#Colonial Pipeline attack

[chattingwithmodels]

A History of Cybersecurity

in the Twenty-First Century 🧠 TL;DR – A History of Cybersecurity in the 21st Century 🔐💻 🔍 Overview:From the early 2000s to the 2020s, cybersecurity has evolved dramatically in response to increasingly sophisticated threats. What started with experimental worms has escalated into ransomware, nation-state cyber warfare, and AI-powered attacks. 📅 2000s – The Worm Era 🪱 Famous viruses: ILOVEYOU,…

[thelastharbinger]

Did not have the U.S. government holding hearings on previously classified information and lying making confirmations under oath that they are in possession of alien bodies and ufos in order to distract from the fact that covid-19 is still the leading cause of death in children, the cost of living is astronomical, cop city is well underway despite Atlanta residents overwhelmingly crying out against it, we are experiencing the hottest & deadliest temperatures on record, the state of Florida trying to rewrite history to say that slavery was just a mutually beneficial unpaid internship, trans lives and rights are under attack, anti drag laws, FLINT MICHIGAN STILL DOES NOT HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER, anti-discrimination laws being reversed, Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action, Roe v. Wade undone, universal free school lunches are on the ballot, ongoing mass shootings, climate change, big pharma killing off people by withholding live saving drugs at ungodly market prices, the erasure of separation of church and state, AI surveillance being implemented to detect fare evasion for increasingly costly public transport services, the rise of fascim, proud boys showing up with military grade weapons at libraries and day care centers, the permitted attempted coup of the capital, labor union strikes happening all over the country, people dying of heat in Texas because evil landlords want to cut off cooling over an unpaid $51 utility bill, train derailments causing toxic waste spills, corruption within the highest court in the land, homelessness rates the highest its ever been, migrants and asylum seekers being kicked out of temporary housing, the cost of food, book bans, Miranda Rights no longer being stated, mayors deciding to no longer publicly disclose how many people are dying pre-trial in detention facilities, federal minimum wage still $7.25, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, oil pipeline constructions on native lands, something like 30-50% of the nation's drinking water contaminated with forever chemicals, the rich remaining untaxed, biden going back on his campaign promises to forgive all student debt, still no free universal healthcare, ICE deportations increasing under biden admin, the u.s. yet maintaining colonies, teens and women getting jail time for miscarriages and abortions, 100 companies globally responsible for 70 or 80-something percent of all CO2 emissions, we are living in a police state, diseases resurfacing after years with no cases due to rising temps, death penalty, public services being defunded to increase military and police spending budgets, and abusers suing victims for defamation cases in court so that they legally cannot talk about it, and setting a dangerous precedent in the process in my 2023 bingo card but here we god damn are.

[mariacallous]

Today, people around the world will head to school, doctor’s appointments, and pharmacies, only to be told, “Sorry, our computer systems are down.” The frequent culprit is a cybercrime gang operating on the other side of the world, demanding payment for system access or the safe return of stolen data.

The ransomware epidemic shows no signs of slowing down in 2024—despite increasing police crackdowns—and experts worry that it could soon enter a more violent phase.

“We’re definitely not winning the fight against ransomware right now,” Allan Liska, a threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, tells WIRED.

Ransomware may be the defining cybercrime of the past decade, with criminals targeting a wide range of victims including hospitals, schools, and governments. The attackers encrypt critical data, bringing the victim’s operation to a grinding halt, and then extort them with the threat of releasing sensitive information. These attacks have had serious consequences. In 2021, the Colonial Pipeline Company was targeted by ransomware, forcing the company to pause fuel delivery and spurring US president Joe Biden to implement emergency measures to meet demand. But ransomware attacks are a daily event around the world—last week, ransomware hit hospitals in the UK—and many of them don’t make headlines.

“There is a visibility problem into incidents; most organizations don't disclose or report them,” says Brett Callow, a threat analyst at Emsisoft. He adds that this makes it “hard to ascertain which way they are trending” on a month-by-month basis.

Researchers are forced to rely on information from public institutions that disclose attacks, or even criminals themselves. But “criminals are lying bastards,” says Liska.

By all indications, the problem is not going away and may even be accelerating in 2024. According to a recent report by security firm Mandiant, a Google subsidiary, 2023 was a record-breaking year for ransomware. Reporting indicates that victims paid more than $1 billion to gangs—and those are just the payments that we know about.

A major trend identified in the report was more frequent posts by gangs to so-called “shame sites,” where attackers leak data as part of an extortion attempt. There was a 75 percent jump in posts to data leak sites in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Mandiant. These sites employ flashy tactics like countdowns to when the sensitive data of victims will be made public if they don’t pay. This illustrates how ransomware gangs are ramping up the severity of their intimidation tactics, experts told WIRED.

“Generally speaking, their tactics are becoming progressively more brutal,” Callow says.

For example, hackers have also begun to directly threaten victims with intimidating phone calls or emails. In 2023, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle was struck by a ransomware attack, and cancer patients were individually sent emails threatening to release their personal information if they did not pay.

“My concern is that this will spill over into real-world violence very soon,” says Callow. “When there are millions to be had, they might do something bad to an executive of a company that was refusing to pay, or a member of their family.”

While there hasn’t yet been a reported instance of violence resulting from a ransomware attack, gangs have used the threat as a tactic. “We’ve seen in negotiations that have been leaked that they’ve hinted that they might do something like that, saying, ‘We know where your CEO lives,’” Liska says.

Speaking of criminals’ callous approach to life and death, it’s worth noting that researchers estimate that, between 2016 and 2021, ransomware attacks have killed between 42 and 67 Medicare patients due to targeting hospitals and delaying life-saving treatments.

Liska notes that ransomware gangs don’t operate in a vacuum. Their membership overlaps with entities like “the Comm,” a loose global network of criminals who organize online and offer violence-as-a-service in addition to more traditional cybercrime like SIM swapping. Comm members advertise their willingness to beat people, shoot at homes, and post grisly videos purporting to depict acts of torture. Last year, 404 Media reported that Comm members are working directly with ransomware groups like AlphV, a notorious entity that assisted with a high-profile hack of MGM Casinos before the FBI disrupted its operations by developing a decryption tool and seizing several websites—only to return months later with an attack on Change Healthcare that disrupted medical services around the US.

“It makes me very concerned,” Liska says of the link between ransomware gangs and violent cybercriminals.

Law enforcement has seen some recent success in disrupting, if not completely eradicating, ransomware groups. In February, an international collaboration dubbed Operation Cronos disrupted the prolific LockBit ransomware operation by seizing its websites and offering free decryption to victims. Officials also arrested two alleged affiliates of the group who were based in Ukraine and Poland.

It’s been difficult to make a dent in the volume of ransomware attacks in part because ransomware gangs—which work almost like startups, sometimes offering a subscription service and 24/7 support for their software while they recruit affiliates that carry out attacks—are frequently based in Russia. This has prompted Western law enforcement to turn gangs’ own intimidation tactics and psychological games against them.

For example, Operation Cronos used a countdown timer in the style of a ransomware shame site to reveal the identity of LockBit’s alleged boss, 31-year-old Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev. He was also charged in a 26-count indictment by US prosecutors, and sanctioned. Since Khoroshev is apparently in Russia, he’s unlikely to be arrested unless he leaves the country. But revealing his identity can still have the effect of further disrupting his ransomware operation by eroding affiliates’ trust in him and putting a target on his back.

“There are a lot of people who will be interested in trying to get their hands on some of his money,” says Callow. “There will be people who would be willing to bash him on the head and drag him across the border to a country from which he can be extradited.” Affiliates may also be concerned about the possibility of his arrest if he voluntarily leaves Russia.

“Law enforcement is adapting to let them know that they are vulnerable,” Liska says.

Another obstacle to reining in ransomware is the Hydra-esque nature of affiliates. After the LockBit disruption, analysts saw 10 new ransomware sites pop up almost immediately. “That is more than we’ve seen in a 30-day period at any point,” says Liska.

Law enforcement is adapting to this reality, too. In May, an international collaboration called Operation Endgame announced that it had successfully disrupted multiple operations distributing malware “droppers.” Droppers are an important part of the cybercrime ecosystem as they allow hackers to deliver ransomware or other malicious code undetected. Operation Endgame resulted in four arrests in Armenia and Ukraine, took down more than 100 servers, and seized thousands of domains. Endgame employed psychological tactics similar to Operation Cronos, like a countdown to flashy videos containing Russian text and encouraging criminals to “think about (y)our next move.”

