Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [07.08.2024]: Click here to Know More
Important global cybercrime news has been curated by Futurecrime Researchers to keep you informed about various types of digital fraud occurring worldwide and to provide insights into the best mitigation strategies. Read below to learn more in detail.
1. Pune Resident Loses Rs 49 Lakh to Online Fraud
The Sinhgad Police registered a case against a fraudster for impersonating a policeman and stealing Rs 49.20 lakh from a 74-year-old man on August 5. The criminal intimidated the victim over the phone, convincing him to transfer the money. A probe and forensic investigation are underway to track the accused.
2. Cybercriminals Target Retired Bank Workers
A retired Punjab National Bank manager from Khanna was defrauded of Rs 10 lakh by cyber criminals. On August 3, he clicked on a credit card application link while on Facebook and received a WhatsApp call prompting him to click further, resulting in the unauthorized withdrawal. He filed a complaint with the cyber cell.
3. Delhi Police’s Cyber Cell Registers FIR in $230 Million WazirX Crypto Heist
WazirX filed an FIR on August 6 in response to a $230 million cyberattack on its crypto exchange last month. The FIR, lodged with Delhi Police, follows a complaint filed by WazirX. The company is cooperating with authorities to recover the stolen funds and prosecute the culprits.
4. Police Receive Training from Social Media Giants to Expedite Case Resolution
Kolkata Police met with WhatsApp and Facebook officials to learn technical skills for solving cybercrimes and preventing suicides. A training session focused on new technology and cryptocurrency-related crimes. The home ministry’s initiatives, including the Sanchar Saarthi portal, have disconnected 73 lakh mobile connections and blocked 2.3 lakh handsets to prevent fraud.
ALSO READ: Jamtara Cyber Crime Kingpins: 4 Arrested for Widespread Online Fraud Across India
5. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre Prevents Rs 2400 Crore Loss from Cyber Frauds
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’s system, set up in 2021, saved over Rs 2400 crore from cyber fraud across 7.6 lakh complaints. The Sanchar Saarthi portal disconnected 73 lakh forged mobile connections and blocked 2.3 lakh handsets. Additionally, 7 lakh fraudulent WhatsApp accounts were disengaged, and 11 lakh lost mobile sets were traced.
INTERNATIONAL
6. Hackers Attack Grand Palais Olympics Venue and Paris Museums
Hackers targeted 40 French museums, including the Grand Palais, with ransomware, blocking financial data systems and demanding cryptocurrency ransom. The French National Agency for Information Systems Security confirmed Olympic systems were unaffected. The Paris cyber cybercrime police are investigating. Nearly 70 cyberattacks linked to the Olympics were foiled recently.
7. Hackers Erase Data on 13,000 Students’ iPads and Chromebooks After Compromising Safety Software
Mobile Guardian experienced a security breach, leading to unauthorized access and remote wiping of devices. Around 13,000 students in Singapore had their iPads and Chromebooks wiped. The Ministry of Education is supporting affected students and removing Mobile Guardian’s software. The company has apologized and taken down its platform to prevent further issues.
ALSO READ: How Padma Shri Recipient’s Arrest in Multiple Scams Raises Questions About Awarding Process
8. North Korean Hackers ‘Moonstone Sleet’ Deploy Malicious JS Packages on npm Registry
The North Korea-linked group Moonstone Sleet has been pushing malicious npm packages to infect Windows systems. The packages harthat-api and harthat-hash were quickly removed after being published. The group uses these packages to deploy additional malware, often via LinkedIn or freelancing sites, targeting technical skills assessments.
9. Google Fixes Zero-Day Vulnerability in Android Already Exploited by Hackers
Google has patched a critical zero-day flaw in Android (CVE-2024-36971) affecting the operating system’s kernel. This vulnerability allows hackers to remotely execute code with system privileges, potentially leading to malware installation. The flaw, due to improper memory synchronization, can cause system crashes and unauthorized code execution.
10. Windows Smart App Control Security Flaw Exploited by Hackers for Years
A serious flaw in Windows Smart App Control and SmartScreen, discovered by Elastic Security Labs, allows attackers to bypass security alerts by manipulating LNK files. This flaw, exploited since at least 2018, removes the Mark of the Web (MotW) tag, preventing security warnings. Additional bypass methods include using code-signing certificates and repurposing trusted apps.