A Few Clouds 24°
Tag:

Cybersecurity

Police & Fire
Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Putnam Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Putnam
Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Putnam Authorities are warning residents to stay vigilant following an email scam that cost a Hudson Valley family $40,000.  According to an announcement from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the incident began on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, when the victim received a fraudulent email that appeared to be from PayPal. The email claimed that an account had been opened in the victim’s name with a $400 charge.  The victim called the number provided in the email and unknowingly engaged with a scammer posing as PayPal support. The scammer convinced the victim to grant …

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Putnam Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Putnam
Watch Out! Scammers Use 'Surveillance Video' Ploy to Demand Bitcoin In Putnam Authorities in the Hudson Valley are warning residents of scammers claiming to have surveillance video of victims as part of a blackmail scheme.  In an announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Carmel Police Department in Putnam County said they had received reports of an email scam targeting those in the area.  According to the department, the scammers may include victims' accurate names and addresses in emails and will claim to have surveillance footage of them.  The sender will then request a "confidentiality tip" or "privacy tip" payment in Bitcoin, police said. To avoid fal…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Business
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on a sophisticated new imposter scheme designed to steal your money and personal information.  These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, but learning to spot the red flags can help you stay protected. How the Scam Works Initial Contact: Scammers pose as representatives from well-known companies, such as Amazon or a tech support service. They’ll claim there’s a routine issue, like suspicious charges on your account, a computer virus, or an account breach. Escalation: The scammers lie, saying your name is tied to serious …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cyberattack Hits Krispy Kreme As Hackers Find Hole In Online Ordering System Cyberattack Hits Krispy Kreme As Hackers Find Hole In Online Ordering System
Cyberattack Hits Krispy Kreme As Hackers Find Hole In Online Ordering System Hackers have found a hole in Krispy Kreme's online ordering system, leaving some customers temporarily unable to place digital orders for their favorite donuts.  The company has confirmed the incident and stated that its technical team is actively working to resolve the issue. Krispy Kreme reported that the breach influenced its web-based platforms but did not affect in-store operations or the safety of customers' personal data.  The attack was first discovered at the end of November, the company said in a filing with Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Krispy Kreme said it "i…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cybersecurity Issue Hits Stop & Shop, Other Supermarkets, Parent Company Says Cybersecurity Issue Hits Stop & Shop, Other Supermarkets, Parent Company Says
Cybersecurity Issue Hits Stop & Shop, Other Supermarkets, Parent Company Says A cybersecurity “issue” has led the parent company of a supermarket chain to disconnect some systems to protect them. Ahold Delhaize USA said it recently detected a cybersecurity issue within its US network. "Immediately upon detecting the issue, our security teams began an investigation with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts," the company said. "We also notified law enforcement." The move affects: Stop & Shop, which has around 400 locations in New England, New York, and New Jersey; Hannaford, with stores in eastern upstate New York and New England; Giant Company, with…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know
Warning Issued For Nationwide Automated 'Sextortion' Scam: Here's What To Know Authorities are warning the public of a nationwide automated scam in which scammers use people’s email addresses to coerce payments by intimidating them with threats of embarrassment. Victims of the "sextortion" scheme, usually children and teens, are manipulated to photograph or video material for extortionists. "After receiving the sexually explicit content from the child, the offender threatens to release that compromising material unless the victim produces additional explicit material," said the FBI in issuing the warning to parents, educators, caregivers, and children. In a sepa…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director
Westchester School District Taps New Technology, Innovation Director An educator who has led learning communities on modern concepts such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality has been selected as a Westchester school district's new technology director. Jerrod Blair's appointment as the Irvington Union Free School District's new director of technology and innovation was announced by the district on Thursday, Aug. 22.  Blair, who was chosen after a long search process, will start in the position on Friday, Sept. 6. According to the district, he is a "standout" in the field and has led professional learning communities on topics including AI an…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Politics
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches In an at-times rambling conversation plagued by tech glitches that jumped from fawning praise to forced questions, former President Donald Trump laid out his clearest thesis for his campaign: Vote Trump to preserve American supremacy around the globe and avoid a World War.  The conversation began about the assassination attempt on Trump's life. Musk said he was stunned at how close Trump was to losing his life. The former president said even his doctors couldn't believe his luck.  The former president said it was most likely divine intervention that saved his life. https://t.c…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
CEO Of CrowdStrike Is Billionaire Working To Remedy Microsoft Meltdown CEO Of CrowdStrike Is Billionaire Working To Remedy Microsoft Meltdown
