Kaspersky – Tech | Business | Economy https://techeconomy.ng Tech | Business | Economy Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:37:02 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://techeconomy.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/cropped-256Px-32x32.png Kaspersky – Tech | Business | Economy https://techeconomy.ng 32 32 Kaspersky: Credential Abuse Techniques Rank as Attackers’ Most Effective Tactic https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-credential-abuse-techniques-rank-as-attackers-most-effective-tactic/ https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-credential-abuse-techniques-rank-as-attackers-most-effective-tactic/#respond Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:37:02 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=182811 A recent global report by Kaspersky Security Services shows that password guessing and valid account misuse rank among the most effective tactics used by cyber criminals in 2025.

This trend reflects a strategic shift, as attackers move away from triggering endpoint protection with noisy malware, in preference of leveraging legitimate access to evade detection.

The ‘Anatomy of a Cyber World’ is an in-depth global report based on data gathered from Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Incident Response (IR), Compromise Assessment and SOC Consulting in 2025. It covers the most common adversary techniques, tools and detection scenarios and highlights the peculiarities of detected incidents.

According to the report, a significant portion of the most frequently monitored attack techniques revolves around credentials and identity management.

This analysis, which examines the conversion rates* of various Indicators of Attack (IoA), highlights the following prevalent malicious tactics:

Password guessing – 34.8%. This technique entails attackers systematically trying different passwords until successfully gaining access to an account.

It tops the conversion list due to its occurrence in both actual attacks and authorised security assessments, making it a persistent threat in today’s cybersecurity landscape. Organisations who rely on weak or reused passwords continues to enable this age-old strategy.

Local account creation – 34.7%. Once inside a system, attackers frequently create new local accounts to maintain access even if their original foothold is discovered and removed.

This technique is frequently observed during security exercises and can be detected — but only with the right telemetry in place, which is often lacking.

Valid account abuse – 34.5%. Instead of deploying malware, attackers log in using stolen or compromised credentials and simply blend in with normal user activity. This makes detection significantly harder, as the access itself appears legitimate. The high conversion rate underscores why compromised credentials remain one of the most dangerous attack vectors.

Account manipulation – 32%. Attackers modify existing accounts to consolidate access such as by activating disabled accounts, altering group memberships, or escalating privileges. This reinforces the broader pattern, rather than introducing new tools, adversaries deepen their control using what is already there.

Network service discovery – 31.2%. Before moving deeper into a network, attackers typically scan for open services and systems they can reach.

This reconnaissance step is a strong predictor of what follows: lateral movement and further exploitation. Detecting it early provides security teams a critical window to intervene.

The report ranks attacker techniques by how frequently observed activity ultimately resulted in confirmed malicious incidents.

According to Kaspersky experts, while MITRE ATT&CK® catalogs a vast number of adversary techniques, effective detection requires prioritising behaviours with the highest probability of malicious intent while avoiding excessive false positives.

“Threat actors do not always need sophisticated malware to achieve their objectives. In many cases, legitimate administrative tools and compromised accounts remain the fastest and most effective way to move inside an organisation while avoiding detection. The continued popularity of these techniques shows that organisations need deep visibility into attacker behaviour and the ability to correlate suspicious activity across different stages of an attack. To address these challenges, companies can enhance their security with our solutions: Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response which cover the entire incident management cycle – from threat detection to continuous protection and remediation,” comments Sergey Soldatov, Head of Security Operations Center at Kaspersky.

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How Scammers are Exploiting World Cup 2026 Travellers https://techeconomy.ng/how-scammers-are-exploiting-world-cup-2026-travellers/ https://techeconomy.ng/how-scammers-are-exploiting-world-cup-2026-travellers/#respond Fri, 29 May 2026 06:00:01 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=182370 Kaspersky experts explain which online offers travellers should be cautious of when planning their trip, to avoid spoiling their experience ahead of the upcoming games.

