Dateline Moscow, Kyiv, Helsinki, London, and Washington: Cyberskirmishing during Russia’s redeployment.
Ukraine at D+46: Russian redeployment and reconstitution continue. (The CyberWire) Skirmishing in cyberspace continues as Russia seeks to reconstitute and redeploy its forces with more limited objectives in mind. Atrocities continue in what has become a firepower-intensive Russian campaign.
What Happened on Day 46 of the War in Ukraine (New York Times) U.S. military officials said they expect Russia to carry out a major offensive from the city of Izium to Dnipro, a strategic target in eastern Ukraine. At a train station where dozens were killed in a missile strike on Friday, one survivor said, “The town is dead now.”
EU to consider Ukraine membership in weeks; Russia warns of ‘direct military confrontation’ with US: April 10 recap (USA TODAY) Sending military equipment to Ukraine could spark ‘direct military confrontation’ between US and Russia, Russia’s UN envoy says.
Exclusive: Full-scale Nato military force to defend borders (The Telegraph) Jens Stoltenberg, the chief of the alliance, reveals plans to deploy a military presence sufficient to repel a Russian invasion
Jens Stoltenberg: We need a beefed-up Nato to face down threats to European security (The Telegraph) Invasion of Ukraine has ushered in ‘new normal’, so the alliance is preparing for ‘reset’ that will allow it to repel attacks from the East
Russia hits Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of eastern push (AP NEWS) Russia said Monday that it destroyed air defense systems in Ukraine over the weekend, in what appeared to be a renewed push to gain air superiority and take out weapons Kyiv has described as crucial ahead of a broad new offensive in the east.
New attacks, evacuations in eastern Ukraine as battle lines shift (Washingtom Post) Ukrainian officials report new attacks in east, urge civilians to leave. Ukraine opens 5,600 war crimes cases, prosecutor general says. Satellite photos show 8-mile Russian convoy east of Kharkiv.
Prosecution of Russian war crimes is ultimate test for Ukraine’s state (the Guardian) With almost no successful major prosecutions over the last 30 years, those building cases hope things will be different this time
Russia Shuffles Command in Ukraine as Thousands Flee the East (New York Times) The Russian campaign will be consolidated under a veteran of the Syrian war, while Western nations pump additional arms into Ukraine.
Sullivan: Intel indicates plan from ‘highest levels’ of Russian government to target civilians (The Hill) National security advisor Jake Sullivan said U.S. intelligence discovered that “there was a plan from the highest levels of the Russian government to target” civilians in Ukraine. Appea…
Russia-Ukraine latest news: ‘Tens of thousands’ killed in Mariupol, warns Volodymyr Zelensky
(The Telegraph) Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes "tens of thousands" of people have been killed in the besieged city of Mariupol.
Russian soldiers banned from social media as ‘uncomfortable truths’ drain their morale (The Telegraph) Online use restricted as Kremlin’s commanders complain that Ukraine is trying to ‘manipulate opinions’ and ‘distribute false information’
Russian students are turning in teachers who don’t back the war (Washington Post) The cases are part of a Soviet-style hunt for “traitors” who oppose the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia calls up dad’s army of retired soldiers to cover ‘mounting losses’ (The Telegraph) MoD claims Moscow is seeking to ‘bolster troop numbers with personnel discharged from military service since 2012’
Russians start to see evidence of high military casualties in Ukraine (the Guardian) Emerging footage adds weight to sense that number of deaths is far greater than officials admit
‘Our boys do not want this war’: The grieving widows of Russian soldiers speak out against Putin (The Telegraph) Despite propaganda over casualties, there are signs that thousands of wives and mothers could prove to be the Kremlin’s Achilles heel
Russia’s war dead belie its slogan that no one is left behind (Washington Post) As Russian mothers and widows grieve, countless bodies are unclaimed in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Draft Dodgers Face Guilt, Shame and Reproach (New York Times) Thousands of Ukrainian men are avoiding military service, putting them on risky paths into Europe. Among Ukrainians, it’s stirring a complicated debate.
