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#DarkSide (Hacking Group)
beardedmrbean · 2 months
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A website used by hackers responsible for a breach at UnitedHealth Group has been replaced by a notice saying it has been seized by international law enforcement.
But at least one of the agencies allegedly responsible said it had nothing to do with the seizure, raising the possibility that the hackers - who also go by the moniker ALPHV - faked their own takedown.
A message posted to the website of the Blackcat hacking gang on Tuesday said it had been impounded "as part of a coordinated law enforcement action" by U.S. authorities and other law enforcement agencies. Among the logos of non-American agencies involved were those of Europol and Britain's National Crime Agency.
U.S. officials and Europol did not immediately return messages seeking comment, but a National Crime Agency spokesperson said: "I can confirm any recent disruption to ALPHV infrastructure is not a result of NCA activity."
Several security experts said the takedown notice seemed suspicious.
"This appears to be a classic exit scam," said researcher Will Thomas. In an exit scam, some hackers pretend to be knocked out of commission, only to quietly pocket their partners' money and start over under a new name.
Thomas said Blackcat was already believed to be a rebrand of a previous hacker group dubbed DarkSide.
"It would not be a surprise if they return once more in the not-too-distant future," he said.
Even before the seizure notice, there were signs of something unusual following the intrusion at the tech unit of UnitedHealth, which has caused serious disruption across the United States.
Last week Blackcat posted a message saying it had stolen millions of sensitive records from UnitedHealth, only to delete the claim without explanation.
On Sunday, someone posting to a hacker forum alleged that the gang had cheated them out of their share of the $22 million ransom that UnitedHealth had allegedly paid to restore its systems.
UnitedHealth had not commented on whether it paid a ransom, and did not immediately return a message on Tuesday seeking comment.
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updatesatbase · 11 months
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Verses
First movie
After Blackouts not so successful hacking in Qatar and Frenzy somewhat more successful hacking. The group find enough information for Starscreams to gives the order to start the hunt for the Allspark once more.
He himself don’t moves out until the Allsparks location is found, after shutting down the damn that hides not only the Allspark but Megatron as well. The battle between Autobot and Decepticon picks up once more.
—This is where the canon divergent starts to bloom—
After Megatrons fall Starscream collects Frenzys body, hoping to use all the important data the little bot has collected to create a new Allspark on Cybertron. After all, with Megatron dead and the Prime stuck on earth there is no one to stop him. His plans get stopped before the final and Starscream finds himself back on earth.
No longer having a clear purpose he plans to end it, engraving his body with old tribal tattoos he plans to go down in battle as the proud seeker he is.
But then Soundwave arrives, with more warriors. Strong and ready to fight under his command. and somewhere in allt his, Starscream realize his sparked. Now he must juggle being a leader as well as a carrier.
Revenge of the fallen
At the resurrection of Megatron, Starscream gets dragged out from his "carrier duties" and out into battle once more. In his eyes it’s starting too look more like a personal fight between his lord and the Autobot Prime. But he fights on his lords side, he stays loyal.
Until he can’t.
Post ROTF - Main verse
After the battle in Egypt, after the gut punching defeat. Starscream defects. He leaves the camp Megatron has made and takes the sparklings under his own wings. Finding a safe enough place, void of human life. If Megatron wants him back he can come get him, or send someone to fetch him. His not trying that hard hiding from any fellow Cybertonians. Decepticon or Autobots.
But he dose try not to pull to much unwanted attention either.
Darkside of the Moon
Sentinel Prime who has his warp gate pillar is revived and betrays Optimus Prime? Everyone is battling it out in a city? humans and Autobot vs Decepticons? Starscream staying out of whatever mess that is. If they need him, they can call him. He has Sparklings to keep alive.
But he hears about Sentinels failings, of his past masters fall from grace. It gives him joy, a sick pleasure. And annoyance, will Megatron stay down this time?
Age of Extinction
Starscream is good at hiding, you might find it surprising how easy it is to hide in plain sight. But Starscream is no fool, he had an identity when he was hiding in the military the first time, he still have that ID. no one ever bothered to check it out, no one connected it to the Cybertronians hiding on the planet.
So Starscream took that ID back. And went right back to sitting in plain sight. And waiting, not reaching out to any broadcast he heard or try and save any fellow bots. For he knew, they where all being hunted now. To survive and keep the sparklings alive he must be alone. Until the time is right.
The last knight
TRF is proving of being to much of a problem for the lone seeker. He seeks out Prime but find only his ragtag of unruly bots, and a human. But it's better then the alternatives.
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shivagdm · 1 year
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Toshiba Unit Hacked by DarkSide Ransomware Group, Conglomerate to Undergo Strategic Review
Toshiba Unit Hacked by DarkSide Ransomware Group, Conglomerate to Undergo Strategic Review
A Toshiba unit said it was hacked by the DarkSide ransomware group, overshadowing an announcement of a strategic review for the Japanese conglomerate under pressure from activist shareholders to seek out suitors. Toshiba, which makes products such as bar code printers and is valued at $2.3 billion (roughly Rs. 16,860 crores), was hacked by DarkSide – the group widely believed to be behind the…
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tacsec · 1 year
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Predicting your 2023 security needs
December, the last month of the year 2022, is going on, and we’ve come up with expert predictions and analysis on the trends of cyber security may predict in the coming year 2023.
