This week’s cyber world is like a big spy movie. Hackers are breaking into other hackers’ setups, sneaky malware is hiding in popular software, and AI-powered scams are tricking even the smartest of us. On the other side, the good guys are busting secret online markets and kicking out shady chat rooms, while big companies rush to fix new security holes before attackers can jump in.
Want to know who’s hacking who, how they’re doing it, and what’s being done to fight back? Stick around—this recap has the scoop.
Turla Hackers Hijack Pakistan Hackers’ Infrastructure — Imagine one hacker group sneaking into another hacker group’s secret hideout and using their stuff to carry out their own missions. That’s basically what the Russia-linked Turla group has been doing since December 2022. They broke into the servers of a Pakistani hacking team called Storm-0156 and used those servers to spy on government and military targets in Afghanistan and India. By doing this, Turla not only got easy access to important information but also made it way harder for anyone to figure out who was actually running the show. This is a classic move for Turla—they often hijack other hackers’ operations to hide their tracks and make it super confusing to tell who’s really behind these attacks.
75% of organizations get hit by cyberattacks, and most report getting hit more than once. Read this ebook to learn 10 steps to take to build a more proactive approach to securing your organization’s Microsoft 365 data from cyberattacks and ensuring cyber resilience.
Heads up! Some popular software has serious security flaws, so make sure to update now to stay safe. The list includes — CVE-2024-41713 (Mitel MiCollab), CVE-2024-51378 (CyberPanel), CVE-2023-45727 (Proself), CVE-2024-11680 (ProjectSend), CVE-2024-11667 (Zyxel), CVE-2024-42448 (Veeam), CVE-2024-10905 (SailPoint IdentityIQ), CVE-2024-5921 (Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect), CVE-2024-29014 (SonicWall), CVE-2014-2120 (Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance), CVE-2024-20397 (Cisco NX-OS), CVE-2024-52338 (Apache Arrow), CVE-2024-52316 (Apache Tomcat), CVE-2024-49803, CVE-2024-49805 (IBM Security Verify Access Appliance), CVE-2024-12053 (Google Chrome), CVE-2024-38193 (Microsoft Windows), and CVE-2024-12209 (WP Umbrella: Update Backup Restore & Monitoring plugin).
Turn Your PC into a Malware ‘No-Go’ Zone — Malware often avoids running if it suspects it’s in a research lab or test environment. By placing fake clues—like virtual machine-related registry keys, empty folders named after analysis tools, or dummy drivers—on your PC, you can trick malware into thinking it’s being watched. Tools like Malcrow (open-source) and Scarecrow (free) create fake indicators—virtual machine keys, dummy processes, or tool-like entries—to fool it into retreating. This might make certain threats back off before causing harm. Although this trick isn’t perfect, it can add a subtle extra layer of security, alongside your antivirus and other defenses. Just remember to test changes carefully and keep things believable. It won’t stop every attacker, but it might deter less sophisticated malware from targeting your system.
As you think about this week’s threats, consider some less common tactics. For example, plant fake “decoy” files on your network—if someone opens them, you’ll know there’s a problem. Keep a clear record of every piece of code you use, so if something strange shows up, you can spot it right away. Also, try controlling who can talk to whom on your network, making it harder for attackers to move around. These simple steps can help you stay one step ahead in a world where cyber risks are always changing.