While the scale of the ransomware problem may seem difficult to get a handle on, both Liska and Callow say it’s not impossible. Callow says that a ban on payment to ransomware gangs would make the biggest difference. Liska was less enthusiastic about the prospects of a payment ban but suggested that law enforcement’s continuing actions could eventually make a real dent.

“We talk about whack-a-mole a lot when it comes to ransomware groups—you knock one down and another pops up,” says Liska. “But I think what these [law enforcement] operations are doing is they’re making the board smaller. So yes, you knock one down, and another one pops up. But you wind up with, hopefully, fewer and fewer of them popping up.”

[darkmaga-returns]

Today Alastair Crooke, speaking on Judge Nap’s show, addresses the cynical Deep State attempt to disrupt Trump’s transition to power. At first glance, of course, the US authorization to Ukraine to use ATACMS for deep strikes into Russia is primarily a morale booster--for the Dems and, supposedly, for the Ukrainians.

But behind this morale raising measure there are other considerations. Within range of these missiles are the Donbas gas reserves, the third largest in all Europe, and there are additional gas reserves offshore from Crimea that can be attacked. The idea that ATACMS targeting will be restricted to "military" sites is probably untrue, since NATO and Ukraine have consistently attacked Russian civilian targets. American companies--Exxon and Haliburton--had put in bids to develop these gas reserves before the war began. The idea was to replace Russian gas to Europe with "Ukrainian" gas from the areas that have now been reintegrated into Russia. The sabotage of the Nordstream pipeline was part of that scheme, since it would be replaced by Donbas and Crimea and Black Sea gas--all under NATO control. In addition, Ukraine--traditionally known as the Breadbasket of Europe--was supposed to supplement European food production. With all the talk of energy we lose sight of the importance of food resources for a populous world--a notion not lost on people like Bill Gates who are buying up US farmland.

The authorization for ATACMS is the last gasp of this project--so reminiscent of NAZI plans from the 1930s and 1940s--to turn Ukraine into a vast NATO protectorate (to use the old colonial era term) to be milked of its resources and to serve as the foundation for the Anglo-Zionist Empire's ultimate suzerainty over Eurasia and the Middle East.

Well, the best laid plans ... It turns out that Russia had different plans, and being subjugated to the Anglo-Zionist Empire was no part of those plans. It also has turned out that the Anglo-Zionists are unable to protect their projected protectorate of Ukraine.

The Central Asian Corridor is where much of the BRICS growth will occur. Energy supply through this area is crucial, and it is why Russia will never sell out Iran. Russia, of course, doesn't need this energy, but the industrial giant of BRICS, China, does. As I have stressed in the past, Iran is the crucial link binding the main BRICS components together.

[prismaticstarshch]

just randomly remembered one of the most chaotic incidents that stemmed from technology I've ever been personally affected by: the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that happened back in 2021

[beardedmrbean]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has used electronic surveillance programs to catch fentanyl smugglers and the hackers who temporarily shut down a major U.S. fuel pipeline, the White House said Tuesday as part of its push to have those programs renewed by Congress.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires at the end of this year. President Joe Biden’s administration is trying to convince Congress to renew the law, which authorizes spy agencies to capture huge swaths of foreign emails and phone calls. But lawmakers in both parties have concerns about protecting Americans’ privacy from warrantless searches after a series of FBI errors and misuses of intelligence data.

As part of its public campaign, the Biden administration released what it said were newly declassified examples of how U.S. intelligence uses Section 702. And the FBI announced new penalties for employees who misuse intelligence data in advance of a closely-watched Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the program Tuesday morning.

Previous administrations have oftencited the importance of Section 702 in stopping terrorism. But two decades after the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. public is broadly skeptical of intelligence agencies and less certain of sacrificing civil liberties for security.

This time, the White House and supporters of Section 702 are targeting concerns over fentanyl, a synthetic opioid blamed for 75,000 U.S. deaths last year, and the shutdown of Colonial Pipeline, which led to gas shortages along the East Coast two years ago.

Senior administration officials briefed reporters on the new examples Monday on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.

Among the other examples the officials gave: The U.S. learned about Beijing's efforts to track and repatriate Chinese dissidents; the FBI was able to warn an American who was the target of foreign spies seeking information about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and the U.S. identified the people behind an Iran-linked ransomware attack against nonprofit groups last year.

The United States has already credited Section 702 with being used in the operation to kill al-Qaida head Ayman al-Zawahri and providing large amounts of the intelligence briefed daily to the president and other top officials.

The administration officials said they provided more specifics to Congress in classified briefings.

“We are trying to walk a careful line here where we're trying to explain both to the public and to members of Congress the importance of Section 702,” one official said. “But at the same time, we do need to be very careful about protecting the ways in which we collect information."

Under Section 702, the National Security Agency collects large amounts of foreign emails, phone calls, and other communications that the NSA and other agencies can then search for intelligence purposes.

That collection often snares the communications of Americans. While U.S. spy agencies are barred from targeting U.S. citizens or businesses, they can search Americans' names in Section 702 data and the FBI can use that data to investigate domestic crimes.

A series of surveillance court opinions and government reports has disclosed that FBI agents at times have failed to follow rules on searching that data. Agents wrongly ran queries for the names of a congressman on the House Intelligence Committee, people linked to the Jan. 6 insurrection, and participants in the 2020 protests following the police killing of George Floyd.

The FBI, backed by the White House and some Democrats, argues it has instituted better training and new rules that have sharply reduced the number of searches for American citizens. Supporters of the FBI say Congress should enshrine those rules into law so they can't be rolled back easily.

The bureau said Tuesday that it would begin to immediately suspend any employee's access to Section 702 databases for an incident involving “negligence." Repeat mistakes could result in an employee being reassigned or referred for an internal investigation.

Some key Republicans want to impose new criminal penalties on FBI agents accused of wrongdoing. Many in the GOP are deeply angry at the FBI for those mistakes as well as for omissions in the bureau's investigation of former President Donald Trump's ties to Russia. Some echo Trump's attacks on the FBI as part of a so-called “deep state.”

“There are reforms that are necessary,” said Rep. Darin LaHood, an Illinois Republican who previously disclosed that agents searched his name in intelligence databases. “Figuring out the proper reforms and safeguards that we need to put in place is what we're discussing to try to see if we can get it reauthorized.”

And other Democrats say they won't vote to renew Section 702 without restrictions on access to U.S. citizens' communications.

Senior Biden administration officials reiterated Monday that they oppose proposals to require the FBI to get a warrant every time it searches for an American's information. Previous administrations have fought the idea as well.

The U.S. public at large is also skeptical of surveillance practices, according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs, with Democrats and Republicans opposing some practices authorized by Section 702 in roughly equal measure.

A coalition of 21 civil liberties groups issued a letter Monday saying lawmakers should not renew the law without “critical reforms," including a warrant requirement.

"Although purportedly targeted at foreigners, Section 702 has become a rich source of warrantless government access to Americans’ phone calls, texts, and emails," the letter says. “This has turned Section 702 into something Congress never intended: a domestic spying tool.” ____________________________________

Never intended my ass, shut it down and vote anyone that puts a yes into the hat for keeping this out of office

[bonesfool]

From my term paper for my class on the politics of United States involvement in the Middle East:

Oil pipeline protests in Turtle Island have become major sites of protest through direct action for First Nations. As such, they have also become sites where Palestinian-Americans and Palestinian-Canadians can offer direct support to projects of refusal through direct action. Though Indigenous activist frequently clash with private corporations when they protest the construction of new pipelines, the prevalence of petrocapitalism within Canadian and American economies and politics means that these conflicts often extend to conflict with the settler-state’s coercive apparatuses.

In 2016, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sued the US Army Corps of Engineers for their failure to consult the tribe during the approval process for the Dakota Access Pipeline (Hersher, 2017). This was the first in a series of legal proceedings between the Standing Rock Sioux, the Cheyenne River Sioux, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Dakota Access LLC (a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners) that culminated in the United States District Court siding with ETP to allow the construction of the pipeline (Herscher, 2017). During these legal proceedings, the Standing Rock Sioux were able to secure temporary halting to the construction multiple times, though this was more due to the pressure provided by protesters engaging in direct action protests than judicial precedent. These protests involved utilizing blockades and sit-in techniques in prolonged encampments by Sioux protesters and their allies to physically block construction.

