Tag: china
Storm gathers over the cloud
News of the mass exploitation of ownCloud customers as a result of a zero-day vulnerability follows revelations earlier this month of a critical security vulnerability in Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. Reports of gaping security flaws in cloud services come at a bad time for cloud service providers in general and Microsoft in particular. The Seattle-based computing giant is currently doing its utmost to persuade the US, UK, and Australian governments that its Azure Government Cloud is the best way for the AUKUS trio to securely update cross-border information and enhance mutual collaboration. This might prove problematic for Microsoft, whose Azure platform was recently proven to have a critical vulnerability, and some of whose government clients suffered a series of serious breaches earlier this year.
AI “overrated and overhyped” say cybercriminals
The verdict on artificial intelligence (AI) from the real experts is finally in; professional cybercriminal fraternities have judged AI to be “overrated, overhyped and redundant,” according to fresh research from cybersecurity firm Sophos. It has, hitherto, been accepted wisdom in the cybersecurity industry that cybercriminals, free from any regulatory authority or moral scruples, were among the first to harness the awesome power of AI to create bespoke and virtually unstoppable malware. However, having infiltrated the Dark Web forums where top professional cybercriminals discuss their trade, Sophos reports that the cybercrime sector has thoroughly tested the capabilities of AI and found it wanting.
Chip war with China heats up
As the Biden administration prepares to impose further limits on China’s access to leading-edge chip technology, news has broken over the weekend that Chinese hackers have been siphoning off some of Europe’s ground-breaking chip technology for years. The infamous Chinese hacker group Chimera, had access to the network of Dutch semiconductor giant NXP, for over two years, from late 2017 to the beginning of 2020. The hackers, believed to be backed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), are understood to have consistently stolen intellectual property, including, crucially, the company’s cutting-edge chip designs. According to sources close to the situation, the full extent of the threat has still to be disclosed.
Cybersecurity Market To Reach $478B by 2030 – November 13th
Despite recent talk of a tech slowdown that reaches cyber, Allied Market Research reported that the market is poised to grow to $478.68B by 2030, with a 9.5% annual growth rate. The data predicting the cybersecurity market's growth was taken from Allied Market Research's “Cyber Security Market by Component, Solution, Deployment Model, Enterprise Size, and Industry Vertical: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2030”.
Three-quarters of SMBs hit by serious cyber-attacks
Roughly three-quarters of small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have experienced a cyber-attack, a breach, or both in the last year. According to non-profit organization the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)’s third annual ITRC Business Impact Report, 73 percent of owners or leaders of SMB’s reported being attacked or breached in the past 12 months, following a slight dip in the previous year.
West’s intelligence services join forces with Big Tech
In what the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is billing as “their first-ever joint public appearance”, the heads of the intelligence services of five Western governments, known as the “Five Eyes” are now meeting in Palo Alto, California, the heart of Silicon Valley.
Massive hike in phishing and malware attacks in Q3 – October 18th
Reports show that phishing and malware attacks have spiked by 173% and 110% respectively in the third quarter of this year, compared with the second quarter of the year. A staggering 493.2 million phishing attacks and 125.7 million malware attacks were logged during this period.
Google responds to increase in malware-related money theft – October 13th
Google has warned users of Android devices to take specific precautionary measures to prevent malware infection. This warning comes after a reported increase in malware aimed at stealing information and money. Precautionary measures advised by the service provider include turning on Google Play Protect, updating software, and removing untrusted apps.
Taiwan hit by major cyber-espionage attack
A cyber-espionage campaign in the Pacific, directed principally at Taiwan, which took place in the Spring, has now come to light. According to cybersecurity company, Symantec, a large-scale program of cyber-enabled international espionage began in February 2023 and continued until at least May 2023.
EU wakes up to the global supply chain threat
Systems powered by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cutting-edge microchips, together with genetic engineering, are being viewed with suspicion by the European Commission. As a result, the European Union (EU) is now in close and intense consultation with the EU’s 27 member states to establish an argument for potential trade bans and investment screenings.
Unknown threat actor targets the US Red Cross
The cyber-war just got dirtier. A year or two back, an age in cyber-years, even the most ruthless cyber-gangs avoided attacking medical facilities to create a better public image in the eyes of the hacker community. Their stance has weakened somewhat since then, with attacks on the health sector becoming more common. But a recent attack on the US Red Cross is unusual enough to ring alarm bells outside the cybersecurity community.
Budworm Group Targets Middle Eastern Telco Company – September 29th
Chinese hacker group Budworm has been using cyber-espionage malware to target a telecommunications company in the Middle East and an Asian government organization. Reports say attacks have been orchestrated through a new variant of the group's SysUpdate backdoor malware, and that telecommunication companies have become a common target for hacking groups.