#cryptocurrency ransom retrieval

[lionsgatenetwork]

Cryptocurrency ransomware represents a malicious breed of malware designed to encrypt files or entire systems, rendering them inaccessible to the victim. In exchange for a decryption key, the attackers demand payment in digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Monero. The decentralized and pseudonymous nature of cryptocurrencies provides a cloak of anonymity for the perpetrators, making it challenging to trace and apprehend them.

[digital-asset-management-online]

LegacyPass: The Best Password Manager for Managing Your Digital Identity

Password management is a critical aspect of protecting one's digital assets, especially in the crypto world. where the value held in cryptocurrencies can be substantial. It involves creating, storing, and securing passwords for different online accounts and services. Poor password management can be the gateway to a host of unfortunate consequences. It can have a devastating impact on our digital lives.

With increased cyber threats such as ransomware and identity theft, the importance of strong and secure passwords cannot be overstated. In the fast-paced digital world, it is essential to stay updated with the latest growth in password management to ensure the safety of one's digital assets. In this regard, LegacyPass, a password manager offered by Legacy Suite, stands out as the best solution to secure and manage passwords efficiently.

The Consequences of Poor Password Management

Poor passwords that are easily guessable or obtainable through phishing scams or other malicious means can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, such as financial data, personal information, and confidential business information. Poor and weak passwords can act like a digital skeleton key, granting hackers access to all your digital assets. They can steal money, personal information, and intellectual property, ruining your reputation and leaving you feeling helpless and violated. In the world of crypto, the stakes are even higher since transactions are irreversible, making it even more critical to take password security seriously.

Poor password management can also make you vulnerable to ransomware attacks, where hackers infect your computer with malware and hold your files for ransom. This can result in the loss of critical business data; in extreme cases, entire companies have been forced to shut down.

LegacyPass: The Solution for Secure Password Management

Legacy Suite, a digital asset preservation industry leader, has introduced LegacyPass, a custom solution for easily accessing, manging, and sharing passwords from mobile devices or desktop. Businesses and individuals may find it difficult to keep track of their login information as the number of online accounts grows and the importance of strong passwords grows. LegacyPass addresses this issue by securely storing a user’s passwords in a single, convenient digital vault protected by the blockchain.

LegacyPass is a password manager designed to provide the highest level of security for users’ digital assets. With LegacyPass, users can safely store their passwords and other sensitive information, ensuring that their data is protected from cyber threats and hacking attempts. This password manager allows you to save, sort, and share passwords with loved ones as well as Legacy contacts for a variety of accounts.

ECIES: It uses ECIES encryption with the user’s public key, which is then retrievable only by the user’s wallet’s linked private key, whose public key was used at first.

User-friendly interface: The user-friendly interface of LegacyPass makes it easy for users to manage their passwords and other sensitive information. You can store, manage, and organize your passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive information in one place.

AES256 encryption: The products of Legacy Suite use blockchain technology to safeguard digital assets. One of the features of LegacyPass is the use of 256-bit AES encryption instead of 128-bit and 192-bit encryptions to build a virtually impenetrable level of security. The combination of secure storage and the ability to reliably control shared access ensures that assets are never stranded or lost.

Thus, LegacyPass possesses unique capabilities and employs innovative blockchain technology that encrypts and decrypts the information using the hybrid encryption scheme to share passwords and credentials with family and friends securely.

The Takeaways

Password management is crucial in the crypto space, as weak passwords expose users to the risk of ransomware and identity theft. Poor password management is a security threat and a financial and reputational liability. With the growing dependence on digital assets and services, it is crucial to adopt best practices for password management and use tools like LegacyPass to ensure the safety of your digital life.

LegacyPass, the best password manager offered by Legacy Suite, provides secure password management with its advanced features, ensuring the safety of digital assets. Using LegacyPass can provide peace of mind knowing their digital assets are secure. Do not wait until it gets too late; start securing your passwords with LegacyPass today.

Visit the Legacy Suite for more information on the full range of services provided by Legacy Suite. You may also join the Legacy Suite community on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Discord to stay updated on all developments

[verojin-blog1]

Different Types Of Cyber Crime

Cyber attacks can take many forms: from malware injection and phishing to hacking and ransomware. Some types of attacks are more effective than others, but all present a significant - and increasingly unavoidable - business risk.

In order to counteract that risk, it helps to understand the different cyber threats you may face and the various ways criminals might try to cause harm to your business.

What is a cyber attack?

A cyber attack is a malicious attempt by a third party to damage, destroy or alter:

computer networks

computer information systems

computer or network infrastructure

personal computer devices

Criminals launch cyber attacks for many reasons: to steal money, access financial and sensitive data, weaken integrity or disrupt the operations of a company or an individual. Attacks often result in crimes such as financial fraud, information or identity theft...and more info over at - nibusinessinfo.co.uk.

Types of Cyber Attacks

Phishing Gets More Sophisticated

Phishing attacks, in which carefully targeted digital messages are transmitted to fool people into clicking on a link that can then install malware or expose sensitive data, are becoming more sophisticated.

Now that employees at most organizations are more aware of the dangers of email phishing or of clicking on suspicious-looking links, hackers are upping the ante — for example, using machine learning to much more quickly craft and distribute convincing fake messages in the hopes that recipients will unwittingly compromise their organization’s networks and systems. Such attacks enable hackers to steal user logins, credit card credentials and other types of personal financial information, as well as gain access to private databases.

Ransomware Strategies Evolve

Ransomware attacks are believed to cost victims billions of dollars every year, as hackers deploy technologies that enable them to literally kidnap an individual or organization’s databases and hold all of the information for ransom. The rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is credited with helping to fuel ransomware attacks by allowing ransom demands to be paid anonymously.

As companies continue to focus on building stronger defenses to guard against ransomware breaches, some experts believe hackers will increasingly target other potentially profitable ransomware victims such as high-net-worth individuals...visit - University of San Diego to know more.