During these protests, Palestinians joined at the front lines in a delegation originally sent by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), later joined by more protesters from the Arab American Civic Council and Active Labs (Palestine Youth Movement, 2016). The sustained nature of the Standing Rock protests motivated coercive action from the states involved, most notably North Dakota. Local law enforcement were joined by the North Dakota National Guard (Herscher, 2017) and a private security agency called TigerSwan, which had been previously deployed in Middle East (Dakwar, 2017). Leaked documents from TigerSwan indicate that the presence of Palestinians in the protest camp were noted by the agency, which had already been privately comparing the protesters to “jihadists” and employed similar counter-protest tactics to those used to counter Islamist terrorism (Dakwar, 2017). The National Guard utilized tear gas, water canons, dogs, rubber bullets and other “non-lethal” techniques against protesters (Herscher, 2017). Residents of Gaza issued statements of support for the Standing Rock Sioux, stating that they knew the importance of clean water (only 10% of Gazans have access to clean water), and the terror of being under attack by a militarized settler-state (Norton, 2016). Some Gazans offered advice on how to deal with counter-protest tactics via social media and the internet (Norton, 2016).

Throughout 2019 and 2020, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) units were moved into Wet’suwet’en territory to police protests against the construction of the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline (Armao, 2021). The pipeline was approved by nearly twenty First Nations band councils, including five of the six Wet’suwet’en band councils (Armao, 2021). The protesters claimed according to the Indian Act, the band councils only had authority over their individual reservation lands, and that only the hereditary chiefs, could consent to Canadian construction on Wet’suwet’en land (Armao, 2021). The non-recognition of the settler-colonial construction of tribal band councils was a statement of refusal politics, one that refused to engage with the Canadian government or CGL, neither of which issued legal recognition of the hereditary chiefs’ authority. CGL pushed forward construction despite protests from the traditional Indigenous government of the Wet’suwet’en, leading many Indigenous activists to resort to direct action as protest. Among these actions were blockades and sit-ins on roads and railroads necessary for CGL to complete construction, as well as rallies and student walk-outs, a part of a larger movement dubbed #ShutDownCanada (Desai, 2021). The aim of #ShutDownCanada was to slow the Canadian economy enough to pressure the Canadian government to rule on the side of the hereditary chiefs over CGL, despite their lack of legal recognition. Several Palestinian groups (i.e. Palestine Solidarity Collective, Canada Palestine Association, and the Canadian national committee of Boycott Divest Sanction) issued statements in support of #ShutDownCanada, and encouraged the UN to condemn the actions of the RCMP for violating the Universal Declaration of Indigenous Rights (Desai, 2021).

During all of these actions, members of Palestinian organizations within Canada (i.e. Students for Justice in Palestine, PYM - Toronto) participated in the direct action, standing in the front lines using their bodies as a blockade to protect the Wet’suwet’en along with a group of Mohawk activists (Desai, 2021). In an act of symbolic inter/nationalism, Mohawk, Hiawatha, and Palestinian flags were raised along the blockade of the Canadian National Railway. After several days of a successful blockade, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) issued an injunction against the protesters, citing the threat they posed to the Canadian economy as justification of their removal (Desai, 2021). In an act of refusal, the protesters burned the injunction, symbolically issuing a statement of non-recognition to the authority the SCC held on this land…

These instances of refusal offer an alternative model to traditional attempts to assert Indigenous/Palestinian sovereignty. Rather than seeking recognition through the settler-state, protesters reject the authority of the settler-state to make claims to their land. They refuse to utilize existing judicial systems to act as a negotiatory device. Instead, they dually wield the weapons of economic disruption and public opinion. These tactics force the settler-state to reckon with the power and intentions of Indigenous/Palestinian people as a collective, not as a settler-constructed nested sovereignty through recognition politics…

These instances of indigenous refusal and inter/national solidarity demonstrate a possible answer to the elusive question “What does a decolonial future look like?” In a conversation on the benefits of Indigenous/Palestinain solidarity, Yazzie states the future of decolonization is a process of kinship making: “We have to create a new program, we have to remind ourselves how to… make kinship in a way that’s based on values that are fundamentally different than the values that drive settler relationality.” (Estes et al. 2020, 35:10-36:30) This new relationality would embrace the philosophy of inter/nationalism, rejecting borders, states, and associated international law as the foundation of sovereignty. Yazzie, Erakat, and Teba all argue that we cannot imagine a decolonial future without rejecting settler-colonial law and replacing it with Indigenous/Palestinian feminist thought (Estes et al, 2020). We can question how future projects of indigenous refusal might better utilize inter/national solidarity to see more effective assertions of indigenous claims to land. Each of these instances showed promise as strategic deployments of solidarity; but they may have seen greater success were they on a grander scale. For instance, the extremely small-scale Prince Rupert protest was only successful in conjunction with the larger #BlockTheBoat movement, which has been an effort shared across Turtle Island, from Oakland to Vancouver. Erakat also speaks to disrupting native-settler binaries and finding new opportunities for inter/national alliances (Estes et al. 2020, 50:45-55:37). By building networks of resurgent solidarity which rely on kinship created through united struggle, Indigenous/Palestinian movements may begin to successfully claim their land back without having to rely on systems of law created by the very settler-states they defy.

I will NEVER FORGET the Palestinian delegation showing up to Standing Rock. NEVER. THEY SHOWED THE FUCK UP EVEN FROM A WORLD AWAY.

[shieldworkzcom]

Safeguarding Operations: Crafting a Safety-First OT Incident Response Strategy

Imagine a bustling factory floor grinding to a halt or a power grid flickering out because of a cyber-attack. These aren’t just hypothetical scenarios—they’re the kinds of real-world risks Operational Technology (OT) systems face every day. Unlike IT systems that safeguard data, OT systems control the physical world: think industrial machinery, water treatment plants, or energy networks. When something goes wrong here, the stakes aren’t just financial—they’re human. That’s why building an OT incident response strategy with safety as the cornerstone is critical.

This article dives into what it takes to create an OT incident response plan that doesn’t just react to threats but prioritizes keeping people and operations safe. We’ll explore why OT security matters, break down the essentials of a solid plan, and spotlight how companies like Shieldworkz are stepping up to protect critical infrastructure.

Why OT Security Demands a Safety-First Mindset

OT systems have been around for decades, quietly running the backbone of industries like manufacturing, utilities, and transportation. Historically, they were isolated—“air-gapped”—from the digital world. But today, as IT and OT converge to enable smarter operations, these systems are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. High-profile incidents, like the 2010 Stuxnet attack that sabotaged Iran’s nuclear centrifuges or the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware that disrupted fuel supplies across the U.S., underscore a harsh reality: OT breaches can cause chaos far beyond the digital realm.

The numbers back this up. A 2022 report from IBM found that the average cost of a data breach in industrial sectors reached $4.82 million, often compounded by physical downtime or safety risks. Unlike IT, where a breach might leak sensitive data, an OT incident could derail a production line, release hazardous materials, or worse. This is why safety isn’t just a buzzword in OT incident response—it’s the guiding principle.

What Sets OT Incident Response Apart?

At its core, an OT incident response plan is about detecting, managing, and recovering from security events in environments where physical processes reign supreme. If IT incident response is like locking down a bank vault to protect the cash, OT incident response is more like securing the bank’s power supply to keep the lights on—while ensuring no one gets hurt in the process.

Here’s the key difference: IT prioritizes the “CIA triad” (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) with a heavy lean on protecting data privacy. In OT, the order flips—Availability comes first because downtime can halt critical operations, followed by Integrity to ensure systems run as intended. Confidentiality? It’s still there, but it’s less urgent when a breach could trigger a factory explosion. This shift demands a tailored approach, blending cybersecurity with operational know-how and a laser focus on safety.

Building Blocks of a Safety-First OT Response Plan

Crafting an OT incident response strategy isn’t about slapping an IT playbook onto industrial systems—it’s about understanding the unique stakes and building a plan that reflects them. Here’s how to do it, step by step:

1. Prep Like Lives Depend on It (Because They Might)

You wouldn’t send firefighters into a blaze without gear or training, right? The same goes for OT incident response. Start by pulling together a team that bridges IT and OT—think network specialists alongside plant engineers. This hybrid Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) needs to know more than just code; they need to grasp the facility’s safety protocols, from emergency shutdowns to wearing hazmat suits if needed.