Thousands of fans are expected to attend the World Cup 2026, and many are already handling their travel logistics, purchasing their flights and other transport tickets, booking accommodation, and arranging everything they need to reach the host cities.

As interest grows, so does the number of fraudulent schemes that exploit the fact that fans are actively preparing for their upcoming journey.

In late April 2026, Kaspersky experts detected a campaign exploiting the branding of a well-known transport app, targeting users in Mexico.

The interface of a fake Spanish-language website, impersonating one of the services, prompts users to enter their phone number and password in order to “claim prizes.” In reality, the attackers are mimicking a trusted brand and attempting to steal users’ credentials from those lured by the promise of a reward.

Ticket to nowhere 

Some cybercriminals go “a level lower” and post their offers on the dark web. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts discovered a thread advertising such services, published on a shadow forum in March 2026.

The listings included offers for discounted airline tickets, hotel bookings, and match tickets, allegedly at 20% off the original price.

These offers are designed to lure users and can be highly dangerous, ultimately resulting in victims losing both their money and any services they expected to receive.

Entrepreneurs and property owners also in the crosshairs

Cybercriminals are also targeting businesses and entrepreneurs at the intersection of the travel industry, which is also involved in the event.

Given the high demand for short-term rentals during the tournament, property owners have become an attractive target for scams. For example, a fake website was discovered requesting account credentials for a well-known platform.

In this way, scammers attempt to gain access to property owner accounts, potentially resulting in unauthorised withdrawals and financial losses.

Another common scheme involves fraudsters attempting to extract money from organisations by posing as representatives of well-known airlines and offering fictitious business partnerships.

In these emails, they claim to be launching new projects or business expansion initiatives and state that they are actively seeking suppliers or contractors.

If a company representative responds to such an offer, the scammers typically escalate the deception in a subsequent stage. To enhance credibility, they send forged documents for completion and signature, including supplier registration forms and non-disclosure agreements.

The ultimate objective of the fraudsters in this scheme is to induce the organisation to pay a so-called “deposit,” ostensibly required to secure a priority position in a partner selection list.

According to the claims made in the fraudulent communications, this payment would later be fully refunded once the partnership is formally established.

In reality, this promise is entirely deceptive. The perpetrators simply appropriate the funds, and no reimbursement is ever made to the victim organisation.

“The travel sector, particularly when it intersects with major events, is a persistent target for a wide range of scams and fraudulent schemes. For end users, it is often difficult to distinguish at first sight between a legitimate website and a spoofed one, or between genuine marketing communications from a reputable service and scam emails. We therefore advise treating overly attractive offers with a high degree of caution in order to protect your personal data and financial resources,” says Anna Lazaricheva, senior spam analyst at Kaspersky.

Recommendation:

  • Enable multi-factor authentication and monitor accounts: Activate 2FA on IDs and financial apps and regularly review statements for unauthorised activity.
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Infostealer Malware Compromised Over 1 Million Banking Accounts in 2025 https://techeconomy.ng/infostealer-malware-compromised-over-1-million-banking-accounts-in-2025/ https://techeconomy.ng/infostealer-malware-compromised-over-1-million-banking-accounts-in-2025/#respond Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:57:35 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=179639 More than one million online banking accounts were compromised by infostealers last year, as financial cyberthreats shifted toward credential theft and data reuse.

According to a Kaspersky report, attackers are moving away from traditional PC banking malware and increasingly relying on social engineering and dark web marketplaces, while mobile financial malware continues to grow.

Traditional financial phishing has not gone away. Pages that mimicked e-shops dominated the financial phishing landscape (48.5% in 2025, up 10.3% from 2024), followed by banks (26.1% in 2025, down by 16.5% from 2024) and payment systems (25.5% in 2025, up by 6.2% from 2024).

The decline in bank phishing may suggest that these services are becoming increasingly difficult to successfully impersonate, and fraudsters are turning to easier ways to access users’ finances.

