digitaltransformationworld

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Decoding the black in BlackMamba; How does the world of malware look

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), experts believe that there has been a rise in AI-driven malware. From what it’s understood, fraudsters can use machine learning techniques such as Generative AI to create malware. By using generative AI, user’s data could be misused and synthesised for fraudulent activities. Reportedly, hackers use predictive AI to predict the defence mechanism of the target. In alignment with this, experts have predicted a new malware ‘BlackMamba’ which uses AI-powered techniques to stay hidden from endpoint detection and response (EDR) security solutions. “ In 2024, the future can combine the ongoing success of many current attack tactics, such as identity compromise, with an emerging landscape dominated by AI-powered cyberattacks,” Parag Khurana, country manager, Barracuda Networks (India) Pvt Ltd, a cloud-based cybersecurity platform, told FE-TransformX, adding that global shortage of cybersecurity professionals means organisations need to look to integrated-end-to-end security solutions, third-party security operations centers and ongoing employee security awareness training, to fortify their defences.

Decoding BlackMamba

From what it is understood, BlackMamba uses a benign executable which reaches out to an API (OpenAI) at runtime, so it can return synthesised, malicious code needed to steal an infected user’s keystroke. The code is then used as a benign programme using Python’s exec function, with the malicious polymorphic portion remaining in memory. Case in point, by using its built-in keylogging ability, BlackMamba collected sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal or confidential data, among others,  that a user entered in Microsoft Teams, as per insights from Security Boulevard. These were later sold on the dark web for fraudulent activities.

In 2023, about 400 million malware was found across 8.5 million endpoints, as per insights from Seqrite,a cybersecurity solutions provider. In March 2023, over eight percent of responding employees had used ChatGPT at least once in the workplace, and around three percent had entered confidential corporate data into ChatGPT. The most commonly exposed type of corporate data was the sensitive data intended for internal use only,  as per insights from Statista. Reportedly, illegal activists had been selling chatbot services such as DarkBART, FraudGPT and WormGPT, among others, as per insights from Seqrite, a cybersecurity solutions provider.

The dark side of generative AI

AI-powered attacks can become common as threat actors create polymorphic malware such as BlackMamba, using ChatGPT and other data-intelligence systems based on large language models (LLM), as per insights from HYAS Labs researchers. “AI also poses challenges and risks for the cybersecurity landscape as it can be used by malicious actors to launch attacks, evade detection and exploit vulnerabilities, among others. One of the main challenges that AI poses is that it can increase the scale, speed and complexity of cyberattacks” Sanjay Agrawal, chief product officer, Quick Heal Technologies Ltd, a cybersecurity platform, explained.

Industry experts believe that the rise of AI-driven attacks, ranging from deepfakes to intricate phishing techniques, poses a challenge to digital security and public trust alike. Threat actors employ BlackMamba to evade detection, intensifying the complexity of the cybersecurity landscape. Every time BlackMamba executes, it re-synthesises its keylogging capability, making the malicious component of this malware polymorphic. “Amidst these challenges, AI has the ability to equip cybersecurity professionals with the tools to fortify digital environments, fostering a proactive stance against emerging threats. Its ability to discern patterns, mitigate risks, and enable real-time responses can reshape the cybersecurity paradigm,” Shibu Paul, vice president, international sales, Array Networks, a security platform, highlighted.

The road ahead

By 2027, 50% of enterprise chief information security officers (CISOs) can adopt human-centric security design practices to reduce cybersecurity-induced friction and upgrade control adoption, as per insights from Gartner.  “The integration of decentralised identity systems, AI-driven deception techniques and focus on cyber-resilience postures can set new paradigms. The complexities of the digital realm underscore the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Quantum-resistant algorithms, the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities and the role of human-centric security strategies can emerge as the key areas in 2024,” Ajay Kabra, senior director, global business excellence, Xebia, a cloud solution provider, said.

Experts believe that this transformation shouldn’t overshadow the need for human expertise. The collaboration of AI-backed defences with human talent can be the strategy for fortifying cyber fortresses. “The trajectory of 2024 in cybersecurity will use the dual approach of inclusion of AI-powered defences and investment in human skills, along with the guidance of C-suite executives. This convergence can form the bedrock for resilience in an age that is dominated by relentless cyber challenges,” Vishal Gupta, CEO, Seclore,  a data-centric security platform, concluded.

