White House set to lead 30 nations in ransomware discussions, sans Russia

The White House on Wednesday and Thursday will convene meetings with representatives from more than 30 countries to discuss how to counter ransomware, leaving out the country the president most frequently criticizes for hosting gangs of hackers: Russia. “Participants will cover everything from efforts to improve national resilience, to experiences addressing the misuse of virtual currency to launder ransom payments, our respective efforts to disrupt and prosecute ransomware criminals and diplomacy as a tool to counter ransomware,” a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. The official didn’t specify why Russia didn’t get an invitation beyond unnamed “constraints.” The lack of an invitation this time “doesn’t preclude future opportunities for them to participate.” The U.S. also has other avenues for discussing ransomware with the Kremlin, the official said. The lack of an invitation for Russia exemplifies the tensions over when the U.S. might involve more adversarial nations in discussions over […]

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Europe officially bans common white food coloring E171

Following recent recommendations by an expert panel, the Member States of the European Union have formally banned food coloring E171 from all foods, beginning in 2022. Also known as titanium dioxide, the chemical is commonly used as a white colorant in… Continue reading Europe officially bans common white food coloring E171

European regulator backs Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster for all adults

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a broad approval for all adults over the age of 18 to be allowed a third Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose at least six months after a second dose. The regulator’s advice follows on from recent similar booster … Continue reading European regulator backs Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster for all adults

EU takes aim at Russia over ‘Ghostwriter’ hacking campaign against politicians, government officials

The European Union formally blamed Russia on Friday, just ahead of this weekend’s German elections, for a hacking campaign targeting EU government officials and politicians. And the EU is threatening to take unspecified action. “The European Union will revert to this issue in upcoming meetings and consider taking further steps,” reads a statement from the high representative of the EU. Known as Ghostwriter, the campaign drawing the EU’s ire has previously taken aim at NATO and launched disinformation efforts as well, according to researchers who have tied its goals to Russian interests but not attributed it to the government. “The European Union and its Member States strongly denounce these malicious cyber activities, which all involved must put to an end immediately,” the EU statement reads. “We urge the Russian Federation to adhere to the norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.” The EU says that Ghostwriter targets in its member […]

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Cyber Diplomacy: Examining the Nation-State Threat to European Businesses

Three years ago, a survey conducted by Tripwire during Infosecurity Europe 2018 revealed that almost all of the study’s participants expected the incidence of nation-state cyberattacks to rise in the next 12 months. Many respondents forecast that… Continue reading Cyber Diplomacy: Examining the Nation-State Threat to European Businesses

US blames China for Microsoft hacking, ransomware attacks as part of global condemnation

The U.S. and its allies on Monday blamed China for exploiting flaws in Microsoft Exchange Server that enabled worldwide ransomware attacks on tens of thousands of victims. It was part of a multi-front response Monday from the European Union, NATO U.S. intelligence partners that included the announcement of charges against four Chinese hackers that the Justice Department said worked on behalf of Beijing to breach U.S. companies and institutions over a span of seven years. For the first time, the U.S. government also accused the Chinese government of employing criminal hackers who have conducted criminal attacks. U.S. government agencies also released a technical report Monday, first reported by CyberScoop, that warned of China’s ongoing appetite for targeting the defense, medical, semiconductor and other industries to steal intellectual property. “No one action can change China’s behavior in cyberspace and neither can just one country acting on its own,” a senior administration […]

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Google tightens UK policy on financial ads after watchdog pressure over scams

The UK’s more expansive, post-Brexit role in digital regulation continues to be felt today via a policy change by Google which has announced that it will, in the near future, only run ads for financial products and services when the advertiser in question has been verified by the financial watchdog, the FCA. The Google Ads […] Continue reading Google tightens UK policy on financial ads after watchdog pressure over scams

EU, U.S. Partner on Malware, Cybersecurity Defense

Last week, the world’s major democratic governments took steps to coordinate cybersecurity defenses, with the European Union and the United States launching an initiative to combat ransomware, which has become an increasingly critical national securit… Continue reading EU, U.S. Partner on Malware, Cybersecurity Defense

Ransomware Is Devastating European Healthcare Providers. Here’s Why

In the early morning of May 14th this year, security staff attached to the National Cyber Security Centre in Ireland noticed suspicious activity within IT networks connected to the country’s Health Service Executive, the HSE. Hours later, IT syste… Continue reading Ransomware Is Devastating European Healthcare Providers. Here’s Why

Irish Prime Minister says government won’t pay ransom after hack forces hospitals to alter services

Ireland’s public health care system on Friday shut down its IT systems in response to what it called a “criminal ransomware attack.” Emergency departments have continued to operate normally, but health officials said in a statement Monday that they were working to get computer systems supporting maternity, infant care and radiology back online. The ransomware intrusion at Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), the $25 billion public health system, has forced hospitals in various parts of Ireland to alter their services. In some cases, hospital staffers say they have been in touch with pregnant women and encouraged them to not come to the hospital unless they are near their due date. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has said the government will not pay a ransom. ‘We’re very clear we will not be paying any ransom or engaging in any of that sort of stuff’ Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD says of the ransomware attack […]

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