Dateline
Ukraine at D+114: Rigged voting and botched mobilization. And a counteroffensive. (CyberWire) Ukraine continues its counteroffensive, pushing farther east into occupied territory beyond Kharkiv. Russia retaliates with long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure and (perhaps) some military targets. Russia's partial mobilization has drawn widespread criticism from across Russian society: too warlike for the doves, just half-stepping in the view of the hardliners, and both capricious and harsh for everyone in the middle. In cyberspace, current Russian activity seems to focus on cybercrime against Ukrainian and EU targets.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 215 (Al Jazeera) As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 215th day, we take a look at the main developments.
Pushing East of Kupyansk, Ukrainian Forces Expand Offensive (Wall Street Journal) Securing the remaining Russian-held urban areas on the town’s eastern side would clear the way for Ukrainian forces to push into Luhansk, one of the regions that Moscow seeks to annex through snap referendums under way.
Russian mobilization prompts backlash as Ukraine annexation effort plows ahead (Washington Post) Russia launched new attacks on Ukraine on Sunday, using missiles and Iranian kamikaze drones to strike Odessa and the Zaporizhzhia region, as protesters in several Russian cities demonstrated against the war effort and a new mass conscription.
Ukrainians scared by Russia's preordained referendums (AP NEWS) After seven weary months of war, many Ukrainians fear more suffering and political repression awaits them as referendums orchestrated by the Kremlin with help from gun-toting police portend Russia’s imminent annexation of four occupied regions.
Russia-Ukraine war live: 2,000 detained during protests in Russia; Putin allies concerned over mobilisation ‘excesses’ (the Guardian) Latest updates: all the news and developments from the war in Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Russia strikes more than 40 Ukrainian towns as heavy fighting rages (The Telegraph) Russian shelling hit more than 40 towns in Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said on Monday, as fierce fighting continues to rage in the country’s south.
In Ukraine’s South, Fierce Fighting and Deadly Costs (New York Times) The offensive in the south was the most highly anticipated military action of the summer. Ukraine is making gains, but the fighting is grinding, grueling and steep in casualties.
Russia-Ukraine war: at least 730 protesters detained in Russia; Europe urged to accept Russians fleeing draft – as it happened (the Guardian) Arrests made in 32 cities at rallies against mobilisation; border crossings from Russia to Finland have doubled and 10km queue reported at frontier with Georgia
Kremlin stages votes in Ukraine, sees protests in Russia (AP NEWS) Russian forces launched new strikes on Ukrainian cities Saturday as Kremlin-orchestrated votes took place in four occupied regions to create a pretext for their annexation by Moscow.
'It is nonsense' Ukrainians rebuff Russia's referendums on occupied territories (Nation Thailand) Ukrainians rebuffed on Friday Russia’s plans to hold referendums on occupied territories of Ukraine. The referendum came just two days after Russia announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists.
Armed Russian Soldiers Oversee Referendum Voting (New York Times) Witnesses and Ukrainian officials described intimidating scenes in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine where what Western officials have called “sham” referendums are taking place. Protests against Putin’s mobilization policy continue across Russia.
Ukraine Latest: Annexation Votes Start; Russian Draft Exemptions (Bloomberg) On the eve of the war’s seven-month mark, voting began in four Moscow-occupied territories on whether to join Russia. Ukraine’s government and its allies have slammed the referendums as shams, reminiscent of a similar ballot in Crimea in 2014 ahead of annexation.
In Seized Parts of Ukraine, Moscow Stages Balloting on Joining Russia (New York Times) Under coercive conditions, with most residents gone and war still raging, Russia is putting on what it calls referendums on annexation but Ukraine and its allies call an illegal farce.
Gunman Attacks Draft Office as Russian Unrest Over Call-Ups Deepens (New York Times) Anger is mounting in Russia over President Vladimir V. Putin’s mobilization of hundreds of thousands of civilians as his military struggles in Ukraine.
