Author Archives: BrianKrebs

Microsoft: Attackers Exploiting ‘ZeroLogon’ Windows Flaw

Posted on by

Microsoft warned on Wednesday that malicious hackers are exploiting a particularly dangerous flaw in Windows Server systems that could be used to give attackers the keys to the kingdom inside a vulnerable corporate network. Microsoft’s warning comes just days after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an emergency directive instructing all federal agencies to patch the vulnerability by Sept. 21 at the latest. Continue reading Microsoft: Attackers Exploiting ‘ZeroLogon’ Windows Flaw→

Govt. Services Firm Tyler Technologies Hit in Apparent Ransomware Attack

Posted on by

Tyler Technologies, a Texas-based company that bills itself as the largest provider of software and technology services to the United States public sector, is battling a network intrusion that has disrupted its operations. The company declined to discuss the exact cause of the disruption, but their response so far is straight out of the playbook for responding to ransomware incidents. Continue reading Govt. Services Firm Tyler Technologies Hit in Apparent Ransomware Attack→

Chinese Antivirus Firm Was Part of APT41 ‘Supply Chain’ Attack

Posted on by

The U.S. Justice Department this week indicted seven Chinese nationals for a decade-long hacking spree that targeted more than 100 high-tech and online gaming companies. The government alleges the men used malware-laced phishing emails and “supply chain” attacks to steal data from companies and their customers. One of the alleged hackers was first profiled here in 2012 as the owner of a Chinese antivirus firm. Continue reading Chinese Antivirus Firm Was Part of APT41 ‘Supply Chain’ Attack→

Two Russians Charged in $17M Cryptocurrency Phishing Spree

Posted on by

U.S. authorities today announced criminal charges and financial sanctions against two Russian men accused of stealing nearly $17 million worth of virtual currencies in a series of phishing attacks throughout 2017 and 2018 that spoofed websites for some… Continue reading Two Russians Charged in $17M Cryptocurrency Phishing Spree→

Due Diligence That Money Can’t Buy

Posted on by

Most of us automatically put our guard up when someone we don’t know promises something too good to be true. But when the too-good-to-be-true thing starts as our idea, sometimes that instinct fails to kick in. Here’s the story of how companies searching for investors to believe in their ideas can run into trouble. Continue reading Due Diligence That Money Can’t Buy→

Microsoft Patch Tuesday, Sept. 2020 Edition

Posted on by

Microsoft today released updates to remedy nearly 130 security vulnerabilities in its Windows operating system and supported software. None of the flaws are known to be currently under active exploitation, but 23 of them could be exploited by malware or malcontents to seize complete control of Windows computers with little or no help from users. Continue reading Microsoft Patch Tuesday, Sept. 2020 Edition→

Sendgrid Under Siege from Hacked Accounts

Posted on by

Email service provider Sendgrid is grappling with an unusually large number of customer accounts whose passwords have been cracked, sold to spammers, and abused for sending phishing and email malware attacks. Sendgrid’s parent company Twilio says it is working on a plan to require multi-factor authentication for all of its customers, but that solution may not come fast enough for organizations having trouble dealing with the fallout in the meantime. Continue reading Sendgrid Under Siege from Hacked Accounts→

Confessions of an ID Theft Kingpin, Part II

Posted on by

Yesterday’s piece told the tale of Hieu Minh Ngo, a hacker the U.S. Secret Service described as someone who caused more material financial harm to more Americans than any other convicted cybercriminal. Ngo was recently deported back to his home country after serving more than seven years in prison for running multiple identity theft services. He now says he wants to use his experience to convince other cybercriminals to use their skills for good. Here’s a look at what happened after he got busted. Continue reading Confessions of an ID Theft Kingpin, Part II→

Confessions of an ID Theft Kingpin, Part I

Posted on by

At the height of his cybercriminal career, the hacker known as “Hieupc” was earning $125,000 a month running a bustling identity theft service that siphoned consumer dossiers from some of the world’s top data brokers. That is, until his greed and ambition played straight into an elaborate snare set by the U.S. Secret Service. Now, after more than seven years in prison Hieupc is back in his home country and hoping to convince other would-be cybercrooks to use their computer skills for good. Continue reading Confessions of an ID Theft Kingpin, Part I→