Yuan Hong reports: During the investigation of the cyberattack against Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), a leading Chinese aviation university, China has successfully extracted multiple samples of the spyware named SecondDate, and with the collaborative efforts of partners in various countries, the real identity of the US’ National Security Agency (NSA) personnel responsible for launching the…
Category: Non-U.S.
New Europol report shines light on multi-billion euro underground criminal economy
The world is getting smaller, as trade, communication and infrastructure on a global scale brings us closer together. However, there is another, darker, side to the coin: our interconnected world is being abused by criminals who have created an underground economy to sustain their illegal operations. Europol’s first ever threat assessment on the topic, ‘The…
Suspected ransomware attack hits Auckland Transport’s Hop cards
1News reports: A suspected ransomware attack is affecting Auckland Transport’s Hop card system, impacting card top-ups and leaving customer service centres with limited functionality. “Early indications are that this is a ransomware attack however our investigations are ongoing,” an Auckland Transport (AT) spokesperson told 1News. No personal or financial data has been accessed. Read more…
Disclose data breaches to us proactively, and we’ll lower any fines — ICO
Emma Woollacott reports: British businesses could face lower fines if they proactively report data breaches, thanks to an agreement between the UK’s data protection regulator and cybersecurity agency. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) say they plan to encourage engagement with the NCSC in the event of a breach, and allow meaningful…
U.K. ICO prosecution: Rachel Anderton
From the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office: A former family intervention officer at St Helens Borough Council has been sentenced for unlawfully accessing social services records. Rachel Anderton was prosecuted for viewing records on the council’s case management system between 17 January 2019 and 17 October 2019 without having a business need to do so. An…
Brazil’s government convicted for data leak exposed by The Brazilian Report
Amanda Audi reports: Federal government agencies were convicted for leaking data of beneficiaries of Auxilio Brasil, a flagship federal aid program now renamed as Bolsa Familia, to financial agencies offering payroll deduction loans to low-income Brazilians. Prior to elections last year, the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro launched a program allowing people enrolled in…