Malware

A zero-day bug in Microsoft Office and WordPad that hackers exploited to spy on targeted users, implant malware, and steal banking credentials took nine months to fix, according to news reports.

The attack also affected the department's ability to update the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Children Registry website and forced the department to suspend email services.

A malicious spam campaign found impersonating the U.S. Postal Service and delivering an apparent Cryptomix ransomware variant called Mole has already changed its tactics multiple times since its discovery earlier this month.

Researchers spotted a remote access trojan (RAT) dubbed Felismus which has a modular construction that allows it to hide or extend its capabilities.

The U.S. suffered 34 percent of global ransomware infections last year - and it's no wonder why, with 64 percent of Americans willing to pay to retrieve their encrypted files, compared to 34 percent of victims worldwide, according to Symantec.