Man-in-the-middle attack

A MITM (man-in-the-middle) attack is one where the attacker intercepts and relays messages between two parties who believe they are interacting with one another. It is also known as an eavesdropping attack, and once attackers are in the conversation, they can filter, manipulate, and steal sensitive information.

One way to protect your organization from such attacks is to encrypt data. Companies should also put in place auditing and monitoring so that they are kept aware of staff activities. Learn more about how your organization can implement effective information audits.  

Distributed denial-of-service attack

DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks bombard an organization’s central server with simultaneous data requests. Multiple compromised systems are used to generate these data requests. A DDoS attack aims to stop the server from fulfilling legitimate requests, providing a situation for criminal hackers to extort the victim for money.

The timeline of a DDoS attack can vary, with 15% of attacks lasting as long as a month. Blindly implementing solutions to protect against DDoS attacks only resolves the immediate problem and leaves vulnerabilities in the system as a whole. Using a risk assessment tool takes a strategic approach to identify areas of vulnerability for DDoS attacks...go to - it governance to know more.

Cross Site Scripting

This attack aims to insert malicious code into a website which targets a visitor’s browser. Cross Site Scripting, also knowns as XSS targets trusted web applications. The attacker uses the web app to inject the code such as a browser or client-side scripts that is viewed by other users of the same application.

This attack is performed by hackers to bypass and gain access to applications. An XSS works because some web applications use inputs from users found in the output generated without validation. The web browser of the victim doesn’t know that the script came from somewhere else. The web browser trusts the legitimate site, so it allows the third-party “malicious” script to access cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information kept on the web browser.

SQL Injection

An SQL injection attack interferes with the queries that a web application makes to the database. An attacker inserts crafted SQL (Structured Query Language) code lines that allow data to be revealed. This data is retrieved from the database which could be information about other users. The attacker gains access because the database is unable to recognize the “incorrect statements”  and filter out the illegal input values.

In some cases the SQL injection can also modify or remove data, harming the content of the databases and the application’s normal behavior. To perform an SQL injection is just a matter of submitting the malicious SQL statements into any vulnerable entry field such as a search box.

Zero-day Exploits

When new software is developed, it usually contains countless bugs and vulnerabilities. When software developers find their own vulnerability they quickly develop patches and updates. But sometimes this process is slow.

Black-hat hackers take advantage of zero-day exploits and are able to find vulnerabilities in new software much faster. They are able to target this vulnerability before users update their software...get more info over at - www.pcwdld.com.

Combating cybercrime is not a one day job or a prevention task after such a problem has occurred. Increased awareness and appropriate use of security resources are key measures to combat cybercrime. Duocircle can help you to counter cybercrime and also make sure that your website and email are safe from cyber attacks.

[waredot0]

What is Ransomware | 5 Best Anti-Ransomware Protection 2021

You might always surround by words called a virus, spyware, ransomware, and so on. We’ve discussed viruses and spyware in our previous articles. If you want to check out; visit Waredot.com. In this article, we will learn about ransomware queries like what is ransomware and related queries.  Read the complete article for the correct knowledge of ransomware.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts user’s access to their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by encrypting the users’ files until a ransom is paid.  Modern ransomware families, collectively known as crypto-ransomware, encrypt specific file types on infected systems and force users to pay the ransom via specific online payment methods in order to obtain a decryption key.

History of Ransomware

Available data on the web says that cases of ransomware infection were first seen in Russia between 2005 and 2006.  On the basis of the report of Trend Micro on case 2006, it is discovered that the first case involved a ransomware variant (detected as TROJ_CRYZIP.A)  that zipped certain file types before overwriting the original files, leaving only the password-protected zip files in the user’s system.  There is also found the text file that acted as the ransom note informing users that the files can be retrieved in exchange for US$300.

Ransomware encrypted particular file types such as .doc.lxx.jpg.zip.pdf. And other commonly used file extensions. Trend Micro published a report in 2011 on an SMS ransomware threat that instructed infected systems to dial a premium SMS number. TROJ RANSOM was discovered. QOWA, this variant repeatedly displayed a ransomware page to users until they paid the ransom by dialing a certain premium number.

Examples of Ransomware

Here, we’ve some great examples of ransomware.  You can learn about the major ransomware attacks and this can also helpful for the organization and they will gain a solid foundation of the tactics, exploits, and characteristics of most ransomware attacks.

1. WannaCry

This was the most powerful ransomware worm that infected over 250.000 systems before a killswitch was tripped to prevent the spread. Proofpoint was involved in finding the sample used to find the killswitch and in deconstructing the ransomware.  

2. CryptoLocker

CryptoLocker was the first ransomware of the current generations that needs cryptocurrency for payment (Bitcoin) and encrypted a user’s hard drive and connected network drives. CryptoLocker ransomware was spread through email with an attachment that claimed to be FedEx and UPS tracking notifications. But, every experience is a result of success and thus we develop a decryption tool.

3. NotPetya

NotPetya was the biggest destroying ransomware attacks, NotPetya leveraged tactics from its namesake, Petya such as infecting and encrypting a Microsoft Windows-based system's master boot record. NotPetya exploited the same vulnerability as WannaCry to spread quickly, demanding bitcoin payment to undo the changes.  Some have labeled it a wiper because NotPetya cannot be undone its changes to the master boot record and renders the target system unrecoverable.

How ransomware does spread

Most ransomware is spreading via email or attachments that appear to be legitimate, enticing you to click a link or download the attachment that delivers the malicious software. Ransomware can be also delivered via drive-by-download attacks on untrusted or malicious websites. Some ransomware attacks have ever been sent using social media messaging.

Do not forget that whether the ransom is paid or not, attackers have only one motive is extracting your crucial data from a compromised machine.  For example, you have stored all your sensitive data on the compromised machine, which could include username & passwords for internal or web resources, payment information, email addresses of contacts, and more.

How Ransomware Works

We have various vectors ransomware that can take access a computer. One of the most common delivery systems is phishing email spam attachments that come to the victim in an email. Once the victim opens the email or they downloaded attachments and open it, they can take over the victim’s computer, especially if they have built-in social engineering tools that trick users into allowing administrative access. Some other, more aggressive forms of ransomware, like NotPetva, exploit security holes to infect computers without needing to trick users.

