A week in security (June 8 – 14)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs, we looked into nasty search hijackers that worried a lot of Chrome users; a list of considerations for MSPs when looking for an RMM platform; the complaint faced by ParetoLogic, the company that issues SpeedyPC, a product that claims to find and remove various PC...

TAU Threat Analysis: Relations to Hakbit Ransomware

See part one of TAU's Hakbit Ransomware analysis here. Many blue team defenders out there will attest to the fact that ransomware is on the rise, and that ransomware doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. Ransomware is only one of the numerous types of commodity-based emerging threats whi...

Knoxville Ransomware Attack Leads to IT Network Shutdown

The city of Knoxville, Tenn. is reeling from a ransomware attack that knocked the city’s network offline and prevented police officers from responding to non-life-threatening traffic crashes. The incident occurred Wednesday and shuttered systems until Thursday. Also impacted was the city’s intern...

A Bug in Facebook Messenger for Windows Could've Helped Malware Gain Persistence

Cybersecurity researchers at Reason Labs, the threat research arm of security solutions provider Reason Labs, today disclosed details of a vulnerability they recently discovered in the Facebook Messenger application for Windows. The vulnerability, which resides in Messenger version 460.16, could...

Snake Ransomware Delivers Double-Strike on Honda, Energy Co.

The Snake ransomware has reportedly hit two high-profile companies this week: Honda and a South American energy-distribution company called Enel Argentina. In a tweet on Monday, the Honda Automobile Customer Service said it was “experiencing technical difficulties and are unavailable.” And later,...

The science behind Microsoft Threat Protection: Attack modeling for finding and stopping evasive ransomware

The linchpin of successful cyberattacks, exemplified by nation state-level attacks and human-operated ransomware, is their ability to find the path of least resistance and progressively move across a compromised network. Determining the full scope and impact of these attacks is one the most...

MSPs, know what you’re really looking for in an RMM platform

MSPs naturally adapt and mature as innovative technologies and more effective processes are introduced into the industry. But with ransomware cyberattacks happening left and right, pushing them to evolve even further, MSPs are left with no choice but to go with the flow. Going for improved...

Thanos Ransomware First to Weaponize RIPlace Tactic

Researchers have uncovered a new ransomware-as-a-service RaaS tool, called Thanos, which they say is increasing in popularity in multiple underground forums. Thanos is the first ransomware family observed that advertises the use of the RIPlace tactic. RIPlace is a Windows file system technique...

Honda and Enel impacted by cyber attack suspected to be ransomware

Car manufacturer Honda has been hit by a cyber attack, according to a report published by the BBC, and later confirmed by the company in a tweet. Another similar attack, also disclosed on Twitter, hit Edesur S.A., one of the companies belonging to Enel Argentina which operates in the business of...

Florence, Ala. Hit By Ransomware 12 Days After Being Alerted by KrebsOnSecurity

In late May, KrebsOnSecurity alerted numerous officials in Florence, Ala. that their information technology systems had been infiltrated by hackers who specialize in deploying ransomware. Nevertheless, on Friday, June 5, the intruders sprang their attack, deploying ransomware and demanding nearly...

Looking at Big Threats Using Code Similarity. Part 1

Today, we are announcing the release of KTAE, the Kaspersky Threat Attribution Engine. This code attribution technology, developed initially for internal use by the Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team, is now being made available to a wider audience. You can read more about KTAE in our...

TAU Threat Analysis: Hakbit Ransomware

The bad actors behind Hakbit ransomware recently released an updated variant of their ransomware, which encrypts the victim’s data and demands 3 Bitcoins in ransom payment. This updated variant is delivered via phishing email as a malicious Excel document, and contains added functionality from th...

RagnarLocker Ransomware Threatens to Release Confidential Information | McAfee Blogs

ARCHIVED STORY RagnarLocker Ransomware Threatens to Release Confidential Information Alexandre Mundo · JUN 09, 2020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The RagnarLocker ransomware first appeared in the wild at the end of December 2019 as part of a campaign against compromised networks targeted by its operators. Th...

RagnarLocker Ransomware Threatens to Release Confidential Information | McAfee Blogs

ARCHIVED STORY RagnarLocker Ransomware Threatens to Release Confidential Information Alexandre Mundo · JUN 09, 2020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The RagnarLocker ransomware first appeared in the wild at the end of December 2019 as part of a campaign against compromised networks targeted by its operators. Th...

TAU Threat Analysis: Hakbit Ransomware

The bad actors behind Hakbit ransomware recently released an updated variant of their ransomware, which encrypts the victim’s data and demands 3 Bitcoins in ransom payment. This updated variant is delivered via phishing email as a malicious Excel document, and contains added functionality from th...

Top US aerospace services provider suffers breach, loses 1.5 TB of data

By Deeba Ahmed The hackers behind this breach are Maze ransomware operators. This is a post from HackRead.com Read the original post: Top US aerospace services provider suffers breach, loses 1.5 TB of data...

Tycoon Ransomware Banks on Unusual Image File Tactic

A new ransomware strain called Tycoon is seeking to wheel and deal its way into the Windows and Linux worlds, using a little-known Java image format as part of its kill chain. The ransomware is housed in a trojanized version of the Java Runtime Environment JRE, according to researchers at...

U.S. Nuclear Contractor Hit with Maze Ransomware, Data Leaked

A U.S. military contractor involved in the maintenance of the country’s Minuteman III nuclear arsenal has been hit by the Maze ransomware, according to reports – with the hackers making off with reams of sensitive information. The company, Westech International, has a range of contracts with the...

Sodinokibi ransomware gang auctions off stolen data

Is it legal to buy stolen data from criminals? In most countries the answer would be no. But will it lead to a penalty or a fine? That is a different question and I’m afraid some companies and organizations will be inclined to seriously consider the last question even when they know the answer to...

TAU Threat Analysis: Medusa Locker Ransomware

In recent weeks Carbon Black’s Threat Analysis Unit TAU has seen an increase in the number of infections attributed to the Medusa Locker ransomware family. There were notable traits exhibited by Medusa Locker in these attacks that warranted further investigation to determine behavioral tactics th...