White House Security Czar Howard Schmidt Retiring

Howard Schmidt, the top White House information security adviser, is retiring after more than two years on the job and several decades in security both in government and private industry. Schmidt is in his second stint as the White House security chief and he’s leaving at a time when cybersecurit...

Microsoft Defends Secure Boot in Windows 8

Microsoft officials are seeking to assuage concerns that its implementation of UEFI in Windows 8 will prevent users from loading non-Microsoft operating systems or applications on their machines. Despite concerns raised by security researchers and open-source advocates about vendor lock-in and...

Cyber Criminal Underground: The Comics Edition

The criminal underworld is an insular community shrouded in secrecy. That’s helped lend an air of mystique to cyber crime. See also: Bruce Willis in “Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard.”. But it turns out that, like so much else, real life cyber crime is… well… pretty dull. How dull? Comic artist...

Microsoft Warns of Attacks Against ASP.NET Flaw

Microsoft is warning customers that it has seen ongoing attacks against the recently disclosed padding oracle vulnerability in ASP.NET and is encouraging them to implement a workaround that will help protect against the publicly disclosed exploit for the bug. The workaround that Microsoft has...

Cyberattackers Put the Pedal to the Medal: Podcast

Cyber-defenders have a lot on their plates: Rapid vulnerability exploitation. Ransomware-apalooza. Botnet infestations on the order never seen in the past. How can IT security teams effectively deal with the escalating volume of threats, especially as those threats become more sophisticated and...

400 Banks’ Customers Targeted with Anubis Trojan

Customers of Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Capital One, along with nearly 400 other financial institutions, are being targeted by a malicious app disguised to look like the official account management platform for French telecom company Orange S.A. Researchers say this is just the...

Massive Zero-Day Hole Found in Palo Alto Security Appliances

Researchers have developed a working exploit to gain remote code execution RCE via a massive vulnerability in a security appliance from Palo Alto Networks PAN, potentially leaving 10,000 vulnerable firewalls with their goods exposed to the internet. The critical zero day, tracked as CVE 2021-3064...

The Evolving Role of the CISO

Digital technologies have infused every aspect of a business, especially with the shutdown of the physical workplace. The increased interdependence between the physical, digital and cybersecurity worlds demand a leadership position that combines both the technical know-how and the ability to...

Babuk Ransomware Builder Mysteriously Appears in VirusTotal

The Babuk ransomware gang’s source code has been uploaded to VirusTotal, making it available to all security vendors and competitors. It’s unclear however just how that happened. According to a Wednesday posting from Malwarebytes, the operators of the ransomware – perhaps best-known for hitting t...

QR Codes Offer Easy Cyberattack Avenues as Usage Spikes

The use of mobile quick-response QR codes in daily life, for both work and personal use, continues to rise – and yet, most people aren’t aware that these handy mobile shortcuts can open them up to savvy cyberattacks. That’s according to Ivanti, which carried out a survey of 4,157 consumers across...

Adware Spreads via Fake TikTok App, Laptop Offers

Malicious Android apps disguised as TikTok and offers for free Lenovo laptops are being used in ad-stuffing attacks underway against devices on the Jio telecom network in India, security researchers warn. Researchers from Zscaler report this threat actor has been operating various phishing scams...

North Korean APT Gears Up to Target Security Researchers

The same North Korean threat actors that targeted security researchers in January appear to be readying a new campaign using a fake company and associated social-media accounts that aim to lure security professionals into another cyber-espionage trap. Google discovered the site as well as Twitter...

SAP Commerce Critical Security Bug Allows RCE

SAP is warning of a critical vulnerability in its SAP Commerce platform for e-commerce businesses. If exploited, the flaw could allow for remote code execution RCE that ultimately could compromise or disrupt the application. SAP Commerce organizes data – such as product information – to be...

Cybercrime Moves to the Cloud to Accelerate Attacks Amid Data Glut

Cybercriminals are embracing cloud-based services and technologies in order to accelerate their attacks on organizations and better monetize their wares, researchers have found. This is largely driven by cybercriminals who sell access to what they call “clouds of logs,” which are caches of stolen...

Firefox for Android Bug Allows 'Epic Rick-Rolling'

A vulnerability in Firefox for Android paves the way for an attackers to launch websites on a victim’s phone, with no user interaction. The attack manifests in the form of a Firefox browser window on the target device suddenly launching, without the users’ permission. This can be used for various...

Black Hat 2020: Open-Source AI to Spur Wave of 'Synthetic Media' Attacks

An abundance of deep-learning and open-source technologies are making it easy for cybercriminals to generate fake images, text and audio called “synthetic media”. This type of media can be easily leveraged on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to launch disinformation campaigns wi...

Doki Backdoor Infiltrates Docker Servers in the Cloud

A fresh Linux backdoor called Doki is infesting Docker servers in the cloud, researchers warn, employing a brand-new technique: Using a blockchain wallet for generating command-and-control C2 domain names. Doki however is meant to provide a persistent capability for code-execution on an infected...

WhatsApp Phone Numbers Pop Up in Google Search Results — But is it a Bug?

