A new Russian threat actor, Void Blizzard, also known as Laundry Bear, is gathering intelligence from Western states on an industrial scale unseen since the end of the Cold War. According to Microsoft Threat Intelligence, Void Blizzard primarily targets NATO member states, particularly those supporting Ukraine, and Ukraine.
The US healthcare sector is now reeling from a seemingly never-ending series of cyberattacks. The problem is becoming so dire that there is growing concern that it may even spark a genuine healthcare crisis. The recent ransomware attack on Kettering Health, for example, which operates 14 hospitals and over 120 medical facilities in Ohio, is merely the latest volley in a remorseless wave of cyberattacks on the cash-rich sector.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is learning to think like a human. But the critical question now being asked in IT circles is: “What kind of human?”
Claude, Opus 4, a groundbreaking new AI system released by AI developers Anthropic on Tuesday, is attempting to blackmail its creator by exposing an alleged extramarital affair. This follows on from other AI systems programmed to interact with humans effectively, lying by making up fake information, a phenomenon known by developers as “hallucinating”.
In an exclusive interview with Cyber Intelligence, Tim Grieveson, Chief Security Officer for attack surface discovery platform, ThingsRecon, explains how companies can protect their constantly expanding attack surfaces while using AI tools to monitor potential vulnerabilities in real time.
‘Smishing’ – cybercrime involving sending deceptive SMS text messages – has just been taken to a new and dangerous level by China’s crime syndicates. Cybersecurity company, Resecurity, has discovered a devastating new smishing kit known as “Panda Shop,” which comes complete with interactive manuals on how to use it.
The UK government is issuing a warning this week to all companies to make cybersecurity an “absolute priority”, following recent cyberattacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and the Co-op. UK cabinet office minister Pat McFadden is reported to have held a briefing last week with national security officials and the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, Richard Horne, aimed at providing support to the three retail groups.
The UK retailers, Marks & Spencer, Harrods and the Co-Op, who have been hit by a flurry of cyber-attacks over the last two weeks, have immediately experienced a loss in consumer and investor confidence.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven cybersecurity is set to dominate RSA, the world’s largest cybersecurity event, which kicked off yesterday in San Francisco and runs from April 28 to May 1.
Networking giant Cisco set the pace with an announcement that it is deepening its partnership with ServiceNow, a leading AI platform for business transformation. It is claimed that the combination of Cisco’s infrastructure and security platforms and ServiceNow’s AI-driven platform and security solutions will unlock mutual customers’ ability to secure and scale their use of AI while decreasing risk and complexity. The first such integration will bring together Cisco’s AI Defense capabilities with ServiceNow SecOps.
Deepfake videos of TV news presenters are being used to dupe gullible viewers into logging onto illegal gambling sites where malware is then downloaded onto their devices. News anchors on Sky and other channels appear to be quoting Apple CEO Tim Cook recommending an app where users can easily get rich by winning vast sums of money. The news reports have been identified as deepfake videos. It has been further revealed that thousands of similar videos of deepfakes of journalists have been circulated in the US and the UK.
In our business, assessing risk is crucial. There is a constantly evolving threat landscape, and cybercriminals are constantly introducing new techniques and developing existing ones. And as online connectivity grows, so does every organization’s overall attack surface. Unit 42 are constantly conducting research examining the full scope of the ever expanding attack surface and constantly testing existing defenses. They play the role of cybercriminals, acting as white-hat hackers, if you like, in order to detect potential weaknesses. This research is conducted across the board and also directed at each client specific attacks surface. And when there is a breach, Unit 42 is there to detect and control it. They effectively act as wartime consiglieres – remember that the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict started in cyberspace. They must also act immediately to mitigate any breach that does occur. Constant research and testing of defenses are vital. We have to be right every time, but the cybercriminal gangs only have to be right once to effect a breach and perform a successful attack.
George Patsis is the founder and CEO of Obrela and has a proven track record in developing large-scale innovative security programs for major Global 500 companies. In an exclusive interview with Cyber Intelligence, he explains why a global approach is needed to fight cybercrime.
This is a philosophical discussion shaped by the evolving changes in the human and society conditions. Ten years ago, digital communications and laptops were supplementary tools in people’s lives and perceived as an extension of our natural world. Today, we are witnessing the evolution of a full-scale digital transformation leading to an entirely new domain: cyberspace. Much like the air travel leading to partitioning of the skies, or the British Empire’s domination of the seas or the space quest. Whenever humankind discovers new domains and frontiers, the absence of clear leadership and authority often leads to conflict and crime. In the American Old West, every town had its own safe, and criminals tried to rob it. In the same way, the new digital frontier of cyberspace is driving demand for companies like OBRELA to protect their digital assets. But we need more than just individual Cybersecurity companies to protect us across the new threats in cyberspace. In the absence of a central cybersecurity authority, cybercriminals operate with near impunity—facing little resistance, no clear attribution, and a remarkably low risk of consequences.
