hacking

The world is facing another major cyberattack—this time targeting the very core of governmental institutions. Hackers have exploited an unpatched vulnerability in Microsoft’s widely used SharePoint Server software, compromising dozens of organizations worldwide, from U.S. federal agencies to telecom networks across Asia.
Unlike Microsoft’s cloud-based services like Microsoft 365, the issue lies within local SharePoint servers—internal systems used for storing and sharing documents. These servers became the prime targets.

Zero-Day Flaw Left Thousands of Systems Unprotected
This is a "zero-day" vulnerability—an undisclosed flaw with no available patch. According to security experts, thousands of institutions were left exposed with no defenses in place.
Early investigations show that attackers infiltrated systems of over 50 organizations, including European government agencies, a major energy provider in the U.S., and a university in Brazil. In one Eastern U.S. state, hackers blocked access to a batch of public documents, making it impossible for the government to delete or retrieve them.

No Patch from Microsoft Yet — Organizations Forced to Improvise
Despite the severity of the breach, Microsoft has yet to release an official patch. Affected institutions have had to resort to temporary fixes—such as server reconfigurations or disconnecting them from the internet—to reduce risk.
While Microsoft confirmed the breach and issued a security advisory, the company has remained publicly silent. It recommended users quarantine vulnerable servers and take them offline if necessary.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), along with counterparts in Canada and Australia, has launched an investigation. The Center for Internet Security (CIS), which works with local U.S. governments, identified nearly 100 at-risk organizations, including public schools and universities.
The situation is further complicated by recent budget cuts, which led to the termination of 60% of the personnel handling threat response. According to CIS Vice President Randy Rose, it took six hours on Saturday night to process the first incident alert. "If we hadn’t lost so many team members, it would’ve been much faster," he added.

Microsoft Faces Growing Scrutiny
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced doubts about its ability to protect customers. The Department of Homeland Security noted that the attackers may have built on an earlier SharePoint vulnerability that Microsoft had only partially addressed.
Experts warn of long-term consequences. Once attackers gain access to SharePoint servers, they can move laterally into systems like Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and internal databases. Some reportedly stole cryptographic keys that could enable future access—even after a patch is applied.
One anonymous researcher involved in the federal investigation warned, “Even if Microsoft releases a fix on Monday or Tuesday, it won’t help those already breached in the past 72 hours.”

Past Criticism Comes Back into Focus
Last year, a government-appointed panel criticized Microsoft’s handling of a targeted Chinese cyberattack on U.S. federal email systems—including communications by then-Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. In that case, hackers abused Microsoft’s cloud platform to access sensitive government emails.
The situation escalated further after a ProPublica report revealed that Microsoft had hired engineers in China to work on cloud systems tied to the U.S. military. In response, Microsoft announced on Friday that it would no longer employ Chinese workers on Pentagon-related projects.

Long-Term Fallout Likely
Governments, cybersecurity agencies, and corporations worldwide are now questioning whether Microsoft can still be trusted as a critical tech provider when it repeatedly fails to address major vulnerabilities in time.
While attackers gain access to sensitive data, the world is waiting for Microsoft to deliver a real solution—and wondering what the consequences will be for those already affected.

#cyberattack , #CyberSecurity , #HackAlert , #Microsoft , #hacking

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Ransomware Attacks Surge, but Payouts Decline
Despite a significant rise in ransomware attacks in 2024, the total ransom payments from victims dropped by 35%, as more companies and individuals refused to comply with hackers' demands.
According to the Chainalysis Cybercrime Report, ransomware generated less revenue compared to the previous year, even though hacker activity intensified.
Declining Payouts Despite Increasing Attacks
🔹 Total ransomware payments in 2024 reached $813 million, down from a record $1.25 billion in 2023.
🔹 The first half of the year saw a 2.3% increase in successful extortion attempts.
🔹 The Dark Angels Group alone collected $75 million.
🔹 However, in the second half of the year, law enforcement efforts significantly disrupted ransomware operations.
Law Enforcement Crackdowns Disrupt Cybercrime Operations
🔹 Enhanced investigative techniques, sanctions, and asset seizures severely impacted cybercriminal networks.
🔹 The shutdown of the Russian crypto exchange Cryptex and Germany's crackdown on 47 Russian platforms weakened ransomware-related money laundering.
According to Jacqueline Burns Koven, Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence at Chainalysis, criminals became more cautious when moving funds through centralized exchanges (CEX). However, non-KYC platforms remain the preferred method for converting stolen crypto into fiat.