UPDATE A researcher is warning that a WhatsApp feature called “Click to Chat” puts users’ mobile phone numbers at risk — by allowing Google Search to index them for anyone to find. But WhatsApp owner Facebook says it is no big deal and that the search results only reveal what the users have chose...

‘Coronavirus Report’ Emails Spread NetSupport RAT, Microsoft Warns

A recent spear-phishing campaign has been spotted spreading a weaponized NetSupport Manager remote access tool RAT, which is a legitimate tool used for troubleshooting and tech support. Attackers use the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as a lure, as well as malicious Excel documents, to convince...

Millions of Guests Impacted in Marriott Data Breach, Again

For the second time in two years, the Marriott hotel empire has suffered a major data breach. This time, approximately 5.2 million guests have been affected. The attack was carried out via third-party software that Marriott’s hotel properties use to provide guest services, according to an online...

Covid-19 Poll Results: One in Four Prioritize Health Over Privacy

One in four respondents to a Threatpost reader poll said they were okay with sacrificing a portion of their personal privacy in exchange for some form of cellphone tracking that could – in theory – reduce coronavirus infection rates and save lives. While the majority of Threatpost readers were...

Hackers Actively Exploit 0-Day in CCTV Camera Hardware

Multiple zero-day vulnerabilities were actively being exploited in CCTV security cameras manufactured by Taiwan-based LILIN, researchers found. The company, an IP video solution provider, was being targeted by hackers hijacking the company’s DVR hardware. Once commandeered, hackers then planted...

New Mirai Variant 'Mukashi' Targets Zyxel NAS Devices

Another variant of the shape-shifting Mirai botnet is attacking Zyxel network-attached storage NAS devices using a critical vulnerability that was only recently discovered, according to security researchers. The variant, dubbed Mukashi, takes advantage of a pre-authentication command injection...

DoppelPaymer Ransomware Used to Steal Data from Supplier to SpaceX, Tesla

A company that provides custom parts to aerospace giants Lockheed Martin, SpaceX and Boeing, has been the target of an attack by an emerging type of ransomware that can both encrypt files and exfiltrate data. Colorado-based Visser Precision said it was targeted by a “cyber incident” that involved...

Bruce Schneier Proposes 'Hacking Society' for a Better Tomorrow

SAN FRANCISCO – Cybersecurity experts have long stayed in their problem-solving lane when it comes to finding vulnerabilities, patching bugs and keeping networks safe. But maybe it is time they applied their defensive skillsets and adversarial understanding of cyberthreats to help solve some of...

RSAC 2020: Smart Baby Monitor Vulnerable to Remote Hackers

SAN FRANCISCO – Researchers have discovered a slew of security vulnerabilities in a popular baby monitor, which if exploited allows attackers to remotely access the camera’s video footage. The vulnerabilities were discovered in the iBaby Monitor M6S connected baby camera by researchers with...

Iranian APT Targets Govs With New Malware

SAN FRANCISCO – A never before seen credential-stealing malware, dubbed ForeLord, has been uncovered in recent spear phishing emails. Researchers have attributed the campaign to a known Iranian advanced persistence threat APT group. The emails distributing ForeLord were uncovered as part of a...

Ransomware Attack Hinders Toll Group Operations

Australian transportation and logistics giant Toll Group said a ransomware attack is to blame for several key services being debilitated and delivery operations being delayed over the past week. Toll Group, a subsidiary of Japan Post Holdings, is a freight and delivery service company operating...

Medtronic Patches Implanted Device, CareLink Programmer Bugs

Medtronic has released updates to address known vulnerabilities in its line of connected medical devices that were initially disclosed last year and in 2018. The vendor has addressed two sets of bugs. The first group, disclosed in March of last year, is found in a range of Medtronic implanted...

Feds Cut Off Access to Billions of Breached Records with Site Takedown

The feds and international law enforcement have taken down a website that was selling access to billions of stolen personal records. The FBI and the Department of Justice said on Thursday that they, in conjunction with the Dutch police, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Germany’s...

Critical WordPress Bug Leaves 320,000 Sites Open to Attack

Two WordPress plugins, InfiniteWP Client and WP Time Capsule, suffer from the same critical authorization bypass bug that allows adversaries to access a site’s backend with no password. All an attacker needs is the admin username for the WordPress plugins and they are in, according to researchers...

Intel Fixes High-Severity Flaw in Performance Analysis Tool

Intel is warning of a high-severity vulnerability in its performance analysis tool called Intel VTune Profiler. If exploited the flaw allows an adversary to perform a privilege escalation attack, giving them elevated and unauthorized system access to a targeted system. The VTune Profiler, formerl...

Twitter Fixes Bug that Enabled Takeover of Android App Accounts

Twitter for Android users are being urged to update their app to avoid a security bug that allows a malicious user to access private account data and could also allow an attacker to take control of accounts to send tweets and direct messages. The warning comes from Twitter who said there are no...

Serious Security Flaws Found in Children's Connected Toys

Various connected toys for children – hot off the shelves from this holiday shopping season – have been found with deep-rooted security issues, including missing authentication for device pairing and a lack of encryption for connected online accounts. The research, formed by a partnership between...

