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Security newsround: May 2018

We round up reporting and research from across the web about the latest security news and developments. This month: police success against cyber villains, the value of personal data, IoT security, a new ransomware strain, a new security framework and Gmail goes for 2FA.

Law’s long arm collars cyber crooks

Police forces scored three big wins against various cybercrime operations recently. In late April, authorities took down WebStresser.org, one of the world’s most popular marketplaces for launching DDoS attacks. Reuters reported that WebStresser was behind attacks on seven of Britain’s largest banks last November. The service is also alleged to have been responsible for four million attacks since 2015 against governments, police services, and businesses.

The Dutch Politie and the UK’s National Crime Agency led ‘Operation Power Off’, supported by Europol and a dozen other law enforcement agencies. They arrested alleged WebStresser administrators in four countries, seized infrastructure, and took unspecified “further measures” against some of its top users.

Before police pulled the plug, WebStresser had amassed 136,000 registered users. Threatpost aptly described WebStresser as a “criminal fantasy dream site”. It reported that there are 6.5 million DDoS attacks per year on average, earning attackers $13 million in revenue.

In separate operations, a coalition of eight countries led by Belgium took down propaganda broadcasting infrastructure of the Islamic State. Authorities targeted web assets of Amaq News Agency, an online media outlet which authorities called “the main mouthpiece of IS”. The same action also took down other IS-branded media outlets.

Completing the hat-trick, cybercrime teams from Dutch police seized the Anon-IB forum in an investigation relating to criminal offences. Vice Motherboard described Anon-IB as “possibly the most infamous site focused on revenge porn – explicit or intimate images of people shared without their consent”.

We’re always pleased to see law enforcement prevail in the fight against cybercrime. BH Consulting has been a partner of Europol for years. In 2013, our CEO Brian Honan was appointed as a special advisor on internet security to Europol’s CyberCrime Centre (EC3).

What’s your data worth?

If data is the new oil, there’s no shortage of ways that criminals can refine it for profit. As this post from Dark Reading makes clear, stolen data has many purposes that security teams need to know about. Crimes range from stolen IP to filing fraudulent tax rebates to schemes for stealing money, Steve Zurier wrote. Once hackers hold an inventory of stolen data , they package up and sell personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. They usually sell this data in bulk to maximise their profits. The more recent the records, the more value they fetch on the black market, Zurier said.

The question of what our data is worth in the digital economy is especially resonant and relevant in light of the recent Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal. Not to mention a certain four-letter privacy regulation. In Medium, Rik Ferguson of Trend Micro wrote a thoughtful post that considers the value of our personal information in the online economy. Data, he wrote, “unlike oil … is not burned up when used, but can be sold and resold, mined and reused”.

There’s plenty to chew on for privacy and security professionals. Rik wrote: “Our data is cataloged and combined with the traces we leave behind in the physical world, correlated and mined to reach conclusions far beyond those we might perhaps be comfortable with publicising, and then sold as a commodity or a subscription-based service to any interested party. It is an industry based our ignorance and our nonchalance.”

Securing all the things

ENISA has developed a free interactive tool based on its baseline security recommendations for the Internet of Things. This lets anyone working on IoT projects search and identify good practices. The tool is available to download here, and this page also includes a help guide. It’s based on the agency’s original study on IoT security which it published last year. The new tool is timely, as criminals have apparently begun exploiting IoT as another way to profit from cryptocurrency mining. Trend Micro researchers identified malware that hijacks the processing power of IoT devices and smartphones to mine for cryptocurrency. As Lesley Carhart of Dragos jokingly tweeted: “Your router and your IOT thermostat should really beep like your smoke detector when it’s missing a critical security patch.”

Prepare for a summer of SamSam?

Researchers are warning of criminals taking a new approach to ransomware infections. Sophos analysed the SamSam variant and found criminals carefully choose target organisations. They then launch thousands of copies of SamSam onto that organisation’s computers all at once. Once the infection has hit, the criminals offer victims a volume discount to clean all machines. This differs from the usual spam-like scattergun approach to ransomware of sending one malware copy to multiple possible targets. “The cybercriminals behind SamSam use vulnerabilities to gain access to the victims’ network or use brute-force tactics against the weak passwords of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)”, the researchers wrote. Here’s ThreatPost’s writeup of the research. Sophos’ own blog describes the findings, and here’s a link to the technical paper.