Once the malware has properly controlled the victim’s computer, one of the most common actions is to encrypt some or all of the user’s files.  They endeavor to completely restrict the user’s access to its system.

Remember that the files cannot be decrypted without a mathematical key known only to the attacker at the end of the process. The user is informed that their files are not inaccessible and will only be encrypted if the victim sends an untraceable Bitcoin payment to the attacker.

Who is Victims?

Most attackers target the organization for ransomware. Sometimes it’s about the opportunity. For example, attackers target the universities because they tend to have smaller security teams and a desperate user base that does a lot of file sharing, making it easier to penetrate their defenses.

The other motive of attackers; organizations are tempting targets because organizations can pay a high ransom and quickly as well.  For example, attackers attack government agencies or medical facilities because they can high ransom and they need immediate access to their files so they can pay quickly ransom.

Note: Remember some ransomware spreads automatically and indiscriminately across the internet.

How to Prevent Ransomware

Sadly, the strategies and methods companies use to secure themselves from ransomware haven’t developed at the same pace as the malware authors.  Although, we have few tips that organizations can take to help mitigate risk and limit the ransomware attack.

Tips to Protect Yourself from Ransomware

Few tips to protect yourself from ransomware:

Do not click on the links in emails

If you have got an email account then you may receive anonymous emails containing the links, make sure you do not click on the link it delivers the malware into your system or helps attackers to unauthorized access and steal your information.

Never download any file or do not click on any download link

Whenever you receive an email like phishing emails that contain the link or any download link, make sure you do not click on the download link and also not download any file from the mail or link. 

Avoid disclosing personal information

Do not disclose your personal information on any websites or sources that you don’t trust. This may provide attackers unauthorized access to your accounts.

Do not open suspicious email attachments

If you receive any ads email or phishing emails containing attachments from the sender you don’t know, do not open the email or attachments.

Try not to use any unknown USB sticks

Make sure you do not use any unknown USB sticks for data transfer or for any other purposes. Use USB sticks you own or you can trust.

Backups

Routine backups are the solution for most of your data-related issues. Therefore, whether your data stolen, lost, viruses, or any related issues, make sure you take routine data backups.

Use secure and trusted sources for downloading any file

If you need to download any file make sure you always use the trusted sources or websites. Unsecure sources or websites can leads to malware into your system.

Use VPN services on public Wi-Fi networks

Try to use best and secure VPN services on w-fi networks, this may prevent your system from malware or ransomware cases.

Anti-ransomware software

If you’re already a victim of ransomware, and instead of paying for ransomware, you can also give one try to anti-ransomware software. We do not guarantee that it anti-ransomware software will work, but you can try it. We will about this further in this article.

Think twice before clicking

Whenever you receive any suspicious emails from the random sender or any pop-up on any website or windows for free downloading, make sure you wait for a second, and think twice before you click.

Stay up-to-date Backups

Windows and Mac always indicate the latest updates. Make sure you update your pc and software time-to-time.

Back-up plan

Having a backup plan shows that you’re a master of your game. Therefore, always try to have the best backup plan for the contingencies.

Keep your eyes on latest threats:

Remember that ransomware continue to innovate new techniques, launch new attacks and create new strains of crypto-malware.  Therefore, you also need to stay one step ahead of the ransomware.  You should have some ways to keep pace with what’s going on in the threat world and what risk could be affecting other organizations in the same industry.

5 Best Ransomware Protections 2021

As you can see ransomware increasing day by day, so you need ransomware protection. This is especially true if you’re a victim of successful ransomware attacks, which can be extremely difficult to remove.

Waredot Antivirus

Do not rush to find your best Antivirus software, till then you have Waredot Antivirus. This protects your pc from different viruses, ransomware, malware, spyware and other malicious programs as well. Let me tell you how it can protect you from ransomware. Its standard Behavior analyzer HIPS feature protects computers from unidentified viruses and suspicious behavior. It includes both pre-execution behavior and runtime behavior analysis.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus  is one the best virus detecting, boasting web and URL filtering to block access to malicious sites, as well as a secure browser that helps you to keep your online browsing such as online transactions safe. Additionally, there’s a password manager which auto-completes the credit card details in web forms in order to secure credit card details.

Bitdefender provides multi-layer ransomware protection that heuristically understands the behaviors of such threats to keep you safe and also scans all your linked devices via the Bitdefender Central mobile app.

AVG Antivirus

AVG can be the best alternative for ransomware protection.  It works in the background and protects your system from ransomware every time whether you’re working or not.  AVG antivirus free indicates you if it notices anything suspicious on the system through pop-ups. AVG antivirus software user interface is simple to use, there’s protection not just from downloadable threats, but from dodgy links too, and you can use your mobile to scan your PC remotely.

Avast Antivirus

Avast Antivirus offers the best anti-malware protection and removal. This program comes bundled with an anti-malware feature that used behavioral monitoring to spot rogue programs. Avasts’ free version offers the basic features for malware protection. While the paid Avast antivirus software upgrades its protection features.

Avast product is also available for mobile devices, desktops, which makes Avast a particularly ideal choice if you have multiple devices you need to check.

Webroot Antivirus

If the above software doesn’t work for you well, then try Webroot antivirus software. This software is easy to use and its installation takes seconds to install on the system. The program's files are barely using the 2MB of your hard drive, Ram footprints are tiny, and there are no bulky signature updates to tie up your bandwidth. With the core protection, there’s smart behavior monitoring, accurate real-time anti-phishing, a firewall and network connection monitor, enhanced anti-ransomware, and other interesting bonuses.

Summary

Hey guys! This was the guide about what is ransomware.  It’s really difficult to include everything about ransomware in one article, but still we tried our best to present about ransomware cases, and how you can prevent yourself from ransomware.  Ransomware protection is the core focus of our article, hope we deliver the messages and you get your answer as well. If you’ve any query regarding this article, please let us know in the comment section below.  We would love to answer you!

