Extortion

Akamai Research: Rampant Abuse of Zero-Day and One-Day Vulnerabilities Leads to 143% Increase in Victims of Ransomware

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 7, 2023
Heart, Senior, Blackcat Lake, Akamai Technologies, Research, Extortion, Organization, Name, Black, HP Enterprise Security Products, ZoomInfo, AKAM, Cryptocurrency

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today released a new State of the Internet report that spotlights the evolving ransomware landscape. Ransomware on the Move: Exploitation Techniques and the Active Pursuit of Zero-Days finds that the use of Zero-Day and One-Day vulnerabilities has led to a 143% increase in total ransomware victims between Q1 2022 and Q1 2023. The report also found that ransomware groups increasingly target the exfiltration of files, the unauthorized extraction or transfer of sensitive information, which has become the primary source of extortion. This new tactic indicates file backup solutions are no longer a sufficient strategy to protect against ransomware.

Key Points: 
  • This new tactic indicates file backup solutions are no longer a sufficient strategy to protect against ransomware.
  • According to the report, adversaries are evolving their methods and techniques from phishing to put a greater emphasis on vulnerability abuse.
  • Further analysis shows that the CL0P ransomware group is aggressively developing Zero-Day vulnerabilities, growing its victims by 9x year over year.
  • The ransomware data used throughout this report was collected from the leak sites of approximately 90 different ransomware groups.

HUB INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES PROFESSIONAL & EXECUTIVE RISK PRACTICE

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Organization, EPL, D, Software engineering professionalism, Employment practices liability, Hub International, Crime, Industry, Specialization, Health care, Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff, HUB, Insurance, Retirement, Risk management, Architect, Lawsuit, Hub, Officer, Representations, Solution, Extortion, Risk, CEO

CHICAGO, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (HUB), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today the launch of its Professional & Executive Risk (ProEx) Specialty Practice. The new practice brings together over 100 HUB specialists with executive liability, professional liability, tech/cyber, and transactional risk insurance placement capabilities, and specialized risk and claims services. Together they'll advise clients on navigating the changing risk landscape to protect their personal and organization's reputation and assets from complex insurance issues that arise from claims and litigation exposures.

Key Points: 
  • New HUB Practice Formalizes HUB's Specialization in Professional and Executive Liability Insurance Products, Risk Solutions and Claims Services
    CHICAGO, Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (HUB), aleading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, announced today the launch of its Professional & Executive Risk (ProEx) Specialty Practice.
  • The new practice brings together over 100 HUB specialists with executive liability, professional liability, tech/cyber, and transactional risk insurance placement capabilities, and specialized risk and claims services.
  • He joined HUB in 2019 as Executive Vice President and as the Regional Management Liability, Professional Liability, Cyber, and Transactional Risk Practice Leader.
  • He will lead the practice that includes experienced former professional and executive risk attorneys to serve as a resource for HUB throughout North America.

Zscaler Ransomware Report Reveals Sophisticated Double Extortion Attacks are Targeting Essential Industries Causing Significant Business Disruption

Crime, Security breaches, Ransomware, Encryption, Extortion, Security

b'Over the last year, ThreatLabz has identified seven \xe2\x80\x9cfamilies\xe2\x80\x9d of ransomware that were encountered more often than others.

Key Points: 
  • b'Over the last year, ThreatLabz has identified seven \xe2\x80\x9cfamilies\xe2\x80\x9d of ransomware that were encountered more often than others.
  • The top three industries Maze targeted were high-tech (11.9%) manufacturing (10.7%), and services (9.6%).
  • Conti uses the Windows restart manager API before encrypting files, allowing it to encrypt more files as part of its double-extortion approach.
  • Victims that won\xe2\x80\x99t or are unable to pay the ransom have their data regularly published on the Conti data leak website.

StorCentric's 2nd Annual Retrospect Dads & Grads Promotion Launches - Offering Free 90-Day Subscription License for Every Retrospect Backup Product

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Software, Security breaches, Crime, Backup software, Ransomware, Retrospect, GrADS, Extortion, Earth sciences

For a limited time, Retrospect is offering a free, no strings attached, 90-day subscription license for every Retrospect Backup product.\nRetrospect\'s trusted data protection suite ensures thousands of businesses around the world can recover quickly from accidents, hardware failure, theft and disaster.

Key Points: 
  • For a limited time, Retrospect is offering a free, no strings attached, 90-day subscription license for every Retrospect Backup product.\nRetrospect\'s trusted data protection suite ensures thousands of businesses around the world can recover quickly from accidents, hardware failure, theft and disaster.
  • "Ransomware attacks alone mushroomed by 150% in 2020, with the average extortion amount doubling, according to a report from Group-IB .
  • "We are therefore once again offering Dads, Grads and anyone with data to protect the opportunity to do so absolutely free of charge for 90 days.
  • Click on one of the buttons on the page or use the coupon code \'DADGRAD\' on Retrospect\'s online store to receive a free 90-day subscription license.

Fight Double Extortion Ransomware Threat with Essential Security

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Cybercrime, Crime, Security breaches, Data security, Cryptography, Ransomware, Information governance, Extortion, Computer security, Cyberattack

HOBOKEN, N.J., Nov. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --A NYC area IT security consultant explains how double extortion ransomware attacks work and how to prevent them in a new article from eMazzanti Technologies.