Nine ways Russia botched its invasion of Ukraine (Washington Post) The ineptitude displayed by the Russian military in its initial attempt to overrun Ukraine has astounded military professionals. The world’s second-most-powerful army has bungled almost every move since the first hours of the invasion. Now, seven weeks into a war that Russia as well as the West had expected would last only days, the Ukrainians have the momentum. They have forced the Russians to make a humiliating retreat from the north of the country and stalled or reversed Russian advances on most other fronts.
Why the battle for Donbas will be very different from the assault on Kyiv (the Guardian) Now that Russia has its sights on the Donbas, with a major offensive imminent, the next month will be potentially decisive for Ukraine
Russian troops massacred Ukrainian civilian convoy after waving them through checkpoint (The Telegraph) An eyewitness from has told the Telegraph how he lost his wife and father in a brutal attack as they tried to flee Makariv
Mykolaiv region on edge amid fear of a new Russian offensive (Washington Post) Red-and-white police tape blocked off the perimeter of the strip mall as if it were a crime scene. The glass storefronts were all shattered. Some potted plants remained on a table where a woman’s flower stand had been. Dried blood stained the ground next to it.
What Happened on Day 44 of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (New York Times) Moscow denied responsibility for a missile strike in the eastern city of Kramatorsk that killed at least 50 people. But the Pentagon said Russian forces were behind it.
Missile kills at least 52 at crowded Ukrainian train station (AP NEWS) A missile hit a train station in eastern Ukraine where thousands had gathered Friday, killing at least 52 and wounding dozens more in an attack on a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a new, looming Russian offensive , Ukrainian authorities said.
Russian strike on railway station an ‘act of evil that has no limits’, Zelensky says (The Telegraph) At least 52 people, including five children, reported to have died in strike on Kramatorsk as they waited to be evacuated from region
Lviv seeks blood donations after missiles blast civilian evacuation depot (Newsweek) The Lviv Regional Blood Service Center is asking Ukrainians to donate blood following a Russian missile attack on a train station carrying 4,000 civilians.
Kramatorsk hospitals overwhelmed after Russian strike on railway station (The Telegraph) A Tochka-U missile turned the crowded railway station into a scene of devastation and killed dozens of civilians on Friday morning
‘They made him kneel and shot him in the head’: the savage occupation of Bucha (the Guardian) Exclusive: resident recounts the murder of her nephew, just one of the casualties of the carnage wrought by Russian forces
Russia accused of ‘monstrous’ war crime in Kramatorsk station attack (the Guardian) Volodymyr Zelenskiy likens missile strike to Bucha atrocities after dozens die at train station where civilians were being evacuated to safety
Russian War Report: Russia makes false claims while blaming Ukraine for Kramatorsk railway station attack (Atlantic Council) After missiles struck near Kramatorsk, Ukraine railway station, Russia tried to blame Ukraine for attacking its own people, a narrative pro-Kremlin media ran with.
Bucha massacre victim identified by make-up artist who recognised her red nail polish (The Telegraph) Picture of Iryna Filkina’s lifeless, manicured hand was one of many showing the horrors of war in the Ukrainian town outside Kyiv
Doctors, crater disprove Russia’s hospital airstrike misinfo (AP NEWS) A woman on the verge of giving birth with her leg flayed open by shrapnel. A shockwave that shattered the glass and ceramic lining of a room with medical waste. A nurse who suffered a concussion.
“Nobody Can Imagine”: Ukrainians under siege reveal horror of daily lives (Newsweek) Newsweek spoke to two Ukrainians who after Russia invaded, faced the dilemma of whether to stay or go.
What is the Wagner Group, the Russian mercenary entity in Ukraine? (Washington Post) Mercenaries working for a Kremlin-linked network of private security contractors have taken up arms in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf, U.S. and British officials say.
Putin Army Regroups for Ukraine Showdown After Invasion Setback (Bloomberg) Russian sending depleted, damaged forces into new eastern push. Ukraine’s best-prepared units defending Donbas territory.
Donbas showdown will be like ‘Second World War’, as Nato pledges heavier weapons (The Telegraph) Kyiv’s foreign minister calls for immediate help before massive escalation in east. Plus: Why change of tack could hurt Russia
Russia likely to attack Kyiv again if Donbas falls: Zelenskyy (Al Jazeera) In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ukraine’s president outlines his fears over Moscow’s new war strategy.
Race On to Rearm Eastern Front That May Decide Ukraine War (Bloomberg) Growing NATO recognition next phase will need bigger weapons. Speed of deliveries crucial as ‘Berlin has time, Kyiv doesn’t.’
Boris Johnson promises armoured vehicles and more missiles in secret meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky (The Telegraph) Britain will send new package of military and financial aid to Ukraine after Prime Minister Johnson makes surprise visit to Kyiv
What weapons to send to Ukraine? How debate shifted from helmets to tanks. (Washington Post) Ukrainian officials are clear on what they want from the United States and Europe: weapons. Big, heavy weapons. Not helmets. Tanks.
Boris Johnson visits Kyiv, as Britain promises Ukraine armored vehicles and anti-ship weapons. (New York Times) Mr. Johnson, an enthusiastic supporter of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, walked with him and a group of soldiers through the streets of the capital, Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy seeks military aid from South Korea (Reuters) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday asked Seoul for any military aid it could provide as he said Russia could only be forced to make peace.
Patriot missile battery heading to Slovakia amid Ukraine invasion response (Military Times) The Patriot system will replace Slovakia’s S-300, which it will send to Ukraine.
Slovakia confirms Patriot, S-300 air defense systems are heading to Ukraine (Defense News) Additionally, Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to send troops armed with Patriot missiles to Slovakia as part of 2,100-strong force made up of soldiers from several NATO members states.
What Happened on Day 45 of the War in Ukraine (New York TImes) The move comes as Russia persists with its push in southeastern Ukraine, where residents continued to flee on Saturday, a day after a deadly missile strike on a train station there. In his nightly address, President Zelensky renewed calls for an embargo on Russian oil.
Russian cyberattacks target Romania (NPR) Russia has employed cyberwarfare tactics for years. Analysts say the conflict in Ukraine could also escalate online, to include attacks affecting multiple countries.
Hackers use Conti’s leaked ransomware to attack Russian companies (BleepingComputer) A hacking group used the Conti’s leaked ransomware source code to create their own ransomware to use in cyberattacks against Russian organizations.
Державна служба спеціального зв’язку та захисту інформації України () Вебсайт Державної служби спеціального зв’язку та захисту інформації України
Weathering Russian Winter: The Current State of Russian APTs (LogicHub) A deep dive into the current state of attacks and defenses from Russian APTs.
How Russia’s Invasion Triggered a US Crackdown on Its Hackers (Wired) The Biden White House is using “all of the levers of national power” to counter—or preempt—cyberattacks by Russia’s most dangerous hacker groups.
The U.S. Opens a Risky New Front in Cyberdefense (Bloomberg) Conducting secret incursions into corporate networks to stop attacks is a powerful move, but overly aggressive tactics could backfire.
WatchGuard Didn’t Explicitly Disclose a Flaw Exploited by Hackers (Wired) The security vendor kept a critical vulnerability in its firewall appliances quiet even as it was under attack from a Russian hacking group.
Microsoft seized Russian domains targeting Ukrainian media organizations (The Verge) The domains also targeted think tanks in the US and EU.
Expect the Ukraine war’s cyber fallout to spread (SC Magazine) By combining heightened cyber awareness among the staff and proactive intelligence gathering, organizations can prepare for the coming cyberattacks from Russia.
Ukraine dating site targets foreign men with Facebook ads amid Russia’s war (Newsweek) As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, a dating website looking to match foreign men with Ukrainian women has amped up its Facebook ads.
West Seeks to Pierce Russia’s Digital Iron Curtain (Foreign Policy) Governments and media sites are finding creative ways to get the truth about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war to regular Russians.
YouTube blocks Russian parliament channel, drawing ire from officials (Reuters) YouTube has blocked Duma TV which broadcasts from Russia’s lower house of parliament, drawing an angry response from officials who said the world’s most popular streaming service could face restrictions in response.
U.S. quietly paying millions to send Starlink terminals to Ukraine, contrary to SpaceX claims (Washington Post) After Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian officials pleaded for Elon Musk’s SpaceX to dispatch their Starlink terminals to the region to boost Internet access. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” Musk replied to broad online fanfare.