Guidelines in the NIST

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released version 1.1 of its Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. This updates the original version 1.0 which proved popular on its release in February 2014. Version 1.1’s updated guidelines cover authentication and identity, cybersecurity risk self assessment, supply chain security management, and vulnerability disclosure. NIST programme manager Matt Barrett said the framework is flexible enough to meet an individual organisation’s business or mission needs. It applies to a wide range of technology environments such as information technology, industrial control systems and the Internet of Things. Later this year, NIST will release an updated companion document, the Roadmap for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST’s press release is here and the framework is available free in PDF at this link.

Google beefs up Gmail security

Two-factor authentication got a shot in the arm after Google added this security feature for its Gmail app last month. Also called two-step verification, this sends a prompt to a user’s phone when they access their Gmail account on another computer. Naked Security said this is more secure than sending an SMS code to the phone, which can be vulnerable to fraud. It also pointed out that ease of use will encourage more people to use it, as takeup of 2FA to date has been low. Why does this matter? Here’s how many Gmail users there are in the world: 1.2 billion, to be exact. Google has more details on its blog. If you or your users still prefer passwords, here’s our advice from last year on how to choose better ones.

 

The post Security newsround: May 2018 appeared first on BH Consulting.

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Cyber News Rundown: Facebook Reveals “Clear History” Feature

Reading Time: ~2 min.

The Cyber News Rundown brings you the latest happenings in cybersecurity news weekly. Who am I? I’m Connor Madsen, a Webroot Threat Research Analyst and a guy with a passion for all things security. Any questions? Just ask.

Cyberattack Shuts Down Mexico Central Bank

Within the past week, several payment systems associated with Mexico’s central bank were compromised for an unspecified amount of time. The impacted systems led to delays with money transfers and processing of transactions for central bank customers, but officials claim no funds or data were stolen. It is still unclear how the attackers accessed the systems, though the issue has heightened awareness of possible security flaws.

Facebook Implementing History Removal Tool

In the wake of the data mishandling scandal that tarnished Facebook’s privacy standards, the company announced it’s working on a new tool that will allow users to clear browsing history and cookies from within Facebook, along with opting out of allowing Facebook to gather future browsing data. While this tool is still being created, Mark Zuckerberg has said Facebook hopes to give more privacy controls back to the users who trust the site.

Fitbit Adopts Google Healthcare API

Recently, Fitbit announced they will be integrating their current systems to incorporate the Cloud Healthcare API from Google in order to give healthcare providers better access to important data. Fitbit has been working towards this for some time by constantly improving their data analysis and providing better feedback to users and their health professionals. The partnership with Google’s API allows them to use an industry-compliant system, without the trouble of creating one from the ground up.

Northeast School District Pays Hefty Ransom

Following the April 14 cyberattack that encrypted much of a Massachusetts school district’s computer systems, local police recommended the district pay the $10,000 ransom to restore the system. While it paying ransoms is normally suggested only as a last resort, it would appear that the district wasn’t capable to restoring the systems on their own. In the end, it opted to pay the requested amount in hopes the criminals stay true to their word.

DVRs Being Compromised

A researcher recently released a tool that would allow anyone access to several brands of DVRs and illicitly obtain both device credentials and live video recordings. Using Shodan, the researcher was able to identify nearly 55,000 unique, accessible DVR devices that could be exploited with his tool using a previously discovered flaw for DVR devices.

The post Cyber News Rundown: Facebook Reveals “Clear History” Feature appeared first on Webroot Blog.

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Cyber News Rundown: Amazon DNS Service Hijacked

Reading Time: ~2 min.

The Cyber News Rundown brings you the latest happenings in cybersecurity news weekly. Who am I? I’m Connor Madsen, a Webroot Threat Research Analyst and a guy with a passion for all things security. Any questions? Just ask.

Amazon IPs Rerouted for Several Hours

Early Tuesday morning attackers compromised an ISP that allowed them to reroute 1,300 IP addresses belonging to Amazon’s Route 53 DNS service. Amazon quickly released a statement on the issue and clarified that it was a specific vendor’s domain that was sharing the traffic across multiple peer networks. In doing so, the attackers were able to masquerade as MyEtherWallet.com, which netted them over $150,000 in cryptocurrency.

