Malware
Breaking: D.C. Board of Elections Discovers Massive Voter Data Breach in Site Hack
The D.C. Board of Elections uncovers a massive voter data breach due to a site hack. Get the latest news on this incident.
Image: Lorie Shaull (CC BY 2.0 DEED)
The District of Columbia Board of Elections Investigates Data Leak
The District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE) is currently investigating a data leak involving an unknown number of voter records. The breach claims were made by a threat actor known as RansomedVC.
DCBOE, an autonomous agency within the District of Columbia Government, is responsible for overseeing elections, managing ballot access, and handling voter registration processes.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the attackers gained access to the information through the web server of DataNet, the hosting provider for the election authority of Washington D.C.
It is important to note that the breach did not directly compromise DCBOE’s servers and internal systems.
“On 10/5, DCBOE became aware of a cybersecurity incident involving DC voter records. While the incident remains under investigation, DCBOE’s internal databases & servers were not compromised,” stated the agency.
In collaboration with MS-ISAC’s Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT), DCBOE took down its website and replaced it with a maintenance page to contain the situation after identifying it as the source of the breach.
Since the incident was discovered, the election board has been working with data security experts, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive security assessment of its internal systems.
In addition, DCBOE has initiated vulnerability scans across its database, server, and IT networks to identify potential security issues that may have facilitated the attackers’ access to the stolen information.
Stolen Data for Sale on the Dark Web
RansomedVC claims that the recent incident resulted in the theft of over 600,000 lines of U.S. voter data, including records of D.C. voters.
“We have successfully breached the District of Columbia Board Of Elections and have obtained more than 600k lines of USA Voters,” stated the threat actor.
The stolen information is currently being offered for sale on the threat actor’s dark web leak site, but the exact price has not been disclosed.
As proof of the data’s authenticity, RansomedVC has provided a single record containing what it claims to be the personal details of a Washington D.C. voter.
This dataset includes the individual’s name, registration ID, voter ID, partial Social Security number, driver’s license number, date of birth, phone number, email, and more.
“It should be noted that in the District of Columbia, some voter registration data-such as voter names, addresses, voting records, and party affiliation-is public information, unless it has been made confidential in accordance with District of Columbia rules and regulations,” stated the Washington election authority.
However, confidential information such as voters’ contact information and Social Security numbers are not provided by election authorities.
RansomedVC informed DataBreaches.net, the first to report the data leak on Thursday, that the stolen voter records would be sold to a single buyer.
Controversial Claims by RansomedVC
While RansomedVC has claimed responsibility for the breach and is currently selling the data on their leak site, an anonymous source informed IT Services on October 3rd that DCBOE’s stolen database was initially put up for sale on the BreachForums and Sinister.ly hacking forums by a user named pwncoder (these posts have since been deleted).
According to the source, the data was dumped from a stolen MSSQL database and contained the information of over 600,000 D.C. voters.
RansomedVC recently claimed to have breached Sony’s systems and stolen over 260GB of files, providing a 2MB leaked archive as evidence. However, another threat actor who goes by the name MajorNelson disputed these claims.
The latter party released a 2.4 GB archive of files on BreachForums, allegedly taken from Sony’s systems.
While the data shared by these attackers appears to be connected to Sony, IT Services could not independently verify the authenticity of either party’s claims.
Malware
23andMe Enhances User Agreement to Shield Against Data Breach Lawsuits
Genetic testing service 23andMe has updated its user agreement to avoid potential data breach lawsuits. Customers must now agree to resolve any legal disputes through arbitration and won’t be able to file class-action lawsuits. The move follows several high-profile data breaches that have led to costly legal settlements for companies.
Genetic testing provider 23andMe is currently facing multiple lawsuits due to an October credential stuffing attack that resulted in the theft of customer data. In response, the company has made changes to its Terms of Use, making it more difficult for customers to sue them.
Last October, a cybercriminal attempted to sell 23andMe customer data but ultimately failed, leading them to leak the data of 1 million Ashkenazi Jews and 4.1 million people living in the United Kingdom.
Our IT Services team learned that the data was obtained through credential stuffing attacks used to breach customer accounts. The cybercriminals exploited a limited number of these accounts to access the ‘DNA Relatives’ feature and scrape the data of millions of individuals.
In a recent update, 23andMe disclosed that a total of 6.9 million people were affected by the breach — 5.5 million through the DNA Relatives feature and 1.4 million through the Family Tree feature.
Terms of Use Updates: Preventing Lawsuits?
As a result of the breach, 23andMe is now facing numerous lawsuits. In an effort to minimize legal troubles, the company updated its Terms of Use on November 30th. The updated terms now require mandatory arbitration for all disputes, prohibiting jury trials or class action lawsuits.
The updated Terms of Use state, “These terms of service contain a mandatory arbitration of disputes provision that requires the use of arbitration on an individual basis to resolve disputes in certain circumstances, rather than jury trials or class action lawsuits.”
23andMe sent emails to customers informing them of the change and advising that they had 30 days to notify the company at [email protected] if they disagreed with the new terms. Customers who disputed the update would remain on the previous Terms of Service.
However, Nancy Kim, a Chicago-Kent College of Law professor, told Axios that this change in the Terms of Use may not protect 23andMe from lawsuits. It could be difficult for the company to prove that they provided reasonable notice for customers to opt out of the new terms.
Stay Informed and Protect Your Data
As cyber threats continue to evolve, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and take proactive measures to safeguard your personal data. We’re here to help you navigate the ever-changing world of cybersecurity, providing you with the information and resources you need to stay safe online.
