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U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Iranian IRGC Cyber Chief Linked to Critical Infrastructure Attacks

The U.S. State Department offered up to $10 million for information on Amir Yaryab, an IRGC cyber chief linked to critical infrastructure attacks.

The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program offers up to $10 million for information identifying or locating Amir Yaryab, who allegedly oversees the Cyber Operations Command of Iran's IRGC Cyber-Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC). Officials tie him to units called Shahid Hemmat and Shahid Shushtari conducting cyber and information campaigns against defense, telecommunications, energy, and finance sectors across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, and to groups including CyberAv3ngers and Dadeh Afzar Arman. CyberAv3ngers compromised at least 75 Unitronics Vision Series PLCs, including 34 in US water and wastewater facilities, between November 2023 and January 2024.

Cyber Security News·Sep 8, 09:14 UTC · 8d agoPolicy & legal

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White House authorizes private US companies to hack foreign criminal networks

Trump memorandum authorizes vetted private US companies to conduct government-supervised offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal networks.

The National Security Presidential Memorandum signed August 12 lets vetted private companies run offensive cyber operations against transnational criminal organizations behind ransomware, phishing and sextortion, under US government oversight. The Homeland Security Task Force's National Coordination Center, led by DOJ and DHS executive directors, must give written approval for both Cyber Surveillance Operations and Cyber Effects Operations. Participating companies must post a $1 million bond or escrow, undergo annual review, and notify authorities if they unintentionally target US persons or systems.

Help Net Security·Aug 13, 00:00 UTC · Aug 13, 2026Policy & legal

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US offers $10 million for info on Iranian leaders behind CyberAv3ngers water utility attacks

The US offered $10 million for information on six IRGC-CEC officials behind CyberAv3ngers' 2023 hacks of Unitronics PLCs at US water utilities.

The State Department named six Iranian security officials, including IRGC Cyber-Electronic Command head Hamid Reza Lashgarian, and offered up to $10 million for information on their whereabouts. CyberAv3ngers publicly claimed compromises of Israel-made Unitronics Vision PLCs in October 2023, forcing the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, to take systems offline and switch to manual operations. The US had sanctioned the six men in February for targeting critical infrastructure, and CISA notified water operators using Unitronics devices while urging default-password changes. A watchdog also criticized the EPA for lacking a comprehensive water-sector cyber risk strategy.

The Record·Sep 8, 00:00 UTC · 8d agoPolicy & legal in the wild 3 sources

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US Authorizes Private Cyber Firms to Hack Transnational Criminal Networks

Trump signed a national security memorandum letting vetted private US cybersecurity firms run government-approved offensive cyber operations against transnational criminal organizations.

The August 13 memorandum creates a program managed by the National Coordination Center covering Cyber Surveillance Operations and Cyber Effects Operations against Cyber-Enabled Transnational Criminal Organizations, explicitly excluding entities that are parts of foreign governments. DOJ and DHS executive directors must co-approve every operation in writing, with extra authorization for operations raising laws-of-armed-conflict questions. Participating firms must pass vetting, annual evaluations and hold a $1 million bond or escrow. Operating procedures are due within 60 days, and the unresolved CFAA exemption question is addressed by requiring direct government control.

Security Affairs·Aug 14, 07:14 UTC · Aug 14, 2026Policy & legal

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⚡ Weekly Recap: Chrome 0-Day, Router Hijacks, Coder Supply Chain Attack and More

Weekly recap: actively exploited Chrome V8 zero-day, MikroTik RouterOS zero-day chain, Magento StyleSmuggler backdoor, and critical N-able N-central flaws.

