ISIS competes with Shi'ite opponents on the Internet, with both sides now recruiting through increasingly cruel and inventive online posts of executions. ISIS's online appeal shows signs of reaching hitherto quiet Ghana. The hacktivists of Ghost Security say they've enjoyed considerable success against ISIS, even claiming to have disrupted terrorists' command-and-control.
The US continues to assess the damage done to intelligence operations by Russian and Chinese exfiltration and sifting of personal data. It also finds OSINT challenging OPSEC. As the US deliberates sanctions against Chinese and (reportedly) Russian cyber actors it's worth noting that such measures are expected to target specific individuals and companies, not the countries themselves, and that they appear directed against industrial espionage, not foreign intelligence collection.
All is not, however, bleak in Sino-American cyber relations as the two countries prepare for a summit. Research conducted by Penn State, Indiana University, and China's Academy of Science is said to have engendered "MassVet," which offers rapid security screening of large numbers of apps.
A Pakistani cyber riot is reported in India's financial sector.
Citizen Lab releases more details of a sophisticated Iranian phishing campaign that targets Iranian expatriates.
Alleged Colombian surveillance practices draw media attention.
The UK's National Crime Authority, which recently collared several teenagers for buying and using Lizard Stressor, sustains a retaliatory denial-of-service campaign by Lizard Squad skids.
In the US, opposition to cyber threat information sharing legislation derives from the difficulty of distinguishing sharing from surveillance.
Gizmodo says Ashley Madison used adulteress bots. Who knew?