Blacksite's Intelligence Report - Week of June 29th, 2022
The Blacksite Weekly Intelligence Report
New Firefox Release Strips URL Tracking Parameters
Mozilla Firefox 102 was released today with a new privacy feature that strips parameters from URLs that are used to track you around the web. Facebook, HubSpot, Marketo, Olytics, and HubSpot utilize custom URL query parameters to track clicks on links. Mozilla Firefox will now strip the following tracking parameters when you click on links or paste an URL into the address bar. The feature is part of the Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection, which is set to 'Strict' The privacy-focused Brave Browser currently blocks this feature.
More information: https://www.engadget.com/firefox-can-now-automatically-remove-tracking-from-ur-ls-115228742.html
Russia Fines Google for Defamation of Russian Military
Roskomnadzor, Russia's telecommunications watchdog, has fined Google 68 million rubles (roughly $1.2 million) for helping spread what it called "unreliable" information on the war in Ukraine. The regulator said Google's YouTube video sharing platform "purposefully contributes" to spreading inaccurate info on Russia's war. YouTube is hosting more than 7,000 materials promoting what the watchdog considers illegal, including ones promoting extremist views, indifference to the life and health of minors, and calls for protests.
More information: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/russia-fines-google-for-spreading-unreliable-info-defaming-its-army/
Pirating Music Sites Seized in U.S & Brazil
The domains of six websites that streamed and provided illegal downloads of copyrighted music were seized by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice. Six individuals were arrested in 30 search and seizure raids across the country. The websites were advertised on social media to attract users willing to download and stream the illegal music content they provided. Brazilian authorities also requested and took down 15 social network profiles used for promotion purposes. Copyright infringement is behind annual losses of R$15 billion in Brazil (roughly $2.8 billion).
More information: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-seizes-six-websites-providing-illegal-access-copyrighted-music
Stolen PII and Deepfakes Being Used for Applying to Remote Jobs
Cybercriminals are using stolen PII and deepfakes to apply for remote work positions, the FBI says. Remote jobs include tech positions that would allow the crooks to gain access to company and customer confidential information after being hired. Deepfakes (digital content like images, video, or audio) are sometimes generated using artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) technologies and are difficult to distinguish from authentic materials. Such synthetic content has been previously used to spread fake news and create revenge porn, but the lack of ethical limitations regarding their use has always been a source of controversy.
More information: https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2022/PSA220628
Ukraine Arrests Cyber Criminal Group That Stole Millions Through Phishing Sites
The Ukrainian cyberpolice force arrested nine members of a criminal group that operated over 400 phishing websites. The sites were crafted to appear like legitimate EU portals offering financial assistance to Ukrainians. The total damage caused by this cybercrime operation is 100 million hryvnias, or approximately $3,360,000, stolen from roughly 5,000 victimized citizens. The arrested individuals face up to 15 years in prison for multiple violations of Ukraine's Criminal Code, including fraud and interference in computers and networks.
More information: https://cyberpolice.gov.ua/news/kiberpolicziya-vykryla-zlochynnu-grupu-na-pryvlasnenni--miljoniv-gryven-ukrayincziv-pid-vyglyadom-soczvyplat-z-yes-4638/
LGBTQ+ Dating Apps Targets of Extortionist Crime Rings
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has warned of extortion scammers targeting the LGBTQ+ community by abusing online dating apps like Grindr and Feeld. The criminals pose as potential romantic partners on LGBTQ+ dating apps, sending explicit photos to their targets, and asking them to reciprocate. If they fall for it, the victims get blackmailed into paying a ransom, usually in untraceable gift cards, under the threat of having sexual imagery they shared with the scammers leaked to their family, friends, or employers.
More information: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/06/spot-extortion-scams-lgbtq-dating-apps
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