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Headlines

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has initiated a new program aimed at enhancing election security heading into the 2024 election season. The move is designed to help local election offices secure their vote totals and reassure voters that the process will be safe and accurate. The announcement was made to the National Association of State Election Directors and the National Association of Secretaries of State during their annual meetings in Washington, D.C.

The program has a wide purview, looking to address security challenges from a diverse range of potential threats. That list includes foreign governments, ransomware gangs, and the spread of misinformation. CISA’s program comes in the wake of recent headlines that have disturbed many election commentators, like AI-generated robocalls in New Hampshire and a cyberattack in Fulton County, Georgia.

U.S.-based data security software company Cohesity just made a major move — announcing plans to acquire Veritas’ data protection business in a deal that will create a $7 billion entity. A cash and stock transaction backed by SoftBank Group of Japan, the deal aims to expand Cohesity into international markets. Cohesity CEO Sanjay Poonen lauded the deal as a way to combine fast growth with fundamentals that are already profitable. And, of course, he also took the time to mention that AI would be a big part of their mission going forward.

Veritas, currently majority-owned by Carlyle Group, will separate its remaining businesses into a new company while Carlyle rolls over its stake in the unit and joins the new board. The timing of the acquisition puts Cohesity’s big move takes the limelight just as their main competitor Rubrik is supposedly preparing to launch their IPO.

A recent report by Chainanalysis delivers some shocking news: crypto ransom attack payments surged to an unprecedented $1 billion in 2023, an increase from $567 million in 2022. Much of the rise is attributed to scammers targeting major institutions with the cash reserves to make massive payouts — including hospitals, schools, and even governments.

It’s part of what Chainanalysis is calling “big game hunting,” where threat actors seek ransoms upwards of the $1 million mark. In probably the most reported example in 2023, cl0p made almost $100 million from exploiting MOVEit file-sharing software. Crypto has also proven an effective way to launder money for governments under international sanctions.

Interesting Read

Alyse Burnside, writing for DataCenter Knowledge, explores the crucial elements and challenges of establishing a robust cybersecurity culture within organizations in this interesting read. There’s plenty of ink spilled over its importance, but companies struggle to implement effective cybersecurity strategies. In the article, Burnside provides insights from IT professionals and security experts. They show how executive support and a culture of responsibility can safeguard against threats.

For the latest openings in cybersecurity careers, check CybersecurityHQ.

Stay Safe, Stay Secure.

The CybersecurityHQ Team