Security News This Week: A Dangerous Worm Is Eating Its Way Through Software Packages
This week's security news is filled with alarming developments that highlight the ever-evolving threats facing individuals and organizations worldwide. From a catastrophic worm spreading its way through hundreds of software packages to China's surveillance systems being built on US technologies, our coverage has you covered.
A Self-Replicating Worm Is Spreading Chaos
The cybersecurity world is reeling from the emergence of a new and highly sophisticated malware known as Shai-Hulud. This self-replicating supply-chain attack worm has compromised hundreds of open source software packages on the Node Packet Management (NPM) code repository, used by developers of JavaScript.
Shai-Hulud's design allows it to infect a system using one of these software packages, then hunt for more NPM credentials to corrupt another package and continue its spread. According to one count, the worm has infected over 180 software packages, including 25 used by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which has since had them removed from the NPM repository.
Another count from ReversingLabs puts the affected code packages at over 700, making Shai-Hulud one of the largest supply-chain attacks in history. The intent behind this mass credential-stealing remains unclear, but its potential impact is undeniable.
The US Tech Industry's Role in China's Panopticon
Western privacy advocates have long warned about the dangers of China's surveillance systems, which they argue could become a dystopian nightmare if unchecked data collection goes unregulated. A recent Associated Press investigation reveals that China's surveillance network has been largely built on US technologies.
The AP found evidence that American companies such as IBM, Dell, Cisco, Intel, Nvidia, Oracle, Microsoft, Thermo Fisher, Motorola, Amazon Web Services, Western Digital, and HP have provided surveillance applications and tools to Chinese police and domestic intelligence services. This raises serious questions about the ethics of US tech companies contributing to China's surveillance state.
Scammers Unleash SMS Blasters with Bypassing Telecom Company Measures
Scammers have gained a new tool for sending spam texts, known as "SMS blasters." These devices can send up to 100,000 texts per hour while evading telecom company anti-spam measures.
SMS blasters deploy rogue cell towers that trick people's phones into connecting to the malicious devices, allowing scammers to send the texts directly and bypass filters. This new tactic poses a significant threat to individuals and organizations alike.
ICE Detains Thousands in Unsanitary Conditions
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been making headlines this week for its detention practices. According to reports, 15 New York officials were arrested by ICE and the NYPD at 26 Federal Plaza, where ICE detainees are being held under conditions deemed unsanitary by courts.
Russia Conducts Military Exercises with Hypersonic Missiles
Russia has conducted conspicuous military exercises testing hypersonic missiles near NATO borders, stoking tensions in the region. This development comes after the Kremlin recently flew drones into Polish and Romanian airspace, further escalating tensions between Russia and its Western allies.
Flaws in Microsoft's Entra ID System Could Have Been Exploited
A pair of flaws in Microsoft's Entra ID identity and access management system could have been exploited to access virtually all Azure customer accounts—a potentially catastrophic disaster. Fortunately, the vulnerabilities have since been patched.
Burner Phones and VPNs: A Guide to Staying Safe Online
Wired recently published a guide to acquiring and using burner phones, as well as alternatives that are more private than regular phones but not as labor-intensive as true burners. We've also updated our guide to the best VPNs for protecting your online identity.
Stay Safe Online This Week
This week's security news is a reminder that the threats facing us are ever-evolving and multifaceted. By staying informed and taking steps to protect yourself, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to these emerging threats.
Click the headlines below to read the full stories and stay up-to-date on the latest security news.
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And that's all for this week. Stay safe out there!