Security News
The Reg attended Singapore International Cyber Week 2022, where officials from twelve countries had an airing of grievances across three separate panels, as if they were seated at carefully arranged tables at a wedding. "We should stop these actions and come to the table, and talk the way you do here in Singapore in International Cyber Week. I was lucky to be invited. I prefer coming here than to the UN because the US does everything possible to restrict discussions."
Meta was officially designated as a terrorist organization for the first time in Russia in March 2022, when a Moscow court claimed the world's most popular social media platform hosted what they ruled as misinformation. Adopting the "Terrorist" classification for Meta by the Federal State marks a new development, leaving millions of Russian users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp unsure about what this means.
UK intelligence agency, GCHQ, boss Jeremy Fleming says China is "Learning lessons" from the war in Ukraine and could make use of a centralized digital currency to partly get around the type of sanctions being imposed on Putin's Russia. The career MI5 officer, who replaced Robert Hannigan in 2017, is speaking to the Royal United Services Institute think tank later today to spell out what his organization conceives of as a technological threat posed by China.
Russian telecom watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded explanations today from Apple regarding the removal of all VK apps, including the app for the country's largest social network VKontakte, from its App Store on Monday. Two of the apps removed from the Apple Store, the VKontakte social network application and the Mail.ru mail app, are included on the Russian Ministry of Digital Development's list of apps with mandatory pre-installation on mobile devices in Russia.
Meta Platforms on Tuesday disclosed it took steps to dismantle two covert influence operations originating from China and Russia for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior so as to manipulate public debate. The sophisticated Russian activity, which commenced in May 2022, impersonated mainstream European news outlets like Der Spiegel, The Guardian, and Bild, not to mention build credibility by creating fake accounts across several platforms to amplify pro-Russian narratives.
The Ukrainian government on Monday warned of "Massive cyberattacks" by Russia targeting critical infrastructure facilities located in the country and that of its allies. The attacks are said to be targeting the energy sector, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said.
Someone is flooding Cobalt Strike servers operated by former members of the Conti ransomware gang with anti-Russian messages to disrupt their activity. The operators of Conti ransomware completed turning off their internal infrastructure in May this year but its members have dispersed to other ransomware gangs.
Russia's internet watchdog Roskomnadzor is developing a neural network that will use artificial intelligence to scan websites for prohibited information. Examples of information targeted by Oculus include homosexuality "Propaganda," instructions on manufacturing weapons or drugs, and misinformation that discredits official state and army sources.
Microsoft on Monday revealed it took steps to disrupt phishing operations undertaken by a "Highly persistent threat actor" whose objectives align closely with Russian state interests. "SEABORGIUM intrusions have also been linked to hack-and-leak campaigns, where stolen and leaked data is used to shape narratives in targeted countries," Microsoft's threat hunting teams said.
Russia's Shuckworm cyber group launching ongoing attacks on Ukraine. The Russia-linked cyber group Shuckworm is continuing to target Ukrainian organizations with infostealing malware.