Chinese TA415 Uses VS Code Remote Tunnels to Spy on U.S. Economic Policy Experts

A China-aligned threat actor known as TA415 has been attributed to spear-phishing campaigns targeting the U.S. government, think tanks, and academic organizations utilizing U.S.-China economic-themed lures. "In this activity, the group masqueraded as the current Chair of the Select Committee on...

Geopolitical Aggression Trigger Digital Sabotage on Critical Infrastructure

Running short on time but still want to stay in the know? Well, we’ve got you covered! We’ve condensed all the key takeaways into a handy audio summary. Our AI-driven podcasts are fit for on the go. The modern battlefield isn't just on the ground; it's online, and the digital front continues to...

CL-STA-0969 Installs Covert Malware in Telecom Networks During 10-Month Espionage Campaign

Telecommunications organizations in Southeast Asia have been targeted by a state-sponsored threat actor known as CL-STA-0969 to facilitate remote control over compromised networks. Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 said it observed multiple incidents in the region, including one aimed at critical...

Chinese Firms Linked to Silk Typhoon Filed 15+ Patents for Cyber Espionage Tools

Chinese companies linked to the state-sponsored hacking group known as Silk Typhoon aka Hafnium have been identified as behind over a dozen technology patents, shedding light on the shadowy cyber contracting ecosystem and its offensive capabilities. The patents cover forensics and intrusion tools...

The CryptoNeo Threat Modelling Framework (CNTMF): Securing Neobanks and Fintech in Integrated Blockchain Ecosystems

The rapid integration of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web3 technologies into digital banks and fintech operations has created an integrated environment blending traditional financial systems with decentralised elements. This paper introduces the CryptoNeo Threat Modelling Framework CNTMF, a...

US Announces Arresting Chinese Hacker Linked to HAFNIUM Group

A Chinese state-sponsored hacker, Xu Zewei, 33, has been arrested for his alleged role in the widespread HAFNIUM cyber attacks and theft of COVID-19 research. Learn about the charges and China's Ministry of State Security involvement...

The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on the Cloud Computing Risk Landscape

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally altered the information technology IT risk landscape, particularly in cloud computing environments. This paper examines how this geopolitical conflict has accelerated data sovereignty concerns, transformed cybersecurity paradigms, and reshaped clo...

Feds Charge 16 Russians Allegedly Tied to Botnets Used in Ransomware, Cyberattacks, and Spying

A new US indictment against a group of Russian nationals offers a clear example of how, authorities say, a single malware operation can enable both criminal and state-sponsored hacking...

State-Sponsored Hackers Weaponize ClickFix Tactic in Targeted Malware Campaigns

Multiple state-sponsored hacking groups from Iran, North Korea, and Russia have been found leveraging the increasingly popular ClickFix social engineering tactic to deploy malware over a three-month period from late 2024 through the beginning of 2025. The phishing campaigns adopting the strategy...

Unpatched Windows Zero-Day Flaw Exploited by 11 State-Sponsored Threat Groups Since 2017

An unpatched security flaw impacting Microsoft Windows has been exploited by 11 state-sponsored groups from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia as part of data theft, espionage, and financially motivated campaigns that date back to 2017. The zero-day vulnerability, tracked by Trend Micro's Zero...

ZDI-CAN-25373: Windows Shortcut Exploit Abused as Zero-Day in Widespread APT Campaigns

Trend Zero Day Initiative™ ZDI uncovered both state-sponsored and cybercriminal groups extensively exploiting ZDI-CAN-25373 aka ZDI-25-148, a Windows .lnk file vulnerability that enables hidden command execution...

⚡ THN Weekly Recap: New Attacks, Old Tricks, Bigger Impact

Cyber threats today don't just evolve—they mutate rapidly, testing the resilience of everything from global financial systems to critical infrastructure. As cybersecurity confronts new battlegrounds—ranging from nation-state espionage and ransomware to manipulated AI chatbots—the landscape become...

Safe{Wallet} Confirms North Korean TraderTraitor Hackers Stole $1.5 Billion in Bybit Heist

SafeWallet has revealed that the cybersecurity incident that led to the Bybit $1.5 billion crypto heist is a "highly sophisticated, state-sponsored attack," stating the North Korean threat actors behind the hack took steps to erase traces of the malicious activity in an effort to hamper...

Perfect Fit or Business Threat? How to Mitigate the Risk of Rogue Employees

Rogue employees present significant financial and cybersecurity risks to organizations. Rapid7 threat researchers and penetration testers are actively observing how malicious actors exploit hiring pipelines to infiltrate businesses. This blog highlights real-world tactics, including: Insider...

FBI Deletes PlugX Malware from 4,250 Hacked Computers in Multi-Month Operation

The U.S. Department of Justice DoJ on Tuesday disclosed that a court-authorized operation allowed the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI to delete PlugX malware from over 4,250 infected computers as part of a "multi-month law enforcement operation." PlugX, also known as Korplug, is a remote acce...

U.S. Sanctions Chinese Cybersecurity Firm for State-Backed Hacking Campaigns

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control OFAC on Friday issued sanctions against a Beijing-based cybersecurity company known as Integrity Technology Group, Incorporated for orchestrating several cyber attacks against U.S. victims. These attacks have been publicly attributed...

The Most Dangerous People on the Internet in 2024

From Elon Musk and Donald Trump to state-sponsored hackers and crypto scammers, this was the year the online agents of chaos gained ground...

Hacktivist Groups: The Shadowy Links to Nation-State Agendas

Hacktivist Groups: The Shadowy Links to Nation-State Agendas By Ernesto Fernández Provecho · December 16, 2024 Introduction Hacktivism, the intersection of hacking and activism, has emerged as a potent force in the digital age. It involves using technology to achieve social or political goals,...

Americans urged to use encrypted messaging after large, ongoing cyberattack

A years-long infiltration into the systems of eight telecom giants, including AT&T and Verizon, allowed a state sponsored actor to steal vast amounts of data on where, when and who individuals have been communicating with. Speaking to Reuters, a senior US official said the attack telecommunicatio...

Researchers Uncover 4-Month Cyberattack on U.S. Firm Linked to Chinese Hackers

A suspected Chinese threat actor targeted a large U.S. organization earlier this year as part of a four-month-long intrusion. According to Broadcom-owned Symantec, the first evidence of the malicious activity was detected on April 11, 2024 and continued until August. However, the company doesn't...