Summary: Ransomware attacks, the use of AI, and the rise of cybercrime-as-a-service were prominent trends in the cybersecurity space in the first half of 2023, with LockBit ransomware being the most used and AI tools being misused by threat actors to launch cyberattacks.
“Max Galochkin: Unmasking the Man Behind the Notorious Trickbot Cybercrime Syndicate”
In this article, the author reveals the true identity of Max Galochkin, a member of the Russian cybercrime syndicate Trickbot. Through an extensive investigation involving leaked data, chat logs, and expert analysis, Galochkin's online persona as "Bentley" is linked to his real-life identity. The article explores Galochkin's role within Trickbot, the inner workings of the syndicate, and its connections to the wider cybercrime landscape and the Russian government. Despite global efforts to disrupt Trickbot and other cybercriminal groups, they continue to thrive, operating with connections to Russian intelligence and security services. Unmasking Galochkin sheds light on the challenges of deterring cybercrime and the impact of naming and shaming these criminals.
The FBI has determined that the $41 million hack of crypto gambling site Stake was carried out by North Korean hackers Lazarus Group, who have stolen over $200 million in cryptocurrency this year.
Tech scammers are using phony cryptocurrency accounts to dupe victims into investing large sums of money, resulting in billions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrency and financial ruin for many victims.
The cybersecurity issue at MGM Resorts International, which caused disruptions for customers and affected online systems, is likely the result of a cyberattack according to cybersecurity experts.
MGM Resorts International is experiencing a cybersecurity issue that could potentially be a ransomware attack, resulting in loss of money and damage to the company's reputation, but it is yet to be confirmed.
The cyber attack on MGM Resorts International, which began on Sunday, has caused significant disruptions and financial losses for the casino and hotel giant, with a Russia-linked hacker gang claiming responsibility for the breach.
Hackers known as Scattered Spider have demanded a ransom from MGM after hacking the company and causing disruptions, and it is believed that the same group hacked Caesars before, receiving a large sum of money as ransom; these hackers are known for their aggressive tactics and have been involved in compromising at least 60 entities worldwide.
A ransomware group called ALPHAV, also known as BlackCat, has taken credit for a massive cyber breach at MGM resorts, causing disruption to various functions including guest key cards, slot machines, and credit card transactions, while the company is working to resolve the issue.
MGM Resorts is facing a widespread outage lasting four days after a cyberattack by the hacking group Scattered Spider, with guests reporting disruptions to various services including ATMs, slot machines, digital key cards, and electronic payment systems, while entertainment giant Caesars Entertainment also suffered a cyberattack attributed to the same group, resulting in stolen data and a demanded ransom of $30 million.
Hotel and casino company Caesars Entertainment has confirmed that hackers stole a significant amount of customer data, including driver's license numbers and social security numbers, in a recent cyberattack. It is believed that the company has paid a ransom to try and ensure the stolen data is deleted. A separate data breach notice revealed that the cyberattack was caused by social engineering on an unnamed outside IT vendor. Caesars is the second hotel and casino company to be targeted in recent weeks, following MGM Resorts' reported "cybersecurity issue."
MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have both been targeted by cyberattacks, leaving their operations disrupted and raising concerns about the security of customer data.
Prominent casino chain MGM Resorts experienced a cyberattack that shut down many of its systems, likely due to a social engineering technique known as vishing, highlighting the vulnerability of even well-protected organizations to human-based attacks.
A cybersecurity breach at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas has led to unauthorized charges on loyalty accounts and concerns over stolen information, prompting increased credit monitoring by affected customers.
Hackers responsible for breaching MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have also targeted three other companies in the manufacturing, retail, and technology sectors, according to a security executive familiar with the matter.
A new gang on the dark web called Ransomed.vc claims to have breached all of Sony's systems in a ransomware attack and is selling the stolen data.
A new hacking group claims to have compromised Sony's systems and is selling the data after the company refused to pay, while another threat actor leaks the data and accuses the first group of being scammers.
The cyberattack on MGM Resorts in Las Vegas resulted in the company losing approximately $100 million, highlighting the significant financial impact major companies face when targeted by hackers.
Multiple companies, including Johnson Controls, Clorox, and MGM Resorts, have recently experienced significant cybersecurity breaches, resulting in financial losses and operational disruptions, highlighting the ongoing issue of cyberattacks affecting various industries.
Online scammers posing as fake tech support specialists, referred to as "phantom hackers," are preying on older adults and fraudulently extorting large sums of money from them, with one Navy veteran losing a staggering $800,000 to these scams.
Stars Arena, an Avalanche-based Web3 social media app, has secured funding to cover the $3 million loss caused by a hack and plans to re-open its smart contract after a security audit. The hacker drained almost $3 million worth of AVAX tokens and transferred them to the Fixed Float crypto exchange, and the team is working to recover the funds and improve platform security.
Hackers with links to countries like Iran and Russia have launched cyberattacks and online campaigns against Israel in support of Hamas during the Israel-Gaza conflict, potentially aiming to replicate the cyber strikes Russia conducted during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