Google patched an actively exploited Chrome V8 type confusion zero-day, CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS 8.8), the sixth exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026. CERT Polska warned of the MikroTrick exploit chain (CVE-2026-67276 and CVE-2026-86060, CVSS 9.2) giving unauthenticated full control of MikroTik RouterOS devices via SSH, observed since September 2. Sansec disclosed the StyleSmuggler Magento/Adobe Commerce zero-day used since September 4 to inject a Rust backdoor into online stores, while N-able patched three critical N-central flaws (CVE-2026-86206, CVE-2026-86207, and CVE-2026-86218, CVSS 10.0) with Huntress observing likely exploitation. Elastic and Morphisec also detailed RevStealer, an information stealer spread via game cheats and a fake Claude Desktop app.

The Hacker News·Sep 7, 14:36 UTC · 9d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-86206CVE-2026-86207+7 CVEs

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Trump Authorizes Private Sector Participation in Offensive Cyber Operations

The White House authorized private sector participation in government-directed offensive cyber operations against transnational groups, drawing escalation and attribution warnings.

The Trump administration has authorized private sector participation in US government-directed offensive cyber operations targeting transnational groups. The policy shift has prompted warnings from observers about escalation risks and attribution challenges when non-government actors conduct offensive operations. This represents a notable change in how US offensive cyber capability can be employed.

Infosecurity Magazine·Aug 13, 12:35 UTC · Aug 13, 2026Policy & legal

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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·Sep 15, 16:28 UTC · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild1

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Trump Targets Foreign Technology in New U.S. Power Grid Security Order

Trump's Executive Order 14420 declares a national emergency to restrict foreign-made bulk-power grid equipment over cyber, sabotage and supply-chain risks.

Executive Order 14420, signed August 26, declares a national emergency regarding the foreign supply of bulk-power system electric equipment to the United States. It empowers the Energy Secretary to restrict transactions with designated Covered Foreign Entities involving equipment, software, firmware, digital services, maintenance services, and remote-access capabilities. Covered equipment includes transformers, generators, inverters, RTUs, PLCs, intelligent electronic devices, and protective relays, with transmission rated 69 kV or higher in scope while local distribution is excluded. Already-installed foreign equipment may be subject to identification, isolation, monitoring, or replacement requirements, with phased compliance and pre-qualified vendor exemptions permitted.

Security Affairs·Aug 28, 18:00 UTC · 19d agoPolicy & legal

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FBI takes down China-linked hacking network behind attacks on NASA, DOJ and U.S. Senate

FBI seized domains disabling QScan and QTRouter malware run by China-linked QTFY group behind intrusions at NASA, DOJ, Senate and other agencies.

The Justice Department and FBI seized domains hard-coded into two malware tools, QScan and QTRouter, operated by a Chinese state-sponsored group called QTFY, tied to a Nanjing-based company that sold hacking services to China's Ministry of State Security and the PLA. QScan infected IoT devices worldwide while QTRouter combined them with commercial proxies and rented servers to build an obfuscation network that masked attack origins. Victims include NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Departments of Energy and Justice, HHS, NIH, and the U.S. Senate. The FBI and NSA published a joint advisory with indicators of compromise, the latest in operations against Mustang Panda, Flax Typhoon, and Volt Typhoon infrastructure.

Help Net Security·Aug 27, 00:00 UTC · 20d agoThreat actor in the wild

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Risky Bulletin: White House lets private companies carry out offensive cyber ops

A White House memo directs DHS to create a program letting vetted private companies conduct US-government-directed offensive cyber operations against cybercrime.

A presidential memo tasks the DHS National Coordination Center with building a program, under DOJ and DHS oversight, through which private-sector companies can conduct offensive cyber operations against large-scale cybercrime organizations. Requirements include secure facilities, vetted personnel, a $1 million escrow for damages, and written approvals co-signed by DHS and DOJ executive directors. The program must launch within 60 days, around October 11, expanding a March executive order targeting scam compounds, ransomware, and other large-scale cybercrime.

Risky Business News·Aug 14, 04:42 UTC · Aug 14, 2026Policy & legal

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Week in review: Compromised Zimbra servers, previously patched Citrix NetScaler flaw exploited

Help Net Security's weekly digest highlights 274 compromised Zimbra servers, Gitea and Citrix NetScaler KEV additions, a PaperCut zero-day, and a suspected Iran-linked power plant attack.

