The latest U.S. Government cyber attack on June 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy and several other federal agencies fell victim to a widespread global hacking campaign. Harnessing a weak spot in the widely used MOVEit Transfer software, this cunning cyber attack infiltrated numerous Energy Department sectors.
These entities included the DOE contractor Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a New Mexico-based facility responsible for disposing of defense-related nuclear waste.
Other victims of this cyber onslaught included the British energy giant Shell, the University System of Georgia, and the Johns Hopkins University and its Health System. The cybersecurity breach did not significantly impact the federal civilian executive branch, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
So far this year, there has been a 77% increase in cyber attacks. A hacker group known as Anonymous Sudan playing a significant role.
Who is Anonymous Sudan?
Anonymous Sudan” is a threat actor group that has been conducting denial of service (DDoS) attacks against multiple organizations in Sweden since January 23, 2023. The group claims to be “hacktivists,” or politically motivated hackers from Sudan. However, according to a report by Truesec’s Threat Intelligence unit, “Anonymous Sudan” has no association with the online activist collective known as Anonymous. The report suggests that it was most likely created as part of a Russian information operation to harm and complicate Sweden’s NATO application.
What Would a Cyber Attack Be?
Cyber attacks refer to unauthorized attempts to steal, expose, alter, disable, or destroy information by gaining unauthorized access to computer systems. The motivations behind such attacks can vary, ranging from cybercrime, cyber warfare, or cyberterrorism. Actors such as hacktivists playing a significant role.
What are Common Cyber Attacks Today?
The attack on the U.S. government is a prime example of a common type of cyber attack today: ransomware attacks. In such attacks, cybercriminals typically encrypt a victim’s data, making it inaccessible. Then they demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
The CLOP ransomware group involved in this latest attack is one of many Eastern European and Russian gangs almost exclusively focused on extorting their victims for as much money as possible.
What are the Dangers of Cyber Attacks?
Cyber attacks pose several dangers, ranging from the disruption of essential services to the exposure of sensitive information. In the latest attack, sensitive personal and financial information, including health billing records, may have been stolen.
A major concern is that other groups may now have access to the MOVEit vulnerability exploited by the Russian hackers. This has the potential to lead to more attacks.
What are 4 Ways to Protect Yourself from Cyber Attacks?
Use strong, unique passwords, keep your software up-to-date, be cautious of phishing attempts, and use reliable security software.
Stay safe out there everyone and please keep up to date with this topic at Right Celebrity!