Tag: cyberattack

  • US Treasury Confirms Breach by Chinese Hackers

    US Treasury Confirms Breach by Chinese Hackers

    The US Treasury Department has reported that it fell victim to a cyberattack carried out by hackers considered to be sponsored by the Chinese government. In a letter sent to US lawmakers, which was shared via TechCrunch, the Treasury revealed that these hackers gained remote access to employee workstations and unclassified documents.

    Security Breach Details

    The point of entry for the hackers was a third-party software provider named BeyondTrust. This company disclosed that the hackers accessed a security key stored in their database. With this key, the attackers were able to remotely access user workstations that held unclassified documents. Currently, the service is offline.

    Ongoing Investigation

    The Treasury is collaborating with CISA, the FBI, and other intelligence agencies to assess the extent of the cyberattack. In their statement, the Treasury indicated that, "based on available indicators, the incident has been attributed to a China state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor."

    China’s Response

    Bloomberg reported that a spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry described these allegations as "unwarranted and groundless." During a press conference in Beijing, spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that China opposes "all forms of hacking, and especially, we oppose the spread of disinformation related to China that is driven by a political agenda."

    TechCrunch | Bloomberg

    Source: Link

    Tags: , ,
  • Rhode Island Ransomware Attack: Hackers Demand Payment for Data

    Rhode Island Ransomware Attack: Hackers Demand Payment for Data

    Rhode Island’s officials have announced that a global cybercriminal organization has successfully breached RIBridges, the online portal for social services in the state. The hackers are reportedly engaging in extortion, demanding a ransom in return for access to residents’ personal and banking information, which includes social security numbers.

    Affected Programs

    According to a report from Reuters, this incident impacts individuals enrolled in various state assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, healthcare services offered through HealthSource RI, Rhode Island Works (RIW), Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), and General Public Assistance (GPA).

    Security Breach Confirmation

    In a statement issued to the media, Governor Dan McKee’s office stated that Deloitte has confirmed the likelihood that a cybercriminal has accessed files containing personally identifiable information from RIBridges. The breach was communicated to the state on December 13 by Deloitte, a global professional services company. In response, the state has temporarily taken the RIBridges portal offline to counter the threat and work on restoring the system as quickly as possible.

    Next Steps for Residents

    Deloitte has also indicated that “malicious code was found within the system.” The governor’s office mentioned that affected households will receive a letter by mail detailing how to access complimentary credit monitoring services. A special call center will be established starting December 15, operating from 11 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday, to assist those impacted.

    For more information, residents can check the official site at Governor.ri.gov.

    Source: Link

    Tags: , ,
  • Casio Cyberattack Causes Service Disruptions and G-Shock Delays

    Casio Cyberattack Causes Service Disruptions and G-Shock Delays

    Casio Computer Co., Ltd., a notable electronics firm from Japan, faced a major cyberattack on October 5th. The incident involved an unknown party gaining illegal access to their network, leading to system failures and interruptions in services.

    Apologies and Investigations

    On October 8th, Casio released a statement expressing their apologies for the troubles this incident has caused to customers and stakeholders. The company is conducting an investigation with the aid of external experts to determine the severity of the breach and if any personal or sensitive data was compromised. Casio has notified the relevant authorities about the cyberattack and is implementing measures to secure its systems against future unauthorized access.

    Delays in Product Launches

    The cyberattack has not only disrupted services but also postponed the launch of new G-Shock watch models, specifically the GMC-B2100AD-2A and GMC-B2100D-1A, which were originally scheduled for release on October 18th in Japan. The company has yet to announce a new date for these releases, indicating that more information will be shared once the situation is under control.

    Possible Impact on Anniversay Collection

    Moreover, this attack might affect the upcoming launch of the second Casio Watch 50th Anniversary limited series, which includes the G-Shock GMC-B2100ZE-1A. While the company hasn’t confirmed any changes, the timing for this release could potentially be altered.

    As of now, no entity has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack, and the reasons behind the breach remain uncertain.

    In other updates, Casio is set to introduce two new G-Shock Full Metal models in October: the GM-B2100SD-1A and GMC-B2100ZE-1A. The GM-B2100SD-1A boasts a hybrid analog-digital display, Bluetooth features, solar charging, and enhanced readability with a darker grey backdrop. It is priced at JP¥84,700 (about $572) in Japan. The GMC-B2100ZE-1A, celebrating Casio’s 50th anniversary, features a black ion-plated bezel with golden accents, plus Bluetooth and solar charging capabilities.

    Tags: , ,