Every year cybersecurity view worsens instead of a lot of efforts made by the CISO or expert team. An increment in cyberattacks and data breaches by 15.1% in 2021 has been seen in a report by ThoughtLabOpen’s new window, more than the preceding year.
Experts forecast that in 2023 more advanced ransomware will lead the organization toward more robust cybersecurity. In addition, 29% of CEOs/CISOs and 40% of Chief Security Officers confess that their enterprises are unfit for a promptly changing cybersecurity and threat outlook.
Here’s take a look at some of the cybersecurity trends every organization needs to watch in the succeeding year, 2023:
More robust cybersecurity predictions within organizations in 2023
Cyberattacks will be influenced by geopolitics in the future
Balancing privacy with regulation
Zero-trust enactment will grow
Increasing Deployment of Multifactor Authentication
Threats to small businesses will increase.
Cyberattacks will be influenced by geopolitics in the future
The cyber operations against Ukraine from Russia’s government-affiliated hacker groups will continue, per MIT Technology Review. In 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine at least six times with malware. As per the Forbes reports, businesses unbiased with the government might become the targets of state-sponsored attackers. In the months leading up to next year’s elections, over 70 countries are expected to see cyberattacks on infrastructure and disinformation campaigns.
After high-profile attacks like SolarWinds, LAPSUS$, and Log4Shell, policymakers are becoming increasingly concerned with securing the software supply chain, as demonstrated by the Biden administration’s Executive Order 14028 and the Securing Open Source Software Act, as well as France’s efforts to create cyber campuses.
Ransomware will continue to pose a threat.
According to the MIT Technology Review, Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is diminishing, especially after what happened to gangs that grew too big, such as REvil, DarkSide/BlackMatter, Conti, and LockBit. In 2023, we’ll see ransomware attacks concentrating on bribing data rather than concealing it. Due to the lack of complicated public-private essential handling requirements, data corruption is faster than full encryption, and the code is easier to write.
Cryptocurrency and the blockchain
As per the MIT technology review, crypto hacks occurred in 2022, having more than 100 extensive victims in the world of crypto. In 2023, attackers make it challenging to track the IP addresses as they are leasing out as a part of a bot proxy system. IP addresses make detecting and comprehending between a good home user and a bot difficult. In 2023, we’ll see more security leaders addressing bots by causing too much harm and lost revenue eventually.
Generating the use of AI and machine learning
Forbes reports state that it will use artificial intelligence and machine learning will automate cybersecurity, but threats could abuse them. Security researchers will concentrate on AI, a buzzword, next year. Also, in the next year, the US government will publish about 5G and cybersecurity.
Expansion of IoT and attack surface
In 2025, according to Forbes, there will be more than 30 billion IoT connections, with an average of four persons for each device. A PR Newswire report states that malicious activity is increasing due to the increasing number of threat vectors and the spread of the Metaverse.
There are many more cyber security trends for the year 2023:
Emphasize on companies security culture
The threat of Deepfakes and the increase in potency
Increase in security risk with economic variability
US Federal government takes necessary steps toward cyber security.
Founder of SecurityScore card Aleksandr Yampolskiy says that government will take significant steps towards security. In 2023, digital immune systems will deliver resilience and mitigate security and operational risks, according to Gartner.
In the upcoming year, 2023, technology companies will explore government contracts. However, it is crucial as they’ll merge with the public sector and look at these government regulations as standard to create essential secure software.
Get ESOF Prediction for cyber security Trends 2023
TAC Security’s ESOF Vulnerability Management platform replaces legacy vulnerability tools and various point products to maintain your cybersecurity posture constantly and auto-prioritize open vulnerabilities across assets. Our ESOF Prediction feature uses machine learning to report these vulnerabilities for the upcoming month. Your most recent scan results will calculate each architecture type’s vulnerability specifics.
Here are the features of ESOF Prediction. Check them out:
Predict the number of monthly vulnerabilities  
This part of the model predicts the vulnerabilities for the upcoming month.  
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This part of the model uses the number of vulnerabilities for the upcoming month and calculates the estimated cyber score.  
Prediction of patched vulnerabilities    
This part of the model predicts the number of vulnerabilities that could be patched in the upcoming month.
Top 5 vulnerabilities    
This part of the algorithm recommends the top 5 vulnerabilities that could occur in the upcoming month.
You can check out ESOF products to secure your IT Infrastructure.
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pred1059 · 1 year
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Runaway Wind Chapter Ten
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Roxas stared at the Darkside in front of the station towering over him and Erxart. On its own, it was imposing, but manageable. He’d taken out a few large heartless on his own, and had gotten a handle on magic well enough. Roxas felt decent about their chances. The problem came in the group of heartless charging up the hill.  Enough of them to keep their attention split, and give the Darkside a chance to land a decent hit and crush either of them. So then, “Any ideas?” He looked to Erxart.
He furrowed his brow, looking at the entrance. Heartless charging in. He turned toward Roxas. “Can you handle the Darkside if I keep the rest off your back?”
