Hackers used fake ads on Google to trick users into downloading a malicious AnyDesk application. The ad campaign ranked higher in downloads than even the real AnyDesk ads. Researchers estimated that over 40% of users who clicked on the fake ad, downloaded and installed the malware, showing that this was a very successful strategy for the fraudsters.

CNA, a US insurance giant, paid $40 million ransom to recover its systems in March.  This was one of the largest payments so far.  The attack was carried out using Phoenix CryptoLocker believed to have been used by Evil Corp a Russian cybercrime Network.  Since the pandemic there has been a large increase in the number of ransomware attacks and ask payments by hackers.  To defend against ransomware attacks, companies should secure

The DarkSide Ransomware group lost all its servers used to pull off ransomware attacks such as the recent one against Colonial Pipeline. The hackers said they had lost access to key parts of their infrastructure—the servers used for its blog, payment processing, and denial of service operations. DarkSide didn’t release where those servers were located or which country’s law enforcement had seized them. The takedown rattled other underground ransomware forums.

Possible security threats linked to recycled phone numbers.