Tag: vietnam
Chinese Hackers Using ORB Networks to Evade Detection – May 23rd
Mandiant revealed that Chinese-linked state-backed hackers rely on operational relay box (ORBs) network proxy meshes to avoid detection for cyber espionage campaigns. For example, Mandiant pointed out that these advanced persistent threat actors (APTs) used ORBs for the 'SPACEHOP' critical vulnerability campaign earlier this year.
SE Asian cybercriminals adopt drug-cartel tactics
A police raid on a Philippines online organization highlights not only the ongoing digital crime boom in Southeast Asia but also the increasingly blurred line between cybercrime and ordinary gangsters. Police raided the premises of the Tarlac Pogo firm following a complaint filed by a Vietnamese worker who bore signs of having been recently tortured in the form of electrocution scars. The police discovered 875 people, including 504 foreigners, who had been lured to work for what purported to be an online gaming company, but was actually a forced labour camp operating romance scams.
Geopolitical tensions fuel botnet boom
Recent weeks have seen an exponential rise in malicious botnets performing reconnaissance scanning to scout out victims. According to researchers at cybersecurity firm Netscout, the number of potentially compromised devices rose from around 10,000 to roughly 144,000 over December, with no sign of the trend letting up. “The trend continued into the new year, with the largest spikes occurring on January 5 and 6, eclipsing one million distinct devices. The levels reached an unprecedented 1,294,416 on the 5th,” reports Netscout. The Netscout researchers say that this increased malicious scanning has been isolated to five key countries: The United States, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Russia. All have seen a rise in attackers using cheap or free cloud and hosting servers to create botnet launch pads.
‘GTA V’ Source Code Leaked on Telegram Channel – December 26th
Links to Rockstar Games’ 'GTA V' source code were posted on a Telegram group, later posted on Discord servers and a dark web site. The Rockstar Games leak ensued a year after threat actor group, Lapsus$ claimed a cyberattack on the gaming giant. Lapsus$ hacker, Arion Kurtaj is the suspected source of the video game's code distribution.
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.
Beware of Death by a Billion Bots
US corporations lose an average of 4.3 percent of their online revenues to malicious ‘bots,’ malware designed to resemble human communications. Malware attacks of this nature accounts for an average annual loss of $86.5 million a year for corporations with average annual online revenues of $1.9 billion, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Netacea, “Death by a Billion Bots: The Accumulating Business Cost of Malicious Automation”.