FBI warns of possible Outlook, Gmail cyberattacks
The FBI is warning users of popular email services such as Outlook and Gmail that they could be subject to cyberattacks by ransomware called Medusa, which has impacted more than 300 victims from a number of sectors, including technology, legal, medical and manufacturing.
Medusa, a ransomware-as-a-service that was first identified in June, was spotted as recently last month, according to an advisory released last week by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC).
“Both Medusa developers and affiliates—referred to as 'Medusa actors' in this advisory—employ a double extortion model, where they encrypt victim data and threaten to publicly release exfiltrated data if a ransom is not paid,” the agencies said in the March 12 advisory.
Medusa developers normally recruit initial access brokers in marketplaces and cybercriminal forums, paying them between $100,000 and $1 million with an opportunity to solely work for a hacking organization. Those brokers are known to use common techniques like phishing campaigns and exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities, according to the advisory.
“The ransom note demands victims make contact within 48 hours via either a Tor browser-based live chat, or via Tox, an end-to-end encrypted instant-messaging platform,” the agencies wrote. “If the victim does not respond to the ransom note, Medusa actors will reach out to them directly by phone or email.”
A victim was extorted three times in one case, according to an FBI investigation. The victim was contacted by another Medusa actor who contended that the main hacker stole the ransom amount and asked for another payment.
The FBI, CISA and MS-ISAC outlined some steps users can take to protect themselves from Medusa ransomware.
Users should protect all accounts with passwords, ideally having longer passcodes that are changed often. Multifactor authentication should be in place.
Copies of sensitive data, in the form of hard drives, the cloud and storage devices, should be developed for recovery. Users should also have offline backs of data that ideally are encrypted. The operating systems of devices should be up to date.
If users open phishing links or attachments, they should not simply ignore the step, according to Ryan Kalember, the chief strategy officer at security firm Proofpoint.
“That is often the first reaction, and it is not ideal,” he told The Washington Post. “When you fall for something, the attacker still has some window of time where they have to figure out what they’ve just got and whether it’s even worth taking advantage of.”
Read more at The Hill
-
FBI warns about counterfeit versions of weight loss drugs
The FBI warns counterfeit versions of weight loss drugs drugs can cause significant health issues.ABC News - 5d -
FBI warns Americans of potential spring break travel dangers
The FBI advises travelers to be vigilant and avoid traveling alone.CBS News - 1d -
FBI Announces a Fresh Warning About a ‘Smishing’ Scam
The FBI is advising people not to click on those road toll texts. It’s received over 2,000 complaints this month alone.Inc. - 6d -
Don't click on road toll texts. FBI issues fresh warning about the smishing scam
The FBI is warning Americans not to respond to scam road toll collection texts after receiving more than 2,000 complaints this monthABC News - 6d -
Trump Officials Warn 60 Colleges of Possible Antisemitism Penalties
The administration’s warning came just after it pulled hundreds of millions of dollars from Columbia University.The New York Times - Mar. 11 -
Cybersecurity officials warn against potentially costly Medusa ransomware attacks
The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are warning email users against a dangerous ransomware schemeABC News - 4d -
US airlines’ warnings of lower demand cast shadow over economic outlook
American, Delta and Southwest trim financial guidance on corporate and consumer softnessFinancial Times - Mar. 11 -
World Health Organization warns of possible tuberculosis surge because of USAID cuts
Health authorities say that the Trump administration’s gutting of USAID raises the risk of a global surge in tuberculosis cases and deaths.NBC News - Mar. 9 -
Fed cuts US growth forecast as Trump’s policies weigh on outlook
Central bank also lifts inflation projection as chair Jay Powell warns of tariff impactFinancial Times - 6h -
Stocks slide as Trump warns of US economy 'transition'
Investors are nervous about the possibility of a US recession, say experts.BBC News - Mar. 10 -
Delta warns on profit as economic ‘uncertainty’ dents US demand
Shares tumble more than 12% after-hours as carrier cuts quarterly revenue and earnings outlook by halfFinancial Times - Mar. 10 -
Musk blames 'massive cyberattack' for X outage
