The cybersecurity division of former smartphone giant BlackBerry has revealed that it prevented over 1.5 million cyberattacks between March and May. During this time, the company identified a number of malware families that were actively attempting to hijack computers in order to mine or steal cryptocurrencies. According to BlackBerry’s report, the industries most affected by these cyberattacks were finance, healthcare, and government. One particular malware, known as RedLine, was found to be targeting the financial sector, harvesting both cryptocurrency and banking information.
Another common threat identified by BlackBerry was the Clop ransomware, a variant of the CryptoMix ransomware family. This malware was primarily targeting banking and financial institutions and was responsible for a data breach at fintech banking platform Hatch Bank.
When analyzing the most prevalent malware families, BlackBerry found that SmokeLoader, RaccoonStealer (also known as RecordBreaker), and Vidar were at the top of the list. SmokeLoader is an older rogue financial tool that dates back to 2011 and has been predominantly used by Russian-based threat actors to load crypto miners and other types of malware. RaccoonStealer has been employed to steal cryptocurrency wallet data and is reportedly being sold on the dark web. Vidar, on the other hand, is widely used for harvesting cryptocurrency wallets.
BlackBerry also highlighted the vulnerability of the Linux operating system, which was found to be the prime target for hackers looking to use computer resources for mining cryptocurrencies. To mitigate this risk, the company advised organizations to regularly apply security patches. Additionally, a new strain of infostealer called Atomic macOS was identified, targeting macOS users and designed to collect credentials from keychains, browsers, and crypto wallets.
In related news, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT and Dall-e, recently announced a grant program worth $1 million aimed at enhancing and measuring the impact of AI-driven cybersecurity technologies. OpenAI aims to support the advancement of AI-driven cybersecurity capabilities for defenders through grants and other forms of assistance.
With cyberattacks becoming increasingly prevalent and sophisticated, organizations of all sizes are at risk. BlackBerry warned that even mid-sized and small businesses are attractive targets for cybercriminals due to their potential impact and willingness to pay. It is therefore crucial for all businesses to prioritize cybersecurity measures in order to protect their data and assets.
In conclusion, BlackBerry’s cybersecurity arm has identified various malware families that target computers to mine or steal cryptocurrencies. With finance, healthcare, and government being the most affected industries, organizations must remain vigilant and implement robust cybersecurity measures to counter these threats. The Linux operating system and macOS users were identified as particularly vulnerable, and regular security patches are strongly advised.
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