Understanding Data Exfiltration Risks: A Wake-Up Call for Law Firms In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, law firms are facing increasing threats from data exfiltration. Recently, a comprehensive analysis highlighted critical vulnerabilities within this sector, exposing them to significant cybersecurity risks. With sensitive client information at stake, the ramifications of…
New Variants of SparrowDoor Backdoor Discovered in Cyberattacks on U.S. and Mexican Organizations
March 26, 2025
Malware / Vulnerability
The Chinese threat actor known as FamousSparrow has been implicated in a cyberattack targeting a U.S. trade group and a research institute in Mexico, leveraging its primary backdoor, SparrowDoor, along with ShadowPad. This activity, observed in July 2024, marks the first deployment of ShadowPad by the group, a malware commonly associated with Chinese state-sponsored attackers. ESET reported that “FamousSparrow introduced two new, undocumented versions of the SparrowDoor backdoor, one of which is modular.” These iterations show significant advancements, including the ability to execute commands in parallel. FamousSparrow was first identified by the Slovak cybersecurity firm in September 2021 during a series of attacks against hotels, governments, engineering firms, and law practices, utilizing the exclusive SparrowDoor implant. Subsequent reports have highlighted the adversarial group’s expanding footprint…
New Variants of SparrowDoor Backdoor Discovered in Cyberattacks on U.S. and Mexican Entities March 26, 2025 A notable cyber incident has linked the Chinese threat actor known as FamousSparrow to an attack on a U.S.-based trade organization and a research institute in Mexico. The attack, which occurred in July 2024,…
New Variants of SparrowDoor Backdoor Discovered in Cyberattacks on U.S. and Mexican Organizations
March 26, 2025
Malware / Vulnerability
The Chinese threat actor known as FamousSparrow has been implicated in a cyberattack targeting a U.S. trade group and a research institute in Mexico, leveraging its primary backdoor, SparrowDoor, along with ShadowPad. This activity, observed in July 2024, marks the first deployment of ShadowPad by the group, a malware commonly associated with Chinese state-sponsored attackers. ESET reported that “FamousSparrow introduced two new, undocumented versions of the SparrowDoor backdoor, one of which is modular.” These iterations show significant advancements, including the ability to execute commands in parallel. FamousSparrow was first identified by the Slovak cybersecurity firm in September 2021 during a series of attacks against hotels, governments, engineering firms, and law practices, utilizing the exclusive SparrowDoor implant. Subsequent reports have highlighted the adversarial group’s expanding footprint…
Cyberattacks on U.S. Cities Increasingly Disruptive: Recent Incidents in Abilene and St. Paul In recent months, U.S. cities have been facing a surge in hacking incidents, many of which involve ransomware attacks that disrupt essential services and carry significant financial burdens. Abilene, Texas, recently experienced a serious breach wherein 477…
3rd Party Risk Management, Data Breach Notification, Data Security Firm Confirms Ransom Payment for Assurance of Data Deletion Following Cyber Incident Marianne Kolbasuk McGee (HealthInfoSec) • July 30, 2025 Image: Getty Images Two law firms situated in Florida, with additional offices across the U.S., are alerting 282,100 individuals about potential…
Irish Supreme Court Eases Path for Data Breach Claims: A Shift Towards Mass Litigation? In a landmark decision, the Irish Supreme Court has eliminated a critical procedural obstacle in the pursuit of data breach claims, potentially paving the way for an increase in mass claims across the nation. This ruling…
Phishing Campaigns Employ Real-Time Email Validation for More Effective Credential Theft
April 14, 2025
Email Security / Cyber Attack
Cybersecurity experts are highlighting a new credential phishing method designed to ensure stolen information is linked to valid online accounts. Termed “precision-validating phishing” by Cofense, this strategy uses real-time email checks to target a select group of high-value individuals with counterfeit login screens. “This approach significantly increases the success rate for attackers by focusing solely on a curated list of verified email addresses,” the company stated. Unlike traditional “spray-and-pray” tactics that indiscriminately mass-distribute phishing emails, this advanced method elevates spear-phishing by interacting only with confirmed active and legitimate email accounts.
Phishing Campaigns Execute Real-Time Validations to Target High-Value Credentials April 14, 2025 Email Security / Cyber Attack Cybersecurity experts have identified an emerging credential phishing strategy that enhances the likelihood of stealing valid user information linked to legitimate online accounts. Dubbed “precision-validating phishing” by the cybersecurity firm Cofense, this method…
Phishing Campaigns Employ Real-Time Email Validation for More Effective Credential Theft
April 14, 2025
Email Security / Cyber Attack
Cybersecurity experts are highlighting a new credential phishing method designed to ensure stolen information is linked to valid online accounts. Termed “precision-validating phishing” by Cofense, this strategy uses real-time email checks to target a select group of high-value individuals with counterfeit login screens. “This approach significantly increases the success rate for attackers by focusing solely on a curated list of verified email addresses,” the company stated. Unlike traditional “spray-and-pray” tactics that indiscriminately mass-distribute phishing emails, this advanced method elevates spear-phishing by interacting only with confirmed active and legitimate email accounts.
Cybercriminals are intensifying their methods, departing from conventional data encryption tactics to adopt a more aggressive form of extortion known as quadruple extortion. This concerning development is detailed in the latest Ransomware Report 2025: Building Resilience Amid a Volatile Threat Landscape, published today by Akamai, a prominent player in cybersecurity…
Access Management, Agentic AI, Identity & Access Management CyberArk Acquisition Enhances Palo Alto Networks’ Privileged Access Capabilities Michael Novinson (@MichaelNovinson) • July 30, 2025 Nikesh Arora, Chairman and CEO, Palo Alto Networks Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, announced the company’s intention to acquire CyberArk for $25 billion, driven…
Qantas Cyber Attack Linked to ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider Qantas recently confirmed that it was targeted in a cyber attack that compromised the personal data of millions of its customers. Initial assessments from cybersecurity experts indicated that the attack might have been executed by the Scattered Spider hacking collective. However,…
