Microsoft Cybersecurity News

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has seized 240 fraudulent websites associated with an Egypt-based cybercrime facilitator. Abanoub Nady (known online as “MRxC0DER”) developed and sold “do it yourself” phish kits and fraudulently used the brand name “ONNX” to sell these services. Numerous cybercriminal and online threat actors purchased these kits and used them in widespread… The post Targeting the Cybercrime Supply Chain appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

All democracies are vulnerable to foreign malign influence, particularly during periods of heightened geopolitical competition. Over the past year, foreign state actors such as Russia and China have attempted to unduly influence political outcomes throughout Africa by spreading conspiracy theories, creating fake news sites, and exacerbating existing social divisions.  Microsoft recently released this year’s Microsoft… The post Expanding AccountGuard to Counter Growing Cyber Threats in Africa appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Microsoft customers face more than 600 million cybercriminal and nation-state attacks every day, ranging from ransomware to phishing to identity attacks. Once again, nation-state affiliated threat actors demonstrated that cyber operations—whether for espionage, destruction, or influence—play a persistent supporting role in broader geopolitical conflicts. Also fueling the escalation in cyberattacks, we are seeing increasing evidence… The post Escalating Cyber Threats Demand Stronger Global Defense and Cooperation appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) is disrupting the technical infrastructure used by a persistent Russian nation-state actor Microsoft Threat Intelligence tracks as Star Blizzard. Today, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia unsealed a civil action brought by Microsoft’s DCU, including its order authorizing Microsoft to seize 66 unique domains used by… The post Protecting Democratic Institutions from Cyber Threats appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Editor’s note: On Wednesday, September 18, Brad Smith testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee in a hearing titled, Foreign Threats to Elections in 2024 – Roles and Responsibilities of U.S. Tech Providers. To view the proceedings, please visit Hearings | Intelligence Committee (senate.gov). In his written testimony, Brad notes that the threats to our democracy from abroad are… The post Securing US Elections from Nation-State Adversaries appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Russia and Iran have both undertaken cyber influence operations headed into the 2024 presidential election. In our last report, published on August 8, we detailed how Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations sought to undermine the Republican campaign through targeted hack-and-leak operations, covert social media personas, and imposter US news sites. In the past two months, Microsoft has… The post Russian election interference efforts focus on the Harris-Walz campaign appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Microsoft has long made clear its belief that cyber mercenaries – private sector offensive actors that develop and sell offensive cyber capabilities that fuel a market without legal rules, responsibilities, or repercussions – don’t deserve immunity. Despite measures taken by governments, regulators, and tech companies, the impact of these actors on the security of users… The post Protecting users and reaffirming our commitment to combatting cyber mercenaries appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Editor’s Note: On Thursday, June 13, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on Microsoft’s cybersecurity practices. You can view the hearing here via C-Span.   In his written testimony, Brad acknowledges the unique role Microsoft plays in safeguarding America’s cybersecurity. He notes that Microsoft accepts responsibility for… The post Microsoft’s work to strengthen cybersecurity protection appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Russia is ramping up malign disinformation campaigns against France, French President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. While Russia has a decades-long history of targeting the Olympic Games, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) has observed old tactics blending with artificial intelligence (AI) in malign activity that… The post How Russia is trying to disrupt the 2024 Paris Olympic Games appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.

Foreign malign influence in the U.S. presidential election got off to a slower start than in 2016 and 2020 due to the less contested primary season. Russian efforts are focused on undermining U.S. support for Ukraine while China seeks to exploit societal polarization and diminish faith in U.S. democratic systems. Additionally, fears that sophisticated AI… The post Russian US election interference targets support for Ukraine after slow start appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.