Attackers are adapting campaigns to regional digital habits. In the Middle East, financial phishing is overwhelmingly concentrated on e-commerce (85.8%), indicating a heavy reliance on online retail lures, whereas in Africa bank-related phishing leads (53.75%), which may indicate that user account security there is still insufficient.

Latin America shows a more balanced distribution but with a higher share of e-commerce and bank targeting, while APAC and Europe display a more even spread across all three categories, pointing to diversified attack strategies.

One million banking accounts in 2025
The distribution of detections of financial phishing pages by category (banks/online stores/payment systems), globally and per region, 2025 | Credit: Kaspersky

In 2025, the decline in users affected by financial PC malware continued as users increasingly rely on mobile devices to manage their finances.

Contrary to PC banking malware, mobile banker attacks grew by 1.5 times in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Complementing traditional financial malware, infostealers played a significant role in enabling financial crime both on PCs and mobile devices by harvesting login credentials, cookies, bank card numbers, crypto wallet seed phrases, and autofill data from browsers and applications, which attackers then used for account takeovers or direct banking fraud.

Kaspersky data pointed to a surge in infostealer detections (up by 59% globally, 53% in Africa and 26% in the Middle East, on PCs from 2024 to 2025), fueling credential-based attacks.

According to Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence (DFI), in 2025 over one million online banking accounts served by the world’s 100 largest banks fell victim to infostealers: credentials for these accounts were being freely shared on the dark web.

The countries with the highest median number of compromised accounts per bank were India, Spain, and Brazil.

74% of payment cards that were compromised by infostealer malware, published on dark web resources and identified by Kaspersky DFI team in 2025, remained valid as of March 2026.

This means that attackers could still use cards that had been stolen months or even years prior.

“The dark web has become a central hub for financial cybercrime. Stolen credentials and bank cards that have been harvested by infostealers are aggregated, repackaged, and sold there, while phishing kits targeted at users of financial products are offered as ready-to-use services. This creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where data theft and fraud operations reinforce each other, making attacks scalable and easy to carry out by fraudsters with minimal experience. Breaking this cycle requires proactive threat intelligence on the part of organisations, and increased awareness and scrutiny from individual users,” comments Polina Tretyak, Kaspersky digital footprint intelligence analyst.

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How iPhone 17 Launch Ignited Scam Campaigns Worldwide https://techeconomy.ng/iphone-17-launch-ignited-scam-campaigns/ https://techeconomy.ng/iphone-17-launch-ignited-scam-campaigns/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:35:15 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=167630 As Apple opened preorders for the new iPhone, Kaspersky reportedly detected a spike in scam exploiting the device’s launch hype, with fraudsters deploying fake websites, bogus lotteries, and phony “tester” recruitment schemes to harvest personal data and financial information.

These attacks pose significant risks including personal data theft and financial loss.

One of the scams involves counterfeit websites which mimic Apple’s official store, luring users with preorders for the iPhone 17 “before it sells out”, only to capture bank card details upon checkout.

iPhone 17 Launch Ignited Scam Campaigns Worldwide
A deceptive site posing as Apple’s official website with a Book Now button leading to a financial data submission form [Source: Kaspersky]
Scammers are also running fraudulent lotteries promising free iPhone devices as prizes, requiring participants to pass a survey, submit personal information (email addresses, phone numbers, etc.) and pay a delivery or service fee. There is also a fake feedback pane with users claiming to have received their “prizes”.

iPhone 17 Launch Ignited Scam Campaigns Worldwide
A scam webpage announcing iPhone “celebration gifts” [Source: Kaspersky].
Additionally, fraudsters are advertising “tester” opportunities for the iPhone 17, enticing tech-savvy users to provide contact details and shipping addresses, as well as pay a fee for delivery in exchange for supposedly early access units, which are never delivered and result in spam overload or targeted phishing follow-ups.

iPhone 17 Launch Ignited Scam Campaigns Worldwide
A scam with a survey to become a “tester” of the new iPhone [Source: Kaspersky].