The roundup reports at least 274 internet-facing Zimbra instances compromised via CVE-2026-73570, critical Gitea CVE-2026-60004 added to CISA's KEV catalog after exploitation began, and previously patched Citrix NetScaler flaw CVE-2026-8452 exploited in the wild. It also covers PaperCut NG/MF zero-day attacks, a suspected Iran-linked shutdown of a UK power plant, an FBI seizure of domains tied to a China-linked group that hit NASA, DOJ and the Senate, a cyberattack disrupting Boston Scientific, and the Manchester Airports Group breach. Additional items include Chameleon SEO poisoning phishing, Android car head unit proxy botnet malware, ReliaQuest social engineering by ShinyHunters, fake OpenAI Codex macOS malware, and AI-related workforce and supply chain interviews.

Help Net Security·Aug 30, 00:00 UTC · 17d agoIndustry in the wildCVE-2026-73570CVE-2026-60004CVE-2026-8452

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FBI Disrupts Chinese Proxy Tools Used in Mass Hacking of US Agencies and Infrastructure

FBI disrupted Chinese state-linked proxy infrastructure used in hacking campaigns against NASA, the Federal Reserve, the US Senate, and other US targets.

The FBI disrupted Chinese proxy tools used in a mass hacking campaign against US agencies and critical infrastructure, according to the DOJ. Targets included NASA, the Federal Reserve, the US Senate, and the Justice Department. The operation dismantled infrastructure that Chinese state-sponsored hackers relied on to obfuscate their access.

WIRED · Security·Aug 26, 17:57 UTC · 21d agoThreat actor in the wild

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Cyber Command turns to veteran of intelligence agencies for top AI role

US Cyber Command appoints Rear Adm. Ronzelle Green as chief AI officer as its AI budget grows from $5M to $138M.

US Cyber Command has named Ronzelle Green, previously head of research and development at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as its new Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, replacing Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny. The command's 'AI for Cyber Operations' budget request grew from $5 million in fiscal 2026 to $138 million in fiscal 2027, aiming to let cyber operators process data and respond to threats faster than humans alone. Sources say Green's priority will be consolidating fragmented AI pilot programs across the organization, in contrast to the NSA's more established Artificial Intelligence Security Center created in 2023.

The Record·Sep 10, 18:25 UTC · 6d agoAI policy 2 sources1· 1 read

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White House Launches Pilot Program in Texas to Protect Water Infrastructure

White House launches Project Watershed 250, giving Texas water providers federal and private-sector cybersecurity resources amid rising nation-state threats to critical infrastructure.

The White House launched Project Watershed 250, a pilot program providing water providers in Texas with federal and private-sector cybersecurity resources. The initiative comes amid rising nation-state threats targeting water utilities and other critical infrastructure in the United States.

Infosecurity Magazine·Sep 1, 12:45 UTC · 15d agoPolicy & legal

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AdaptHealth confirms 4.1 million people exposed in July cyberattack

AdaptHealth confirmed a ShinyHunters-attributed cyberattack exposed data of 4.1 million patients via a compromised third-party contractor account.

Healthcare company AdaptHealth confirmed 4,115,802 individuals were exposed in an intrusion first disclosed in an SEC filing on July 2, 2026, with the compromise beginning June 5. Attackers used social engineering to compromise a privileged third-party contractor account, accessed cloud-based patient management, document storage and EHR portals, and exfiltrated names, contact details, demographic, insurance and health information before a June 15 ransom demand. The attack was attributed to the ShinyHunters group, though the company no longer appears on the gang's extortion portal. Impacted individuals are being offered 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity protection.