CEO Of CrowdStrike Is Billionaire Working To Remedy Microsoft Meltdown Friday, July 19 is not a good day for George Kurtz. Kurtz is the CEO of CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm that appears to be responsible for the global outage that disrupted flights, stock markets, media outlets, and banks. Kurtz, 59, is also a Parsippany-Troy Hills native and graduate of Seton Hall University who according to Forbes is worth about $3.1 billion. How has Kurtz spent his morning? Assuring the world that all will soon be right again after the issue with a Falcon content update for Windows Hosts that caused the global outage. Today was not a security or cyber incident. O…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
News
Mass Global Tech Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Chaos With Banks, Stock Markets, Media Mass Global Tech Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Chaos With Banks, Stock Markets, Media
Mass Global Tech Outage Grounds Flights, Causes Chaos With Banks, Stock Markets, Media A major tech outage is causing issues worldwide, including grounding flights. Banks, stock markets, and media outlets are also being affected on Friday morning, July 19. An update by cybersecurity technology company CrowdStrike appears to be the cause of device outages for millions of Microsoft Windows device users. Several major US air carriers, including Delta, United, and Spirit are under a full ground stop, according to the FAA. "Several airlines have requested FAA assistance with ground stops until the issue is resolved," the agency said. Microsoft has said it is taking "mitigation …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Politics
NY Post Fires Employee For False, Racist, Violent Content Targeting Politicians NY Post Fires Employee For False, Racist, Violent Content Targeting Politicians
NY Post Fires Employee For False, Racist, Violent Content Targeting Politicians A series of racist, violent headlines that were posted on the website and Twitter account of the New York Post on Thursday, Oct. 27, were carried out by an employee, Variety reports.  In a statement to the outlet, a spokesperson for the Post said an investigation had revealed that the “unauthorized conduct” was an inside job and the employee responsible has been fired. “This morning, we immediately removed the vile and reprehensible content from our website and social media accounts,” the spokesperson said. The news organization did not reveal the employee’s name. The New York Post ha…

SHARE

by Michael Mashburn
Business
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Cybersecurity experts have reported an increase in phishing scam text messages, according to a new report from CNET. Josh Yavor, the chief information security officer at cybersecurity company Tessian, told the news outlet he has seen a recent increase in scammers using text messages for phishing, where they attempt to steal peoples' personal information by pretending to be reputable organizations. CNET also said a report from enterprise security company Proofpoint found that incidents SMS phishing increased by 24 percent in the United States last year. The Federal Trade Commission reporte…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System
Data Of Nearly One Million NY Students Compromised In Hack Of Online Grading System The personal data of nearly a million New York students has been compromised by hackers attempting to alter grades, investigators announced. In January, Illuminate Education, a taxpayer-funded software company that tracks grades and attendance for the New York City Department of Education, was targeted, resulting in the data of approximately 820,000 students being made available. Specifically, officials said that the hackers gained access to students’ names, birthdays, ethnicities, English-speaking, special-education, teacher schedules, and free-lunch statuses, though information including …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
NY Strengthens Cyber Defenses After Russia Attacks Ukraine, Hochul Says NY Strengthens Cyber Defenses After Russia Attacks Ukraine, Hochul Says
NY Strengthens Cyber Defenses After Russia Attacks Ukraine, Hochul Says With tensions boiling over in Europe as Russian forces invade Ukraine, New York is beefing up its cyber defenses with the creation of a brand-new Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC). New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the JSOC, which will be stationed in Brooklyn and involve data sharing and cyber coordination across New York City, the five major upstate cities, local, and regional governments. Hochul said that the JSOC is “nation's first-of-its-kind cyber command center that will provide a statewide view of the cyber-threat landscape and improve coordination on threat intelligence a…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds 1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds
1.1M Accounts Compromised In Cyberattacks Of 17 Companies, NY AG Investigation Finds An investigation by the New York Attorney General's Office found that more than 1.1 million accounts were compromised in cyberattacks of 17 companies. Attorney General Letitia James said in an announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that the "Credential Stuffing Attacks" involve repeated, automated attempts to access accounts by using information stolen from other websites. James said often people reuse the same passwords on different sites, which allows cybercriminals to use stolen passwords on other websites.  “Right now, there are more than 15 billion stolen credentials being circu…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
News
US Reveals New Software Vulnerability, Warns Hundreds Of Millions Of Devices At Risk US Reveals New Software Vulnerability, Warns Hundreds Of Millions Of Devices At Risk
