Welcome to our weekly cyber security news roundup, where we bring you the latest developments and insights from the growing world of digital security. In an era dominated by technological advancements, staying informed about the constantly emerging threats and innovative defense strategies is paramount. Whether you’re an individual safeguarding personal data or a professional defending sensitive information, our weekly curated cyber security news keeps you updated. Join us to navigate threats, breaches, trends, and solutions, staying ahead in online security.
January 2024 – Cyber Security News
Nigeria Launches “Cyber 30-30 Project” to Produce 30,000 Cybersecurity Experts by 2030
Nigeria aims to train and empower 30,000 information and data security experts by 2030 through the Cyber 30-30 Project. Mr. Yeshua Russel, the Team Lead of the initiative, revealed this during the project’s kickoff in Abuja. Supported by the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the IDEAS Project, Cyber 30-30 seeks to address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The project, implemented by Questcom Limited in collaboration with EC-Council and regional partners, focuses on employability and entrepreneurship. With Nigeria’s digital economy flourishing and facing increasing cybersecurity threats, the initiative aims to provide sustainable solutions to cybersecurity challenges. The first batch, starting with 500 trainees in Abuja, will undergo intensive cybersecurity training, internships, mentorship, and job placement. The goal is to train 30,000 experts across Nigeria in the next seven years.
To ensure inclusivity, Cyber 30-30 strives for a balanced gender distribution with a target of 50% female participation and provisions for persons with disabilities. The project operates across all six geo-political zones in Nigeria, aiming for nationwide accessibility to its programs. Beyond traditional training, the initiative encompasses employability and entrepreneurial skills building, peer group support, and comprehensive support systems, including internships and job placement.
In a recent interview on Hashtag Trending’s weekend edition, Jim Love conversed with Dan Kagan, the Country Manager for Okta. The discussion covered various topics, including Kagan’s leadership style, insights into the Canadian tech landscape, and more.
You can listen at this link or you can look for Hashtag Trending anywhere you get your podcasts – Apple, Google, Spotify or at itworldcanada.com/podcasts.
UK Nuclear Waste Firm RWM Under Cyber Attack: LinkedIn Breach Attempt
Radioactive Waste Management (RWM), the driving force behind Britain’s £50 billion Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) project, faced a cyber attack recently, with hackers targeting the company via LinkedIn.
The attempted breach aimed at RWM, the government-owned entity overseeing the GDF project among other nuclear waste management responsibilities, occurred after a merger forming Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), combining the GDF project, a low-level waste repository, and waste management functions for an anticipated 175-year storage solution.
CEO Corrin Parr highlighted potential exploitation linked to the ownership change, specifically citing LinkedIn as a primary attack vector within RWM’s recent filings at Companies House.
Despite these attempts, Parr affirmed that no cyber incidents significantly impacted RWM’s operations last year. An NWS spokesperson emphasized their multi-layered security that successfully detected and rebuffed these LinkedIn-based intrusion attempts, aligning with the larger trend of hackers using social media platforms to breach security.
Experts caution that such social engineering tactics, including email, phone, text, and social media channels, serve as gateways for hackers aiming to extract sensitive information from corporations and individuals.
The GDF project, set to host highly radioactive nuclear waste within an underground network, faces ongoing site selection challenges, with Allerdale in Cumbria recently deemed unsuitable. Two Cumbrian sites and one on the Lincolnshire coast remain on the shortlist despite local resistance.
Parr emphasized NWS’s focus on monitoring threat intent and activity associated with the GDF’s development consent, highlighting concerns about cyber incidents, social engineering, misinformation, community involvement, and employee online security.
In the face of these challenges, NWS remains vigilant and committed to fortifying cybersecurity measures to safeguard against potential cyber threats, while also emphasizing no evidence exists suggesting cyber threats influencing local opinions about the GDF’s site location.
