Apple Inc said on Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber firm NSO Group and its parent company OSY Technologies for the surveillance and targeting of Apple users with its Pegasus spyware. The iPhone maker said it is also seeking to ban NSO Group from using any Apple …
Read More »Ransomware attacks cost US $59 million in 2021
The US Treasury Department has reported more than half a billion dollars was paid by victims of ransomware cyber-attacks in the first six months of 2021. The ransomware attackers use malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files and holds the data hostage until a ransom is paid. The Treasury’s Financial …
Read More »UN experts call for moratorium on surveillance tech sales following Israeli spyware scandal
UN experts have called for an international moratorium on the sale of surveillance technology until regulations are enforced to protect human rights following a scandal surrounding the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware, which reportedly targeted political figures worldwide, including French President Emmanuel Macron. “It is highly dangerous and irresponsible to allow the …
Read More »You met Pegasus, on phones, now meet Toka, on any net-connected device: Report
The abuse of the Pegasus software by autocratic regimes has been known for several years, though, through recent revelations, it appeared to gain much traction in the mainstream media, owing to the high number of civilians who have reportedly been under surveillance through its use. The continuation of the long-standing …
Read More »Saudi Aramco says its data being held for $50 MILLION in ransom on dark web.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company acknowledged that some of its data is being held for ransom online. Aramco said it likely came from a third-party contractor, denying there’s been any breach of its computer systems. The company confirmed to AP on Wednesday it “recently became aware of the indirect release …
Read More »Biden presses Putin to act on ransomware attacks, hints at retaliation
U.S. President Joe Biden increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to move against ransomware groups operating in Russia, warning the United States is prepared to respond if cyber hacks are not stopped. The two leaders held an hour-long phone call on Friday, their first since they discussed …
Read More »Hundreds of US companies hit by ‘devastating’ ransomware attack, cyber experts say
A security firm said the REvil gang, allegedly a Russian-speaking ransomware syndicate appears to be responsible for the attack. A “colossal and devastating” ransomware attack is thought to have paralysed the networks of at least 200 US companies. The federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have said it is closely …
Read More »US recovers millions in cryptocurrency paid to Colonial Pipeline ransomware hackers
The Justice Department has recovered the majority of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers after a cyberattack that caused the operator of the nation’s largest fuel pipeline to halt its operations last month, officials said Monday. The operation to recover the cryptocurrency from the Russia-based hacker group is believed to …
Read More »Hacker attack shuts down IT system of Ireland’s health services, badly affecting one of Europe’s busiest maternity hospitals
Ireland’s health service has temporarily shut down all of its IT systems due to a “significant ransomware attack,” and one of Europe’s busiest maternity hospitals is badly affected as most appointments have been canceled. The Health Service Executive (HSE) took to Twitter on Friday to announce a “significant ransomware attack” …
Read More »US pipeline operator pays $5 million ransom to hackers after fuel prices soar
The operator of a critical US pipeline that provides the East Coast of the country with nearly half of its gasoline and jet fuel reportedly shelled out $5 million ransom to hackers, clearing the way for the pipeline to function normally again. According to reports in the US media, Colonial …
Read More »Top US fuel pipeline down for 4th day as hackers issue statement
America’s biggest gasoline pipeline is unlikely to resume significant operations for several days due to a ransomware cyberattack that Washington on Monday blamed on a shadowy criminal network called DarkSide. The attack on the Colonial Pipeline between Houston and New Jersey, which provides nearly half the fuel to the U.S. …
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