Training is non-negotiable. Run drills that simulate real OT scenarios—like a compromised SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system controlling a water pump—and test how the team responds without risking lives. Pro tip: Document everything. A clear playbook cuts chaos when the pressure’s on.

2. Spot Trouble Fast—Without Breaking Anything

In OT, spotting an incident isn’t as simple as pinging an antivirus alert. These systems often run on legacy tech with quirky protocols, and they can’t tolerate lag. You need monitoring tools built for OT—solutions that catch oddities like a valve opening uncommanded or a sudden spike in network traffic, all without slowing down production.

Here’s the catch: false positives can be as disruptive as real threats. A safety-first approach means tuning detection to prioritize high-impact risks—like anything that could harm personnel or halt critical processes—while keeping operations humming.

3. Contain the Chaos, Protect the People

Once you’ve got an incident, containment is priority one—but not at the expense of safety. Imagine a malware-infected controller in a chemical plant. Shutting it off might stop the spread, but it could also trigger a pressure buildup. Predefined containment steps—like isolating a network segment or switching to manual controls—should be ready to roll, designed to neutralize the threat without creating new hazards.

This is where OT’s physical stakes shine. Every move must weigh operational continuity against human safety, often requiring split-second calls by folks who know the system inside out.

4. Root Out the Threat—Carefully

Eradicating a cyber threat in OT isn’t like running a malware scan and calling it a day. You might need to patch a decades-old system without a reboot option or swap out a compromised sensor mid-operation. The trick is doing it without downtime that could ripple into safety risks—like a power grid losing stability.

Patience is key. Double-check that the fix sticks, and test it in a sandbox if possible. Rushing this step could leave vulnerabilities lurking.

5. Recover With Confidence

Getting back to normal in OT isn’t just about flipping a switch. Before anything restarts, safety systems—think alarms or pressure valves—need a full health check. A phased recovery, with rigorous testing at each step, ensures nothing’s missed. For example, after a breach at a refinery, you’d verify every control loop before ramping up production, avoiding a potential disaster.

This stage is also about trust. Operators and leadership need assurance that the system’s secure and safe—not just patched up for the moment.

6. Learn and Level Up

Post-incident, don’t just breathe a sigh of relief—dig in. What worked? What flopped? A thorough debrief can reveal gaps, like a detection tool that missed the mark or a containment step that slowed response time. Update the plan, share insights with the team, and even loop in industry peers. The next attack’s coming—be ready.

Shieldworkz: Your Partner in OT Resilience

Navigating this complex terrain solo can feel daunting, especially for organizations new to OT cybersecurity. That’s where experts like Shieldworkz come in. Specializing in OT security, Shieldworkz brings a wealth of experience to the table, helping companies map vulnerabilities, train cross-functional teams, and craft incident response plans that put safety first. Whether it’s deploying OT-specific monitoring or running tabletop exercises, their expertise ensures critical systems stay secure—and people stay safe.

The Bottom Line: Safety Is Non-Negotiable

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, and OT systems are squarely in the crosshairs. A safety-first incident response strategy isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the difference between a contained glitch and a front-page disaster. By preparing smart, acting fast, and learning from every hiccup, organizations can protect their operations and the people who depend on them. In a world where a single breach can turn physical, that’s a mission worth getting right.

[signalfog]

Fast Flux Debrief

SIGNALFOG ENTRY: FAST FLUX AND THE NATIONAL SECURITY WIREWALK

What is Fast Flux?

Fast Flux is not a tool. It is a tactic—a slippery eel of cyber maneuvering used to shield malicious networks from takedown. At its core, Fast Flux is a technique for hiding phishing and malware delivery sites behind constantly changing IP addresses. Think of it as DNS shell game played at machine speed.

There are two main types:

Single-Flux – Frequently changes the IP addresses associated with a single domain name. A domain might resolve to five different IPs in under an hour. Those IPs are often bots in a compromised network.

Double-Flux – Mutates not only the IPs but also the name servers associated with the domain, creating a recursive maze of obfuscation. This is where things get nasty—each step reconfigures the puzzle.

Behind this flux cloud often sits a botnet, frequently leveraging criminal marketplaces or nation-state infrastructure, using the technique to hide:

Phishing sites

C2 (command and control) servers

Malware droppers

Credential harvesters

Why the NSA Considers It a National Security Threat

Fast Flux undermines attribution. In cyberwarfare, attribution is the new battleground. If you can’t pin an attack to an actor or infrastructure, you can’t deter, retaliate, or even understand intent. That makes Fast Flux a fog-of-war amplifier—a denial-of-attribution machine used not just by cybercriminals but by nation-state advanced persistent threats (APTs).

This tactic has been used to:

Distribute ransomware to critical infrastructure (e.g., Colonial Pipeline incident had partial DNS obfuscation elements)

Support long-term espionage operations (APT29 and others)

Exfiltrate sensitive data from government and defense contractors

It’s not just technical noise—it's sovereignty erosion via DNS.

Current Countermeasures

The countermeasures form a fragile ecosystem, not a silver bullet.

1. DNS Monitoring and Sinkholing

Agencies like US-CERT and NSA operate sinkholes—servers that simulate malicious domains to draw in Fast Flux queries and analyze them.

Security vendors offer passive DNS monitoring to correlate domain activity, TTLs (time-to-live), and ASNs (Autonomous System Numbers) that suggest flux behavior.

2. AI-Powered Anomaly Detection

Models trained on DNS query patterns identify abnormally high TTL churn, geographical dispersion of IPs, and unusually frequent domain-to-IP flips.

Emerging tools like PassiveTotal or Farsight DNSDB are leveraged to track malicious flux patterns.

3. Threat Intelligence Feeds

Enrichment of security tools with real-time feeds (e.g., from Mandiant, Recorded Future) to identify Fast Flux domains and block them at the firewall or endpoint level.

4. Domain Takedown Coordination

Multinational coordination with registrars and ISPs to revoke domains or neutralize the infrastructure (example: Operation Ghost Click, which dismantled DNSChanger infrastructure).

5. Advanced DNSSEC and DoH Filtering

DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) can help verify legitimacy, though flux domains often bypass this.

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) presents a double-edged sword: it can encrypt good and bad traffic alike. Thus, filtering on endpoints and proxies becomes essential.

6. Network-Level Behavioral Firewalls

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) models segment networks to reduce botnet beaconing.

Behavioral IDS/IPS like Suricata detect lateral movement even if DNS resolution appears clean.

But Here's the Rub:

Fast Flux is not a flaw—it’s a clever exploitation of how the internet was designed to work: decentralized, resilient, fault-tolerant. The same qualities that make global communication work in disaster zones are co-opted to hide the hands of digital saboteurs. The NSA’s concern isn’t just technical—it’s existential. Because in the cyber-domain, whoever owns attribution owns the narrative.

“In war, truth is the first casualty; in cyberwar, it’s attribution.” — Anonymous NSA SIGINT Analyst, 2014 (declassified quote, attribution unknown...ironically)

[kajalsawant434]

Cyber Insurance Market Overview: Trends and Growth Projections

Introduction

The cyber insurance market has become one of the most vital sectors in the modern insurance landscape as the frequency, complexity, and severity of cyber threats continue to rise. With businesses and organizations increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, cyber insurance has emerged as a critical tool to mitigate the financial risks associated with cyberattacks, data breaches, and other online vulnerabilities. As cybersecurity threats evolve, so does the cyber insurance market, with new trends and technologies shaping its growth and development.

Cyber Insurance Market Trends

1. Increased Demand for Coverage Due to Rising Cyber Threats

The growing frequency of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybercrimes is the primary driver behind the expanding cyber insurance market. High-profile incidents such as the SolarWinds attack and the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack have demonstrated the severe financial consequences of cyberattacks, prompting businesses of all sizes to seek insurance solutions that provide protection against such risks.

Key trends influencing the demand for cyber insurance include:

Rising Cybersecurity Threats: As cybercriminals develop more sophisticated techniques, businesses need comprehensive insurance coverage to safeguard against a wide range of cyber risks, including data theft, system disruptions, and financial losses.

Regulatory Pressures: With the increasing enforcement of data protection laws such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), organizations are required to implement strict security measures. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and reputational damage, pushing businesses to invest in cyber insurance.

