3 Teens Nearly Escaped Justice for Murder, but Their Google Searches Gave Them AwayadminMay 21, 2025cyber-attacks I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that. Source
U.S. Government Dismantles Russia’s Advanced Snake Cyber Espionage Tool May 10, 2023 Cyber Espionage / Cyber Attack On Tuesday, the U.S. government announced the successful court-authorized disruption of a global network compromised by an advanced malware strain known as Snake, utilized by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Referred to as the “most sophisticated cyber espionage tool,” Snake is attributed to the Russian state-sponsored group Turla (also known as Iron Hunter, Secret Blizzard, SUMMIT, Uroburos, Venomous Bear, and Waterbug), connected to a unit within Center 16 of the FSB. This threat actor has historically targeted entities in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and NATO-affiliated countries, with recent efforts expanding into Middle Eastern nations viewed as threats to Russian-supported interests in the region. “For nearly 20 years, this unit […] has leveraged versions of the Snake malware to steal sensitive documents from hundreds of computer systems in at least 50 countries…”August 24, 2025
Advanced DownEx Malware Campaign Targets Central Asian Governments May 10, 2023 Malware / Cyber Attack Central Asian government entities are under threat from a sophisticated espionage operation utilizing a previously unidentified strain of malware known as DownEx. In a report shared with The Hacker News, cybersecurity firm Bitdefender indicated that the malicious activities are ongoing, with indications pointing towards involvement from Russia-based threat actors. The malware was first detected in a highly targeted assault on foreign government institutions in Kazakhstan in late 2022, followed by an attack in Afghanistan. The use of a diplomat-themed lure document and the campaign’s emphasis on data exfiltration imply the actions of a state-sponsored group, although the exact identity of the hacking organization remains unclear. The campaign’s initial breach method appears to involve spear-phishing emails containing a malicious payload disguised as a Microsoft Word file.August 23, 2025
Researchers Discover Advanced Backdoor and Custom Implant in Year-Long Cyber Operation May 15, 2023 Cyber Threat / Malware A fresh cyber threat has emerged, targeting government, aviation, education, and telecom sectors across South and Southeast Asia. This campaign, linked to a newly identified hacking group, began in mid-2022 and extended into early 2023. Symantec, a division of Broadcom Software, has dubbed this activity “Lancefly,” identifying a sophisticated backdoor known as Merdoor. Investigation reveals that this custom implant may have been in use as early as 2018. The campaign’s objectives appear to focus on intelligence gathering, given the tools employed and the specific targets chosen. According to Symantec’s analysis shared with The Hacker News, “The backdoor is deployed very selectively, impacting only a limited number of networks and devices over the years, indicating a highly targeted approach.” Additionally, the attackers appear to possess an updated version of the ZXShell rootkit.August 23, 2025