[letsjanukhan]

U.S. Seizes $6.1 Million in Cryptocurrency in Ransomware Crackdown

U.S. Seizes $6.1 Million in Cryptocurrency in Ransomware Crackdown

The Justice Department’s seizure of $6.1 million in funds tied to alleged ransom payments, announced alongside fresh sanctions against a cryptocurrency exchange and arrests of alleged hackers, marked an escalation in Washington’s attempt to weaken hacking groups that have disrupted U.S. businesses. The retrieval of funds shows how victim companies’ cooperation with law enforcement can sometimes…

[bestitmagazine]

IT News

IT News the suspect has demanded payment of 1,950 USD in cryptocurrency as ransom for handing over the decryption code. Meanwhile the cyber security experts from the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) and Computer Emergency Response Team are trying to retrieve the encrypted documents, sources in the State Secretariat said. Visit on Varindia site to get News IT, IT News, Latest Technology News, Latest Technology News India, Live Tech News, IT News in India, IT Magazines Online, IT Magazines https://www.varindia.com/

[riichardwilson]

Cybersecurity Practices That Protect Your Small Business

August 10, 2020 4 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Success instills pride. Unfortunately, valuable possessions also attract thieves. Entrepreneurs think lack of customers, bad service and limited capital are what causes bankruptcy. Try being a victim of cybercrime.

A 2019 report by insurance carrier Hiscox found that 60 percent of companies that are victims of a cyberattack go out of business within six months. The average loss is $200,000. That’s a hefty sum for startups, most of which are already reeling from the virus outbreak. Currently, 15 percent of small businesses do not expect to survive the recession, which means a cyberattack would have devastating consequences.

Here are cybersecurity practices that protect your business.

Train staff on security protocols

While big companies get all the media attention, hackers also exploit smaller organizations. It’s partly because criminals know that small firms have less resources to devote to IT security. A 2019 Accenture study found that 43 percent of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses but only 14 percent are prepared to defend themselves. A different McAfee study found that only 30 percent of employees receive annual cybersecurity training.

Related: Is Working Remote or Working From an Office More Secure?

Because startups have leaner budgets, it’s essential to implement the right security protocols that mitigate most of the risk. Employee training should be at the top of the list. Knowledgeable workers make it difficult for con artists to gain unauthorized access to networks, files and bank information. Business owners or a security expert should teach personnel to regularly backup data; update software; avoid suspicious websites and links; and ignore or report unsolicited requests. 

Through training, staff will know to use multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts. Finally, trained employees reduce the risk of social hacking, where criminals pose as legitimate customers or vendors to retrieve sensitive info. Entrepreneurs and owners should keep themselves aware of ongoing threats. 

Make your devices and platforms hacker-proof

Fraudsters have stolen $24 million worth of Bitcoin in the first half of 2020, according to analytics firm Whale Alert. That’s a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but cryptocurrency theft has gained prominence since the recent hacking of Twitter accounts belonging to Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Elon Musk and other VIPs. Thus, cybercrime also harms billion-dollar reputations and credibility in addition to victims’ wallets. 

In the Twitter hack, criminals stole cryptocurrencies by posting wallet addresses on celebrity accounts and by asking for donations supposedly for charitable causes. On YouTube and other social platforms, scammers posted advertisements falsely claiming that billionaire Musk was giving away 5,000 bitcoins. According to Whale Alert, such scams can earn criminals more than $130,000 per day.

“Theft of digital funds will continue to increase because scammers are using sophisticated methods to access devices, emails, social profiles, keyboard strokes and even two-factor authentication codes,” says Ruben Merre, CEO of blockchain security firm NGRAVE. “With overall adoption growing, more funds are flowing into the space and therefore the appeal to engage in scamming practices increases as well. In certain situations, it’s better to store valuable items off the grid and to minimize online connection possibilities as these are all potential attack vectors for hackers or scammers.”

So how do criminals steal multi-factor codes? They can swap a phone’s SIM card, or install malware that tracks a device’s keystrokes and/or monitor an electronic screen. Hackers have also falsely described apps as having coronavirus-related functions in order to trick users into downloading malware. Criminals have recently targeted hospitals because their need to quickly access COVID-19 data makes it more likely they’ll pay ransom when that data becomes inaccessible.

Install anti-virus and anti-malware software

As mentioned, small businesses have limited budgets and often lack IT expertise and resources. Low-cost solutions that have major impact is the way to go. 

Entrepreneurs should install the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software that find and identify threats. You can also turn on Microsoft and Google security features such as firewalls, browser checkup and file encryption to protect data. Encryption makes data useless to unauthorized individuals, and fraudsters are more inclined to target potential victims that offer less resistance.

Related: 6 Cyber Threats You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Finally, your software and operating system should be kept up-to-date. Run a full scan weekly. Another inexpensive solution is a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN hides your IP address so you can surf the web anonymously. It’s harder for criminals to hack your hardware or accounts if they can’t track you. And delete all those unnecessary apps and software that are clogging your phone and laptop. 

Crime is evolving, and business owners should adapt to the risks they face.

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/cybersecurity-practices-that-protect-your-small-business/ source https://scpie.tumblr.com/post/626136446639767552

[scpie]

Cybersecurity Practices That Protect Your Small Business

August 10, 2020 4 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Success instills pride. Unfortunately, valuable possessions also attract thieves. Entrepreneurs think lack of customers, bad service and limited capital are what causes bankruptcy. Try being a victim of cybercrime.

A 2019 report by insurance carrier Hiscox found that 60 percent of companies that are victims of a cyberattack go out of business within six months. The average loss is $200,000. That’s a hefty sum for startups, most of which are already reeling from the virus outbreak. Currently, 15 percent of small businesses do not expect to survive the recession, which means a cyberattack would have devastating consequences.

Here are cybersecurity practices that protect your business.

