2018 Cyber Security Threat and Vulnerability Predictions

This report encapsulates our predictions regarding the most significant cyber threats and vulnerabilities for 2018.

• Phishing: Will likely become more popular among novice and criminal hackers.
• Account Targeting: Account credentials are increasingly more available.
• Democratization of Cyber Weapons: 2017 saw the most high-profile ransomware attack to-date with the Wannacry worm.
• Tor Network: 2018 is the year of fighting and winning against the abuse of the Tor network.
• Macro Malware: The popularity of malicious macros for malware delivery continued strong in 2017.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Iran and North Korea tensions continue.
• Blockchain-related Cybercrime: With the establishment of Bitcoin futures and general interest to blockchain technologies, exploitation in this field grows too...READ MORE

Wapack Labs has cataloged and reported on cyber threats and vulnerabilities in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal.

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Adopting Maritime Cryptocurrency Requires Due Diligence and Caution

The New “maritime cryptocurrency” – the TEU (the maritime Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) tokens on Ethereum, were recently announced. The promotors, ETH Smart Contract Tech Limited, started a fundraising token sale on 16 August 2017. It is issued by 300cubits; a startup out of Hong Kong, China. Blockchain is being tested in different fields, from financing to transportation. But this new technology poses many risks, to include: programming mistakes on many levels; backup requirements; built-in irreversibility and so-called 51% attacks that may reverse transactions; intentional fraudulent token fundraising and poorly designed business models; price volatility; legal complications and changes to laws; and hacking incidents. The TEU tokens specifically share many of these risks, some of which are mentioned in the TEU terms, and some which are not. Nevertheless, the TEU partial adoption cannot be completely ruled out as of this writing...READ MORE

Wapack Labs has cataloged and reported extensively on cryptocurrency and maritime security issues in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal.

WWW.WAPACKLABS.COM

Russia is Considering Ethereum's Blockchain Technology

Russian president, Vladimir Putin, recently met with Ethereum Cryptocurrency founder, Vitalik Buterin. Russia, in the past, has effectively banned Bitcoin use by its companies and is now likely switching to "use and control" emerging Blockchain technologies. Bitcoin is the original blockchain-based cryptocurrency and has become very popular in black markets, including online drug sales and cybercrime. Ether (token for Ethereum), is one of the alternatives growing fast in general popularity. Besides the currency function, Ethereum provides much more functionality: it is an open-source, public, blockchain-based distributed computing platform that features smart contact (scripting) functionality, which facilitates online contractual agreements. This makes Ethereum technologies of interest for major financial institutions and IT companies. Blockchain technologies are not bad per se, and many Western financial institutions are attracted to its use, but Russia's history of protecting black-hat hackers and controlling some online black markets make this development worrisome...READ MORE

Wapack Labs has cataloged and reported extensively on Russia, blockchains, and cryptocurrency in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal.

WWW.WAPACKLABS.COM