On May 23, 2023, CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) published an updated version of the #StopRansomware Guide, as ransomware actors have accelerated their tactics and techniques since its initial release in 2020. The update incorporates lessons learned from the past two years and includes additional recommended actions,… More
Tag Archives: CISA
Preparing for and Mitigating Foreign Influence Operations Targeting Critical Infrastructure (i.e., Dealing with the Fallout from Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine)
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”) has just released CISA Insights: Preparing for and Mitigating Foreign Influence Operations Targeting Critical Infrastructure, which provides proactive steps organizations can take to assess and mitigate risks from information manipulation. Malicious actors (i.e., Russia) may use tactics—such as misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation—to shape public opinion, undermine trust, and amplify division, which can lead to impacts to critical functions and services across multiple sectors. … More
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Launches First-Ever Cyber Safety Review Board
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the establishment of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), as directed in President Biden’s Executive Order 14028 on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. The CSRB is a public-private initiative that will bring together government and industry leaders to elevate U.S. cybersecurity.
The CSRB will review and assess significant cybersecurity events, so that government,… More
CISA on Russia, Ukraine and Ransomware
According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA“), the potential hostilities between Russia and Ukraine are likely to spill over into cyber warfare. In this month’s CISA Insights:
Every organization in the United States is at risk from cyber threats that can disrupt essential services and potentially result in impacts to public safety. Over the past year, cyber incidents have impacted many companies,… More
Will “stopransomware.gov” Actually Stop Ransomware?
In response to the spate of ransomware attacks, the United States has launched a website, www.cisa.gov/stopransomware. According to the government press release, the website’s aim is:
to help public and private organizations defend against the rise in ransomware cases. StopRansomware.gov<http://stopransomware.gov/> is a whole-of-government approach that gives one central location for ransomware resources and alerts. We encourage organizations to use this new website to understand the threat of ransomware,… More
Kaseya VSA Cyberattack: What Kaseya and the Feds Are Saying
If you aren’t following the ransomware attack on Kaseya’s VSA product and approximately 800-1500 of its users, you should be. Like many cyberattacks, this one came on the verge of a holiday weekend. As the company itself notes, “Kaseya’s VSA product has unfortunately been the victim of a sophisticated cyberattack. Due to our teams’ fast response, we believe that this has been localized to a very small number of on-premises customers only. … More
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Announces New Cybersecurity Requirements for Critical Pipeline Owners and Operators
On May 27, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a Security Directive that will enable DHS to better identify, protect against, and respond to threats to critical companies in the pipeline sector. (And for those in other business sectors, this is a potential preview of cybersecurity regulation to come.)
“The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving and we must adapt to address new and emerging threats,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N.… More
The SolarWinds Orion Hack: The Basics You Need to Know
By now, you have heard about the SolarWinds Orion hack. But what do you need to know about it?
First, if you want or need the technical details, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has them. In particular, on December 13, 2020, CISA released Emergency Directive 21-01: Mitigate SolarWinds Orion Code Compromise, ordering federal civilian executive branch departments and agencies to disconnect affected devices.… More
CISA Issues Ransomware Alert for Activity Targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sectors
On October 28, 2020, a joint cybersecurity advisory was coauthored by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This advisory describes the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by cybercriminals against targets in the healthcare and public health sectors to infect their systems with Ryuk ransomware for financial gain.
CISA,… More
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Identifies Essential Critical Energy Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response
On March 19, 2020, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued its Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response (“Memo”). The Memo identifies workers who conduct “a range of operations and services that are essential to continued critical infrastructure viability” and who support a wide-spectrum of industries such as medical and healthcare, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, and energy.
As provided by the Homeland Security Act of 2002,… More