“...Yeah. It’ll be tough, but I can do this.” He held his keyblade ready. Though then he realized. “Wait, what about your weapon?”
“I’ll manage”, and as he said this Erxart’s hand glowed with a dark aura. “I may have had trouble summoning it. But I can handle them without it.” And with that, he cast a dark flame toward the floating possessor. The projectile split and struck the enemies nearby. As they were staggered, Erxart leaped forward, cloaked in darkness, and began to strike at the Heartless.
The groaning sound from the Darkside got Roxas’ attention, it’s fist pulled back and ready to smash him. He barely had enough time to block the giant fist barreling towards him, and even then, the intercepted blow had enough strength to knock him back a bit. Still, he was on his feet, so he could rush back in to hack away at the giant limb.
As he was making progress he saw Erxart, cloaked in shadow, vanish into the ground, much to the confusion of the Heartless surrounding him. A moment later, he emerged from a pool of shadows, dark claws tearing the creatures asunder. However, the Darkside pushed his hand into its own dark well, and scooped out a mass of dark energy. As inexperienced as he was, Roxas knew that could hardly be a good thing, so he continued to attack the fist holding the orb, hoping he could break the grip the heartless had on it somehow. Soon, it separated into smaller orbs of darkness that began to float high into the sky, and began to rain down, exploding on the ground. Roxas wasted no time, dodging between the blasts, casting fire at the Darkside when he had the chance. As the last of the bombs hit the ground, Erxhart had finally dispatched the last of the Heartless and rushed over. “Roxas, you doing okay?”
“Yeah, just need a little more to finish him off.” The Darkside began to lean back, energy gathering in the hole in it’s chest. “Okay, now’s our chance!” and with that, the two rushed behind it. Roxas slashed at its back, while Erxart pummled the Heartless with darkness infused fists. Eventually, it’s legs buckled, “I think we did it!” and the darkside began to fall towards them.
“ROXAS!”
And with that shout, the Darkside was knocked away. Looking toward Erxart, the reason was clear. A colossal sword was held in Erxart’s hands. Though there were small bits of bronze along the edge, most of it was smothered in black and red. Though the form was mangled, Roxas could make out the teeth at the end. “Erxart...is that a Keyblade?”
The fourteenth stared at the weapon in his hand. “...Yes...yes, I remember now. This was my keyblade!”
“How come you haven’t been able to summon it till now?”
Erxart furrowed his brow in thought, than answered, “I’ve been having trouble remembering things before I joined the Organization. It’s..been a mess.” Roxas could follow so far. “But...when I saw you in danger...I wanted to protect you.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Erxart seemed taken aback. “Well, you’re my friend. Why wouldn’t I want to protect my friends?”
“We’re friends?” Like Axel was to him? He had gone on a few missions with Erxart, shared ice cream with him and Axel. And unlike most of the other Organization members, he wasn’t quite as harsh with him. “Yeah...I guess we are.” If that was the case. “You think we could get ice cream then?”
Erxart nodded, “I’d say we’ve earned it.”
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The two of them sat on the roof of the clocktower as they did on their first mission together. But this time, the flavor of ice cream being held was Erxart’s choice.
“It’s...a little bitter. But still pretty sweet.”
Erxart smiled. “So, you like it?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Better than Sea Salt ice cream right?”
Roxas pondered for a moment, “I’m not sure that it’s better. Just different.”
The fourteenth shrugged, “Well, do you think you might want to try Chocolate again some time?”
“Yeah. Definitely.” He took a bite from the frozen treat. “Hey, mind if I ask you something?” At Erxart’s nod, he continued, “You said you remembered your life before becoming a Nobody.”
“Parts of it.Yes.”
Roxas could only stare into the Sunset. “I...don’t remember anything about what I was like. Where I lived, what I did, who I knew. It’s all blank.” Another bite into the popsicle. “Do you think, if I had someone I needed to protect like you...I could remember?”
“Maybe.” The young man answered. “When I saw you in danger...I remembered the promise I took when I started to fight with the Keyblade. To protect my friends, and all the worlds. But, what worked for me might not work for you. You might have decided to fight for a different reason.”
“Oh.” Roxas felt a bit let down, “I guess you’re right.” then he began to wonder. “Hey, when you said you wanted to protect your friends, did you mean your old friends? Or all of them?”
“Well, when I made that promise, I probably was thinking a lot about them. But even so, I’d keep it for any friend I made.” Erxart frowned. “Though now that I think about it...I can’t quite remember who those friends were.”
“Forgetting your friends…” That thought was...troubling to Roxas, “that sounds terrible.” He saw his friend’s face, then made a decision. “Erxart...don’t forget me. Okay? Friends shouldn’t forget each other.”
The fourteenth was surprised at the boy’s request, soon he smiled. “Of course I won’t. As long as you don’t forget me.”
“Yeah. And if you do forget me...I’ll remind you until you remember.”
Erxart took a bite of the ice cream. “I’ll hold you to that promise, and I’ll make sure you don’t forget me either.”