Russian rage is spiralling out of control (The Telegraph) Hysterical state media is whipping up a whirlwind of anger that renders peace less likely
Fury Over Ukraine War Crimes Has Been Swift. Justice Likely Won’t Be (Bloomberg) ‘Each body has its story’ to investigate, rights official says. Trials against Milosevic, others took years to show progress.
Why Calls for War Crimes Justice Over Ukraine Face Long Odds (New York Times) If those in power act as if they are immune to the laws of war, it may be because they often are. But following through is not necessarily an empty exercise.
Perseverance can bring Russian war criminals including Putin to justice (Atlantic Council) Patience and perseverance are vital as efforts get underway to bring Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian military to justice for crimes against humanity committed during the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Zelensky reveals his red line for Russia, Putin peace talks (Newsweek) Zelensky said that Russia also really wants to take parts of southern Ukraine, including the beseiged port city of Mariupol.
Russia’s ambassador to U.S. reveals why Ukraine war began, how it could end (Newsweek) “Our task is to put an end to the genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime and ensure a nuclear-free and neutral status of Ukraine,” Russian envoy Anatoly Antonov told Newsweek.
Putin’s target is ‘entire European project’, says Zelenskiy, as Ukraine braces for eastern assault (the Guardian) More evidence emerges of atrocities as Russia pulls troops from its northern campaign around Kyiv to try and capture Donbas region
The U.N. Doesn’t Have to Be a Casualty of the War in Ukraine (World Politics Review) With the Security Council paralyzed by the Russian veto, the question lingering in the air is whether the United Nations will repeat the history of its ill-fated predecessor, the League of Nations. That sad tale is worth remembering now in assessing whether the U.N., too, is destined for history’s trash bin.
Russia’s removal from U.N. council is “like adding fuel to the fire”: China (Newsweek) On Thursday, 93 nations voted in favor of suspending Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council. China and 23 other nations voted against the suspension.
China Has Ditched Its Own Principles to Back Russia (Foreign Policy) Beijing claimed to be opposed to the use of force—until Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Three reasons why defense is beating offense in Ukraine – and why it matters for Taiwan (Breaking Defense) Changes in technology, terrain and society have shifted the balance between offense and defense in ways that favor democracy’s defenders in Ukraine — and beyond.
First Thing: Austrian chancellor to meet Putin in Russia (the Guardian) Karl Nehammer will be first EU leader to meet Russian president since invasion began. Plus, what happened when Fox News viewers watch CNN for a month?
Top Volodymyr Zelensky aide spells out Ukraine’s security demands (Newsweek) Kyiv wants nations including the U.S. to give legally-binding commitments to defend Ukraine against future Russian aggression.
Was Ukraine Wrong to Give Up Its Nukes? (Foreign Affairs) The real legacy of Kyiv’s post-Soviet disarmament.
Finland Hit by Cyber Attack, Airspace Breach as NATO Bid Weighed (Bloomberg) Cyber attack toppled ministries websites, some other services. Russian state airplane may have breached Finnish airspace.
A DDoS attack took down Finnish govt sites as Ukraine’s President addresses MPs (Security Affairs) A massive DDoS attack took down Finnish government websites while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addressed Finland’s members of parliament (MPs). On April 8, a denial-of-service attack took down the websites of the Finnish ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. The attack started at about noon, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addressed Finland’s members of parliament (MPs). “A […]
Finnish foreign affairs and defence ministry websites hit by cyber attacks (News) The denial of service attacks were announced at just before 1pm on Friday.
Finland joining NATO means “destruction of their country”: Russian lawmaker (Newsweek) On Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Finland, along with its neighbor Sweden, would be “welcome” to join the alliance.
Finland preparing for Russian ‘consequences’ if it joins NATO: top MoD official (Breaking Defense) Finland could be just weeks away from announcing plans to join NATO, meaning the government is already considering how Moscow might retaliate, according to a senior Finnish defense official.
Intel: Putin may cite Ukraine war to meddle in U.S. politics (POLITICO) Given Putin’s antipathy toward the West and his repeated denunciations of Ukraine, officials believe he may see the U.S. backing of Ukraine’s resistance as a direct affront to him.
