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Cryptohack Roundup: Crackdown on Hamas Crypto

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Blockchain & Cryptocurrency
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Cryptocurrency Fraud
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Fraud Management & Cybercrime

Also: FTX Trial, Voyager Capital Settles With US FTC and Money Laundering and Hacks

Rashmi Ramesh (rashmiramesh_) •
October 12, 2023    

Cryptohack Roundup: Crackdown on Hamas Crypto
A munition from the Israeli army explodes in Gaza in a photo dated Oct. 12 (Image: Israel Defense Forces)

Every week, ISMG rounds up cybersecurity incidents in digital assets. This week: Crackdown on Hamas cryptocurrency accounts, more revelations from the trial of former wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried and Voyager Capital settles with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission but former CEO Stephen Ehrlich does not. Also: Elliptic said that hackers laundered $7 billion via cross-chain services, Upbit said threat actors targeted its platform more than 159,000 times in the first half of this year, Stars Arena fixed a critical bug, THORSwap halted services to freeze movement of stolen funds, Galaxe said it would compensate victims of a DNS attack, HTX hacker returned the stolen funds for a “bounty,” and Hong Kong set up a working group to supervise crypto trading platforms.

See Also: Challenges and Solutions in MSSP-Driven Governance, Risk, and Compliance for Growing Organizations

Hamas

Authorities are working to shut down cryptocurrency accounts belonging to Hamas after the terrorist group overran the Israeli border Saturday in incursions from the Gaza Strip. The cyber branch of Israeli police announced on Tuesday that it froze Hamas accounts on Binance, reported The Times of Israel. State authorities also worked with British police to freeze an account in Barclays bank, the newspaper said.

Cryptocurrency fundraising for terrorist financing activity is relatively low when compared to traditional fiat currency, said TRM Labs. Hamas nonetheless was the first terrorist organization to embrace cryptocurrency, with the organization’s military arm, the Izz-Al Din-Al Qassam Brigades, attempting to use cryptocurrencies as an alternate fundraising method starting in early 2019, TRM said.

Hamas supporter GazaNow received about $5,000 since the Saturday attack and has a total of $800,000 associated with its cryptocurrency address since launching in August 2021, TRM calculates. A handle on social media network X (formerly Twitter) called @tofanalAqsa – the Hamas codename for its terrorist operation – solicited crypto donations through its Twitter account but failed to raise “significant” funds.

There will be an “increased focus on cutting off Hamas’ ability to raise and move funds in the coming days and weeks,” TRM said.

FTX

More revelations about allegedly lax practices at FTX and sister trading firm Alameda Research continue to surface as the trial of former crypto wunderkind and disgraced FTX former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried moves forward in U.S. federal court.

Among them: former Alameda head turned star witness Caroline Ellison testified Wednesday that Bankman-Fried ordered Alameda to bribe Chinese government officials $150 million in order to unfreeze accounts worth about $1 billion. Ellison recorded the transaction in a spreadsheet as “-$150 million for the thing,” reported New York Magazine.

The bribe came after Bankman-Fried and Ellison attempted to retrieve money from the frozen accounts using Thai prostitutes’ identities, the Washington Post reported. Ellison has testified that despite her title as Alameda co-CEO (later sole CEO), she reported to Bankman-Fried. At one point, Bankman-Fried directed her to prepare fraudulent balance sheets for lender Genesis Global Capital that hid loans from FTX, Ellison testified. The former Alameda Research executive pleaded guilty to federal charges in December.

Bankman-Fried is on trial for two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy related to charges that he shifted as much as $14 billion in customer funds from FTX to Alameda. He has pleaded not guilty. A prosecutor asked U.S. District for the District of Southern New York Judge Lewis Kaplan to instruct Bankman-Fried’s defense counsel to have the defendant simmer down during Ellison’s testimony, New York Magazine also reported. During a sidebar, a prosecutor told Kaplan that “the defendant has laughed, visibly shaken his head, and scoffed.” The over-the-top expressions could have a visible effect on Ellison, “especially given the history of this relationship, the prior attempts to intimidate her, the power dynamic, their romantic relationship,” the prosecutor said. Ellison and Bankman-Fried had an on-again, off-again dating relationship.

The trial has other former employees coming out of the woodwork to describe conditions there. Aditya Bharadwaj, a former Alameda engineer who has recently been vocal about how the company operated, tweeted that Alameda lost $100 million after a trader clicked on a phishing link – one of the many such instances that led the company to losing millions of dollars. He also said that a former employee may have leaked an old version of plaintext keys, allowing an attacker to steal more than $50 million. “Even after all these incidents, no serious attempt was made to change the way we operated,” he wrote.