Remote Work and Cloud Adoption: The rapid shift to remote work and the growing adoption of cloud services during the COVID-19 pandemic have created new vulnerabilities, making businesses more susceptible to cyberattacks. Cyber insurance policies help mitigate risks associated with remote work environments and cloud infrastructure.

2. Evolving Coverage Options and Customization

As businesses’ cyber risks become more complex, cyber insurance providers are increasingly offering customizable insurance products tailored to the specific needs of individual organizations. The cyber insurance market is shifting toward more flexible policies that cover a range of incidents, including:

Data Breaches: Coverage for data breaches, including the costs of notifying affected individuals, legal expenses, and penalties.

Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware coverage that includes ransom payments, legal fees, and costs related to system recovery.

Business Interruption: Coverage for revenue loss and operational downtime caused by cyberattacks, ensuring business continuity.

Cyber Extortion: Protection against extortion-related attacks, such as threats to release sensitive data or disrupt services.

Insurance providers are also incorporating cybersecurity measures, such as risk assessments and pre-emptive consultation, to help clients reduce their vulnerability to cyber threats. This trend towards more holistic cyber risk management is contributing to the growth of the cyber insurance market.

3. Rising Premiums and Underwriting Challenges

As the cyber risk landscape grows more complex, insurance premiums are also on the rise. This increase in premiums is driven by:

Increased Claims Frequency: As cyberattacks become more common, insurance companies are experiencing higher claims payouts, prompting them to raise premiums to cover the rising costs.

Difficulty in Risk Assessment: Cyber risk is inherently difficult to quantify, and with cyber threats constantly evolving, insurance companies face challenges in accurately assessing risks. As a result, underwriters are becoming more selective in offering coverage, leading to more stringent underwriting processes and higher premiums.

Despite these challenges, businesses are still seeking cyber insurance solutions to protect themselves against potential financial fallout from cyberattacks.

Growth Projections for the Cyber Insurance Market

The cyber insurance market has shown robust growth in recent years and is expected to continue expanding at a rapid pace. According to market research, the cyber insurance market size is projected to reach $35 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 25-30%. This growth is fueled by increasing awareness about cyber risks and the need for businesses to invest in cyber risk management solutions.

Key Growth Drivers

Digital Transformation: As more companies digitize their operations, the cyber insurance market will see increased demand for coverage to protect against cyberattacks targeting their digital infrastructure.

Emerging Cyber Threats: The growing sophistication of cyber threats, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs) and AI-driven cyberattacks, is creating new challenges that businesses can mitigate through cyber insurance.

Geographical Expansion: The adoption of cyber insurance is growing in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East due to the increasing adoption of digital technologies and growing awareness of cyber risks.

Industry-Specific Solutions: As cyber risks vary across industries, the rise of industry-specific cyber insurance policies is expected to contribute to market growth. For instance, healthcare organizations and financial institutions are becoming more aware of the need for specialized coverage due to the sensitive nature of their data.

Regional Market Outlook

The cyber insurance market is expected to experience the highest growth in the following regions:

North America: The North American market is currently the largest market for cyber insurance, primarily due to the high adoption rate of digital technologies and the increasing number of cyberattacks targeting businesses in the region. The United States, in particular, accounts for a significant portion of the market share.

Europe: With the enforcement of stringent data protection regulations such as GDPR, businesses in Europe are increasingly investing in cyber insurance to mitigate the risks associated with data breaches and regulatory non-compliance.

Asia-Pacific: As cybersecurity awareness rises and businesses in countries like China, India, and Japan undergo digital transformation, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to see significant growth in the adoption of cyber insurance.

Challenges and Risks in the Cyber Insurance Market

Despite the promising growth projections, several challenges may hinder the expansion of the cyber insurance market:

Evolving Cyber Threats: The rapid evolution of cyber threats, such as ransomware and AI-driven attacks, makes it difficult for insurance providers to accurately assess and price coverage.

Cybersecurity Maturity: Many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), still lack basic cybersecurity practices. This lack of maturity in cybersecurity could increase the likelihood of claims, leading to higher premiums.

Regulatory Uncertainty: The evolving nature of cybersecurity regulations across different regions makes it challenging for insurance companies to develop standardized policies that meet global requirements.

Lack of Standardization: The absence of universally accepted standards for cyber risk assessment can create discrepancies in the underwriting process, potentially leading to coverage gaps.

Conclusion

The cyber insurance market is poised for significant growth in the coming years, driven by the rising frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, increasing regulatory requirements, and the growing need for businesses to protect themselves from the financial impact of cyberattacks. As the market continues to evolve, businesses can expect more tailored and flexible insurance products that offer comprehensive coverage for a wide range of cyber risks.

However, challenges such as rising premiums, regulatory uncertainty, and the difficulty in assessing cyber risk must be addressed to ensure sustainable growth in the sector. As businesses continue to embrace digital technologies, the importance of cyber insurance will only increase, making it an essential tool in the risk management strategies of organizations worldwide.

[spider-xan]

I am never going to defend or go to bat for America, but I can't help but notice how it's become every other white imperial core country's favorite punching bag. I do a lot of work with Canadian or British clients and the amount of shitty posturing "We're so much more progressive than those uneducated backwards Americans" is pretty astonishing given the sheer amount of Colonizer apologia, Islamophobia and anti-blackness I see coming out of those countries. It's every single bit as bad as the US. But well when they say they're progressive they're only talking about how they treat LGBTQ and white adjacent wealthy POC, which is still not actually as great as they pretend it is.

Yeah, this is exactly it - ofc I think everyone should rightfully be condemning the US and US imperialism, but it's also obvious that white imperial core countries, whether they are settler colonies like so called Canada and Australia, or Western European nations that did and continue to colonize today, are not doing so out of any genuine anti-imperialist principles, but out of defence for their own capitalist interests and as a shield for their own nationalism and evil; that's how you get bullshit like settler Canada crying and posturing over the US stealing resources from the settler colony and how evil America First is as a slogan, but turning around and saying nationalistic shit about Canada First and how that will be achieved by stealing more resources from Indigenous peoples and poisoning their land with more forest, mining, and oil pipeline projects without their permission, and if they resist, then they get the military or militarized police attacking and killing them in a continued genocide - but yay, Canada is sooo much kinder and more progressive compared to Americans uwu /s

And yeah, Canada gets a lot of pinkwashing, and it's frustrating to see white US libs who are LGBT+ talk about running away to Canada bc it's a queer utopia when it's like, we have the same transphobic 'gender ideology' shit going on here, including coming from the very likely next prime minister who is a literal out and proud fascist who is very popular in Canada right now - and remember, Canada does not have term limits for heads of government, which US libs cry about being fashy all the time; and yeah, don't even get me started on how the POC who are uplifted here are the wealthy liberal and conservative ones who are obsessed with whiteness and being Canadian, and hate Black and Indigenous people, especially when they are more likely to be poor as well, and also hate immigrants, even the ones who are immigrants themselves.

[mariacallous]

Today marks two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This week, we detailed the growing crisis in Eastern Ukraine, which is now littered with deadly mines. As it fights back the invading Russian forces, Ukraine’s government is working to develop new mine-clearing technology that could help save lives around the globe.

A leaked document obtained by WIRED has revealed the secret placement of gunshot-detection sensors in locations around the United States and its territories. According to the document, which ShotSpotter's parent company authenticated, the sensors, which are used by police departments in dozens of metropolitan areas in the United States, are largely located in low-income and minority communities, according to WIRED’s analysis, adding crucial context in a long-running debate over police use of the technology.

Speaking of leaks, WIRED this week obtained 15 years of messages posted to an internal system used by members of the US Congress. The House Intelligence Committee used the “Dear Colleagues” system to warn lawmakers of an “urgent matter”—something that has not happened since at least 2009. That urgent matter, which was quickly leaked to the press, turned out to be related to Russian military research of space-based weapons. But some sources say the matter wasn’t urgent at all, and the warning was instead an attempt by House Intelligence leadership to derail a vote on privacy reforms to a major US surveillance program.

On Tuesday, a coalition of law enforcement agencies led by the UK’s National Crime Agency disrupted the LockBit ransomware gang’s operation, seizing its infrastructure, dark-web leak site, and code used to carry out its attacks against thousands of institutions globally. Although ransomware attacks resulted in a record $1.1 billion in ransom payments last year, Anne Neuberger, a top US cyber official in the Biden administration, tells WIRED how the 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline has transformed the ways American institutions defend against and respond to such attacks.