Train staff on security protocols

While big companies get all the media attention, hackers also exploit smaller organizations. It’s partly because criminals know that small firms have less resources to devote to IT security. A 2019 Accenture study found that 43 percent of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses but only 14 percent are prepared to defend themselves. A different McAfee study found that only 30 percent of employees receive annual cybersecurity training.

Related: Is Working Remote or Working From an Office More Secure?

Because startups have leaner budgets, it’s essential to implement the right security protocols that mitigate most of the risk. Employee training should be at the top of the list. Knowledgeable workers make it difficult for con artists to gain unauthorized access to networks, files and bank information. Business owners or a security expert should teach personnel to regularly backup data; update software; avoid suspicious websites and links; and ignore or report unsolicited requests. 

Through training, staff will know to use multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts. Finally, trained employees reduce the risk of social hacking, where criminals pose as legitimate customers or vendors to retrieve sensitive info. Entrepreneurs and owners should keep themselves aware of ongoing threats. 

Make your devices and platforms hacker-proof

Fraudsters have stolen $24 million worth of Bitcoin in the first half of 2020, according to analytics firm Whale Alert. That’s a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but cryptocurrency theft has gained prominence since the recent hacking of Twitter accounts belonging to Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Elon Musk and other VIPs. Thus, cybercrime also harms billion-dollar reputations and credibility in addition to victims’ wallets. 

In the Twitter hack, criminals stole cryptocurrencies by posting wallet addresses on celebrity accounts and by asking for donations supposedly for charitable causes. On YouTube and other social platforms, scammers posted advertisements falsely claiming that billionaire Musk was giving away 5,000 bitcoins. According to Whale Alert, such scams can earn criminals more than $130,000 per day.

“Theft of digital funds will continue to increase because scammers are using sophisticated methods to access devices, emails, social profiles, keyboard strokes and even two-factor authentication codes,” says Ruben Merre, CEO of blockchain security firm NGRAVE. “With overall adoption growing, more funds are flowing into the space and therefore the appeal to engage in scamming practices increases as well. In certain situations, it’s better to store valuable items off the grid and to minimize online connection possibilities as these are all potential attack vectors for hackers or scammers.”

So how do criminals steal multi-factor codes? They can swap a phone’s SIM card, or install malware that tracks a device’s keystrokes and/or monitor an electronic screen. Hackers have also falsely described apps as having coronavirus-related functions in order to trick users into downloading malware. Criminals have recently targeted hospitals because their need to quickly access COVID-19 data makes it more likely they’ll pay ransom when that data becomes inaccessible.

Install anti-virus and anti-malware software

As mentioned, small businesses have limited budgets and often lack IT expertise and resources. Low-cost solutions that have major impact is the way to go. 

Entrepreneurs should install the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software that find and identify threats. You can also turn on Microsoft and Google security features such as firewalls, browser checkup and file encryption to protect data. Encryption makes data useless to unauthorized individuals, and fraudsters are more inclined to target potential victims that offer less resistance.

Related: 6 Cyber Threats You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Finally, your software and operating system should be kept up-to-date. Run a full scan weekly. Another inexpensive solution is a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN hides your IP address so you can surf the web anonymously. It’s harder for criminals to hack your hardware or accounts if they can’t track you. And delete all those unnecessary apps and software that are clogging your phone and laptop. 

Crime is evolving, and business owners should adapt to the risks they face.

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/cybersecurity-practices-that-protect-your-small-business/

[laurelkrugerr]

Cybersecurity Practices That Protect Your Small Business

August 10, 2020 4 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Success instills pride. Unfortunately, valuable possessions also attract thieves. Entrepreneurs think lack of customers, bad service and limited capital are what causes bankruptcy. Try being a victim of cybercrime.

A 2019 report by insurance carrier Hiscox found that 60 percent of companies that are victims of a cyberattack go out of business within six months. The average loss is $200,000. That’s a hefty sum for startups, most of which are already reeling from the virus outbreak. Currently, 15 percent of small businesses do not expect to survive the recession, which means a cyberattack would have devastating consequences.

Here are cybersecurity practices that protect your business.

Train staff on security protocols

While big companies get all the media attention, hackers also exploit smaller organizations. It’s partly because criminals know that small firms have less resources to devote to IT security. A 2019 Accenture study found that 43 percent of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses but only 14 percent are prepared to defend themselves. A different McAfee study found that only 30 percent of employees receive annual cybersecurity training.

Related: Is Working Remote or Working From an Office More Secure?

Because startups have leaner budgets, it’s essential to implement the right security protocols that mitigate most of the risk. Employee training should be at the top of the list. Knowledgeable workers make it difficult for con artists to gain unauthorized access to networks, files and bank information. Business owners or a security expert should teach personnel to regularly backup data; update software; avoid suspicious websites and links; and ignore or report unsolicited requests. 

Through training, staff will know to use multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts. Finally, trained employees reduce the risk of social hacking, where criminals pose as legitimate customers or vendors to retrieve sensitive info. Entrepreneurs and owners should keep themselves aware of ongoing threats. 

Make your devices and platforms hacker-proof

Fraudsters have stolen $24 million worth of Bitcoin in the first half of 2020, according to analytics firm Whale Alert. That’s a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but cryptocurrency theft has gained prominence since the recent hacking of Twitter accounts belonging to Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Elon Musk and other VIPs. Thus, cybercrime also harms billion-dollar reputations and credibility in addition to victims’ wallets. 

In the Twitter hack, criminals stole cryptocurrencies by posting wallet addresses on celebrity accounts and by asking for donations supposedly for charitable causes. On YouTube and other social platforms, scammers posted advertisements falsely claiming that billionaire Musk was giving away 5,000 bitcoins. According to Whale Alert, such scams can earn criminals more than $130,000 per day.

“Theft of digital funds will continue to increase because scammers are using sophisticated methods to access devices, emails, social profiles, keyboard strokes and even two-factor authentication codes,” says Ruben Merre, CEO of blockchain security firm NGRAVE. “With overall adoption growing, more funds are flowing into the space and therefore the appeal to engage in scamming practices increases as well. In certain situations, it’s better to store valuable items off the grid and to minimize online connection possibilities as these are all potential attack vectors for hackers or scammers.”