Another cyber breach as potentially damaging as that of the infamous hook-up site for married users, Ashley Madison, 15 years ago has recently come to light that could have equally serious consequences.
According to a notification filed this month with the California Department of Justice, the sperm bank California Cryobank reports a breach that occurred last April. Stolen files include the names, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial accounts, and health insurance information of many of the sperm bank donors and their recipients.
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.
Social media platform X suffered a major outage on March 10, with tens of thousands of users unable to access the site. Owner Elon Musk blamed the disruption on a “massive cyberattack,” suggesting that a well-funded group or nation-state may have been involved.
The outage, which peaked around 10 a.m. EST, affected both the X app and website, with intermittent service disruptions continuing throughout the day. As frustrated users flocked to alternative platforms like Threads and Bluesky, concerns grew over the security of X’s infrastructure.
AI-driven cyber-attacks are becoming a widespread threat, with 87% of security professionals reporting incidents in the past year, according to SoSafe’s latest cybercrime trends report. Despite the growing concern, only 26% of security experts express high confidence in their ability to detect such attacks.
The World Economic Forum noted a 223% rise in deepfake-related tools on dark web forums between early 2023 and 2024, further fueling concerns. While 91% of experts expect AI-driven attacks to surge over the next three years, nearly all respondents acknowledge the urgency of improving detection capabilities.
The frequency of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) has surged, with Kaspersky’s latest report revealing a 74% increase in such attacks compared to last year. APTs were detected in 25% of organizations, accounting for 43% of high-severity security incidents, highlighting a sharp rise in sophisticated cyber threats.
Kaspersky’s analysis suggests attackers are refining their tactics to bypass security measures, leveraging human-operated techniques rather than automated exploits. The report underscores the growing persistence of APT actors, emphasizing the need for proactive defense strategies across industries.
Companies are largely ignorant of the looming threat of increased artificial intelligence (AI) identity theft, despite the fact that 93 per cent of companies surveyed suffered two or more identity-related breaches in 2024.
According to leading identity management company CyberArk Software, executives and employees alike are overconfident of their ability to spot ongoing ID-theft and subsequent cyber breaches, with over 75 per cent of respondents to a recent survey saying that they are confident their employees can identify deepfake videos or audio of their leaders.
“Employees are [also] largely confident in their ability to identify a deepfake video or audio of the leaders in their organization. Whether we chalk it up to the illusion of control, planning fallacy, or just plain human optimism, this level of systemic confidence is misguided,” warns Cyberark following a survey of 4,000 US-based employees.
Cybersecurity professionals are restless, with over 60% planning to switch jobs in the next year. A new study by IANS Research and Artico Search highlights career stagnation as a major reason, while salaries remain high across the industry.
The report finds senior professionals are the most eager to leave, frustrated by limited growth opportunities. Specialists in cloud security, application security, and threat intelligence, however, continue to command the highest salaries.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s shock directive to US Cyber Command to pause offensive cyber-operations against Russia may have unforeseen consequences for organizations across the US. It would mean that the West could be blind-sided by a lack of actionable intelligence regarding Russia’s ongoing cyber-war against countries such as the US and the UK.
Russian groups are already upping cyber-attacks on the US. In December, Cyber Intelligence reported that two Russian groups, the People’s Cyber Army and Z-Pentest, claim to have taken attacks on critical infrastructure in the US to a new and more dangerous level. This was evidenced by Telegram videos detailing attacks on US energy and water facilities far beyond the previously supposed capabilities of such groups.
Lee Enterprises is investigating a claim from the Qilin ransomware group, which alleges it stole 350GB of data from the newspaper chain’s network in an early February attack.
According to SentinelOne researchers, Qilin has threatened to begin leaking data on March 5, though the specific ransom demand remains unknown. A Lee Enterprises spokesperson confirmed awareness of the claims but provided no further details on the investigation.
Over three million Google Chrome users have been issued a warning concerning 16 browser extensions that have been compromised by hackers. This alarming news comes hard on the heels of reports earlier this month that cybercriminals are also leveraging search engine giant Google’s new Gemini 2.0 (artificial intelligence) AI assistant.
The list of Google’s hacked browser extensions includes: Emojis, Video Effects for YouTube, Audio Enhancer, Blipshot, Color Changer for YouTube, Themes for Chrome, and YouTube Picture in Pictures. Adblocker for Chrome, Adblock for You, Adblock for Chrome, Nimble Capture, KProxy and Page Refresh, Wistia Video Downloader have also been compromised.
