U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland arrives to deliver remarks at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2024. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) US and UK accuse China of cyber operations targeting domestic politics Officials in Washington and London say hackers backed by the Chinese state sought to silence dissidents and surveil politicians. 4 days ago By AJ Vicens Derek B. Johnson
A 12-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen on December 19, 2023 in Bath, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) U.S. sanctions maker of Predator spyware The Biden administration sanctions individuals and entities behind the commercial surveillance tool implicated in human rights abuses. Mar 5, 2024 By Elias Groll
A developer works on a late-night project. (PeopleImages/Getty Images) Google: Governments need to do more to combat commercial spyware The commercial spyware industry continues to supply highly advanced surveillance capabilities despite efforts to better regulate it. Feb 6, 2024 By AJ Vicens
A police car goes past the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor agency to the KGB, and Lubyanka Square in front of it in central Moscow on March 3, 2023. (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images) US and British authorities sanction, indict Russian hackers Andrey Korinets and Ruslan Peretyatko are alleged to have played a key role in the FSB's efforts to meddle in U.S. and British politics. Dec 7, 2023 By AJ Vicens
The North Korean flag files over the North Korean embassy in Beijing, 18 July 2007. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. government sanctions prolific North Korean cyber espionage unit The veteran hacking crew has been at the heart of Pyongyang's efforts to gather intelligence by breaching computer systems. Dec 1, 2023 By AJ Vicens
(Michelle Lee / Flickr) Treasury fines virtual currency exchange Bittrex for failing to catch ransomware payments The virtual currency exchange based in Washington state failed to catch more than 100,000 transactions from sanctioned regions. Oct 11, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said an executive order on spyware is coming. (Photo by Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images) Alternative payment apps such as AliPay a boon for cybercriminals, experts tell Congress They pointed to the use of apps such as China-based Alipay and Russia-based Qiwi as a growing problem and a national security threat. Sep 20, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Mourners at a funeral ceremony in Tehran on Aug. 4 for five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps killed during the conflict against the Islamic State group in Syria. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) U.S. government takes sweeping action against Iranian hackers accused of ransomware spree The action from multiple U.S. departments is against 10 Iranians and two Iranian companies related to a spree of breaches and cyberattacks. Sep 14, 2022 By AJ Vicens
The Treasury Department in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2022. (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Why Tornado Cash sanctions are drawing fierce criticism, potential court challenge from crypto group Sanctions against the cryptocurrency mixer have ignited concern from industry stakeholders, privacy advocates and legal experts. Aug 15, 2022 By Tonya Riley
North Korean flags blow outside an apartment building. Lazarus Group, a broad set of suspected North Korean hackers, is behind Operation Sharpshooter, according to McAfee. (Flickr user (stephan)) Cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ see record transactions from sanctioned actors An increase in funds sent from illicit addresses has accelerated the rise, indicating the technology remains attractive to cyber criminals. Jul 14, 2022 By Tonya Riley