So how do criminals steal multi-factor codes? They can swap a phone’s SIM card, or install malware that tracks a device’s keystrokes and/or monitor an electronic screen. Hackers have also falsely described apps as having coronavirus-related functions in order to trick users into downloading malware. Criminals have recently targeted hospitals because their need to quickly access COVID-19 data makes it more likely they’ll pay ransom when that data becomes inaccessible.

Install anti-virus and anti-malware software

As mentioned, small businesses have limited budgets and often lack IT expertise and resources. Low-cost solutions that have major impact is the way to go. 

Entrepreneurs should install the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software that find and identify threats. You can also turn on Microsoft and Google security features such as firewalls, browser checkup and file encryption to protect data. Encryption makes data useless to unauthorized individuals, and fraudsters are more inclined to target potential victims that offer less resistance.

Related: 6 Cyber Threats You Can’t Afford to Ignore

Finally, your software and operating system should be kept up-to-date. Run a full scan weekly. Another inexpensive solution is a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN hides your IP address so you can surf the web anonymously. It’s harder for criminals to hack your hardware or accounts if they can’t track you. And delete all those unnecessary apps and software that are clogging your phone and laptop. 

Crime is evolving, and business owners should adapt to the risks they face.

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source http://www.scpie.org/cybersecurity-practices-that-protect-your-small-business/ source https://scpie1.blogspot.com/2020/08/cybersecurity-practices-that-protect.html

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IT News

IT News the suspect has demanded payment of 1,950 USD in cryptocurrency as ransom for handing over the decryption code. Meanwhile the cyber security experts from the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC) and Computer Emergency Response Team are trying to retrieve the encrypted documents, sources in the State Secretariat said. Visit on Varindia site to get News IT, IT News, Latest Technology News, Latest Technology News India, Live Tech News, IT News in India, IT Magazines Online, IT Magazines https://www.varindia.com/

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Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order

A woman based in the United States island-state of Hawaii has lost nearly half of her entire life savings, in a crypto mining-related Ponzi scheme.

And while the woman is clearly the victim, she’s been hit with a temporary restraining order for voicing her concerns and attempting to retrieve the money that was stolen from her by scammers.

Investor Loses 401K Savings to Bitcoin Mining Ponzi Scheme

An investor based in Waipahu, Hawaii who cashed out half of the money in her 401k retirement fund to invest in two different Bitcoin mining operations, is now out more than $60,000 as a result of an investment scam.

Related Reading | Why This Developer of the Controversial HEX Cryptocurrency – Accused of Scam – Left

The woman claims that she made over a $60,000 investment into BitClub Network and USI Tech – two firms with ties to Bitcoin mining. These businesses claim that they used specialized computers designed to mine for the crypto asset, but instead were simply taking the from new investors to pay off older ones, in a typical Ponzi scheme.

The two companies were recommended to the woman by a close friend, who also eventually got burned in the scheme, however, it’s not clear if the initial friend was complicit in the scheme.

She made several attempts to receive a refund on her investment, but instead, the company was able to file a temporary restraining order against the woman, preventing her from furthering her case for a refund.

Deputy Prosecutor Scott Spallina says that this woman isn’t the only victim of cryptocurrency-related scams that have included a temporary restraining order, who claims has become a new pattern for perpetrators to hide behind. The deputy also claims that another investor has lost more than $100,000 from similar crimes in the area.

The woman claims that she doesn’t expect to get her money back, but wants to “see justice for what they had done.”

Crypto Crime Sees a Surge Following Bubble-Driven Visibility, Will It Ever Stop?

Cryptocurrency related crime has only increased since the asset class became widely known following the crypto bubble of 2017.

After this, cybercrime-related to crypto asset began to climb at an alarming rate, and is now regularly being used by hackers who install ransomware on the computers of unsuspecting individuals and businesses and then demand a ransom paid in cryptocurrency.

Related Reading | United States Regulators Begin Crack Down on Crypto and Bitcoin Crime

The emergence of crime related to crypto has caused US regulators to take a closer look at the asset class, and additional rules and regulations are expected to follow as the industry and market further develop.

Until it does, scams like these will likely continue to run rampant, giving the crypto market its wild west stigma.

The post Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order appeared first on NewsBTC.

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Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order

A woman based in the United States island-state of Hawaii has lost nearly half of her entire life savings, in a crypto mining-related Ponzi scheme.

And while the woman is clearly the victim, she’s been hit with a temporary restraining order for voicing her concerns and attempting to retrieve the money that was stolen from her by scammers.

Investor Loses 401K Savings to Bitcoin Mining Ponzi Scheme

An investor based in Waipahu, Hawaii who cashed out half of the money in her 401k retirement fund to invest in two different Bitcoin mining operations, is now out more than $60,000 as a result of an investment scam.

Related Reading | Why This Developer of the Controversial HEX Cryptocurrency – Accused of Scam – Left

The woman claims that she made over a $60,000 investment into BitClub Network and USI Tech – two firms with ties to Bitcoin mining. These businesses claim that they used specialized computers designed to mine for the crypto asset, but instead were simply taking the from new investors to pay off older ones, in a typical Ponzi scheme.

The two companies were recommended to the woman by a close friend, who also eventually got burned in the scheme, however, it’s not clear if the initial friend was complicit in the scheme.

She made several attempts to receive a refund on her investment, but instead, the company was able to file a temporary restraining order against the woman, preventing her from furthering her case for a refund.

Deputy Prosecutor Scott Spallina says that this woman isn’t the only victim of cryptocurrency-related scams that have included a temporary restraining order, who claims has become a new pattern for perpetrators to hide behind. The deputy also claims that another investor has lost more than $100,000 from similar crimes in the area.

The woman claims that she doesn’t expect to get her money back, but wants to “see justice for what they had done.”

Crypto Crime Sees a Surge Following Bubble-Driven Visibility, Will It Ever Stop?

Cryptocurrency related crime has only increased since the asset class became widely known following the crypto bubble of 2017.

