By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS
A DDoS cyberattack caused the Azure outage on July 30, disrupting Microsoft 365 services for nearly 10 hours. Picus Security found 40% of environments vulnerable to total system takeovers. Cybereason is tracking the ‘Cuckoo Spear’ campaign by APT10, targeting Japanese firms. Chaucer reported a 586% surge in cyberattacks on UK utilities due to geopolitical tensions. Australia plans to mandate ransom payment disclosures for large businesses. Ukrainian hackers disrupted Russian firm Avanpost, destroying data and leaking information.
Stay ahead in the dynamic world of cybersecurity.
Here’s your concise guide to the latest trends, threats, and breakthroughs from around the globe:
Microsoft Confirms Cyberattack Behind Major Azure Outage
A Microsoft Azure outage on July 30 was confirmed to be caused by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) cyberattack, disrupting services like Microsoft 365 (Office and Outlook) and Azure for nearly 10 hours, impacting companies such as the U.K. bank NatWest, according to the BBC.
40% of Environments at Risk of Total Takeover: Critical Findings
A report by Picus Security revealed that 40% of tested environments had vulnerabilities allowing domain administrator access, posing significant security risks as cybercriminals could gain control over user accounts and network settings.
APT10 Campaign ‘Cuckoo Spear’ Targets Japanese Firms
Israeli cybersecurity company Cybereason is monitoring a campaign named ‘Cuckoo Spear,’ linked to the APT10 group, known for using multiple aliases like Bronze Riverside and Stone Panda, to infiltrate Japanese firms and steal data.
Cyber Attacks on UK Utilities Surge Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Chaucer reported a 586% increase in cyber attacks on UK utility companies in 2023, primarily involving data theft and ransomware, affecting 140,000 individuals, driven by rising geopolitical tensions.
Australia to Mandate Disclosure of Ransom Payments to Hackers
The Australian government plans to introduce a new cybersecurity law requiring businesses with turnovers exceeding $1.96 million to disclose ransom payments to hackers, aiming to increase transparency and accountability.
Ukrainian Hackers Disrupt Russian Cyber Firm Avanpost
Russian cybersecurity firm Avanpost confirmed a severe cyberattack by the pro-Ukrainian group Cyber Anarchy Squad, which encrypted over 400 virtual machines, destroyed 60 TB of data, and leaked 390 GB of stolen information.
