ICD Brief 119.
28.01.2019.-03.02.2019.
We are late this week – it has been an effort to sieve through the congested news space to bring you a sense of trends across the globe. We see a growing political will to act with precision, agility and adaptability. A second is increased cooperation whether it’s the EU and the US, Russia and China, the USDOD and USDHS or SWIFT, the New York Fed and Bangladesh.
USA
Intel Chiefs Testify on Global Threats, Cybersecurity and Elections
“On Jan. 29, the heads of six agencies in the U.S. intelligence community delivered [ed: proceedings video] annual testimony in front of the Senate intelligence committee about global threats to U.S. national security.” Cyber, Social Media, IP Theft Issues Take Center Stage at Intel Hearing
Pentagon taking action to boost cybersecurity down the supply chain
“The Department of Defense is making a push to enhance itscybersecurity by certifying and strengthening the cyber-hygiene and capabilities of small businesses that are several steps removed from the Pentagon in the contracting process.”
US intelligence accuses China of using student spies to steal secrets
“U.S. intelligence officials say China is using students studying in the U.S. to steal secrets and spy on other Chinese people, according to a CNN feature published Friday.”
Hospitals Expand Use of Contactless Readers to AddressCybersecurity, HIPAA Vulnerabilities
“Contactless and RFID readers have long been used by hospitals for time and attendance and logical access applications, but their use is growing rapidly for cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance as well.”
Australia
Meet Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs
“In 2016, Australia appointed the country’s first-ever ambassador for cyber affairs. This role is dedicated to bringing together the Australian government and other countries internationally on cyber issues.”
Baltics/Estonia
(De)Friending in the Baltics: Lessons from Facebook’s Sputnik Crackdown
“On January 17, Facebook shut down more than 350 pages and accounts linked to Russian state-owned media company, Rossiya Segodnya, and its radio and online service, Sputnik. Citing “coordinated inauthentic behavior,” the social media monolith nixed the 289 pages and 75 accounts tied to the outlets across the Baltic states, Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Another network of nearly 150 fake Facebook and Instagram accounts originating in Russia, but mostly operating in Ukraine, were also closed.”
Bangladesh
SWIFT says helping Bangladesh’s central bank rebuild network after cyber heist
“NEW DELHI (Reuters) – International payments network SWIFT said on Saturday it had signed an agreement with Bangladesh’s central bank to help it rebuild its infrastructure after hackers used it to steal $81 million in 2016 in the world’s biggest cyber heist.”
China
“AI Farms” Are at the Forefront of China’s Global Ambitions
“Yin You doesn’t look like a key strategic asset. He weighs a little over 100 pounds, has auburn dyed hair, and wears a hoodie emblazoned with the words “Dope Shit.” But in China’s rise to superpower status, the 20-year-old student is a foot soldier playing a vital role.”
EU
Google Offers Anti-Meddling Cybersecurity Tools to EU Political Organisations
“Search giant Google is now giving political organisations in Europe free access to cyber-security tools that tackle online attacks and disruption, to prepare for the upcoming European Union (EU) elections taking place in May.”
EU and US to Strengthen Cybersecurity Cooperation
“EU and US authorities have agreed to intensify their cooperation in the field of cybersecurity standards, as Western countries become increasingly concerned about links between Chinese telecom companies such as Huawei with Beijing.”
India
India’s Larges Bank SBI Leaked Account Data on Millions of Costumers
“India’s largest bank has secured an unprotected server that allowed anyone to access financial information on millions of its customers, like bank balances and recent transactions.”
Israel
Cybersecurity Investment in Israel Surges 47% to over $1bn in 2018
“Investments in cybersecurity firms in Israel crossed the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2018 as interest by foreign investors surged, a new report by Start-Up Nation Central, which tracks Israel’s tech industry, shows.”
Japan
Japan to Survey 200 Million Gadgets for Cybersecurity
“Japan is preparing a national sweep of some 200 million network-connected gadgets for cyber-security lapses ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, an official said on Tuesday (Jan 29).”
Singapore
Singapore Announces Series of Initiatives to BoostCybersecurity in the Telecoms Sector
“Singapore has set up a new Telecom Cybersecurity Strategic Committee (TCSC) to develop a plan to tackle ‘next-generation cyber threats’ in the telecommunications sector.”
South Korea
Lessons for Organizations from the South Korea Defense Agency Cyber Attack
“A major cyber attack on South Korea is usually not a stop-the-presses global news item; it’s fairly routine for North Korea and China to make attempts. The recent reveal of an October 2018 incursion by “unknown hackers” is an exception for two reasons – South Korea’s refusal to name the attackers, and the manner in which this high-level military data was stolen.”
Tonga
Tonga emerges from cyber darkness as internet restored
“Tonga’s two-week spell of virtual cyber darkness has ended, with authorities announcing Sunday that full internet services had been restored to the Pacific island kingdom.
The Pacific island nation of 110,000 people — which relies heavily on the internet for daily supplies and vital tourist earnings — was plunged into virtual cyber darkness when the sole cable providing a digital link to the outside world was severed.”
UAE
Inside the UAE’s Secret Hacking Team of US Mercenaries
“Two weeks after leaving her position as an intelligence analyst for the U.S. National Security Agency in 2014, Lori Stroud was in the Middle East working as a hacker for an Arab monarchy.”
UK
Is This Britain’s Most Unexpected Cybersecurity Hub?
“Great Malvern grew to fame as a quintessential Victorian spa town. The small industries that emerged nearby – Morgan Motor Company has been at the foot of the Malvern Hills since 1909, while Malvern Mineral Water was bottled in the nearby village of Colwall until 2010 – didn’t detract from the greenness that is said to have inspired many of Edward Elgar’s concertos.”
UK Cybersecurity Agency Investigates DNS Hijacking
“The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has announced in an alert that it is investigating an international campaign of domain name system (DNS) infrastructure tampering attacks.”