Cyber Security

Business Security By eliminating these mistakes and blind spots, your organization can take massive strides towards optimizing its use of cloud without exposing itself to cyber-risk Phil Muncaster 16 Jan 2024  •  , 5 min. read Cloud computing is an essential component of today’s digital landscape. IT infrastructure, platforms and software are more likely to

Business Security How wearing a ‘sock puppet’ can aid the collection of open source intelligence while insulating the ‘puppeteer’ from risks Mario Micucci 11 Jan 2024  •  , 4 min. read In the untold expanse of online information and communication, the ability to find the signal in the noise and discern the authenticity of data

We Live Progress Is AI companionship the future of not-so-human connection – and even the cure for loneliness? Imogen Byers 09 Jan 2024  •  , 7 min. read Modern technology permeates almost every facet of our lives, shaping our day-to-day in ways both subtle and obvious – and indeed in ways we probably never anticipated.

Video The cryptocurrency rollercoaster never fails to provide a thrilling ride – this week it was a drama surrounding the hack of SEC’s X account right ahead of the much-anticipated decision about Bitcoin ETFs 12 Jan 2024 The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account was hacked this week to post an unauthorized tweet

Mobile Security WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal clones and mods remain a popular vehicle for malware distribution. Don’t get taken for a ride. Phil Muncaster 10 Jan 2024  •  , 5 min. read Mobile applications make the world go round. Instant communication services are among the most popular apps on iOS and Android alike  – US

Steeped in AI and the security risks of its use, the 2023 SANS Holiday Hack Challenge was an enrichening experience of navigating a series of 21 objectives that tested and broadened multiple cybersecurity skills. The best challenges for me were hunting down AI hallucinations in a pentest report, escalating privileges on a Linux system, searching

Video What are some of the key cybersecurity trends that people and organizations should have on their radars this year? 05 Jan 2024 As 2024 dawns, it’s time to look ahead to the challenges that are set to face people and organizations across the world this year. In this week’s video, ESET Chief Security Evangelist

How To Losing your keys, your wallet – or anything else, really – can be a pain, but there is a wide world of trackers that can help you locate your missing things – with awesome accuracy Márk Szabó 04 Jan 2024  •  , 6 min. read Ever had that brief moment of worry when

Digital Security As we draw the curtain on another eventful year in cybersecurity, let’s review some of the high-profile cyber-incidents that occurred in 2023 Phil Muncaster 28 Dec 2023  •  , 5 min. read It’s been another monumental year in cybersecurity. Threat actors thrived against a backdrop of continued macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, using all

Digital Security Before getting rid of your no-longer-needed device, make sure it doesn’t contain any of your personal documents or information Phil Muncaster 27 Dec 2023  •  , 5 min. read The planet is warming and we’re all becoming more environmentally aware. When it comes to IT, this manifests in a surge in “e-waste” recycling.

When shopping for a new smartphone, you’re likely to look for the best bang for your buck. If you’re on the hunt for a top-of-the-range device but aren’t keen on paying top dollar for it, offerings from lesser-known manufacturers will probably make your shortlist. Indeed, in the fiercely competitive smartphone market you may be even

Digital Security Unwrapping a new gadget this holiday season will put a big smile on your face but things may quickly turn sour if the device and data on it aren’t secured properly Phil Muncaster 21 Dec 2023  •  , 4 min. read As the festive season approaches, we’re all looking forward to being pampered

Video How cybercriminals take advantage of the popularity of ChatGPT and other tools of its ilk to direct people to sketchy sites, plus other interesting findings from ESET’s latest Threat Report 22 Dec 2023 This week, the ESET research team released the H2 2023 issue of its Threat Report that looked at the key trends

ESET Research, Threat Reports A view of the H2 2023 threat landscape as seen by ESET telemetry and from the perspective of ESET threat detection and research experts Jiří Kropáč 19 Dec 2023  •  , 2 min. read The second half of 2023 witnessed significant cybersecurity incidents. Cl0p, a notorious cybercriminal group known for carrying

ESET Research ESET researchers discuss the dynamics within and between various groups of scammers who use a Telegram bot called Telekopye to scam people on online marketplaces ESET Research 18 Dec 2023  •  , 1 min. read In this episode of our podcast, ESET malware researchers talk about the dynamics within and between various Neanderthal

