When you see a Windows update, you anticipate a security improvement, not a threat. However, a sneaky extortion scam disguised as a Windows update page has recently appeared. Its danger lies in encrypting files on your computer. The scammers then demand payment to return your files. This extortion scam is known as Big Head ransomware….
A small retail business was hit by a ransomware attack. Cybercriminals encrypted their critical data and demanded a ransom of $50,000 for decryption. Despite having a backup system, the company decided to pay the ransom due to the lack of knowledge about the time required for restoration and the cybercriminals’ promise of faster decryption. This…
Researchers at SentinelLabs have uncovered a new, modular malware toolkit called “AlienFox.” Cybercriminals use AlienFox to breach email and web hosting services. It compromises misconfigured hosts on cloud platforms and takes sensitive data. You can often find this new toolkit in Telegram groups. Researchers call AlienFox a “Swiss Army knife” toolkit because of its versatility….
The United States government is alerting organizations about the Royal ransomware operation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in a joint advisory that the Royal ransomware gang poses an increasing threat to critical infrastructure of numerous sectors in the U.S. The Royal ransomware group has been…
Ransomware is a threat businesses cannot afford to ignore. Such a cyberattack often blocks user access to systems until the perpetrator receives ransom. A recent cautionary tale is a ransomware attack on Dole Food Company. Dole reported on Feb. 22 a cybersecurity incident involving ransomware. Although it is unclear when or how the attack occurred,…
On Feb. 8, 2023, the City of Oakland suffered a ransomware attack. It forced several city systems to go offline. Fortunately, it did not affect emergency services. 911 and fire rescue were still online. Digital security experts investigated the incident. They assume the attack started with an email that contained a malicious ransomware program. When…
A ransomware attack exposed the information of more than 3.3 million patients on Dec. 1, 2022. Multiple medical groups are affected under the Heritage Provider Network in California. These are: Lakeside Medical Organization Regal Medical Group ADOC Medical Group Greater Covina Medical Understanding Ransomware Ransomware is a malicious computer program that attempts to infect computers…
Schools in Tucson, AZ, and Nantucket, MA, became the most recent targets of cyberattacks within hours of each other during the last week of January. The two attacks appear to be unrelated. The hackers behind the Tucson Unified District ransomware attack specifically mentioned low spending on crucial cyber services as a reason for infecting their…