Pinkerton Insights Podcast

The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) published a report that asserts the Russian cyber-espionage group called Turla carried out several attacks using malware hijacked from an Iranian group Microsoft advised organizations to delay installing update KB4520062, or OS build 17763.832, on Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 version 1809 PCs. A security researcher from ESET discovered 42 apps, with more a total of more than 8 million downloads, from Google Play Store that maliciously display full-screen advertisements to users. Last week, open sources reported that the left-wing opposition refused to meet with President Sebastian Piñera to discuss a “social accord” to render solutions for the Chilean people and reduce the social unrest. After his swearing-in on October 20, Indonesian President Joko Widodo began his second term with top-priority pledges to create more opportunities for investment, jobs, and economic growth, and to develop modern infrastructure more quickly. The World's Bank D

At least 25 people have been killed, around 166 others injured, and dozens more are missing after Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan. Late last week, it was announced that Royal Mail, one of the most important postal services in the UK, has decided to go on strike. Protests in Barcelona over the verdict on alleged Catalan separatists resulted in clashes with the police at El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN). The personal information of more than 250,000 users of the Dutch website Hookers.nl, a popular website among clients of sex workers, was compromised as the site was hacked using a bug in its chat room software. Samsung announced it would fix the issue of Galaxy S10’s malfunctioning fingerprint recognition after a user claimed on October 13 to the Sun newspaper that a gel cover to protect her device would allow any fingerprint to unlock the phone. Dark Reading has reported on a study by Kaspersky Labs examining internet of things (IoT) attacks through the first half of 2019. The Hacker News recently announced

  Microsoft recently discovered that a state-sponsored Iranian hacking group called “Phosphorous” tried to access several email accounts that belonged to members of a U.S. presidential candidate campaign. Last week, online publication ZDNet reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent a security notification on September 17 to warn private industry partners about the increasing instances of cyber-attacks that can bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA).   Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill on October 23, regarding the social media giant’s impact on U.S. financial services from its planned launch a digital wallet called Calibra, and a cryptocurrency called Libra.  Deflation in Latin America’s two largest economies, Mexico and Brazil, has signaled regional growth challenges, as their central banks are reportedly cutting interest.  The outlook for Asian economies has once again been adjusted due to the ongoing U.S.-China

Last week, the President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, declared the country was in a state of exception condition due to several disruptive protests that are taking place nationwide.  BBC Weather reported last week there would be a significant drop in temperatures in many parts of Europe, including Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Spain and the Balkans region due to strong winds coming from the Arctic through Scandinavia and Central Europe.  As reported on last week, a large winter storm has been affecting the southern ends of Canada’s British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan provinces, as well as Washington state, Idaho, Montana, and later, Wyoming.  DoorDash Inc., a food-delivery tech platform, reported last week a recently discovered data breach that occurred on May 4, 2019.  As reported on last week in the U.S., a 34-year-old former Yahoo employee pleaded guilty to breaking into 6,000 user accounts, including those of co-workers and friends, to obtain sexual images and videos of young wo

Open sources reported last week that Adaptive Mobile Security researchers found a spying malware that exploits the SIM alliance Toolbox Browser software of SIM cards in mobile devices worldwide.  Last week, open sources reported that researchers from the Independent Security Evaluators found 125 web application vulnerabilities after testing 13 small office or home office routers and Network Attached Storage devices, potentially affecting millions.  As reported on last week, Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Indonesian biggest private airline Lion Air, suffered a massive data breach, which exposed millions of passengers’ personal data from Malaysia and Thailand operations.  Media outlets reported last week that South Korea likely would announce the removal of Japan from its preferred trading list. In the UK, the Liberal Democrat Party announced last week that if it picks up sufficient votes in a snap election proposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, it intends to stop the Brexit process by revoking the

As reported on earlier this month, the cybersecurity firm, vpn Mentor revealed the existence of an open database from DK-Lok, the South Korean industrial manufacturer.  Open sources recently reported that a cyber-security expert from Vulnerability-Lab found significant vulnerabilities in Telestar Digital GmbH Internet of Things radio devices.  As reported on last week, the Malware Hunter Team discovered a new malware associated with the Ryuk Ransomware.  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, members in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates agreed to cut crude oil production to avoid an excessive supply amid increasing U.S. production and decelerating global economy.  In Mexico it was reported last week that the Mexican Ministry of Finance and Public Credit proposed a collection of the Special Tax on Production and Services to the provision of services, including transportation, and products of foreign companies that operate through digital platforms.  H&M, one of the world most promin

In the UK last week, the South Western Railway canceled 50% of its services until on the second, due to the strike organized by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. In Tunisia, Interim President Mohamed Ennaceur announced recently that the current national state of emergency would be extended until December 31, 2019. In South Africa, hundreds of women demonstrated against gender violence at the central business district of Cape Town last week.   As reported last week, Google’s Threat Analysis Group discovered that malicious websites have been exploiting around 14 iPhone iOS vulnerabilities since September 2016. Last week, open sources reported that malicious actors successfully deceived the manager of a UK-based energy firm into transferring over 240,000 dollars US using a deep fake voice attack. In China last week, it was disclosed that the Chinese deep fake application Zao, that was launched on August 30, is likely to infringe the privacy of its users.