Source Link: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/digital-transformation-decoding-the-black-in-blackmamba-how-does-the-world-of-malware-looknbsp-3355804/

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/

[digitaltransformationworld]

Decoding the black in BlackMamba; How does the world of malware look – Digital Transformation News

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), experts believe that there has been a rise in AI-driven malware. From what it’s understood, fraudsters can use machine learning techniques such as Generative AI to create malware. By using generative AI, user’s data could be misused and synthesised for fraudulent activities. Reportedly, hackers use predictive AI to predict the defence mechanism of the target. In alignment with this, experts have predicted a new malware ‘BlackMamba’ which uses AI-powered techniques to stay hidden from endpoint detection and response (EDR) security solutions. “ In 2024, the future can combine the ongoing success of many current attack tactics, such as identity compromise, with an emerging landscape dominated by AI-powered cyberattacks,” Parag Khurana, country manager, Barracuda Networks (India) Pvt Ltd, a cloud-based cybersecurity platform, told FE-TransformX, adding that global shortage of cybersecurity professionals means organisations need to look to integrated-end-to-end security solutions, third-party security operations centers and ongoing employee security awareness training, to fortify their defences.

Decoding BlackMamba

From what it is understood, BlackMamba uses a benign executable which reaches out to an API (OpenAI) at runtime, so it can return synthesised, malicious code needed to steal an infected user’s keystroke. The code is then used as a benign programme using Python’s exec function, with the malicious polymorphic portion remaining in memory. Case in point, by using its built-in keylogging ability, BlackMamba collected sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal or confidential data, among others,  that a user entered in Microsoft Teams, as per insights from Security Boulevard. These were later sold on the dark web for fraudulent activities.

In 2023, about 400 million malware was found across 8.5 million endpoints, as per insights from Seqrite,a cybersecurity solutions provider. In March 2023, over eight percent of responding employees had used ChatGPT at least once in the workplace, and around three percent had entered confidential corporate data into ChatGPT. The most commonly exposed type of corporate data was the sensitive data intended for internal use only,  as per insights from Statista. Reportedly, illegal activists had been selling chatbot services such as DarkBART, FraudGPT and WormGPT, among others, as per insights from Seqrite, a cybersecurity solutions provider.

The dark side of generative AI

AI-powered attacks can become common as threat actors create polymorphic malware such as BlackMamba, using ChatGPT and other data-intelligence systems based on large language models (LLM), as per insights from HYAS Labs researchers. “AI also poses challenges and risks for the cybersecurity landscape as it can be used by malicious actors to launch attacks, evade detection and exploit vulnerabilities, among others. One of the main challenges that AI poses is that it can increase the scale, speed and complexity of cyberattacks” Sanjay Agrawal, chief product officer, Quick Heal Technologies Ltd, a cybersecurity platform, explained.

Industry experts believe that the rise of AI-driven attacks, ranging from deepfakes to intricate phishing techniques, poses a challenge to digital security and public trust alike. Threat actors employ BlackMamba to evade detection, intensifying the complexity of the cybersecurity landscape. Every time BlackMamba executes, it re-synthesises its keylogging capability, making the malicious component of this malware polymorphic. “Amidst these challenges, AI has the ability to equip cybersecurity professionals with the tools to fortify digital environments, fostering a proactive stance against emerging threats. Its ability to discern patterns, mitigate risks, and enable real-time responses can reshape the cybersecurity paradigm,” Shibu Paul, vice president, international sales, Array Networks, a security platform, highlighted.

The road ahead

By 2027, 50% of enterprise chief information security officers (CISOs) can adopt human-centric security design practices to reduce cybersecurity-induced friction and upgrade control adoption, as per insights from Gartner.  “The integration of decentralised identity systems, AI-driven deception techniques and focus on cyber-resilience postures can set new paradigms. The complexities of the digital realm underscore the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Quantum-resistant algorithms, the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities and the role of human-centric security strategies can emerge as the key areas in 2024,” Ajay Kabra, senior director, global business excellence, Xebia, a cloud solution provider, said.

Experts believe that this transformation shouldn’t overshadow the need for human expertise. The collaboration of AI-backed defences with human talent can be the strategy for fortifying cyber fortresses. “The trajectory of 2024 in cybersecurity will use the dual approach of inclusion of AI-powered defences and investment in human skills, along with the guidance of C-suite executives. This convergence can form the bedrock for resilience in an age that is dominated by relentless cyber challenges,” Vishal Gupta, CEO, Seclore,  a data-centric security platform, concluded.

Source Link: https://www.theheraldnewstoday.com/decoding-the-black-in-blackmamba-how-does-the-world-of-malware-look-digital-transformation-news/

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/

[digitaltransformationworld]

Xebia Explores How Generative AI Can Impact Business

Mumbai, Dec 29: Xebia, a prominent global IT consultancy firm, proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 14th AgileNCR 2023. This dynamic two-day live virtual conference united IT experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers worldwide. 

