Tag Archives: cybercrime

One-two punch delivered in global operation disrupts cybercrime “assembly line”

With evidence that the tools had overlapping infrastructure, company attorneys invoked RICO statutes that target organized crime; the legal action was then able to treat both tools as part of a single conspiracy. As a result, Microsoft said, it disrupted more than 200 command-and-control servers and severed criminal control of more than 18,000 infected computers.… Read More: One-two punch delivered in global operation disrupts cybercrime “assembly line” »

“No honor among thieves”: M&S hacking group starts turf war

Genevieve Stark, head of cybercrime analysis at Google Threat Intelligence Group, said DragonForce could be attempting to attract RansomHub’s affiliates. The hacking group is also believed to be behind attacks on the pages of other rivals, including BlackLock and Mamona, according to Sophos. Stark warned that whatever the motive, the fallout brings with it an… Read More: “No honor among thieves”: M&S hacking group starts turf war »

Financially motivated hackers are helping their espionage counterparts and vice versa

On Thursday, researchers with the Symantec security firm reported on a collaboration that worked the other way—use by the RA World ransomware group of a “distinct toolset” that previously has been seen used only in espionage operations by a China-linked threat group. The toolset, first spotted in July, was a variant of PlugX, a custom… Read More: Financially motivated hackers are helping their espionage counterparts and vice… »

Law enforcement operation takes down 22,000 malicious IP addresses worldwide

An international coalition of police agencies has taken a major whack at criminals accused of running a host of online scams, including phishing, the stealing of account credentials and other sensitive data, and the spreading of ransomware, Interpol said recently. The operation, which ran from the beginning of April through the end of August, resulted… Read More: Law enforcement operation takes down 22,000 malicious IP addresses worldwide »

AI will increase the number and impact of cyberattacks, intel officers say

Getty Images reader comments 32 Threats from malicious cyberactivity are likely to increase as nation-states, financially motivated criminals, and novices increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence into their routines, the UK’s top intelligence agency said. The assessment, from the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters, predicted ransomware will be the biggest threat to get a boost from AI over… Read More: AI will increase the number and impact of cyberattacks, intel… »

How Microsoft’s cybercrime unit has evolved to combat increased threats

Microsoft’s Cybercrime Center. reader comments 35 Governments and the tech industry around the world have been scrambling in recent years to curb the rise of online scamming and cybercrime. Yet even with progress on digital defenses, enforcement, and deterrence, the ransomware attacks, business email compromises, and malware infections keep on coming. Over the past decade,… Read More: How Microsoft’s cybercrime unit has evolved to combat increased threats »

The International Criminal Court will now prosecute cyberwar crimes

Enlarge / Karim Khan speaks at Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace during the visit of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in Bogota, Colombia, on June 6, 2023. reader comments 12 with For years, some cybersecurity defenders and advocates have called for a kind of Geneva Convention for cyberwar, new international laws that would… Read More: The International Criminal Court will now prosecute cyberwar crimes »

ChatGPT is enabling script kiddies to write functional malware

Getty Images reader comments 26 with 0 posters participating Share this story Since its beta launch in November, AI chatbot ChatGPT has been used for a wide range of tasks, including writing poetry, technical papers, novels, and essays, planning parties, and learning about new topics. Now we can add malware development and the pursuit of… Read More: ChatGPT is enabling script kiddies to write functional malware »

How North Korea became a mastermind of crypto cybercrime

Financial Times reader comments 26 with 0 posters participating Share this story Created by a Vietnamese gaming studio, Axie Infinity offers players the chance to breed, trade, and fight Pokémon-like cartoon monsters to earn cryptocurrencies including the game’s own “Smooth Love Potion” digital token. At one stage, it had more than a million active players.… Read More: How North Korea became a mastermind of crypto cybercrime »

Hydra, the world’s biggest cybercrime forum, shut down in police sting

Enlarge / Laundering of stolen cryptocurrency was a key service offered by Hydra. reader comments 47 with 39 posters participating Share this story Hydra, the world’s biggest cybercrime forum, is no more. Authorities in Germany have seized servers and other infrastructure used by the sprawling, billion-dollar enterprise along with a stash of about $25 million… Read More: Hydra, the world’s biggest cybercrime forum, shut down in police… »