“Cybercriminals thrive on the excitement of major product launches, turning consumer enthusiasm into a gateway for data breaches. We’ve seen these tactics evolve from crude phishing to highly polished sites that can look authentic. Users must prioritise verification over impulse to stay safe and avoid falling victim to these opportunistic threats,” comments Tatyana Shcherbakova, Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.

To be protected amid this new wave of iPhone-related scams, Kaspersky recommends users:

  • Purchase exclusively from official sources: Only buy the iPhone 17 through Apple’s website, authorised retailers, or verified carriers to avoid counterfeit sites.
  • Verify URLs and avoid unsolicited offers, ignore any unsolicited emails, texts, or ads promising deals or prizes.
  • Never share personal data for “freebies”: Legitimate contests rarely require sensitive information upfront, treat any request for your name, card details, or addresses as a red flag.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication and monitor accounts: Activate 2FA on Apple ID and financial apps and regularly review statements for unauthorised activity.
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Essential cybersecurity measures for Nigerian SMBs https://techeconomy.ng/essential-cybersecurity-measures-for-nigerian-smbs/ https://techeconomy.ng/essential-cybersecurity-measures-for-nigerian-smbs/#respond Fri, 30 May 2025 10:52:53 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=159763 Benjamin Okolie, Kaspersky
| ARTICLE WRITTEN By Benjamin Okolie, Technology Expert and Consultant in Africa, Kaspersky

Small and medium-sized businesses play a key role in Nigeria’s economy, but as they benefit from digitalisation, they also face higher risks of cyberattacks.

Across Africa, cybercriminals are actively exploiting web and email channels, including in ransomware and phishing attacks. In fact, Kaspersky data shows 66 million phishing link clicks recorded in the region in 2024.

Phishing emails and fake websites that trick users into revealing sensitive information (e.g., passwords, banking details) or downloading malware by mimicking trusted sources, are among the biggest risks to SMBs.

Last year, Kaspersky recorded over 14.8 million phishing link clicks by corporate users in Africa, a clear sign of how widespread these scams are.

Criminals impersonate banks, suppliers or officials to trick staff into sharing credentials or clicking malicious links. Even one wrong click (for example, opening a malicious PDF file) can let cyber attackers into your network.

The good news is that SMBs can significantly improve their security posture by prioritising cybersecurity across several key areas.

Reduce phishing risks

Some of the key steps to reduce phishing risk include:

  • Train employees. Teach staff to double-check sender addresses, hover over links to check for spelling mistakes or anything that looks unusual, and be skeptical of urgent requests.
  • Use email filters. Deploy spam filters or secure gateways that block known phishing domains and suspicious attachments.
  • Keep systems updated. Apply security patches to operating systems, browsers and email clients promptly.
  • Deploy all-in-one security. Use integrated solutions (such as Kaspersky Small Office Security) that include anti-phishing features. These tools automatically scan and block scam emails or infected websites.

Cultivating a security-aware culture is crucial. Run simulated phishing tests and encourage everyone to report any suspicious message. Together, these steps make it far less likely that a scam will succeed.

Protect against ransomware

Ransomware encrypts company files and demands payment for decryption keys. Such attacks can be crippling for SMBs, causing financial losses, and disrupting business operations. Preventing that first breach (often through phishing or unpatched software) is essential.

To defend against ransomware:

  • Maintain offline backups. Back up critical data regularly to a location not connected to your main network (such as an external drive or secure cloud). Always verify that backups can be restored.
  • Keep software patched. Ransomware often exploits known vulnerabilities. Keep all operating systems and applications up-to-date to close those holes.
  • Use advanced endpoint protection. Deploy modern security software on every computer. For example, Kaspersky Next provides cloud-based EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) and vulnerability scanning to detect ransomware behaviour before it encrypts files.
  • Restrict privileges and respond quickly. Give users only the rights in the IT system that they need.

With these steps, most ransomware attacks can be prevented. Independent tests of Kaspersky’s security products show that they block most of tested ransomware samples, underscoring the value of good defenses.

