The Evolving Landscape of Ransomware Attacks

The story of how hackers managed to compromise the US Government's official SEC Twitter account to boost the price of Bitcoins, AI isn't helping reduce the rife conspiracy theories inside classrooms, and is the funeral bell tolling for ransomware?

All this and more is discussed in episode 404 of the "Smashing Security" podcast by cybersecurity veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault, joined this week by special guest Jane Wakefield.

Warning: This podcast may contain nuts, adult themes, and rude language.

Episode links:

• SEC's Twitter account hacked to say Bitcoin ETFs approved - Hot for Security.
• Twitter says it’s not its fault the SEC’s account got hacked - Graham Cluley.
• SEC Twitter hack blamed on SIM swap attack - Hot for Security.
• The SEC’s X account got hacked by a 25-year-old who went by ‘AGiantSchnauzer’ and got paid in Bitcoin, feds say - Fortune.
• Pupils share conspiracy theories for fun, with girls ‘more susceptible’ - The Times.
• AI chatbots unable to accurately summarise news, BBC finds - BBC News.
• US-led cybersecurity coalition vows to not pay hackers' ransom demands - TechCrunch.
• 35% Year-over-Year Decrease in Ransomware Payments, Less than Half of Recorded Incidents Resulted in Victim Payments - Chain Analysis.
• Ransomware: proposals to increase incident reporting and reduce payments to criminals - GOV.UK.
• The 2024 Ransomware Landscape: ‘Looking back on another painful year’ - IT Wire.
• The Space Doctor’s Big Idea by Randall Munroe - The New Yorker.
• Reading guide: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner - Booker Prizes.
• Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)

Sponsored by:

• 1Password – Secure every app, device, and identity – even the unmanaged ones at 1password.com/smashing.
• Tripwire Enterprise - Set up a demo of Tripwire Enterprise to see how you can simultaneously harden your systems and automate compliance.
• Scanner.dev provides a new technology offering fast search and threat detections for security data in S3 helping teams reduce the total cost of ownership of their SIEM by up to 90%. Try the interactive playground at scanner.dev/demo

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Tell your friends and colleagues about “Smashing Security”, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser.

Become a supporter via Patreon or Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes and our early-release feed!

FOLLOW US:

Follow us on Bluesky or Mastodon, or on the Smashing Security subreddit, and visit our website for more episodes.

THANKS:

Theme tune: "Vinyl Memories" by Mikael Manvelyan.

Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.