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Naminé and Yuffie were both out on the balcony keeping watch. Cid had asked for Ventus, Aerith, and Squall to stay with him in case Heartless appeared in the room while he was working. Granted, there were few heartless at the moment to bother them, the assault having significantly thinned their numbers. On the other hand, that gave Naminé a chance to practice with her sword, which mostly comprised of swinging it. Trying to keep it steady. The skill memories she had gave her a bit of a reference. Even so, she still was having trouble figuring out what was missing.
“You need to relax.” 
Yuffie’s comment got her attention. “As in, not be so stiff?” “Well a little, but also you need to rest a bit.” the Ninja began to stretch. “We’ve just fought our way up this whole castle. Training isn’t going to be helpful if you’re already exhausted.”
Naminé nodded, and sheathed her sword. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of Course I’m right. I’m the Great Ninja Yuffie.” a cocky grin accompanied her self-assured reasoning.
In any case, Naminé sat against the wall, and began to go through her belongings. Eventually, she pulled out her notepad, pen, and crayons, and began to flip to a blank page.
Yuffie moved closer, curious. “You’re an artist?”
“It’s...just a hobby.” Naminé answered. That was the best way of describing the simplest ability that was her own. She began to sketch, and soon, the lines became shapes, shapes became people and the background around them.
Yuffie smiled “For just a hobby you’re way better than me. That’s us right?” She pointed to the group of four standing to one side,  “And you two there?” greeting the two standing on the other side of the balcony.
“Yes. It’s a good start. I’ll add some color when I have a bit more time.” Naminé frowned, “Actually, I should go and color some of my earlier drawings first.” and with that, she began to flip back through the book. But as she passed a certain page...
“Hey, I remember that. It’s from Traverse Town!” She pointed toward the picture of the fountain plaza.
Naminé nodded, “Yes.” She looked at the picture a moment more “This was the first place I saw there.” the girl smiled a little. “It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.”
Yuffie however, seemed to have other thoughts, “I wish we could have met while you were there. You and Ventus could really have helped us out sooner!”
“Well, we had to take care of some things” Naminé answered, searching for the words, “And we weren’t quite sure we needed to head here.”
“Yeah, I heard about your fight from Cid.” Yuffie sighed. “I’ll take a guess and say we should look out for anyone in black cloaks?”
Naminé frowned, “They call themselves Organization XIII. Please be careful if you see them.”
“Right. Cid told me how one of them practically incinerated the marketplace.” Yuffie crossed her arms and smiled. “I’ll make sure everyone knows to keep an eye out.”
At that moment, Ventus made his way out to the Balcony. “Hey Naminé, Yuffie. Cid told me to leave him alone for a while so he can finish fixing...whatever it is he’s got.” He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “I think I asked him too many questions.”
The ninja shrugged. “Yeah, Cid can get cranky if you bug him while he’s working on something. Just let him do his thing.”
Ventus looked over to Naminé holding her sketchbook. “Were you drawing some more?” She nodded. “Can I see?”
“I’d like to go back and color my older drawings, but-” “Oh! Okay, go right ahead! I can wait.”
“Thank you.” And with that she flipped to the first page in the book. The picture with her and Ventus together.
“So, have you two been traveling together long?” Yuffie asked.
The artist shook her head, “Not really. But we’ve been through quite a bit together.” 
Ventus sat down beside her. “It’s pretty neat that you’re taking the time to draw some of the things we’ve seen. It’s a fun thing for you to do!”
“That’s not the only reason I’m doing this.” Naminé answered. “No matter what, I want to try to remember all of this. I don’t want it to slip away from me and...disappear.”
“Why? What’re you so worried about?” Yuffie asked. But then she looked over at Ventus, his eyes widened in understanding. 
In a moment, he nodded resolutely “Don’t worry Naminé. The Organization’s not going to take you back. Not while I’ve got anything to say about it.”
Yuffie seemed to grasp the situation immediately, “Okay, yeah. They’re targeting someone like you. Definitely a reason for us to keep an eye out for those jerks.” 
Naminé offered a weak smile. “...Thank you.”
“No problem! What are friends for, am I right?” Yuffie grinned.
“...Same here.” Naminé answered, “If you need help with anything...let me know, and I’ll do what I can.”
“And I’ll be there with her.” Ven earnestly replied.
Yuffie laughed, “Well, you help us get our home back, and I think we’ll call it even.”
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As the Decade of pollution was draining from the pipes, the Raven found its once impeded path cleared. Slowly making its way through the pipes, it at last found the one it sought. As it dropped down from the plumbing, the room was practically barren, scorched and scarred from recent combat. At last it sought it’s objective. A robe, tossed toward the corner of the room. To the unenlightened, it was little more than fabric.
To the familiar. It was beyond treasure. It was hope. 
Wasting no time, it picked up the black cloak and began to search. If it was lucky, someone who would recognize the shawl of the mistress was close by. 
For as long as she was remembered, she would never die.
And it was his duty as her companion to see that she returned.
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Saïx spoke to Roxas and Erxart as calmly as ever, “Well done. You have defeated the Darkside as instructed. You are dismissed.” And with that, the two made their way out of the room. Larxene watched the former initiates leave as she lounged on the chair.
She turned toward the diviner, “So, it looks like the fresh meat have got a handle on things.” “Indeed. They have shown they are quite capable at performing the tasks the Organization asks of them.” He turned his gaze toward her. “Now, you had mentioned wanting to discuss your assignment regarding Ventus and Naminé.”