In dual wins for privacy this week, the Signal Foundation began its rollout of usernames for its popular end-to-end encrypted messaging app. The update will allow people to connect without having to reveal their phone numbers. Meanwhile, Apple began to future-proof its encryption for iMessage with the launch of PQ3, a next-generation encryption protocol designed to resist decryption from quantum computers.

And there’s more. Each week, we highlight the news we didn’t cover in-depth ourselves. Click on the headlines below to read the full stories. And stay safe out there.

A Mysterious Leak Exposed Chinese Hacking Secrets

Hundreds of documents linked to a Chinese hacking-for-hire firm were dumped online this week. The files belong to i-Soon, a Shanghai-based company, and give a rare glimpse into the secretive world of the industry that supports China’s state-backed hacking. The leak includes details of Chinese hacking operations, lists of victims and potential targets, and the day-to-day complaints of i-Soon staff.

“These leaked documents support TeamT5’s long-standing analysis: China's private cybersecurity sector is pivotal in supporting China’s APT attacks globally,” Che Chang, a cyber threat analyst at the Taiwan-based cybersecurity firm TeamT5, tells WIRED. Chang says the company has been tracking i-Soon since 2020 and found that it has a close relationship with Chengdu 404, a company linked to China’s state-backed hackers.

While the documents have now been removed from GitHub, where they were first posted, the identity and motivations of the person, or people, who leaked them remains a mystery. However, Chang says the documents appear to be real, a fact confirmed by two employees working for i-Soon, according to the Associated Press, which reported that the company and police in China are investigating the leak.

“There are around eight categories of the leaked files. We can see how i-Soon engaged with China's national security authorities, the details of i-Soon’s products and financial problems,” Chang says. “More importantly, we spotted documents detailing how i-Soon supported the development of the notorious remote access Trojan (RAT), ShadowPad,” Chang adds. The ShadowPad malware has been used by Chinese hacking groups since at least 2017.

Since the files were first published, security researchers have been poring over their contents and analyzing the documentation. Included were references to software to run disinformation campaigns on X, details of efforts to access communications data across Asia, and targets within governments in the United Kingdom, India, and elsewhere, according to reports by the New York Times and the The Washington Post. The documents also reveal how i-Soon worked for China’s Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army.

According to researchers at SentinelOne, the files also include pictures of “custom hardware snooping devices,” such as a power bank that could help steal data and the company’s marketing materials. “In a bid to get work in Xinjiang–where China subjects millions of Ugyhurs to what the UN Human Rights Council has called genocide–the company bragged about past counterterrorism work,” the researchers write. “The company listed other terrorism-related targets the company had hacked previously as evidence of their ability to perform these tasks, including targeting counterterrorism centers in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Avast Fined for Selling People’s Browsing Data

The Federal Trade Commission has fined antivirus firm Avast $16.5 for collecting and selling people’s web browsing data through its browser extensions and security software. This included the details of web searches and the sites people visited, which, according to the FTC, revealed people’s “religious beliefs, health concerns, political leanings, location, financial status, visits to child-directed content and other sensitive information.” The company sold the data through its subsidiary Jumpshot, the FTC said in an order announcing the fine.

The ban also places five obligations on Avast: not to sell or license browsing data for advertising purposes; to obtain consent if it is selling data from non-Avast products; delete information it transferred to Jumpshot and any algorithms created from the data; tell customers about the data it sold; and introduce a new privacy program to address the problems the FTC found. An Avast spokesperson said that while they “disagree with the FTC’s allegations and characterization of the facts,” they are “pleased to resolve this matter.”

Scammers Sent Apple 5,000 Fake iPhones, Hoped to Get Real Devices in Return

Two Chinese nationals living in Maryland—Haotian Sun and Pengfei Xue—have been convicted of mail fraud and a conspiracy to commit mail fraud for a scheme that involved sending 5,000 counterfeit iPhones to Apple. The pair, who could each face up to 20 years in prison, according to the The Register, hoped Apple would send them real phones in return. The fake phones had “spoofed serial numbers and/or IMEI numbers” to trick Apple stores or authorized service providers into thinking they were genuine. The scam took place between May 2017 and September 2019 and would have cost Apple more than $3 million in losses, a US Department of Justice press release says.

Fingerprints Cloned From the Sound They Make on Your Screen

Security researchers from the US and China have created a new side-channel attack that can reconstruct people’s fingerprints from the sounds they create as you swipe them across your phone screen. The researchers used built-in microphones in devices to capture the “faint friction sounds” made by a finger and then used these sounds to create fingerprints. “The attack scenario of PrintListener is extensive and covert,” the researchers write in a paper detailing their work. “It can attack up to 27.9 percent of partial fingerprints and 9.3 percent of complete fingerprints within five attempts.” The research raises concerns about real-world hackers who are attempting to steal people’s biometrics to access bank accounts.

[thebears-ears-project]

About The Bears Ears Project

What is Bears Ears?

Bears Ears National Monument is a historic area in Utah that is culturally important and managed by the Navajo, Hopi, Mountain Ute, Ute, and Zuni Pueblo tribes. The designation of this area as a national monument was done by President Obama using the Antiquities Act for the protection of this tribal coalition’s access to sacred areas and the ability to use the land for ceremonial uses.

What has happened to Bears Ears?

in 2017, President Trump cut Bears Ears by nearly 85%, reducing it by over a million acres (National Resources Defense Council, 2019). This was done in conjunction with plans for expanding oil and natural gas pipelines while also Bears Ears was found to contain uranium. However, during Biden’s administration, these protections were regranted. With Trump back in power and the increased attack on federal agencies and land protections, Bears Ears National Monument is yet again facing this possible reduction, with support from Utah’s governor (The Assembly Press, 2025).

References National Resources Defense Council. (2019, November 8). NRDC et al. v. Trump (Bears Ears). NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/court-battles/nrdc-et-v-trump-bears-ears The Assembly Press. (2025, February 5). Trump administration will consider redrawing boundaries of national monuments as part of energy push. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-administration-consider-redrawing-boundaries-national-monuments-rcna190740

What is the project?

This project is a mixed-media art project that will detail the attack on Bears Ears by Trump under the Antiquities Act. By using a combination of painting, embroidery, weaving, and beading on a framed canvas, I hope to challenge myself to use this pain and anger as a way to create something that speaks for itself. Political art and activism through art is something I have only tiptoed through previously. With the ability to utilize art to present the beauty of Bears Ears while representing the ugliness of settler colonialism, I hope to present to the world how Indigenous groups continue to fight for basic access to land. It is a reminder of how many Indigenous groups have come together to resist colonialism, with this five-tribe coalition both fighting for these rights while taking care of this land despite the struggle it is against a greedy and dominating government.

I hope to document the creation of this project here with all of you. Thank you for your time and dedication to learning.

--ADK

[researchyblog]

Industrial Cybersecurity Market 2025-2032: Growth Drivers, Trends, and Key Opportunities

Industrial Cybersecurity Market Overview and Growth Drivers

The Industrial Cybersecurity market is poised for significant growth, driven by the rise of disruptive digital technologies, increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, and stringent cybersecurity regulations. The market, valued at USD 23.8 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 57.6 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 13.5%. However, challenges such as a shortage of skilled professionals and the complexity of securing industrial environments could restrain market expansion.

Get Sample Copy @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5316

Key Market Growth Drivers

Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0 The adoption of technologies like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics, robotics, and cloud computing has enhanced operational efficiencies across industries. However, these advancements have also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, making critical infrastructure more vulnerable. The industrial sector's integration of smart devices and connected systems necessitates advanced cybersecurity solutions to manage the increasing complexity of these environments.

Increasing Sophistication of Cyberattacks The industrial sector, encompassing manufacturing, energy, utilities, and transportation, faces rising cyber threats. High-profile incidents, such as the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, underline the sector's vulnerability. The 2023 Ponemon Institute report indicated that 53% of manufacturing organizations experienced significant cyberattacks, leading to financial losses and operational disruptions. To combat evolving threats, industries are implementing next-generation security measures, including AI-driven threat detection, zero-trust architectures, and network segmentation.

Regulatory Pressures and Compliance Needs Compliance with cybersecurity frameworks such as the EU’s Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive and the U.S. Executive Order 14028 is compelling organizations to adopt robust security measures. Regulatory requirements, combined with the increasing adoption of cloud technologies, are boosting demand for integrated and scalable cybersecurity solutions.

