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58. Cryptojacking, and Farewell for Now!
35:57The success of crypto inspired dozens of other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin. Today, people worldwide use cryptocurrencies to buy things, sell things, and make investments. One thing is certain; digital currencies are here to stay, no matter how many times you have to explain what a bitcoin is. Unfortunately, it also created the world of cryptojacking, a form of cybercrime that remains completely hidden from the target and can infect millions of computers with cryptojacking malware. Which brings us to the fundamental question: What can organizations do to protect themselves? In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Microsoft senior software engineer Amitrajit Banerjee and senior staff architect at Intel Rahul Ghosh to discuss the history and prevalence of cryptojacking. The push behind a cryptojacking attack is almost always motivated by money. Mining cryptocurrencies can be very lucrative, but making a profit is challenging unless you cover high costs. They discuss the importance of understanding the actual concept of mining, how victims' CPU power and computing resources can be used, and why it isn't easy in general to detect crypto miners. In This Episode You Will Learn: How prevalent is cryptojacking and who should be worried When and how people are exposed to these new types of threats Why you should be familiar with cryptojacking Some Questions We Ask: How are victims' CPU power and computing resources used to mine cryptocurrencies? What created this environment where cryptojacking is possible? What are some general techniques when trying to identify cryptojacking? Resources: The increasing threat of cryptocurrency miners Defending against cryptojacking Guidance for preventing, detecting, and hunting for exploitation View Amitrajit Banerjee on LinkedIn View Rahul Ghosh on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.
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57. A look at Cybercrime in 2021
41:12Ransomware attacks have never been so successful. The returns from these attacks are soaring and only becoming easier to conduct. In chapter two of the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, the growing threat of cybercrime is covered in great detail. As we continue to go over the MDDR, it's more apparent than ever that the cybercrime economy and services it provides are stronger and more complex than ever. Cryptocurrency, malware, and adversarial machine learning are just a few of the topics we believe need to be covered in more detail. In this episode of Security Unlocked, host’s Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Jason Lyons, principal investigator in the digital crimes unit at Microsoft. Jason is an experienced investigator specializing in computer investigations. He is trained and experienced in hacker methodology/techniques, computer forensics, and incident response. Jason joined the show to discuss Chapter two of the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, which focuses on the state of cybercrime. He also speaks on how cryptocurrency has created new challenges in ransomware, why ransomware continues to grow, and recent trends we are currently seeing in malware. In This Episode You Will Learn: How to decide whether to pay the ransomware or not New ways for security teams to protect against malware Why we are seeing a rise in cybercrime due to cryptocurrency. Some Questions We Ask: What's new in the way the cybercrime economy operates? Why is ransomware still such a big thing and maybe even getting bigger? What trends are we seeing with malware right now? Resources: Microsoft Digital Defense Report View Jason Lyons on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.56. What’s a BISO?
39:45Everything is exciting and new when you're a kid, and curiosity inspires many of us to branch out and try new things. For some, that means drawing from our imagination or trying all kinds of sports. And for others it means spending days at the library, checking out books on modem communications, and eventually hacking into the local dial-up community service. That's just a random example, of course... Either way, curiosity can be a powerful tool, even at a young age. To the point that it may help kickstart a career, you didn't even know existed. In this episode of Security Unlocked, host Natalia Godyla is joined by S&P Global Ratings BISO Alyssa Miller. Alyssa is a life-long hacker and highly experienced security executive. She runs the security strategy for S&P Global Ratings as the Business Information Security Officer (BISO), bringing together corporate security objectives and business objectives. Natalia and Alyssa discuss her journey in security from a young and curious hacker to a BISO of the largest credit-rating agency, and how she is shaping what the role of the BISO will be for future generations. In This Episode You Will Learn: What are the roles and responsibilities of a BISO How a BISO should interact with the rest of the organization How to put yourself on track to become a BISO Some Questions We Ask: What are the gaps that the BISO function is trying to address? What other roles should exist in security, but don’t? How will the BISO role evolve over time? Resources: View Alyssa Miller on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.55. Disinformation in the Enterprise
