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White House phone hack rings alarm bells

An attempt to impersonate White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is currently being investigated by US federal agencies. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers posed by key individuals using their personal phones to store the phone numbers of important contacts, now that voice cloning enables cybercriminals to mimic anyone’s voice with ease.

uk defense ministry lost mobile phones

UK defence ministry ‘loses’ 269 phones

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has egg all over its face following its admission that over 269 of its phones went missing between January 1 and February 27. This is a record number, even for the MoD, which lost 262 phones in total in 2023 and 2024. The astonishing total of how many phones were recorded as lost, misplaced or stolen in the first two months of this year only came to light in response to a question asked in the UK parliament by the shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge. The fact that a security-conscious organization such as the MoD could lose track of so many devices only evidences the increasing overlap between cybersecurity and physical security. Once a device such as a smartphone is in the hands of a threat actor, it can provide a portal to enable all kinds of cyber-attacks.

u.s. president donald trump's cybersecurity challenge

Fresh Focus on Cyber-Attacks for CISA

One of the greatest challenges now facing President Trump’s new administration is to protect the US’s critical infrastructure and its economy from the rapidly growing menace of cyber-attacks. On Friday, the president’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, signalled a new direction for America’s main cybersecurity agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency  (CISA), which, she says, urgently needs to be realigned away from focusing on misinformation and curtailing free speech and more towards preventing cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure in the US.

federal bureau of investigations crypto lure

Feds Create Their Own Cryptocurrency for Sting Operation

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has created “NexFundAI”, a cryptocurrency created to further their investigation, “Operation Token Mirrors.” The FBI also announced that 18 individuals have been charged for market manipulation and “wash trading” -- the first of its kind in the cryptocurrency industry. The investigation, described as “a new twist to old-school financial crime”, garnered charges against cryptocurrency company leaders and employees from Texas, the UK, and Portugal, and over $25 million in seized cryptocurrency. NexFundAI enabled the FBI to monitor and track illicit activities conducted by cryptocurrency companies and financial service firms, or “market makers.”

attack on london's transport systems

London’s transport cyber-breach is spreading fast

A cyber-attack on the London transport system earlier this month was far more serious than initially reported and is rapidly spreading across the UK. It is also now ringing loud alarm bells on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly in light of the upcoming US elections in November. Transport for London (TfL) has now admitted that over 5,000 customers’ personal details and, in many cases, their financial details have been stolen. TfL added that the breach is also rapidly starting to affect services outside London. The London Underground, the UK capital’s vast underground rail network, like most European metros, has a touchpad automatic electronic payment system using prepaid plastic cards. London also allows travelers simply to use their visa or MasterCard on the touchpads at the London underground barriers. This means that organizations such as TfL have become repositories of millions of commuters’ financial details, making them a tempting target for small-time cyber crooks.

indian cyber army

India Enlists Army of 5000 “Cyber Commandos”

The Indian Government is upping the ante with its fight against cybercrime. Indian Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah this week announced the launch of four major platforms under cyber security program Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), including the training of 5,000 “Cyber Commandos,” to counter the increasing threat of cyber-crime. The Cyber Commando Program will create a special wing in every Central Police Organization, aiming to train 5,000 “Cyber Commandos” over the next five years. Trained Commandos will assist Central Agencies in “securing digital spaces”. Other platforms include a national Suspect Registry, a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Center, and an online portal for cyber-crime data analytics and crime mapping. 

European Union fine on Uber

The EU bares its teeth – again

The EU has bared its cyber teeth for the second time in a week. Hard on the heels of the arrest of Telegram founder and owner, Pavel Kurov, Uber has been slapped with a $290 million fine for allegedly violating the European Union (EU)’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by failing to protect personal data of European taxi drivers held on servers located in the US. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) enforced the regulation by imposing a fine on Uber, which transmitted European drivers’ personal data to the US, including drivers’ account details, taxi licenses, location data, photos, payment details, identity documents and, in some cases, even criminal records and medical data.

hostile nations to try and sway US elections

America’s enemies strive to sway the US presidential election

Nations hostile to America, primarily Russia and China, are currently doubling down on their efforts to influence the outcome of the upcoming US elections. So far, their efforts appear to be directed at preventing Donald Trump from winning a second term as president, possibly fearing a Republican victory could herald the US taking a tougher stance on international affairs. According to an extensive nine-page Microsoft threat intelligence report: “Foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 US election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity.”

Indiana counties hit by Russian ransomware

Russian gang shuts down two Indiana counties

Clay County, Indiana, in the US, is sounding a Local Disaster Declaration in the wake of a “criminal ransomware attack” that occurred last week, following reports of increasing cyber-attacks on local governments across America. “Clay County local government suffered a significant ransomware attack in the early morning hours of July 9, 2024. This has resulted in an inability to provide critical services required for the daily operation of all offices of the Clay County Courthouse, Community Corrections, and Clay County Probation,” said the county in an official statement.

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