Russia: man shoots officer drafting residents for war in Ukraine (the Guardian) In separate incident, another man sets himself on fire as protests at Putin’s partial mobilisation continue
“Referenda” in Eastern Ukraine? We’ve Seen this Before and Can Learn from the Past. (Wilson Center) Regardless of whether sham referenda in Russia-controlled regions of Ukraine reflect weakness or not, the successful conduct of such so-called referenda – if they are carried out over the next several days – will significantly complicate the situation on the ground in Ukraine and efforts to resolve the conflict in the future, should conditions allow for that.
Propaganda newspapers show how Russia promoted annexation in Kharkiv (Washington Post) Over the months Russian troops occupied this northeastern Ukrainian city, puppet authorities regularly distributed propaganda newspapers to residents, pushing a narrative of normalcy and unity even as homes and infrastructure were demolished, stores were looted, and civilians struggled to find basic provisions to survive.
Watching Gogol in Simferopol (Foreign Policy) Life imitates art in Crimea, where nothing seems real anymore except the tears and the vodka.
Finland moves to block more Russians on eastern border (Saudigazette) Finland has the EU's longest border with Russia at over 1,300km.
The human tragedy of Hrushivka: the aftermath of a Russian cluster bomb attack in Ukraine (the Guardian) ‘We couldn’t do anything for them’: medics speak out after a strike on a village close to the frontline
'Torment of hell': Ukraine medic describes Russian torture (AP NEWS) A volunteer Ukrainian medic held captive three months by Russian forces in Ukraine's besieged port city of Mariupol told U.S.
Why the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Matters…for the Whole World (Wilson Center) The capture of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) by the Russian army poses a massive range of threats: radiation accidents, energy deficits, security and economic loss, and industrial espionage. Since the military attack on NPP is unprecedented, the world does not have a response ready. However, postponing an answer to Russia’s aggression poses a higher risk than the aforementioned threats.
Putin 'will trigger world nuclear arms race if he bombs Ukraine' (The Telegraph) More countries will arm themselves if Russia carries out threat, says an aide to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky
Memo to the president: How to deter Russian nuclear use in Ukraine—and respond if deterrence fails (Atlantic Council) The US should issue vague public threats of serious consequences should Russia use nuclear weapons and be prepared to follow through with conventional military strikes if deterrence fails.
US will take ‘catastrophic’ action if Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons (The Telegraph) Severe consequences loom if Russia follows through on attack threat, says White House, as Kremlin’s sham referendums in Ukraine continue
Biden sends secret nuclear strike warning to Putin (The Telegraph) US keeps warnings vague in hope of inducing panic within the Kremlin’s leadership, according to a report
West works to deepen sanctions after Putin heightens threats (AP NEWS) How do American leaders and their allies intend to respond if President Vladimir Putin seeks to escalate his way out of a bad situation on Ukraine’s battlefields, and makes good on renewed threats of annexing territory or even using nuclear weapons?
The nuclear threat might change the mood in Russia itself, stoking widespread fear | Peter Pomerantsev (the Guardian) Putin’s propaganda glories in devastation but, like the Nazis, he is sowing the seeds of self-destruction
Opinion | How Seriously Should We Take Putin’s Nuclear Threat in Ukraine? (New York Times) Russia is flailing and losing. The nuclear threat is growing.
Putin sacks another military general as he takes hands-on approach to war from Moscow (The Telegraph) The move was widely seen as a punishment for the flaws in logistical support for Russia's 'special operation' in Ukraine
As Russian Losses Mount in Ukraine, Putin Gets More Involved in War Strategy (New York Times) The Russian president has rejected requests from commanders in the field that they be allowed to retreat from Kherson, a vital city in Ukraine’s south.
Putin’s War, and His Rule, Are In Trouble (Defense One) Russia’s mobilization is an epic disaster. Can it become a movement against the regime?
Putin Is Willing to Take Russia Down With Him (World Politics Review) In a speech Wednesday, Putin announced a partial mobilization of Russia’s military reserves to shore up collapsing front lines.