35:00Disinformation refers to the calculated use of false information to influence others and has been a steadily growing form of information warfare. Unfortunately, disinformation is everywhere these days, often hidden in plain sight. Criminals will also adapt and take advantage of technologies, such as AI and deepfakes, to increase the effectiveness of disinformation campaigns. Of course, there are ways to combat these types of attacks, and we cover recommendations for protecting the enterprise in the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report (MDDR). In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by the Director of Enterprise Continuity and Resilience at Microsoft, Irfan Mirza, who authored the chapter on disinformation in the enterprise in the 2021 MDDR. Irfan joins to discuss what disinformation is, why the use of disinformation is growing, how cognitive hacking occurs, and how cybersecurity can start thinking about adapting their strategies. In This Episode You Will Learn: How to identify disinformation campaigns How to train users and protect your organization from disinformation Why we need AI to defend against disinformation Some Questions We Ask: What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation? How does disinformation impact cybersecurity? What new skills do cybersecurity professionals need to be able to protect the enterprise from this new threat? Resources: Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2021 View Irfan Mirza on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.54. I am Shroot-less
36:09Microsoft works around the clock to protect their customers, no matter what product they’re using, Microsoft or otherwise. In some instances Microsoft teams up with other companies, creating an all-star cybersecurity team, to handle newly discovered vulnerabilities. It helps everyone stay more secure, and of course, that's the ultimate goal, right? In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are re-joined by Jonathan Bar Or, Principal Security Researcher at Microsoft. Jonathan discusses the recently discovered vulnerability that could let attackers bypass System Integrity Protection (SIP) in macOS, why he believes in investing in cross-platform protection, and the importance of collaboration between security researchers, software vendors, and the larger security community. In This Episode You Will Learn: What is System Integrity Protection (SIP) How attackers can bypass SIP How attackers can use the Shrootless vulnerability Some Questions We Ask: How did you find the Shrootless vulnerability? How do you decide what products to assess? How does the process of submitting a vulnerability to Apple work? Resources: Microsoft finds new macOS vulnerability - Shrootless View Jonathan Bar Or on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.53. Decoding NOBELIUM
48:54In December 2020, Microsoft began sharing information with the cybersecurity industry on a group of Russia-based hackers who gained access to multiple enterprises through vulnerable software code, stolen passwords, compromised on-premises servers, and minted SAML tokens. In this supply chain attack, hackers could access the SolarWinds code, slip malicious code into a piece of the software, and use the vendor’s legitimate software updates to spread malware to customer systems. Security Unlocked is excited to share with you, Decoding NOBELIUM. The docuseries gives you an inside look into the NOBELIUM incident, now viewed as one of the most advanced nation-state and supply chain attacks in history, with stories from the frontline defenders who tracked and responded to the attackers. Resources: Decoding NOBELIUM: Video SeriesDefending Against Nation-State Attacks | Microsoft SecurityView Natalia on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.52. Trusting Your Hybrid Workforce
41:10We are back, covering more of the 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report, and this time we’re taking a deep dive into chapter five on Hybrid Workforce Security and Zero Trust. Zero Trust means precisely what it sounds like, never assuming any device or identity is secure; it's like having major trust issues, but in a professional way. With most businesses moving to remote work because of the pandemic, cybercriminals, of course, found new ways to take advantage, especially since most people are now moving between business and personal activity online. For the first time, we’re going to cover a full 12-month recap of what securing the hybrid workforce has been like. In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Carmichael Patton, Lead Architect for Microsoft's Internal Zero Trust Deployment. Carmichael joins the show to discuss security challenges and trends impacting the hybrid workforce, the three most significant insider risk vulnerabilities, and why some customers are still not using MFA. In This Episode You Will Learn: Security challenges and trends impacting the hybrid workforce How Microsoft approached their Zero Trust journey Prioritizing security initiatives during a time of massive change Some Questions We Ask: What were some of the major hybrid workforce attacks? Why are some customers still not using MFA? When and how should you deal with insider risk? Resources: Zero Trust Adoption Report The 2021 Microsoft Digital Defense Report View Carmichael Patton on LinkedIn View Nic on LinkedIn View Natalia on LinkedIn Related: Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.