Category Archives: Modern Malware
Types Of Common Malware Attacks
Malware remains a massive security problem, costing companies billions each year to manage, mitigate and remediate. While the term itself is straightforward — malware refers to any software designed to cause harm on a system or device — there are a host of malware types and techniques used by attackers to circumvent defenses and compromise key systems.
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Are You Fully Prepared for Ransomware in 2021?
In the time that it takes to read this article, the world will most likely experience fifteen ransomware attacks. (more…)
OCIE Warns Public Companies, SEC Registrants, Financial Institutions at Risk of Ransomware Attacks
The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) Cybersecurity Risk Alert reported increased ransomware attacks to SEC registrants (broker-dealers, investment advisers, and investment companies) and potentially service providers – especially if they maintain client assets or registrant records. Companies should be aware of the potential risks they face. (more…)
Cyber Security Case Study: Ransomware at a Manufacturing Company
HALOCK contained and eradicated a ransomware attack on a manufacturing company’s internal assets and set a wholistic plan to mitigate future risk through enhanced MFA, policies, and training. (more…)
HALOCK Pandemic Breaches Bulletin: When Ransomware Has Captured Data … But We Don’t Know What That Data Is
During the pandemic HALOCK and the information security community have been responding to a significant spike in cyber security incidents. (more…)
Why the Meltdown/Spectre Vulnerabilities are Important to You
Two distinct vulnerabilities dubbed Meltdown and Spectre potentially affect almost every system1. In a world that is already saturated with cyberattacks and vulnerabilities, it is easy to succumb to cyber threat fatigue when discussing two new outbreaks. Even though there have been no confirmed reports of attacks that have taken advantage of these newly exposed vulnerabilities, they are highly concerning. That is because they involve the CPU, the fundamental building block of the internet, corporate networks and PCs. (more…)
2016 PROVED A DARK YEAR FOR CYBER ATTACKS ON HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS
A DARK YEAR FOR CYBER ATTACKS ON HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS. The famous American criminal Willie Sutton was asked once why he robbed banks, to which he is reported to have answered, “Because that’s where the money is”. In similar fashion, cyber criminals such as a hacker group that calls itself “TheDarkOverLord” could be asked why they continued to breach a series of healthcare organizations throughout 2016. They would have probably replied, “because that’s where the personal information is, and personal information equals money!” In fact, it is estimated that personal information is worth ten times more on the black market than a credit card number. As Paul Syverson, Co-creator of the Tor web browser says, “Your medical records have bullseyes on them.” (more…)
RANSOMWARE IS THE NEW MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING BUSINESS
By Erik Leach
2016 has proven to be a banner year for Ransomware. The year kicked off with a series of ransomware attacks on a trio of hospitals including the well-publicized incident at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center which forced its IT staff to shut down the network while coerced administration officials agreed to pay a $17,000 bitcoin ransom. The year is culminating in dramatic fashion as well as thousands of San Francisco commuters got to ride for free as a result of a ransomware attack on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency which infected 2,112 computers and took its light rail transit system offline for more than 24 hours. (more…)