War Games, Windows 11 Bug, and The Red Pill Attack 🍿

News 📰

📰 — Windows 11 Has A Redaction Problem
Security researchers have found a bug in the Windows 11 Snipping Tool. Dubbed ‘acropalypse’, the bug retains original image data even if it has been edited or cropped, potentially allowing sensitive portions to be partially recovered. BleepingComputer confirmed that the Windows 11 Snipping Tool also has the same issue discovered last week in Google Pixel’s Markup Tool.

📰 — Ticketmaster Has A Stolen Account Problem
Despite The Cure's efforts to prevent ticket scalping for its North American tour, scalpers have found innovative ways to continue profiting on the secondary market. Scalpers are now buying and selling aged Ticketmaster accounts, which have a higher chance of winning presale codes, and selling entire Ticketmaster accounts containing The Cure tickets. These tactics bypass the band's ban on reselling tickets above face value and make concerts more expensive for regular fans.

📰 — BreachForums Unsurprisingly Down For Good
In a surprise to nobody, other than maybe the latest admin, BreachForums shut down for good. Baphomet’s bravado was short lived after claiming the site would live on following pompompurin’s (the previous admin) arrest last week.

📰 — Meta Manager Spied On By…Greece?
NY Times is reporting that a Greek national, and Meta employee, was wiretapped by the Greek national intelligence, and implemented the Predator spyware. Predator has been around since 2021, but this is allegedly the first known U.S. citizen targeted by a European government.

Tech 📟

📟 — Bad Magic: New APT Found — Kaspersky
Kaspersky researchers have discovered a massive cyberattack targeting government organizations in Donetsk, Lugansk, and Crimea regions of Ukraine. The attackers used spear phishing and other methods to lure victims into downloading a malicious ZIP file, which contained a decoy document and a malicious LNK file. The LNK file, once activated, infects the computer with a new malware called CommonMagic. The techniques used are not very sophisticated, but they are effective.

📟 — Adobe ColdFusion Exploitation Found - Rapid7
Rapid7’s Threat Intelligence and Detection Engineering team has identified active exploitation of Adobe ColdFusion in multiple customer environments. The observed activity dates back to January 2023 and has not been tied back to a specific CVE at this time.

📟 — The Red Pill Attack On Coinbase - ZenGo
ZenGo breaks down, the now patched, Red Pill attack. Multiple web3 platforms had been found vulnerable, including Coinbase.

Money 💸 

💸 — Oleria Secures $8M In Seed Funding
Former Salesforce CISO, and self described luminary, Jim Alkove, steps into the Identity and Access Management (IAM) with Oleria. The company brings an adaptive and autonomous access solution that will attempt to be secure AND fast.

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Hacking History 🍿

(Send this section to your non-techie friend)

War Games (1983): The Film That Taught Us About Hacking

In 1983, a high school student named David Lightman (played by Matthew Broderick) unwittingly brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation, all from the comfort of his bedroom. How did he do it? By hacking into a military supercomputer called "WOPR" (War Operation Plan Response) and accidentally activating the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

"War Games" is a thrilling and suspenseful film that introduced mainstream audiences to the concept of hacking and the potential dangers of advanced technology.

The Plot: A High School Hacker Saves the World

David Lightman is a bright but bored high school student with a knack for computer hacking. When he stumbles upon a backdoor into WOPR, a military supercomputer that controls the U.S. nuclear arsenal, he unwittingly starts a game of "Global Thermonuclear War" with the machine.

As the game progresses and the supercomputer simulates real-world nuclear war scenarios, Lightman and his classmate, Jennifer Mack (played by Ally Sheedy), race against time to convince the military and the computer's creator, Dr. Stephen Falken (played by John Wood), that the game is not real before it's too late.

Why It's Still Relevant Today

Despite being released nearly four decades ago, "War Games" remains a relevant and cautionary tale about the dangers of hacking and the importance of cybersecurity. Here are three key takeaways from the movie that still resonate today:

1. The Power of Hacking: The film showcases the incredible power of hacking and the potentially catastrophic consequences it can have on a global scale. As technology continues to evolve, the importance of strong cybersecurity measures cannot be understated.

2. The Human Factor: "War Games" emphasizes the critical role humans play in cybersecurity. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the most significant threat isn't the supercomputer itself, but rather the people who control and interact with it. This theme serves as a reminder that education and vigilance are essential in preventing cyberattacks.

3. The Unintended Consequences of Technology: The film explores the unforeseen dangers of advanced technology, especially when it's not fully understood or controlled. This message is more relevant than ever in our rapidly advancing digital world, where new technologies are continually being developed and deployed.

A Timeless Classic Worth Revisiting

"War Games" is an engaging and thought-provoking film that offers a unique glimpse into the early days of hacking and the importance of security. With its compelling storyline, memorable characters, and enduring themes, it's a must-watch for movie fans and cybersecurity enthusiasts alike.

So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy this classic that introduced the world to the fascinating and dangerous world of hacking.

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Quotables

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Cyber Savvy
Insider Tips & Hacks

Practical tips, tricks, best practices, and advice from a security insider.

Secure Your Digital War Room: Protect Your Home Network

• What is it? In the spirit of "War Games," let's talk about securing your digital war room, aka your home network. With more devices connected to the internet than ever before, it's crucial to ensure your home network is protected from potential hackers and cyber threats.

• Why is it important? A vulnerable home network can expose your personal information, financial data, and even your smart devices to cybercriminals. By securing your network, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and keep your digital world safe.

• So, what should you do about it? Follow these steps to fortify your digital war room and keep hackers at bay:

  1. Change the default router password: Your router is the gateway to your home network. Many come with default passwords that are easily searchable online. Change the default password to a strong, unique one that's difficult to crack.

  2. Enable network encryption: Ensure your Wi-Fi is encrypted using WPA2 or WPA3 security protocols. Avoid WEP, as it's an outdated and easily exploitable encryption method.

  3. Update firmware regularly: Router manufacturers often release firmware updates to fix security vulnerabilities. Regularly check for updates and apply them to keep your router secure.

  4. Disable remote management: Remote management features can be useful but also pose a security risk. Disable remote management to prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings.

  5. Create a separate guest network: If you frequently have guests using your Wi-Fi, set up a separate guest network with its own password. This way, you can limit their access to your main network and minimize potential risks.

Remember, in the world of cybersecurity, the only winning move is a proactive defense. Secure your digital war room and stay one step ahead of the hackers.

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Jala-meme-ños 🌶️ 🤣

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