Iranian flag waving with cityscape on background in Tehran, Iran. (Sir Francis Canker Photography/Getty Images) Microsoft: State-backed hackers grow in sophistication, aggressiveness Hackers from countries like Iran are increasingly pairing their hacking operations with information operations pushing propaganda. Oct 5, 2023 By AJ Vicens
US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at a joint news conference with Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Mexican Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez at the State Department in Washington on October 13. Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images) Mayorkas warns Latin American leaders of Beijing’s technology influence The Biden administration sees Chinese investments in Latin America as a potential precursor to cyber operations. Sep 28, 2023 By Christian Vasquez
Twitter’s logo is pictured on screen reflected by mirrors in Mulhouse, eastern France on May 30, 2023. (Photo by Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images) Pro-Chinese Twitter accounts seek to expand Beijing’s influence in Latin America One of the accounts directs users to an app that gathers personally identifiable information and seeks access to Twitter accounts. Jul 11, 2023 By AJ Vicens
Getty Images A different kind of ransomware demand: Donate to charity to get your data back The group has claims nearly 180 targets despite being relatively new and casts its attacks as a form of activism. May 18, 2023 By AJ Vicens
Aerial view of the city of San Jose, Costa Rica at night. (Getty Images) Latin America governments are prime targets for ransomware due to lack of resources, analysis argues The recent high-profile attacks on Costa Rica and Peru are examples of the dynamic, researchers say. Jun 16, 2022 By AJ Vicens
A health worker inoculates a woman with the jab of Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine near a shelter home during a special vaccination drive for homeless people in Ahmedabad on August 10, 2021. (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images) COVID-19 social media disinformation campaign sought to exploit TikTok, Instagram influencers The Facebook takedown comes amid Biden administration pressure on the company to do better on bogus COVID-19 information. Aug 10, 2021 By Tim Starks
Researchers from ESET, with the help of a nonprofit, say they’ve put a dent in a Peruvian botnet. (Getty Images) A 35,000-device botnet in Peru is wounded, but still mining cryptocurrency It’s an example of how the fight against a cybercriminal threat is often long and methodical — and heavily aided by the private sector. Apr 23, 2020 By Sean Lyngaas
Charity Wright on the latest scams coming from hackers in Latin America Laundering money through cryptocurrency and the various credit card fraud networks are prevalent throughout the region. Mar 25, 2020 By cyberscoop_staff Jeff Stone
Mexico Central Bank / Flickr CC2.0 North Korea to blame for string of Latin America bank hacks, insiders say A string of devastating bank hacks across Latin America all carry North Korean fingerprints, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Jun 18, 2018 By Chris Bing