Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Disguised Windows Files and Documentation

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

Today there is a new critical alert that requires the mission-critical community’s immediate attention.

Advisory Overview

Security researchers have discovered recent attempts by cyberattackers to infect machines with malicious Microsoft Word documents containing VBA macros and JavaScript — their goal is to plant a backdoor and create persistence. These documents are disguised as documentation or information related to the new Windows 11 Alpha release to entice users into interacting. The key recommendation to remediate the threat is to block the indicators of compromise (IOCs) identified in this advisory.

Implementing a Cybersecurity Training Program is the First Line of Defense

Cybersecurity has become a huge problem for any organization that is operating networks and/or systems, but especially so for those in the government sector, particularly public-safety and justice agencies.

Are Cloud-Based Solutions Right for Your Agency?

A lot of people in the public safety/justice/public sector sectors are talking about cloud-based solutions these days. It is easy to understand why there is so much chatter because solutions that live in the cloud offer some impressive benefits. Here are just a few:

• Cloud-based solutions typically offer best-of-breed technologies and services
• Cloud-based solutions remove the maintenance and upgrade burden from the end user from a technology perspective
• Cloud-based solutions often make it easier to share resources regionally or even broader compared with siloed, on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions typically offer enhanced resiliency and redundancy compared with on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions often make it easier for agencies to transfer operations to another location in “bug out” scenarios
• Cloud-based solutions are easier and faster to scale —both up and down, based on the agency’s needs at any given juncture — compared with on-premises solutions
• Cloud-based solutions typically are more secure, because providers often have greater information technology and cybersecurity resources and assets to draw upon

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: LockBit Ransomware

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Cisco Releases Patches for Multiple Security Vulnerabilities

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

This Month’s Cyberchat Shines a Light on the Rise of Ransomware

Earlier this year, we ramped up our cybersecurity efforts by launching a series of monthly video chats in which we summarize the most recent threats, share information from entities such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and offer tips for preventing cyberattacks and mitigating them if they occur. This month’s Cyberchat video, which can be viewed below, contains some important information that public-sector and critical infrastructure agencies need to have.

Double the Attack, Double the Fees

Double-encryption ransomware attacks, which typically include cyberattackers encrypting a target’s data twice, at the same time or shortly after each other, are on the rise. In this month’s video, we explore how agencies can mitigate the risk of a double-encryption attack and begin the rebuilding process if one occurs.

Next Week’s CAPS Explores Public-Safety Opportunities & Challenges

Having attended dozens of educational conferences over the decade that I served as editor-in-chief of Urgent Communications and Fire Chief magazines, I know an excellent one when I see it—and I can report without fear of contradiction that the second-annual Conference for Advancing Public Safety (CAPS)—being presented by Mission Critical Partners (MCP) on June 15-16—is shaping up to be an excellent educational event.

Liability Is Another Critical Reason to Be Prudent About Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks should be on the radar of every agency in the public-safety/justice community. One of the most prevalent attacks involves ransomware, which is a specific type of malware that cyberattackers use to exploit a system vulnerability and then launch a program that encrypts the organization’s data files, essentially locking them and rendering them unusable. The cyberattacker then demands a ransom—hence the name—to provide the key that unlocks the files.

Endpoint Protection is MCP's Latest Weapon in the Battle Against Cyberattacks

Network and system endpoints, i.e., workstations and servers, are the most vulnerable network and system elements because they directly interface with the applications that we use. Those applications act as gateways into those endpoints and thus are used by cyberattackers to deliver the malware that will enable them to carry out their nefarious missions. This is especially true of ransomware, which targets files and data that are accessible on or from those endpoints. The cyberattacker’s goal is to gain access and control of as many endpoints as possible.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Microsoft Patch Tuesday – May 2021

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

This week there is a new critical alert that requires the mission-critical community’s immediate attention.

Advisory overview

Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday release for May 2021 includes a Windows update that will remediate a multitude of vulnerabilities. The update will patch 55 vulnerabilities; one is critical, 50 are important, and one is moderate. It also includes patches for three zero-day vulnerabilities that are identified below. MCP recommends updating all Windows machines to apply these patches and remediate the vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: Leaked Windows RDP Credentials

Posted by Mike Beagles

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.

This week there is a new critical alert that requires the mission-critical community’s immediate attention.

Advisory overview

Hacker group UAS recently had 1.3 million Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) credentials, i.e., usernames and passwords, for Windows servers leaked by security researchers. The compromised credentials could allow a cyberattacker to log into a compromised RDP server. It is imperative to apply best security practices when handling Windows RDP servers, to prevent cyberattackers from accessing confidential information and granting more insight into a network. Such practices include a strong password policy and ensuring that RDP in not open to the internet.

Cybersecurity Threat Advisory: FortiOS Vulnerabilities

As part of our effort to inform our clients about potential and serious cybersecurity issues, MCP provides advisories about vulnerabilities and exploits that could threaten the operations of their critical communications networks. Sign up to receive these advisories in your inbox as soon as they are released.