Cybersecurity

Homeland Security sees rising cyber threats

Recently the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center issued a disturbing report disclosing a sophisticated and widespread series of cyberattacks.

Numerous sectors have been hit, the report says, including “Information Technology, Energy, Healthcare and Public Health, Communications and Critical Manufacturing” since May of 2016 and perhaps even earlier.

Who is behind this campaign of cyberattacks is unknown, and the NCCIC is of course still investigating. In the meantime, its report serves as a warning for companies and offers steps they can take to counter this threat.

According to the report, “threat actors appear to be leveraging stolen administrative credentials (local and domain) and certificates, along with placing sophisticated malware implants on critical systems.” The report indicates that IT service providers have been targeted as a way to gain access to the computers of their customers.