By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS
Digital Arrest scams in India have led to Rs 2,140 crore stolen in 10 months; California’s court services were disrupted by a cyberattack; Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA) confirmed a cyber breach; Interlock ransomware is targeting FreeBSD servers worldwide; and Portsmouth City Council faced a DDoS attack from pro-Russian hackers.
Stay tuned for more global cybersecurity updates.
Digital Arrest Scams in India: Rs 2,140 Crore Stolen in 10 Months
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Cyber Wing, i4C, has flagged an alarming rise in ‘Digital Arrest’ scams. Scammers posing as officials from top Indian agencies have stolen Rs 2,140 crore in just 10 months, averaging losses of over Rs 214 crore per month.
Scam Operations Traced to International Call Centers
The MHA report indicates that scam centers in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Myanmar, operate from call centers and casinos, linking 30-40% of activities to India.
California Court Hit by Cyberattack, Disrupting Digital Services
The San Joaquin County Superior Court has experienced major disruptions after a cyberattack knocked out its digital services, including phone, fax, e-filing, and payment systems. The court isolated its systems to contain the impact.
Interlock Ransomware Targets FreeBSD Servers Globally
A new ransomware group, Interlock, has been identified, using an encryptor to target FreeBSD servers. Launched in late September 2024, Interlock has attacked six organizations, including Wayne County, Michigan.
Portsmouth City Council Faces DDoS Attack by Pro-Russian Hackers
Portsmouth City Council is the latest UK local authority hit by a DDoS attack from the pro-Russian group NoName057(16).
Despite the disruption, no services or resident data were affected, and the council is working to resolve the issue swiftly.
EMERALDWHALE Campaign Targets Git Configurations to Steal Credentials
Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered EMERALDWHALE, a campaign stealing credentials and cloning private repositories from exposed Git configurations.
Over 10,000 repositories and 15,000 stolen credentials were found in a compromised Amazon S3 bucket.
Los Angeles Housing Authority (HACLA) Confirms Cyberattack
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, managing over 32,000 public housing units, confirmed an attack on its IT network.
External forensic IT specialists have been hired to investigate and mitigate the breach, linked to the Cactus ransomware gang.