DISA Global Solutions, Inc., a provider of employment screening services, confirmed a data breach impacting over 3.3 million individuals.
The breach, which occurred between February 9 and April 22, 2024, granted an unauthorized third party access to names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license details, financial account information, and other sensitive data. While forensics could not confirm the exact extent of the stolen data, the exposure raises concerns over identity theft risks for affected individuals.
A Riyadh-based real estate and construction company has fallen victim to a ransomware attack by DragonForce, resulting in the theft of 6TB of sensitive data.
The attackers initially set a February 27 ransom deadline, one day before the start of Ramadan, but upon non-compliance, published the stolen data on a dedicated leak site (DLS).
DragonForce operates as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, equipping cybercriminals with attack tools in exchange for a share of ransom payments. Their leak platform also employs advanced CAPTCHA mechanisms to evade security firms.
Ransomware attacks on the operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) that run industrial facilities almost doubled in 2024. According to Washington DC-based industrial cybersecurity company Dragos, ransomware attacks on industrial organizations in 2024 increased by a staggering 87 percent over the previous year.
The main industries targeted were: electricity and water; industrial manufacturing; telecommunications; oil and gas; food and beverage; chemical manufacturing; mining, transportation, and logistics. Manufacturing, which accounted for 69 percent of all ransomware attacks targeting 1,171 manufacturing entities, was by far the worst hit.
Approximately 2,850 Ivanti Connect Secure VPN instances remain vulnerable to CVE-2025-22467, a critical stack buffer-overflow flaw, according to Shadowserver Foundation.
Despite Ivanti patching the vulnerability on February 11, unpatched devices could allow remote authenticated attackers to execute code. The U.S. and Japan lead in exposure, with 852 and 384 vulnerable instances, respectively.
A vast botnet of over 130,000 compromised devices is now attacking Microsoft 365 accounts worldwide. A botnet is a network of computing devices that have been surreptitiously taken over by hackers and are being controlled remotely without the owners’ knowledge.
Microsoft 365 accounts are suffering from ‘password spray attacks’ by the botnet. This involves mass attempts to use large numbers of common passwords to infiltrate users’ Microsoft accounts, targeting basic authentication procedures and thereby bypassing multi-factor authentication.
Cybercrime just got easier. A new artificial intelligence off-the-shelf phishing kit named darcula now enables even inexperienced cyber criminals to impersonate any corporate brand with a complex, customizable campaign. Phishing generally refers to a form of online fraud where attackers attempt to steal sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details.
“The criminals at darcula are back for more blood, and they mean business with one of the more impactful innovations in phishing in recent years. The new version of their “Phishing-as-a-Service” (PhaaS) platform, darcula-suite adds first-of-its-kind personalization capabilities …to allow criminals to build advanced phishing kits that can now target any brand with the click of a button,” says Cybersecurity company, Netcraft.
A new and unusually dangerous and sophisticated gang of cybercriminals, named BlackLock, has emerged as a major ransomware threat in 2025.
Cybersecurity company Reliaquest observed a staggering 1,425 percent increase in the gang’s activities in the last quarter of 2024. Its ransomware is built to target Windows, VMWare ESXi, and Linux environments and is designed as a double-extortion attack, which involves not only locking the target organization’s critical data by encrypting it, but also by identifying sensitive information and threatening to expose it.
“BlackLock’s rise has been both swift and strategic, targeting organizations across a wide range of sectors and geographies,” reports Reliaquest.
On January 31, Texas became the first US state to ban the Chinese-owned generative artificial intelligence (AI) application, DeepSeek, on state-owned devices and networks. New York swiftly followed suit on February 10 with Virginia imposing a ban on February 11.
The Texas state governor’s office stated: “Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps. State agencies and employees responsible for handling critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and personal information must be protected from malicious espionage operations by the Chinese Communist Party. Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors.”
California-based cybersecurity goliath Palo Alto Networks has issued a bullish revenue forecast based on a perceived rising global demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven security products.
“In Q2 [2025], our strong business performance was fuelled by customers adopting technology driven by the imperative of AI, including cloud investment and infrastructure modernization,” said CEO Nikesh Arora. “Our growth across regions and demand for our platforms demonstrates our customers’ confidence in our approach. It reaffirms our faith in our 2030 plans and our $15 billion next-generation technology annual recurring revenue goal.”
Financial services companies worldwide saw the number of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks more than double in the second half of 2024. A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt a service by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. In the same period, the total number of DDoS attacks globally grew by 17 percent.
