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Category — Cyber Criminals
Android Malware that can DDoS Attacks from your smartphone

Android Malware that can DDoS Attacks from your smartphone

Dec 28, 2012
The Russian anti-virus vendor Doctor Web has found a new malicious program for Android which allows hacker groups to carry out mobile denial of service attacks. While it's not entirely clear how the Trojan is spread, researchers suspect that the attackers use social engineering tactics since the malware appears to disguise itself as a Google Play clone. This malware works in the background without your knowledge. Once it is activated it searches for its command and control center and sends out information regarding your device there. One piece of information that will be sent is your phone number. The criminals will be using this number to send text messages to your phone to control the malware. Dubbed TheAndroid.DDoS.1.origin, creates an application icon, similar to that of Google Play. If the user decides to use the fake icon to access Google Play, the application will be launched. When it receives a DDoS attack command, the malware starts to send data packets to the sp
Internet Explorer flaw allows Hackers to Track your Mouse

Internet Explorer flaw allows Hackers to Track your Mouse

Dec 15, 2012
A vulnerability in different versions of Microsoft's widely used browser Internet Explorer can allow hackers to track the movements of your mouse. Microsoft is investigating reports of a mouse-tracking flaw that puts virtual keyboards and keypads at risk to remote monitoring. Spider.io, a UK-based company in the advertising analytics field, alleged that two unnamed companies are improperly using a flaw that allows them to track whether display advertisements, sometimes buried far down in web pages, are actually viewed by users. Almost every US-based user of Internet Explorer will have their mouse cursor tracked via this exploit almost every day they browse the web. Microsoft has confirmed that every version of Internet Explorer, from version 6 dating back to 2001 up to 10, released this year, is vulnerable. How this works ? All a hacker needs to do is, buy a ad space on any webpage and wait until a user visits it. If the tab remains open, the hacker has continuous access to user
5 Actionable Steps to Prevent GenAI Data Leaks Without Fully Blocking AI Usage

5 Actionable Steps to Prevent GenAI Data Leaks Without Fully Blocking AI Usage

Oct 01, 2024Generative AI / Data Protection
Since its emergence, Generative AI has revolutionized enterprise productivity. GenAI tools enable faster and more effective software development, financial analysis, business planning, and customer engagement. However, this business agility comes with significant risks, particularly the potential for sensitive data leakage. As organizations attempt to balance productivity gains with security concerns, many have been forced to choose between unrestricted GenAI usage to banning it altogether. A new e-guide by LayerX titled 5 Actionable Measures to Prevent Data Leakage Through Generative AI Tools is designed to help organizations navigate the challenges of GenAI usage in the workplace. The guide offers practical steps for security managers to protect sensitive corporate data while still reaping the productivity benefits of GenAI tools like ChatGPT. This approach is intended to allow companies to strike the right balance between innovation and security. Why Worry About ChatGPT? The e
Australian medical centre infected with Ransomware Malware demanding $4000 to Unlock

Australian medical centre infected with Ransomware Malware demanding $4000 to Unlock

Dec 10, 2012
A Gold Coast, Australian medical centre computers are infected with some ransom malware by a group of Russian hackers . The hackers encrypted the practice's patient database, demanding payment of $4000 for the files to be decrypted. " Cyber criminals based mainly throughout Eastern Europe look for rich targets, places with identifying information to extort, " Mr Phair, director of the Centre for Internet Safety and a former investigator with the Australian High-Tech Crime Centre. There have been 11 similar offences in Queensland this year, according to police. David Wood, Miami Family Medical Centre's co-owner said, " We've got all the anti-virus stuff in place - there's no sign of a virus. They literally got in, hijacked the server and then ran their encryption software ". The server with encrypted information is being held offline and an IT contractor is working with the practice to restore a backup of patient records. IT security exper
cyber security

2024 State of SaaS Security Report eBook

websiteWing SecuritySaaS Security / Insider Threat
A research report featuring astonishing statistics on the security risks of third-party SaaS applications.
Malware called 'Eurograbber' steals 36 million Euros

Malware called 'Eurograbber' steals 36 million Euros

Dec 07, 2012
A new version of the Zeus botnet was used to steal about $47 million from European banking customers in the past year. This Zeus variant Trojan is blamed for attacks that stole more than 36 million Euros ($47 million U.S. dollars) from an estimated 30,000 consumer and corporate accounts at European banks. Dubbed "Eurograbber"  is more than just another banking Trojan. It's an exploitation of fundamental online banking authentication practices that could strike any institution. With the phone number and platform information, the attacker sends a text message to the victim's phone with a link to a site that downloads what it says is "encryption software" for the device. Customers become victims of Eurograbber by clicking on malicious links that may come in phishing-attack emails and then after injecting scripts to browser , the malware intercepts two-step authentication text messages sent to customers' phones. Customers at an estimated 30 banks fell vic
Cyber Criminals phishing with smart subdomains to earn millions