Vladimir Putin’s draft order is cause of Russian protests, officials admit (The Telegraph) Demonstrators clash with police amid reports of recruiters handing draft notices to the elderly, the ill and men with no military background
Putin’s Draft Draws Resistance in Russia’s Far-Flung Regions (New York Times) Villagers, activists and some elected officials asked why the conscription drive seemed to be hitting poor, remote areas hardest, while pro-war hawks criticized it as chaotic.
How Putin is being pushed to the brink by his ultra nationalists (The Telegraph) When the Russian leader is finally deposed, it could be the far-Right, not liberals, who replace him
Putin’s ship is sinking fast. Will he take everyone down? | Simon Tisdall (the Guardian) The scale of the Kremlin’s strategic failures in Ukraine is epic – and the exploded myth of Russian power may lead to the unravelling of the regime
Amid Putin’s blustering threats,
the West has genuine cause for hope (The Telegraph) We have in recent times been too complacent with external dangers, but everything has changed since the invasion of Ukraine
Russia Can’t Protect Its Allies Anymore (Foreign Policy) Moscow is overstretched in Ukraine—and Armenia is suffering the consequences.
US, partners meeting on Sept. 28 on industrial strategies for arming Ukraine (Breaking Defense) The meeting “will include a call for production support for things like gun barrels, ball bearings, and steel casings,” as well as obsolescent parts and microchips, a senior defense official said.
To keep arming Ukraine, Norway may drop munitions stocks below required levels (Breaking Defense) “We are more looking how we can increase the stocks from previous levels. But we are looking into if you can take even more from our stocks in the short term to support Ukraine. And to then to refill it,” Norway's defense minister said this week.
Britain runs low on ammo as Ukraine bombards Kremlin forces (The Telegraph) Arms industry yet to ramp up production despite Ukraine's need for weapons
Challenge For Russia? British ‘Hulk’ Drones Can Fire Deadly Air-To-Ground Brimstone Missiles, Torpedoes (Eurasian Times) British Aerospace Engineering (BAE) and drone firm Malloy Engineering have revealed a heavy-lift drone concept that can carry either a trio of air-to-ground missiles or torpedoes besides a range of basic tactical battlefield attack, logistical, and surveillance roles. China Recruited Top US Scientists To Gain Military Edge In Hypersonic, UAV & Submarine Tech – Reports […]
Russia’s allies China and India call for negotiations to end Ukraine war (the Guardian) Moscow isolated at United Nations assembly, with no major country siding with it
Why Did Modi Push Back on Putin? (Foreign Policy) India may have signaled a shift in its posture on Russia’s war in Ukraine, but it seeks more quiet support from the West.
Russia’s Party of War Seeks to Turn the War with Ukraine into a National Cause. It Will Fail (Wilson Center) Inside Russia, the Russian army's lack of significant successes in Ukraine from April to September and its recent defeat in the Kharkov region have raised the question of how to continue the war and avoid Russia's defeat. For Vladimir Putin, this question does not seem to have a good answer. His economy is weakening under sanctions, weapons are running out, help from allies (Iran, China) is symbolic, and his soldiers are not ready to give their lives on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Long before his war in Ukraine, Putin waged war on Russian journalists (Washington Post) TV anchor Tikhon Dzyadko started getting telephone death threats just days after Russia attacked Ukraine. Then the website for his independent Russian station, Dozhd, was blocked amid rumors of an imminent police raid. He fled the country with his family.
Russia’s Wiper Attacks Cause Massive Cyber Damage (Diálogo Américas) Russia is keeping up its attempts to turn cyberspace into a battlefield by attacking its adversaries with a type of malware known as wiper, which destroys the hard drive of infected computers, erasing all data and programs, and causing enormous damage to companies and organizations, Spanish cybersecurity firm S21sec says in a study.
Ukraine dismantles hacker gang that stole 30 million accounts (BleepingComputer) The cyber department of Ukraine's Security Service (SSU) has taken down a group of hackers that stole accounts of about 30 million individuals and sold them on the dark web.
