Beneath the surface of the second-floor lab in UC Santa Barbara’s Harold Frank Hall, a pod of sharp minds is moving toward a $4 million prize and the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). Shellphish, UCSB’s elite hacking team, has plunged deep into a two-year competition, the Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) sponsored by the Defense...Read More
Ransomware relies on strong encryption to lock victims out of their data – but not all ransomware encrypts files the same way. In this technical deep dive, we showcase our analysis team’s findings on how six major ransomware families implement encryption. This post outlines how ransomware uses symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, presents typical encryption workflows,...Read More
Ransomware is a serious problem in its current state, and it’s about to get worse. All your security programs and measures will be rendered useless when ransomware comes for your CPU. Ransomware Can Lock Your CPU Ransomware generally locks system files and other documents inside your OS and renders your PC practically unusable. CPU ransomware,...Read More
CEO of cybersecurity firm charged with installing malware on hospital systems Pierluigi Paganini April 26, 2025 Veritaco CEO Jeffrey Bowie faces charges for allegedly installing malware on hospital computers, violating Oklahoma’s Computer Crimes Act. Jeffrey Bowie, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Veritaco, is facing two counts of violating Oklahoma’s Computer Crimes Act for allegedly infecting...Read More
Moldovan authorities have arrested a 45-year-old man suspected of involvement in a series of ransomware attacks targeting Dutch companies in 2021. The suspect, who is internationally wanted for cybercrime-related offenses including blackmail and money laundering, was detained last week following a search of his residence in Moldova. Officials did not release his name but said...Read More
A sobering new report reveals that 2024 witnessed an unprecedented surge in stolen digital credentials, with 2.9 billion unique passwords and 14.5 million credit card numbers available on underground markets. The sharp rise, fueled by infostealer malware and a growing underground economy, signals a deepening crisis in global cybersecurity. An Expanding Underground Market The dark...Read More
New cybersecurity law updates may be on the way The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 expires this September. Michele Sandiford May 12, 2025 3:57 pm < a min read The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is considering updates to a key cybersecurity law. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 expires this...Read More
Moldovan authorities have detained a 45-year-old suspect linked to DoppelPaymer ransomware attacks targeting Dutch organizations in 2021. Police officers searched the suspect’s home and car on May 6, seizing an electronic wallet, €84,800, two laptops, a mobile phone, a tablet, six bank cards, and multiple data storage devices. The suspect remains in custody, while Moldovan...Read More