Cyber Criminals phishing with smart subdomains to earn millions

Dec 06, 2012
Like many other security issues that now affect computer users, there is a growing threat known as phishing". Phishing attacks are perpetrated by criminals who send deceptive emails in order to lure someone into visiting a fraudulent web site or downloading malicious software, expressly for stealing sensitive information such as credit card numbers, account information, passwords, etc. Cyber criminals continue to evolve and refine their attack tactics to evade detection and use techniques that work. Spear phishing emails are on the rise because they work. We have notice many times that Spear Phishing Attacks are really Successful in order to compromise Enterprise Networks and Stealing Data. From last one month I was getting mails from an unknown spoofed email id regrading a paypal warning with subject " Your account has been limited until we hear from you ! " Guess what, even I am not using that email for my Paypal account, from here I just judge that it's
Why you should try to join some of the underground hacker forums that are out there

Why you should try to join some of the underground hacker forums that are out there

Dec 05, 2012
Even if you are considered to be a white hat hacker, you are always still walking a fine line between being a bad guy and a good guy in many people eyes. There are a lot of people out there who believe that there should be no hacking at all being done and everyone who does it should be considered a criminal. Of course that is a very small myopic view of how being a white hat hacker really works but there is always going to be an element of that kind of thought out there. There are just a lot of people out there who believe that if you ban hacking outright that it will never be done. And that is simply just not true and is a pure fantasy. But if you really want to be a good and effective white hat hacker, then there are some elements about the other side that you should really get to know. If you want to be able to beat your enemies then you should be able to figure out how they operate. It is not enough for you to be able to take a look at their attacks and try to study their patterns
Lulzsec hacker Jeffrey could face Life Imprisonment

Lulzsec hacker Jeffrey could face Life Imprisonment

Nov 28, 2012
Lulzsec Hacker , Jeffrey Hammond faces a potential prison sentence of more than 30 years if found guilty of all charges filed against him. U.S. District Court chief judge Loretta Preska, who presided over a bail hearing for Hammond want last week. Hammond was also charged with using some of the stolen credit card data to help make $700,000 in unauthorized charges, and accused of participating in a hack of the Arizona Department of Public Safety website. " In early May 2012, a federal grand jury handed down a superseding indictment in the case against alleged LulzSec and Anonymous leaders, accusing Hammond of masterminding the LulzSec and Anonymous attacks against the website of Stratfor (a.k.a. Strategic Forecasting), beginning in December 2011. " Informationweek said . " At last week's hearing in a Southern District of New York federal courtroom, Hammond's defense attorney, Elizabeth Fink, suggested that the FBI may have used entrapment to catch her client,
TripAdvisor travel website infected with Gamarue malware, infect 2% Indian Internet Users

TripAdvisor travel website infected with Gamarue malware, infect 2% Indian Internet Users

Nov 27, 2012
TripAdvisor Inc., a hotel-review website, recently became a victim of the bug, said Trend Micro Inc., an Internet security solutions provider. Many of TripAdvisor's users received spam mail with booking confirmations for hotels they had checked out on the website , 1.89% of Indian Internet Users have already been affected. The email purporting to be in the name of one of the Hotels has a similar theme to its English counterpart as it contains confirmation and details on an alleged booking reservation.  TripAdvisor, which is among India's top five travel brands as per digital market research firm ComScore Inc., globally has 60 million unique monthly visitors and 2.4 million unique users per month in India. Gamarue is a family of malware that may be distributed by exploit kits, spammed emails or other malware, and has been observed stealing information from an affected user. Trend Micro reported that one of their manager received the spam at his personal e-mail address but the addres
Go Daddy Sites Serve Up Ransomware Malware

Go Daddy Sites Serve Up Ransomware Malware

Nov 27, 2012
Domain name registrar and website hosting provider Go Daddy is responding to a DNS attack targeting a "small number" of its hosted websites that one security firm said is enabling cyber criminals to spread ransomware.  The DNS (Domain Name System) is what transfers host-names into IP addresses, meaning computers can talk to each other and users can access them online. Godaddy said, " We suspect that the affected customers have been phished or their home machines have been affected by Cool Exploit as we have confirmed that this is not a vulnerability in the My Account or DNS management systems. " The Cool Exploit Kit targets a variety of vulnerabilities, including Java errors, and has been seen spreading via drive-by attack websites. The ransomware served depends on the country of origin. In the UK, it is malware posing as a legitimate message from the Met's Police e-Crime Unit (PCeU). It locks the computer, on the grounds that the computer was guilt
New OSX/Imuler Variant Targeting Tibetan Activists

