November 19, 2024 at 01:21PM Russian cybercriminal Evgenii Ptitsyn, 42, appeared in a Maryland court after extradition from South Korea. He faces charges for operating the Phobos ransomware, allegedly extorting over $16 million from more than 1,000 victims globally. He could face significant prison time if convicted on multiple counts, including wire fraud and extortion. … Read more
November 18, 2024 at 02:03AM Legal documents reveal that NSO Group exploited WhatsApp vulnerabilities to install Pegasus spyware, even after facing lawsuits from Meta. New vectors, like “Erised,” were developed to bypass defenses. NSO controls the spyware deployment, contradicting claims of client operation responsibility, with Apple enhancing security features against such breaches. ### Meeting Takeaways: … Read more
November 15, 2024 at 11:39AM Ilya Lichtenstein, who stole 119,754 Bitcoin from Bitfinex in 2016, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering. Arrested in 2022, he helped launder the funds with his wife, Heather Morgan. Authorities recovered about 80% of the stolen Bitcoin, worth $3.6 billion at seizure. ### … Read more
November 15, 2024 at 09:14AM Ilya Lichtenstein has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing nearly 120,000 Bitcoin from Bitfinex in 2016, worth about $69 million at the time. He and his wife, Heather Morgan, also pleaded guilty to laundering the stolen proceeds. Their assets will be forfeited to the US government. ### … Read more
November 14, 2024 at 03:53PM Robert Purbeck, 45, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hacking 19 US servers, stealing personal information of 132,000 people, and extorting an orthodontist for Bitcoin. He accessed sensitive data from a medical clinic and a police department. He must also pay over $1 million in restitution. ### Meeting … Read more
November 14, 2024 at 07:40AM Managed services provider Trustwave and endpoint detection firm Cybereason have announced a merger to enhance integrated cybersecurity solutions. They will operate independently while strategically collaborating on a comprehensive service portfolio. Focus areas include client consulting and threat detection AI. The merger is set to close in early 2025. ### Meeting … Read more
November 11, 2024 at 07:41AM Roman Sterlingov, operator of Bitcoin Fog, was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for laundering over $400 million through his cryptocurrency mixing service. He must repay nearly $400 million and forfeit assets. His service facilitated various crimes, highlighting the Justice Department’s commitment to combatting illegal money laundering operations. ### Meeting … Read more
November 8, 2024 at 12:06PM Detroit police are alarmed by iPhones in their custody rebooting unexpectedly, complicating digital evidence retrieval. A memo warns that devices switch from an accessible state (AFU) to a restricted state (BFU) after rebooting, making forensics more challenging. The cause, suspected to relate to iOS 18.0, remains unclear. ### Meeting Notes … Read more
November 8, 2024 at 10:05AM Scattered Spider and BlackCat/ALPHV gangs have resurfaced after prior arrests, using social engineering and new tactics in cyberattacks. They recently breached a manufacturing firm, employing RansomHub malware for encryption. Ransomware threats persist, emphasizing the need for stringent security measures and vigilant defense against evolving criminal strategies. ### Meeting Takeaways 1. … Read more
October 30, 2024 at 04:04PM Former Disney employee Michael Scheuer was arrested for allegedly hacking the company’s systems, altering restaurant menus, and deleting allergen information, potentially endangering customers. Charged with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act on three counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Here are the key takeaways … Read more