The Growing Threat of Information-stealing Malware
If it looks like there are suddenly more data breaches, you’re probably right. Part of this apparent surge is due to the growing popularity of information-stealing malware. Cybercriminals are increasingly using these types of malware to obtain as many login credentials and other sensitive data as possible. The stolen material is then sold on criminal hacking forums and used to hack into victims’ accounts, which may include those of large companies. This is a good reminder to always enable multi-factor authentication wherever available.
Challenges in Protecting Voter Information
A security researcher disclosed this week that he had discovered more than a dozen unsecured databases containing sensitive information about voters in counties across Illinois. The data is stored by government contractors and includes driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, death certificates and more. While election security has generally improved in recent years, this incident illustrates how difficult it is to protect all voter information at all times.
Recent Cybersecurity Developments
In a historic prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan were released from Russian custody. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, settled a lawsuit regarding the illegal obtainment of biometric data. Additionally, a cyberattack on Microsoft Azure caused a massive outage affecting multiple services.
