Rapid7’s report reveals that FTSE 250 firms exposed to possible cyber-attacks

The average FTSE 250 company exposes 35 different avenues of attack for would-be hackers, according to a report, despite the vast majority having “serious issues” with keeping business-critical systems up to date. According to the cybersecurity company Rapid7’s report, created by scanning for systems and devices used by FTSE 250 corporations that are visible on …

Cryptomining Is Overtaking Ransomware as Most Popular Cybercrime Malware

Skybox® Security, a global leader in cybersecurity management, announced today the release of its mid-year update to the Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report which analyzes vulnerabilities, exploits and threats in play. The report, compiled by the team of security analysts at the Skybox® Research Lab, aims to help organizations align their security strategy with the reality …

Hackers reusing and improving existing malware

Software developers usually reuse code wherever possible, and hackers are no exception. While we often think of different malware strains as separate entities, the reality is that most new malware recycles large chunks of source code from existing malware with some changes and additions (possibly taken from other publically released vulnerabilities and tools). Examples of …

Malware Forecast: 2017 Cyber crime trends will likely dominate in 2018

In 2017, attackers developed new ransomware delivery techniques, leading to global outbreaks such as WannaCry, NotPetya and, most recently, Bad Rabbit. It’s a trend that’s expected to continue in the next year, according to the 2018 Malware Forecast released by Sophos on Thursday. The report reviews malicious activity analyzed by SophosLabs in 2017 to predict what might happen in 2018. Here’s …

Briton who discovered the WannaCry kill-switch arrested over Kronos malware

A security researcher, Marcus Hutchins, 22, a British national who in May stopped an outbreak of the WannaCry ransomware has been arrested and detained after attending the Def Con conference in Las Vegas. A Justice Department spokesperson has confirmed on the phone that his arrest is in relation to his alleged role “in creating and distributing …

Ukrainian Power Distributor Ukrenergo Hit by Second Cyber Attack

Ukrainian state power distributor Ukrenergo was hit by another cyber attack on Thursday which used a computer virus different from one that hit Ukraine on Tuesday, said Ukrenergo’s acting head said. The second attack did not affect Ukraine’s power network, Vsevolod Kovalchuk told a news briefing on Friday. “The virus was slightly different, of a …

Microsoft to release Windows updates for older versions after WannaCry attacks

Microsoft has released new security updates for older versions of Windows as it warns of potential cyber-attacks by government organisations. The patches include updates to Windows XP, the operating system that was targeted by the WannaCry ransomware attack in May that attacked parts of the NHS and other companies worldwide. The new patches fix 16 …

WannaCry ransomware affects over 150 countries, Africa least hit

On Friday 12th May, organizations across the world were hit by a massive ransomware attack, named WannaCry, which exploited a (now patched) Microsoft Windows vulnerability revealed in the Shadowbrokers dump on April 14. This latest variant of ransomware  according to Avast Security data,  is mainly being targeted to Russia, Ukraine and Taiwan, but the ransomware …