Ransomware Victims Increasingly Refuse to Pay
🔹 Less than 50% of ransomware attacks resulted in payouts.
🔹 Those who did comply paid up to $250,000 in ransom on average.
🔹 With improved tracking tools and stronger investigations, more victims chose not to pay, despite the growing frequency of attacks.
Cybercriminals Adapt to Heightened Security Measures
🔹 Hackers are evolving, developing new tactics to bypass security defenses and pressure victims into paying.
🔹 New ransomware variants are emerging, often derived from leaked, rebranded, or purchased code.
🔹 Attacks are now executed faster, with ransom negotiations starting within hours of data exfiltration.
Ransomware operations now range from state-sponsored hackers to ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) groups and independent cybercriminals. One of the most notable recent cases was the data theft from cloud service provider Snowflake.
While ransomware tactics continue to evolve, enhanced cybersecurity efforts and law enforcement actions are making it harder for cybercriminals to profit. 🚨

#CyberSecurity , #hacking , #cryptohacks , #cybercrime , #CryptoNewss

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The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which oversees the design and maintenance of America’s nuclear weapons arsenal, has become one of the victims of a cyberattack targeting Microsoft SharePoint. The incident also affected several other key government agencies – and all signs point once again to China-linked hackers.

Microsoft Targeted Again – Along with the U.S. Nuclear Authority
The vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint was exploited on July 18, and according to a spokesperson from the Department of Energy, some systems were affected. Fortunately, due to widespread use of Microsoft 365 cloud services and robust cybersecurity measures, the damage was reportedly minimal, with only a few systems impacted – all of which are now being restored.
Representatives of the NNSA confirmed that no classified information was leaked during the incident. Still, the fact that someone managed to access infrastructure related to U.S. nuclear operations is highly concerning.

SharePoint – The Weak Link
The vulnerability only affected locally hosted SharePoint systems – not the cloud-based ones – which opened the door to this breach. The attack extended far beyond U.S. borders, hitting Middle Eastern and EU government systems as well. Other U.S. victims included the Department of Education, the Florida Department of Financial Services, and Rhode Island’s General Assembly.
Earlier reports revealed that hackers stole login credentials, tokens, and hash codes, potentially giving them access to sensitive internal systems.

China-Linked Groups Suspected
Microsoft has named several hacking groups believed to be backed by the Chinese government – specifically Violet Typhoon, Linen Typhoon, and Storm-2603. Cybersecurity firm Mandiant, owned by Google, stated that at least one attacker was very likely of Chinese origin.
U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA confirmed that the SharePoint vulnerability is being actively exploited. Microsoft has already released three updates to fix the issue.
The Chinese embassy in Washington responded by denying any involvement and warned against “groundless accusations.”

Microsoft Under Fire
Microsoft has become a repeated target of high-level cyberattacks in recent years. In 2021, a separate Chinese group called Hafnium breached systems via a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server. After facing sharp criticism for its previous response, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella declared that cybersecurity is now the company’s top priority.
Recently, Microsoft also announced it would no longer rely on Chinese engineers for developing cloud services tied to the U.S. Department of Defense – following concerns that such arrangements may have enabled access to sensitive systems.

The Flaw Was First Discovered – by Ethical Hackers
Interestingly, the SharePoint vulnerability was first discovered in May during a hacking contest in Berlin organized by cybersecurity firm Trend Micro. The event offered $100,000 rewards for discovering zero-day vulnerabilities, demonstrating just how valuable – and dangerous – these flaws can be.

Summary: Another Security Blow for the U.S.
Although no classified data was leaked, confidence in government infrastructure has taken another hit. The NNSA was among several high-profile victims, and China-sponsored cyber threats continue to rise.
The U.S. once again finds itself needing to strengthen its cyber defenses – not just against foreign adversaries, but also against its own systemic vulnerabilities.

#CyberSecurity , #Microsoft , #cyberattack , #hacking , #CryptoNews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“