“Well,. Seeing as how I’m kiiiind of getting back to field work. Maybe I should have...you know. A few helping hands again.” She shrugged. “I’m just saying, it’ll be easier for me to keep an eye on them as they go across worlds if, well, I had more eyes.” Saïx nodded, “Very well, you are permitted to dispatch your Ninjas.”
Larxene smirked and rubbed her hands. “It’ll be nice to be in charge of some real soldiers again. Better go make sure they’re ready.” And with that she departed through her own portal.
“All in all, she’s taking this pretty well.” Axel spoke up, having seen the exchange from the side of the room.
“Too well.”  Saïx responded. “We knew that her loyalty was suspect. Having a tool like Naminé taken from her should have made her far more belligerent.”
Axel walked over to the Diviner, “If that’s the case...I’d say she’s found something far better.”
Though his face was impassive as ever, Saïx’s gaze become more steeled “Monitor her closely. If you can find any demonstrable proof of treachery, seize it.” Axel rolled his eyes, “That’s going to be a bit more difficult. She’s not going to just leave evidence lying around. And It’s hard to find her when she works on her own.”
“Then I suggest you keep an eye on her subordinates.”
The flame tapped his temple, following his friend’s line of thought “So that’s why you let her have them back. More chances for us to find a trail. Well.. while we’re at it.” “Gather your assassins, utilize them as you see fit.”
“You know me so well.” And with that, Axel left to rally his own troops.
“Of course, my friend.” Saïx spoke as coldly as he ever did.
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brightschroeder · 2 years
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Colonial Pipeline wasn't the first and it Certainly won't be the Final Cyber Pirate Attack
Here are my top suggestions:
The Colonial Pipeline is a vital part of US infrastructure.
It covers more than 5,500 miles, it transports about 45% of all fuel consumed on the East Coast. It transports 2.5 million barrels daily of diesel, gasoline jet fuel, jet fuel, and heating oil for homes. There have been no disruptions noticed as a result of the closure of the pipeline, however this is not something that needs to be stopped.
This could be an underground criminal syndicate.
DarkSide, the ransomware group which claimed credit for the Colonial Pipeline Attack is a Russian-based ransomware group. It is believed that it leases its software to other hackers. The US has not connected DarkSide specifically to the Russian government, but believes the group is operating for profit.
Related to: More on DarkSide
This is apparently going to get worse.
"All of our industries are experiencing some form of digital transformation, which is becoming more connected and utilizing things like cloud-based resources. That connectivity allows adversaries to come into those systems and compromise them in these ways," Rob Lee, the CEO of Dragos an cybersecurity company said to CNN 's Jim Sciutto on Monday.
There are both small and large targets. grn online
As Colonial Pipeline races to get fully operational, a significant portion of the country could feel the pinch of higher gasoline prices and possible shortages of jet fuel. This is a major attack.
A smaller number of people were directly injured when the DC Police Department was targeted and hackers threatened to release information on confidential informants.
The range of targets is extensive.
Lee said, "Everybody's vulnerable." "We are going to experience attacks. The question is how we're going to be more responsive and resilient in the face of those attacks so that the consequences don't affect our daily lives."
There's a lot we don't know.
The company's statements do not reveal the exact nature of the Colonial Pipeline Attack, including whether there were any demands or if it was found. PCMag published an article in April about how the messages of ransomware extortionists can be read, and how they can exert pressure on businesses to pay ransom, rather than have sensitive data released to customers.
There are many attacks that you don't hear about for every attack you hear about.
Experts say that more than two dozen US government agencies have been targeted this year. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas raised the alarm about these attacks just this week, in a speech before the US Chamber of Commerce before Colonial Pipeline was hit, calling the attacks an "existential threat" to businesses.
More than $350 million in victim funds -- essentially ransom - was paid out as the result of ransomware over the last year, and the rate of ransomware attacks has increased over the prior year by more than 300%, he claimed.
This will influence the debate on Biden's plan to update US infrastructure.
Watch out for a debate on whether Biden's $2 Trillion plan to modernize the nation's infrastructure is sufficient to protect it against cyberattacks. Politico published an article in April about concerns that there wasn't enough attention in the plan to safeguard the new infrastructure. However, the existing infrastructure is prone to attack.
Ransomware attacks against. government hacks
Before the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack the most recent US breach this year did not come from ransomware pirates looking for a payday, but from Russian hackers potentially seeking intelligence. They gained access by hacking software from the Texas company called SolarWinds. They hacked into at least nine US government agencies, including Homeland Security, as well as numerous private firms.
Separately data could be hacked by hackers from China on Microsoft Exchange servers around the world.
There may not be much functional difference between ransomware pirates hacking US systems and foreign governments.
Here's a great quote from Chris Krebs, who until last November was director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at DHS. He stated to CNN that the distinction between a Russian state actor and a criminal network operating within Russia is "increasingly irrelevant."
"Ransomware crews have been operating from Russia for years, with huge impact on our schools, on our state and local government agencies, on our health facilities," he said. "They have effectively the tacit approval of the Russian government and this must be stopped."
