Security News

Spanish Police Arrest 2 Nuclear Power Workers for Cyberattacking the Radiation Alert System
2022-07-30 03:40

Spanish law enforcement officials have announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with a cyberattack on the country's radioactivity alert network, which took place between March and June 2021. The act of sabotage is said to have disabled more than one-third of the sensors that are maintained by the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies and used to monitor excessive radiation levels across the country.

Nuclear engineer's espionage plans unraveled by undercover FBI agent
2021-10-11 12:00

A Navy nuclear engineer and his wife were arrested under espionage-related charges alleging violations of the Atomic Energy Act after selling restricted nuclear-powered warship design data to a person they believed was a foreign power agent. Jonathan and Diana Toebbe sold the confidential information to an undercover FBI agent.

South Korea’s nuclear research agency breached by North Korea-affiliated cyberattackers, says malware analyst group
2021-06-21 05:33

South Korean officials have admitted that government nuclear think tank Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute was hacked in May 2021 by North Korea's Kimsuky group. Malware analyst group IssueMakersLab said in a report that it detected an attack on KAERI on May 14th. The attack saw incoming heat from 13 internet addresses, of which one was traceable to Kimsuky.

North Korea Exploited VPN Flaw to Hack South's Nuclear Research Institute
2021-06-20 23:35

South Korea's state-run Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute on Friday disclosed that its internal network was infiltrated by suspected attackers operating out of its northern counterpart. KAERI, established in 1959 and situated in the city of Daejeon, is a government-funded research institute that designs and develops nuclear technologies related to reactors, fuel rods, radiation fusion, and nuclear safety.

South Korea's Nuclear Research agency hacked using VPN flaw
2021-06-19 17:59

South Korea's 'Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute' disclosed yesterday that their internal networks were hacked last month by North Korean threat actors using a VPN vulnerability. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, or KAERI, is the governement-sponsored institute for the research and application of nuclear power in South Korea.

South Korea's Nuclear Research agency breached using VPN flaw
2021-06-19 17:59

South Korea's 'Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute' disclosed yesterday that their internal networks were hacked last month by North Korean threat actors using a VPN vulnerability. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, or KAERI, is the governement-sponsored institute for the research and application of nuclear power in South Korea.

The latest REvil ransomware victim? Sol Oriens. Oh, a US nuclear weapons contractor
2021-06-15 11:28

The REvil ransomware gang, thought to be behind an attack on meat producer JBS which netted an impressive $11m payoff, has found another victim. Described as a "a small, veteran-owned consulting firm focused on managing advanced technologies and concepts with strong potential for military and space applications," Sol Oriens' links to the US nuclear weapons programme were revealed in a job posting for a "Senior Nuclear Weapons System Subject Matter Expert" on recruitment site Lensa, first spotted by CNBC correspondent Eamon Javers.

REvil ransomware hits US nuclear weapons contractor
2021-06-14 21:32

US nuclear weapons contractor Sol Oriens has suffered a cyberattack allegedly at the hands of the REvil ransomware gang, which claims to be auctioning data stolen during the attack. Job postings first spotted by CNBC correspondent Eamon Javers provide some insight into Sol Orien's operations, who are seeking program managers, consultants, and a 'Nuclear Weapon System Subject Matter Expert' to work with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

REvil Hits US Nuclear Weapons Contractor: Report
2021-06-11 18:16

A subcontractor for the U.S. Department of Energy that works on nuclear weapons with the National Nuclear Security Administration, last month was hit by a cyberattack that experts say came from the relentless REvil ransomware-as-a-service gang. As Javers noted, "We don't know everything this small company does," but he posted a sample job posting that indicates that it handles nuclear weapons issues: "Senior Nuclear Weapon System Subject Matter. Expert with more than 20 years of experience with nuclear weapons like the W80-4." The W80 is a type of nuclear warhead carried on air-launched cruise missiles.

Nuclear Flash Cards: US Secrets Exposed on Learning Apps
2021-05-28 19:25

US troops charged with guarding nuclear weapons in Europe used popular education websites to create flash cards, exposing their exact locations and top-secret security protocols, according to the investigative site Bellingcat Friday. To familiarize themselves with things like which shelters in various locations had "Hot" vaults with live nuclear bombs, with security patrol schedules, and with identification badge details, the soldiers created digital flash card sets on apps like Chegg Prep, Quizlet and Cram.