Voyager Digital

Defunct crypto platform Voyager Digital settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission after the consumer agency accused it of misleading consumers. Voyager continued to assure consumers in the weeks leading up to its July 2022 bankruptcy that their funds were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the FTC said in a complaint filed in federal court.

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Just two weeks before freezing customer access to accounts, CEO Stephen Ehrlich sent a letter to consumers calling Voyager “well-capitalized and positioned to weather the bear market,” telling them that their money was “as safe with us as at a bank.”

“In reality, Voyager was not an FDIC-insured institution, the FDIC does not insure crypto-assets, and even consumers who held cash with Voyager would not be eligible for FDIC insurance in the event that Voyager failed,” the FTC wrote in the complaint.

A settlement that still requires approval by a judge imposes a $1.65 billion settlement, with payment suspended to refund creditors during bankruptcy proceedings. The settlement also enjoins the company from disclosing “any nonpublic personal information about a consumer” without prior consent.

The agency said that Ehrlich has not agreed to a settlement and the FTC’s case against him will proceed in federal court.

Cross-chain Money Laundering

Hackers cumulatively laundered $7 billion of “illicit or high-risk funds” through cross-chain and cross-asset services, Elliptic said in a new report. North Korea’s Lazarus Group is the “largest source” of all illicit funds laundered through cross-chain bridges and the third largest source of all cross-chain crime overall, having laundered over $900 million through cross-chain methods, it said. The amount of funds laundered via coin swaps, bridges and decentralized exchanges stood at $2.7 billion between July 2022 and July this year.

Upbit

Hackers targeted South Korean crypto exchange Upbit more than 159,000 times in the first half of this year, according to the local Yonhap News Agency, which cited the crypto firm’s parent company Dunamu. The amount more than doubled compared to the first half of 2022 and spiked 1,800% compared to the same period in 2020. Upbit is one of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, with a trading volume of around $1.2 billion. The company reportedly strengthened its hot wallet security and moved 70% of its holdings to cold wallets for safekeeping.

Stars Arena

Avalanche-based social protocol Stars Arena last Thursday fixed a critical vulnerability that would have allowed hackers to drain more than $1 million worth of Avax coins from the project’s smart contract.

THORSwap

THORChain-based decentralized exchange THORSwap is “temporarily transitioning” into maintenance to prevent hackers from moving funds via its platform. It will remain in maintenance mode until “a more permanent and robust solution can be implemented to ensure the platform’s continued security and integrity,” the company said. An illicit actor known as the FTX hacker transferred $38 million worth of cryptocurrency over the past week via THORChain.

Galaxe

Web3 credentials and rewards platform Galxe said it will make whole users who lost money in a recent DNS attack and provide an additional 10% over the initial loss amount to “show our appreciation for your trust in Galxe.” The refund for 980 victims will cost the company a little over $396,000 .

HTX

The hacker who stole $8 million from crypto exchange HTX – formerly Huobi – returned the funds, and received a “whitehat bonus” of $400,000, the company’s advisor Justin Sun said. The hacker advised the company on how to fix the hot wallet-focused vulnerability, to which HTX responded with a request, asking them to submit a security vulnerability report to “avoid similar incidents in the future,” assuring the hacker that their “privacy will be protected.”

Hong Kong to Supervise Crypto Trading Platforms

The Hong Kong police, and the Securities and Futures Commission on Wednesday announced a working group to supervise crypto trading platforms. Comprising law makers from the police’s Commercial Crime Bureau, Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, Financial Intelligence and Investigations Bureau and the SFC’s Enforcement Division and Intermediaries Division, the group is expected to boost coordination, facilitate information sharing on suspicious activities related to virtual asset trading platforms and assess risks.





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    Boosting Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: Effective Strategies for Task Automation

    Small businesses face increasing cyber threats that can jeopardize their sensitive data, finances, and reputation. While implementing robust cybersecurity measures is crucial, small business owners often struggle with limited resources and expertise. However, with the advancements in automation technology, small businesses can leverage automated tools and processes to enhance their cyber defense. This article explores the best ways for small businesses to automate cybersecurity tasks, empowering them to safeguard their digital assets effectively.

