The Year of the Teenage Hacker
The year 2020 was full of high-profile cyberattacks launched by criminal gangs and state-sponsored hackers. But dozens of headline-grabbing cybersecurity incidents and arrests this year involved teenagersâsome of whom havenât even graduated high school yet. As the coronavirus pandemic forced schools across the country to adopt distance learning programs and change the way they operate, some studentsâlikely pent up at home with a lot of time and little to do that doesnât involve a Wi-Fi connectionâseem to have used it as an opportunity to hone their hacking skills…
An Interview With Russian Hacker Pavel Sitnikov: âThere Is No [Hacking] Scene Now, Only Commerceâ
Hackers often go to great lengths to be discreet. Thatâs not the case with Pavel Sitnikov. The long-standing, Russian-speaking hacker until recently posted frequently on Twitter, where he listed his name, his alias (FlatL1ne), and his self-proclaimed connection with the infamous hacking group APT28, or Fancy Bearâhis Twitter account is currently suspended…
The Record Is Hiring a Cybersecurity Reporter
The Record by Recorded Future is seeking a reporter to cover the ins and outs of the cybersecurity news beat. We are looking for a talented writer who feels at home reporting quick scoops on the latest cybersecurity stories, contributing to weekly newsletters and podcasts, and can write in-depth analysis on broader industry trends. The ideal candidate should be comfortable with building relationships with a wide range of sources, including government officials, cybersecurity executives, and academic researchers….
Former Israeli CERT Chief: ‘A Cheap Incident Response Costs A Lot’
As the executive director of Israelâs National Computer Emergency Response Center, or CERT, Lavy Shtokhamer dealt with more cyberattacks in a week than many information security professionals would see in a year. The Center acted as a hub for information sharing and response in the country, with victims constantly informing Shtokhamer and his team of new incidents, which would then be anonymized and relayed to other companies and government organizations to help protect them from the similar attacks. Last week, I caught up with Shtokhamer via video conferenceâhe will be taking on a new role in the coming days, and was open to talking about his experience in the Israeli government…
Dutch Intelligence Expels Two Russian Diplomats Over Espionage Accusations
The Netherlandsâ on Thursday ordered the expulsion of two Russian intelligence officers accused of spying on the countryâs high-tech sector and targeting research that could potentially be used in weapons systems, the countryâs national intelligence agency said. The Netherlandsâ General Intelligence and Security Service, known as AIVD, said that diplomats stationed at the Russian Embassy in The Hague were officers working for the SVR, the Russian civil intelligence agency that was recently reported to be implicated in a high-profile cyberattack against FireEye…
Why Biden Might Follow Trumpâs Lead on Cybersecurity Policy
On many issuesâclimate change, immigration, relations with Iranâthe incoming Biden administration is expected to reverse President Trumpâs policies. On cybersecurity, not so much. In interviews with The Record, and at a series of online events this week, commentators and potential Biden appointees said the new administration, in its efforts to protect U.S. computer networks, would seek to build on the progress made primarily by officials at the Department of Homeland Security, rather than attempt a clean policy break….
A Government Insider on Navigating the New Guidance for Ransomware Payments
When attorney David Cohen was serving in the Treasury Department under the Obama administrationâwhere he was known as the administrationâs âfinancial Batmanââransomware payments were hardly on the governmentâs radar, he said. In recent years, however, the ransomware threat has rapidly expanded, crippling countless schools, hospitals, municipalities, and businesses on a daily basis….
Ukraine’s Top Cyber Cop on Defending Against Disinformation and Russian Hackers
In recent years, Ukraine has become an involuntary testing ground for some of the most dangerous cyberweapons in the world. Serhii Demediuk has perhaps played the most prominent role in defending Ukraine against digital intrusions, investigating cyberattacks and the groups behind them, and strengthening the countryâs capabilities in cyberspace….
A Conversation With Jack Rhysider About How He Started His Hit Hacking Podcast Darknet Diariesâand What It Has Taught Him About Infosec
“On a weekly basis, I get some CEO messaging me saying that they would love to be on the show. My first question is always, âHave you ever been hacked? And are you willing to talk about that?â Because that’s the story I want. I want a first-hand experience of the worst day of your life on the job…”
A Conversation With the DoJ Attorney Who Is Exposing State-Sponsored Hackers
“The honest truth is if weâre going to be public about charges, weâre going to charge the case when itâs ready to be charged, when weâre able to line up what we need to operationally, allowing for things like engaging foreign partners and rally like-minded nations into joining us on commenting on the activity. Weâre going to do that when we can do it, and if you donât hear from us for a couple months it just means weâre working on something else…”