Violent clashes between the police and demonstrators were reported last week in the Tsuen Wan district of Hong Kong. Last week in Japan, local authorities issued flood and mudslide warnings due to the torrential rains on Kyushu island.  Also in Hong Kong last week, it was reported that around 8,000-10,000 troops and a naval vessel of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army were deployed to its Hong Kong Garrison.  Last week, an allegedly North Korean state-sponsored cyber-espionage group called Kimsuky or Velvet Chollima targeted retired diplomats and military officials from South Korea for the first time.  Enterprise networks are at risk after hacker groups started exploiting an RCE backdoor vulnerability that allows the hackers to take full control of the attacked systems, as reported last week.  As reported last week, security researchers discovered there is a new Advanced Persistent Threat group called New Lyceum or Hexane, which tends to target the companies related with the energy sector. 

Recently in Mexico, around 3,500 Mexican women gathered at Glorieta de los Insurgentes, in Mexico City, and walked around other parts of the city, including the Reforma Avenue, the District Attorney’s Office, the Secretary of Security and the Angel de la Independencia.  In Brazil, a man hijacked a commuter bus last week headed to Rio de Janeiro, which had 37 passengers aboard at the time; the incident occurred on the bridge over Guanabara Bay.  Recently in the US, an individual placed three rice cookers in two locations in Midtown and Lower Manhattan in New York that initially forced authorities to suspend subway and bus services. Earlier this month, 17 seamen were abducted from two merchant vessels in Cameroonian waters.  Last week, local authorities deployed 1,200 officers to control the ongoing protests in West Papua and Papua provinces in Indonesia. In the UK, a bomb exploded on Cavan Road, in Newtownbutler, near the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland recently. 

Last week, media outlets reported that at least 19 people were killed in the city of Uruapan, Michoacan State.  At least 237 people have died and dozens have disappeared as of last week due to the heavy monsoon season in India and Myanmar. All flights were suspended for two days last week at the Hong Kong International airport due to the presence of hundreds of demonstrators in the facility.  Guatemala’s electorate cast ballots in the second-round runoff vote to choose the next president last week.  A judge with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted American Airlines’ petition for a permanent injunction against the aircraft mechanics union that will prohibit the union from conducting illegal work slowdowns last week. 

Recently, Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri’s administration released a list of terrorist groups, an action not taken by previous Argentine administrations.  Last week in Mexico, a shooting was reported in an upscale shopping mall in southwestern Mexico City. The Chinese government’s Defense Ministry Spokesman called a press conference to further address the events that took place when protesters defaced the mainland government’s liaison office in Hong Kong last week.   Greenpeace activists attempted to prevent Boris Johnson’s vehicle from entering the gate at Buckingham Palace, as the newly elected prime minister was arriving to meet with Queen Elizabeth last week.  As reported on earlier this month, truckload freight volumes are increasing, and shippers and importers operating in the southwestern border of the U.S. are bracing for more congestion due to insufficient infrastructure, the US-China trade dispute, and stricter migration controls. As reported on July 22, 2019, the International Association of

In Mexico last week, open sources reported that a wildfire had destroyed over 6,100acres of the Sian’Kan Protected Natural Area in the state of Quintana Roo.  As reported on last week, four members of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria have been killed, 30 injured, and 50 are missing, after clashes with the police in three cities.  Hong Kong’s executive Carrie Lam said last week that the demonstrators with whom police clashed over the weekend were rioters, and that she supports the police in dealing with them as such.  In Zimbabwe representatives from workers’ unions protested last week outside the offices for the country’s Finance and Labor Ministries. As reported last week, pirates operating in the Gulf of Guinea boarded the Turkish cargo ship Paksoy-1 as it transited the area heading to Cameroon. Hurricane Barry made landfall last week in the U.S. as a Category 1 storm. 

