The RSA Conference will be held next week at San Francisco's Moscone Center (Photo: Mathew Schwartz/ISMG)

Dell to Sell RSA to Private Equity Firm for $2 Billion

Scott Ferguson • February 18, 2020

Dell Technologies has agreed to sell its RSA security division to private equity firm Symphony Technology Group in an all cash deal worth more than $2 billion, the companies announced Tuesday. The news comes on the eve of the annual RSA Conference in San Francisco, which starts Monday.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

DoppelPaymer Ransomware Gang Threatens to Dump Victims' Data

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Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Phishing Campaigns Tied to Coronavirus Persist

Apurva Venkat • February 20, 2020

As the coronavirus generates headlines around the world, cybercriminals are continuing to use this public health crisis to spread phishing emails and create malicious domains for a variety of fraud. Here's an update on the latest developments.

Endpoint Security

Amazon's Ring Mandates Two-Factor Authentication

Jeremy Kirk • February 19, 2020

Amazon's Ring is mandating the use of two-factor authentication for all users, a move designed to help stop creepy takeovers of the web-connected home security cameras. A passcode will be sent to a user's email address or by SMS.

Governance

Coronavirus Update: Tips for Travel

Tom Field • February 19, 2020

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 75,000 people and led to over 2,000 deaths. But business travelers should avoid panic, says pandemic expert Regina Phelps, who offers preventive health tips for those headed to international events, such as the RSA 2020 conference.

Endpoint Security

Preview: 12 Top Keynote Sessions at RSA Conference 2020

Mathew J. Schwartz • February 19, 2020

Are you attending the RSA 2020 conference? To help navigate the show, here's a preview of 12 top keynote sessions featuring some of the biggest names in cybersecurity tackling critical subjects, including cryptography, critical infrastructure security, bug bounties and supply chain risks.

Cybercrime

Unpatched VPN Servers Hit by Apparent Iranian APT Groups

Scott Ferguson • February 18, 2020

Unpatched Fortinet, Palo Alto and Pulse Secure VPN servers, as well as Citrix gateways, continue to be targeted by hackers, who are exploiting critical flaws to install backdoors inside corporate networks. Security firm ClearSky warns that apparent Iranian APT attackers are the latest to join the fray.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Plastic Surgery Database Exposed: Researchers

Apurva Venkat • February 18, 2020

An unsecured database belonging to a French technology firm that supplies video and digital equipment to plastic surgery and dermatology clinics exposed content on 900,000 patients, according to a report from two independent security researchers.

Account Takeover

Mobile Banking Users Targeted in SMS Phishing Campaign

Ishita Chigilli Palli • February 18, 2020

Cybercriminals targeted mobile banking users by sending malicious SMS messages to their smartphones as part of a phishing campaign to steal account holders' information, including usernames and passwords, according to the cybersecurity firm Lookout.

Events

RSA Conference 2020 Preview

Tom Field • February 18, 2020

"The Human Element" is the theme of the RSA Conference 2020, but there are plenty of technology-rich topics in store for attendees, including session tracks that focus on election security, open source tools, product security and anti-fraud. Britta Glade, a conference director, previews the event.

Cybercrime

Google Removes 500 Chrome Extensions Tied to Malvertising

Apurva Venkat • February 17, 2020

Google has removed 500 Chrome extensions from its online store after researchers found that attackers were using them to steal browser data, according to a new report from security firm Duo Security. The thefts were part of a malvertising campaign that had been active for at least a year, the researchers say.

Business Continuity Management / Disaster Recovery

IBM Exits RSA Conference 2020 Over Coronavirus Worries

Mathew J. Schwartz • February 17, 2020

With IBM and seven other sponsors withdrawing from next week's RSA Conference 2020 - as worries over the China-centered outbreak of the coronavirus continue - will others follow suit?

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

US Charges Huawei With Stealing Trade Secrets

Ishita Chigilli Palli • February 14, 2020

The U.S. Justice Department has filed new charges against Huawei and several of its subsidiaries, plus its CFO, accusing them of engaging in a conspiracy to steal trade secrets from American companies.

Application Security

Analysis: Indictments in Equifax Hack

Nick Holland • February 14, 2020

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report analyzes the indictments of four Chinese military officers in connection with the 2017 Equifax data breach. Also featured: Advice on implementing NIST's new privacy framework; lessons learned in a breach disclosure.