Middle East Ride-Hailing App Compromised

In an announcement at the beginning of this week, the ride-hailing app Careem addressed a data breach that occurred in mid-January. The breach could affect nearly 14 million customers, though officials have stated that no payment information was amongst the compromised data, as it is stored off-site. Fortunately, the breach shouldn’t affect anyone who signed up for the app after January 14.

Complaints of Tech Support Scams on the Rise

Over the course of 2017, Microsoft saw a 24% rise in the number of complaints regarding tech support scams their customers fell victim to. This increase is similar to the findings of the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which saw an 86% change from the previous year. While the tactics used have not varied much, the number of scam calls have gone up significantly and have branched out to include both Mac and Linux users.

City of Atlanta Closing in on $3 Million Mark for Ransomware Recovery

It was recently revealed the City of Atlanta has spent close to $3 million to recover from a ransomware attack nearly a month ago. Though the original ransom was set at $51,000, paying it would not guarantee a swift resolution. Even now, Atlanta is still working on returning its systems to full working order. The delay may have been lengthened by the unknown amount of time the hackers had access to its system.

Malicious Crypto-miner Disables System Security

The newly dubbed PyRoMine, a cryptocurrency miner, which uses the EternalRomance NSA exploit to propagate, has been spotted in the wild over the past month. By disabling any security services it encounters, as well as Windows Updates, the malicious VBScript is able to compromise RDP to allow consistent traffic through port 3389. Even though it hasn’t spread widely, the number of unpatched machines still accessible to malware authors is a goldmine just waiting to be found.

The post Cyber News Rundown: Amazon DNS Service Hijacked appeared first on Webroot Blog.

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After the Hack: Tips for Damage Control

Reading Time: ~4 min.

According to the Identity Theft Research Center, in 2017 alone, nearly 158 million social security numbers were stolen as a result of 1579 data breaches. Once a cybercriminal has access to your personal info, they can open credit cards, take out loans that quickly ruin your credit, or leave you with a giant bill. But that’s not all. Many people don’t realize that, depending on how much information a hacker gets and what their intentions are, you could lose a lot more than money. From sending malware to your contacts from your account to spamming your coworkers with phishing attacks to compromise your employer’s network, the damage a hacker can wreak on your personal and professional life can extend far beyond the monetary bounds.

Additionally, according to Dave Dufour, VP of Engineering and Cybersecurity at Webroot, we’re seeing more evolution in cybercriminal tactics that take advantage of internet users and their trust:

“What’s happening lately is that people are hacking social media accounts. Why would anyone want your social media information? One reason is that, if I have access to one of your social media accounts, I can spread malware to all your followers who trust you. Pretending to be you, I can send out a link, your followers click it, and my malware is now on all of their devices.”

So, what do you do if you’ve been hit with malware, ransomware, phishing, or a social media attack? First, don’t panic. Second, follow these steps to deal with the fallout.

You’ve been hacked. Now what?

Change your passwords
The first step is one you’ve probably already heard: change all your passwords. Yes, all of them. Don’t forget make them strong by using at least 12 characters, changing out at least two or three of the characters to uppercase, using numbers or symbols (e.g., replacing an A with a @ or an S with a 5), avoid using places you’ve lived, acquaintances names, your pets, birthdays, or addresses—and don’t even think about using ABC or 123. If you have trouble keeping track of your passwords, we recommend you use to a secure password manager application that saves your credentials in an encrypted database and automatically fills them in when you log into a site.

Turn on two-factor authentication
Most accounts that house your personal information, such as email or banking, offer two-factor authentication. This provides an additional layer of security that goes beyond your username and password by asking you to confirm your login with an extra step, such as a short-term security code sent via text message or phone call. You can turn on two-factor authentication from the login screen of the account.

Check for updates
One of the best ways to keep your devices protected is to update your operating system regularly and ensure that any applications you use are patched and up to date. If you have questions, you can always call your device provider’s helpline. To make things even easier, most systems and software allow you to set up Automatic Updates, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to check for them manually.