A majority of the infrastructure we depend on is privately owned.
I am struck by CNN's news reports by the clear line that separates Colonial Pipeline, the private company that is carrying fuel through the pipeline, and the US, whose infrastructure depends on it.
The story of Liptak caught my eye because Colonial Pipeline had not asked for government help.
"This weekend's events put the spotlight on the vitality of our nation's infrastructure is largely owned and managed by private sector firms," said Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall who is the White House homeland security adviser. "When these companies are targeted, they serve as the first line of defense and we depend on the efficiency of their defenses."
Anne Neuberger, the top cybersecurity official on the National Security Council, stated that Colonial Pipeline had not asked for cyber-support from the federal government however, federal officials were available and "standing ready" to help if required.
Neuberger also declined to say whether Colonial Pipeline had paid ransom but said that companies are in a "difficult situation".
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darksiderv · 2 years
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The DarkSide Hacker is a highly skilled professional hacking group. They are experts in the field of computer security and ethical hacking, who are not afraid to perform complex cyber operations for their clients.
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The DarkSide Hackers team is made up of highly skilled hackers who have been in the game for many years now. They’re not only experts in hacking but also highly qualified programmers and IT specialists as well. You can hire them online for different tasks if you need to: from hacking your friends’ social media accounts just for some entertainment or profiting from their success on the stock market — this team can do it all.
If you want to protect yourself from hackers and data leakage, then
Do you want to hack into somebody’s chat, email account or social media account? Do you need a hacker to unlock the phone of your ex-lover? Need the address of an ex-girlfriend? Want to know what your spouse or boyfriend is up to on their phone or computer? You can hire one of our DarkSide Hackers who will be happy to take care of these tasks and more.
DarkSide Hackers is a company devoted to providing IT security solutions. They are dedicated to providing ethical hacking services with the latest technology and highly skilled personnel.
DarkSide Hackers provides ethical hacking services with the latest technology and highly skilled personnel. The company is devoted to providing IT security solutions that are equipped with the latest techniques and technologies available to their clients. Whether you’re an individual, a small business owner, or an enterprise-level entity, DarkSide Hackers will be able to provide you with a solution for your IT security needs.
DarkSide Hackers is committed to providing its customers the best service possible by working closely with them on every case in order to better understand their specific needs and requirements.
https://thedarksidehacker.pro/ is a group of hackers who are ready to help you in any possible way. From finding out the identity of the person who is harassing you on social media, to hacking into your business competitor’s website and accessing their confidential data for your own benefit.
If you’re looking for a hacker to hire, https://thedarksidehacker.pro/ would be your best bet because they are an elite team of skilled hackers who are available 24/7 and can get the job done no matter how tough it may be.
Some people may not have enough hacking experience and skill to hack into a network or computer. In this case, they can go online and hire hackers to do it for them. There are many hacking services available online that offer a wide range of services from infiltrating networks to breaking passwords.
Hiring a hacker is not always the best choice. Having a professional hacker at your side is like carrying an extra weapon with you.
If you’ve got a couple of hours to spare and are willing to pay for it, there are plenty of hackers available on the dark web waiting to be hired. However, before you hire one, we need to warn you that not all hackers are professionals or even good at their job.
So please be careful when hiring a hacker and do your research before getting one into your life.
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free-martin · 3 years
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that pipeline shit is so made up. the "hacking group" is called "darkside" from russia of course like dude right. darkside. literally fuck off rn
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sataniccapitalist · 3 years
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A unit of Japan's Toshiba said on Friday it had been hacked in Europe by the DarkSide ransomware group widely believed to have been behind a crippling fuel pipeline attack in the United States this week
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(..)The Colonial pipeline system is the biggest pipeline infrastructure in the United States, running 5,500 miles from Houston to Linden, New Jersey, carrying some 2.5 million barrels of gasoline and diesel daily.It was hacked on Friday by a group known as DarkSide, which this week said in a statement it had not meant to cause problems for the general population. The group targets corporations, using ransomware to block their systems and only release them after a ransom is paid.
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lobojones · 3 years
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All im saying is it's a bit strange that hunter biden makes deals with burisma. They're in the oil and gas industry. Darkside "hacks" our pipeline , fbi says they are a Russian group. And finally bidens new deal gets us oil from russia........ very strange indeed........huh , and buck fiden said trump was the russian asset......
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newstfionline · 3 years
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Sunday, May 16, 2021
IRS to the rescue? Tax audits eyed for infrastructure cash (AP) Republicans say they won’t raise taxes on corporations. Democrats say they won’t raise taxes on people making less than $400,000 a year. So who is going to pay for the big public works boost that lawmakers and President Joe Biden say is necessary for the country? Enter the IRS. Biden is proposing that Congress build up the depleted and often-maligned agency, saying that a more aggressive collection of unpaid taxes could help cover the cost of his multitrillion-dollar plan to boost infrastructure, families and education. More resources to boost audits of businesses, estates and the wealthy would raise $700 billion over 10 years, the White House estimates. It’s just the latest idea emerging in the bipartisan talks over an infrastructure bill, which saw Biden huddle at the White House this week with congressional leaders and a group of Republican senators. The GOP senators, touting a $568 billion infrastructure plan of their own, said they were “encouraged” by the discussion with Biden, but all sides acknowledged that how to pay for the public works plan remains a difficult problem.