Putin May Use U.S. Support For Ukraine As A Pretext To Meddle In U.S. Politics, U.S. Intelligence Reportedly Believes (Forbes) Putin may retaliate by interfering in another U.S. election, intelligence officials told AP, but they have yet to see evidence he’s authorized any actions.
Understanding Vladimir Putin, the man who fooled the world (the Guardian) The Russian president has always shown us exactly who he is. So why did it take the invasion of Ukraine for us to believe him?
Boris Johnson meets Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv
(The Telegraph) Boris Johnson has travelled to Kyiv for a secret meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.
EU Backs Russian Coal Ban as Some Countries Demand Tougher Steps (Bloomberg) Fifth sanctions round includes Russian trucks, ships. Bloc will debate how to approach Russian oil in coming days.
President Biden ends Russian trade relations, oil imports (Newsweek) The president signed two bills intended squeeze Moscow financially over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Biden, Modi to speak as US presses for hard line on Russia (AP NEWS) President Joe Biden is set to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he presses world leaders to take a hard line against Russia’s Ukraine invasion. India’s neutral stance in the war has <a href=”, which has already been tested by India’s recent procurement of advanced Russian air defense systems.
Russia Pivots to Shield Economy With Surprise Jumbo Rate Cut (Bloomberg) Financial-stability risk no longer rising, Bank of Russia says. Central bank says further cuts could come at future meetings.
Russia’s ruble has bounced back to pre-invasion levels but the country’s economy is still in a dire state. Here’s what’s going on. (Business Insider) The surge in the ruble is less a reflection of the strength of Russia’s economy, than of the government’s strict capital controls.
Russia’s Dismissal From MSCI Gauge Favors Brazil the Most (Yahoo) Brazil is coming out ahead after Russia was torn from one of the world’s most widely followed emerging-market equity gauges.Most Read from BloombergNations Eye Modern Arms for Ukraine as Soviet-Era Stocks DwindleUkraine Update: Sanctions Against Putin’s Daughters, IMF AccountFinland Hit by Cyber Attack, Airspace Breach as NATO Bid WeighedElizabeth Holmes Prosecutors Push Back on Her Bid for New TrialUkraine Update: Johnson Meets Zelenskiy in Kyiv to Offer SupportThe largest Latin
Huawei joined the boycott of Russia (Gizchina.com) Huawei joined the boycott of Russia, believing that doing business here in the current situation is extremely risky.
Meet the 1,300 librarians racing to back up Ukraine’s digital archives (Washington Post) Using open source tools and Slack, these volunteers have backed up everything from the country’s historical records and census data to children’s poems and basket weaving techniques.
The Race to Save Posts That May Prove Russian War Crimes (Wired) Painstaking new techniques for archiving social media posts could provide crucial evidence in future prosecutions.
Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities
Exclusive: Senior EU officials were targeted with Israeli spyware (Reuters) Senior officials at the European Commission were targeted last year with spy software designed by an Israeli surveillance firm, according to two EU officials and documentation reviewed by Reuters.
CyRC Vulnerability Advisory: Stored XSS in Directus | Synopsys (Software Integrity Blog) CVE-2022-24814 is a stored XSS vulnerability that can lead to account compromise in the admin application of Directus.
New Meta information stealer distributed in malspam campaign (BleepingComputer) Independent analyst Brand Duncan has spotted a malspam campaign delivering META, a new info-stealer malware that appears to be rising in popularity among cybercriminals.
SharkBot Android Malware Continues Popping Up on Google Play (SecurityWeek) Over the past couple of months, security researchers identified several applications in Google Play that were designed to download the SharkBot Android trojan.
SharkBot Banking Trojan spreads through fake AV apps on Google Play (Security Affairs) Experts discovered malicious Android apps on the Google Play Store masqueraded as antivirus solutions spreading the SharkBot Trojan. Researchers from the Check Point Research (CPR) team discovered several malicious Android apps on the official Google Play Store masqueraded as antivirus solutions that were used to deliver the SharkBot banking Trojan. Sharkbot is an information stealer steals used […]
Spring4Shell Vulnerability Exploited by Mirai Botnet (SecurityWeek) Trend Micro has confirmed earlier reports that the new Spring4Shell vulnerability has been exploited by the Mirai botnet.
