Fake ransomware letters. New Safe Mode.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025
Cops shut down an alleged criminal crypto haven. Someone is sending letters to business execs pretending to be a ransomware gang. And we have a fresh, new Safe Mode for your ears. This is CyberScoop for Friday, March 7.
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An image showing the Garantex site had been seized by law enforcement.

Cops seize another crypto exchange

U.S. and European law enforcement agencies shut down Garantex, a cryptocurrency exchange accused of laundering billions in criminal proceeds, through an international operation involving multiple countries and Europol. The Justice Department indicted Garantex executives Aleksej Besciokov and Aleksandr Mira Serda for conspiracy to commit money laundering, with charges related to facilitating illegal transactions tied to ransomware, terrorism, and sanctions evasion. In addition to domain and fund seizures, the operation highlights the ongoing global crackdown on cryptocurrency platforms linked to illicit financial activities. Greg Otto has more.


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Scammers pretending to be....cybercriminals?

The FBI and researchers are warning executives about scam letters threatening to leak sensitive corporate data unless a ransom of $250,000 to $500,000 is paid. These letters, falsely claiming to be from the ransomware group BianLian, have been identified as a fraudulent campaign exploiting recipients' fears, marked by inconsistencies and a lack of proof of data exfiltration. Targeting mostly healthcare executives, the scam uses physical mail to add psychological pressure, bypassing digital defenses and making the extortion attempt feel more personal and alarming. Matt Kapko has more.


New Safe Mode

In this episode, Greg Otto talks with Dan Lorenc, CEO and co-founder of Chainguard. They explore the challenges organizations face with CVE management, where dealing with vulnerabilities often drains valuable engineering resources. They also discuss how new visualization tools are redefining this landscape by offering clear insights into CVE trends, empowering teams to make informed decisions and optimize both security and efficiency in their software development processes. In our reporter chat, Greg talks with Matt Kapko about the United States’ indictment of China-linked hackers. Listen here.


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