Author: HackWatchit

The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening of July 12, resulting in a 500-acre expansion, according to a news release from the National Park Services. Fire managers have confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins in the developed area. On July 12, at approximately 10:30 p.m., fire activity intensified rapidly, fueled by sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Firefighters made significant efforts overnight to slow the fire’s progression under dangerous and fast-changing conditions. Aerial bucket…

MITRE has introduced AADAPT (Adversarial Actions in Digital Asset Payment Technologies), a new cybersecurity framework designed to tackle vulnerabilities in digital financial ecosystems, including cryptocurrency platforms. Modeled after the MITRE ATT&CK framework, AADAPT offers developers, policymakers, and financial institutions a structured approach to identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats tied to digital asset payment technologies. Drawing on insights from over 150 sources across government, industry, and academia, the framework maps adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) targeting critical components such as consensus mechanisms and smart contracts. “Digital payment assets like cryptocurrency are set to transform the future of global finance, but…

When beloved children’s characters starts dropping f-bombs on Twitter, it’s time to teach a lesson about cybersecurity. Over the weekend, Sesame Street star Elmo’s verified account was apparently hijacked and used to post a string of profane messages, including one describing Donald Trump as a “child f****r” and referencing Jeffrey Epstein. The messages described Donald Trump as a “puppet” (not a muppet) of Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed Trump was named in the Epstein files, and called for Jews “to be exterminated.” Sign up to our free newsletter.Security news, advice, and tips. The messages were published on Twitter for…

Russian professional basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, previously playing for Moscow’s MBA team, was taken into custody last month at Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris. The 26-year-old, standing 6’7″ tall, athlete was arrested upon his arrival with his fiancée (to whom he had just proposed) at the request of American prosecutors. Authorities suspect him of being a negotiator for a ransomware group, facing charges in the US of “conspiracy to commit computer fraud” and “computer fraud conspiracy.” This criminal operation, still without a public name, is believed to have attacked around 900 organizations, including two US federal government agencies, between…

Australia has officially adopted the AS IEC 62443 series as national standards for protecting OT (operational technology) environments across critical infrastructure from cyber threats. This decision comes as cyberattacks grow more frequent and sophisticated, increasingly targeting the systems that support daily lives. OT systems are the backbone of essential services such as energy, water, transport, medical devices, and building automation. A successful cyberattack on these systems could disrupt communities, threaten public safety, and harm the environment. The AS IEC 62443 standards help prevent this by offering a clear, structured approach to cybersecurity that supports safety, reliability, and resilience throughout the…

UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has announced a new Vulnerability Research Initiative (VRI) that aims to strengthen relations with external cybersecurity experts. The agency already conducts internal vulnerability research on a wide range of technologies and will continue to do so. However, the launch of VRI will create a parallel program designed to improve discovery and sharing of critical insights with the community more expeditiously. The NCSC is the UK’s cybersecurity authority, tasked to protect from cyber threats targeting the country’s critical infrastructure, government, businesses, and citizens. To fulfill this mission, the agency publishes alerts, cybersecurity guidance, and threat analysis, provides…

Interlock ransomware group deploys new PHP-based RAT via FileFix Pierluigi Paganini July 14, 2025 Interlock ransomware group deploys new PHP-based RAT via FileFix (a ClickFix variant) in a widespread campaign targeting multiple industries. The Interlock ransomware group is deploying a new PHP-based variant of the Interlock RAT in a broad campaign. According to researchers from the DFIR Report, in partnership with Proofpoint, it uses a delivery method known as FileFix, a variant of ClickFix, to target multiple industries. A new PHP-based variant marks a shift from the earlier JavaScript-based Node.js version. Since May 2025, it has been linked to the KongTuke…

make smart choices when it starts out knowing nothing and can only learn through trial and error? This is exactly what one of the simplest but most important models in reinforcement learning is all about: A multi-armed bandit is a simple model for learning by trial and error. Just like we do. We’ll explore why the decision between trying something new (exploration) and sticking to what works (exploitation) is trickier than it seems. And what this has to do with AI, online ads and A/B testing. Visualization by ChatGPT 4o. Why is it important to understand this concept? The multi-armed…

Digital identification verification is the wave of the future at IRS “IRS has seen tremendous improvements in performance and its processes allowing taxpayers to get through and access the service,” said GAO’s Jay McTigue. Terry Gerton June 25, 2025 5:03 pm 7 min read Guest: Jay McTigue Title: GAO Director of Strategic Issues Summary: To prevent fraud, the IRS needs to make sure that tax filers are who they say they are. A new ID-proofing approach now means that more than 70% of filers can be verified digitally, but the GAO says IRS still needs to work on its privacy…