Blog
New Ransomware Called DeathRansom Hits The Scene
Early in 2019, a new strain of ransomware appeared. Called “DeathRansom,” its bark was initially much worse than its bite. Researchers quickly discovered that the new strain only pretended to encrypt a user’s files. If victims simply removed the “encryption” extension, they could get their files back without doing anything at all. That ceased to […]
Zombieload V2 Is Back To Wreak Havoc On Intel Chips
Zombieload is back. First discovered in May of this year, it was described as a successor to the infamous Meltdown attack. That was a data-leaking side-channel vulnerability that impacted all Intel processor generations from 2011 and beyond. Intel hasn’t had a good run of late, being beset almost constantly by these kinds of issues, and […]
Twitter Making Changes To Their Political Ad Rules
Social media has been at the center of several high-profile political dramas of late. The major platforms came under fire for not doing enough to monitor political ads and other content. The major players on the social media landscape are all responding in different ways to the backlash. Recently, Twitter announced some new policies that […]
New Ransomware Targets Removable And Attached Drives
There’s a new and unusual ransomware strain making the rounds that you should be aware of. Called ‘AnteFrigus,’ it is primarily distributed via ‘malvertising’ that redirects users to the RIG exploit kit. One of the most unusual features of this strain is the fact that it specifically doesn’t target the C: drive of the target […]
Microsoft Cortana App Getting Dropped From Many Countries
It appears that Microsoft is getting rid of their Cortana App in several countries due to security concerns. The question is whether the United States will be next. Recently, the following notice appeared on Microsoft’s UK site: “To make your personal digital assistant as helpful as possible, we’re integrating Cortana into your Microsoft 365 productivity […]
Hackers Are Already Targeting Disney Plus Accounts
In case you weren’t already aware, Disney recently launched a new video streaming service called Disney+ which has been driving Netflix and other established streaming services crazy with fear and apprehension since it was first announced. If the early indications are any clue, Netflix has little to worry about, but Disney has their hands full. […]
Google Fixed The White Screen Issue On Chrome
Google recently found itself in hot water with corporate IT administrators for rolling out a feature designed to help prolong battery life. The new feature accomplished its mission, but it had an unintended consequence that left Enterprise IT personnel furious. The feature is called “WebContent Occlusion,” and the idea is simple. If a user has […]
Android Devices Using Qualcomm Chips Can Be Hacked
Do you have an Android device? Is it built around a Qualcomm chipset? If so, be advised that you may be at risk. According to a report recently published by security firm CheckPoint, a recently discovered flaw could allow hackers to steal a variety of sensitive information on your phone or tablet. The vulnerability resides […]
Public Chargers Can Expose Your Device To Hacking And Malware
On paper, it seems like a lovely idea to use a public charger. Airports, hotels, and other high traffic areas have begun to increasingly offer public USB power charging stations to give people a convenient means of recharging their favorite devices. Unfortunately, things are not working out quite according to plan. Naturally, hackers around the […]
Hackers Are Imitating Government Agencies To Spread Malware
Researchers at Proofpoint have found evidence of a new threat actor who has been sending out convincing looking emails. They are claiming to come from several government agencies. These include the Italian Revenue Agency, the German Federal Ministry of Finance, and the United States Postal Service. This is all part of a malicious campaign designed […]
A Visionary Approach to Your Security
The purpose of an IT partner isn’t just to fix something when it is broken, it is to keep your people working and your data secure. Astral moves beyond traditional managed services by addressing all the key areas of cybersecurity in today’s complex landscape.