US Reveals New Software Vulnerability, Warns Hundreds Of Millions Of Devices At Risk A top cybersecurity agency in the US is cautioning that a new software vulnerability has been uncovered that could lead to hundreds of millions of device hacks. Jen Easterly, the director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert advising that they’ve discovered a flaw that will require some of the nation’s largest industries to “take action” or risk being the victim of hackers. According to reports, hackers have been using the flaw in an effort to break into some organizations’ computer networks. It is unclear if they were successful in infiltrating …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Online Shopping Scams Involving Fake Websites Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Online Shopping Scams Involving Fake Websites
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Online Shopping Scams Involving Fake Websites Shoppers looking for holiday deals online are being warned that thousands of fake websites are popping up every week and stealing money from victims, according to cybersecurity experts. The surge in these malicious sites has been sparked by the surge in online shopping as well as criminals taking advantage of the demand for products in short supply, the experts say. Victims often enter the name of the product they want in search engines and then are directed to one or more fake sites. Other malicious sites use phishing emails promoting discounts on various products. The number of phony sh…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Schools
NY School District Victim Of Ransomware Attack NY School District Victim Of Ransomware Attack
NY School District Victim Of Ransomware Attack Files stolen from a New York school district have reportedly been posted on the dark web following a ransomware attack after hackers did not receive ransom payments. On Long Island, acting Manhasset Schools Superintendent Gaurav Passi issued an alert to the community that said that the district was notified that some files stolen from school servers had been posted online. “We were notified that yesterday, the criminals posted certain files to the dark web that they stole from our servers,” he advised. “We are currently reviewing these files, and we will provide direct notification, in ac…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Child Tax Credit Payment Scams Opportunistic fraudsters have taken advantage of some consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic, this time targeting child tax credit payments that have been sent out to assist families. The IRS recently issued an alert after it began sending tens of millions of dollars to families, though scammers have been attempting to pull a fast one over on some to steal thousands of dollars in federal benefits. According to the IRS, scammers have been reaching out to families using emails, text messages, and through social media, asking to verify personal information to receive the child tax credit payme…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Ransomware Group That Collected Millions From Meat Supplier Threatens Hundreds Of New Targets Ransomware Group That Collected Millions From Meat Supplier Threatens Hundreds Of New Targets
Ransomware Group That Collected Millions From Meat Supplier Threatens Hundreds Of New Targets A new ransomware attack linked to a Russian group that collected $11 million from a major meat supplier has reportedly paralyzed the networks of dozens of companies in the United States. The attack by the group known as REvil was focused on Kaseya VSA, a United States software company used by hundreds of tech-service providers and large companies. Kaseya said on Friday, July 2 that it's investigating what a cybersecurity expert said is a ransomware attack similar to the previous one attributed to the Russian hackers. The company said it shut down some of its servers and urged cus…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Business
Wegmans Announces Breach Of Customers' Personal Information Wegmans Announces Breach Of Customers' Personal Information
Wegmans Announces Breach Of Customers' Personal Information Wegmans is warning customers that some personal information may have been exposed to hackers due to a recent data breach. The grocery giant issued an alert this week to notify customers that two databases used for Wegmans internal business purposes were inadvertently left open to potential outside access due to a configuration issue. Officials said that customer names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, Shoppers Club numbers, e-mail addresses and passwords for access to Wegmans.com accounts were included in the databases. "However, all impacted Wegmans.com account passwords were, in t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Largest East Coast Fuel Pipeline Shuts Down Operations After Cyberattack Largest East Coast Fuel Pipeline Shuts Down Operations After Cyberattack
Largest East Coast Fuel Pipeline Shuts Down Operations After Cyberattack The main pipeline carrying millions of gasoline and diesel fuel to the East Coast said it has halted all operations after being hit with a cyberattack. The Colonial Pipeline Company said in a statement that it learned it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack on Friday, May 7. Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline system in the United States. It carries about one million barrels each day of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel between the Gulf Coast and the New York Harbor area, with the ability to move about three million barrels daily. "In response, we proactively took c…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts
Alert Issued For Scam USPS Package Delivery Postponed Texts Law enforcement officials are cautioning of a new text message "smishing" scam that involves phony messages being sent from fraudsters posing as members of the US Postal Service (USPS). Alerts have been issued by state and federal officials following recent reports from consumers who have received messages claiming to be from USPS about a change in delivery shipment. The messages typically include a link that could potentially expose one to scammers looking to steal personal identifying information. Many who click the phony link have wound up being hacked or prompted to provide new informat…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers
New Warning Issued For Con Artists Posing As Amazon Workers Local law enforcement agencies are cautioning area residents to be wary following recent reports of opportunistic fraudsters posing as Amazon employees over the phone to gain access to personal information. Officials said that con artists have been posing as Amazon employees claiming to need verification about their account or that something is wrong with an order, allowing them to attempt stealing their victims’ identities. According to police, once a call is answered, a recorded message will claim to be from Amazon stating there is a problem with their account. Messages included claims …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Obituaries
COVID-19: College Student In Connecticut Dies From Virus-Related Complications COVID-19: College Student In Connecticut Dies From Virus-Related Complications
Covid-19: College Student In Connecticut Dies From Virus-Related Complications A 22-year-old college student in Connecticut who was set to graduate this year has died from COVID-19. Joshua Goodart, a cybersecurity and networks major in the University of New Haven’s Class of 2021, died over the weekend from COVID complications, the school announced this week. Goodart, who was a resident of Oxford, Connecticut in western New Haven County, became ill during the university’s Winter Break and was hospitalized last month, never returning to campus for the spring semester. Friends and family said that Goodart was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the beginning of January, and whe…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Police Issue Warning For 'Virus Alert' Scam For Those Online Police Issue Warning For 'Virus Alert' Scam For Those Online
Police Issue Warning For 'Virus Alert' Scam For Those Online While all eyes are on COVID-19, a different type of “virus scam” has been making the rounds. Law enforcement officials issued a warning of a new scam involving hackers who attempt to dupe people on the Internet who are browsing the web. According to police, those who have been victimized unexpectedly got a “virus alert” on their desktop designed to look as if it came from Microsoft that took over the entire browser page. The victim then called “Microsoft” at the 800-641-7676 number provided on the browser window, at which point the scammer said that the user probably had a virus and would …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Schools
Westchester Community College's Cybersecurity Program Gets $1 Million Grant Westchester Community College's Cybersecurity Program Gets $1 Million Grant
Westchester Community College's Cybersecurity Program Gets $1 Million Grant Westchester Community College has presented a $1 million donation after being designated a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the US Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.  To support the efforts of the center and create pathways for many students who might not otherwise have such an opportunity, Robert Wiener announced that The Wiener Philanthropy will donate $1 million, college officials said. WCC is one of only nine community colleges nationwide to earn this new designation and the only one located in the …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic COVID-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic
Covid-19: Cybercriminals Using New Sextortion Tactics Amid Pandemic The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided cybercriminals the opportunity to get creative with their “sextortion” tactics as they exploit the pandemic, according to reports. In the past, criminals have targeted their victims by claiming they have embarrassing, salacious video proof, typically from a webcam, of a person watching sexual content. The scammers then seek to extort immediate payment in bitcoin or gift cards, threatening that otherwise, the alleged content will be disseminated on the Internet. However, according to new information released by the cybersecurity analysi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Scam Involving Blackmail Threat Over Release Of Private Video COVID-19: Alert Issued For Scam Involving Blackmail Threat Over Release Of Private Video
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Scam Involving Blackmail Threat Over Release Of Private Video With more and more people working from home during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, law enforcement agencies are warning of a new online blackmailing scheme. There have been reports of a new scam that involves an email from a scammer to a victim claiming that they are in possession of recorded webcam footage of the victim watching pornography. According to police, the scammer implies that he has malware/remote access to a victim’s computer to record video. The suspect then threatens to share the alleged footage with the victim’s Facebook friends and family unless the victim pays the…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Business
COVID-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic COVID-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic
Covid-19: YouTube Limits Video Quality To Ease Internet Traffic With millions of people around the world confined to their homes due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, YouTube announced it will be adjusting its default video quality to ensure that there is sufficient bandwidth for all users. YouTube videos will automatically stream in standard definition for at least a month, as health officials work to curtail the spread of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 60,000 people in America alone. Other streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ have taken similar steps overseas, though it is unclear if they will take effect stateside. “We continue to w…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam
Don't Fall For It: Alert Issued For Text Message Package Delivery Scam Police departments throughout the nation are warning the public about a new text message phishing scam that looks to be from FedEx or another delivery company about a package. The text message shows you a "tracking code" and asks you to click it to set delivery preferences for "your package." (See image above.) Police are warning anyone who gets such a text not to click on the link. The link would take you to a fraudulent site that tries to steal your personal information and money. If you are in doubt about a tracking number, go to the main website of the shipping company and search for …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi