Author: HackWatchit

Data centers and cloud optimization continue to be an important stepping stone to innovation within agencies. But what lessons have agencies learned to create more impactful optimization for the future? During this webinar, you will gain the unique perspective of top government IT experts: Robert Costello, Chief Information Officer and Associate Director of Mission Engineering, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Richard Inzunza, Cloud Broker, Immigration & Customs Enforcement Cmdr. Jonathan White, Cloud and Data Branch Chief, C5I Service Center, Coast Guard Scott Keenan, Managing Director, Public Sector Capture, Verizon Business Jim Gwiazda, Vice President, Public Sector, Equinix Moderator: Luke McCormack, Host…

Authorities in the United Kingdom this week arrested four alleged members of “Scattered Spider,” a prolific data theft and extortion group whose recent victims include multiple airlines and the U.K. retail chain Marks & Spencer. Scattered Spider is the name given to an English-speaking cybercrime group known for using social engineering tactics to break into companies and steal data for ransom, often impersonating employees or contractors to deceive IT help desks into granting access. The FBI warned last month that Scattered Spider had recently shifted to targeting companies in the retail and airline sectors. The U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA) declined…

Positioned as a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain instead of a Layer 2, TAC promises Telegram’s billion-strong user base one-tap access to Ethereum-grade DeFi while keeping assets natively on TON. Crypto has chased “the next billion users” for a decade, yet newcomers still face intimidating wallet setups, seed phrases, and confusing RPC menus. At the same time, Telegram, boasting a very tangible one billion monthly users and a lively crypto community, would benefit from Ethereum’s robust DeFi ecosystem. TAC argues that the missing link is a network extension: an EVM-compatible execution layer embedded into Telegram’s native blockchain, TON, letting users effortlessly…

Well well well, in news that will shock absolutely no-one it has been confirmed that Ingram Micro was hit by ransomware. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, speculation swirled that the IT product distributor had suffered a cyber attack after its website went unexpectedly offline over the US holiday weekend. In a statement published on its investor relations website, Ingram Micro confirmed that a ransomware attack had impacted its internal systems, and it had taken the step of “proactively taking certain systems offline” while it attempted to shore…

Russian professional basketball player Daniil Kasatkin was arrested in France at the request of the United States for allegedly acting as a negotiator for a ransomware gang. Daniil Kasatkin is a Russian basketball player who briefly played NCAA basketball at Penn State before returning to Russia in 2019. In four seasons with MBA-MAI, he appeared in 172 games before he left the team. According to French media, Kasatkin was arrested at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport on June 21st after landing in France with his fiancée. The arrest was made as part of a United States international arrest warrant for his role as…

Topic: Cybersecurity in Local Government: Navigating Compliance and Risk Watch Now Abstract: As the cybersecurity market continues to focus on large enterprises and national-level compliance, local governments and municipalities are often left underserved—despite managing vast amounts of personally identifiable and financial information for large populations. This webinar will examine key cybersecurity threats targeting local governments, such as ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and IoT vulnerabilities. Real-world case studies will be discussed to illustrate their impact, including service disruptions, financial losses, and diminished public trust. Attendees will gain insights into developing and implementing compliance-driven policies and security frameworks specifically tailored for local…

In a major development, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with a series of cyberattacks that impacted major UK retailers Marks & Spencer (M&S), Co-op Group, and Harrods in April and May 2025. These arrests mark a crucial step in an ongoing investigation that remains a top priority for the agency. The Attacks and Their Impact The cyber criminals gained access to the retailers’ computer systems through aggressive social engineering tactics, which involve manipulating individuals to gain confidential information or access. This likely involved exploiting a common third-party supplier. The attacks…

Four individuals suspected of having been involved in the ransomware attacks that hit UK-based retailers earlier this year have been arrested by the UK National Crime Agency. “Two males aged 19, another aged 17, and a 20-year-old female were apprehended in the West Midlands and London this morning (10 July) on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering and participating in the activities of an organised crime group,” the NCA said. “All four were arrested at their home addresses and had their electronic devices seized for digital forensic analysis.” Their names have not been made public as they…

With just weeks left before a key cybersecurity law expires, lawmakers are facing mounting pressure to act or risk unraveling a core part of the nation’s digital defense strategy. The Congress passed Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) was originally passed to facilitate threat intelligence sharing between private companies and the federal government, and is set to sunset at the end of September.  Security experts warn that without reauthorization, companies may hesitate to report cyber threats due to liability concerns, potentially leaving critical sectors blind to fast-moving attacks. The legislative stalemate now threatens to erode hard-won progress in…