WEEKLY CYBERSECURITY NEWSLETTER NO: 167

#Weekly Cybersecurity Tip: Keep your devices up to date. Software updates generally contain security patches to fix vulnerabilities.

May 24, 2021 1:59 pm

1- DarkSide Ransomware Gang Quits After Servers and Bitcoin Stash Seized

The DarkSide ransomware affiliate program responsible for the six-day outage at Colonial Pipeline that led to fuel shortages and price spikes across the country is running for the hills. The crime gang announced it was closing up shop after its servers were seized and someone drained the cryptocurrency from an account the group uses to pay affiliates.

2- 85% of Data Breaches Involve Human Interaction

Web application attacks, phishing, and ransomware increased over the past year, emphasizing a shift as attackers took advantage of people working from home and spending more time online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Most (85%) attacks seen in 2020 involved human interaction.

3- Hackers Copy MSI’s Official Website to Spread Malware

Well-known computer gaming hardware vendor MSI is warning of fake download sites ripping off its brand. The company doesn’t just sell high-end graphics cards and gaming rigs, it also offers a free software product called Afterburner that it trumpets as “the gold standard of overclocking utilities.”

4- Ransomware’s New Swindle: Triple Extortion

Experts are warning against a new threat called triple extortion, which means that attackers are expanding out to demand payments from customers, partners and other third parties related to the initial breach to grab even more cash for their crimes.