    Employing Automated Threat Detection

    One of the primary challenges in cybersecurity is the timely identification and response to potential threats. Small businesses can automate threat detection by deploying security information and event management (SIEM) or intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS). These tools analyze network traffic, log files, and system events, promptly alerting business owners to suspicious activities or potential breaches. Automating threat detection reduces the burden of manual monitoring and ensures faster incident response.

    Implementing Patch Management Systems

    Cybercriminals often exploit software vulnerabilities to illicitly gain access to systems. Small businesses can automate the patch management process to keep their software and systems current. Patch management tools can scan the network, identify outdated software, and deploy necessary updates automatically. By automating patch management, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation through known vulnerabilities.

    Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

    Weak or stolen passwords are often responsible for security breaches. Small businesses can enhance authentication security by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems. MFA adds a layer of protection by requiring users to provide multiple credentials, such as a password, a unique code generated by a mobile app, or a biometric scan. By automating MFA, businesses can fortify access controls and prevent unauthorized access attempts.

    Automating Security Auditing and Compliance

    Compliance with industry regulations and standards is crucial for small businesses, as non-compliance can lead to severe penalties. Automating security auditing and compliance processes can help small businesses meet these requirements efficiently. Utilizing automated tools that scan systems for vulnerabilities, assess configurations, and generate compliance reports simplifies the auditing process. This automation ensures that businesses can identify security gaps and address compliance issues promptly.

    Deploying Automated Data Backups and Recovery

    Data loss can have catastrophic consequences for small businesses. Automating regular data backups and implementing disaster recovery solutions is essential. Cloud-based backup services can automatically back up critical data, minimizing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures, cyberattacks, or natural disasters. Automated backups ensure that businesses can quickly restore their systems and operations in the event of a breach or data loss incident.

    Educating Employees with Security Awareness Training

    Cybersecurity incidents are often attributed to human error, making them a prominent contributing factor. Automating security awareness training can help small businesses educate their employees and cultivate a strong security culture. Deploying automated training modules or simulated phishing campaigns can teach employees about common threats, safe browsing practices, and incident reporting procedures. Automating these training initiatives ensures consistent and ongoing education for all staff members.

    As cyber threats continue to evolve, small businesses must adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect their sensitive data and operations. By embracing automation, small businesses can effectively enhance their cyber defense capabilities. From automated threat detection and patch management to multi-factor authentication and data backups, these automation strategies provide small businesses with robust security solutions despite limited resources. Small businesses can mitigate risks, safeguard their digital assets, and focus on growth and innovation by automating cybersecurity tasks.

    What Is Ethical Hacking? Unraveling the Enigma of Cybersecurity's Guardians

    In the vast realm of cyberspace, where shadows dance and digital footprints intertwine, the concept of hacking often conjures up images of malicious cyberattacks and occult breaches. But hidden within this landscape, some cybersecurity professionals use their skills to protect and defend. They are known as ethical hackers, the unsung heroes of our technology-driven world.

    The Vital Role of Ethical Hackers in Cybersecurity

    The role of an ethical hacker is vital within the cybersecurity industry. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience, these experts embark on a noble quest: to uncover vulnerabilities and safeguard the integrity of digital systems. Their mission? To perform risk assessments and test the foundations of security in organizations.

    To achieve their goal, ethical hackers immerse themselves in the expanse of security breaches, exploits, and vulnerability scenarios. They leave no stone unturned. Their goal is to protect organizations from malicious attacks, ensuring that the digital fortress remains untouchable.

    Don't underestimate the importance of ethical hacking. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, cybersecurity has never been more pressing. According to a report by Emergen Research, the cybersecurity industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.0% to 13.4% from 2022 to 2030. This surge in demand reflects the critical importance of ethical hackers in fortifying digital infrastructure against the relentless onslaught of cyber threats.

    Embracing the Journey: Continuous Learning and Certification for Ethical Hackers

    Becoming an ethical hacker requires diverse skills and knowledge. Understanding the types of hackers is crucial, as it provides insights into how they operate. Armed with this knowledge, ethical hackers delve into cutting-edge tools and techniques. They leverage their skills to identify vulnerabilities and devise countermeasures.

    The responsibilities of an ethical hacker transcend merely identifying weaknesses. They also recommend solutions and implement robust security measures. Their expertise helps organizations fortify their defenses, minimize breaches, and protect sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

    The Tools of Ethical Hacking

    Curious about the tools an ethical hacker uses? They have access to a diverse range of tools. These tools allow them to probe and analyze digital systems, uncover weaknesses, and assess the resilience of security measures. While the specific tools vary based on the objectives and preferences of individual ethical hackers, there are several standard tools they employ. 

