ISIS returns to inspiration in cyberspace, calling for lone wolf attacks in Europe and the US (should you, jihadi, be unable to reach Syria) and stepping up recruiting in India (by promising vengeance for 2002’s riots in Gujarat). The US, meanwhile, is running an info ops campaign (in the form of both physical leaflets and social media image-sharing) designed to undermine ISIS’s hold on its nominal capital, Raqqa, Syria.
Palo Alto’s Unit 42 reports that Operation Ke3chang has resurfaced, now with new TidePool malware. Ke3chang’s targets are mostly Indian diplomats. No attribution, but Unit 42 does see some signs that point to China.
Last week a gang coordinated the theft of some ¥1.44 billion (about $12.7 million) from ATMs in Japan. The gang used forged payment cards. Whether necessary data were obtained from skimmers or some other hack is still unknown.
SWIFT and the banks who use it are working to ward off further attacks like those that looted the Bangladesh Bank earlier this year. Various banking authorities—notably in Hong Kong and the UK—also move to ensure that their wards increase vigilance.
In industry news, IBM plans another round of layoffs. Investors continue to wonder whether recent rough times for cyber stocks represents a buying opportunity. Many think so.
Indonesia and Japan announce plans to establish new cyber security agencies.
US and British officials receive advice from industry: UK insurers want a national database of cyber incidents. US startups tell Congress data security (read, encryption) makes us strong.