Stealthy Malware Flies Under AV Radar with Advanced Obfuscation

Researchers warn hackers are putting a new spin on old injection techniques and successfully end-running endpoint protection. They are tracking a campaign, that kicked off in January, that is still going strong exploiting weaknesses in web browsers. The objective is to hide in the background of...

Amazon Fixes Ring Video Doorbell Flaw That Leaked Wi-Fi Credentials

UPDATE Amazon has patched a vulnerability in its Ring smart doorbell device that could allow attackers to access the owner’s Wi-Fi network credentials and potentially reconfigure the device to launch an attack on the home network, researchers have found. Researchers discovered the problem in...

Gamers Hit with Nvidia GPU Driver, GeForce Flaws

Nvidia has issued fixes for high-severity flaws in two popular gaming products, including its graphics driver for Windows and GeForce Experience. The flaws can be exploited to launch an array of malicious attacks – from denial-of-service efforts DoS to escalation of privileges. The majority of th...

New! RFP Template for Selecting EDR/EPP and APT Security

Once upon a time, only big organizations worried about Advanced Persistent Threats. But it soon became obvious that every organization could find itself under fire, regardless of size or industry, and whether as direct targets or collateral damage. Most security decision makers in these...

IoT Security Challenges in a 5G Era: Expert Advice

When it comes to what we can expect with 5G mobile networks, they promise a more IoT friendly ecosystem, with vast improvements over the current capabilities of the 4G. Providing ultra low-latency and exponentially faster throughput along with sensors that will boast a 10-year battery life 5G pav...

Adwind Spyware-as-a-Service Attacks Utility Grid Operators

A phishing campaign that spoofs a PDF attachment to deliver Adwind spyware has been taking aim at national grid utilities infrastructure. Adwind, a.k.a. JRAT or SockRat, is being used in a malware-as-a-service model in this campaign, researchers said. It offers a full cadre of info-gathering...

Puzzling Gwmndy Botnet Focuses on Low-Volume Proxy Connections

An odd botnet has been spotted targeting Fiberhome routers, in a quest to add 200 of them per day to its botnet web. That’s a low number in the world of botnets, according to 360 Netlab researchers, which observed a previously unknown malware strain called Gwmndy after the attackers’ domain name...

Unpatched Flaws in IoT Smart Deadbolt Open Homes to Danger

UPDATE Researchers have uncovered vulnerabilities in a popular smart deadbolt could allow attackers to remotely unlock doors and break into homes. The manufacturer behind the smart lock, Hickory Hardware, has deployed patches to the affected apps on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The...

Black Hat USA 2019 Preview

Las Vegas – Despite bizarre reports of a grasshopper infestation, Black Hat USA 2019 and DEF CON are set to kick off next week in Las Vegas, bringing on a wave of sessions, keynotes and security-themed villages. The Threatpost team, which will be on the frontlines of next week’s shows, discuss wh...

Retefe Banking Trojan Resurfaces, Says Goodbye to Tor

The Retefe banking trojan resurfaced in April after going dormant for months, with a makeover that includes a move away from Tor to secure its communications as well as the abuse of a legitimate shareware application. Retefe has always stood out from other banking trojans, with a consistent...

Facial Recognition is Here: But Are We Ready?

When MacKenzie Fegan was boarding her morning flight to Mexico City last Wednesday, she noticed something odd at her gate at the JFK International Airport. Instead of a JetBlue employee scanning her boarding pass or taking a look at her passport, she – and other passengers at the gate – was...

The Anatomy of Threat Hunting: What You Need to Know and Why

No big surprise here: cybercrime will keep causing a major slowdown in the years to come as the business world proceed with digitalization. Despite implementing all traditional measures to stay protected, organizations keep falling prey to impersonation, phishing, and malware. Scary enough? What’...

Fourth Major Credential Spill in a Month Hits DreamMarket

The hacker behind more than 840 million account records appearing for sale on the Dark Web in February in dumps collectively known as Collections 1-3 is back with 26.42 more records from six companies. The adversary, who goes by the handle Gnosticplayers, is asking just 1.2431 in Bitcoin roughly...

Facebook Alleges Two Ukrainians Scraped Data From 63K Profiles

Facebook has sued two Ukrainian men that it says used quiz apps and malicious browser extensions to scoop up private data from 63,000 platform users, and then use that data for advertising purposes. A lawsuit filed Friday by Facebook alleged that the two men, Gleb Sluchevsky and Andrey Gorbachov,...

Modern Cybercrime: It Takes a Village

LAS VEGAS – Contrary to the pop-culture image of the hoodie-clad lone hacker with mad keyboard “skillz” siphoning off funds and making people’s lives miserable with a few lines of brilliant code, increasingly cybercrime “takes a village”. The true face of cybercrime today is a more democratic one...

Attackers Can Track Kids' Locations via Connected Watches

Despite ongoing warnings about connected watches and toys endangering kids’ privacy and potentially their physical safety, makers of these Internet of Things gadgets continue to turn out products that do just that. The latest concern is a gamut of kids’ GPS-tracking watches, which were found to b...