DarkSide, Blamed for Gas Pipeline Attack, Says It Is Shutting Down (NYT) The criminal hacking group DarkSide, which the F.B.I. has blamed for carrying out a ransomware attack that crippled fuel delivery across the Southeastern United States this week, has announced that it is shutting down because of unspecified “pressure” from the United States. In a statement written in Russian and provided to The New York Times on Friday by the cybersecurity firm Intel 471, DarkSide said it had lost access to the public-facing portion of its online system, including its blog and payment server, as well as funds that it said had been withdrawn to an unknown account. It said the group’s main web page and other public-facing resources would go offline within 48 hours. “Due to the pressure from the U.S., the affiliate program is closed,” the statement said, referring to intermediary hackers, the so-called affiliates, it works with to break into corporate computer systems. “Stay safe and good luck.” What that pressure may have been is unclear, but on Thursday, President Biden said the United States would not rule out a retaliatory strike against DarkSide that would “disrupt their ability to operate.” Cybersecurity analysts cautioned that the DarkSide statement could be a ruse, allowing its members to regroup and deflect the negative attention caused by the attack.
Spanish politics (Times of London) Isabel Diaz Ayuso, 42, head of the Madrid Assembly, is Spain’s rising conservative star; Pedro Sánchez, 49, is the prime minister. She inflicted a humiliating defeat on his Socialist government when she doubled her Popular Party’s number of seats in snap regional elections last week, in large part due to her keeping open the Spanish capital during the pandemic. Their defeat has rocked Spain’s political landscape. Ayuso walloped the Socialist party, shaking Sánchez’s standing, while totally wiping out the centre-right Citizens party and hobbling the advance of the far-right Vox party. Dismissed by her opponents as a Trumpista populist and lightweight novice, Ayuso is now tipped as a future national leader and her brand of liberal conservatism is being held up as a model for winning future general elections. While the left licks its wounds and looks for scapegoats for its loss, in the streets of Madrid people stop her to hail her as a heroine. “You are a fighter. You have courage,” a woman interjected to say to her during her interview with The Times. “Thank you for defending us.” Ayuso believes Sánchez’s days are numbered. “The election has generated enormous hope in Madrid and across Spain for those who are looking for an alternative type of politics,” she said.
Masks off, Poles cheer reopening of bars and restaurants (AP) Poles pulled off their masks, hugged their friends and made toasts to their regained freedom as restaurants, bars and pubs reopened for the first time in seven months and the government dropped a requirement for people to cover their faces outdoors. The reopening, for now limited now to the outdoor consumption of food and drinks, officially took place on Saturday. Yet many could not wait for midnight to strike and were out on the streets of Warsaw and other cities hours earlier on Friday evening to celebrate, gathering outside popular watering holes. Some brought their own beer to hold them over until the they could buy drinks at midnight—though some bars were also seen serving up beers and cocktails early. “Now they are opening and I feel so awesome. You know, you feel like your freedom is back,” said Gabriel Nikilovski, a 38-year-old from Sweden who was having beer at an outdoor table at the Pavilions, a popular courtyard filled with pubs in central Warsaw. “It’s like you’ve been in prison, but you’ve been in prison at home.”
Spy Agencies Seek New Afghan Allies as U.S. Withdraws (NYT) Western spy agencies are evaluating and courting regional leaders outside the Afghan government who might be able to provide intelligence about terrorist threats long after U.S. forces withdraw, according to current and former American, European and Afghan officials. The effort represents a turning point in the war. In place of one of the largest multinational military training missions ever is now a hunt for informants and intelligence assets. Despite the diplomats who say the Afghan government and its security forces will be able to stand on their own, the move signals that Western intelligence agencies are preparing for the possible—or even likely—collapse of the central government and an inevitable return to civil war. Courting proxies in Afghanistan calls back to the 1980s and ‘90s, when the country was controlled by the Soviets and then devolved into a factional conflict between regional leaders. The West frequently depended on opposing warlords for intelligence—and at times supported them financially through relationships at odds with the Afghan population. Such policies often left the United States, in particular, beholden to power brokers who brazenly committed human rights abuses.
India’s coronavirus crisis spreads to its villages, where health care is hard to find (Washington Post) BANAIL, India—The illness traveled silently through the narrow lanes of this prosperous village in Uttar Pradesh, infecting both young and old. People complained of fevers, cough and breathlessness. Then they began to die. Vipin Kumar, a farmer in his 40s, was one of them. More than 20 people with coronavirus symptoms have died in the village over the past two weeks, according to locals, a significant increase over the three or four deaths per month the village saw before the pandemic. Most of them, like Kumar, were never tested. “Not a day goes by when there are no deaths,” said Hariom Raghav, a farmer and businessman who had just returned from a cremation. “If things continue like this, the village will empty out soon.” The story of Banail has been playing out in villages across India as the virus continues its deadly surge: Rural areas, where over 65 percent of India’s 1.3 billion people live, had been spared in the first wave of the pandemic but are now facing devastating numbers of infections. Three quarters of all districts in India are reporting a positivity rate of more than 10 percent, a health official said Tuesday, an indication of how widely the virus had spread.
