Four New Normals for 2017

Let’s not talk about cybersecurity predictions for 2017. Let’s talk instead about new normals, things that have ceased to be novel because, well, they happen all the time and everywhere. Let’s concede that things such as greedy ransomware, imposing IOT botnets, high-profile bug bounties and...

On Backdoors in Sony's IP Cameras, a Linux Bug, and More

Mike Mimoso and Chris Brook discuss the news of the week, including the latest Linux bug, Sony closing backdoors in cameras, and Google’s new open source fuzzer. Show notes: Sony Closes Backdoors in IP-Enabled Cameras Old Linux Kernel Code Execution Bug Patched Google Debuts Continuous Fuzzer for...

New Call to Regulate IoT Security By Design

A Washington, D.C. think tank whose mission is critical infrastructure security has joined the call for lawmakers to consider regulating the security of connected devices. In a report published this week, the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology pinned the blame for a rash of Mirai...

Turkish Hackers Are Giving Away Prizes For Participating In DDoS Attacks

DDoS has become a game now that could knock any service offline. A Turkish hacking group is encouraging individuals to join its DDoS-for-Points platform that features points and prizes for carrying out distributed denial-of-service DDoS attacks against a list of predetermined targets. The points...

New Large-Scale DDoS Attacks Follow Schedule

A powerful new botnet is being blamed for massive and sustained DDoS attacks that security researchers at CloudFlare compare to Mirai when it comes to intensity and scope. The attacks began Nov. 23 and ran for eight hours daily, similar to an average workday. The consistent attacks occurred for...

New Mirai Variant Targets Routers, Knocks 900,000 Offline

Attackers are targeting DSL routers this week with what’s being called a potent new variant of the Mirai malware that knocked offline major Internet companies like Twitter and Spotify last month. According to Germany’s Deutsche Telekom 900,000 of its DSL router customers have already been targete...

CVE-2016-9310

A flaw was found in the control mode functionality of ntpd. A remote attacker could send a crafted control mode packet which could lead to information disclosure or result in DDoS amplification attacks. Mitigation Use "restrict default noquery ..." in your ntp.conf file...

Credentials Accessible in Siemens-Branded CCTV Cameras

Vanderbilt Industries has provided a firmware update for more than a dozen Siemens-branded IP-based closed circuit TV cameras that patches a serious, remotely exploitable vulnerability. The flaw, CVE-2016-9155, could allow an attacker to gain admin credentials by sending certain crafted requests,...

Regulation May Be Best Answer to IoT Insecurity

One thing technologists overtly shun is the prospect of government regulation. But recent DDoS attacks carried out by botnets of connected things have spooked some people of influence in security to the point where intervention by lawmakers may be inevitable. Testifying before subcommittees of th...

Dutch Hacker Who Almost Broke The Internet Escapes Jail

The Dutch hacker, who in 2013 was accused of launching the biggest cyberattack to date against the anti-spam group Spamhaus, escaped prison Monday even after he was sentenced to nearly 8 months in jail because most of his term was suspended. Sven Olaf Kamphuis, 39, was arrested in April 2013 by...

Strategic Principles for Securing the IoT

DHS has released a set of Strategic Principles for Securing the Internet of Things IoT to help inform consumers, operators and manufacturers in their decision-making regarding networked and networkable devices. While the IoT can provide efficiency, convenience, and interactivity features that are...

Using CIS Controls To Stop Your Network From Falling in With the Wrong Crowd

Earlier this month Kyle Flaherty wrote a post on the Rapid7 Community Blog about how Rapid7 came out on top for coverage of the Center for Internet Security CIS Top 20 Security Controls. In light of recent DDoS events Id like to take a little time to discuss at a high level what the controls are,...

More Insights On Alleged DDoS Attack Against Liberia Using Mirai Botnet

On Thursday, we compiled a story based on research published by a British security expert reporting that some cyber criminals are apparently using Mirai Botnet to conduct DDoS attacks against the telecommunication companies in Liberia, a small African country. In his blog post, Kevin Beaumont...

Test-Run DDoS Attacks Against Liberia Cease

Intermittent DDoS attacks powered by the largest of the many Mirai-powered botnets targeting the African nation of Liberia have ceased today. Researcher Kevin Beaumont who disclosed the attacks on Thursday said also that the domain controlling the attacker’s command and control infrastructure was...

Someone is Using Mirai Botnet to Shut Down Internet for an Entire Country

Note — We have published an updated article on what really happened behind the alleged DDoS attack against Liberia using Mirai botnet. Someone is trying to take down the whole Internet of a country, and partially succeeded, by launching massive distributed denial-of-service DDoS attacks using a...

Mirai Botnet Itself is Flawed; Hacking Back IoTs Could Mitigate DDoS Attacks

The infamous botnet that was used in the recent massive distributed denial of service DDoS attacks against the popular DNS provider Dyn, causing vast internet outage last Friday, itself is flawed. Yes, Mirai malware, which has already enslaved millions of Internet of Things IoT devices across 164...

Lawmakers Asking What ISPs Can Do About DDoS Attacks

IoT botnets and DDoS attacks have prominent lawmakers asking government agencies some probing questions about what can be done. Sen. Mark Warner D-VA on Tuesday sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission—as well as the Federal Trade Commission and Homeland Security—querying among othe...

Mirai-Fueled IoT Botnet Behind DDoS Attacks on DNS Providers

A botnet of connected things strung together by the Mirai malware is responsible for Friday’s distributed denial-of-service attacks against DNS provider Dyn. The DDoS attacks impacted Internet service on the East Coast of the United States, and were responsible for keeping Dyn and a number of its...

Mirai Bots More Than Double Since Source Code Release

The Mirai malware continues to recruit vulnerable IoT devices into botnets at a record pace, one that’s only gone up since the source code for Mirai was made public two weeks ago. Level 3 Communications, a telecommunications company and Internet service provider in Colorado, has identified the...

Sierra Wireless Warns Cellular Data Gear Targeted by Mirai Malware

Sierra Wireless is warning customers to change default factory credentials on its AireLink gatway communications gear or risk being infected by Mirai malware. Mirai malware scans the Internet for IoT gear such as DVRs and IP-enabled cameras and other devices that are protected by default or...