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Breach Notification

ISMG Editors’ Panel: The Facebook Breach and More

Anna Delaney  •  April 16, 2021

Four editors at Information Security Media Group discuss important cybersecurity issues, including Facebook’s latest data leak and how adversaries continue to innovate and evolve.

3rd Party Risk Management

Does FBI Exchange Remediation Action Set a Precedent?

Anna Delaney  •  April 16, 2021

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of whether the FBI removing malicious web shells from hundreds of compromised Microsoft Exchange Servers could set a precedent. Also featured is a description of an unusual fraud scam plus an update on security product development trends.

Breach Notification

Bank Groups Object to Proposed Breach Notification Regulation

Doug Olenick  •  April 15, 2021

The American Bankers Association and three other banking groups have voiced objections to provisions in a proposed federal cyber incident notification regulation. For example, they say the definition of a reportable "computer security incident" is too broad and would result in the reporting of insignificant events.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

US Sanctions Russia Over SolarWinds Attack, Election Meddling

Scott Ferguson  •  April 15, 2021

The Biden administration has formally sanctioned Russia over the cyber operation that targeted SolarWinds and its customers as well as the disinformation campaign against the 2020 U.S. elections. The NSA and other agencies also attributed the SolarWinds attack to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR.

Cryptocurrency Fraud

Lazarus E-Commerce Attackers Also Targeted Cryptocurrency

Mathew J. Schwartz  •  April 15, 2021

Hackers with apparent ties to North Korea who hit e-commerce shops via Magecart-style attacks to steal payment card data also tested malicious tools for stealing cryptocurrency, reports cybersecurity firm Group-IB. Such functionality could trick customers into paying with cryptocurrency.

COVID-19

Phishing Campaign Targeting COVID Vaccine 'Cold Chain' Expands

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee  •  April 14, 2021

Cybercriminals, likely backed by nation-states, are expanding global spear-phishing campaigns targeting the COVID-19 vaccine "cold chain" in an attempt to steal credentials so they can gain "privileged insight" into sensitive information, the IBM Security X-Force says in an updated report.

Governance & Risk Management

FBI Removing Web Shells From Infected Exchange Servers

Jeremy Kirk  •  April 14, 2021

In an unprecedented action, the FBI is removing web shells from on-premises Microsoft Exchange servers at organizations in at least eight states that were infected in a wave of attacks earlier this year. Security experts offer an analysis of the bold move that the FBI took without notifying the organizations.

3rd Party Risk Management

Senators Push for Changes in Wake of SolarWinds Attack

Scott Ferguson  •  April 14, 2021

The SolarWinds supply chain attack that led to follow-on attacks on nine government agencies and 100 companies points to the need for a federal law requiring prompt breach notification, several senators said at a Wednesday hearing.

Application Security

Microsoft Patches 4 Additional Exchange Flaws

Doug Olenick  •  April 13, 2021

Microsoft issued patches for its on-premises Exchange Server software, addressing four new critical vulnerabilities discovered by the National Security Agency. A zero-day vulnerability in Desktop Window Manager was also disclosed and patched.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Former DHS Leader Shares Details on SolarWinds Attack

Scott Ferguson  •  April 13, 2021

Chad Wolf, the former acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, has confirmed the accuracy of an earlier news report saying that the SolarWinds supply chain attackers gained access to his unclassified DHS email accounts, which included calendar details.

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Intelligence Report: 4 Nations Pose Serious Cyberthreat to US

Scott Ferguson  •  April 13, 2021

China, Russia, North Korea and Iran continue to pose significant cybersecurity threats to the U.S. because each is capable of launching disruptive attacks, according to a report published Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Cybercrime

Initial Access Brokers: Credential Glut Weakening Prices?

Mathew J. Schwartz  •  April 13, 2021

Initial access brokers continue to ply their trade, selling immediate access to hacked sites to make it easier for gangs to steal data and crypto-lock systems. But researchers say an overabundant supply of access credentials appears to be driving down the prices being commanded on cybercrime forums and markets.