Enforce strong passwords and access control

Weak or reused passwords make it easy for hackers to break in. Without multi-factor authentication and strong passphrases, cybercriminals can quickly harvest credentials.

Best practices for password and access security:

  • Use strong, unique passwords. Every account should have its own long passphrase or complex password. Consider a password manager to generate and store them.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Wherever possible, require a second factor (such as an SMS code or app authenticator) in addition to the password. MFA blocks nearly all automated login attacks.
  • Restrict administrative access. Remove admin rights from ordinary users and restrict admin privileges to trusted IT staff. Deactivate any unused user accounts and change any default passwords immediately.

Enforcing these rules prevents credentials leakage and cybercriminals from getting into your network.

Keep systems and devices updated

Outdated software is an open invitation to cyber attackers. To keep systems secure:

  • Enable automatic updates. Configure your operating systems and major applications to install security patches automatically.
  • Maintain an asset inventory. Keep track of all devices and software in use. Retire or isolate any equipment that can no longer be updated.
  • Scan for vulnerabilities. Use network scanning tools to find unpatched machines and missing security fixes.

Patching promptly removes the vulnerabilities that many malware families exploit, dramatically reducing the overall risk of infection.

Secure your data and backups

Data is often an SMB’s most valuable asset – customer records, financial logs, designs, etc. Protect it by:

  • Encrypting data. Use full-disk or file-level encryption on laptops, servers and backups. If a device or backup is stolen, encrypted data remains safe.
  • Keeping reliable backups. Maintain both local and off-site backups of critical data. Automate regular backups and periodically test that you can restore data.
  • Implementing strict access controls. Grant file permissions based on roles. Store very sensitive files (like financial spreadsheets) on secure, isolated servers or folders.

Encrypting and backing up data also helps meet regulatory requirements (for example, Nigeria’s NDPR). Even if cyber attackers breach a system, they won’t get usable data.

Train employees and build awareness

Even the best technology can be undone by human error. Regular training and awareness are essential:

  • Provide ongoing training. Conduct short sessions on how to spot phishing and practice safe browsing habits. Use examples relevant to Nigeria (like common scam texts or phishing emails).
  • Simulate phishing attacks. Send test phishing emails to staff periodically. Those who click should get informative feedback. Over time, the click rate should drop.
  • Encourage easy reporting. Make it simple for employees to report suspicious emails or incidents (for example, by emailing a designated IT person).
  • Use automated training platforms. For example, Kaspersky’s Automated Security Awareness Platform delivers brief interactive lessons and simulated attacks.

A vigilant team is an extra line of defense. In practice, employees who recognise a cyberattack can stop it before it spreads.

Adopt comprehensive security solutions

Use professional security tools to tie everything together. For example, Kaspersky Small Office Security protects up to 25 devices with antivirus, backup and management – all from one console.

Kaspersky Next provides on-premises or cloud-based endpoint protection and EDR for larger SMBs.

Additional best practices:

  • Enable device firewalls. Turn on the built-in firewall on every PC and network router. This blocks many external attacks.
  • Segment your network. Put guest Wi-Fi and IoT gadgets (like cameras or printers) on separate network segments from your core systems. This limits the spread if one segment is breached.
  • Use VPNs for remote work. Require that any employee working off-site connects through a secure VPN or remote desktop.
  • Secure IoT devices. Change default passwords on any Internet-connected device when you start using it and disable unused features. IoT devices often have weak security out of the box.

By combining user practices with these technical defenses, SMBs can greatly reduce their cyber risk. They say that in cybersecurity, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ – even small businesses can protect themselves effectively by following these suggested measures.

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Kaspersky: Valid Accounts Showed Significant Increase as Initial Attack Vector in 2024 https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-valid-accounts-showed-significant-increase-as-initial-attack-vector-in-2024/ https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-valid-accounts-showed-significant-increase-as-initial-attack-vector-in-2024/#respond Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:50:42 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=155724 Valid accounts were increasingly being leveraged as an initial attack vector in 2024, representing 31.4% of cases. Public-facing applications still hold the top position with 39.2% of cases.