After this, cybercrime-related to crypto asset began to climb at an alarming rate, and is now regularly being used by hackers who install ransomware on the computers of unsuspecting individuals and businesses and then demand a ransom paid in cryptocurrency.

Related Reading | United States Regulators Begin Crack Down on Crypto and Bitcoin Crime

The emergence of crime related to crypto has caused US regulators to take a closer look at the asset class, and additional rules and regulations are expected to follow as the industry and market further develop.

Until it does, scams like these will likely continue to run rampant, giving the crypto market its wild west stigma.

The post Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order appeared first on NewsBTC.

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[joshuajacksonlyblog]

Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order

A woman based in the United States island-state of Hawaii has lost nearly half of her entire life savings, in a crypto mining-related Ponzi scheme.

And while the woman is clearly the victim, she’s been hit with a temporary restraining order for voicing her concerns and attempting to retrieve the money that was stolen from her by scammers.

Investor Loses 401K Savings to Bitcoin Mining Ponzi Scheme

An investor based in Waipahu, Hawaii who cashed out half of the money in her 401k retirement fund to invest in two different Bitcoin mining operations, is now out more than $60,000 as a result of an investment scam.

Related Reading | Why This Developer of the Controversial HEX Cryptocurrency – Accused of Scam – Left

The woman claims that she made over a $60,000 investment into BitClub Network and USI Tech – two firms with ties to Bitcoin mining. These businesses claim that they used specialized computers designed to mine for the crypto asset, but instead were simply taking the from new investors to pay off older ones, in a typical Ponzi scheme.

The two companies were recommended to the woman by a close friend, who also eventually got burned in the scheme, however, it’s not clear if the initial friend was complicit in the scheme.

She made several attempts to receive a refund on her investment, but instead, the company was able to file a temporary restraining order against the woman, preventing her from furthering her case for a refund.

Deputy Prosecutor Scott Spallina says that this woman isn’t the only victim of cryptocurrency-related scams that have included a temporary restraining order, who claims has become a new pattern for perpetrators to hide behind. The deputy also claims that another investor has lost more than $100,000 from similar crimes in the area.

The woman claims that she doesn’t expect to get her money back, but wants to “see justice for what they had done.”

Crypto Crime Sees a Surge Following Bubble-Driven Visibility, Will It Ever Stop?

Cryptocurrency related crime has only increased since the asset class became widely known following the crypto bubble of 2017.

After this, cybercrime-related to crypto asset began to climb at an alarming rate, and is now regularly being used by hackers who install ransomware on the computers of unsuspecting individuals and businesses and then demand a ransom paid in cryptocurrency.

Related Reading | United States Regulators Begin Crack Down on Crypto and Bitcoin Crime

The emergence of crime related to crypto has caused US regulators to take a closer look at the asset class, and additional rules and regulations are expected to follow as the industry and market further develop.

Until it does, scams like these will likely continue to run rampant, giving the crypto market its wild west stigma.

The post Hawaiian Woman Invests 401K Into Crypto Mining Ponzi Scheme, Hit With Restraining Order appeared first on NewsBTC.

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[32-character-limit-in-urls]

Week 3 roundup: leaks aplenty

Welcome to the first edition of my roundup blog posts where I recap on the happenings of the past week or so. This week has been particularly leaky, with several organisations caught up in data breaches.

First-party app on OnePlus phones was leaking users’ email addresses

Image credit: PhoneArena

This wasn’t from the past week but I feel I should include it regardless.

OnePlus devices have a “Shot on OnePlus” application that is accessed via the wallpaper picker menu. This app allowed owners of OnePlus devices to select photos that were shared by other OnePlus devices as wallpapers.

Users can upload photos either directly from the app itself or via a website. Sharing photos would require the user to login with an email address. The app uses an API to link the app and the server and each user has an internal identifier called a “gid”. The API will transfer the photo and relevant metadata to OnePlus’ servers. Some metadata transferred include the user’s email address, gid, the device’s model, the photo’s dimensions, ISO and focal length, and time the photo was taken.

Normally, an API is secured with access token. The API cannot be used without the token. However in this case, 9to5Google was able to retrieve the token with an unencrypted, alphanumeric key. The API is mainly used to access photos, but 9to5Google also discovered it could return the sensitive metadata related to the photo.

9to5Google contacted OnePlus about the leak and published their article about it once OnePlus had fixed the vulnerability. They say it is unclear how long the app has been leaking user metadata like this, but they speculate it may have done so since its initial release several years ago.

Source: 9to5Google

Cellebrite’s new UFED Premium, now with the ability to unlock modern smartphones

Image credit: 9to5Mac

Cellebrite has just announced a new version of their flagship product, the UFED Premium. It promises to be able to unlock all modern iOS and “high-end” Android devices. I wrote a separate blog post about this in more detail earlier in the week.

Source: WIRED, 9to5Mac, Cellebrite

Mozilla fixes a pair of zero-day vulnerabilities with its Firefox web browser

Image credit: Mozilla via ZDNet

Mozilla has this week hastily patched two separate zero-day vulnerabilities, tracked by Mozilla as CVE-2019-11707 and CVE-2019-11708.

CVE-2019-11707 was a “type confusion vulnerability that could occur when manipulating JavaScript objects due to issues with Array.pop”. It allowed for an “exploitative crash”. It was also described as a “remote code execution” vulnerability as it allowed attackers to run malicious code remotely inside Firefox’s native process.

CVE-2019-11708 was a “sandbox escape” vulnerability. It allowed attackers to escape Firefox’s sandboxed process and execute code directly on the operating system.

When combined, these vulnerabilities allowed an attacker to easily execute malicious code directly onto the operating system.

These vulnerabilities were discovered by Samuel Groß, a security researcher from Google’s Project Zero security team, and the Coinbase Security Team. Coinbase say both zero-day vulnerabilities were used to attack their staff. Other cryptocurrency organisations were also targeted in similar the attacks.