The SBU neutralized a hacker group that "hacked" almost 30 million accounts of Ukrainian and EU citizens (SSU) The security service neutralized a hacker group that acted in the interests of the aggressor country in Lviv.
Les détails personnels de stars, dont Sir David Attenborough et Sarah Ferguson, ont été divulgués après le piratage d'un magasin bio par des escrocs russes (News 24) Des pirates informatiques RUSSES ont divulgué les détails personnels de stars telles que Sir David Attenborough et Sarah Ferguson sur le dark web.
AirLand redux? Early lessons from Ukraine (Atlantic Council) Ukraine is exploiting the seam between airpower and land-domain assets, hinting that the friction of war at the airland seam is growing.
Front line farming: Bombs disrupt critical Ukraine industry (AP NEWS) An unexploded rocket sticks out of a field, and another is embedded in the ground of the farm compound. Workers found a cluster bomb while clearing weeds, and there's a gaping hole in the roof of the shrapnel-scarred livestock barn.
Pink Floyd founder cancels Poland concerts after war remarks (AP NEWS) Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has canceled concerts planned in Poland amid outrage over his stance on Russia's war against Ukraine, Polish media reported Saturday. An official with the Tauron Arena in Krakow, where Waters was scheduled to perform two concerts in April, said they would no longer take place.
As Ukraine’s fathers fight, mothers go it alone with their children (Washington Post) Yuliia Sirenko spent the summer alone in her apartment in the bombed-out city of Kharkiv, her heart pulled in two directions.
Explosive entertainment (Novaya Gazeta Europe) Russian civilians will have to take cover from nuclear war in bars and beauty salons, seeing as many bomb shelters have been converted into businesses
The Collateral Damage of a Long Economic War (Foreign Affairs) Sanctions have hurt but not felled Russia—and are harming the Global South
Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities
Iran’s War Within (Foreign Affairs) Ebrahim Raisi and the triumph of the hard-liners
Iran’s Hijab Protests Have Lit a Fire the Regime Can’t Put Out (World Politics Review) The pent-up anger toward the morality police is now playing out in the streets of cities across Iran as protests continue.
‘Something big is happening’: the Iranians risking everything to protest (the Guardian) Five people share their experiences of the protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, as hope of real change grows
Dissident: 'Iranian women are furious' over headscarf death (AP NEWS) The tears come quickly to Masih Alinejad when she talks about the messages she's received in recent days from women in Iran protesting against their government after a young woman died in police custody over a violation of the country's strict religious dress code.
OpIran: Anonymous declares war on Teheran amid Mahsa Amini’s death (Security Affairs) OpIran: Anonymous launched Operation Iran against Teheran due to the ongoing crackdown on dissent after Mahsa Amini’s death. Anonymous launched OpIran against Iran due to the ongoing crackdown on dissent after Mahsa Amini’s death. The protests began after the death of Mahsa Amini from Saqqez in Kurdistan province after her arrest by Iran’s morality police […]
IDF official says military foiled ‘dozens’ of Iran cyberattacks on civilian sites (Times of Israel) Army believes Iran has focused offensive cyber efforts mainly on nonmilitary infrastructure, in attempt to instill fear in Israeli society
Analysis | 'Our Conflict With Iran Is Unparalleled', Say Israel's Elite Cyber Unit Commanders (Haaretz) With technology playing a larger role in intelligence gathering, Unit 8200 – Israel's version of the NSA – has become even more pivotal in Israel's cyberintelligence
Telegram Has a Serious Doxing Problem (WIRED UK) The encrypted messaging app is a haven for politically motivated vitriol, but users are increasingly bringing threats to targets’ doorsteps.
7-year Android malware campaign targeted Uyghurs: report (The Record by Recorded Future) The Uyghurs community was targeted in an Android-based malware campaign for over seven years, according to new research.
New hacking group ‘Metador’ lurking in ISP networks for months (BleepingComputer) A previously unknown threat actor that researchers have named 'Metador' has been breaching telecommunications, internet services providers (ISPs), and universities for about two years.
