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AlienVault Predicts a New Dawn of Data Breach Awareness in 2016

Next year, we will likely see a shift in the ways we respond to cyber attacks, as UK businesses finally accept that data breaches are a part of life, according to 2016 predictions from Unified Security Management™ leader AlienVault™.

After a series of high profile data breaches in 2015 – including TalkTalk, Ashley Madison and Hacking Team – consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the seriousness of security breaches and their potential impact on data theft victims. AlienVault believes that these highly-publicized incidents will help lead to a shift in the way that businesses respond to attacks, with security teams looking to strengthen their incident response methodologies and collaborating to find new ways to protect themselves from emerging threats.

: Julia Langsman; Industry News; Posted On Tuesday, 08 December 2015 14:05

Russian "Pawn Storm" expands, rains hell on NATO, air-gapped PCs

The Register has reported that “one of the most prolific and capable Russian malware groups is using a rare module to infect USB sticks and hose air-gapped machines in defence industry organisations.

The group, known as "Sofacy" or "Pawn Storm" has been ripping into air gap defence organisations since at least August, demonstrating its skills using zero day vulnerabilities to foist malware, Kaspersky researchers say.”

: SECURITY EXPERT; Talking Point; Posted On Tuesday, 08 December 2015 14:02

Sentence follows death of child crushed by unsafe gate, industry reacts

A powered gate company has been fined £50,000 for corporate manslaughter following the horrific death of a child who was crushed to death outside her Moss Side, Manchester home in 2010, by an unsafe automatic gate. The sentence was passed at Manchester Crown Court today (Monday, December 7).

Cheshire Gates and Automation Ltd had admitted corporate manslaughter over the death of six-year-old Semelia Campbell at an earlier court hearing and heard she had become caught between the heavy sliding gate and a wall outside her home. The moving gate had failed to detect her presence and she became trapped. She was crushed to death despite frantic attempts by her family to free her, the court heard.

: GUY AINSWORTH; International Security, Safety & Strategic Defence; Posted On Tuesday, 08 December 2015 13:58

Tripwire on USB Sticks to penetrate air-gapped systems in the Defense Industry

A Russian group known as Pawn Storm has been using a module to infect USB sticks to penetrate air-gapped machines in the defense industry. The group has targeted various Government Agencies including NATO and the White House.

Tim Erlin, Director of IT Security and Risk Strategy for Tripwire says, “USB sticks can be used for more than just memory sticks. Attackers have used modified memory sticks to emulate other devices, like USB keyboards, to craft attacks that get around some security controls. Data theft is a two-way street. Getting malware onto an air-gapped system is only half of the equation. Attackers have to successfully extract the data as well, and preventing exfiltration can be as effective as preventing infiltration.” Please find full comments below.