Blogs and Articles

Over recent months, the United States has faced a surge in cyber attacks, with ransomware incidents rising sharply from June to October 2024. Prominent groups, including Play, RansomHub, Lockbit, Qilin, and Meow, have targeted sectors such as Business Services, Manufacturing, IT, and Healthcare, compromising over 800 organizations. Major attacks included a breach of the City of Columbus by Rhysida ransomware and data leaks impacting Virginia’s Department of Elections and Healthcare.gov. Additionally, China’s "Salt Typhoon" espionage campaign is aggressively targeting U.S. ISPs, further complicating the cyber threat landscape. Hacktivist groups advocating pro-Russian and pro-Palestinian positions have also increased their attacks, affecting government entities and critical infrastructure. This report highlights the need for enhanced security protocols, regular audits, and public awareness initiatives to mitigate the growing cyber risks. Key recommendations include implementing multi-factor authentication, frequent employee training, and advanced threat monitoring to safeguard the nation's critical infrastructure and public trust.

CloudSEK’s latest research uncovers a troubling trend involving scammers using deepfake technology to promote fraudulent mobile applications. High-profile individuals, such as Virat Kohli, Anant Ambani, and even international figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Reynolds, have been targeted through deepfake videos. These manipulated clips showcase them endorsing a mobile gaming app, luring unsuspecting users into scams. The fraudulent ads leverage the credibility of renowned news channels to enhance their legitimacy, fooling users into downloading harmful applications from fake domains resembling Google Play or Apple App Store. This emerging threat is particularly aimed at the Indian market but extends to other regions like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia. The deceptive gaming apps, designed to siphon money from users, require a minimum deposit, promising quick earnings but leading to significant financial losses. These scams exploit deepfake videos in creative ways to bypass detection, making them even more dangerous. To combat this growing threat, CloudSEK’s Deep Fake Analyzer offers a free solution for the cybersecurity community, helping professionals detect and mitigate the risks posed by manipulated videos, images, and audio. This tool is crucial in safeguarding organizations from deepfake-related scams and fraud. To access the CloudSEK Deep Fake Analyzer, visit https://community.cloudsek.com/

This article examines how cybercriminals exploit stolen frequent flier accounts for money laundering. It covers motivations, trading of accounts, methods to monetize stolen miles, case studies, financial impact, and current prevention measures.

On 20 September 2024, CloudSEK’s XVigil discovered threat actor “xenZen” selling 7TB of data from Star Health Insurance, impacting over 31 million customers. While the data is confirmed authentic, claims of insider involvement from the company’s CISO appear fabricated.

The Lumma Stealer malware is being distributed through deceptive human verification pages that trick users into running malicious PowerShell commands. This phishing campaign primarily targets Windows users and can lead to the theft of sensitive information

On 12 September 2024, CloudSEK’s XVigil found threat actor "Fortibitch" leaking 440GB of data from Fortinet’s SharePoint after failed extortion. While ransomware use is unclear, the actor mentioned Ukrainian group DC8044, but no direct link is confirmed. It’s believed with medium confidence that the actor is based in Ukraine.

Mexico has seen a surge in cyberattacks, with hacktivist groups targeting finance, government, and education. Key threats include data breaches and protests, along with illegal firearm sales online. Strengthening cybersecurity is crucial to protect sensitive data and maintain stability.

The report highlights a surge in cyberattacks in Brazil ahead of Independence Day, with defacement attacks targeting government websites and critical sectors like Finance and Gambling. Team R70 is identified as the most active threat group. The report urges stronger cybersecurity measures to protect against these threats.

Phishing scams and fake job offers have risen with the growth of remote work and economic uncertainty. Cybercriminals use deceptive emails and social engineering to target job seekers. This blog highlights the methods, impacts, and the urgent need for strong cybersecurity measures to combat these threats.