According to global hosting and cloud services company Gcore, the financial services sector saw the most significant rise of any sector in the third and fourth quarters of 2024, with a rise of 117 percent. This marks a consistent overall increase in DDoS attacks quarter on quarter. While the third and fourth quarters of 2024 showed an increase of 17 percent, this represents a 56 percent rise over the same period in 2023.
Search engine giant’s Google Threat Intelligence Group reports that cybercriminal and state-backed cyber-attacks on the healthcare sector in countries such as the US and UK have escalated to a level where they are actually costing lives.
“Healthcare’s share of posts on data leak sites has doubled over the past three years, even as the number of data leak sites tracked by Google Threat Intelligence Group has increased by nearly 50% year over year. The impact of these attacks means that they must be taken seriously as a national security threat, no matter the motivation of the actors behind it,” says Google.
Ransomware attacks on the healthcare sector have risen by a third in 2024 with the US the prime target. Cybersecurity company Black Kite reports 374 incidents in the past year, a 32.16 percent rise in the number of attacks on the industry over 2023. Healthcare is now among the top targets for ransomware, surpassed only by manufacturing and professional services.
The rapid rise in ransomware attacks on the healthcare sector is the result of increasing ruthlessness on the part of ransomware gangs. Until relatively recently, some sectors, such as healthcare and education, were considered off-limits. According to Black Kite, if an affiliated criminal gang attacked a healthcare organization, the core ransomware group would frequently step in, apologizing to the victim organization -sometimes even decrypting the ransomed data for free.
This coming Friday is St Valentine’s Day and cybercriminals all over the world are rubbing their hands together with glee at the harvest they intend to reap. Developments in artificial intelligence and the widespread availability of off-the-shelf cybercrime software have enabled a new generation of cyber-scams specifically designed around St Valentine’s Day.
In the recent past, cybercriminals typically used February 14th as an excuse to introduce themselves to lonely people with a view to patiently winning their victims’ trust in the short-term and cruelly robbing them of their savings in the longer term.
In an exclusive interview with Cyber Intelligence, Patrick Harding, chief product architect at digital identity security company, Ping Identity, outlines the growing threat of identity theft and fraud, explaining how it evolved and what can be done to counter it.
Everybody is forced into digital transactions and relationships and identity management is fundamental to knowing who you are interacting with. The problem goes back to the beginning of the internet in the 1990s and a cartoon of a dog in front of a computer with the caption, “On the internet no-one knows you’re a dog!” That really illustrates the core problem of identifying online users and customers. The extent to which this is carried out largely depends on the sensitivity of the activity concerned. There is a big difference between buying a pair of jeans online and opening a bank account. In both cases, there is a significant series of steps which could include requesting passport ID for financial services.
Apple computer users are suffering a growing number of ‘infostealer’ attacks across multiple regions and industries. These are a form of malicious software created to breach computer systems in order to steal sensitive information.
The Palo Alto Networks Unit42 research group has detected a 101 percent increase in macOS infostealers in the last two quarters of 2024. The researchers identified three particularly prevalent macOS infostealers: Poseidon, Atomic, and Cthulhu.
The developers of Atomic Stealer sell it as malware as a service (MaaS) in hacker forums and on Telegram. The Atomic Stealer operators usually distribute their malware via malvertising – the use of online advertising to spread malware. This typically involves injecting malicious or malware-laden advertisements into legitimate online advertising networks and webpages. It is capable of stealing notes and documents, browser data such as passwords, and cookies, cryptocurrency wallets, and instant messaging data. Atomic Stealer, also known as AMOS was first discovered in April 2023.
Researchers have revealed current vulnerabilities in Amazon’s data storage services, the knock-on effect of which could potentially result in the biggest supply-chain attack in the internet’s history.
In November 2024, watchTowr Labs decided to show how a significant Internet-wide supply-chain attack could be caused by abandoned infrastructure left unattended and forgotten on the internet. The researchers chose to focus on an Amazon business data storage service, known as ‘S3 buckets’.
Cybercriminals have been quick to see nefarious possibilities in search engine giant Google’s new Gemini 2.0 AI assistant. According to Google’s own findings, nation-state-backed threat actors are already leveraging Gemini to accelerate their criminal campaigns.
The actors are using Gemini 2.0 for “researching potential infrastructure and free hosting providers, reconnaissance on target organizations, research into vulnerabilities, payload development, and assistance with malicious scripting and evasion techniques,” says Google.
The bust of the illegal Cracked and Nulled crime forums evidences the global nature of cybercrime and the impossibility of seeing it as a threat that has no regard for national boundaries.
Although at least 17 million US citizens were victims of the crime forums. law enforcement agencies in the United States, Romania, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece were all involved in the bust, according to the US Department of Justice.
Editorial Team
