that threatens violence or results in violence. Continue Reading

By

• Rahul Awati
• Robert Sheldon
• Katie Terrell Hanna

Executive alleged to be behind EncroChat encrypted phone network arrested

A businessman allegedly behind EncroChat, an encrypted phone network that was used by organised crime groups, has been extradited from the Dominican Republic to France Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

NCSC warns CNI operators over ‘living-off-the-land’ attacks

Malicious, state-backed actors may well be lurking in the UK’s most critical networks right now, and their operators may not even know until it is too late, warn the NCSC and its partners Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Security Think Tank: The phishing forecast for 2024

Egress' Jack Chapman and James Dyer explore how phishing attacks are set to grow in their scope and sophistication this year, with generative AI playing a big role Continue Reading

By

• Jack Chapman and James Dyer

keylogger (keystroke logger or system monitor)

A keylogger, sometimes called a keystroke logger, is a type of surveillance technology used to monitor and record each keystroke on a specific device, such as a computer or smartphone. Continue Reading

By

• Rahul Awati
• Alexander S. Gillis, Technical Writer and Editor

How Iranian cyber ops pivoted to target Israel after 7 October attacks

Microsoft has shared new intelligence on how Iranian government-aligned threat actors have turned their fire on Israel over the past four months Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

South Staffs Water faces group action over Clop ransomware attack

South Staffordshire Plc, the parent company of South Staffordshire and Cambridge Water, is facing legal action from customers whose data was compromised in a 2022 Clop ransomware attack Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

UK’s McPartland Cyber Review to probe trust in technology

The UK government has launched a cyber security review that will investigate how best to give businesses the confidence they need to use new technologies Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Inquiry to explore cyber risk to Sunak-Starmer showdown

The UK’s Joint Committee on National Security Strategy is opening an inquiry into securing the democratic process ahead of the next general election Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

dictionary attack

A dictionary attack is a method of breaking into a password-protected computer, network or other IT resource by systematically entering every word in a dictionary, or word list, as a password. Continue Reading

By

• Gavin Wright

Three predictions for responding to the cyber threat landscape in 2024

Nominet's Kim Wiles looks to the coming months and calls for cooperation and collaboration on tackling cyber security threats Continue Reading

By

• Kim Wiles

Blackbaud blasted for failing to prevent customer breaches

A supply chain attack at software supplier Blackbaud in 2020 saw data on multiple UK organisations compromised. The US authorities are now taking steps to ensure it can’t happen again Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US sanctions Iranians behind CNI cyber attacks

US government issues new sanctions against six Iranians suspected of being behind a series of cyber attacks targeting critical national infrastructure, notably water supply systems Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

US government disrupts Chinese botnet containing hundreds of end-of-life Cisco and Netgear routers

The US government has succeeded in halting a botnet comprised of hundreds of end-of-life routers that posed a threat to critical national infrastructure (CNI) organisations in multiple countries Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

security operations center (SOC)

A security operations center (SOC) is a command center facility in which a team of information technology (IT) professionals with expertise in information security (infosec) monitors, analyzes and protects an organization from cyberattacks. Continue Reading

By

• Paul Kirvan
• Sarah Lewis

Security Think Tank: Expect more from GenAI in 2024

But 2024 also feels slightly different; the past 12 months have seen generative AI burst on to the scene, and this year its impact will continue to be felt, says Turnkey Consulting's Harshini Carey. Continue Reading

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• Harshini Carey, Turnkey Consulting

Quantum, AI and geopolitical conflict: '24 will be a big year for cyber

With big trends like quantum, generative AI and geopolitical conflict, 2024 looks set to be a big year in security, but defenders have an unparalleled opportunity to harness these trends for good, says Quorum's Federico Charosky Continue Reading

By

• Federico Charosky

Akira ransomware gang claims Lush cyber attack

The Akira ransomware gang claims to have stolen over 100GB of data from cosmetics manufacturer and retailer Lush Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Bugcrowd sees surge in vulnerability submissions, led by public sector

Crowdsourced vulnerability disclosure and bug bounty platform Bugcrowd says it saw a 151% uptick in submissions related to government and public sector organisations in 2023 Continue Reading

By

• Alex Scroxton, Security Editor

Mitigating the risks of modern application development

Organisations need to have visibility over their software supply chain, secure and monitor interfaces to legacy systems and adopt zero trust to mitigate the risks of modern application development Continue Reading

By

• Peter Lees

Security Think Tank: 2024 is the year we bridge the cyber divide

ISACA's Steven Sim Kok Leong shares his thoughts on the coming year in cyber security, considering the impact of regulatory change, the evolving role of the CISO, and advances in innovative cyber tech Continue Reading

By

• Steven Sim Kok Leong