Elon Musk said his social media platform X was targeted in a "massive cyberattack" on Monday, prompting outages for thousands of users. "There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X," Musk ...The Hill - Mar. 10 -
Elon Musk Claims X Targeted in ‘Massive Cyberattack’
X (formerly Twitter) went down for thousands of users on Monday. Musk blamed a cyberattack.Inc. - Mar. 10 -
Elon Musk says "massive cyberattack" is causing outages at X
Elon Musk's social media site X wasn't working for thousands of users on Monday, with the billionaire claiming a cyberattack.CBS News - Mar. 10 -
Judge warns of possible 'consequences' after DOJ pushback on questions about deportation flights
The Department of Justice accused the judge of "continuing to beat a dead horse" by asking specific questions about deportations under a rarely used wartime act.NBC News - 11h -
X sees major outages as Musk claims 'massive cyberattack' hit platform
Three separate outages appeared to hit Elon Musk's X social media site Monday, as the tech titan claimed it was suffering a "massive cyberattack."NBC News - Mar. 10 -
Details on Kash Patel's changes to the FBI
FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing ahead with his plan to reshape and reorganize the bureau. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has the latest.CBS News - 2d -
FBI agent who accused Trump administration of bias charged with unlawful disclosures
An FBI agent who accused the FBI of bias during President Trump's first term was arrested on charges related to the alleged disclosure of confidential information.ABC News - 2h -
FBI applauds Mexico's arrest and handover of '10 Most Wanted' gang figure
FBI Director Kash Patel applauded Mexican authorities Tuesday for the arrest and handover of one of the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” suspects, an alleged gang leader from El SalvadorABC News - 1d -
FBI extradites '10 Most Wanted' list fugitive from Mexico: Patel
The FBI extradited one of the “Ten Most Wanted” list fugitives, an alleged key leader of international criminal gang MS-13, from Mexico. FBI Director Kash Patel said Francisco Javier ...The Hill - 1d -
Kash Patel moving ahead with command changes at FBI
Kash Patel is making his mark as the FBI's new director by attempting to decentralize the bureau's command structure while also dividing the agency into three regions. CBS News Department of ...CBS News - 2d -
FBI, ATF investigating damage to Cybertrucks at Kansas City Tesla dealership
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating damage to Cybertrucks at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Mo., according to a Tuesday social media post. ...The Hill - 1d -
FBI investigating fake 'SWAT' calls against conservative media figure
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it would launch a probe into fake swatting calls after noticing an uptick in pranks involving conservative media figures that have warranted a ...The Hill - 5d -
The U.S. growth outlook was just cut by the OECD on uncertainty and tariffs
The U.S. economic growth outlook — and even more so, Canada’s and Mexico’s — was lowered on Monday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development due to policy uncertainty and the ...MarketWatch - 2d -
FBI joins search for missing U.S. college student in the Dominican Republic
Authorities in the Dominican Republic are expanding their search for 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, last seen on a beach early Thursday morning. The FBI is now assisting, and police are ...CBS News - Mar. 11 -
Man assaults 2 people on American Airlines flight, says he was 'mad' at Trump: FBI
A Texas man was arrested for violently assaulting a flight attendant and a passenger while on board an American Airlines flight earlier this month, according to the FBI.ABC News - Mar. 11 -
White House transfers background checks for top staff from FBI to Pentagon: Sources
The White House has quietly told the FBI to halt background checks on dozens of the president's top staffers and has transferred the process to the Pentagon, sources say.ABC News - 5d -
U.S. and global economic outlooks cut by OECD as Trump's trade tariffs weigh on growth
"A series of recently announced trade policy measures will have implications for the economic outlook if sustained," the OECD said.CNBC - 2d -
Indianapolis Colts roster outlook after first wave of NFL free agent signings
After the first wave of NFL free agency, what does the Indianapolis Colts roster outlook currently look like?Yahoo Sports - 2d -
FBI joins Dominican Republic search for missing University of Pittsburgh student, police say
The FBI has joined the Dominican Republic’s police in searching for Sudiksha Konanki, the University of Pittsburgh student who went missing a week ago while on spring break. Konanki, 20, vanished ...The Hill - Mar. 11 -