Hackers Exploiting Spring4Shell Vulnerability to Deploy Mirai Botnet Malware (The Hacker News) Hackers are exploiting recently disclosed critical Spring4Shell vulnerability to execute the Mirai botnet malware.
NaviSec Discovers Critical Zero-Day Exploit for Cacti Services (PRWeb) While conducting offensive security testing for a third-party client, NaviSec’s Delta Team discovered a critical zero-day exploit for all versions of Cacti services…
Ripple effects from the Okta security breach are worse than you think (SiliconANGLE) Ripple effects from the Okta security breach are worse than you think – SiliconANGLE
Lapsus$ breach of Okta prompts HHS alert for healthcare organizations (SC Magazine) The Lapsus$ hack of Okta compromised multiple healthcare providers, prompting an HHS threat report detailing the extortion group’s tactics and detailing needed proactive security.
‘I was scammed for £37,000 by an online dating fraudster’ (The Telegraph) Online romance scams are on the rise, and older people are being targeted. We meet retirees who gave their hearts – and lost their savings
Wellstar releases statement to patients after data breach (11Alive.com) Here’s what to know.
Infamous Conti Ransomware Gang Strikes Snap-On Tools (Forbes) Last month the hackers added a new victim to its data leak website: Kenosha, Wisconsin-based Snap-On Tools.
SEC Breach Gives Firepower To Critics Of In-House Courts (Law360) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s adjudication system was already under heavy fire when the agency unexpectedly revealed an internal information breach, but it may have given critics more ammunition to challenge the constitutionality of the agency’s in-house courts.
Kansas City’s BLK + BRWN bookstore launches GoFundMe for help recovering from cyber attack (Kansas City Star) A Kansas City independent bookstore dedicated to amplifying voices of Black and brown authors and creators is trying to recover following a cyber attack.
Security Patches, Mitigations, and Software Updates
Google Updates Target API Level Requirements for Android Apps (SecurityWeek) Google announces updated target level API requirements for Android applications in an attempt to improve the overall security of the ecosystem.
Windows Autopatch Aims to Make Patch Tuesday ‘Just Another Tuesday’ for Enterprises (SecurityWeek) Microsoft this week announced Windows Autopatch, a new automatic updates service for Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise E3 customers that will manage all software, firmware, driver, and enterprise app updates.
Trends
Accounts deceivable: Email scam costliest type of cybercrime (Fortune) Losses in the U.S. to business email compromise scams last year totaled nearly $2.4 billion, according to a new report by the FBI.
Ransomware tracker: the latest figures (The Record by Recorded Future) Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, Kaseya — we’re only halfway through 2021, but it can already be dubbed the year of ransomware.
More organizations are paying the ransom. Why? (Help Net Security) Most organizations (71%) have been hit by ransomware in 2022, and most of those (63%) opted for paying the requested ransom.
Marketplace
Insurers must brace for catastrophic cyber risk (Moneycontrol) Cyber breaches have become so broad and volatile in recent years that insurers have pulled out of the sector completely, raising the spectre that certain kinds of attacks could become uninsurable
Airbus Will Strengthen Their Cryptography Capabilities For Space Applications By Acquiring Europe’s DSI Datensicherheit (Sat News) This will further strengthen Airbus’ cryptography capabilities and enhance the development of end-to-end secured systems.
Cyberpion Raises $27 Million In Series A Funding (Pulse 2.0) Cyberpion recently announced it raised $27 million in Series A funding. These are the details.
Airgap Networks Announces $13.4M Series A Funding to Deliver an Indust (PRWeb) Airgap Networks, today announced the closing of a $13.4M Series A funding round. Storm Ventures led with support from all existing investors, including
Blockchain Security Firm CertiK Raises $88 Million at $2 Billion Valuation (SecurityWeek) Blockchain security startup CertiK raises $88 million in a Series B3 funding round, which boosts its valuation above the $2 billion mark
HelpSystems acquires cybersecurity awareness trainer (Twin Cities Business Journals) HelpSystems is adding to its spree of acquisitions by buying Terranova Security.
Why Alphabet’s Acquisition of Mandiant Is a Smart Move | The Motley Fool (The Motley Fool) Alphabet’s deal to buy cybersecurity firm Mandiant should add strength to the company’s growing cloud segment.