The hallmark conference in the Delhi-NCR region, now in its 14th year, focused on the theme, 'Impact of Generative AI on Business Agility,' and facilitated engaging discussions on evolving leadership landscapes, DevOps, and platform engineering.With over 350 participants, AgileNCR 2023 embraced a virtual format, creating interactive discussions and networking opportunities among key figures shaping the future of global business and IT services. 

Ajay Kabra, Senior Director, Global Business Excellence at Xebia and co-host of the 'Agile Ninja Challenge,' expressed, "In the realm of agility, each challenge is an opportunity to hone our skills and embrace the transformative power of agile practices. The 'Agile Ninja Challenge' aims to unleash the agile prowess within every participant, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration."

Source Link:https://www.bizzbuzz.news/technology/xebia-explores-how-generative-ai-can-impact-business-1277736?infinitescroll=1

Website Link:https://xebia.com/apac/

[digitaltransformationworld]

Xebia Explores How Generative AI Can Impact Business Agility at the 14th AgileNCR Virtual Conference

IMC

Gurugram (Haryana) [India], December 29: Xebia, a prominent global IT consultancy firm, proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 14th AgileNCR 2023. This dynamic two-day live virtual conference united IT experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers worldwide.

The hallmark conference in the Delhi-NCR region, now in its14th year, focused on the theme, 'Impact of Generative Al on Business Agility,' and facilitated engaging discussions on evolving leadership landscapes, DevOps, and platform engineering.

With over 350 participants, AgileNCR 2023 embraced a virtual format, creating interactive discussions and networking opportunities among key figures shaping the future of global business and IT services.

Ajay Kabra, Senior Director, Global Business Excellence at Xebia and co-host of the 'Agile Ninja Challenge,' expressed, "In the realm of agility, each challenge is an opportunity to hone our skills and embrace the transformative power of agile practices. The 'Agile Ninja Challenge' aims to unleash the agile prowess within every participant, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration."

Conference Highlights

Agile Ninja Challenge: Ajay Kabra and Deepti Jain presented the 'Agile Ninja Challenge: Unleash Your Agile Prowess,' adding an interactive and competitive edge to the conference.

Keynote Speakers: Esteemed industry experts, including Joe Vallone from Scaled Agile, Inc., Dave West from Scrum.org, and Xebia's CTO, Shekhar Gulati, provided insightful keynote presentations.

Conference Tracks: Diverse tracks covered Digital and Generative Al, Agile Leadership and Transformations,DevOps, and Platform Engineering, catering to participants' interests.

Event Sponsors: Primary Sponsors: Scrum.org, Scaled Agile, Prokanban.org

Community Sponsors: AgileVirgin, Miracle Foundation

Xebia's Commitment to Innovation: AgileNCR 2023 served as a robust platform for knowledge-sharing and networking, reaffirming Xebia's commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the Agile community.

Xebia is a digital transformation leader, serving the top 250 global companies with comprehensive IT solutions. Operating in 16 countries with development centers across the US, Latin America, Western Europe, Poland, Nordics, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, Xebia's experts specialize in Technology Consulting, Software Engineering, Product Development, Data & Al, Cloud, Low Code, Agile Transformation & DevSecOps, and Quality Assurance.

Source Link: https://aninews.in/news/business/business/xebia-explores-how-generative-ai-can-impact-business-agility-at-the-14th-agilencr-virtual-conference20231229143402/

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/

[digitaltransformationworld]

Xebia Explores How Generative AI Can Impact Business Agility at the 14th AgileNCR Virtual Conference

 IMC

Gurugram (Haryana) [India], December 29: Xebia, a prominent global IT consultancy firm, proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 14th AgileNCR 2023. This dynamic two-day live virtual conference united IT experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers worldwide.

The hallmark conference in the Delhi-NCR region, now in its 14th year, focused on the theme, 'Impact of Generative AI on Business Agility,' and facilitated engaging discussions on evolving leadership landscapes, DevOps, and platform engineering.

With over 350 participants, AgileNCR 2023 embraced a virtual format, creating interactive discussions and networking opportunities among key figures shaping the future of global business and IT services.

Ajay Kabra, Senior Director, Global Business Excellence at Xebia and co-host of the 'Agile Ninja Challenge,' expressed, "In the realm of agility, each challenge is an opportunity to hone our skills and embrace the transformative power of agile practices. The 'Agile Ninja Challenge' aims to unleash the agile prowess within every participant, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration."

Conference Highlights

Agile Ninja Challenge: Ajay Kabra and Deepti Jain presented the 'Agile Ninja Challenge: Unleash Your Agile Prowess,' adding an interactive and competitive edge to the conference.

Keynote Speakers: Esteemed industry experts, including Joe Vallone from Scaled Agile, Inc., Dave West from Scrum.org, and Xebia's CTO, Shekhar Gulati, provided insightful keynote presentations.

Conference Tracks: Diverse tracks covered Digital and Generative AI, Agile Leadership and Transformations, DevOps, and Platform Engineering, catering to participants' interests.

Event Sponsors: Primary Sponsors: Scrum.org, Scaled Agile, Prokanban.org

Community Sponsors: AgileVirgin, Miracle Foundation

Xebia's Commitment to Innovation: AgileNCR 2023 served as a robust platform for knowledge-sharing and networking, reaffirming Xebia's commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the Agile community.

Xebia is a digital transformation leader, serving the top 250 global companies with comprehensive IT solutions. Operating in 16 countries with development centers across the US, Latin America, Western Europe, Poland, Nordics, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, Xebia's experts specialize in Technology Consulting, Software Engineering, Product Development, Data & AI, Cloud, Low Code, Agile Transformation & DevSecOps, and Quality Assurance.

Source Link:https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/xebia-explores-how-generative-ai-can-impact-business-agility-at-the-14th-agilencr-virtual-conference-123122900545_1.html

Website Link:https://xebia.com/apac/

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Xebia Appoints Guido Bartels as Global Managing Director – Cloud

Xebia, a renowned global IT consultancy and software development company, has appointed Guido Bartels as Global Managing Director – Cloud. Xebia has significantly strengthened its capabilities and client base in the last few years. To further grow its global market, the company has onboarded yet another industry veteran to its leadership team. Guido will be based in Connecticut, USA. 

Xebia’s cloud service line works with organizations across industries to design and engineer their cloud-native transformation. Xebia helps first-time cloud adopters with everything they need to move to the cloud, and digital natives with optimizing their cloud platforms. From building a reliable and scalable infrastructure to deploying cloud-native solutions, assessing in-house knowledge, managing cloud spend, and training teams, Xebia provides comprehensive assistance.Xebia has established long-term relationships with the largest cloud providers, and Guido will be responsible for taking these partnerships to the next level. He will cover the full cloud spectrum, from multi-cloud consulting and architectural services to cloud cost management, training, and managed services. With his support, Xebia aims to assist every organization in becoming cloud-native and to enhance and expand its authority in cloud services across the globe.

Guido has worked in many countries over the past 24 years. Before joining the team at Xebia, he worked at AWS, where he held the position of Managing Director for the Nordic and Baltic countries, among others. During his nearly four years in this regional role, he successfully launched AWS EMEA’s 5th Infrastructure Region in Stockholm and significantly grew AWS’s business, more than tripling its size.

Additionally, Guido has over 20 years of experience at IBM, where he served as General Manager for the global Energy & Utilities industry vertical and as Managing Director for the Nordic region. In his last nine years at IBM, he also held a position on the company’s Senior Leadership Team. Guido’s expertise in sustainability has made him an early thought leader in the field, and he has served on the boards of both non-profit and for-profit publicly listed organizations. Furthermore, he was appointed for two consecutive 2-year terms as a member of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC), upon direct invitation by the U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Anand Sahay, Global CEO, Xebia, said, “We welcome Guido as a strategic leader to carve and execute the future direction for cloud at Xebia globally. His long association with the leading cloud service providers and experience as a transformation leader will help us create better solutions and align closely with our stakeholders. We partner with the leading cloud providers including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. With Guido as a part of our team, we anticipate strengthening our Cloud capabilities and grow the client base manifold.” 

Guido Bartels, Global Managing Director, Cloud, Xebia, said, “With a career long passion of driving customer value at the intersection of advanced technologies and deep business insights, I’m thrilled to join a team that embodies ‘authority’ in the domain of digital transformation as its mission. Xebia helps the world’s top 250 companies and category leaders to overcome digital challenges, embrace innovation and implement new business models. I look forward to partnering with my new colleagues to ensure we unlock the full potential of cloud for our customers.  I am honored to lead a team of Xebians that serves our customers with in-depth expertise based on an authentic, value-led, and high-quality way of working.”

ABOUT XEBIA 

Xebia is a leader in the digital transformation arena, serving the top 250 companies worldwide with end-to-end IT solutions. The company has experts specializing in Technology Consulting, Software Engineering, Product Development, Data & AI, Cloud, Low Code, Agile Transformation, DevSecOps, and Quality Assurance. In addition to high-quality IT Consulting and state-of-the-art Software Development, Xebia offers a host of Standardized Solutions that substantially reduce time-to-market for businesses. Xebia also practices what it preaches through its Academy offering, which trains modern companies to fulfill their need to work better, smarter, and faster. 

