Octo Tempest hacking group and new iLeakage attack
Microsoft warns of Octo Tempest’s financial exploits, new iLeakage attack sees threat actors steal emails and passwords from Safari web browser and Flipper Zero Bluetooth spam. Catch all this and more in this week’s edition of Cybersecurity Weekly.
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1. Microsoft labels Octo Tempest as one of the most dangerous financial cybercrime groups
Microsoft has shared key details about Octo Tempest, an English-speaking hacker group known for its advanced social engineering tactics. Initially focused on account theft, the group transitioned to ransomware attacks and data extortion, partnering with the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware group. Techniques like mimicking speech patterns, SIM-swapping, and direct threats help them target tech administrators. With varied methods to conceal their actions, their primary goal is financial gain through cryptocurrency theft and ransom.
2. New iLeakage attack exploits emails and other sensitive info from Apple Safari
Security researchers have identified a new vulnerability in Apple products that causes the Safari browser to unintentionally disclose user login details. Named "iLeakage," this flaw affects Macs and iPhones from 2020 onward equipped with Apple’s A-series and M-series chips. By exploiting the "speculative execution" feature in CPUs, attackers can access sensitive data, such as Gmail or Instagram credentials. Although Apple has been notified and offered a manual fix, a more comprehensive solution has yet to be released.
3. Flipper Zero can now perform Bluetooth spam attacks on Android and Windows devices
Flipper Zero's custom third-party firmware now allows it to send spam Bluetooth messages to Apple, Android, and Windows devices. When loaded with the Xtreme developer build, the device uses the BLE Spam app to flood devices with pop-ups. While merely inconvenient for Android and Windows users, it can render Apple devices unresponsive. The best defense against this tactic is simply turning off Bluetooth through device settings.
4. France warns of Russian state-sponsored attacks on critical networks
French security agency ANSSI recently warned of the Russia-linked APT28 group's aggressive targeting of French critical networks. Utilizing techniques to evade detection, APT28 has even opted against deploying backdoors in some compromised systems. Their recent tactics include exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and compromising routers and email accounts. Given these exploits, ANSSI strongly recommends public entities to bolster their cybersecurity.
5. Ransomware breach at Seiko puts 60,000 sensitive records at risk
Japanese watchmaker Seiko recently disclosed a ransomware attack exposing 60,000 records of sensitive data. The BlackCat/ALPHV gang claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging theft of sensitive documents, including employee passport scans and technical schematics. Researchers believe they gained access to Seiko's from an initial access broker just a day before detection. While Seiko confirmed various types of data leaks, they clarified that credit card information remained secure.
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In this Series
- Octo Tempest hacking group and new iLeakage attack
- Canada Flipper Zero ban and new RustDoor macOS malware
- AnyDesk hack and iPhone patched kernel flaw
- Tesla Pwn2Own hacks and iOS push alerts abuse
- TeamViewer breach and Atlassian Jira outage
- Moscow ISP revenge hack and Microsoft Sharepoint bug warning
- X verified accounts hack and SpectralBlur macOS malware
- CISA default password alert and SOHO KV-botnet campaign
- New 5G modem flaws and Apple’s data breach report
- Staples cyberattack, Agent Racoon backdoor and other news
- British Library ransomware attack, Windows fingerprint authentication bypass
- Samsung UK data breach and ransomware actor’s SEC complaint
- ICBC ransomware attack and ChatGPT outage
- Boeing Lockbit ransomware attack, Apple’s vulnerability and WhatsApp mods spyware
- Okta support system breach and Google Ads fake KeePass campaign
- Skype DarkGate malware, Shadow PC breach and AvosLocker ransomware warning
- 23andMe data theft, MGM’s $100M ransomware loss and the Azure VM breach
- Malicious Bing Chat ads and FBI’s dual ransomware warning
- T-Mobile app glitch and fake Booking.com pages
- Airbus data leak, Cisco Webex ad malware and €345 million TikTok fine
- New Apple iMessage exploit and CISA’s Apache RocketMQ warning
- Forever 21 data breach and Android BadBazaar espionage
- Duolingo data leak and the Met Police IT hack
- Discord.io data breach and Ivanti Avalanche vulnerabilities
- UK Electoral Commission hack and Microsoft’s role in China email breach
- Salesforce email zero-day exploit and Microsoft Power Platform criticism
- Airlines disclose pilot data breach and the Microsoft Teams bug
- GravityRAT Android Trojan and new MOVEit Transfer flaw
- University of Manchester hack and Honda API flaws
- MOVEit zero-day exploit and the U.S. iPhone hack accusation
- Daam Android virus and Barracuda zero-day flaw
- TP-Link router exploit and 18-year-old charged with hacking DraftKings accounts
- Discord support hack and Toyota location data leak
- Twitter private tweets bug and Cisco phone router vulnerabilities
- Cisco XSS zero-day flaw and PaperCut vulnerabilities
- 3CX hackers hit critical infrastructure and secondhand routers cause security concerns
- Hyundai data breach and Microsoft’s warning to accountants
- Western Digital cloud breach and the MSI ransomware hack
- TMX loan data breach, Italy bans ChatGPT and WordPress Elementor Pro exploit
- ChatGPT data leak and Gmail message theft by North Korean hackers
- U.S. federal agency hack and the return of FakeCalls Android malware
- Massive AT&T data breach and fake jobs targeting security researchers
- U.S. Marshals service breach and TPM 2.0 security flaws
- Dangerous ChatGPT apps and food giant Dole ransomware attack
- GoDaddy malware installations, record-breaking DDoS attack and the new WhiskerSpy malware
- Reddit’s employees phished, healthcare firms targeted and the new Screenshotter malware
- JD Sports data breached, VMware ESXi servers attacked and the HeadCrab malware
- Yandex source code leaked, 4500+ WordPress sites hacked and the new SwiftSlicer malware
- PayPal accounts breached, Fortinet VPN flaw exploited, and the new Hook malware
- Twitter users’ emails leaked, ChatGPT used to write malware and Slack’s repository breach
- Uber data leaked, 48 DDoS-for-hire domains seized and Facebook posts phishing attack
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