John Dyer has a report on ransomware with some interesting statistics: An October study by Cisco Systems’ Talos security unit estimated that unnamed hackers using Angler Exploit — just one of a handful of commonly used ransomware bugs — netted $60 million annually. In December, a Kaspersky Lab report found that ransomware infections doubled last year compared to 2014….
Operation Blockbuster Coalition Ties Sony, Other Destructive Attacks to Lazarus Group
Michael Mimoso reports: The nation-state sponsored hacker group allegedly behind the 2014 attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment has been linked to similar intrusions against a number of companies in South Korea including the Dark Seoul and Operation Troy attacks. A coalition of security companies called Operation Blockbuster, including Kaspersky Lab, Novetta, AlienVault, Invincea, ThreatConnect, Volexity, Symantec,…
AL: Alleged perpetrator of JSU breach is student there
More details have emerged about the Jacksonville State University breach previously noted on this site. Although a suspect has been arrested, the site is still online. Today, the Anniston Star reports that the unnamed teen, who may be tried as an adult, is a student at JSU and is thought to have used a staff member’s credentials to access…
Hackers hold German hospital data hostage
DW reports that the ransomware problem we’ve seen here and in Australia has also hit German hospitals: It probably came down to a swift response that averted major damage in the Lukas Hospital in Germany’s western city of Neuss. One morning, hospital staff noticed the system wasn’t running smoothly anymore. There were error messages popping…
WA: Rightside employee tax information stolen in data breach
Ashley Stewart reports: Kirkland-based Rightside was the target of a “highly sophisticated phishing scam,” resulting in the theft of employees’ personal information, according to an email obtained by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The company notified affected employees this week, explaining that it had been the target of a cyber attack for several months and, on…
Jason Pierre-Paul suing ESPN, writer for tweeting medical records
Julia Marsh reports: Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is flagging ESPN and its reporter Adam Schefter for posting his private medical records online to millions of readers. Pierre-Paul, 27, sued ESPN and Schefter in a Florida court Wednesday, citing a violation of his privacy. Read more on NY Post. Okay, this seemed to involve a…