Endpoint and network security firm Sophos recently issued a release warning that ransomware attacks and other cyberthreats are becoming increasingly localized in nature, in order to more effectively target victims in specific geographic areas. At Black Hat, SCMagazine.com caught up with John Shier, senior security adviser at Sophos, to discuss these "designer" attacks in more detail.
According to Shier, cybercriminals are becoming more detail-oriented, customizing their malicious spam emails with languages and vernacular that are endemic to the regions receiving them. To complete the ruse, bad actors will often send emails that purport to be from actual local businesses and agencies that operate in a given area, including utility companies, postal services and law enforcement groups. See the full interview below for more details.
