By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS Cybertech
Dutch authorities exposed a Russia-backed group, Laundry Bear, behind major hacks on NATO and police networks. MathWorks suffered a ransomware attack disrupting services, while China and Taiwan traded cyberattack accusations. Chinese hackers breached Commvault’s cloud, raising U.S. security concerns. A ransomware assault in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, compromised 67,000 residents’ data. ReliaQuest uncovered a payroll fraud scheme exploiting SEO poisoning.
Meanwhile, Apple blocked $2 billion in App Store fraud last year, showcasing escalating threats across governments, tech firms, and local communities worldwide.
Russia-Backed Hackers Breach NATO, Dutch Police Networks
Dutch intelligence revealed a previously unknown Russian hacking group, Laundry Bear, was behind major 2024 cyberattacks on NATO, the Dutch police, and several European networks.
Supported by the Russian state, Laundry Bear quietly infiltrated sensitive systems, gaining confidential data on Dutch officials. Authorities warn these attacks are part of a larger international cyber threat, with the group operating covertly until Dutch agencies uncovered their activities during a September 2024 hacking probe.
MathWorks Hit by Ransomware Attack, Reports Major Outage
MathWorks, the maker of MATLAB and Simulink, disclosed a ransomware attack affecting its IT systems and causing ongoing service outages. The Massachusetts-based software giant, serving over 100,000 organizations and 5 million users, has notified U.S. federal law enforcement.
While specific ransom demands weren’t revealed, MathWorks’ public disclosure highlights the rising ransomware threat against major software providers and the ripple effects on global businesses relying on specialized engineering and simulation tools.
China-Taiwan Cyberwar Heats Up with Hacking Accusations
According to a Reuters report Chinese authorities claim Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party supported a cyberattack on an unnamed mainland tech company, escalating cross-strait tensions. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau fired back, accusing China’s Communist Party of spreading disinformation to mask its own hacking operations. The accusations reflect deepening cyber hostilities between the two rivals, with both sides accusing each other of information warfare, espionage, and manipulation to control the global cyber-narrative and shift international focus.
Chinese Hackers Breach Commvault Cloud, Spark U.S. Data Fears
A Chinese state-backed hacking group has been linked to a breach of Commvault’s cloud systems, raising alarms over sensitive U.S. government and corporate data exposure. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reported that attackers accessed Commvault’s Microsoft Azure-hosted environments, potentially infiltrating Microsoft 365 backup platforms.
While the agency hasn’t named the group, the breach underlines growing concerns about Chinese cyber-operations targeting cloud services critical to U.S. infrastructure and enterprise resilience.
Ransomware Attack Impacts 67,000 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
The city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has alerted about 67,000 residents that an October 2024 ransomware attack led to stolen Social Security numbers, IDs, and license plate data. The attack, claimed by the Chort ransomware gang, went under investigation until mid-May 2025, when the breach was confirmed.
While emergency services remained functional, city officials are now working with law enforcement and cybersecurity advisors to strengthen defenses and manage regulatory breach notifications.
Payroll Fraud Attack Uses SEO Poisoning to Target Mobile Devices
ReliaQuest uncovered a sophisticated cyber campaign using SEO poisoning to deceive manufacturing employees and reroute payroll deposits. Threat actors created fake login pages, capturing credentials to access payroll portals and change direct deposit details. The attackers masked their activities using compromised home routers and mobile networks, slipping past traditional defenses.
This new wave of payroll fraud underscores the evolving nature of cybercriminal tactics targeting mobile users and exploiting overlooked security gaps.
Apple Blocks $2 Billion in App Store Fraud in 2024
Apple reported blocking $2 billion in fraudulent App Store transactions in 2024, bringing its five-year fraud prevention total to $9 billion. The company detailed efforts to terminate suspicious developer accounts, reject harmful apps, ban fraudulent customer accounts, and block stolen credit card transactions—nearly 4.7 million in 2024 alone.
As global regulators push for changes in Apple’s policies, the tech giant underscores its focus on user protection and marketplace integrity.