Strategic Vision and AI: Cybersecurity Workshop Unites Anxinsec and 42 Abu Dhabi
In a significant collaborative effort, 42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE Cyber Security Council, and Anxinsec recently organized a highly successful Cyber Security Workshop themed “Navigating the Future: Cyber Security in a Digital Age” on December 21st in Abu Dhabi.
The event served as a convergence point for Anxinsec’s cybersecurity professionals and enthusiastic students from 42 Abu Dhabi, fostering discussions and insights into pivotal topics in the cybersecurity domain.
A notable highlight was H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security Council UAE, who delivered a compelling keynote on cybersecurity’s strategic vision. Dr. Al Kuwaiti underscored the importance of knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and innovation to combat cybersecurity challenges, instilling essential skills in future leaders.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti expressed his perspective: “Collaborating with 42 Abu Dhabi and Anxinsec is instrumental in educating students and future digital leaders about cyber threats. Our goal is to equip them with the necessary tools for securing the UAE’s future.”
The Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, Marcos Muller Habig, highlighted their commitment to a secure digital future through disruptive learning methods and partnerships with key entities like the UAE Cyber Security Council and Anxinsec.
Anxinsec’s security experts conducted sessions on “AI in Cybersecurity” and effective strategies against ransomware attacks, facilitating an exchange of ideas and best practices among attendees. Alex Jiang, Chairman of Anxinsec, emphasized their dedication to fostering a security culture beyond technological solutions.
Jiang remarked, “Collaborating with UAE Cyber Security Council and 42 Abu Dhabi was enriching. Our commitment extends to cultivating security mindfulness, safeguarding our digital way of life.”
This workshop not only solidified Anxinsec’s role as a contributor to the cybersecurity community but also provided a platform for industry professionals to advance cybersecurity practices and insights collectively.
In 2023, experts believe it marked a historic peak in digital attacks. One notable incident occurred in October when cyber-criminals infiltrated the British Library, an iconic establishment in London, encrypting its data and demanding payment for the decryption key. The library’s vast collection of 14 million books remains inaccessible despite months passing, indicating no immediate resolution. These ransomware attacks, where data is encrypted or stolen with demands for payment, are not solely affecting businesses but are also increasingly impacting the prosperity of regions across North America and Europe. Moreover, financially motivated assaults on critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and power utilities are posing a significant and escalating threat to national security. A British parliamentary committee on December 13th highlighted the alarming risk of “a catastrophic ransomware attack at any moment.”
Quantifying the extent of this issue proves challenging. Companies experiencing breaches or paying ransoms often hesitate to disclose such incidents. A rise in reported cases may not necessarily denote more attacks but improved detection measures. Nonetheless, it’s evident that following a decline in 2022, partly attributed to a division among Russian and Ukrainian hackers, ransomware attacks surged to their highest levels in 2023. Authorities anticipate that 2023 will be recorded as the most severe year of these attacks.
TAG.Global and CyberX Platform Join Forces for Cybersecurity Advancement
Amidst the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) and CyberX Platform have forged a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at collaborative efforts to expand awareness and fortify cyber capabilities across Arab and regional domains.
The MoU signing between HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of TAG.Global, and Eng. Mohannad Al-Kalash, the CyberX founder, emphasizes joint initiatives to heighten awareness and conduct specialized training programs, focusing on bolstering cyber capacities in the Arab and regional spheres.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted the pivotal role of such collaborations in cybersecurity, envisioning a positive impact on capacity-building, promoting certifications, and nurturing a specialized professional community within the Arab region.
Eng. Al-Kalash echoed this sentiment, stressing the critical need to address digital illiteracy and promote digital citizenship. He emphasized evaluating human awareness within organizations as the crucial link in cybersecurity, identifying potential threats, and rectifying vulnerabilities.
TAG.Global, a global entity spanning professional services, education, and tech products across over 100 offices worldwide, aims to leverage this partnership for cybersecurity enhancement.
On the other hand, CyberX stands as the premier Arabic platform dedicated to cybersecurity awareness and digital knowledge dissemination. Operating with specialized solutions and initiatives across several Arab countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt, CyberX is poised to expand its impact in promoting cybersecurity consciousness and education.
Phishing Test Reveals Vulnerability: A Concert Ticket Email Unveils Cybersecurity Concerns
In a recent incident, an unsuspecting individual received an enticing email offering the opportunity to purchase tickets for a highly anticipated concert. Delighted by the supposed chance, the recipient was on the verge of clicking the link before a moment of realization struck: they hadn’t used their work email for such purposes. This eyebrow-raising event was a phishing test initiated by the individual’s employer, uncovering the prevalent threat of cyber phishing.
Phishing attacks, where scammers impersonate trusted entities, have become a pervasive threat in the digital landscape. This case highlights the deceptive nature of such schemes, illustrating how easily individuals can fall victim to these ruses. The aim is often to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information or falling prey to malicious links.
This scenario is not isolated; the FBI received an alarming number of over 300,000 complaints related to phishing attempts in a single year. These schemes have left Americans suffering substantial financial losses, tallying a staggering US$10.3 billion. The statistics paint a grim picture of these deceptive tactics’ pervasive reach and financial impact.
Such incidents underscore the critical need for heightened vigilance and awareness among individuals and organizations. Remaining alert to suspicious emails, verifying the authenticity of sources, and refraining from clicking on unsolicited links are crucial in safeguarding against phishing attempts. This serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to combat cyber threats and protect against potential security breaches.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the widespread nature of phishing attacks, emphasizing the urgency for comprehensive cybersecurity measures and heightened awareness to prevent falling victim to such deceptive tactics.
Rising Cybercrime Drives 10.48% Growth in Next-Gen Firewall Market
The next-generation firewall (NGFW) market is projected to witness a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.48% from 2021 to 2028, fueled by global escalating cyber threats. Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence’s recent study highlights the critical role NGFWs play in countering increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks.
Reports from the Indian Crime Coordination Center underscore this surge, with a substantial uptick in cybercrime complaints. Instances of UPI Fraud surged from 62,350 to 84,145 between Q1 and Q2 of 2022. Similar rises were observed in Debit, Credit, and Sim Swap Fraud complaints and Internet Banking Fraud complaints.
NGFWs, more advanced than traditional firewalls, offer multi-layered security solutions. They encompass diverse types such as data center firewalls, firewalls-as-a-service, and rugged firewalls, designed to combat evolving cyber threats effectively.
Market advancements, including strategic collaborations and product launches, have further fueled this growth. Palo Alto Networks introduced five new ML-powered NGFWs, including the industry’s first firewall with a 1.5 Tbps App-ID performance capacity. Fortinet unveiled the FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall tailored for Amazon web services environments.
The NGFW market categorizes into rugged firewalls, data center firewalls, and cloud firewalls-as-a-service, with data center firewalls commanding a significant share due to their advanced security solutions.
Large enterprises dominate the NGFW market by enterprise size, while industries like BFSI, government, IT & Telecommunications, and retail are key end-users, with BFSI leading the sector.
Regionally, North America stands at the forefront, significantly impacted by cyber attacks. In the United States alone, approximately 1001 data breaches affected over 155.8 million people in 2020. Key players in the NGFW market include Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Sophos, Forcepoint, Juniper Networks, Sangfor Technologies, Check Point Software Technologies, Huawei Technologies, and SonicWall.
The market’s growth trajectory is driven by the urgent need for sophisticated cybersecurity measures to combat the ever-evolving cyber threats faced by industries worldwide.
Stay ahead in digital security with our weekly news roundup and cyber security blog section. Our curated updates cover evolving threats, defense strategies, and solutions, catering to individuals and professionals safeguarding personal and sensitive data. Join us for essential insights into online security.
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