Cybercrime

The FBI and other federal government agencies are increasingly looking to counter cyber threats through tools other than criminal indictments

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, highlighting threats you should be aware of and actions you can take to protect yourself from becoming a target online.

Ransomware is a family of malware that blocks access to a PC, server or mobile device, or encrypts all the data stored on that machine. It’s typically delivered via malicious email or infected third-party websites. To regain access or control of the data, the user must pay a ransom — more often than not via Bitcoin.

In 2019, a ransomware attack wiped out 750 government computers across Texas in less than 90 minutes. As hospitals, local governments, agencies and businesses increasingly become the targets of ransomware attacks, here’s what you should know about the threat.

Two men from Estonia have been convicted of federal cybercrime charges involving ransomware and other attacks on computer systems around the globe. Oleg Koshkin, 41, was convicted Tuesday by a jury in U.S. District Court in Hartford of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse as well as aiding and abetting computer fraud and abuse. His co-defendant, Pavel Tsurkan, 33,…

Amazon Sidewalk is a new feature that will make your home internet connection available outside your home to help find lost or stolen devices and allow some limited connectivity from people in your neighborhood. Amazon plans to enable this feature by default, requiring users to opt out if they don’t want the service. “I’m not going to tell someone that...

A former Hartford police officer is facing charges after he allegedly wrongfully accessing law enforcement databases, according to Hartford police. Zachary Freeto was arrested Monday. According to Hartford police, had been on administrative leave since December 2020 after reports of misconduct, which had prompted an internal investigation. He remained on leave until he separated from the department on March 19,…

Cybercriminals shifted away from stealing individual consumers’ information in 2020 to focus on more profitable attacks on businesses.

With the coronavirus pandemic encouraging people to do holiday shopping online, scams are on the rise, experts say. The FBI’s Financial Crimes section expects cybercriminals to be preying on people looking for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals....
People who are in tighter financial straits or otherwise stressed from the pandemic might be more likely to fall for such scams...

The Justice Department has charged five Chinese citizens with hacks targeting more than 100 companies and institutions in the United States and abroad, including social media and video game companies as well as universities and telecommunications providers

Parents and students in the Hartford Public Schools district expressed their disappointment after the first day of school was delayed because of a ransomware attack.

Hartford Public Schools will be ready to return to class Wednesday, a day after originally planned. They were forced to cancel the first day of school Tuesday due to a ransomware attack. The district said the system has been repaired and no student or employee’s data was stolen or compromised. The cancellation however, took many parents by surprise. It...

Connecticut State Police have arrested a man accused in a scheme that stole more than $437,000 from a Tolland woman, according to police. According to the arrest warrant, so-called “romance scams,” which often target vulnerable populations like the elderly, are a rising problem internationally. Police believe the suspect, 32-year-old Kennard Banks, of Boynton Beach, Florida, was involved in such a…

Chris Hadnagy is a professional hacker. But he’s actually one of the good guys.

Puerto Rico’s government says it suspended three employees as federal agents investigate an online scam that attempted to steal more than $4 million from the U.S. territory.

We frequently hear of cyberattacks around the world and here in Connecticut, whether it’s a school system or a major company. Those cyberattacks are always a threat and the University of New Haven is taking the lead in fighting them with its growing cybersecurity program, recently awarded by the National Security Agency. “Since 2013 we’ve been ramping up cybersecurity...

Federal authorities have a consumer warning for shoppers. Hidden skimming devices (commonly thought to be attached to gas station pumps and ATMs) have gone high-tech. “It’s hard to put really — definite numbers around it. But one thing we know for sure is that millions of credit card numbers have been stolen, even over the course of the past two…

The Justice Department has unsealed charges against two Russian men in what authorities say is one of the worst computer hacking and bank fraud schemes of the past decade. The men are charged in a 10-count indictment filed in federal court in Pittsburgh. The charges relate to the creation of malware made to automate the theft of personal and banking...

Experts say scammers often use phony profiles to lure victims without ever meeting up, and many people are falling for it.