BleepingComputer·Sep 9, 21:30 UTC · 7d agoData breach1

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US government snitch-finder pleads guilty to leaking state secrets to foreign spies

A Defense Intelligence Agency insider threat specialist pleaded guilty to leaking state secrets to a foreign government shortly after joining the Insider Threat Division.

An IT specialist assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency's Insider Threat Division has pleaded guilty to leaking state secrets to a foreign government. According to The Register, the individual began contacting the foreign government within days of being assigned to the division. The case underscores insider risk in an unit tasked with detecting exactly such behavior.

The Register · Security·Aug 28, 15:00 UTC · 19d agoPolicy & legal

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Thomson Reuters reveals breach that exposed U.S. and Canadian court records

Thomson Reuters disclosed a C-Track breach exposing court records and personal data across at least 12 US states, US Virgin Islands, and Canada.

Thomson Reuters discovered unauthorized activity in its C-Track court case management platform on June 30, 2026, tracing the intrusion to March 2026. Affected systems include Ontario's three courts, Wyoming's entire state judiciary, and appellate and supreme courts across at least 12 US states plus the US Virgin Islands. Exposed records may include names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, medical information, dates of birth, and health insurance details, with some sealed court information possibly affected. The company is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and reports no evidence of fraud so far; attribution and access method remain unknown.

Help Net Security·Sep 3, 00:00 UTC · 13d agoData breach

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US seizes domains of Chinese botnet used to target NASA, Justice Department, and the Senate

US Justice Department seized domains of a Chinese botnet used to hack NASA, the Justice Department, and the Senate, disabling its C2.

The US Justice Department seized domains belonging to a Chinese botnet that was used to hack NASA, the Justice Department, and the Senate. The seized domains were hardcoded into the botnet's code, so the seizures rendered the botnet and its command-and-control servers inoperable. The action disrupted the malware's communication channels and essential operations.

TechCrunch · Security·Aug 26, 17:01 UTC · 21d agoThreat actor in the wild

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US charges 17 Iranian hackers over 31-terabyte academic data theft

US indicts 17 Iranian Mabna Institute hackers who stole 31TB of academic data from universities, companies, and agencies via spearphishing.

The US Department of Justice charged 17 alleged Mabna Institute members, adding eight defendants to the nine charged in 2018, for a 2013-2017 campaign largely conducted for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The group stole over 31TB of academic data and intellectual property from 144 US and 178 foreign universities, at least 42 US companies, and at least five federal and state agencies, compromising about 8,000 of 100,000 spearphished professor email accounts. US universities spent roughly $3.4 billion procuring the stolen data; one defendant also hacked HBO and sought about $6 million in bitcoin ransom. The State Department offers up to $10 million for information on five defendants, none of whom are in US custody.

Help Net Security·Aug 20, 00:00 UTC · 27d agoPolicy & legal in the wild

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Is Cyber missing the Marque?

Cisco Talos analyzes the White House memorandum on private-sector participation in government-authorized offensive cyber operations.

A new White House memorandum addresses private sector participation in government-authorized offensive cyber operations. Cisco Talos's newsletter, introduced by new author Mick Baccio, explores the operational and security implications of this policy for the cybersecurity industry.

Cisco Talos·Aug 20, 18:00 UTC · 27d agoPolicy & legal

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Trump taps cyber firms to go on offensive against criminals

Presidential memorandum allows vetted private companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against transnational cybercrime with advance DOJ and DHS approval.

A presidential memorandum released Wednesday lets vetted US companies partner with the Justice and Homeland Security departments on offensive operations and surveillance targeting transnational cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes, with written pre-approval required for every operation. Operations may not cause loss of life or rise to the level of use of force or armed attack under international law. Participating firms face penalties of at least $1 million for contract violations, must disclose all contractual relationships, and face annual evaluation, while agencies have two months to develop participation standards. The move builds on a March executive order; the White House says Americans reported $20.8 billion in cyber-related losses last year.