The Largest Scandal to Hit the Tech Industry–Former Counsel to Huawei (PRWeb) Standing Up to China: How a Whistleblower Risked Everything for His Country (Brown Books Publishing; On Sale: April 5, 2022) tells the thrilling true story of Ashley
Forcepoint India to hire more than 200 software engineers (InfotechLead) Forcepoint India said it will hire more than 200 software architects, cloud computing developers, DevOps engineers, quality assurance
Immuta enters Australian and New Zealand market to support enterprises with security protection solutions (Help Net Security) Immuta announced its expansion into the Australian and New Zealand markets with the addition of new customers and new hires in the region.
Data Sentinel hires Brian Rayburn as VP of Sales (Help Net Security) Data Sentinel announced that Brian Rayburn has joined the organization as Vice President of Sales to drive new market development.
Products, Services, and Solutions
Forcepoint rolls out cloud-based security platform for traditional and hybrid workforces (BusinessMirror) GLOBAL security leader Forcepoint described the current cybersecurity environment as perilous, as cybercriminals have upgraded their skills to pursue their criminality. “We are living in dangerous times as cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated,” Brandon Tan, Forcepoint Asia Pacific sales engineering director, told journalists in an online briefing on March 29…
Rackspace Technology partners with Cohesity to boost business resiliency against ransomware (Help Net Security) Rackspace Technology announced a partnership with Cohesity to deliver multicloud managed backup and recovery solutions for its customers.
Stacklet SaaS platform allows organizations to enforce governance policies at scale (Help Net Security) Stacklet announced that Stacklet Platform is now available as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to enable frictionless cloud governance at scale.
Technologies, Techniques, and Standards
Security Nihilism Is Putting Your Company — and Its Employees — at Risk (Dark Reading) Some enterprise security tactics can backfire, pitting IT and security teams against the employees they’re trying to protect.
Redefining Ransomware – Why Confronting Cybercrime Starts With a War of Words (Infosecurity Magazine) Ransomware has a clear definition and one that, in a world of growing digital complexity, matters
Former Tenable CEO Ron Gula Applies a Hacker Mindset to Investing, Public Awareness, and Philanthropy (OODA Loop) In this OODAcast, we interview Ron Gula, co-founder and CEO of the highly successful Tenable Security(NASDAQ:TENB) and currently President of Gula Tech Adventures.
Design and Innovation
China ‘Decodes’ An Orbiting US Satellite; Claims Expertise In Automatically Detecting & Fixing Security Flaws In Outer Space (Eurasian Times) The overcrowding of space has fueled concerns of cyber attacks on satellites. Given the inexpensive and readily available disruptive tools in the digital age, both military and commercial satellites remain vulnerable to hacking by state and non-state actors. To protect its space assets, China has devised a new cyber defense. China has developed a new […]
Academia
New London’s Coast Guard Academy places third in national cybersecurity war game (CT Insider) The U.S. Coast Guard’s Cyber Team placed third in a national competition last week that…
Legislation, Policy, and Regulation
Hackbacks: “Man muss sich klarmachen, was das in der Praxis bedeutet” (Heise online) Hauke Gierow über Hackbacks als Aktionismus, die möglichen Folgen “aktiver Cyberabwehr” und unerledigte Hausaufgaben der Sicherheitsbehörden
Establishing deterrence in cyberspace (The Express Tribune) Strong cybersecurity infrastructure is integral to minimising cyber-vulnerabilities
New U.K. Privacy Regulator Plans Quick Action Against Privacy Violators (Wall Street Journal) John Edwards, who began his role as the U.K. Information Commissioner in January, wants to advise companies before they invest in new technologies, helping them avoid investigations and fines.
Cyber Command’s force is growing, in part, to support space (FedScoop) As part of investments in the Future Years Defense Program, U.S. Cyber Command and its subordinate organizations are investing in a phased approach to contribute defensive and offensive teams to support space entities. Part of the growth of Cyber Command’s cyber mission force, in addition to the increased demand in cyberspace, is to support newly […]
FTC Chair Poised To Offer Glimpse Into Privacy Priorities (Law360) As Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan prepares to deliver her first major remarks on privacy and data security, agency watchers are hoping she’ll provide more clarity and guidance on how far the FTC is willing to stretch its existing powers and what it’s expecting from companies in the face of mounting cyberthreats.
Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement
Investment in cybersecurity driving down ransomware demands (Register) Improved defenses give organizations more room to negotiate but won’t protect from lawsuits, says law firm
Digital Assets and Data Management – Resilience and Perseverance (Baker Hostetler) 2021 did not turn out the way many of us had hoped. Best-laid plans to “return to normal” were postponed numerous times due to multiple waves of COVID-19 outbreaks and new variants. The steady frequency of ransomware attacks in 2020 continued into 2021, highlighting the serious ongoing threat cyberattacks pose. The most frequent client requests this year included assistance with the ransom “pay-no pay” decision tree, OFAC compliance, and ransomware playbooks. The war in Ukraine and the responsive government sanctions have already increased interest in these topics, and we expect that to continue through 2022.
Third Member of FIN7 Cybercrime Gang Sentenced to US Prison (SecurityWeek) A Ukrainian national was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison in the United States for his role in the infamous FIN7 hacking group.
Palestinian lawyer sues Israel’s NSO group in France (Al Jazeera) Salah Hamouri has filed a complaint against the Pegasus spyware maker for having ‘illegally infiltrated’ his phone.
Somebody Tipped Off the 2 Fake Feds Arrested for Duping Secret Service, DOJ Says (Yahoo) FBIA pair of phony Homeland Security agents who allegedly infiltrated the highest levels of federal law enforcement and plied agents with lavish gifts were somehow tipped off to their arrest last week, allowing them to stash guns and other items, prosecutors revealed in a new filing on Sunday.Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 36, were arrested last week when cops swarmed the upscale Crossing Apartments in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood, bringing what appears to be an extraordinary
Men posing as DHS employees created potential national security risk, prosecutors say (Washington Post) Authorities detail the case against two men who they say ingratiated themselves with Secret Service agents
DC apartment that housed alleged fake feds hires national security firm for ‘complete audit’ (Fox News) A Washington, D.C. apartment complex is hiring a national security advisory firm to conduct an independent investigation after two men were taken into custody by federal agents on Wednesday for allegedly impersonating federal agents.
DHS Impersonators Who Gave Gifts To Secret Service Agents Claim Ties To Pakistani Intelligence (The Police Tribune) Washington, DC – Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Friday to hold two men accused of impersonating federal agents in custody because of recent travel to Iran and Pakistan and claims of ties to Pakistani intelligence. A detention hearing on April 8 to determine whether 40-year-old Arian Taherzadeh and 36-year-old Haider Ali should be released […]
Who is Haider Sher-Ali? Fake DHS agent uploaded photos with Seth Meyers, Bradley Cooper (MEAWW) Fake agent with links to Pakistani intelligence uploaded photos with celebs reveals investigation, days after arrest for posing as DHS agent
What it is ain’t exactly clear (Power Line) We’ve been following the astounding operation run in Washington, D.C. here (April 7), here (April 8), and here (by John, also April 8). Today I want to add the memorandum in support of the continued detention of the accused operators, Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali (embedded below). John commented on it in the third linked post. Please pause over the text of the memorandum and the photographs included in it.
Class-action lawsuit filed following Kalispell hospital data breach (Western News) Former patients of Logan Health allege in a new class-action lawsuit that the medical provider’s November data breach left them open to identity theft and represented negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.
Ameritas Data Breach Class Action Gets Trimmed (Law360) A Nebraska federal judge found Ameritas had a duty to secure customers’ sensitive data but didn’t have a fiduciary duty to clients, allowing a North Carolina woman to keep most of her claims in a proposed class action against the insurer over a 2019 data breach.
Expert contracted to set up security system for client ends up stealing $600k in crypto (Finbold) Police in Florida have detained a cybersecurity expert for allegedly stealing about $575,910 in cryptocurrencies from a client.
Former Goldman Sachs Banker Convicted of Bribery, Money-Laundering in 1MDB Case (Wall Street Journal) A New York jury finds Roger Ng guilty on charges connected to multibillion-dollar looting of a Malaysian government fund.