Multiple outages at X caused by ‘massive cyberattack,’ Musk says
Scale of attack suggests role of a country or "coordinated group," Musk said.ABC News - Mar. 10 -
Elon Musk Says X Outages Were Caused by a Cyberattack From Ukraine
The billionaire’s social media site X suffered outages, and Tesla’s stock tanked on Monday.The New York Times - Mar. 10 -
Can Steph Curry get to 5,000 3-pointers? The numbers say it's possible
Stephen Curry just hit 4,000 made 3-pointers for his career. Getting to 5,000 is possible.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Trump tariffs complicate Fed outlook
Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Fed sees inflation threat in Trump tariffs Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell ...The Hill - 4h -
Expert breaks down favorites, possible upsets for March Madness
CBS Sports' Keiana Martin joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss what to know about March Madness, from top seeds to possible upsets.CBS News - 2d -
Why 'excessive heat warnings' won't be part of the forecast
It may be hard to think about sweltering temperatures in early March but excessive heat watches and warnings are getting a new name.The Hill - Mar. 11 -
Stephen Miller defends Trump on possible recession: Not our job to make 'prognostications'
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller defended President Trump’s response to questions about a possible recession over the weekend and said it wasn’t the president’s job to forecast ...The Hill - Mar. 11 -
Judge to hear arguments on possible release of Mahmoud Khalil, activist arrested by ICE
A judge is set to hear arguments on the possible deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian activist who led encampment protests at Columbia University last year. CBS News correspondent ...CBS News - Mar. 12 -
Report: Aaron Rodgers is a "possibility" in Minnesota
Could the Brett Favre career arc continue?Yahoo Sports - 6d
More from The Hill
-
Clyburn says prediction of ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ coming true
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said his previous theory that the Trump administration would enact “Jim Crow 2.0” is coming true. Clyburn joined CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Wednesday, when he was asked if ...The Hill - 1h -
Trump to sign order Thursday dismantling Department of Education
President Trump is expected to sign an order on Thursday to launch the Department of Education's dismantling. A White House official told NewsNation that the anticipated executive order, first ...The Hill - 1h -
Former Houston City Council member launches House bid to succeed late Sylvester Turner
Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards announced her bid for Congress on Wednesday to fill the seat vacated after the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), saying the Democratic ...The Hill - 2h -
Crash victims' families ask Transportation Dept not to let Musk influence Tesla probes
Families of several people who were killed or seriously injured in Tesla crashes from its self-driving technology have urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) not to let Elon Musk’s influence ...The Hill - 2h -
Israel returns to deadly force in Gaza
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Israel returns to deadly force in Gaza The Israeli military ...The Hill - 3h
More in Politics
-
Clyburn says prediction of ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ coming true
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said his previous theory that the Trump administration would enact “Jim Crow 2.0” is coming true. Clyburn joined CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Wednesday, when he was asked if ...The Hill - 1h -
Trump to sign order Thursday dismantling Department of Education
President Trump is expected to sign an order on Thursday to launch the Department of Education's dismantling. A White House official told NewsNation that the anticipated executive order, first ...The Hill - 1h -
Former Houston City Council member launches House bid to succeed late Sylvester Turner
Former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards announced her bid for Congress on Wednesday to fill the seat vacated after the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), saying the Democratic ...The Hill - 2h -
Crash victims' families ask Transportation Dept not to let Musk influence Tesla probes
Families of several people who were killed or seriously injured in Tesla crashes from its self-driving technology have urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) not to let Elon Musk’s influence ...The Hill - 2h -
Israel returns to deadly force in Gaza
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Israel returns to deadly force in Gaza The Israeli military ...The Hill - 3h