Snapshot of mining activity for one of the distributed monero keys being used to infect MikroTik routers. (Source: Avast)

Cryptojackers Keep Hacking Unpatched MikroTik Routers

Mathew J. Schwartz • October 19, 2018

Cryptojackers and eavesdroppers are continuing to exploit a one-time zero-day flaw in unpatched MikroTik routers, despite a patch that's been available for six months as well as the actions of a vigilante "gray hat" hacker who's forcibly "fixed" 100,000 vulnerable routers.

Cybercrime

Criminals' Cryptocurrency Addiction Continues

Latest

Authentication

Heads-Up: Patch 'Comically Bad' libSSH Flaw Now

Jeremy Kirk • October 19, 2018

Attention admins: If you use libSSH - one of the open-source flavors of Secure Shell, or SSH - patch now. The advice follows the disclosure of a vulnerability that one expert, Paul Ducklin of Sophos, terms "comically bad."

Cybersecurity

UK Cyberattack Investigations: An Analysis

Nick Holland • October 19, 2018

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report features an analysis of the results of over 1,000 cyberattack investigations in the U.K. Also: an update on the proposed NIST privacy framework and a report on voter registration information for sale on the dark web.

Cybercrime

Anthem Mega-Breach: Record $16 Million HIPAA Settlement

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee • October 16, 2018

Federal regulators have smacked health insurer Anthem with a record $16 million HIPAA settlement in the wake of a cyberattack revealed in 2015, which impacted nearly 79 million individuals. What missteps does the settlement highlight?

Cybercrime

US Voter Records for Sale on Hacker Forum

Jeremy Kirk • October 16, 2018

A batch of U.S. voter registration records from 20 states has appeared for sale online in what appears to be an illegitimate offering. While it's far from the largest-ever seen leak of voter data, the incident again highlights the lax controls too often applied to voter records.

Encryption & Key Management

Tech Companies Bristle at Australia's Crypto Legislation

Jeremy Kirk • October 15, 2018

The disagreements continue over Australia's efforts to pass legislation that would help law enforcement counter encryption. Technology companies and civil liberties organizations contend the latest draft of legislation would allow for too much secrecy and imperil privacy and security.

Governance

Update: NIST Preparing Privacy Framework

Nick Holland • October 15, 2018

Building on the success of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is in the early stages of developing a privacy framework. The effort will kick off with a workshop Tuesday in Austin, Texas, explains Naomi Lefkovitz, who is leading the project.

Cybersecurity

RSA President on the Case for a Risk-Based Security Model

Geetha Nandikotkur • October 15, 2018

CISOs and other security practitioners are embracing the idea of a business-driven security model that takes a risk-oriented approach, says Rohit Ghai, president of RSA. "Cybersecurity conversations are becoming business conversations rather than technology conversations."

Endpoint Security

Review Shows Glaring Flaws In Xiongmai IoT Devices

Jeremy Kirk • October 12, 2018

Millions of internet-of-things devices made by the Chinese company Xiongmai and sold in stores such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart still have glaring security problems, a security consultancy warns. The findings come two years after the Mirai botnet targeted Xiongmai devices.

Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery

Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure From Cyberattacks

Nick Holland • October 12, 2018

The biggest challenge for any critical infrastructure facing potential cyberattacks is devising ways to maintain business continuity, says cybersecurity specialist Prashant Pillai, who calls for building resilience into network design. He'll be a speaker at ISMG's Security Summit: London, to be held Oct. 23.

An Assessment of Google's Data Leak

Nick Holland • October 12, 2018

An in-depth report on the exposure of personal details for 500,00 Google+ accounts leads the latest edition of the ISMG Security Report. Also featured: an update on mitigating the risk of business email compromises and tips for protecting critical infrastructure.

Governance

Network vs. Endpoint Security: Striking the Right Balance

Varun Haran • October 12, 2018

With so much focus on endpoint security, it's important not to overlook the importance of network-level security controls, says Lawrence Orans, research vice president at Gartner.

Anti-Malware

GandCrab Ransomware Partners With Crypter Service

Mathew J. Schwartz • October 11, 2018

The notorious GandCrab ransomware-as-a-service gang has released the latest version of its crypto-locking malware, backed by crypter service and exploit toolkit partnerships. But the gang's marketing savvy belies shoddy code-development practices, security firm McAfee finds.