Contact us to learn more about how to protect yourself from cyber threats, and remember to come back regularly for the latest updates on cybersecurity developments.
Malware
23andMe Revamps Terms of Use with Robust Measures to Thwart Data Breach Lawsuits
Discover how 23andMe has updated its Terms of Use to prevent data breach lawsuits, requiring users to agree to arbitration and waive their right to file a class action suit. Learn about the changes and how they affect customers’ legal rights in case of a data breach.
Imagine getting a DNA test for fun or curiosity, only to have your sensitive genetic information stolen by cybercriminals. That’s exactly what happened to millions of 23andMe customers this past October. As a result, the genetic testing provider is now facing multiple lawsuits and has decided to change its Terms of Use to make it harder for people to sue the company. Let’s dive into the details and see what this means for you.
The Credential Stuffing Attack on 23andMe
In October, a malicious threat actor tried to sell 23andMe customer data. When they failed to find a buyer, they leaked the data of 1 million Ashkenazi Jews and 4.1 million people living in the United Kingdom. We found out from 23andMe that the data was obtained through a credential stuffing attack, wherein the criminals breached customer accounts using stolen login information. They then used the “DNA Relatives” feature to scrape the data of millions of individuals.
Since then, 23andMe has reported that a total of 6.9 million people were impacted by the breach – 5.5 million through the “DNA Relatives” feature and 1.4 million through the “Family Tree” feature.
23andMe’s Response: Updating Terms of Use to Prevent Lawsuits
As you can imagine, this massive breach has led to a flurry of lawsuits against the company. In response, 23andMe updated its Terms of Use on November 30th to include a provision requiring mandatory arbitration for all disputes, rather than allowing for jury trials or class action lawsuits.
The updated Terms of Use state, “These terms of service contain a mandatory arbitration of disputes provision that requires the use of arbitration on an individual basis to resolve disputes in certain circumstances, rather than jury trials or class action lawsuits.”
Users were informed of this change via email, and they had 30 days from the notification to disagree with the new terms by contacting 23andMe. Those who disputed the update would remain on the previous Terms of Service.
Will This Change Protect 23andMe from Lawsuits?
According to Nancy Kim, a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, it’s unlikely that this change in the Terms of Use will protect 23andMe from lawsuits. She told Axios that it would be difficult for the company to prove they gave customers reasonable notice to opt out of the new terms.
What Does This Mean for You?
This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and protecting your personal data. If you’ve used 23andMe or other genetic testing services, it’s crucial to stay informed about any potential breaches and take action to protect yourself.
And for those of us who aren’t directly affected, this case demonstrates the need for strong cybersecurity measures across all industries, especially when sensitive data is involved. As we continue to rely more and more on technology, the potential for breaches and cyberattacks only increases.
Stay informed and stay safe by keeping up with the latest cybersecurity news and best practices. We’re here to help you navigate the complex world of digital security, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Together, we can work to protect our data and our privacy.
Malware
Austal USA, Navy Contractor, Confirms Devastating Cyberattack Following Massive Data Leak
US Navy contractor Austal USA has confirmed a cyberattack after sensitive data was leaked online. The defense shipbuilder is working with the FBI and local authorities to investigate the incident, which has not affected any government projects. The breach highlights the need for increased cybersecurity measures in the defense sector.
Austal USA Suffers Cyberattack: What We Know
Austal USA, a shipbuilding company and contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently confirmed a cyberattack against it. As a company that specializes in high-performance aluminum vessels, Austal USA plays a critical role in U.S. national security. Its American subsidiary is responsible for building the Independence class littoral combat ships for the U.S. Navy, which cost $360 million per unit, as well as an active $3.3 billion contract for constructing 11 patrol cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Hunters International Ransomware Group Takes Credit
The Hunters International ransomware and data extortion group claimed responsibility for the breach, even leaking some information as proof of the intrusion. In response, a spokesperson for Austal USA confirmed the attack and stated that the company acted swiftly to mitigate the incident:
Austal USA recently discovered a data incident. We were able to quickly mitigate the incident resulting in no impact on operations.
Regulatory authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) were promptly informed and remain involved in investigating the cause of the situation and the extent of information that was accessed.
No personal or classified information was accessed or taken by the threat actor. We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and will continue to inform any stakeholders impacted by the incident as we learn new information.
Austal USA recognizes the seriousness of this event and the special responsibility we have as a DoD and DHS contractor. Our assessment is on-going as we seek to fully understand this incident so that we can prevent a similar occurrence.
The Threat of More Data Leaks
Hunters International has threatened to publish more stolen data from Austal’s systems in the coming days, including compliance documents, recruiting information, finance details, certifications, and engineering data. Austal USA has not disclosed whether the threat actor accessed engineering schematics or other proprietary U.S. Navy technology.
Who Are Hunters International?
Hunters International emerged recently as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation and is suspected to be a rebrand of the Hive ransomware gang due to overlaps in their malware code. The group denies these allegations, claiming they are a new operation that purchased the encryptor source code from the now-defunct Hive. They say that encryption is not their end goal, but rather stealing data and using it as leverage to extort victims into paying ransoms. Currently, the gang’s data leak site lists over a dozen victims from various sectors and regions worldwide.
A Call to Action: Protect Your Data and Stay Informed
This incident highlights the importance of staying informed about cybersecurity threats and taking steps to protect your data. We at IT Services encourage you to keep coming back to learn more about the latest cyberattacks and how to safeguard your information. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or need assistance in fortifying your digital defenses.
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