2024 Cyber Talent Study by N2K and WiCyS. [Special Edition]

Communications consultant and podcaster Carole Theriault always loved radio and through her career dabbled in many areas .She landed in a communications and podcasting role where she helps technical firms create audio and digital content. In fact, Carole is the CyberWire's UK Correspondent. She says cybersecurity is good place to go because of the many different avenues available and "you don't even have to be a tech head" (though Carole has quite a technical pedigree). Our thanks to Carole for sharing her story with us.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ismael Valenzuela, Vice President Threat Research & Intelligence, from Blackberry Threat Research and Intelligence team is discussing their work on "Transparent Tribe Targets Indian Government, Defense, and Aerospace Sectors Leveraging Cross-Platform Programming Languages." BlackBerry has identified Transparent Tribe (APT36), a Pakistani-based advanced persistent threat group, targeting India's government, defense, and aerospace sectors from late 2023 to April 2024, using evolving toolkits and exploiting web services like Telegram and Google Drive. Evidence such as time zone settings and spear-phishing emails with Pakistani IP addresses supports their attribution, suggesting alignment with Pakistan's interests. The research can be found here: Transparent Tribe Targets Indian Government, Defense, and Aerospace Sectors Leveraging Cross-Platform Programming Languages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TeamViewer tackles APT29 intrusion. Microsoft widens email breach alerts. Uncovering a malware epidemic. Google's distrust on Entrust. Safeguarding critical systems. FTC vs. MGM. Don’t forget to backup your data. Polyfill's accidental exposé. Our guest is Caitlyn Shim, Director of AWS Cloud Governance, and she recently joined N2K’s Rick Howard at AWS re:Inforce event. They're discussing  cloud governance, the growth and development of AWS, and diversity. And a telecom titan becomes telecom terror. Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Guest Caitlyn Shim, Director of AWS Cloud Governance, joined N2K’s Rick Howard at AWS re:Inforce event recently in Philadelphia, PA. They spoke about cloud governance, the growth and development of AWS, and diversity. Caitlyn was part of the Women of Amazon Security Panel at the event. You can read more about Caitlyn and her colleagues as they discuss their diverse paths into security and offer advice for those looking to enter the field  here.  Selected Reading TeamViewer investigating intrusion of corporate IT environment (The Record) Microsoft reveals further emails compromised by Russian hack (Engadget) Chicago Children's Hospital Says 791,000 Impacted by Ransomware Attack (SecurityWeek) Unfurling Hemlock: New threat group uses cluster bomb campaign to distribute malware (Outpost 24) Google to block sites using Entrust certificates in bombshell move (The Stack)  US House Subcommittee examines critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, role of cyber insurance in resilience efforts (Industrial Cyber)  FTC Defends Investigation Into Cyberattack on MGM as Casino Giant Seeks to Block Probe (The National Law Journal) This is why you need backups: A cyber attack on an Indonesian data center caused havoc for public services – and its forcing a national rethink on data security (ITPro) Polyfill.io, BootCDN, Bootcss, Staticfile attack traced to 1 operator (Bleeping Computer)  ISP Sends Malware to Thousands of Customers to Stop Using File-Sharing Services (Cybersecurity News)   Share your feedback. We want to ensure that you are getting the most out of the podcast. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey as we continually work to improve the show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Solution Spotlight, guest Seeyew Mo, Assistant National Cyber Director, Office of the National Cyber Director at the White House, shares the nuances of the White House's skills-based approach (and how it's not only about hiring) with N2K President Simone Petrella. Seeyew shares a progress report on the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy nearly one year out. For more information, you can visit the press release: National Cyber Director Encourages Adoption of Skill-Based Hiring to Connect Americans to Good-Paying Cyber Jobs. The progress report Seeyew and Simone discuss can be found here: National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Initial Stages of Implementation.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arkansas sues Temu over privacy issues. Polyfil returns and says they were wronged. An NYPD database was found vulnerable to manipulation. Google slays the DRAGONBRIDGE. Malwarebytes flags a new Mac stealer campaign. Patch your gas chromatographs. Microsoft warns of an AI jailbreak called Skeleton Key.  CISA tracks exploited vulnerabilities in GeoServer, the Linux kernel, and Roundcube Webmail.  In our  'Threat Vector' segment, host David Moulton speaks with Jim Foote, CEO of First Ascent Biomedical, about his transition from Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to leading a biotech company utilizing AI to personalize cancer treatments. Metallica is not hawking metal crypto.  Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. Threat Vector Segment In this segment of the Palo Alto Networks podcast 'Threat Vector,' host David Moulton speaks with Jim Foote, CEO of First Ascent Biomedical, about his transition from Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to leading a biotech company utilizing AI to personalize cancer treatments. They discuss how Foote's personal experience with his son's cancer diagnosis drove him to apply cybersecurity principles in developing an innovative approach, called Functional Precision Medicine, which tailors cancer treatment to individual patients. The conversation also covers the role of mentorship, the importance of interdisciplinary skills, and the transformative potential of AI in both cybersecurity and medical fields. You can listen to the full episode here.  