As of July 8th, world’s top cocoa producers could not secure an agreement with global buyers and traders.  Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam said that as of last week the government’s efforts on the extradition bill have been a total failure. Last week, open sources reported that several members of the European Union had been informed about medicine shortages as the bloc highly depends on limited suppliers and producers, mainly in Asia.  Cyber-security researchers reported that servers belonging to GE Aviation became vulnerable to public and malicious access due to faulty DNS configurations last week.  More than 500,000 US Dollars were stolen from the 7-Eleven payment app users in Japan after a security breach last week.  Industry sources reported that Chanel – the French couture firm – lost its rights to exclusively use its ‘Double C’ logo in China.  Over two dozen countries back a resolution submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, which asks the council to investigate the extrajudicial executions an

Last week in China it was reported that the Chinese border police are secretly installing surveillance apps on the phones of visitors crossing from Kyrgyzstan to the western Xinjiang region.  In the U.S., a bipartisan pair of Senators have offered a bill that would require companies that collect and use consumers’ user data to quantify the commercial value in reporting both to regulators and the consumers affected.  Last week, IT firm Attunity confirmed it exposed some of its clients’ information by hosting it on an unsecured server.  In Brazil, a group of reporters published an investigation last week on the prevalence of salmonella in the Brazilian chicken industry.  Japan recently announced it would impose restrictions on exports of high-tech materials to South Korea.  The Nikkei Asian Review reported that prestigious technology companies are considering relocating part of their production from China to avoid paying higher tariffs and economic uncertainty due to the trade war between the U.S. and China. 

Hazard and Event Risks  As reported on June 25, protesters are planning further demonstrations ahead of the G20 Summit against the extradition bill, urging the involved nations to discuss it during the summit. Recent weather reports forecast a heatwave during this week across Europe, breaking several temperature records in France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Spain.  Last week in the U.S., a major explosion occurred at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex, the largest oil refinery on the East Coast.  Operational and Physical Risks The Singapore Civil Aviation Authority declared unauthorized drones caused the delay of 18 flights, 15 departing, and three arrivals, at Singapore’s Changi Airport last week.  Nine townships in the states of Rakhine and Chin, in Myanmar, went through a fifth day without mobile internet last week as the government established a decree to prevent an ethnic group from coordinating insurgent activities.  Last week, the Air India 191 flight from Mumbai to Newark wi

Media reports informed that most of the power had been restored in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay after an electrical blackout last week. In South Africa, citizens of Alexandra, a township located in the northern area of Johannesburg, went on a protest again last week with a total shutdown.  Last week, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam opposition party in India called for protests in the district capitals of Tamil Nadu in response to the ongoing water crisis. As reported last week, Ethiopia has been without internet access since June 11. As reported by the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, it is believed that a Russian or Eastern European hacker group gained remote access to the computers of the Japanese crypto exchange Coin check exchange employees using a malware sent via email. Mozilla Firefox reported a “critical” security flaw in its browsers last week, that allows arbitrary code execution, when manipulating JavaScript objects. 

Recently in Libya, it was reported that for a second day, the Libyan National Army, led by Khalifa Haftar, conducted an air strike on a military base in Tripoli’s Mitiga International airport, which targeted a Turkish plane accused by the LNA of supporting the Government of National Accord and its forces.  Mount Sinabung in Indonesia erupted for approximately nine minutes earlier this month, spewing a 4.3 mile ash column and aftershocks were also reported. Operational and Physical Risks Last week, the Yemeni rebel group Houthis, carried out a missile attack on the arrivals terminal at Abha airport, located in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. At least 26 people were injured in the attack, and 8 of them were taken to the hospital. Thousands of Nicaraguans went on a nationwide strike to complain about the current government led by President Daniel Ortega last week.  As reported on earlier this month, heavy rainfall, marking the beginning of the rainy season that typically lasts from June to July, is hitting

In the U.S. last week, Checker and Rally’s Restaurants company disclosed that hackers broke into their system, installed malware on their payments system, and stole the credit card information of its customers.  Information regarding Patrick Wardle of Digita Security’s discovery of a security bypass for macOS was made available last week.  As reported earlier this month, Quest Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory company located in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., and India, was hacked, possibly compromising the personal information of 12 million clients.  It was reported last week that Italy is risking a disciplinary procedure from the European Commission, due to its excessive public debt, budget deficit, and a non-committal response from its Economy Minister.  Last week, the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation stated that Changan-Ford, the leading joint venture of the country, integrated by Ford Motor Company and Changan Automobile, would be fined 24 million dollars US for the violation of

As of last week, the airspace over the Pakistan-India border will be closed until June 15, as announced by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority.  Thousands of Nicaraguans went on a nationwide strike to complain about the current government led by President Daniel Ortega last week.  The Paraguay River water levels have risen approximately 23 feet in some places, affecting 70,000 people that were located close to the waterway.  According to a report published by Motherboard last week, it was revealed that numerous employees of Snapchat have inappropriately used company tools to spy and access the users’ data, including videos, saved Snaps, phone numbers, location information, and email addresses.  Last week, it was reported that the UK Government Communication Headquarters proposed enabling eaves dropping on encrypted chat services, such as that of Apple or Whatsapp.  The European Union approved a copyright directive, which was criticized by the Polish government, as it believes the legislation will lead to cens