Microsoft SQL servers hacked in TargetCompany ransomware attacks (BleepingComputer) Security analysts at ASEC have discovered a new wave of attacks targeting vulnerable Microsoft SQL servers, involving the deployment of a ransomware strain named FARGO.
What We Know About The Grand Theft Auto VI Data Breach (Flashpoint) “Teapotuberhacker” claimed to have hacked Rockstar Games, the creator of the popular and controversial Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series.
Optus cyber-attack leaves customers feeling ‘powerless’ over risk of identity theft (the Guardian) Account holders say they are ‘angry’ personal data including addresses and phone numbers was exposed while some say they are yet to hear from telco
Optus faces a customer exodus, calls for compensation amid anger over leaked data (SBS News) Current and former Optus customers are demanding help in safeguarding their personal information, with an expert saying the level of risk varies from person to person.
Australia's Optus contacts customers caught in cyber attack (Reuters) Australia's number two telecommunications company, Optus, said on Saturday it was contacting customers about a cyberattack that accessed personal details of up to 10 million customers, in one of Australia's biggest cybersecurity breaches.
Frustrated Optus customers get the run around (The Sydney Morning Herald) Optus customers who are trying to change their personal identity numbers on documents including their driver’s licence are frustrated with a lack of help and advice from the telco.
Optus issues data scam alert to customers (K rock 95.5) Optus customers have been told to be wary of scammers trying to take advantage of a data breach, as the telco continues to contact those who have b...
Optus cyber-attack: how do you know if your identity has been stolen and what will happen to your data? (the Guardian) If you are an Optus customer, this is what you need to know
Popular Cryptocurrency Exchange dYdX Has Had Its NPM Account Hacked | Mend (Mend) San Francisco-based dYdX, a widely used decentralized crypto exchange with roughly $1 billion in daily trades, has had its NPM account hacked in a software supply chain attack detected by Mend Supply Chain Defender
American Airlines learned it was breached from phishing targets (BleepingComputer) American Airlines says its Cyber Security Response Team found out about a recently disclosed data breach from the targets of a phishing campaign that was using an employee's hacked Microsoft 365 account.
Warning over scam Ofgem emails claiming to offer energy bill rebate (Wrexham.com) Action Fraud has issued a warning about a sharp rise in reports relating to fake emails claiming to be from Ofgem, the independent energy regulator for Great Britain.
Bosses spying on you? Here's the most disastrous truth about surveillance software (ZDNET) With remote and hybrid working, many companies have resorted to instant, constant surveillance of their employees. But does it work?
Study of Electronic Monitoring Smartphone Apps Confirms Advocates’ Concerns of Privacy Harms (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Researchers at the University of Washington and Harvard Law School recently published a groundbreaking study analyzing the technical capabilities of 16 electronic monitoring (EM) smartphone apps used as “alternatives” to criminal and civil detention. The study, billed as the “first systematic...
Cyberattack on InterContinental Hotels Disrupts Business at Franchisees (Wall Street Journal) The hack on the hotel group highlights the potential ripple effects for franchisees, customers and supply chains.
CISA Has Added One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog (CISA) CISA has added one new vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. These types of vulnerabilities are a frequent attack vector for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risk to the federal enterprise. Note: To view the newly added vulnerabilities in the catalog, click on the arrow in the "Date Added to Catalog" column, which will sort by descending dates.
Trends
Zscaler's 2022 VPN Report: VPN Exploit Grows (Zscaler) As VPN Exploits Grow, 80% of Organizations Shift Towards Zero Trust Security
Most orgs in Philippines are concerned about ransomware's impact —report (Interaksyon) Ransomware was considered a big area of concern by most organizations in the Philippines, according to a report. Fortinet, a cybersecurity firm, released
Marketplace
‘What Am I Going to Do Now?’: Fired Crypto Workers Weigh Life After the Boom (The Information) On July 14, James Hu was sitting in his “fabulously expensive” apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He had just returned from the Soho offices of OpenSea, the non-fungible token marketplace, where he had been laid off from his job and locked out of his work computer. The event was not exactly a ...
Palo Alto Networks Stock Split: The Real Reason It Matters (Nasdaq) Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) recently completed its three-for-one stock split.
Check Point scales Singapore base to bolster cyber headcount (Channel Asia) Check Point has expanded its Singapore office to house more than 100 staff in Singapore and another 750 employees across 16 countries in Asia Pacific.
Cyber Threat Alliance Extends Membership to 6+ Leading International Cybersecurity Companies (Cyber Threat Alliance) Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), a nonprofit organization working to improve the cybersecurity of the global digital ecosystem, is announcing a recent growth in membership that expands our reach to a total of 36 active members across the world. We are pleased to announce our newest members include: Blueliv, Cloudbric, DataDome, […]
Optiv hires new federal leader (Washington Technology) The information security company is looking for growth with agencies and through partnerships.
Cybersecurity Firm Saepio Hires Former Mimecast Director (Law360) U.K.-based Saepio Information Security hired away Mimecast's account director for legal and accountancy to serve in the same capacity at the cybersecurity firm, Saepio confirmed to Law360 on Friday.
Products, Services, and Solutions
StackHawk Expands API Security Testing Suite (Security Boulevard) StackHawk this week expanded the scope of its application programming interface (API) security testing tools to now include the entire layer. Scott
Thales unveils cyber-secured solutions for connected rail transport (Advance) As wireless network connectivity makes railways an easier target for hackers, Thales is drawing on its long experience in the defence, space, finance and industrial sectors to apply its expertise in Security Operation Centres for management and surveillance of critical IT systems in the rail transport sector.
Global Cyber Alliance Extends Use of its Cybersecurity Toolkits Under the UK Government Digital Access Programme (Global Cyber Alliance) In November 2021 the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) announced the adoption of two dedicated toolkits under the UK Government Digital Access Programme (DAP) in support of small businesses across South Africa and Nigeria.
Technologies, Techniques, and Standards
The NSA is Here to Help (Decipher) The NSA’s new Cybersecurity Collaboration Center is the centerpiece of an effort to provide more information and context for private sector defenders.
Five ways security teams can respond to the Uber breach (SC Media) Focus on MFA, tabletop exercises, risk assessments and above all – make sure the company makes security a top priority in next year’s budget.
Research and Development
Pentagon launches effort to assess crypto’s threat to national security (Washington Post) New project is part of the U.S. government’s wider crackdown on illicit uses of digital assets.
LinkedIn Ran Social Experiments on 20 Million Users Over Five Years (New York Times) A study that looked back at those tests found that relatively weak social connections were more helpful in finding jobs than stronger social ties.
Academia
A Danish City Built Google Into Its Schools—Then Banned It (WIRED) An 8-year-old’s YouTube snafu—and one unlikely parent activist—sparked a nationwide debate on the tech giant’s ubiquity and handling of children’s data.
UMD, Deloitte Launch New Artificial Intelligence Initiative (Maryland Today) The Robert H. Smith School of Business has joined Deloitte to launch the Deloitte Initiative for AI and Learning (DIAL), an artificial intelligence (AI) research initiative to expand learning and development opportunities for faculty and students across the University of Maryland’s schools and…
Legislation, Policy, and Regulation
Security in the billions: Toward a multinational strategy to better secure the IoT ecosystem (Atlantic Council) The explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and services worldwide has amplified a range of cybersecurity risks to individuals’ data, company networks, critical infrastructure, and the internet ecosystem writ large. In light of this systemic risk, this report offers a multinational strategy to enhance the security of the IoT ecosystem. It provides a framework for a clearer understanding of the IoT security landscape and its needs, looks to reduce fragmentation between policy approaches, and seeks to better situate technical and process guidance into cybersecurity policy.
VPN Providers Flee India as a New Data Law Takes Hold (WIRED) Many companies have pulled physical servers from the country as a mandate to collect customer data goes into effect.
New security measures to be unveiled following massive Optus data breach (ABC) Under changes expected to be announced in coming days, banks and other institutions will be informed much faster when a data breach occurs at a company so personal data cannot be used to access accounts.
Australia plans privacy rule changes after Optus cyber attack (CNA) SYDNEY: Australia plans to change privacy rules, allowing banks to be alerted faster to cyber attacks on companies, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday (Sep 26), after hackers targeted the country's second-largest telecoms firm. Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel), said last w
Optus data breach: cybersecurity reforms expected to enable companies to rapidly inform financial institutions (the Guardian) Cybersecurity minister Clare O’Neil set to announce reforms in coming week after millions of telco customers’ data stolen
US Issues License to Expand Internet Access for Iranians (VOA) State Department says move will counter Iran government's cut in access
US Treasury carves out Iran sanctions exceptions for internet providers (The Record by Recorded Future) The U.S. Department of Treasury said it is carving out exceptions within its stifling sanctions on Iran for technology companies providing internet access during recent protests.
US to ease online sanctions during Iran protests (Taipei Times) Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
Where Online Hate Speech Can Bring the Police to Your Door (New York Times) Battling far-right extremism, Germany has gone further than any other Western democracy to prosecute individuals for what they say online, testing the limits of free speech on the internet.
Log4j: Senators introduce bill centered on CISA open source security efforts (The Record by Recorded Future) A bipartisan group of senators introduced a new bill this week focused on a variety of efforts to secure open source software.
Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement
Accused Russian RSOCKS Botmaster Arrested, Requests Extradition to U.S. (KrebsOnSecurity) A 36-year-old Russian man recently identified by KrebsOnSecurity as the likely proprietor of the massive RSOCKS botnet has been arrested in Bulgaria at the request of U.S. authorities. At a court hearing in Bulgaria this month, the accused hacker requested…
London Police Arrested 17-Year-Old Hacker Suspected of Uber and GTA 6 Breaches (The Hacker News) London police have arrested a 17-year-old Oxfordshire teenager on suspicion of hacking, possibly in connection with the recent high-profile hacking at
UK teen suspected of Uber and Rockstar hacks arrested (Computing) The suspect, charged with breach of bail and computer misuse offences, is believed to be the same individual behind earlier attacks on Microsoft, Okta and Nvidia
Iranian general killed in street battle with protesters (The Telegraph) Iranian security forces arrest Majid Tavakoli, a journalist who played a key role in exposing death of Mahsa Amini in custody
US Nuclear Security Administration criticized by watchdog over cybersecurity failures (The Record by Recorded Future) The US agency that maintains and modernizes the country’s nuclear stockpile was criticized by a government watchdog this week for spotty cybersecurity policies.
Australian Police Probe Optus Cyberattack as Data Threats Emerge (Bloomberg) Australian authorities are investigating reports alleging that customers’ personal data are being sold online after the Australian unit of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. was hit by a major cyberattack earlier this week.
Optus cyber attack investigation amid alleged ransom threat (9News) The Australian Federal Police are investigating the cyber attack on Optus as the legitimacy of an alleged o...
Optus cyber-attack: company opposed changes to privacy laws to give customers more rights over their data (the Guardian) In its submission to Privacy Act review telco said giving people right to erase personal data would involve ‘significant’ hurdles and costs
GTA 6 hacker update: Now charged with violation of bail and computer misuse (Techgenyz) The GTA 6 hacker A.K. (White) has now been accused by the prosecution of two charges of violating his bail as well as two counts of breaking
Alleged Hacker Behind GTA 6 and Uber Data Breach Arrested in UK (Appuals.com) In a turn of events the accused teen hacker for the recent GTA 6 and Uber data breach has been arrested in UK.
GTA 6 hack: UK police confirm they’ve charged teenager linked with breach (VGC) The 17-year-old was reportedly also involved in a cyber attack on Uber and others…
Jan. 6 Twitter witness: Failure to curb Trump spurred ‘terrifying’ choice (Washington Post) In an exclusive interview with The Washington Post, a former Twitter official explains what motivated her startling Jan. 6 committee testimony