Selected Reading Arkansas AG lawsuit claims Temu’s shopping app is ‘dangerous malware’ (The Verge) Polyfill claims it has been 'defamed', returns after domain shut down (Bleeping Computer) NYPD officer database had security flaws that could have let hackers covertly modify officer data (City & State New York) Google TAG: New efforts to disrupt DRAGONBRIDGE spam activity (Google) ‘Poseidon’ Mac stealer distributed via Google ads (Malwarebytes) Gas Chromatograph Hacking Could Have Serious Impact: Security Firm (SecurityWeek) Microsoft warns of novel jailbreak affecting many generative AI models (CSO Online) CISA Warns of Exploited GeoServer, Linux Kernel, and Roundcube Vulnerabilities (SecurityWeek) Metallica’s X account hacked to promote crypto token (Cointelegraph) Share your feedback. We want to ensure that you are getting the most out of the podcast. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey as we continually work to improve the show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Varmazis, N2K host of T-Minus Space Daily, talks with WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm and N2K's Simone Petrella, Dr. Heather Monthie, and Jeff Welgan about the 2024 Cyber Talent Study. N2K and WiCyS have come together under a common mission to attract, retain, and advance more women in cybersecurity. Together, we strive to support women throughout their career journey, and secure the future of our industry.   This groundbreaking report leverages skills data from the professional members of Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), and offers valuable insights into cybersecurity competencies within the industry. The Cyber Talent Study establishes a new benchmark for understanding the capabilities and potential of women in cybersecurity, and can be used to inform both individual training needs and organizational strategies for career advancement and skills enhancement.  Resources: Landing page: WiCyS Partners with N2K to deepen understanding of cyber competencies within the industry. Study Launch article: WiCyS Partners with N2K Networks for Pioneering Cyber Talent Study. Key Takeaways: Outstanding Performance: WiCyS members have demonstrated exceptional performance across several key areas of the NICE Framework, underscoring the importance of WiCyS’s training and development programs. Strategic Insights: Analysis revealed remarkable strengths and areas for development, providing WiCyS with actionable data to tailor future programs and initiatives and ensure its members remain at the forefront of cybersecurity excellence. Actionable Insights for Cybersecurity Workforce Development: The study revealed critical areas for targeted development to enhance cybersecurity workforce readiness. This insight empowers WiCyS to tailor its programs specifically to meet the diverse needs of its members, ensuring all participants are prepared to take on significant roles and lead in the cybersecurity industry. Leadership Readiness Among WiCyS Members: The study highlights that WiCyS members are highly skilled and uniquely prepared for leadership roles within the cybersecurity industry. Proven Expertise in Critical Cybersecurity Domains: The data show the outstanding capabilities of WiCyS members within the cybersecurity landscape. Excelling in nearly every N2K Functional Area mapped to the NICE Framework, WiCyS members have shown they not only meet but exceed the standards in key domains. You can access the final report of the 2024 Cyber Talent Study here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LockBit drops files that may or may not be from the Federal Reserve. Progress Software patches additional flaws in MOVEit file transfer software. A popular polyfil open source library has been compromised. DHS starts staffing up its AI Corps. Legislation has been introduced to evaluate the manual operations of critical infrastructure during cyber attacks. Researchers discover a new e-skimmer targeting CMS platforms. A breach at Neiman Marchus affects nearly 65,000 people. South African health services grapple with ransomware amidst a monkeypox outbreak.  Medusa is back. On the Learning Layer, Sam and Joe discuss the CISSP's CAT format and how to walk into test day with confidence. The VA works to clear the backlog caused by the ransomware attack onChange Healthcare. Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest On our Learning Layer segment, host Sam Meisenberg and Joe Carrigan continue their discussion of Joe's ISC2 CISSP certification journey using N2K’s comprehensive CISSP training course, which includes a simulated Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) final exam. Sam and Joe discuss the CISSP's CAT format and how to walk into test day with confidence. Good luck Joe! Selected Reading Lockbit Leaks Files for Evolve Bank & Trust in Its Alleged ‘Federal Reserve’ Data Dump (Metacurity) Progress Software warns of new vulnerabilities in MOVEit Transfer and MOVEit Gateway (Cyber Daily) Polyfill supply chain attack hits 100K+ sites (Sansec) Exclusive: DHS hires first 10 AI Corps members (Axios) US House bill seeks to assess manual operations of critical infrastructure during cyber attacks (Industrial Cyber) Caesar Cipher Skimmer targets popular CMS used by e-stores (Security Affairs) Neiman Marcus confirms breach. Is the customer data already for sale? (Malwarebytes) South Africa’s national health lab hit with ransomware attack amid mpox outbreak (The Record) New Medusa malware variants target Android users in seven countries (Bleeping Computer) After Crippling Ransomware Attack, VA Is Still Dealing with Fallout, Trying to Pay Providers (Military.com) Share your feedback. We want to ensure that you are getting the most out of the podcast. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey as we continually work to improve the show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US scrutinizes Chinese telecoms. Indonesia’s national datacenter is hit with ransomware. RedJulliett targets organizations in Taiwan. Researchers can tell where you are going by how fast you get there. A previously dormant botnet targeting Redis servers becomes active. Thousands of customers may have had info compromised in an attack on Levi’s. A new industry alliance hopes to prevent memory-based cyberattacks. Guest Seeyew Mo, Assistant National Cyber Director, Office of the National Cyber Director at the White House, shares the nuances of the White House's skills-based approach with N2K President Simone Petrella. Assange agrees to a plea deal. Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest On our Solution Spotlight, guest Seeyew Mo, Assistant National Cyber Director, Office of the National Cyber Director at the White House, shares the nuances of the White House's skills-based approach (and how it's not only about hiring) with N2K President Simone Petrella. Seeyew shares a progress report on the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy nearly one year out. For more information, you can visit the press release: National Cyber Director Encourages Adoption of Skill-Based Hiring to Connect Americans to Good-Paying Cyber Jobs. The progress report Seeyew and Simone discuss can be found here: National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Initial Stages of Implementation.  Selected Reading Exclusive: US probing China Telecom, China Mobile over internet, cloud risks (Reuters)  Indonesian government datacenter locked down in $8M ransomware rumble (The Register) Taiwanese tech firms, universities, religious groups among targets in cyber-espionage campaign (The Record) New security loophole allows spying on internet users' online activity (HelpNet Security) P2PInfect botnet targets REdis servers with new ransomware module (Bleeping Computer) Credential Stuffing Attack Hits 72,000 Levi’s Accounts (Infosecurity Magazine) CHERI Backers Form Alliance to Promote Memory Safety Chip (GovInfo Security) Julian Assange, WikiLeaks Founder, Agrees to Plead Guilty in Deal With U.S. (The New York Times)  Share your feedback. We want to ensure that you are getting the most out of the podcast. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey as we continually work to improve the show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LockBit claims to have hit the Federal Reserve. CDK Global negotiates with BlackSuit to unlock car dealerships across the U.S. Treasury proposes a rule to restrict tech investments in China. An LA school district confirms a Snowflake related data breach. Rafel RAT hits outdated Android devices. The UK’s largest plutonium stockpiler pleads guilty to criminal charges of inadequate cybersecurity. Clearview AI settles privacy violations in a deal that could exceed fifty million dollars. North Korean hackers target aerospace and defense firms. Rick Howard previews CSOP Live. Our guest is Christie Terrill, CISO at Bishop Fox, discussing how organizations can best leverage offensive security tactics. Bug hunting gets a little too real. Our 2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Guest Christie Terrill, CISO at Bishop Fox, joins to discuss how organizations can leverage offensive security tactics not just as strategies to prevent cyber incidents, but as a critical component of a cyberattack recovery process.  Rick Howard sits down with Dave to share a preview of what’s to come at our upcoming CSOP Live event this Thursday, going beyond the headlines with our panel of Hash Table experts for an insightful discussion on emerging industry trends, recent threats and events, and the evolving role of executives in our field.   Selected Reading LockBit claims the hack of the US Federal Reserve (securityaffairs) Why are threat actors faking data breaches? (Help Net Security) CDK Global outage caused by BlackSuit ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer) US proposes rules to stop Americans from investing in Chinese technology with military uses (AP News) Los Angeles Unified confirms student data stolen in Snowflake account hack (bleepingcomputer) Ratel RAT targets outdated Android phones in ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer) Sellafield Pleads Guilty to Historic Cybersecurity Offenses (Infosecurity Magazine) Sellafield nuclear waste site pleads guilty to IT security breaches (Financial Times) Facial Recognition Startup Clearview AI Settles Privacy Suit (SecurityWeek) New North Korean Hackers Attack Aerospace and Defense Companies (cybersecuritynews) Spatial Computing Hack (Ryan Pickren) Share your feedback. We want to ensure that you are getting the most out of the podcast. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey as we continually work to improve the show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems at the University of Tulsa Sal Aurigemma shares how his interest in how things worked shaped his career path in nuclear power and computers, Being introduced to computers in high school and learning about the Chernobyl event led Sal to study nuclear engineering followed by time in the Navy as a submarine officer. On the submarine, Sal had to understand how systems worked from soup to nuts and that let him back to IT. As a computer engineer, Sal spent a lot of time on network troubleshooting and was eventually introduced to cybersecurity. Following 9/11, cybersecurity took on greater importance. Sal's research focuses on behavioral cybersecurity. To newcomers, he suggests heading into things with an open mind and doesn't recommend giving users 24-character passwords that have two upper, two lower, and two special characters that cannot be written down. We thank Sal for sharing his story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices