CyberWire Daily

Iran’s wiper attacks may have been posing as criminal gang capers. CISA issues an alert on the USAID Constant Contact credential compromise. European governments express concern over reports of US surveillance (enabled, allegedly, by Danish organizations). Epsilon Red ransomware is out and active. Ben Yelin looks at Florida Governor DeSantis’ bill aimed at Social Media companies. Our guest is Giovanni Vigna from VMware with highlights from their 2020 Threat Landscape Report. And police come looking for cannabis farming and find coin-mining rigs instead.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/104 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Lenny Zeltser, CISO of Axonius, sits down with the CyberWire's CSO and Chief Analyst Rick Howard to discuss one of Rick's favorite topics, zero trust. Lenny shares his views on this cybersecurity first principle, taking into account changes in mindsets during the COVID-19 pandemic that have necessitated many to move toward zero trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing Director at Cerberus Sentinel, Chief Compliance Officer and the President of TalaTek, Baan Alsinawi shares her cybersecurity journey from a teenager who wanted to understand computers and held several positions in IT from help desk to systems engineering and cybersecurity. Founding her own business focusing on compliance, Baan says she spends maybe only 20% of her day on technical tasks and that there is always so more to do. Finding the right people for her team is a marker of success for Baan. She talks of the importance of sharing the sense of community of women in technology and nurturing women in the field. We thank Baan for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Brandon Hoffman of Intel 471 joins Dave Bittner to share his team's research "How China’s cybercrime underground is making money off big data". Through Intel 471’s observation and analysis of open source information and behavior on multiple closed forums, they found actors adopting the use of legitimate big data technology for cybercrime and monetizing the data they obtain on the Chinese-language underground.The behavior Intel 471 analyzed points to a cycle that involves several different layers of cybercriminals, the use of insider information, and unwitting victims in order to earn ill-gotten gains. The schemes themselves proliferate partly due to China’s desire to be a global epicenter in big data analytics, especially as it pushes to become synonymous with new technology sectors like the Internet of Things (IoT). With China injecting big data into every economic sector, the environment has become ripe for criminals to create and execute schemes that hide in the noise brought on by the amount of data at hand.The research can be found here:How China’s cybercrime underground is making money off big data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A phishing campaign this week appears to be the work of Russia’s SVR. Chinese government threat actors continue to exploit unpatched Pulse Secure instances. FBI renews warnings about unpatched Fortinet appliances. Healthcare organizations still work to recover from ransomware. Rick Howard speaks with author Andy Greenberg on his book Sandworm. Ben Yelin weighs in on questions Senator Wyden has for the Pentagon. And a look at the criminal ransomware market, including the consultants who serve the extortionists.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/103 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese-speaking operators are reported to be phishing to compromise devices belonging to Uyghurs. The US Department of Homeland Security issues pipeline cybersecurity regulations. Security companies take various approaches to offering decryptors against ransomware. Huawei would like to chat with President Biden. Rick Howard speaks with authors Peter Singer and Emerson Brooking on their book "LikeWar - The Weaponization of Social Media". Our guest is Darren Shou of NortonLifeLock on the findings of the 6th annual Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report. And a few notes on privateers, then and now, whether on High Barbaree or the dark net.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/102 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hafnium visits Belgium. “Low-sophistication” attacks on operational technology. Updates on healthcare sector ransomware attacks in New Zealand and Ireland. Wipers masquerading as ransomware. “Privateers” are defined as a new category of threat actor. TSA’s new standards for pipeline security. The World Economic Forum has advice for Boards in the oil and gas sector. Rick Howard interviews Liza Mundy on her book "Code Girls - The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers Who Helped Win World War II". Joe Carrigan describes fraudulent search engine ad buys. And as one criminal is sentenced, eight more are arrested.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/101 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The CryptoCore campaign that looted cryptocurrency exchanges is said to have been the work of North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Insurers are taking a hard look at ransomware and the cyber insurance policies that might cover it. Managing ransomware risk, and a role for standards bodies. Can there be such a thing as responsible disclosure of decryptors and other remediation tools? Ransomware gangs regroup. Perry Carpenter previews the new 8th Layer Insights podcast. Rick Howard speaks with authors Doug Barth and Evan Gilman. And it’s time served plus deportation in the case of an unsuccessful hacker.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/100 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ransomware warnings in the US, Ireland, New Zealand, and Germany--healthcare organizations are said to be at particular risk. Belgium adopts a new cybersecurity strategy. China isn’t happy with freelance cryptominers. Air India sustains a third-party breach of passenger personal data. An FBI analyst is indicted for mishandling classified material. Rick Howard previews this week’s CSO Perspective podcast and kicks off cybersecurity canon week with author Perry Carpenter. And happy birthday, US Cyber Command.For links to all of today's stories check out our CyberWire daily news brief:https://www.thecyberwire.com/newsletters/daily-briefing/10/99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior Security Officer at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Michael Bishop Jr. shares his journey from Army infantryman deployed to Iraq to working in cybersecurity. After 12 years in the U.S. Army, Mike found himself in a rough spot. Looking for work and having some personal challenges, Mike's mentor, an Army officer he met while enlisted, recognized Mike's struggles and helped to nudge him toward cybersecurity. Mike credits his mentor with helping him transition to where he is today. Undergoing training for cybersecurity, he was tested in many areas and found the route he wanted to go. We thank Michael for sharing his story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices