ZeroHour
DashboardNewsCVEsExploitsIncidentsAIBriefAnalyticsEntitiesWatchlistIOCsAsk the feedSourcesFeeds & APIKiosk mode

Search: “UK NCSC”

11 stories in the last 7d

Searchkeywordsmart Sortlatesthotimportancerelevance
DomainAllCyberAIWindow24h3d7d30dAllIn the wildImportant onlyShow duplicates
CategoryAllThreat actor 7Policy & legal 3Advisory 2Malware 2Industry 1
SeverityAllcritical 0high 9medium 0low 0info 6

Iranian cyber targeting of dissidents, activists and journalists

UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD expose CHOSEN BRICK spyware used by Iranian state actors against dissidents, activists, and journalists worldwide.

A joint advisory from the UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD details CHOSEN BRICK, a Windows spyware family used by Iranian state cyber actors since at least 2025 against dissidents, activists, and journalists in the UK, US, and Netherlands. Actors build rapport on WhatsApp and Telegram impersonating known contacts or platform support, then deliver disguised payloads resembling apps such as Telegram, Norton, RunwayML, or fake MRI results. The malware persists via HKCU Run registry keys, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, and uses a unique Telegram bot C2 per victim. Capabilities include screen capture, microphone recording, process enumeration, email and messaging data theft, file deletion, and system wiping; victim data has appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites.

NCSC UK · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild2

Iranian hackers use CHOSEN BRICK data-stealing malware to spy on dissidents and journalists

UK NCSC, FBI and Dutch AIVD warn Iranian state hackers deploy CHOSEN BRICK spyware via WhatsApp and Telegram lures against dissidents and journalists since 2025.

The UK's NCSC, the FBI and the Netherlands' AIVD jointly warned that Iranian state cyber actors have deployed CHOSEN BRICK against dissidents, activists and journalists in the UK, US and Netherlands since at least 2025. Victims are contacted on WhatsApp or Telegram by impostors posing as known contacts or platform support, then tricked into running files disguised as software such as fake Norton Antivirus, KeePass, Telegram or MRI scan results. The Windows malware adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, persists via HKCU Run keys, uses per-device Telegram bots for C2, and can capture screens, activate microphones, steal email and messaging data, and download further payloads. Some stolen data has later appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites, and the agencies note Iranian intelligence has plotted kidnappings or lethal operations against targets abroad.

Help Net Securityupdated · 3h agofirst · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild 7 sources

Iranian spies hit Windows machines with Chosen Brick data-stealing malware

FBI, UK NCSC, and Dutch AIVD warn Iranian intelligence uses Chosen Brick spyware against dissidents, stealing contacts, emails, and messaging data.

A joint advisory from the FBI, UK NCSC, and Dutch AIVD says Iranian state cyber actors have used the Chosen Brick Windows malware since at least 2025 to surveil dissidents, activists, and journalists. Attacks begin with heavily researched WhatsApp and Telegram messages impersonating trusted contacts, tricking victims into opening fake installers resembling Pictory, RunwayML, Norton Antivirus, Telegram, Adobe Flash Player, and KeePass. The malware persists via the HKCU Run registry key, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, uses victim-specific Telegram bots for C2, captures screen and audio, steals emails and Telegram/WhatsApp data, and can wipe systems.

The Register · Security · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild1

Adversary simulation: what you need to know

UK NCSC publishes guidance on adversary simulation, comparing full spectrum and assumed breach approaches across prerequisites, testing, and reporting phases.

NCSC guidance describes two adversary simulation approaches: full spectrum, starting outside the network with an end-to-end attack, and assumed breach, starting from an internal foothold. The preferred methodology spans three phases - prerequisites (scoping, passive reconnaissance, preparation), testing (active reconnaissance, initial access, internal phase, cleanup), and reporting. The document distinguishes adversary simulation from penetration testing and stresses customer-defined objectives and minimal information sharing.

NCSC UKupdated · 1h agofirst · 2h agoAdvisory 2 sources

CISA Warns Hackers Exploit 17 Active Directory Techniques to Gain Control of Enterprise Networks

CISA and Five Eyes agencies issued joint guidance detailing 17 Active Directory attack techniques like Kerberoasting and DCSync, with hardening and detection advice.

CISA, the NSA, and cyber agencies from Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand released joint guidance on September 15 covering 17 techniques attackers use to compromise Active Directory, including AD CS, Certificate Services, and Federation Services attacks. Named techniques include Kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting, password spraying, DCSync, NTDS.dit dumping, Golden and Silver Tickets, Golden SAML, and Skeleton Key. Recommendations include minimizing SPN accounts, enforcing AES encryption, disabling NTLM, account lockout thresholds of five attempts, phishing-resistant MFA, and Tier 0 prioritization. The guide also lists Windows event IDs 4769, 4768, 4625, 4771, and 2889 for detecting Kerberoasting and password spraying on domain controllers.

GBHackers · 1d agoAdvisory

Major Cyber Threat Detection Vendors Shift from MITRE to UK Testing Program

SE Labs launched PIVOT, a six-month vendor detection testing program backed by CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks and Sophos, as major vendors exit MITRE evaluations.

SE Labs unveiled PIVOT on September 15, a six-month testing program in which its ethical hackers replicate nation-state and criminal attack chains against participating vendor products, with results due January 2027. Broadcom (Symantec/Carbon Black), CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks and Sophos have confirmed participation, and Gartner and Forrester analysts will verify the underlying evidence before publication. The launch follows declining participation in MITRE Engenuity ATT&CK Evaluations: Enterprise, which fell from 30 vendors in 2023 to 11 in 2025 after public withdrawals by Microsoft, SentinelOne and Palo Alto Networks.

Infosecurity Magazineupdated · 1h agofirst · 1d agoIndustry 12 sources

UK.gov begins killing off passwords for 23 million users

UK government rolls out passkeys to 23 million GOV.UK One Login users, saving £600 daily in SMS costs and resisting phishing.

The UK government is expanding passkey sign-in across GOV.UK One Login for more than 23 million users after a trial with over 300,000 people. Nearly one in ten daily One Login sign-ins already use passkeys, which the government says are up to eight times faster than password plus 2FA code. The switch saves taxpayers nearly £600 per day in SMS costs, and the NCSC is encouraging adoption while passwords remain optional.

The Register · Security · 3d agoPolicy & legal

UK and allies expose spyware used by Iranian state actors to target dissidents, activists and journalists

Joint advisory details Iranian spear-phishing campaign deploying CHOSEN BRICK spyware to surveil dissidents, activists, and journalists across UK, US, Netherlands.

The NCSC (part of GCHQ), FBI, and AIVD jointly warned that Iranian state actors impersonate trusted contacts on WhatsApp and Telegram to deploy the CHOSEN BRICK spyware against dissidents, activists, and journalists worldwide. The Windows-only malware is persistent across reboots and collects contacts, emails, social media messages, screen captures, and microphone audio. Stolen personal details of some victims have been published on pro-Iranian leak sites. The FBI published complementary technical analysis, and the NCSC offers free cyber defence services for high-risk individuals.

NCSC UK · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild1

Iranian cyber spies used fake MRI scan results to hack ‘enemy of regime’

UK, US, and Dutch agencies expose CHOSEN BRICK spyware used by Iranian MOIS hackers to surveil dissidents, journalists, and activists via fake MRI lures.

The UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD jointly warned that Iranian state-sponsored hackers deploy CHOSEN BRICK Windows spyware against dissidents, activists, and journalists since at least 2025. Operators build rapport over WhatsApp and Telegram, often posing as known contacts or tech support, then deliver malicious files disguised as an MRI scan or installers for Pictory, RunwayML, Norton, Telegram, Adobe Flash Player, and KeePass. The malware steals contacts, emails, and social media messages, captures screen content and microphone audio, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, and uses per-victim Telegram bots for command and control. The FBI attributes the tradecraft to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, including the 'Handala Hack' persona, and stolen data has surfaced on pro-Iranian leak sites.

The Record · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild1

UK Government Begins Moving 23 Million Users Away From Passwords

UK government rolls out passkeys for GOV.UK One Login, giving 23 million users phishing-resistant passwordless access to public services.

The UK government has begun deploying passkeys across GOV.UK One Login for more than 23 million users, replacing passwords and SMS one-time codes with FIDO2 cryptographic credentials. A trial saw over 300,000 people adopt passkeys, and nearly one in ten daily authentications already use them, cutting SMS verification costs by almost £600 per day. Passkeys remain optional, with password-based sign-in retained as a fallback, and the NCSC endorses the approach as phishing-resistant.

Cyber Security News · 2d agoPolicy & legal

UK Government Enables Passkey Login for 23 Million Users to Fight Phishing Attacks

UK Government enables optional passkey login for GOV.UK One Login, offering 23 million users phishing-resistant FIDO authentication.

The UK government has rolled out passkey authentication for GOV.UK One Login, the single sign-on for services like tax, State Pension, and driver's license renewals, available to over 23 million users. Passkeys are device-bound, unlocked via fingerprint, Face ID, or device PIN, and the government reports they are up to eight times faster than password plus two-step verification. During the initial trial over 300,000 users adopted passkeys, with nearly one in ten daily sign-ins already using them, saving roughly £600 per day in SMS costs. The NCSC endorses passkeys as phishing-resistant credentials that cannot be intercepted or reused, and biometric data never leaves the user's device.

GBHackers · 2d agoPolicy & legal