New OSX/Imuler Variant Targeting Tibetan Activists

Nov 12, 2012
Researchers over at Intego have recently discovered a new variant of  OSX/Imuler the data-stealing Mac malware, detected as OSX/Imuler.E which is believed to be targeting Tibetan rights activists. " This backdoor Trojan family was first discovered in September 2011 as a Mac PDF Trojan horse and has been targeting activist organizations with emails containing what appear to be pictures. Each variant has tried different tactics, either trying to scare or entice their target into opening the file. " explained . The cyber criminals behind the campaign are relying on the fact that by default, Mac OS X doesn't display full file extensions, and therefore are attempting to trick end and corporate users into thinking that they're about the view a JPG image file. The Imuler Trojan has two main methods of stealing information, It searches the system for user data OR It can also take screenshots. Then, This data is then uploaded to the controller's server. Last week, Thousand
Hong Kong stock exchange Hacker sentenced for 9 Months Jail

Hong Kong stock exchange Hacker sentenced for 9 Months Jail

Nov 09, 2012
Tse Man- lai,  28-year-old businessman, owner of an information technology company, launched denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on Hong Kong stock exchange last year on August 12 and 13 , was sentenced to nine months in jail on Friday. According to SCMP , Tse Man- lai, who had pleaded not guilty to two counts of obtaining access to a computer with criminal or dishonest intent, was convicted of both counts in the District Court on October 24.  The attacked website is one of the most important economic platform of Hong Kong. Trading in the shares of seven companies was suspended. The seven companies, which included HSBC, Cathay Pacific Airways and HKEx itself, had a combined market value of HK$1.5 trillion. Trading was also halted on a debt security and 419 warrants and derivatives linked to the suspended stocks. Trading in the stocks were suspended, as the companies had tried to make price-sensitive announcements during the lunchtime trading break, which investors might not have seen be
Malware in your Mouse can act as RAT for Cyber Criminals

Malware in your Mouse can act as RAT for Cyber Criminals

Oct 30, 2012
Recently we reported about that  Symantec provide overview and analysis of the year in global threat activity via its Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) , with a exclusive details that 400 million new variants of malware were created in 2011, which is an average of 33 million new variants of malware a month, or an average of one million new variants a day. In order to develop malware that evades detection by the security companies malware writers come up with some clever, yet quite simple techniques. If malware stops itself when it detects that it is running in a virtual environment, it may trick an automated threat analysis system into thinking that it is a clean program. So malware may not only fool automated threat analysis systems, but also a corporate system administrator who is searching for computers compromised by malware. Malware authors have recently attempted to use other approaches to fool automated threat analysis systems as well. Latest example of such Trojan is t
FBI and computer scientists team up to catch hackers

FBI and computer scientists team up to catch hackers

Oct 29, 2012
FBI's Cyber Division has a new and sharper focus on cyber-intrusion ," You are one click from compromising your network " FBI said. Giving priority to the labeling of suspects follows claims by the Pentagon that the military now has the capability to single out and retaliate against hackers. FBI over the past year has put in place an initiative to uncover and investigate web-based intrusion attacks and develop a cadre of specially trained computer scientists able to extract hackers digital signatures from mountains of malicious code. " A key aim of the Next Generation Cyber Initiative has been to expand our ability to quickly define the attribution piece of a cyber attack to help determine an appropriate response ", said Richard McFeely , executive assistant director of the Bureau's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. Investigators can send findings to the FBI Cyber Division's Cyber Watch command, a 24-hour station at headquarters, where sp
Facebook spam messages says WWE Champion Rey Mysterio dies during fight

Facebook spam messages says WWE Champion Rey Mysterio dies during fight

Oct 21, 2012
A spam message is circulating on Facebook that WWE wrestler Rey Mysterio has died in a stunt gone wrong. Social media is now full of spam messages like this. Last week scammers trick users with " John Cena is died " and this week, rumors about the death of Rey Mysterio. The message actually includes a link that supposedly provides more information about the accident, but in real spammer is just tricking users to redirect on survey website using his referral url. Complete message read," ReY Mysterio of WWE was dead on arrival on the hospital, suffering from 6 broken ribs after perfecting thombstone stunt with co-star The BIG SHOW. Local Police are now investigating and looking for evidences. THE Big SHOW is now facing murder charges. Watch the practice video from WWE and how The BIG SHOW failed to execute the stunt. (for 18yrs & above) " " But that's not all. The user is then presented a webpage that promises him/her the chance to win an iPad
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