These findings were reported in the recent Kaspersky Incident Response analyst report.

The Kaspersky Incident Response analyst report provides insights into cyberattacks investigated by the Kaspersky team in 2024, using data from organisations seeking help with incident response and highlights trends in security threats across various sectors and regions.

The report aids organisations in enhancing their security measures and developing effective incident response strategies.

According to the report, in a concerning trend that has persisted for years, public-facing applications have once again emerged as the primary vector for cyber attacks, accounting for 39.2% of cases in 2024.

Valid accounts have solidified their position as the second most common attack vector, representing 31.4% of incidents and showing a significant increase compared to 2023.

This surge indicates a growing number of companies being targeted by initial access brokers (IABs), who capitalise on compromised credentials sold on the darknet to facilitate further attacks.

This trend is particularly alarming in the context of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), where IABs play a crucial role in streamlining cybercriminal operations.

The data also revealed that victims in these cases were often compromised beforehand, leading to leaked credentials without immediate detection.

Trusted relationships have seen an uptick from the previous year, now accounting for 12.8% of attack vectors, while phishing remains a significant threat, utilised in nearly one out of every ten cases (9.8%).

“Cyber threats continue to evolve relentlessly, with attackers adapting their methods to exploit the most vulnerable points in companies’ defenses. This highlights the critical need for organisations to not only strengthen their immediate security measures but also to cultivate a proactive and adaptive incident response culture that can stay ahead of these emerging risks,” comments Konstantin Sapronov, Head of Global Emergency Response Team at Kaspersky.

To protect businesses from possible threats, Kaspersky experts recommend:

  • Implementing robust password policy and multifactor authentication processes.
  • Removing management ports from public access.
  • Establishing a zero-tolerance policy for patch management or compensation measures for public-facing applications.
  • Ensuring that employees maintain a high level of security.
  • Use services like Kaspersky Incident Response or Kaspersky Managed Detection and Response to identify and stop the attack in early stages, before cybercriminals can reach their final goals.
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Google Fixes Chrome Vulnerability Exploited by Hackers to Spy on Journalists, Others https://techeconomy.ng/google-fixes-chrome-vulnerability/ https://techeconomy.ng/google-fixes-chrome-vulnerability/#respond Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:42:23 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=155632 Google has patched a security flaw in its Chrome browser for Windows that cybercriminals exploited to infiltrate victims’ computers. 

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-2783, was discovered by Kaspersky security researchers earlier this month.

The flaw allowed attackers to bypass Chrome’s security barriers and access users’ data. Google confirmed that hackers were actively using this exploit before the fix was released, making it a zero-day vulnerability—one that is exploited before the software vendor has a chance to address it.

Kaspersky linked the attack to a campaign they call “Operation ForumTroll”, where victims received phishing emails disguised as invitations to a Russian global political summit. Clicking the embedded link redirected them to a malicious site that immediately exploited the Chrome bug to gain unauthorised access to their data.

According to Kaspersky, the attack primarily targeted Russian media professionals and employees at educational institutions. The goal appeared to be espionage, with hackers potentially working under a state-sponsored operation. 

The security firm has not identified the perpetrators but pointed to the level of sophistication seen in government-backed cyber operations.

Zero-day vulnerabilities in browsers like Chrome are highly valuable to cybercriminals and intelligence agencies. Exploits that allow remote access to devices can fetch millions on the underground market. Last year, one exploit broker was offering up to $3 million for similar security flaws.

Google’s Response and Security Patch

Google has now rolled out an update to Chrome version 134.0.6998.177/.178 for Windows, which will be released to users in the coming days. The fix was contributed by Boris Larin (@oct0xor) and Igor Kuznetsov (@2igosha) of Kaspersky, who first reported the issue on March 20, 2025.

