Intelligence

Pierluigi Paganini March 10, 2025
North Korea-linked APT Moonstone used Qilin ransomware in limited attacks

Microsoft researchers reported that North Korea-linked APT tracked as Moonstone Sleet has employed the Qilin ransomware in limited attacks. Microsoft observed a North Korea-linked APT group, tracked as Moonstone Sleet, deploying Qilin ransomware in limited attacks since February 2025. The APT group uses Qilin ransomware after previously using custom ransomware. “Moonstone Sleet has previously exclusively […]

Pierluigi Paganini March 06, 2025
The U.S. DoJ charges 12 Chinese nationals for state-linked cyber operations

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) charges 12 Chinese nationals for their alleged involvement in state-linked cyber operations. The U.S. DoJ charged 12 Chinese nationals, including PRC security officers, employees of the hacking firm i-Soon, and members of the APT27 group (aka Emissary Panda, TG-3390, Bronze Union, and Lucky Mouse), for data theft and suppressing dissent worldwide. “The Justice […]

Pierluigi Paganini March 06, 2025
Chinese Lotus Blossom APT targets multiple sectors with Sagerunex backdoor

China-linked Lotus Blossom APT targets governments and industries in Asian countries with new Sagerunex backdoor variants. Talos researchers linked China-backed Lotus Blossom APT (also known as Elise and Esile) to multiple campaigns targeting organizations in sectors such as government, manufacturing, telecommunications and media with the Sagerunex backdoor. The victims of the attacks are in the […]

Pierluigi Paganini March 05, 2025
China-linked APT Silk Typhoon targets IT Supply Chain

Microsoft warns that China-backed APT Silk Typhoon linked to US Treasury hack, is now targeting global IT supply chains, using IT firms to spy and move laterally. Microsoft reported that China-linked APT group Silk Typhoon has shifted tactics to target IT solutions like remote management tools and cloud apps for initial access. Silk Typhoon is […]

Pierluigi Paganini March 04, 2025
CISA maintains stance on Russian cyber threats despite policy shift

US CISA confirms no change in defense against Russian cyber threats despite the Trump administration’s pause on offensive operations. US CISA stated there is no change in defending against Russian cyber threats, despite the Trump administration’s temporary pause on offensive cyber operations. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has recently ordered US Cyber Command to pause […]

Pierluigi Paganini March 03, 2025
Serbian student activist’s phone hacked using Cellebrite zero-day exploit

Amnesty International reports that a Cellebrite zero-day exploit was used to unlock a Serbian activist’s Android phone. Amnesty International reported that a Cellebrite zero-day exploit was used to unlock the Android smartphone of a Serbian activist. In a statement published on 25 February 2025, Cellebrite announced that it had blocked Serbia from using its solution after reports that police […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 28, 2025
China-linked threat actors stole 10% of Belgian State Security Service (VSSE)’s staff emails

Belgian authorities are investigating Chinese hackers for breaching its State Security Service (VSSE), stealing 10% of emails from 2021 to May 2023. The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office is probing a possible security breach on its State Security Service (VSSE) by China-linked threat actors. Chinese hackers gained access to the VSSE’s email server between 2021 and […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 27, 2025
Cellebrite blocked Serbia from using its solution because misuse of the equipment for political reasons

Cellebrite blocked Serbia from using its solution after reports that police used it to unlock and infect the phones of a journalist and activist. A report published by Amnesty International in December 2024 documented the use of Cellebrite’s forensics tools by Serbia police to unlock and install spyware on the phones of a local journalist and […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 26, 2025
New Ghostwriter campaign targets Ukrainian Government and opposition activists in Belarus

A Ghostwriter campaign using a new variant of PicassoLoader targets opposition activists in Belarus, and Ukrainian military and government organizations. SentinelLABS observed a new Ghostwriter campaign targeting Belarusian opposition activists and Ukrainian military and government entities with a new variant of PicassoLoader. The campaign has been active since late 2024, threat actors used weaponized Microsoft […]

Pierluigi Paganini February 24, 2025
Australia bans Kaspersky over national security concerns

Australia bans Kaspersky software over national security concerns, citing risks of foreign interference, espionage, and sabotage of government networks. Australian Government banned products and services provided by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky over national security concerns. The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs has issued a mandatory directive under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) […]