This Week in Security News: Hackers and Ransoms
Credit to Author: Jon Clay| Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2018 14:00:24 +0000
Welcome to our weekly roundup, where we share what you need to know about the cybersecurity news and events that happened over the past few days. This week, we saw discussion on the ransomware attacks plaguing institutions in the New Year, and emerging malware targeting Meltdown/Spectre patches.
Read on to learn more.
SAMSAM Ransomware Hits US Hospital, Management Pays $55K Ransom
Hancock Health, a regional hospital in Indiana, paid a $55,000 ransom following a ransomware attack that infected the hospital’s systems.
SmokeLoader Malware Found Spreading via Fake Meltdown/Spectre Patches
Users should be careful when downloading patches as cybercriminals are already taking advantage of the news surrounding Meltdown and Spectre.
GhostTeam Adware Can Steal Facebook Credentials
53 apps on Google Play can steal Facebook accounts and surreptitiously push ads. Many of these apps, which were published as early as April 2017, seemed to have been put out on Google Play in a wave.
New KillDisk Variant Hits Financial Organizations in Latin America
KillDisk, along with the multipurpose, cyberespionage-related BlackEnergy, was used in cyberattacks in late December 2015 against Ukraine’s energy sector as well as its banking, rail, and mining industries.
UK Conviction Arises Out of Trend Micro and NCA Partnership
Goncalo Esteves plead guilty on 3 charges of computer offenses under UK law. This was the result of an investigation that Trend Micro and the NCA initiated when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
‘Hacking Incident’ Impacts Nearly 280,000 Medicaid Patients
A health data breach reported to federal regulators as a “hacking/IT incident” impacting nearly 280,000 Medicaid patients in Oklahoma has experts wondering exactly what happened.
Hackers Hijack DNS Server of BlackWallet to Steal $400,000
Unknown hackers (or hacker) have hijacked the DNS server for BlackWallet.co, a web-based wallet application, and has stolen over $400,000 from users’ accounts.
Cyber security tech to expect in 2018
With the Equifax breach, state-sponsored attacks, Russian manipulation of social media, Wannacry, and more phishing scams that happened in 2017, what will this year bring with cyber-attacks?
IoT Is Changing the Cybersecurity Industry
With regulation looming and the bad press from recent breaches, IoT security is a must.
Did any of these stories surprise you? Let me know your thoughts below, or follow me on Twitter; @JonLClay.