Source: ZDNet (1), (2), Mozilla (1), (2)

Australian Catholic University staff affected by a data breach

Image credit: Wikipedia

Following details of a 19-year data breach at the Australian National University that surfaced earlier this month, the Australian Catholic University revealed this week it has also experienced a data breach.

In a statement posted on the ACU website, ACU’s acting vice-chancellor announced the university had discovered a data breach in late May. A number of staff email accounts and “some” ACU systems were compromised in the breach.

A “very small number” of staff login credentials were also obtained during the breach. The credentials were used to access email accounts, calendars and bank details.

ACU blamed the breach on a phishing email impersonating the university that was sent to staff. The email contained a link to a fake login page.

ACU have reset the affected accounts and escalated the issue to senior authorities.

Source: iTnews, Australian Catholic University

Floridan city council voted to pay attackers to recover from a ransomware attack

Image credit: rivierabch.com/

Riviera Beach’s city council has this week unanimously voted to pay a ransom to free the city counil’s computer systems.

For three weeks, the city council’s computers were encrypted by attackers. Staff couldn’t access or send emails, emergency calls couldn’t be logged, and systems that controlled the water utility stopped functioning.

The attackers demanded a ransom of 65 bitcoin, or $600,000 USD, to decrypt the computers. The city council initially considered spending nearly 1 million USD to purchase new computers, but decided against it, instead opting to pay the ransom.

The ransomware manifested when a city employee clicked on a malicious link in an email. The ransomware locked out that computer while quickly spreading itself throughout the entirety of Riviera Beach’s computer systems.

Riviera Beach’s insurer will provide the 65 BTC ransom payment. It is unclear however whether the attackers will follow through their promises to decrypt the computer system.

Source: CNET

Desjardins impacted by an (now ex) employee-led data breach

Image credit: ZDNet

Desjardins this week revealed some of the details from a joint police and Desjardins internal investigation that revealed a data breach perpetrated by an employee. Nearly 3 million of its members are caught up in the breach with names, home addresses, birth dates, social insurance numbers and transaction habits compromised. Card numbers, PINs, passwords and security questions were not involved with the breach. I wrote a separate blog post about this in more detail.

Source: CBC News, ZDNet, Desjardins

In other news

Huawei is promising to update 17 of its phones to the next major version of Android, Android Q, regardless of the status of the US trade ban. With Android Q slated for release in Q3 later this year, this would mean the phone models involved will continue to receive Android security patches for the next several months.

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Hero image credit: Datafloq

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Riviera Beach, Florida pays hackers $600,000 in ransom to save records

Terry Spencer, Associated Press Published 6:01 p.m. ET June 19, 2019 | Updated 8:32 p.m. ET June 19, 2019

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Story Highlights

Hackers got a $600,000 pay day after breaching the public records of a Florida suburb.

The FBI does not support paying off hackers, but the Florida town voted unanimously to do so, following in the footsteps of many other government agencies.

Singer Island, Riviera Beach, Florida (Photo: fallbrook, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A Florida city agreed to pay $600,000 in ransom to hackers who took over its computer system, the latest in thousands of attacks worldwide aimed at extorting money from governments and businesses.

The Riviera Beach City Council voted unanimously this week to pay the hackers’ demands, believing the Palm Beach suburb had no choice if it wanted to retrieve its records, which the hackers encrypted.

The council already voted to spend almost $1 million on new computers and hardware after hackers captured the city’s system three weeks ago.

The hackers apparently got into the city’s system when an employee clicked on an email link that allowed them to upload malware.

Along with the encrypted records, the city had numerous problems including a disabled email system, employees and vendors being paid by check rather than direct deposit and 911 dispatchers being unable to enter calls into the computer. The city says there was no delay in response time.

‘I’m gay’: How coming out online has evolved

Spokeswoman Rose Anne Brown said Wednesday that the city of 35,000 residents has been working with outside security consultants, who recommended the ransom be paid.

She conceded there are no guarantees that once the hackers received the money they will release the records. The payment is being covered by insurance. The FBI on its website says it “doesn’t support” paying off hackers, but Riviera Beach isn’t alone: many government agencies and businesses do.

“We are relying on their (the consultants’) advice,” she said. The hackers demanded payment in the cryptocurrency bitcoin. While it is possible to trace bitcoins as they are spent, the owners of the accounts aren’t necessarily known, making it a favored payment method in ransomware attacks.

Numerous governments and businesses have been hit in the United States and worldwide in recent years. Baltimore refused to pay hackers $76,000 after an attack last month.

Netflix list for July 2019: Everything new and expiring

The U.S. government indicted two Iranians last year for allegedly unleashing more than 200 ransomware attacks, including against the cities of Atlanta and Newark, New Jersey. The men, who have not been arrested, received more than $6 million in payments and caused $30 million in damage to computer systems, federal prosecutors have said.

The federal government last year also accused a North Korean programmer of committing the “WannaCry” attack that infected government, bank, factory and hospital computers in 150 countries. He is also believed to have stolen $81 million from a Bangladesh bank. He also remains in his home country.

The FBI had no comment Wednesday on the Riviera Beach attack, but said 1,493 ransomware attacks were reported last year with victims paying $3.6 million to hackers – about $2,400 per attack. Some of those were against individuals.

Tom Holt, a Michigan State University criminal justice professor, said hackers often attack common and known vulnerabilities in computer systems. He said organizations’ technology managers need to examine their systems for such flaws and teach their employees not to open suspicious email or click suspect links.

The FBI says businesses also need to back up their data regularly on secure computers.

What are the richest towns in America?: Here’s the top 34

Holt said most attacks originate outside the U.S., making them difficult to police. He said many victims wind up like Riviera Beach: They pay their attacker because it is likely the only way to retrieve lost data.

“They might not pay the initial ransom that was suggested, but they may work with a third-party provider to negotiate the ransom down,” Holt said.

He said in almost all cases, the attackers decrypt the computers after payment, allowing the victims to retrieve their data. He said the WannaCry attacks were an exception – the hackers took the money but often didn’t release the data.

Some private WannaCry decryption attempts were successful.

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