Chainalysis got everyone’s attention with their new report. They write, in part: 2023 marks a major comeback for ransomware, with record-breaking payments and a substantial increase in the scope and complexity of attacks — a significant reversal from the decline observed in 2022, which we forewarned in our Mid-Year Crime Update. Ransomware payments in 2023 surpassed…
Maltese suspected hacker to be extradited to United States for computer malware crimes (1)
Update: The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently issued a press release with names and more details. Matthew Vella reports: An operation by the Maltese police assisting the FBI in investigations in the United States, has led to the arrest of a 27-year-old Maltese individual in connection with the sale of illegal malware on the…
BakerHostetler Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of 30 Hospitals and Health Systems
BakerHostetler writes: As noted back in December 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued dramatic guidance (often called the Bulletin) that targets the use of so-called Internet “tracking technologies” on the public websites of HIPAA-covered entities. Fueled by this guidance, healthcare providers have faced a dual threat…
Reward Offers for Information to Bring Hive Ransomware Variant Co-Conspirators To Justice
Today, the Department of State is announcing a reward offer of up to $10,000,000 for information leading to the identification and/or location of any individual(s) who hold a key leadership position in the Hive ransomware variant transnational organized crime group. In addition, we are also announcing a reward of up to $5,000,000 for information leading…
Protect Good Faith Security Research Globally in Proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty
Statement to be submitted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, accredited under operative paragraph No. 9 of UN General Assembly Resolution 75/282, on behalf of 124 signatories. We, the undersigned, representing a broad spectrum of the global security research community, write to express our serious concerns about the UN Cybercrime Treaty drafts released during the sixth session and the most recent…
IT suppliers hacked off with Uncle Sam’s demands in aftermath of cyberattacks
Brandon Vigliarolo reports: Organizations that sell IT services to Uncle Sam are peeved at proposed changes to procurement rules that would require them to allow US government agencies full access to their systems in the event of a security incident. The rules were unveiled in a draft update to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that refreshes security…