The success of crypto inspired dozens of other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin. Today, people worldwide use cryptocurrencies to buy things, sell things, and make investments. One thing is certain; digital currencies are here to stay, no matter how many times you have to explain what a bitcoin is. Unfortunately, it also created the world of cryptojacking, a form of cybercrime that remains completely hidden from the target and can infect millions of computers with cryptojacking malware. Which brings us to the fundamental question: What can organizations do to protect themselves?  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, hosts Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Microsoft senior software engineer Amitrajit Banerjee and senior staff architect at Intel Rahul Ghosh to discuss the history and prevalence of cryptojacking. The push behind a cryptojacking attack is almost always motivated by money. Mining cryptocurrencies can be very lucrative, but making a profit is challenging unless you cover high costs. They discuss the importance of understanding the actual concept of mining, how victims' CPU power and computing resources can be used, and why it isn't easy in general to detect crypto miners. 

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• How prevalent is cryptojacking and who should be worried 
• When and how people are exposed to these new types of threats 
• Why you should be familiar with cryptojacking 

Some Questions We Ask:    

• How are victims' CPU power and computing resources used to mine cryptocurrencies? 
• What created this environment where cryptojacking is possible? 
• What are some general techniques when trying to identify cryptojacking? 

Resources:   

The increasing threat of cryptocurrency miners 

Defending against cryptojacking 

Guidance for preventing, detecting, and hunting for exploitation 

View Amitrajit Banerjee on LinkedIn 

View Rahul Ghosh on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.     

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ransomware attacks have never been so successful. The returns from these attacks are soaring and only becoming easier to conduct. In chapter two of the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, the growing threat of cybercrime is covered in great detail. As we continue to go over the MDDR, it's more apparent than ever that the cybercrime economy and services it provides are stronger and more complex than ever. Cryptocurrency, malware, and adversarial machine learning are just a few of the topics we believe need to be covered in more detail.  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, host’s Natalia Godyla and Nic Fillingham are joined by Jason Lyons, principal investigator in the digital crimes unit at Microsoft. Jason is an experienced investigator specializing in computer investigations. He is trained and experienced in hacker methodology/techniques, computer forensics, and incident response. Jason joined the show to discuss Chapter two of the Microsoft Digital Defense Report, which focuses on the state of cybercrime. He also speaks on how cryptocurrency has created new challenges in ransomware, why ransomware continues to grow, and recent trends we are currently seeing in malware.  

In This Episode You Will Learn:     

• How to decide whether to pay the ransomware or not 
• New ways for security teams to protect against malware 
• Why we are seeing a rise in cybercrime due to cryptocurrency.  

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What's new in the way the cybercrime economy operates?  
• Why is ransomware still such a big thing and maybe even getting bigger? 
• What trends are we seeing with malware right now? 

Resources:   

Microsoft Digital Defense Report  

View Jason Lyons on LinkedIn  

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.     

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything is exciting and new when you're a kid, and curiosity inspires many of us to branch out and try new things. For some, that means drawing from our imagination or trying all kinds of sports. And for others it means spending days at the library, checking out books on modem communications, and eventually hacking into the local dial-up community service. That's just a random example, of course... Either way, curiosity can be a powerful tool, even at a young age. To the point that it may help kickstart a career, you didn't even know existed.  

In this episode of Security Unlocked, host Natalia Godyla is joined by S&P Global Ratings BISO Alyssa Miller. Alyssa is a life-long hacker and highly experienced security executive. She runs the security strategy for S&P Global Ratings as the Business Information Security Officer (BISO), bringing together corporate security objectives and business objectives. Natalia and Alyssa discuss her journey in security from a young and curious hacker to a BISO of the largest credit-rating agency, and how she is shaping what the role of the BISO will be for future generations.  

In This Episode You Will Learn:    

• What are the roles and responsibilities of a BISO  
• How a BISO should interact with the rest of the organization 
• How to put yourself on track to become a BISO   

Some Questions We Ask:    

• What are the gaps that the BISO function is trying to address? 
• What other roles should exist in security, but don’t?  
• How will the BISO role evolve over time? 

Resources:   

View Alyssa Miller on LinkedIn 

View Nic on LinkedIn  

View Natalia on LinkedIn  

Related:   

Listen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault     

Listen to: Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Security Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.   

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.