Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning , Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development

Cyber Fail: More Bumbling Cybercrooks, Avoidable Breaches

Welcome to "Cyber Fail" - ISMG's roundup of all that's broken in the world of cybersecurity, where our panel of experts uncovers the fails so we can strengthen our defenses. In this episode, Information Security Media Group host Anna Delaney and guest experts take on bumbling cybercrooks, avoidable breaches and the ethics of paying a ransom.

See Also: 5 Requirements to Stay Afloat in the SIEM Storm

In this episode:

• Ransomware Impersonator. IT security analyst Ashley Liles, who impersonated a ransomware actor and tried to blackmail his employer, is definitely out of the running for Employee of the Month. He recently pleaded guilty to blackmail and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison. Our experts examine how Liles tripped up and how this case underscores growing insider threats.
• KillNet Fail. Somehow, Russian hacking group KillNet missed its invitation to the Eurovision after-party in 2022 and vowed revenge against NATO countries. Despite repeated DDoS attacks against hospitals and other targets, our experts point out that these self-proclaimed pro-Russian hacktivists are still waiting in the wings of the international stage.
• This Is Going on Your Permanent Record! If an LA school teacher threatens to put something on your permanent record, they really mean "permanent." Experts discuss the thorny privacy issues of storing student mental health records for up to 40 years.
• Who's to Blame? Everyone says, "Don't pay the ransom," but what if the cybercriminals are threatening to expose private exam photos of breast cancer patients? Our experts weigh in on the ethics of paying a ransom.
• Why Is Everyone So Scared of ChatGPT? Who's afraid of the Big Bad Chatbot? Apparently, nearly every technologist, broadcaster and high school English teacher in the world. In case you’ve never heard of ChatGPT, here’s what you’ve been missing.
• Cyber Fix. Finally, a story of altruism in the hacking world. Congratulations to the unknown mystery hacker who emptied nearly 1,000 crypto wallets controlled by Russia's foreign military intelligence and security services and transferred the funds to Ukrainian aid groups.

Be sure to catch Anna Delaney, director of productions, ISMG, and our special guests for the next episode of "Cyber Fail."

Special Guests

• Chase Cunningham, Dr. Zero Trust, podcaster, security adviser
• Richard Bird, CSO, Traceable
• Quentyn Taylor, senior director, information security, EMEA, Canon
• Marcin Szczepanik, CISO, Essar Oil
• Thom Langford, director, (TL)2 Security

ISMG contributors: Tom Field, senior vice president, editorial; Rashmi Ramesh, assistant editor; Anviksha More, copy editor; Mat Schwartz, managing editor, DataBreachToday; Tony Morbin, news editor, EU; and Marianne Kolbasuk McGee, executive editor, HealthcareInfoSecurity.