    One such tool is the ever-popular Nmap (Network Mapper). Nmap is a powerful network scanning and mapping tool that allows ethical hackers to examine hosts and services on a network. It helps identify open ports, detect potential entry points, and provides a comprehensive overview of the network's structure. By leveraging Nmap's capabilities, ethical hackers gain valuable insights into the system's vulnerabilities, enabling them to devise targeted strategies for fortification.

    Another essential tool in the ethical hacker's arsenal is Metasploit. Metasploit is an open-source framework that facilitates penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. It offers a wide range of exploits, payloads, and auxiliary modules, empowering ethical hackers to simulate real-world attack scenarios. Employing Metasploit's extensive collection of exploit codes, ethical hackers can uncover weaknesses, gain unauthorized access, and assess the system's defenses against potential threats.

    WireShark, a network protocol analyzer, is another indispensable tool for ethical hackers. It allows them to capture and examine network traffic, providing deep insights into the packets traversing the network. With WireShark, ethical hackers can scrutinize individual packets, analyze network protocols, and identify suspicious or malicious activity. This tool enables them to detect anomalies, trace the origin of potential security breaches, and assess the security posture of the network.

    Additionally, Burp Suite, a web application security testing tool, plays a significant role in the ethical hacker's toolkit. Burp Suite allows hackers to intercept, analyze, and modify HTTP/S traffic between web browsers and servers. It helps uncover vulnerabilities in web applications, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery). Ethical hackers can use Burp Suite to identify weaknesses in web applications, effectively fortify defenses, and protect against potential attacks.

    These are just a few examples of the standard tools ethical hackers use. Ethical hacking is constantly evolving, and new tools and techniques regularly emerge to adapt to the ever-changing threat landscape. Ethical hackers leverage these tools to assess and strengthen the security posture of organizations, helping safeguard sensitive information, protect against cyber threats, and ensure the resilience of digital systems in an increasingly interconnected world.

    Ethical Hackers Need Ongoing Education

    For aspiring ethical hackers, continuous learning and certification awaits. Acquiring industry-recognized certifications not only validates their skills, but also opens doors to a myriad of career opportunities. Certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) provide the credentials to excel in this demanding and ever-evolving field.

    Conclusion

    The expertise of digital hackers safeguards digital life, upholding the principles of integrity, confidentiality, and trust. The growth of the cybersecurity industry reflects the need for ethical hackers, stressing the ever-present demand for their unique skills. So, acknowledge and appreciate these unsung heroes, the vanguards of cybersecurity who tirelessly battle in the shadows to preserve the sanctity of the digital realm -- and be glad they're there. 

    References:

    "Cybersecurity Market, By Component (Hardware, Solution, Service), By Security Type, By Solution, By Application (IT & Telecom, Retail, BFSI, Healthcare, Defense & Government, Manufacturing, Energy, Others), By Region Forecast to 2032". Www.Emergenresearch.Com, 2023, https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/cyber-security-market. Accessed 25 May 2023.

    Cyber Insurance: Why Every Business Needs Coverage

    Businesses in all industries are heavily reliant on technology. Unfortunately, this also makes companies a prime target for a variety of cyber attacks. Despite the best efforts in cybersecurity, no company is entirely immune to these risks. One way to help limit these concerns is to purchase cyber insurance for your business. Often overlooked or deemed unnecessary in the past, cyber insurance is quickly becoming a business necessity, providing a safety net for whenever things go wrong.

    The Ever-Present Threat of Cybercrime

    Cybercrime remains a big threat in the digital landscape. The lucrative nature of these attacks makes businesses of any size a top target of cybercriminals. The cost of a data breach can often cost millions of dollars, which is why it's essential for companies to take additional steps to protect themselves. Cyber threats are also becoming much more sophisticated and more difficult to avoid.

    A cybersecurity incident isn't just about financial loss. One incident can also lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, regulatory fines, and even business closure. Developing a robust cybersecurity system is crucial, but it's not foolproof. Investing in cybersecurity insurance for your business can give you much-needed protection against these threats.

    Cyber Insurance: An Essential Safety Net

    Like any insurance, cyber insurance covers financial losses related to cyber incidents. This can include costs associated with data recovery, notification of affected parties, legal fees, public relations efforts, business interruption, and even extortion payments demanded by hackers. In essence, cyber insurance is designed to help a company recover from a cyber attack by mitigating the financial impact. It provides an essential safety net that can make the difference between a company going out of business and staying afloat after a cyber-attack.

    Coverage Tailored to Your Business

    One of the key advantages of cyber insurance is that it can be tailored to fit the specific needs and risk profile of your business. Different businesses have different cyber risks. For example, a healthcare provider may need coverage for patient data breaches, while a retail business might require protection against credit card fraud. Cyber insurance policies can be customized to provide the coverage your business needs most.

    The Rising Importance of Cyber Insurance

    Cyber insurance is growing in importance as businesses become more digital and data-driven. It's not just about whether your business will experience a cyber-attack, but when it will happen. Data privacy laws are becoming more stringent, which means businesses can face hefty fines for failing to adequately protect customer data. Cyber liability insurance can provide coverage for these regulatory fines.

    Cyber Insurance - An Investment Worth Making

    Investing in cyber insurance is like putting on a seatbelt while driving. It doesn't prevent an accident, but it can significantly mitigate the damage if one occurs. Cyber insurance is an essential part of a comprehensive risk management strategy, providing financial protection and peace of mind in a digital age fraught with cyber threats. Regardless of your business size or industry, having cyber insurance can help you navigate the aftermath of a cyber-attack by protecting your financial resources.

    PSL’s Easy Guide to Understanding Cybersecurity

    The world of cybersecurity can often feel like a maze of technobabble and obscure acronyms. Yet in an era where our lives increasingly depend on digital infrastructure, it's important to have a basic understanding of the terminology involved. Learning about cybersecurity can help you avoid common mistakes and limit the chance of becoming a victim of these crimes.

    Here is an overview of common cybersecurity terms.

    1) Cybersecurity

    Let's start with the basics. Cybersecurity is simply the defense against digital attacks that target computers, mobile devices, networks, and servers. These attacks are typically aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes.

    2) Malware

    Malware is any malicious software that can damage or infiltrate computers without the user's consent.

    Here are the most well-known types of malware.

    Virus

    Like a biological virus, a computer virus attaches itself to a host (in this case, a file), and spreads when the file is shared, infecting other files and systems.

    Worm

    A worm is a standalone type of malware that will replicate itself to easily spread to other computers through a network.

    Trojan

    Named after the Greek myth, the Trojan horse, a Trojan is a form of malware that attempts to disguise itself as a normal program or file to trick users into either downloading or installing it.

    Ransomware

    This type of malware encrypts the user's files and demands payment to unlock them.

    Spyware

    Spyware is malware that's specifically designed to spy on user activity without their knowledge.

    3) Phishing

    Phishing is a common attack that tries to gain personal information by using deceptive emails and websites. The attacker, masquerading as a trustworthy entity, uses a variety of strategies to trick the victim into opening an instant message, email, or text message.

    4) Firewall

    A firewall is an IT security tool that controls network traffic using predetermined security rules. Think of it as a digital barrier limiting unauthorized access to your network or computer.

    5) VPN (Virtual Private Network)

    A VPN masks your internet protocol (IP) address to make your online actions nearly untraceable. VPN services establish encrypted connections to provide much greater privacy while using the internet.

    6) Encryption

    Encryption converts data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. When data is encrypted, it appears as gibberish unless you have the decryption key to convert it back to its original form.

    7) Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

    2FA is a common security process in which users must provide two different authentication factors to gain access to an account. For example, in addition to a password, you might also need to enter a code sent to your phone.

    8) Darknet/Dark Web

    The darknet or dark web refers to encrypted online networks that aren't indexed by search engines, and they are often used for illicit activities. You need special software (like Tor) to access it.

    9) Data Breach

    A data breach happens whenever secure or private information is released into an untrusted environment. This is often due to a cyberattack on a database, leading to sensitive data being exposed, copied, or used.

    10) Botnet

    A botnet uses a group of private computers that are unknowingly infected with malicious software and are controlled as a group to perform various tasks. Many times botnets are created to send out spam emails or carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

    Closing Thoughts

    Understanding cybersecurity is not just for the tech-savvy; it's for everyone. We are all potential targets for cyber threats, and comprehension of basic cybersecurity terminology can make a significant difference in safeguarding ourselves and our digital assets.

    Employing cybersecurity measures also helps to keep your digital data safe. This might include using a VPN, enabling two-factor authentication, or simply being wary of suspicious emails to prevent phishing attacks.

    Ultimately, it's not necessary for everyone to be a cybersecurity expert, but a basic understanding of the key terms can be an empowering first step in better securing your digital life. This newfound knowledge can provide you the confidence to navigate the online world with more safety and assurance.