Xebia’s services include in-depth analysis of customer requirements, technology consulting, solution architecture and providing software development and solutions to drive end-to-end digital transformation. The company has a strong presence across 16 countries with development centers across US, Latin America, Western Europe, Poland, Nordics, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Source Link: https://cxotoday.com/press-release/xebia-appoints-guido-bartels-as-global-managing-director-cloud/

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/

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SwissQ officially integrates with Xebia, a global IT services consultancy serving organizations worldwide

SwissQ announced its full integration into Xebia, a global IT services consultancy with a presence in 16 countries. Operating under the unified global brand, Xebia Switzerland can now offer customers a significantly enlarged range of services for digital transformation and access to a network of 6,000 specialists worldwide. The rebrand of SwissQ to Xebia Switzerland completes a year-and-a-half-long integration phase from the company’s initial acquisition in February of 2022. Locally, Xebia now employs over 135 specialists in Switzerland, with operational bases in Bern and Zurich.“We’re thrilled to enhance our offerings, providing our customers with a broader spectrum of services and access to Xebia’s pool of talent across Europe, the UK, Asia, the Americas, MEA, and APAC,” says Stefan Widmer, Member of the Executive Board of Xebia Switzerland and Managing Director of Zurich. “Expanding our network enables us to address even very specific challenges, matching our clients with service matter experts to drive efficient solutions.” Xebia offers an extensive array of services encompassing the entire digital landscape, spanning from data and AI solutions to cloud computing, software development, and beyond. By pushing the boundaries of traditional IT consulting, Xebia can provide accelerators, innovative solutions, and specialized training programs that empower its clients to maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. “Xebia is extremely excited to bring our full consulting and IT services capability to the Swiss market.”, says Anand Sahay, CEO and Executive Director of Xebia. “We strive to be the digital ‘authority’ in all the markets we serve. We achieve this by putting a deep emphasis on quality in all we do – from talent acquisition to delivery of client outcomes. We are looking forward to serving our Swiss clients and enabling them to become digital market leaders by future-proofing processes with the use of modern technologies and providing differentiated training and upskilling.”

Source Link: https://www.cxotoday.com/press-release/swissq-officially-integrates-with-xebia-a-global-it-services-consultancy-serving-organizations-worldwide/talent acquisition Swiss market

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/

[digitaltransformationworld]

SwissQ officially integrates with Xebia, a global IT services consultancy serving organizations worldwide

New Delhi , October 31st 2023:  SwissQ announced its full integration into Xebia, a global IT services consultancy with a presence in 16 countries. Operating under the unified global brand, Xebia Switzerland can now offer customers a significantly enlarged range of services for digital transformation and access to a network of 6,000 specialists worldwide. 

The rebrand of SwissQ to Xebia Switzerland completes a year-and-a-half-long integration phase from the company’s initial acquisition in February of 2022. Locally, Xebia now employs over 135 specialists in Switzerland, with operational bases in Bern and Zurich.

“We’re thrilled to enhance our offerings, providing our customers with a broader spectrum of services and access to Xebia’s pool of talent across Europe, the UK, Asia, the Americas, MEA, and APAC,” says Stefan Widmer, Member of the Executive Board of Xebia Switzerland and Managing Director of Zurich. “Expanding our network enables us to address even very specific challenges, matching our clients with service matter experts to drive efficient solutions.”

Xebia offers an extensive array of services encompassing the entire digital landscape, spanning from data and AI solutions to cloud computing, software development, and beyond. By pushing the boundaries of traditional IT consulting, Xebia can provide accelerators, innovative solutions, and specialized training programs that empower its clients to maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

“Xebia is extremely excited to bring our full consulting and IT services capability to the Swiss market.”, says Anand Sahay, CEO and Executive Director of Xebia. “We strive to be the digital ‘authority’ in all the markets we serve. We achieve this by putting a deep emphasis on quality in all we do – from talent acquisition to delivery of client outcomes. We are looking forward to serving our Swiss clients and enabling them to become digital market leaders by future-proofing processes with the use of modern technologies and providing differentiated training and upskilling.”

The integration of the Switzerland team will enhance digital transformation in the DACH region while also offering significant benefits to Xebia's clients across the Americas, United Kingdom, Europe, India, and other key markets. 

Source Link: https://www.ptinews.com/pti/SwissQ-officially-integrates-with-Xebia--a-global-IT-services-consultancy-serving-organizations-worldwide/66108.html

Website Link: https://xebia.com/apac/