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balle028

Feds recover millions from pipeline ransom hackers, hint at U.S. internet tactic - 0 views

  • The FBI was able to seize control of DarkSide's proceeds by gaining access to a central account holding about 63.7 bitcoins, worth around $2.3 million, Deputy Director Paul Abbate said. A court document said that the seizure took place in Northern California, putting it within reach of U.S. law, and that the FBI was able to access the "private key," or password, for one of the gang's bitcoin wallets. It was unclear how the key was compromised.
  • Elvis Chan, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's San Francisco office, said in a news call Monday that the funds were specifically seized from hacker subcontractors who had used the DarkSide ransomware to hack Colonial.He declined to give specifics of how the FBI was able to gain access to the wallet, but he said it did not rely on waiting for criminals to use U.S. cryptocurrency services. It did, however, rely on the fact that so much internet infrastructure is based in the U.S., where the FBI can get warrants.
  • Ransomware gangs have been responsible for more than 1,000 hacks worldwide this year, mostly in the U.S., according to figures prepared for NBC News by Allan Liska, an analyst at the cybersecurity company Recorded Future.
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    This Article deals with the hacking of Darkside the hacker group who extorted over 4 million dollars paid in bit coin, this article goes into ho w the FBI was able to get the monies paid back to the company.
lethannelson268

FBI Warns of Cyber Security Risk for Workers on Hotel WI-Fi | The National Interest - 0 views

  • The FBI has now issued a warning that those working in that manner may face extra risk of being hacked, and that they should be vigilant about protecting their devices and information while working on hotel Wi-Fi
  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation is issuing this announcement to encourage Americans to exercise caution when using hotel wireless networks (Wi-Fi) for telework
  • accessing sensitive information from hotel Wi-Fi poses an increased security risk over home Wi-Fi networks
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  • The report states that hotel Wi-Fi often has more lax security than other types of common Wi-Fi networks, and that attacks are frequently interested in obtaining guests’ information, including credit-card numbers, as well as business data
  • “Evil twin” attacks, in which hackers create fake Wi-Fi networks similar to those of the actual hotel, can also happen
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    This article highlights the need for hotel guests to be weary of the fact that the use of a hotel's Wi-Fi is not always secure. With more hotels opening up for guests to use their rooms and spaces as work offices, the FBI has stated that with the limited cyber security that hotel Wi-Fi has, it is possible for hackers to create fake Wi-Fi networks and steal or damage guest data. The article makes it known that it is much safer to use the network at home, that that at a hotel.
Grant Beck

FBI: Beware Of Malware Installed Via Hotel Networks - Forbes - 0 views

  • fake software updates booby trapped with malware that are being pushed through hotel internet connections .
  • malware that are being pushed through hotel internet connections.
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    This article brings to light security threats that are transfered via hotel networks. Fake software updates are used to hide malware which is installed on the computer when the update is accepted. The FBI offers tips on how to avoid being exposed to this after data on several hundred firms was stolen by hackers. The hackers broke into Marriott International Inc.'s records and had access confidential information. This article is important because firms have the responsibility of providing security for the clients as well as themselves. It is important to be aware of threats like this and of how it can be avoided so that the firm isn't put in a bad situation and have to deal with stolen information. With mobile devices and wireless networks becoming more common these types of threats need to be taken into consideration. Most users don't read the fine print or consider where software updates are coming from, especially if it looks like the source is a hotel they are staying at. This makes it even more critical that the hotel is aware of and blocking these threat because claiming that it was done without the knowledge of the hotel may not always be enough and looks badly for the security.
Marcus Baez

FBI on Predictive Policing - 0 views

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    This article talks about how the Santa Barbara Police Department uses Predictive Policing to help fight crime. Professor Cilli mentioned this in class the other day and it really caught my attention. It blew my mind how technology is so advanced that things like this can happen for the better of our country, and our citizens!  What the article talks about is how the Santa Barbara PD needed to make some budget cuts, and could not afford to hire more officers, so they decided a non traditional approach to fight crime, and that was the use of technology to predict crime in certain areas, this is known as Predictive Policing. What happens with this is basically old crimes are inputted into a database with all the details and information, and this piece of technology predicts when and where the next crimes similar to the older ones will happen again. This is all based on previous historical patterns of course, and the predictions obviously have their faults.
yiran DING

9 Tips To Block Hotel Wi-Fi Malware - Security - Mobile Security - - 0 views

  • 9 Tips To Block Hotel Wi-Fi Malware
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    FBI issues warning to people traveling abroad that free Wi-Fi systems can pose a threat. Malware and other attacks on hotel wi-fi has become a bigger and bigger threat for hotel internet users.  This artical introduced 9  tips to use wi-fi safely.  1. Update Before Leaving 2. Block Pop-Ups  3. Handle Free Wi-Fi With Caution 4. Read Hotel Wi-Fi Directions 5. VPN Tunneling Secures Free Wi-Fi  6. Download Software Updates Directly From Vendors 7. Beware Wired Hotel Connections 8. Consider Using A "Burner" Laptop  9. Don't Be Afraid To Hibernate  All these tips indicate that to use internet safely, we should be alter to potential risks, be wise and have a good habit when access internet. 
cmick006

Hackers Target WHO, COVID-19 Research Firm with Cyberattacks - 0 views

  • The Office for Civil Rights recently warned healthcare providers that hackers have increasingly impersonated health agencies tasked with the Coronavirus response, as well as the FBI and the Department of Justice.
  • , healthcare organizations need to be reviewing and discussing their data protection strategies as more work shifts into the remote environment to ensure they’re protected in the event of a compromise.
  • “It is a critical time to make sure all your data is backed up, especially as many of the company assets are moving out of the office,” he added. “If it’s critical to always have your systems running and you could not afford the downtime to rebuild your systems, you need more than just cloud backup and would need to implement a disaster recovery solution to continue your operations with minimal downtime.”
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    Cyberattacks on health organizations. These organizations need to implement better data protection. Personal and medical data has been hacked and there is a continuous effort put forth to breach the systems that house this information. With more and more companies researching potential vaccines and remedies for Covid, now more than ever, organizations must have more than just cloud backups; disaster recovery plans should include offsite backups at a minimum.
Laura Alonso

NSA, FBI Mining Data Directly From Major Internet Companies, Report Says - 0 views

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    This article by Jaikumar Vijayan from CIO.com is very interesting because it provides a challenging question between personal privacy and public security. The government program code-named PRISM is the motive in which the government is using to gather statistical information. In my opinion, extreme privacy without scrutiny is not more valuable than the safety of Americans or other would-be victims. I don't think it is completely accurate that the stated companies such as Google, Skype, Facebook, Microsoft, etc. don't provide the "back door" for government agencies because they have loyalty to both consumers and the government. Completely free reign and unfettered access to government agencies is a stretch, but to say security agencies have absolutely no right to look for evidence or track suspicious activity for relevant threats and possible attacks is completely unfounded and uneducated. It would be a much larger folly for governments to not track terrorist activities and let their networks run free then to not study behaviors and contacts. Otherwise, people of bad intentions would communicate easily and freely without consequences and proper agencies have no leg-up on potentially dangerous situations. The American people have their right to privacy, but the founding fathers never could have imagined a world where it is so easy to exchange information, tactics or events so quickly. Even contemporary technical analysts and engineers couldn't fathom the technology we have now just 30 years before the internet became publicly accessible. And if they did it is safe to assume they're security measures would have been the priority of American lives than somebody scared of having their facebook messages or Google e-mail snooped on. After all, if you're not a terrorist, and surely you aren't if you're reading this, what is there to hide?
Alejandra Kravets

International Cruise Ship Security Issues | Travel Tips - USAToday.com - 0 views

  • The International Ship and Port Safety Code, implemented in 2004, requires all cruise ships to engage in strict screening measures. This means that all passengers must pass through metal detectors before they enter the ship, and that their clothes and baggage are X-rayed as well .
  • Cruise ships also rate ports for incidents such as smuggled goods, contraband and stowaways; such statistics allow them to find the most tourist-friendly ports to visit.
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    After 9/11 incident hotels, airlines, cruises are planning and implementing more security measurements to ensure customers' safety. Particularly, in this article security is the biggest concern while traveling. Any terrorist or criminal can book a cruise as a regular passenger and put passengers in danger. That is why in 2004 The International Ship and Port Safety Code requires that all passengers must pass by metal detectors and their baggage has to be X-rayed as well. Cruise ships also work very closely with the FBI, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland security to stay aware of possible pirate activity or terrorist attack. Ports of call are heavily reviewed and compared to ensure traveler's safety since they are in another country and other laws may apply. They check with local security and police forces, and monitor incidents that other cruise ships experience at a given port.
imontenegro

