Apple Targeted In $50 Million Ransomware Attack

NetStandard’s Security Minute Series 

In this week’s big-game ransomware news, Revil announced that they have attacked Quanta, a Taiwanese computer manufacturer. Quanta is notable because the company is one of Apple’s largest suppliers, and manufactures MacBooks and Apple Watches. Revil is demanding $50 million ransom, or else they will release confidential Apple schematics, plans, and other info that Quanta had. A very scary supply-chain attack: Hackers threaten to leak stolen Apple blueprints if $50 million ransom isn’t paid (thehackernews.com)
NPR has published a very detailed account of the SolarWinds attack, tracing it all the way back to Sept 12, 2019 and providing a blow-by-blow account of everything that happened since then. Fascinating reading: How Russia Used SolarWinds To Hack Microsoft, Intel, Pentagon, Other Networks : NPR
Want to explore a Microsoft datacenter? We Live in the Cloud | Microsoft Story Labs
It is well-known that North Korea performs criminal cyberattacks to raise money (including ransomware). The New Yorker has a fascinating article about how the North Korean cyberattack operation works: The Incredible Rise of North Korea’s Hacking Army | The New Yorker
Stop connecting kitchen appliances to the internet! Cisco Talos Intelligence Group – Comprehensive Threat Intelligence: Vulnerability Spotlight: Remote code execution vulnerabilities in Cosori smart air fryer
Geico disclosed that a security issue in their website allowed attackers to steal customers’ drivers license numbers from the Geico website, and that it had been going on for months: Geico admits fraudsters stole customers’ driver’s license numbers for months | TechCrunch
On another note…

• Microsoft is bringing Linux GUI support to Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), including GPU support, meaning that soon (or now if you’re an Insider) you can run the vast majority of Linux apps on Windows: The Initial Preview of GUI app support is now available for the Windows Subsystem for Linux | Windows Command Line (microsoft.com)
• Helicopters can fly on Mars. I know it isn’t security-related, it’s just really cool, and a huge step forward for science and humanity: Mars Helicopter – NASA Mars
  • The first helicopter flight on Earth and the first helicopter flight on Mars happened within the span of one human lifetime. Isn’t technology amazing?