The company is keeping full details of the vulnerability under wraps until the majority of users receive the update. In some cases, Google restricts information when a bug affects third-party software that has yet to be patched.

While Google has resolved the issue, users are still at risk if they have not updated their browsers. Cybercriminals actively exploited this flaw, and any delay in applying the patch could leave systems exposed.

Google has urged users to update Chrome as soon as possible, stating, “We would also like to thank all security researchers that worked with us during the development cycle to prevent security bugs from ever reaching the stable channel.”

For those still using outdated versions, the Extended Stable Channel has also been updated to 134.0.6998.178 to provide security fixes.

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Kaspersky Exits U.S. Market, Laying Off Dozens Due to Security Ban https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-exits-u-s-market-laying-off-dozens-due-to-security-ban/ https://techeconomy.ng/kaspersky-exits-u-s-market-laying-off-dozens-due-to-security-ban/#respond Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:14:52 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=137000 Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky is ceasing its U.S. operations and laying off several employees following a new U.S. government ban on its software, effective July 20.

This is due to national security risks, causing the company to retreat from one of the world’s largest markets.

Kaspersky announced that it would begin phasing out its U.S. business starting July 20, making the operations unsustainable under the new legal constraints. The decision will impact fewer than 50 employees based in the United States.

The U.S. Commerce Department introduced the ban in June, labelling it a necessary step to protect national security.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pointed out issues of the potential for the Russian government to leverage Kaspersky’s software to access and misuse the personal data of American users.

This ban prohibits Kaspersky from selling its software directly or through U.S.-based resellers and also prevents the company from providing updates or security patches after September 29.

This will lead to a gradual decline in the software’s effectiveness in protecting against cyber threats.

Kaspersky initially planned to challenge the ban, arguing that its operations did not pose a threat to U.S. national security. However, the company has now opted to comply with the order, given the huge impact on its business.

The U.S. government’s ban on Kaspersky is not unprecedented. In 2017, the Trump administration banned the use of Kaspersky software within federal agencies following concerns over its prospective misuse by Russian intelligence.

These historical suspicions, coupled with ongoing geopolitical tensions, have led to the current comprehensive prohibition.

Despite the ban, U.S. consumers using Kaspersky products will not be penalised. However, they are strongly advised to transition to alternative security solutions to ensure their continued protection.

Additionally, the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned several senior executives at Kaspersky, barring U.S. entities from conducting business with them.

This move further isolates the company from the U.S. market, making it increasingly difficult for Kaspersky to operate within the country.

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Ten billion Passwords Got Leaked https://techeconomy.ng/ten-billion-passwords-got-leaked/ https://techeconomy.ng/ten-billion-passwords-got-leaked/#respond Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:59:41 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=136658 In a significant security breach RockYou2024, nearly 10 billion unique passwords have been leaked on a widely recognised cyber forum.

This record-setting release of passwords was sourced from decades of data breaches and has the potential to be exploited in future attacks.

The database, named “rockyou2024.txt,” reportedly contains nearly 10 billion unique passwords, collected from thousands of data leaks.

This massive compilation surpasses the previous record holder RockYou2021 by adding 1.5 billion new passwords.

In response, Kaspersky’s experts have issued practical guidance to help users protect themselves in the aftermath of the extensive data compromise:

  • Check the breach impact

When a data breach occurs, the first thing a user is advised to do is to check whether their data has been affected.

Modern security solutions, such as Kaspersky Premium, enable the detection of leaked data and provide alerts to enhance security measures if necessary. As well as internal services, there are some public sources that could help to detect whether personal data has been leaked or not. 

  • Change your passwords as soon as possible

In the event of a data breach, it is essential to change your passwords immediately and consider all other sites where the same password is being used.

New passwords should be unique for each account, be at least 8 characters long, combine letters with numbers and symbols. In order to check whether a combination is strong enough, a password checker can be employed.