An introduction to building management system vulnerabilities - 1 views

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    In December 2018, the FBI warned that unpatched devices on networks were exposed to hackers through an open port used to communicate with control systems.
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    Target stores attack in 2013. Criminals gained access to Target's point-of-sale (POS) system software to obtain the credit and debit card data associated with over 110 million accounts. However, the criminals did not directly attack the POS, but instead began stealing login credentials used by Target's heating, ventilation and air conditioning vendor when they connected to the Target web applications. Through this vector, the attackers gained access to Target's Active Directory and, ultimately, the Target POS system where they could collect credit card numbers and other sensitive data.
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    In another example from 2014, a hacker broke into the building control system of a five-star hotel in Shenzhen, China, to manipulate room control systems and steal customer data.
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    The four key modules of a building management system include management, automation, field devices and communications. The management level includes the human-machine interface, enterprise software, workstations, servers and, sometimes, network switches. Automation is the primary control for field devices.
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    Another common BMS vulnerability is ineffectively controlled remote access to systems. The Target hack demonstrated how remote access, if it is not rigidly controlled, can be used against customers.
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    One last, often-overlooked vulnerability is an aging BMS. Many buildings still have legacy BMSes installed that could be subject to simple attacks, although some of the older systems are analog-based and are not as easy to hack as modern, Ethernet-based systems. Regardless, the old systems may have default passwords that can be found on the internet and that cannot be changed or patched. These old systems may also have open ports that cannot be blocked unless you install a major -- and expensive -- upgrade or retrofit.
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    Building management system is an intelligent microprocessor-based controller network installed to monitor and control a building's technical systems and services. they can be directly integrated with a broad range of building services, including access control, security, power, lighting, fire systems, elevator and escalator controls, smart whiteboards, and clinical systems. Hackers are becoming more savvy to BMSes. As a resullt, businesses must spend time and resources to patch any vulnerabilities.
ovila009

5 biggest cybersecurity threats | 2021-02-03 | Security Magazine - 0 views

  • Since the beginning of the pandemic, the FBI has seen a fourfold increase in cybersecurity complaints, whereas the global losses from cybercrime exceeded $1 trillion in 2020. 
  • In 2020, almost a third of the breaches incorporated social engineering techniques, of which 90% were phishing.
  • Ransomware is a data-encrypting program that demands payment to release the infected data. The overall sum of ransom demands will have reached $1.4 billion in 2020, with an average sum to rectify the damage reaching up to $1.45 million.
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  • here were 4.83 million DDoS attacks attempted in the first half of 2020 alone and each hour of service disruption may have cost businesses as much as $100k on average.
  • Third party software. The top 30 ecommerce retailers in the US are connected to 1,131 third-party resources each and 23% of those assets have at least one critical vulnerability.
  • umber of the attempted breaches grew by 250% compared to 2019.
  • The global market for cloud computing is estimated to grow 17% this year, totaling $227.8 billion.
  • To strengthen the cloud computing defenses in the future, stakeholders should pay attention to proper cloud storage configuration,
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    This article breaks down the 5 largest threats we face in terms of cybersecurity. Since the pandemic started, cybersecurity complaints have increased fourfold. These losses are piling up dramatically, necessitating an increased level of vigilance and preparedness.
teresaricks

Cyber Security In The Hotel Industry | protel - 4 views

  • And phishing isn’t the only strategy these computer thugs use, either. Just about every hotel in the world could be vulnerable to malware, ransomware, spam, hacking and social engineering. 
  • The argument for educating staff on cybersecurity is a simple one: if staff don’t know how to recognize a security threat, how can they be expected to avoid it, report it, or remove it?
  • the 2019 State of IT Security Survey found that email security and staff training were listed as the top problems faced by IT security professionals.
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  • Yet, more than 30% of staff surveyed by Wombat Security Technologies didn’t even know what phishing or malware was. This is probably why scams like the Business Email Compromise (BEC) result in whopping losses of over $3 billion (according to the FBI).
  • But as humans, hoteliers make mistakes, they’re trusting of fake identities, tempted by clickbait, and vulnerable to other sneaky tactics used by criminals to gain access to company information.
  • Staff need cybersecurity training to protect themselves and the hotel against cyberattacks.
  • By making employees aware of security threats, the impact they might have on your business, and what procedures to follow when a threat has been identified, you’re strengthening the most vulnerable links in the chain.
  • The World Economic Forum in their latest report, The Global Risks 2019, puts cyber-attacks and data theft into the higher-than-average likelihood bracket during 2019.
  • To achieve these record levels of data breaches and cyber-threats, cybercriminals are focusing their attention on the manipulation of human behavior.
  • So how do we counter these threats? Education, education, education. 
  • Security awareness training is not a point event or solution, it is a process. Security awareness comes out of a series of ideas, thoughts, and preparations that are used to develop a holistic security awareness training program.
  • Identify the Specific Cybersecurity Needs of the Hotel/Property   
  • Include Cybersecurity Awareness Training During Onboarding
  • Cover Relevant Topics
  • Make Staff Cybersecurity Training An Ongoing Process
  • We all make mistakes and occasionally slip up. It is really important that staff know that they can come to you and that they are free to report problems without there being a risk of them losing their jobs. This will come from your personal management style. 
  • Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, whether you are C-level, management, accounting, housekeeping, maintenance, or reception, it does not matter. Everyone needs to be made aware of the hotel’s individual cybersecurity policies, attitude, and culture. 
  • Continuously send reminders via email, Slack, or any other messenger your hotel may be using with reminders to change passwords, to update anti-virus programs, and with information about the latest phishing techniques.
  • If you create a culture of cybersecurity awareness within your organization, then the chances of your organization becoming a victim are greatly reduced.
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    This article stresses the importance of providing cybersecurity training to staff in the hospitality industry.
llibe010