Key Points: 
  • HOBOKEN, N.J., Nov. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --A NYC area IT security consultant explains how double extortion ransomware attacks work and how to prevent them in a new article from eMazzanti Technologies.
  • The author then lists four steps to prevent a double extortion attack.
  • "Double extortion effectively combines ransomware with a data breach.," stated Almi Dumi, CISO, eMazzanti Technologies.
  • Below are a few excerpts from the article, " Fight Double Extortion Ransomware Threat with Essential Security ."

Wolfe Law Miami’s Richard Wolfe Issues Statement on Behalf of Latin Music Recording Artist Maluma Regarding Businessman Richard Caring’s Lawsuit Over Contract to Perform at Wedding

Retrieved on: 
Friday, June 26, 2020
Songs, Musicians, Crime, Maluma, Extortion, X

Maluma agreed to perform at Richard Carings wedding that was originally scheduled for November 7, 2019 in the Dominican Republic.

Key Points: 
  • Maluma agreed to perform at Richard Carings wedding that was originally scheduled for November 7, 2019 in the Dominican Republic.
  • According to this contract, the singers $500K performance fee was non-refundable once booked.
  • Months later, Mr. Caring asked if Maluma would perform at an unspecified date in June 2020, claiming he moved his wedding to Rome, Italy.
  • We plan to fight Mr. Carings extortion claims aggressively throughout the legal process and will seek recovery of the $50,000 cancellation fee.

Cofense Labs Publishes Database of Over 200 Million Compromised Accounts Targeted by Sextortion Email Campaigns

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 5, 2019
Crime, Cybercrime, Articles, Human behavior, Spamming, Computer network security, Multi-agent systems, Internet culture, Sextortion, Botnet, Bitcoin, Extortion

Cofense Labs , the newly formalized research and development arm of Cofense, discovered a "for rent" botnet in June 2019 used primarily to send sextortion emails.

Key Points: 
  • Cofense Labs , the newly formalized research and development arm of Cofense, discovered a "for rent" botnet in June 2019 used primarily to send sextortion emails.
  • The method has become an increasingly pervasive threat, with Cofense Labs analysing over 7 million email addresses impacted by sextortion in the first half of 2019 alone.
  • Cofense also assessed that more than $1.5M in payments were made to bitcoin wallets associated with sextortion campaigns this year.
  • "Cofense Labs advises that owners of emails included in the database should change any passwords for accounts associated with that address.

Sharks Gather for a Good Cause at the Lone Tree Arts Center

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Economy, Money, Finance, Banking, Debt bondage, Extortion, Loan shark, Loans, Nonprofit organization

Six Colorado nonprofits will pitch a unique new program to a panel of "sharks," comprising business leaders, lenders, investors and philanthropists.

Key Points: 
  • Six Colorado nonprofits will pitch a unique new program to a panel of "sharks," comprising business leaders, lenders, investors and philanthropists.
  • All nonprofits receive donations to help kick off new initiatives and a share of 40 percent of proceeds from ticket sales.
  • "The Tank fulfills our mission of going beyond helping businesses thrive and 'raising all of the boats' in our community."
  • The Tank will be held at the Lone Tree Arts Center on Tuesday, April 30, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Cocktails will follow presentations, followed by an award ceremony beginning at 5:30.

Cybercrime Groups Promising $360,000 Annual Salaries to Accomplices Helping to Extort High Net Worth Individuals: C-Level Executives, Lawyers and Doctors in Threat Actors’ Cross Hairs

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Technology, Data management, Internet, Networks, Telecommunications, Security, Crimes, Alternative currencies, Cryptocurrencies, Digital currencies, Extortion, Bitcoin

An analysis of Bitcoin wallets associated with these scams found that sextortionists could be reaping an average of $540 per victim.

Key Points: 
  • An analysis of Bitcoin wallets associated with these scams found that sextortionists could be reaping an average of $540 per victim.
  • Extortion is in part being fuelled by the amount of ready-made extortion material readily available on criminal forums.
  • The guide claims this extortion method is the easiest for novice threat actors to start with, suggesting they could earn between $300-$500 per extortion attempt.
  • Many threat actor groups are actively on the recruit for members to collaborate with and to help them scale their operations.

Don't Fall for Dark Web Sextortion Scam Article Cautions

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Crime, Human behavior, Human sexuality, Spamming, Cybercrime, Confidence tricks, Property crimes, Sextortion, Extortion, Email fraud, Password, eMail

"The dark web sextortion scam has been operating for some time," stated Almi Dumi, CISO, eMazzanti Technologies.

Key Points: 
  • "The dark web sextortion scam has been operating for some time," stated Almi Dumi, CISO, eMazzanti Technologies.
  • Below are a few excerpts from the article, " Don't Fall for Dark Web Sextortion Scam "
    "A wave of fraudulent emails containing real user data obtained from the dark web is hitting computers around the world.
  • This dark web sextortion scam leverages digital-age fears to blackmail recipients and targets computer users in large numbers."
  • "To sound authentic, the dark web sextortion scam email message may begin like this: 'I'm aware that [a password previously used on your computer] is your password.'