Install antivirus protection and run a scan
Antivirus software is an extremely beneficial tool that doesn’t just help detect and remove malicious software that could be lurking on your computer, it can also stop threats before they infect your device in the first place. But be careful: avoid the temptation to download a free antivirus program, as these often come bundled with malware or potentially unwanted applications. Instead, invest in a reputable option. Once installed, be sure to run a scan and turn on automatic scans and updates.

Delete sensitive data from the compromised account
As soon as you realize you’ve been hacked, go to the compromised account and delete any sensitive data you can. For example, if you know you’ve stored your credit card information, bank statements, social security number etc. in your email or on any retail site, immediately delete them from those locations. This also goes for any personal photos or information you wouldn’t want released. And don’t forget to clear out your folders on any cloud services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive™ or iCloud®.

Monitor bank statements and account activity
One of the top motivations of a cyberattack is to steal your money or identity to go on a shopping spree or use your financial accounts in some way. Be vigilant about monitoring your accounts for recent activity and check to make sure no new shipping addresses, payment methods, or accounts have been added. Also, call your bank and let them know about the incident so they can have their fraud department monitor your accounts.=

Deauthorize apps on Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc.
To protect your accounts and remove malicious individuals, check which apps are connected to your social media accounts and deactivate all of them. Did you sign into a site using your Facebook so you could see which historical figure you look like? That’s an example of something you should deactivate. You can find directions on how to do this for each account in its help or settings section or by contacting the associated customer service line.

Tell friends you’ve been hacked, so they don’t become victims, too
Another important step to take after you’ve been hacked is to alert your contacts. Many social media and email attackers will send messages from your account that contain malicious links, attachments, or urgent requests for money. Letting contacts know right away that your account has been compromised, and what to watch out for, can save them from the same fate.

Because technology continues to advance and the number of connected devices is growing exponentially, being the target of a cyberattack or identity theft is becoming more commonplace. But we’re here to help. Learn more about protecting yourself and your family online, and what you can do to stay safe from modern cybercrime.

The post After the Hack: Tips for Damage Control appeared first on Webroot Blog.

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Cyber News Rundown: Russia Bans Telegram

Reading Time: ~2 min.

The Cyber News Rundown brings you the latest happenings in cybersecurity news weekly. Who am I? I’m Connor Madsen, a Webroot Threat Research Analyst and a guy with a passion for all things security. Any questions? Just ask.

Russia Blocks Millions of IPs to Halt Use of Telegram

Recently, Russia has been putting pressure on Telegram, an end-to-end encrypted messaging service, to release a master key that would allow Russian officials to monitor suspected terrorist communications. Many of the blocked IPs belong to Amazon and Google, which have prompted Telegram users to switch to VPN services to continue using the app.

Facebook Accounts Breached by Stress Relief App

Within the last week, nearly 40,000 Facebook accounts have been compromised after users installed a stress relief painting program that silently steals available browser data. Likely being spread through spam emails, the malware itself runs a fully functional painting program that closely imitates the recently defunct Microsoft Paint and continues to gather data anytime its host computer restarts.

New Cryptominer Bypasses Open Browser Requirement

A recently discovered cryptominer functions like most previous miners, though its XMRig has been updated to no longer require an open internet browser session to begin its This change is significant, as it means the malware itself has been changed from being internet-reliant to endpoint-based, which allows it to function on the infected device without user interaction. While XMRig is still not the most prolific cryptominer currently operating, it’s believed to have spread to over 15 million unique endpoints around the world.

Tax Season is Open Season for Cyber Criminals

As the 2018 tax season wraps up, officials are working hard to determine if high volumes of tax returns being sent from individual computers are from tax professionals or criminals. While the IRS does have methods for stopping massive quantities of returns from being issued from a single device, tax professionals regularly file up to hundreds of returns per year. So how do they determine if they are legitimate or not? Now, cybercriminals have also recognized this loophole and have begun targeting pros, rather than individuals, to stay undetected while submitting fraudulent tax returns.

Microsoft Engineer Charged for Ransomware Money Laundering

A Microsoft employee was charged this week with laundering money accrued from a Reveton ransomware variant that was used as a prominent screen-locker several years ago. The engineer is accused of transferring over 100,000 USD to a partner in the UK that had been extorted as ransom for restoring the system to its normal functionality.

The post Cyber News Rundown: Russia Bans Telegram appeared first on Webroot Blog.