China lands on Mars in major advance for its space ambitions (AP) China landed a spacecraft on Mars for the first time on Saturday, a technically challenging feat more difficult than a moon landing, in the latest step forward for its ambitious goals in space. Plans call for a rover to stay in the lander for a few days of diagnostic tests before rolling down a ramp to explore an area of Mars known as Utopia Planitia. It will join an American rover that arrived at the red planet in February. China’s first Mars landing follows its launch last month of the main section of what will be a permanent space station and a mission that brought back rocks from the moon late last year.
Back-to-back tornadoes kill 12 in China; over 300 injured (AP) Back-to-back tornadoes killed 12 people in central and eastern China and left more than 300 others injured, authorities said Saturday. Eight people died in the inland city of Wuhan on Friday night and four others in the town of Shengze, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east in Jiangsu province, local governments said. Tornados are rare in China. In July 2019, a tornado killed six people in the northeastern Liaoning province, and another tornado the following month killed eight on the southern resort island of Hainan.
As protesters flee Hong Kong, Taiwan quietly extends a helping hand (Washington Post) Bobbing off the coast in a Zodiac speedboat scrubbed of identifying features, Kenny and four others waited nervously for the last leg of their desperate, 350-mile journey. The five had been arrested months earlier on the front lines of demonstrations in Hong Kong. They had escaped across the South China Sea, steering toward Taiwan with just some snacks, identification and a satellite phone. Now came the final hurdle: convincing the approaching Taiwanese Coast Guard—and the government—not to turn them back. Taiwanese authorities brought the five ashore, housed them in a government complex and provided clothing, cigarettes, television, table tennis games—even English teachers. Eventually, the Taiwanese, who treated the presence of the five as a state secret, helped arrange flights to the United States, their new home. The experience of the five shows the lengths to which self-ruled Taiwan has gone to protect and help fleeing Hong Kong protesters. As Beijing tightens the noose around Hong Kong’s democracy movement, Taiwan has emerged as a key destination for those escaping the dragnet—just as Hong Kong offered sanctuary for dissidents from mainland China in the 20th century. “Hong Kong was once a safe harbor, but now, Hong Kongers need a safe harbor,” said Samuel Chu, a second-generation activist whose father helped students flee China after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.
Israel strike in Gaza destroys building with AP, other media (AP) An Israeli airstrike destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza City that housed offices of The Associated Press and other media outlets on Saturday, the latest step by the military to silence reporting from the territory amid its battle with the militant group Hamas. The strike came nearly an hour after the military ordered people to evacuate the building, which also housed Al-Jazeera, other offices and residential apartments. The strike followed another Israeli air raid on a densely populated refugee camp in Gaza City killed at least 10 Palestinians from an extended family, mostly children.
Medics: Israeli airstrikes kill 26 in downtown Gaza City (AP) Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flattened three buildings and killed at least 26 people Sunday, medics said, making it the deadliest single attack since heavy fighting broke out between Israel and the territory’s militant Hamas rulers nearly a week ago. The Gaza Health Ministry said 10 women and eight children were among those killed, with another 50 people wounded in the attack. Rescuers raced to pull survivors and bodies from the rubble. Earlier, the Israeli military said it destroyed the home of Gaza’s top Hamas leader in a separate strike in the southern town of Khan Younis. It was the third such attack in the last two days on the homes of senior Hamas leaders. Israel appears to have stepped up strikes in recent days to inflict as much damage as possible on Hamas as international mediators try to broker a cease-fire.
With strikes targeting rockets and tunnels, the Israeli tactic of ‘mowing the grass’ returns to Gaza (Washington Post) For more than a decade, when analysts described the strategy utilized by Israel against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, they’ve used a metaphor: With their displays of overwhelming military strength, Israeli forces were “mowing the grass.” The phrase implies the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and their supply of crude but effective homemade weapons are like weeds that need to be cut back. But the long-term benefits of the “mow the grass” strategy have come under question. Zehava Galon, a former lawmaker with the leftist Meretz party, wrote for Haaretz that the strategy results in “perpetual war” that forgets “human beings are also able to talk, not only to carry a club.”
Arab World Condemns Israeli Violence but Takes Little Action (NYT) The Arab world is unified in condemning Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the way the Israeli police invaded Jerusalem’s Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Governments have spoken out, protests have taken place, social media is aflame. But by and large the condemnation is only words, not actions—at least so far. The region’s concerns have shifted since the last major Israeli incursion into Gaza in 2014, with new fears about Iran’s influence, new anxieties about popular unrest in Arab countries and a growing recognition of the reality of Israel in the Arab world. Even those countries that normalized relations with Israel last year—the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco—have all openly criticized Israeli policies and called for support of the Palestinians and the defense of Jerusalem. The escalation of violence has put a great strain on those governments, which had argued that their closer relationship with Israel would help restrain Israeli actions aimed at the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza. “I have not seen any Arab state that has not expressed support for the Palestinians on a rhetorical level, and it would be very difficult for them to say anything otherwise,” said H. A. Hellyer, a scholar of Middle East politics at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington. “But what they do about it is very different.”
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