  • Block and reissue your bank card, if necessary

If payment data was stored by a service that experienced a data breach, it is best to block and reissue a card for added security.

Usually reissuing a bank card doesn’t take too much time and effort, therefore preventing a greater inconvenience.

A tool like this creates strong passwords and stores them securely in an encrypted vault. Besides, it is enabled to monitor data leaks and check if user’s passwords were compromised.

  • Don’t forget about two-factor authentication

A recent survey by Kaspersky revealed how easily compromised accounts can be without 2FA and strong passwords.

To protect an account from unauthorised access, it is highly recommended to set up 2FA. This can be accomplished by receiving a confirmation via SMS, email, or using an authentication app or password manager that generates one-time codes.

  • Securely close unused accounts

If there are no plans to continue using a service after a data leak, it is advisable to delete the account and request the complete removal of all collected data by contacting technical support or the address in the Privacy Policy.

This step, often outlined in the “Your Rights” section of legitimate services, can also reveal the extent of data exposure.

  • Share only the essential minimum of personal information online

As massive service leaks are not uncommon, it is recommended to minimise information provided to a service.

When you register, using a main email address is unnecessary: auto-substitution can be used instead. Additionally, if not required, omit the real name and residence address.

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Dangers of Brand Clones: How to Protect Your Company’s Reputation on the Web https://techeconomy.ng/dangers-of-brand-clones-how-to-protect-your-companys-reputation-on-the-web/ https://techeconomy.ng/dangers-of-brand-clones-how-to-protect-your-companys-reputation-on-the-web/#respond Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:31:02 +0000 https://techeconomy.ng/?p=115407 When a brand becomes well known, it can be exploited by cybercriminals. They can hide behind the brand name in order to promote some dubious quality goods and services, or they can prey on the brand’s clients, partners, or employees.

The latter – including the information security department – often don’t know of the existence of malicious brand clones until their actions lead to a stream of emails to customer support, or a scandal on social networks. Such incidents negatively affect the brand’s reputation.

Three types of Internet-doppelgangers are the most common.

Fake apps in stores

Today almost every business has its own app for convenient customer access to online services – sometimes more than one.

When a user searches for an app in an online store they get more than one result. While most users will download the most popular option (which usually is the authentic one), it’s likely that some will fall for the scammers’ trick and install a fake app – especially if they receive a direct link to it.

Such a malicious app can hide anything – from a banking Trojan to a remote access tool to the user’s mobile device.

Kaspersky experts recently found several modified versions of popular instant-messenger apps on Google Play containing spyware code.

Fake social media accounts

Social media accounts posing as relating to a certain brand can be used by criminals in a variety of different schemes.

They are often used to spread false information – to promote some semi-legal (online casinos) or outright fraudulent activities (giveaways for all kinds of prizes, tickets or bitcoins) supposedly affiliated with a certain corporate brand. However, a fake account can also distribute malicious or phishing links, or serve as a platform for more sophisticated social engineering attacks.

Phishing sites

If a company’s website has a member area for clients, partners or employees, the personal credentials to these accounts are of interest to attackers.

At some point attackers will try to imitate such a website in order to harvest logins and passwords – at least in order to resell this information to other cybercriminals.

How to protect a company’s reputation from copy-cats?

In the vast majority of cases, the illegal schemes involving imitation of a website, an app, or a social media account are targeted at someone else (individuals or business users). However, it’s the reputation of the brand that is being maliciously imitated that suffers.

Therefore, such brand twins should be identified and eliminated before they cause significant damage.

To share our expertise on this matter and help companies to timely detect their brand twins we’ve updated Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence service.

Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence is designed to enable customers to monitor their digital footprint and identify potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with it.

Some time ago, its functionality was supplemented with monitoring for phishing sites that use brand names or were registered using typosquatting and combosquatting, as well as with a domain takedown service.

Also, to tackle brand clone, the service also allows to track, identify, and take down accounts on social networks and applications in stores that are illegally using a company’s name.

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