Video Your iPhone has just received a new feature called iMessage Contact Key Verification that is designed to help protect your messages from prying eyes 15 Dec 2023 Apple has shipped iOS 17.2 to all users and it includes a new feature that is intended to protect users from attackers who could be misusing the

ESET researchers analyzed a growing series of OilRig downloaders that the group has used in several campaigns throughout 2022, to maintain access to target organizations of special interest – all located in Israel. These lightweight downloaders, which we named SampleCheck5000 (SC5k v1-v3), OilCheck, ODAgent, and OilBooster, are notable for using one of several legitimate cloud

Cybercrime continues to grow rapidly; indeed, it is a highly lucrative global industry. Without accurately accounting for profits from cybercrime (1, 2), we are left looking at the staggering estimated cost of US$7.08 trillion in 2022 for reference. Measured in terms of GDP, the illegal proceeds would rank as the third-largest “economy” worldwide. Regardless, this

ESET Research has discovered a cluster of malicious Python projects being distributed in PyPI, the official Python package repository. The threat targets both Windows and Linux systems and usually delivers a custom backdoor. In some cases, the final payload is a variant of the infamous W4SP Stealer, or a simple clipboard monitor to steal cryptocurrency,

Mobile Security A security compromise so stealthy that it doesn’t even require your interaction? Yes, zero-click attacks require no action from you – but this doesn’t mean you’re left vulnerable. Márk Szabó 11 Dec 2023  •  , 3 min. read In a world of instant communication and accelerated by the ever-spreading notion that if you

We Live Progress ChatGPT would probably say “Definitely not!”, but will we learn any lessons from the rush to regulate IoT in the past? Tony Anscombe 11 Dec 2023  •  , 3 min. read The accelerated pace in the advancement of technology is challenging for any of us to keep up with, especially for public

Critical Infrastructure Legacy protocols in the healthcare industry present dangers that can make hospitals extremely vulnerable to cyberattacks. Tony Anscombe 08 Dec 2023  •  , 3 min. read The healthcare industry will, I am sure, remain a significant target for cybercriminals due to the huge potential it provides them to monetize their efforts through ransomware

Video ESET Research reveals details about a growth in the number of deceptive loan apps on Android, their origins and modus operandi 08 Dec 2023 This week, ESET researchers have taken a look at a steep increase in deceptive loan apps for Android. According to ESET Research, there has been a large growth of these

Magnetic stripe cards were all the rage 20 or so years ago, but their security was fragile, and the requirement for signatures often added to the hassle of transactions – not to mention, they lacked data encryption, making them vulnerable to skimming and cloning by criminals.  Chip-based cards emerged as a successor, offering enhanced security

Tracking has recently become a big bogeyman. The sheer amount of data that an app or an operating system (OS) can use to identify you and collect your data is enormous, depending on the method of tracking it uses. While it’s clear why manufacturers and sellers desire more data – to tailor their products, enhance

Since the beginning of 2023, ESET researchers have observed an alarming growth of deceptive Android loan apps, which present themselves as legitimate personal loan services, promising quick and easy access to funds. Despite their attractive appearance, these services are in fact designed to defraud users by offering them high-interest-rate loans endorsed with deceitful descriptions, all

Business Security Failing to practice what you preach, especially when you are a juicy target for bad actors, creates a situation fraught with considerable risk Phil Muncaster 30 Nov 2023  •  , 5 min. read When it comes to corporate cybersecurity, leading by example matters. Yes, it’s important for every employee to play their part

Video Several cases of children creating indecent images of other children using AI software add to the worries about harmful uses of AI technology 01 Dec 2023 It has been reported recently that children are using artificial intelligence (AI) image generators to create indecent images of other children. The reports came amid a few publicized

Digital Security The technology is both widely available and well developed, hence it’s also poised to proliferate – especially in the hands of those wishing ill Cameron Camp 29 Nov 2023  •  , 2 min. read Who would be to blame if your plane got tricked into flying into a war zone? If GPS gets

Scams, Cybercrime The holiday shopping season may be the time to splurge, but it’s a also favorite time of year for cybercriminals to target shoppers with phony deals, phishing scams and other threats Phil Muncaster 27 Nov 2023  •  , 5 min. read The holiday shopping season is in full swing. It involves a seemingly