Large-Scale Cyberattack Takes Down Several Israeli Government Websites

Israel appears to be recovering from a large-scale cyberattack. According to Haaretz and Kan's Amichai Stein, attackers took down several Israeli government websites, including those for the ministries of health, interior, justice and welfare. The Prime Minister's Office website was also affected. All of the websites are back online, the country's National Cyber Directorate said in a statement.

Restaurant Group Sues Google for Prioritizing Food Delivery Apps

A Florida restaurant group has sued Google for allegedly prioritizing food delivery apps over directing users to an establishment's own website. The lawsuit, filed in Northern California District Court on March 8 by Left Field Holdings, alleges that Google would allow users to place an order through search directly via an "order online" button that takes users to another Google ordering webpage, where orders are sold to food delivery companies.

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Ukrainian Security Researchers Say HackerOne Not Paying Bug Bounty Rewards

Ukrainian hackers and security researchers say bug bounty platform HackerOne is withholding their bug bounty rewards, in some cases thousands of dollars, and refusing to let hackers withdraw their earnings. Several hackers and researchers with affected HackerOne accounts said in tweets that HackerOne is blocking payouts, citing economic sanctions and export controls following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, but that the sanctions don’t apply to them.

Insurers Fear Claims for Coverage of Cyberattacks Linked to Ukraine War

Insurance for cyberattacks has been a booming business, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has insurers sweating about the possibility of big losses. They are rushing to plug a possible loophole that leaves them vulnerable: A judge in New Jersey ruled last year that essentially said a common acts-of-war exclusion doesn’t cover cyberattacks.

Russian Internet Users Seek Ways to Avoid Ban on Facebook, Instagram

As Russia blocked access to Meta Platforms Inc's flagship social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, demand from internet users for tools to skirt the restrictions skyrocketed, data from a monitoring firm showed. Instagram access in Russia was cut in response to Meta's decision to allow social media users in Ukraine to post messages such as "Death to the Russian invaders".

Meta Says Rules Change Doesn't Allow 'Calls for the Death of a Head of State'

Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. clarified that it is against the company’s user rules to share a post that “calls for the death of a head of state” -- likely a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, Facebook temporarily relaxed its policies so that Ukrainian users could post threats of violence against the Russian military, which invaded its neighbor in late February. The change led to some public confusion as to what was allowed, and what was not, on Facebook and Instagram.

YouTube App 'Vanced' Being Discontinued 'Due to Legal Reasons'

The popular Vanced YouTube app is being discontinued, after a legal threat from Google. The creators of Vanced have revealed the project will be shut down in the coming days, with download links set to be removed. While the app will continue to work for anyone who currently has it installed on Android, without any future updates it’s likely to stop working at some point soon. The Vanced owners say they’ve had to discontinue the project “due to legal reasons.”

Russia Legalizes Patent Infringement by Those in 'Unfriendly' Countries

Russia has effectively legalized patent theft from anyone affiliated with countries “unfriendly” to it, declaring that unauthorized use will not be compensated. The decree illustrates the economic war waged around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the West levies sanctions and pulls away from Russia’s huge oil and gas industry.

Twitter, Facebook Remove Posts from Russian Embassy After Hospital Bombing

Twitter Inc. and Meta Platform's Facebook have removed posts from the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom about the bombing of a children's hospital in Mariupol for breaking its rules against denying violent events, the companies said. Three people including a child were killed in the air strike on the maternity and children's hospital in the Ukrainian city, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Facebook to Allow Posts Calling for 'Death to the Russian Invaders'

Facebook will allow some calls for violence against Russian invaders as the war in Ukraine drags on, creating an unusual exception to its long-standing hate speech rules that prohibit such language. “As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have temporarily made allowances for forms of political expression that would normally violate our rules like violent speech such as ‘death to the Russian invaders.’ We still won’t allow credible calls for violence against Russian civilians,” spokesman Andy Stone said.

Ukrainian Man Extradited to United States in Ransomware Case

A Ukrainian man charged last year with conducting one of the most severe ransomware attacks against U.S. targets has been extradited to the United States and made a court appearance, the U.S. Justice Department said. According to an August 2021 indictment, Yaroslav Vasinskyi, 22, accessed the internal computer networks of several victim companies and deployed Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware to encrypt the data on their computers, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Bitcoin Price Surges After Biden Signs Executive Order on Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin’s price surged on President Biden’s executive order to study digital currencies, a move the industry welcomed and skeptics decried as delaying needed regulation. The order, titled “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets,” directed agencies across the federal government to produce reports on digital currencies and consider new regulations.

Fresno, Calif., Lost $400,000 After Falling Victim to Phishing Scam

The city of Fresno, Calif., lost about $400,000 in 2020 after falling victim to an electronic phishing scam, and former Mayor Lee Brand’s administration failed to disclose the loss to the Fresno City Council and taxpayers, The Fresno Bee has confirmed. Furthermore, the Fresno City Attorney’s Office in December 2021 rejected a public records request from The Fresno Bee seeking city communications regarding the fraud.

Belarus Blamed for Phishing Attacks Against Polish Military, Ukraine Officials

Belarus conducted widespread phishing attacks against members of the Polish military as well as Ukrainian officials, security researchers said, providing more evidence that its role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has gone beyond serving as a staging area for Russian troops. Google’s threat-hunting team released details of the tricks deployed against the Polish military, which a spokeswoman said appeared to be the first report of its kind.

Hackers Linked to Chinese Government Accessed State Computer Systems

Hackers believed to be sponsored by the Chinese government have accessed computer systems in six U.S. state governments in a continuing espionage campaign that included the use of the widespread Log4J computer bug detected late last year, according to cybersecurity researchers. The hacks, which took advantage of vulnerable internet-facing web applications, date to at least May 2021, according to new findings made public by the U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Mandiant.

Commerce Secretary Warns Chinese Companies About Defying Russian Sanctions

Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, issued a stern warning to Chinese companies that might defy U.S. restrictions against exporting to Russia, saying the United States would cut them off from American equipment and software they need to make their products. The Biden administration could “essentially shut” down Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation or any Chinese companies that defy U.S. sanctions by continuing to supply chips and other advanced technology to Russia, Ms. Raimondo said in an interview with The New York Times.

British Government to Force Social Media Sites to Ban Fraudulent Ads

Britain said it would force Google, Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms to prevent paid-for fraudulent adverts after calls from regulators and consumer groups for a stronger crackdown on scams. The government said its draft law on preventing online harms would include the requirement for large platforms to improve protection from criminals impersonating celebrities or companies to steal personal data, peddle unsafe financial investments or break into bank accounts.

Lumen Becomes Second U.S. Internet Service Provide to Cut Russian Ties

Lumen, a leading American Internet provider to Russia, announced that it was severing business relations in the country, a move likely to increase Russia’s isolation as its citizens slip behind what some analysts are calling a new digital Iron Curtain. Lumen became the second top U.S.-based carrier to make such a move in recent days, following Friday’s announcement by Cogent Communications.

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