ransomware | ImageQuest

Ransomware: National security risk needs global approach

Blog, Outsourced IT, Resilience, Vigilant / By ImageQuest

The rising scourge of ransomware needs a global approach to halt its devastation, a task force with government and corporate representatives announced last week. Ransomware is “a flourishing criminal industry” which “routinely imperils lives,” the task force organized by the non-profit Institute for Security and Technology wrote. Utilities, hospitals, schools, military posts, and municipalities all …

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You can’t afford to postpone investing cybersecurity in 2021

Blog, Outsourced IT, Vigilant / By ImageQuest

In 2021, complacency about your IT security is dangerous. Recent news about hidden, extensive breaches of state and federal government entities and private corporations shocked many in IT and cybersecurity. According to investigators, Russian agents spread espionage malware through updates from IT management firm SolarWinds. The list of victims continues to grow, and investigators believe …

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IT security measures are for everyone – including the CEO

Blog, Outsourced IT, Vigilant / By ImageQuest

A crook is making news for offering to sell hundreds of stolen C-level email user names and passwords. “The login information has been verified by cybersecurity teams and is for Office 365 and Microsoft accounts of CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CTOs, and other senior positions,” TechRepublic reported Wednesday. The email user name and password combinations are …

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Meet a Cybercriminal: Jiang Lizhi

Blog, Vigilant / By ImageQuest

Jiang Lizhi, 35, works at a company called Chengdu 404 Network Technology Company Ltd. in the capital city of China’s Sichuan province. He’s the Vice President for the Technical Department of Chengdu 404. Chengdu 404 bills itself as a network security company, with “elite ‘white hat’ hackers” providing defensive measures and data analytics services. According …

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Don’t pay ransom to cyber criminals, Microsoft advises

Blog, Vigilant / By ImageQuest

Don’t pay ransom – it only spurs more ransomware attacks, according to Microsoft. In a recent blog post by Microsoft’s Detection And Response Team, organizations are urged to maximize their security efforts instead. “Paying a ransom is often expensive, dangerous, and only refuels the attackers’ capacity to continue their operations,” the post says. “(B)ottom line, …

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Ransomware attacks: Likely to go “from bad to worse”

Blog / By ImageQuest

This year’s trends in ransomware attacks have left IT Security researchers worried about what’s coming in 2020. Dark Reading cites “growing collaboration between threat groups on ransomware campaigns; the use of more sophisticated evasion mechanisms; elaborate multi-phase attacks involving reconnaissance and network scoping; and human-guided automated attack techniques.” Hackers also have developed ways to research …

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Maze hackers using blackmail – while claiming moral high ground

Blog / By ImageQuest

The hackers behind Maze ransomware are really something. They are currently in the news for blackmailing victims that refuse to pay their ransom demands. They have released a list of victim names and sample files locked up by their ransomware. Maze Ransomware also hit the city of Pensacola, Fla., Dec. 7, a day after a …

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Malware disguised as party invites, holiday hours makes the rounds

Blog / By ImageQuest

More ongoing proof that hackers try anything: New emails about a Christmas party or holiday hours could bring disaster. Hackers invite unsuspecting victims via an email that talks about a holiday party or holiday hours in the body of the email. It comes with an attachment the victim believes lists a party menu, or a …

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ImageQuest’s Jay Mallory shares true stories in “Tales from the Malware Front”

Blog / By ImageQuest

What do an employee working from home, a financial services advisor, an attorney, and a mortgage company CEO have in common? Two things – one each experienced a hacking attempt, and each were a topic in today’s “Tales from the Malware Front.” Sponsored by Citizens Union Bank, the event provided attendees guidance on how to …

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How much does a ransomware attack cost? Ask Baltimore

Blog / By ImageQuest

Ever think about what you’d need to do to recover from a ransomware attack? What services you’d need to hire to get your organization back up and running? Well, you might look to Baltimore as an example. Last week, city officials there approved payments to seven firms which helped Baltimore get its systems back online …

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