The Record·Aug 13, 13:40 UTC · Aug 13, 2026Policy & legal

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Srsly Risky Biz: Trump's Private Hacker Memo Is the Right Idea

A Trump presidential memo directs DHS to authorize vetted private-sector hackers to conduct cyber operations against foreign cybercriminal groups (CE-TCOs).

A presidential memorandum directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a program authorizing private companies to conduct cyber surveillance and cyber effects operations against Cyber-Enabled Transnational Crime Organisations (CE-TCOs). Participating companies must pass vetting, obtain government approval before operations, and post a USD $1 million bond. The accompanying fact sheet cites more than USD $20.8 billion in US losses to cyber-enabled crime in 2025. Critics worry about accidental escalation if operations touch foreign government systems.

Risky Business News·Aug 20, 05:29 UTC · 27d agoPolicy & legal1

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Conti ransomware crew member sentenced to four years in prison

Ukrainian national Oleksii Lytvynenko sentenced to four years in the US for his role in Conti ransomware attacks on at least 12 companies.

Oleksii Lytvynenko, 44, who pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison by the US Justice Department. He joined the Conti ransomware group in September 2021 as an intruder and malware developer, holding stolen data from 12 victims including eight US-based organizations, and prosecutors said co-conspirators extorted roughly $634,000 in Bitcoin from Tennessee victims including government entities. Conti attacked more than 1,000 organizations before disbanding in 2022, with members rebranding into Zeon, Black Basta, and Quantum/Royal/BlackSuit.

CyberScoop·updated Sep 11, 16:07 UTC · 5d ago·first Sep 10, 20:31 UTC · 6d agoPolicy & legal 7 sources1

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US Sanctions Mabna Institute Hackers for Iranian Cyber-Attacks

US sanctions individuals tied to Iranian hacking-for-hire group the Mabna Institute over cyber-attacks.

The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals connected to the Mabna Institute, an Iran-based hacking-for-hire group. The move targets the actors behind Iranian cyber-attack operations. Sanctions are a government enforcement action rather than a new technical threat.

Infosecurity Magazine·Aug 25, 09:10 UTC · 22d agoPolicy & legal

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Expanding AI access and cyber defense for federal, state, local, and tribal governments

OpenAI and GSA agreed to provide ChatGPT to federal, state, local, and tribal governments with $0 licenses, 50% off usage, and cyber-defense access.

OpenAI for Government and the U.S. General Services Administration announced a 27-month agreement (October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028) waiving the $15 per-user monthly license fee and cutting usage costs 50% for federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. More than one million government employees already have ChatGPT access, with eligibility extending across a roughly 23 million-person U.S. public-sector workforce. Every verified government entity is approved for Daybreak Blue cyber-defender access at 50% off, with Daybreak Red available for vulnerability research, exploit validation, and red teaming at standard pricing. The deal builds on the $1 billion Daybreak for Frontline Defenders commitment announced the prior week.

OpenAI News·Sep 10, 07:00 UTC · 6d agoAI industry1

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US military disabled ad tracking on troops’ devices following reports of targeted attacks

US DoD disabled ad tracking on troops' devices after foreign adversaries targeted service members using commercially bought location data.

Per letters shared with Senator Ron Wyden, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command disabled advertising IDs on iPhones, Android devices, and Windows computers across the federal military enterprise. The protections rolled out earlier in 2026, with the Air Force implementing changes in July, to prevent adversaries from exploiting app-derived location data sold through data brokers. Wyden warned that personal devices brought onto military bases could still expose troops and facilities, and noted the intelligence community and FBI buy such data without warrants.

TechCrunch · Security·Sep 4, 13:21 UTC · 12d agoPolicy & legal

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US Indicts 17 Iranians Over Years

US unsealed superseding indictment charging 17 Mabna Institute Iranians for IRGC-linked espionage stealing 31TB from universities, companies, and government agencies.

The Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment charging 17 members of the Iran-based Mabna Institute, which conducted hacking campaigns since at least 2013 on behalf of the IRGC and other Iranian clients. The group compromised 144 US and 178 foreign universities, at least 42 US companies, and multiple government agencies, stealing over 31 terabytes of academic data and IP plus employee email inboxes. Hackers breached roughly 8,000 of 100,000 targeted professor accounts across 24 countries, selling stolen research through Megapaper.ir and Gigapaper.ir. Behzad Mesri, tied to the HBO breach and $6 million Bitcoin extortion, is among eight new defendants, and five defendants carry State Department Rewards for Justice bounties up to $10 million.

Security Affairs·Aug 20, 08:36 UTC · 27d agoThreat actor in the wild

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Trump may be forced to reveal secret rules feds use for AI safety testing

Protect Democracy sued four federal agencies to force disclosure of the administration's secret framework for frontier AI safety reviews.

Nonprofit Protect Democracy sued four federal agencies, including the Office of the National Cyber Director, OSTP, Treasury and Commerce, seeking disclosure of the secret voluntary framework used for pre-release safety reviews of frontier AI models. The complaint demands the framework text, participant identities and selection criteria by September 30, alleging OpenAI negotiated a private agreement limiting distribution of its cutting-edge models to government-vetted partners. The suit follows the launch of the GOLD EAGLE clearinghouse and the completion of the review framework on August 3, with California Senator Josh Becker supporting the request while the state considers the SB 813 bill for transparent AI safety standards.

Ars Technica · AI·Sep 2, 17:58 UTC · 14d agoAI policy

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Suspected Russian Hackers Abuse Google OAuth and WhatsApp Linking to Hijack Accounts

Google tracked three suspected Russian espionage clusters abusing OAuth flows, app passwords, and WhatsApp linking to hijack accounts of diplomats and defense targets.

Google Threat Intelligence Group detailed three suspected Russian espionage clusters, UNC6293, UNC7005 (Storm-2945), and UNC5976, targeting academia, aerospace, defense, governments, and think tanks in Europe, the US, Ukraine, and Armenia. UNC6293, assessed as a sub-cluster of APT29/Ice Relic, conducted OAuth and application-specific password phishing while impersonating State Department officials. UNC5976 registered file-sharing-themed domains hosting fake OAuth login pages and deployed a malicious Excel plugin codenamed HEADRUSH, while UNC7005 abused WhatsApp device linking to hijack accounts and record victims' audio and video.

The Hacker News·Aug 21, 14:54 UTC · 26d agoThreat actor in the wild

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House passes bill to equip local law enforcement with scam-fighting tools

The U.S. House passed the GUARD Act, letting local law enforcement use federal grants to investigate financial scams and trace stolen cryptocurrency.

The bipartisan GUARD Act (Reps. Zachary Nunn, Scott Fitzgerald, Josh Gottheimer) passed the House, allowing existing DOJ grant funds to be used for fraud analysts, victim-support training, blockchain tracing software, and financial-information sharing with law enforcement. It addresses scams like pig butchering, often run by transnational criminal groups overseas; Americans lost a record $11.4 billion to crypto-related fraud in 2025, including $8.6 billion in investment fraud. Senators Katie Britt and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a Senate companion in July 2025, and the House also passed a bill retroactively eliminating the 'scam tax' on stolen funds for 2021-2025 victims.

The Record·18:28 UTC · 4h agoPolicy & legal

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Cyber threats nudge Trump to sign executive order on foreign equipment in U.S. energy infrastructure

Trump signed an executive order declaring an emergency to bar foreign bulk-power equipment deemed a national security cyber risk.

The executive order, 'Declaring a National Energy Emergency to Secure the United States Bulk-Power System,' prohibits acquiring, importing, transferring, or installing foreign-produced bulk-power equipment and software deemed risky, citing fears of digital backdoors in Chinese-made grid gear. China supplies roughly 85% of solar supply chain capacity and is a major transformer manufacturer. The Energy Department has 120 days to develop implementing rules; the order revives a 2020 Trump-era measure the Biden administration had suspended after utilities found compliance difficult.

CyberScoop·Aug 26, 21:47 UTC · 21d agoPolicy & legal1

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A Secretive DHS ‘Predictive Policing’ Unit is Analyzing Americans’ Financial Habits and Pulling Them Over

404 Media reveals DHS Border Patrol's secretive Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams (PITT) analyzing Americans' financial activity and feeding intelligence to local police for traffic stops.

404 Media identified Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams (PITT) in the Spokane Sector (Washington) and Laredo Sector (Texas), which review law enforcement-sensitive databases including Americans' financial activity and pass intelligence to local police. In one case, a PITT analyst flagged financial patterns associated with narcotics activity, leading Montana Highway Patrol to stop a driver for an obstructed license plate and charge him with DUI and possession with intent to distribute. CBP declined to say what financial data is monitored or whether warrants are obtained; the program extends AP's earlier reporting on ALPR-based predictive policing.

404 Media·Sep 8, 13:10 UTC · 8d agoPolicy & legal

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AI-fueled attacks pose ‘active threat’ to water, other sectors, U.S. agencies warn

NSA, CISA, FBI, DOE and EPA warn hackers are using AI-generated scripts to actively attack Siemens S7 PLCs across critical-infrastructure sectors.

A joint cybersecurity advisory from the NSA, CISA, FBI, Department of Energy and EPA warns of an active threat campaign targeting water, food, energy, chemical, manufacturing and commercial facilities via Siemens S7 Series programmable logic controllers. The actors use internet scanning to find exposed or poorly protected PLCs, then deploy AI-generated exploitation scripts disguised as legitimate monitoring tools, an OT first that dramatically lowers the expertise required for ICS attacks. Siemens says no new S7 vulnerabilities are involved, only exploitation of misconfigurations, and it is coordinating with CISA's ProductCERT. The warning follows a joint FBI-EPA advisory confirming attacks at water and wastewater utilities in at least 12 states since July 27.

CyberScoop·Aug 20, 14:00 UTC · 27d agoAdvisory in the wild1

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Coast Guard, FBI board US-bound foreign ships in order to probe for cyberattacks

US Coast Guard and FBI boarded two foreign tankers bound for the US after indications their vessel networks were compromised, investigating possible Iranian involvement.

The Coast Guard and FBI conducted joint offshore security boardings of two commercial ships in the Gulf of Mexico on August 21 and 24 to examine their operational and IT systems following indications both networks were compromised. The vessels reportedly carried oil and natural gas, and one was hacked in the Strait of Gibraltar and lost communications for over 30 hours. No operational disruptions, vessel instability, or environmental impacts have been reported, and authorities are investigating whether Iran or another group exploiting US-Iran tensions was behind the attacks.

CyberScoop·updated 18:46 UTC · 3h ago·first 14:48 UTC · 7h agoData breach in the wild 2 sources

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Early 764 member sentenced to 77 years, longest prison term to date for a nihilistic violent extremist

Kyle Spitze, an early 764 member, was sentenced to 77 years for producing CSAM, the longest sentence for a nihilistic violent extremist.

Kyle William Spitze, an original member of the 764 nihilistic violent extremist network and administrator of the Harm Nation offshoot, was sentenced to 77 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 to producing child sexual abuse material, possession of CSAM, and distributing animal crush videos, victimizing dozens of girls through coercion, doxing and swatting threats. Investigators found roughly 25 photo albums of abuse imagery on his phone and evidence of animal torture. The Justice Department framed the sentence as a signal in a broader enforcement push against 764, which has seen multiple members arrested or sentenced since 2025.

CyberScoop·Aug 20, 18:34 UTC · 27d agoPolicy & legal

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NIST wants to overhaul its vulnerability database for the AI age

NIST issued a Federal Register RFI seeking public input on overhauling the National Vulnerability Database for AI-scale, machine-consumable security data.