The Top Five Cyberthreats Hotel Brands and Franchisees Need to Know About | Netsurion - 0 views

  • ay for guests, it also opens hotels to digital threats perpetrated by malicious actors. Consequently, hotel operators should be aware of the types of cyber attacks, which can significantly hurt their brand reputation and bottom line, not to mention the safety and welfare of employees and guests.
  • In January, for example, cyber criminals took over a luxurious Austrian hotel’s computer-controlled key-card system, locking 180 guests out of their rooms until hotel managers paid a nominal ransom
  • A ransomware attack may disable or alter performance of hotels’ computer-driven systems such as air conditioning and lighting, putting guests’ comfort and, worse yet, safety at risk. In addition, booking systems are extremely vulnerable to ransomware attacks because they process information belonging to the hotels, third-party applications and their customers.
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  • 1. Ransomware:
  • hey present further ransomware opportunities to hackers by using computers to automate functions.
  • distributed denial of service, or DDoS
  • One of the largest data breaches in history was conducted through a third-party vendor when hackers stole data from 70 million credit cards by gaining access to a mega-retailer’s network through credentials belonging to an HVAC contractor.
  • 3. Phishing scam targeting customers and hotels:
  • 4. DDoS attacks on the hotel network:
  • 2. Remote hacking through third-party vendors:
  • 5. Theft of personal information over public Wi-Fi.
  • Statistics indicate that such incidents will become more frequent, so it is not a matter of if but when the next cyber attack will occur.
  • Integrate a managed SIEM. Hotels should bring on a managed security information and event management (SIEM) platform for their remote locations to be warned right away of cyber attacks. They may also want it for inside the perimeter if they lack the expertise and resources to properly use SIEM internally.
  • Maintain PCI compliance. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) has put forth a set of stipulations, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), in response to rapid PCI expansion. Hotels should make sure they are compliant with these regulations, which require businesses to send credit-card information in a secure environment, to prevent paying heavy fines and losing data, revenue, and customer trust.
  • Install antivirus on all devices. Hotels should ensure they have reliable anti-virus and anti-malware software installe
  • Train employees. Hotels should train employees to not open suspicious emails or links inside them as they may contain malware.
  • According to the FBI, the number of cyber threat occurrences quadrupled to 4,000 per day last year from 1,000 per day in 2015
  • In addition, there are large volumes of payment card transactions between restaurants, on-site shops, spas, parking, and the front-desk, ensuring there is plenty of customer data for a hacker to compromise.
  • The number of cybersecurity incidents worldwide increased 38 percent in 2015 from 2014, according to the Global State of Information Security Survey 2016 by PwC, CIO, and CSO.
  • Hotels are especially vulnerable to this type of attack where a type of malware disrupts access to a system until a ransom is paid. This is because they often use integrated POS systems
  • Hackers can break into hotels’ payment systems through a remote access point belonging to one of its vendors, so they should closely monitor third-party access to their networks
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    This article outlines some of the main cyber attacks on the Hospitality industry. It exposes the threats due to the wealth of data stored in PMS, POS and CRM and suggests steps to take to protect against malware and randsomeware. The article further highlights the necessity for antivirus software on all devices.
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    The article describes the five most common cybersecurity risks for hotel brands such as ransomware, remote hacking and DDoS attacks. The operational elements of each risk have also been discussed. It also covers best practices that hotels and other hospitality organizations can adopt to curb breaches.
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