Tag Archive for: east

Group-IB reveals Hi-Tech Crime Trends 23/24: surge in ransomware, leaks, and info stealers targeting Middle East and Africa


(MENAFN– Active DMC) Dubai, February 28, 2024 — Group-IB, a leading creator of cybersecurity technologies to investigate, prevent, and fight digital crime, has presented a comprehensive overview of the cyber threat landscape in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) for the years 2023/2024 with the release of its annual Hi-Tech Crime Trends report. The report provides a thorough analysis of how cybersecurity challenges in the MEA region have evolved. In 2023, Group-IB’s researchers identified a 68% surge in the number of ransomware attacks, with financial services and real estate companies emerging as the most common victims. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, South Africa, and Turkey were the most frequently targeted locales by Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) affiliates. Information stealers pose a significant concern, impacting 297,106 infected devices in the MEA region whose logs were made available on Underground Clouds of Logs (UCL), and an additional 903,002 hosts, logs from which were put up for sale on underground markets. Additionally, 152 new data leaks were detected in the MEA region in 2023.

Nation-state sponsored hackers target MEA

Group-IB researchers discovered that the Middle East and Africa was a significant target for advanced persistent threats (APTs), also known as nation-state sponsored groups, last year. Overall, Group-IB attributed 523 attacks to nation-state actors across the globe in 2023. Attacks on MEA organizations accounted for 15% of the global total, numbering 77, with Group-IB experts asserting that this may be due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the region, along with MEA’s importance to the global energy market.

The top targeted locales in the MEA region in 2023 were Israel (14 attacks), Turkey (12) and the GCC region (8). Government and military organizations suffered the most APT attacks in the MEA region, totalling 20. Transportation (8 attacks) and telecommunications (7) were the second and third most targeted sectors, respectively.

Attacks coordinated by groups such as APT42, Oilrig and Hexane (all from MEA) reflect the desire of certain countries in the region to strengthen their…

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UT Health East Texas back on divert status after ransomware attack


On Monday afternoon, UT Health East Texas was placed back on divert status, meaning hospitals are asking local ambulance services to transport patients in need of emergency care to other area hospitals. Visit this article to learn more: https://www.ketk.com/news/local-news/ransomware-attack-causes-ut-health-east-texas-to-go-into-divert-status-parent-company-says/ KETK/FOX51 News covers East Texas, bringing you the latest local stories, weather, sports and lifestyle coverage from the Piney Woods. Keep up with KETK/FOX51 News: https://www.ketk.com/ Download the KETK/FOX51 app: https://www.ketk.com/apps/ Subscribe to KETK/FOX51 News: https://www.youtube.com/@KETK Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KETKnbc and https://www.facebook.com/kfxkfox51

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How SOC as a Service is Transforming Internet Security in East Africa


How SOC as a Service is Transforming Internet Security in East Africa: A Comprehensive Analysis

The digital revolution in East Africa has been nothing short of remarkable. The region has seen an exponential growth in internet usage, with millions of people now connected to the global network. However, this digital boom has also brought with it a surge in cyber threats, necessitating robust internet security measures. One solution that is rapidly gaining traction is Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS). This innovative approach is transforming internet security in East Africa, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats.

SOCaaS is a subscription-based service that provides organizations with access to advanced security technology and expertise. It offers real-time monitoring, detection, and response to cyber threats, ensuring that businesses can operate safely in the digital space. The service is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that may lack the resources to establish and maintain their own in-house security operations center.

The adoption of SOCaaS in East Africa is driven by several factors. Firstly, the increasing sophistication of cyber threats necessitates advanced security measures. Traditional antivirus software and firewalls are no longer sufficient to protect against the myriad of threats that exist in the digital landscape. SOCaaS provides a more comprehensive solution, using advanced analytics and machine learning to detect and respond to threats in real time.

Secondly, the cost-effectiveness of SOCaaS makes it an attractive option for businesses in the region. Establishing an in-house security operations center can be prohibitively expensive, particularly for SMEs. SOCaaS, on the other hand, offers a more affordable solution, with businesses only paying for the services they need. This allows even small businesses to access high-level security measures that would otherwise be out of their reach.

Thirdly, the regulatory environment in East Africa is increasingly favoring the adoption of SOCaaS. Governments in the region are recognizing the importance of cyber security and are implementing regulations that…

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CleanMyMac – Review 2023 – PCMag Middle East


Most antivirus companies that publish macOS antivirus tools started with Windows security products. Not Kyiv-based MacPaw, which makes CleanMyMac. CleanMyMac is thoroughly Mac-focused, combining antivirus protection with a broad range of features to clean and tune your Mac. The cleanup features are effective and truly useful. The core antivirus visibly does its job, but it lacks some standard features and doesn’t have any lab test results.

By contrast, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Norton 360 Deluxe for Mac hold perfect scores from AV-Test, and Bitdefender adds a perfect score from AV-Comparatives. Norton is a cross-platform security suite that includes a no-limits VPN and 50GB of storage for your (Windows) online backups. Bitdefender also packs a VPN, ransomware protection, and a few other bonuses. Neither does as much to clean up and speed up your Mac as CleanMyMac does, but these two are our Editors’ Choice antivirus picks for the Mac.

Note that CleanMyMac’s online description clearly states that it “fights off malware, adware, ransomware, and all other ‘wares’ specific to macOS.” I’m evaluating this program as an antivirus utility for Macs, one that happens to have a big collection of bonus tools to clean and tune your Mac. A review focused on the cleanup side might well take a different approach.

How Much Does CleanMyMac Cost?

A one-year one-Mac subscription for CleanMyMac costs $39.95, the same (or nearly so) as Bitdefender, ESET, Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac, and Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac. After that, it gets confusing. The list price for a two-device CleanMyMac subscription is $79.90, and for five devices it goes up to a whopping $199.75. But those prices are cut by a volume discount (always active) and a daily coupon discount. Ignoring the coupon discount, you pay $59.95 for two licenses after the volume discount, about the same as F-Secure Safe for Mac. A five-device subscription will run you $89.95. Once you get past the discount confusion, CleanMyMac’s pricing is in line with the competition.

Avast, Avira, and AVG are free, which is handy if you didn’t budget for Mac antivirus. At the other end of the price spectrum, Norton lists…

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