Get Full Report @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/industrial-cybersecurity-market-5316

Market Trends and Opportunities

Rising Adoption of Cloud Technologies Cloud adoption is accelerating as organizations seek improved efficiency, scalability, and cost benefits. However, cloud environments have become attractive targets for cyberattacks. Between January and April 2020, cloud-based cyberattacks surged by 630%, highlighting the need for robust cloud security solutions. Cybersecurity vendors are focusing on real-time threat detection, access controls, and data encryption to address these vulnerabilities.

Cloud-Based Security Solutions The trend toward digital transformation extends to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. The affordability, scalability, and flexibility of cloud-based security solutions make them particularly appealing to SMEs. These solutions offer advanced protection through features such as penetration testing, firewalls, and virtual private networks (VPNs). Partnerships, such as Microsoft Azure’s collaboration with cloud security firms, aim to enhance security offerings for SMEs.

Market Segmentation Analysis

By Component: Solutions to Dominate The solutions segment, including intrusion detection, identity management, and unified threat management, is expected to hold a 56.4% share in 2025. The segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% through 2032, driven by the need to address growing cybersecurity risks.

By Security Type: Endpoint Security Leads Endpoint security is anticipated to dominate with a 40.3% market share in 2025. As organizations expand their network perimeters with diverse endpoints like mobile devices and IoT systems, endpoint security becomes crucial for maintaining a secure operational environment.

By Deployment Mode: Cloud-Based Solutions Gain Traction Cloud-based deployment is expected to capture 54.7% of the market share in 2025, with the highest CAGR through 2032. The rapid evolution of cloud technologies offers enhanced scalability and flexibility, particularly benefiting SMEs looking for cost-effective cybersecurity solutions.

By End-User: Industrial Manufacturing at the Forefront The industrial manufacturing sector is set to account for 65.4% of the market share in 2025. The adoption of smart devices and the need for real-time security monitoring are driving this segment's growth, as manufacturers increasingly prioritize cybersecurity to mitigate operational risks.

Regional Insights

North America Leads the Market North America is expected to hold the largest share of 36.1% in 2025, projected to reach USD 8.58 billion. The region's growth is supported by government initiatives, the adoption of advanced technologies, and the prevalence of cyberattacks targeting industrial sectors.

Asia-Pacific: Fastest Growing Region Asia-Pacific is projected to achieve the highest growth rate with a CAGR of 15.0% through 2032. Factors contributing to this growth include the integration of connected devices, the rise of Industry 4.0, and the increasing demand for cloud-based cybersecurity solutions.

Key Market Players and Recent Developments

Prominent companies in the industrial cybersecurity market include:

Fortinet, Inc. (U.S.)

Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.)

Juniper Networks, Inc. (U.S.)

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (U.S.)

IBM Corporation (U.S.)

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Israel)

Microsoft Corporation (U.S.)

Recent Developments:

Fortinet (February 2025): Launched new G series next-generation firewalls, enhancing cybersecurity for distributed enterprises.

Cisco (November 2024): Signed a 5.5-year agreement with MGM Resorts to improve guest experiences with advanced security and automation.

Juniper Networks (August 2024): Invested in Quantum Bridge Technologies to develop post-quantum cryptography networks, enhancing quantum-safe communications.

IBM Security (June 2023): Expanded AWS integration to improve cloud security with better threat visibility and response capabilities.

Get Sample Copy @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5316

[cloudcomputing123]

How to Secure Your Cloud Environment Against Cyber Threats

As more people adopt cloud computing, businesses and users are shifting their applications, data, and services onto cloud-based platforms. Although this change can increase flexibility, scalability, and cost savings, it also exposes security systems to cyber threats. The security of your cloud environment is vital to protect against data breaches, unauthorized access, and other mischievous activities.

If you're considering taking a cloud computing course in Bangalore, Understanding cloud security can give you an advantage over other students. This article outlines practical methods for securing your cloud from cyber-attacks and includes actual examples to help clarify.

1. Implement Strong Access Control Measures

One of the most significant dangers in cloud security is unauthorized access. If your cloud system is not protected by adequate access control, hackers can easily penetrate it and steal sensitive information.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

We cannot rely solely on It to provide passwords for security; they are insufficient. MFA is a better option. MFA provides an additional security layer by forcing users to prove their identity using various authentication methods.

Examples: In 2021, the Colonial Pipeline attack occurred because hackers accessed a system using compromised credentials, which were inaccessible to MFA. If MFA had been implemented, it could have been avoided.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Some users do not require access to all areas of the cloud. Use RBAC to control access to certain duties and roles.

Example: A company using a cloud storage service guarantees that only HR employees can access data and that IT personnel can oversee the system.

2. Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit

Data encrypted by encryption is converted into non-readable formats that are difficult for hackers to read even when they do gain access.

Data at Rest Encryption

Encrypt data stored on your computer to protect it by encryption it with strong encryption algorithms such as AES-256.

Example: A financial institution protects customer payment information in its cloud-based database so that if hackers breach the system's security, they cannot read the data.

Data in Transit Encryption

You can enable SSL/TLS encryption to protect the data that travels between users and cloud servers.

Example: When making an online purchase, your credit card details are protected during the transfer to prevent hackers from intercepting your information.

3. Regularly Update and Patch Your Cloud Systems

Attackers typically exploit weaknesses that exist in obsolete OS and software. Updates and patches regularly assist in fixing security flaws and lower the likelihood of attack.

Examples: In 2017, the notorious WannaCry ransomware attack hacked into old Windows systems. It affected hospitals, banks, and businesses worldwide, and those who applied the most recent security patches remained secure.

If you're seeking a cloud computing certificate in Bangalore, knowing about patch management can help ensure the security of your cloud computing systems.

4. Secure APIs and Endpoints

Cloud services depend heavily on APIs (APIs) to interact with other platforms. If APIs aren't secured, they could become access points for cybercriminals.

Best Practices for API Security

Make use of OAuth 2.0 for authentication.

The API's access is restricted based on the need.

Monitor your API utilization for unusual activities.

Example: In 2019, a Facebook API flaw disclosed more than 540 million user records. The proper API security precautions could have prevented these information leaks.

5. Implement Continuous Cloud Security Monitoring

Cyber-attacks are constantly evolving and require constant monitoring. Make use of SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) software to identify suspicious behavior and stop cyberattacks immediately.

An example: A retail company is able to detect unusual login attempts coming from diverse countries by using cloud-based security monitoring software. The immediate action stops a possible security hack.

6. Backup Data and Have a Disaster Recovery Plan

Despite strong security measures, even with the most robust security measures, data loss as a result of attacks on systems or cyber attacks can still happen. A regular schedule of backups, as well as a plan for disaster recovery, ensures quick recovery of deleted data.

Automated Cloud Backups

Automated backups can be scheduled to an additional, secure place to protect your data from loss.

Example: A company attacked by ransomware recovers all its files from cloud backups without having to pay ransom.

If you are planning to enroll in the most reputable cloud computing institution in Bangalore, the process of learning about techniques for disaster recovery and backup is a vital component of your cloud security education.

7. Train Employees on Cloud Security Best Practices

Human error is among the main causes of cyber-attacks. Regular security awareness classes for employees lower the chance of a security breach.

An example: An employee receives a fraudulent email that they do not know about and provides the login details to hackers. If properly trained and educated, an employee could have recognized the fraudulent attempt and not been a victim of the hack.

8. Implement Zero Trust Security Model

The Zero Trust Model assumes that risks exist both within and outside the organization. Before granting permission, each request for access to information is vetted.

Principles of Zero Trust Security

Verify each request: Assume that all users and devices pose threat sources.

Restrict access: Grant users the minimum privilege necessary for them to carry out their jobs.

Continuously monitors: Track and analyze activities on the network to identify any anomalies.

Example: Google adopted a Zero-Trust security approach after a cyber-related attack in 2009, ensuring that similar incidents would not occur again soon.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your cloud infrastructure is a continuous process, and employee training can require proactive steps employee training can. Implementing security-grade access controls, encryption, constant monitoring, and training for employees makes it possible to significantly decrease the chance of being a victim of cyber attacks.

