October is coming to a close, and throughout the month we have seen various cybersecurity incidents affecting different industries. From an update on MGM’s recent cyber-attack, to one of the richest people in the world falling for a phishing scheme, this month has shown that hackers never slow down. Here’s a quick recap of the most important cybersecurity related news that occurred so far.
Clorox Battles Aftermath of Cyberattack
Clorox, a household name for cleaning and hygiene products, warns that it is still dealing with the aftermath from a recent cyberattack in August. The attack impacted the company’s IT systems and lead to widespread operational disruptions, forcing them to suspend critical operations. To mitigate the breach, which occurred on August 14th, the company took several systems offline and initiated manual ordering and processing procedures. Clorox revealed that it anticipates a significant negative impact on its current quarter results, although there is still uncertainty about the long-term implications. The company also claims that it is transitioning back to normal automated processing and has already resumed production at the vast majority of its manufacturing facilities. What happened to Clorox highlights that a breach can have lasting ramifications on a company, outside the initial attack.
Mark Cuban’s Costly Crypto Scam Encounter
Billionaire technology investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has reportedly lost over $870,000 worth of crypto tokens last month, after likely clicking on a phishing link. Phishing attacks continue to pose a significant threat to the crypto industry, targeting users who may inadvertently share sensitive data or download malware. In Cuban’s case, his wallet was drained of U.S.-pegged stablecoins, staked ETH (stETH), SuperRare (RARE) tokens, and Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domains. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the world of cryptocurrency, where high-profile figures like Mark Cuban are not immune to cyber threats. Knowing the signs of a malicious email could be the difference between a deleted message and a security breach, highlighting the importance of security awareness training for you and your business.
Sony Faces New Cybersecurity Challenge
A relatively new cybercriminal group, Ransomed.vc, has claimed to have successfully breached all of Sony’s systems. While there is speculation behind the validity of this claims, it would mark a significant breach compared to Sony’s 2011 hack, which exposed the personal details of 77 million PlayStation users. However, there is limited concrete evidence to substantiate the extent of the breach. While screenshots of internal login screens and an internal PowerPoint presentation have surfaced, more substantial proof is lacking. Sony has neither confirmed nor denied these claims, but the hackers behind the breach are reportedly attempting to sell the stolen data. The situation raises concerns about Sony’s cybersecurity defenses and the potential consequences of such a breach if fully realized.
Class Action Lawsuits Target MGM and Caesars Over Data Breach
MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment are facing six class-action lawsuits filed in the Nevada District Court. These cases allege that both companies failed to adequately protect the personal identifiable information (PII) of their loyalty program customers. The breach, attributed to black hat groups ALPHV and Scattered Spider, resulted in the exposure of sensitive customer data, including driver’s licenses and social security numbers. The lawsuits claim that MGM and Caesars should have done more to safeguard their customers’ PII, alleging negligence in meeting FTC guidelines and industry standards. Those impacted by the breach face an increased risk of identity theft, underscoring the importance of robust data security measures.
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These recent incidents serve as potent reminders of the ever-present and evolving cyber threats. Cybersecurity remains a paramount concern for individuals and organizations, regardless of their size or industry. In order to stay vigilant and adopt cybersecurity best practices, make sure to contact SWK today.