NIST published a request for information arguing the National Vulnerability Database must adapt as LLMs increasingly find and exploit vulnerabilities at machine scale. The RFI seeks input on integrating automation into vulnerability reporting, faster dissemination to defenders, and transparency and auditability in AI-driven decisions. It follows the White House-backed Gold Eagle clearinghouse at Treasury and the VINCE program with Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute for AI-discovered vulnerability reports.

CyberScoop·Aug 11, 15:36 UTC · Aug 11, 2026Policy & legal

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Jail time for Maine child in 764 marks turning point in federal law enforcement

A 17-year-old from Maine became the first minor federally adjudicated for 764 extremist crimes, including child exploitation, signaling a policy shift on prosecuting juveniles.

The FBI said a Maine teenager is the first child federally charged and adjudicated for crimes tied to the nihilistic violent extremist collective 764, part of The Com network. Charges include conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, distributing CSAM, interstate threats, cyberstalking, and identity theft. The case marks a turning point in federal policy on prosecuting juveniles and continues heightened enforcement: Kyle Spitze was sentenced to 77 years and Alexis Chavez to 40 years in related cases. The FBI is investigating more than 500 subjects connected to 764 and its offshoots nationwide.

CyberScoop·Sep 2, 21:03 UTC · 14d agoPolicy & legal

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DOJ firearms agency says hackers breached system containing investigation targets

ATF confirmed a cyberattack on a standalone system containing investigation target data, calling it a major incident; Qilin listed ATF on its leak site.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed a cyberattack on a standalone computer system containing information about targets of ATF investigations, with no connection to case management, laboratory, or eForms systems. The agency designated the breach a major incident and immediately terminated connections, initiating incident response and forensics. The Qilin ransomware gang added ATF to its leak site without providing stolen data samples. Qilin was the second most active ransomware gang in July 2026 with 127 reported attacks, and has previously hit Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Asahi, and Palau's government.

The Record·Aug 27, 12:25 UTC · 20d agoRansomware in the wild

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Engineered Persuasion: Evaluating Personalized Pretexts in LLM-Generated Spear Phishing

A study of 180 US workers found each LLM phishing personalization level raised click-intention odds by 28%, but credibility depends on context fit.

The arXiv paper evaluates how personalized pretexts in LLM-generated spear phishing affect perceived credibility, using 180 US working adults across 1,436 evaluations of emails with four cumulative personalization levels, from workplace context to shared-project details. Convincingness rose 2.40 points per level in sensitivity analysis and click-intention odds increased 28% per level, while non-clickers shifted toward deleting rather than reporting. Qualitative coding showed details matching the recipient's role and routines supported credibility, whereas incorrect, vague, or channel-inappropriate details raised suspicion. The authors argue personalization effectiveness depends on pretext fit, with implications for workplace security training.

arXiv cs.CR·Sep 3, 19:21 UTC · 13d agoResearch

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FBI officials say AI is bolstering adversaries, emphasizing need to focus on cyber basics, patching

FBI officials said AI is accelerating adversary capabilities while its new cyber strategy emphasizes continuous patching, cyber hygiene, and AI-enabled defense.

At the Billington CyberSecurity Summit and ahead of a new FBI cyber strategy, deputy assistant director Jason Bilnoski said AI is boosting the speed and capability of both criminal and nation-state attackers, while stressing that basic controls like MFA would still prevent most attacks. Colleen Ferranti urged a shift from quarterly Patch Tuesday cycles to continuous, risk-based patching as AI accelerates vulnerability discovery. The strategy pledges AI-enabled triage, malware analysis, attribution support, agentic AI adoption, expanded Computer Network Operations, ICS Coordinators in every field office, and a pledge on victim relief and privacy.

CyberScoop·Sep 9, 13:00 UTC · 7d agoPolicy & legal

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