Tag Archive for: division

Ransomware group Blackcat is behind cyberattack on UnitedHealth division, company says – NBC New York


  • Change Healthcare on Thursday confirmed that the ransomware group Blackcat is behind the ongoing cybersecurity attack that’s been impacting its systems since last week.
  • The attack has caused widespread disruptions to pharmacies and health systems across the U.S.
  • “We are actively working to understand the impact to members, patients and customers,” said Change Healthcare, which is owned by UnitedHealth.

Change Healthcare on Thursday confirmed that ransomware group Blackcat is behind the ongoing cybersecurity attack that’s caused widespread disruptions to pharmacies and health systems across the U.S.

“Our experts are working to address the matter and we are working closely with law enforcement and leading third-party consultants,” Change Healthcare told CNBC in a statement Thursday. “We are actively working to understand the impact to members, patients and customers.”

The company said it’s working with Mandiant, which is owned by Google, and cybersecurity software vendor Palo Alto Networks.

In a since-deleted post on the dark web, Blackcat said Wednesday that it was behind the attack on Change Healthcare’s systems. The group said it managed to extract six terabytes of data, including information like medical records, insurance records and payment information.

Change’s parent company UnitedHealth Group said it discovered that a cyber threat actor breached part of the unit’s information technology network on Feb. 21, according to a filing with the SEC. UnitedHealth isolated and disconnected the impacted systems “immediately upon detection” of the threat, the filing said, but it didn’t disclose the nature of the attack or exactly when it took place.

Blackcat, also called Noberus and ALPHV, steals sensitive data from institutions and threatens to publish it unless a ransom is paid, according to a December release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Blackcat has compromised computer networks across the U.S. and the globe, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, the release said. 

Change Healthcare offers tools for payment and revenue cycle management that help facilitate transactions like reimbursement payments. In 2022, it merged with the…

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FBI Cyber Crime Division Warns Tribal Casinos About Ongoing Threats


Posted on: November 6, 2021, 05:54h. 

Last updated on: November 6, 2021, 05:54h.

The FBI Cyber Crime Division says casinos owned by Native Americans should remain on high alert for ransomware attacks.

FBI Cyber Crime tribal casinos
FBI Director Christopher Wray says cybercrime is only intensifying in frequency. Tribal casinos, the federal intelligence and security agency says, are at high risk of a criminal online attack. (Image: Getty)

Numerous counts of cyber attacks on tribal casino resorts have been reported in recent years, but there’s been an uptick of such crime, federal officials explain. In an industry notification distributed to tribal casino properties last week, the FBI says cyber gangs find such businesses attractive to penetrate due to an array of perceived security shortcomings.

Bleeping Computer, an information security and technology media outlet that first reported on the FBI intelligence, explains that since the tribal casinos are located on sovereign land, their IT infrastructure networks are at greater risk of attack.

Limited cyber investigative capabilities and law enforcement resources are likely some of the reasons behind ransomware groups seeing US tribes as desirable targets,” wrote Sergui Gatlan for Bleeping Computer.

The FBI Cyber Crime Division adds that while many tribal casinos are IT savvy with world-class computer networks and gaming systems, many others remain limited to basic internet security safeguards.

Bounties Growing

In mid-September of 2020, the Cache Creek Casino Resort in Northern California confirmed it was forced to shutter its gaming and resort operations due to a cyber attack. The tribal casino complex initially told guests that it was closing due to a “systems infrastructure failure.” The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, owners of the resort, later revealed that internet criminals were behind the IT intrusion. The attack kept the casino closed for three weeks.

This year, a cyber attack in Oklahoma resulted in all six Lucky Star Casinos shuttering operations. Tribal officials said they were working with the FBI to resolve the matter…

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NSWC Crane Division Manager Awarded Civilian Service Commendation Medal > Naval Sea Systems Command > Saved News Module


Clint Seyer, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division’s (NSWC Crane) manager for the Expeditionary Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems Division, was recently  awarded the Department of the Navy (DON) Civilian Service Commendation Medal (CSCM) in recognition of significant contributions to the United States (U.S.) Navy. Seyer was recognized for significant efforts during his 18-year career at NSWC Crane Division.  He developed short and long term strategies that resulted in national leadership recognition in the Electronic Warfare (EW) mission area.

Seyer’s award commendation letter reads, “…your dedication and supervision to the Expeditionary EW mission resonates in every aspect of your leadership and drive…”

CSCM recognizes performance well above what is expected of an individual, and above the degree of excellence reflected in a performance evaluation. Performance is at the equivalent level of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Seyer began his career at Crane in 2003 as the Quality/Safety Focal Point where he provided quality systems and safety support to the Electro-Optics/Chemical and Bio Sensors Division. He was selected as the Chief Strategist for the Spectrum Warfare Department in 2013. In that position, he was responsible for the department’s strategic planning efforts where he successfully worked to develop short and long term strategies resulting in achievement of national leadership in the EW mission area. In 2018, Mr. Seyer was selected as the Division Manager for the Expeditionary EW Systems Division where he is responsible for management and oversight of a division team supporting several expeditionary EW Systems and direct workload execution of multiple Acquisition Category (ACAT) II programs impacting U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Special Forces positioned around the globe.

As the Chief Strategist, Mr. Seyer positioned NSWC Crane to be a leader in EW Systems among the Department of Defense, working directly with the Spectrum Warfare Systems Department Director to make strategic plans that have enabled successful execution of our Command’s strategic intent. As the Division…

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SpaceX plans likely spinoff and IPO for Starlink broadband division

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching into the sky.

Enlarge / A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 60 Starlink satellites launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on January 29, 2020. (credit: Getty Images | SOPA Images )

SpaceX is likely to spin out its Starlink broadband business, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell said today at an investor event.

“Right now, we are a private company, but Starlink is the right kind of business that we can go ahead and take public,” Shotwell said at the event, according to a Bloomberg article. “That particular piece is an element of the business that we are likely to spin out and go public.”

While CEO Elon Musk has kept SpaceX private, a Starlink public offering would “giv[e] investors a chance to buy into one of the most promising operations within the closely held company,” Bloomberg wrote.

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Biz & IT – Ars Technica