If you want to pursue a successful career in cloud-based security, enrolling in the cloud computing course in Bangalore provides the opportunity to learn hands-on and apply your knowledge in real-world research. Achieving a cloud computing certificate in Bangalore will also increase your professional credentials and provide access to lucrative job openings.

If you're searching for the top institution, make sure that the cloud computing course in Bangalore is based on cloud security, encryption methods, API security, and disaster recovery. An excellent basis for cloud security won't just protect your data but also enable you to succeed in a rapidly changing cloud computing industry.

[blogbound]

Creating a Crisis Communication Strategy to Strengthen the Energy Industry’s Resilience

The energy industry is the backbone of modern life, powering everything from homes and businesses to hospitals and essential infrastructure. But with this critical role comes vulnerability—natural disasters, cyberattacks, and supply chain disruptions can all threaten stability. In moments of crisis, how energy companies respond can determine whether they maintain public trust or face backlash. That’s why resilience isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s also about communication.

A well-structured crisis communication strategy is essential for keeping customers, stakeholders, and the public informed during unexpected events. Misinformation and uncertainty can spread quickly, creating panic and damaging a company’s reputation. By responding quickly, transparently, and effectively, energy companies can reassure their customers, minimize disruptions, and maintain credibility even in difficult situations.

In this blog, we’ll explore how the energy industry can strengthen its resilience through strong crisis communication. We’ll break down the key components of an effective communication plan, the importance of transparency, the role of technology in crisis response, and how companies can continuously improve based on past experiences. With the right strategy in place, energy providers can not only manage crises better but also build long-term trust with their customers.

Understanding the Role of Crisis Communication in the Energy Industry

Crises in the energy industry can have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the companies involved but also entire communities and the broader economy. During these times, clear and timely communication is paramount. It helps to alleviate public anxiety, prevent panic, and ensure that critical information reaches those who need it most. In the absence of official communication, misinformation can spread rapidly through social media and other channels, further exacerbating the situation and eroding public trust. This underscores the critical need for a well-defined and robust crisis communication strategy.  

For instance, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 highlighted the devastating impact of both a cyberattack and inadequate communication. The disruption in fuel supply caused widespread panic buying, gas shortages, and economic disruption. The lack of clear and consistent communication from the pipeline operator further fueled public anxiety and eroded trust. As emphasized in Think Energy Reviews, maintaining transparent and open communication with customers is crucial for building trust and fostering long-term relationships.  

In conclusion, effective crisis communication is not merely about disseminating information; it's about building and maintaining trust with stakeholders, mitigating risks, and ensuring a swift and effective recovery.

By proactively developing and implementing a comprehensive crisis communication strategy, energy companies can better navigate unforeseen challenges, protect their reputations, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of their operations.

Key Elements of an Effective Crisis Communication Plan

A robust crisis communication plan is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a dynamic framework that requires careful planning and continuous refinement. Key elements include thorough preparation, a rapid response mechanism, unwavering transparency, and the adaptability to navigate evolving circumstances. A designated crisis communication team, comprising individuals from various departments such as public relations, legal, and operations, is crucial for effective coordination and execution. This team should be well-versed in the plan and trained to handle media inquiries, disseminate information accurately, and address stakeholder concerns promptly.

Industry leaders like Michael Fallquist Think Energy prioritize proactive communication as a cornerstone of their business strategy. As highlighted, the company emphasizes transparent and open dialogue with stakeholders, fostering trust and building strong community relationships. This proactive approach not only strengthens their reputation but also enhances their ability to navigate crises effectively.

Creating a strong crisis communication plan involves a multi-step process. Begin by identifying potential crisis scenarios, designating roles and responsibilities, and establishing clear communication channels. Develop key messages that are consistent and aligned with the company's values. Conduct regular drills and simulations to test the plan's effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. By investing time and resources in a well-defined crisis communication plan, energy companies can significantly enhance their resilience, safeguard their reputations, and effectively navigate the inevitable challenges that arise in a dynamic and complex industry.

Building Trust Through Transparency and Consistency

Building and maintaining trust with stakeholders is paramount for the long-term success of any energy company. This requires a commitment to honesty and transparency in all communication, especially during times of crisis. When addressing customers, employees, and the public, it's crucial to be upfront about the situation, acknowledge any uncertainties, and provide accurate and timely information. This builds credibility and demonstrates a commitment to open and honest dialogue.

Energy companies can leverage various communication channels to effectively convey their message and stay ahead of the narrative. Social media platforms, press releases, and direct communication channels such as email and text messages can be used to disseminate information quickly and efficiently. Proactive communication, even during routine operations, helps to build trust and establish a foundation for effective crisis response. As demonstrated in Think Energy Reviews, companies that prioritize clear, consistent, and trustworthy communication often experience higher customer satisfaction and stronger community relationships.

Maintaining credibility during uncertain situations requires a delicate balance. It's essential to be honest about what is known and what is unknown while avoiding speculation or making promises that cannot be kept. Regular updates, even if they only contain limited information, help to keep stakeholders informed and demonstrate a commitment to transparency. By prioritizing trust-building communication, energy companies can strengthen their relationships with stakeholders, enhance their reputation, and navigate even the most challenging crises with greater resilience and success.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Crisis Communication

Technology has revolutionized crisis communication, enabling faster, more efficient, and more targeted information dissemination. Digital platforms, such as social media and mobile applications, provide real-time updates and facilitate direct engagement with stakeholders. AI-powered tools can analyze vast amounts of data, identify potential threats, and trigger automated alerts, enabling organizations to proactively address emerging crises. Furthermore, data analytics can be used to predict potential disruptions, such as extreme weather events or supply chain bottlenecks, allowing companies to proactively adjust their operations and mitigate potential impacts.  

Think Energy has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation within the energy sector. The company has embraced cutting-edge technologies to enhance grid reliability, improve customer service, and optimize operational efficiency. This commitment to innovation extends to crisis management, with the company leveraging advanced technologies to monitor grid performance, predict potential outages, and communicate effectively with customers during emergencies.

A prime example of technology's impact on crisis communication can be seen in the aftermath of natural disasters. During Hurricane Sandy, for instance, social media platforms played a crucial role in disseminating information, coordinating relief efforts, and connecting affected communities. Real-time mapping tools helped visualize the extent of the damage, while mobile applications provided critical information on shelter locations, food distribution centers, and emergency services. These technologies not only improved the speed and effectiveness of the response but also empowered individuals to play an active role in their safety and recovery.

Continuous Improvement: Learning from Past Crises

Every crisis presents an opportunity for learning and growth. By thoroughly reviewing past events, energy companies can identify areas for improvement in their crisis communication strategies. Conducting post-crisis evaluations, and analyzing what worked well and what could be improved, is crucial. These evaluations should involve all relevant stakeholders, including employees, customers, and community members.

To ensure continuous improvement, energy companies should invest in regular training and simulations. These exercises allow teams to practice their response protocols, identify potential communication bottlenecks, and refine their messaging strategies. By regularly testing their plans, companies can build confidence and ensure that their teams are prepared to effectively respond to a wide range of crisis scenarios.

In conclusion, a robust crisis communication strategy is not a static entity but a dynamic framework that requires continuous refinement. By learning from past experiences, investing in ongoing training, and regularly evaluating their performance, energy companies can strengthen their resilience, enhance their reputation, and effectively navigate the challenges of the future. A strong crisis communication strategy not only helps companies weather storms but also strengthens their overall operational efficiency and enhances their ability to serve their customers and communities.

Overview of the Benefits of Crisis Communication to the Energy Industry

In today's dynamic and interconnected world, the energy industry faces a multitude of challenges, from natural disasters and cyberattacks to supply chain disruptions and shifting consumer expectations. A well-prepared crisis communication strategy is no longer a luxury but a critical component of business continuity and long-term success. This blog has explored the key elements of an effective crisis communication plan, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning, rapid response, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement.

A robust crisis communication strategy not only protects the company's reputation and financial stability but also safeguards the interests of its customers. By effectively communicating during times of crisis, energy companies can minimize disruption, alleviate public anxiety, and ensure the continued flow of essential services.

In conclusion, energy leaders are encouraged to critically evaluate their current crisis communication plans. Are they adequately prepared to address a wide range of potential threats? Do they have the necessary resources and personnel to effectively execute their plans? By investing in a robust and well-rehearsed crisis communication strategy, energy companies can enhance their resilience, build stronger relationships with stakeholders, and ensure a more secure and sustainable future for the industry.