US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has stated that the United States has taken steps in response to these intrusions, sending clear messages to China about the consequences of disrupting American critical infrastructure.
The breaches have raised significant concerns about national security and the resilience of US critical infrastructure against sophisticated cyber threats. While companies like AT&T and Verizon have reported that their networks are now secure and are collaborating with law enforcement, the extent and impact of these breaches continue to be scrutinised.
China has denied involvement in these cyber activities, accusing the United States of disseminating disinformation. Nonetheless, the revelations have intensified discussions about the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive communications and infrastructure from state-sponsored cyber espionage.
Litecoin’s X social media account fell victim to hackers on 11 January, briefly promoting a fake Litecoin token on the Solana network. The fraudulent post included a contract address and scam link but was deleted after Litecoin regained control of the account. According to the Litecoin team, the breach occurred due to a compromised delegated account, which has since been removed.
This incident highlights a troubling trend of account hacks on X, with scammers exploiting high-profile accounts to promote fake tokens and phishing links. Victims in recent months include EigenLayer, Wiz Khalifa, the Cardano Foundation, and Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands. Each hack involved fraudulent campaigns, some generating significant trading volumes before being uncovered.
As scams on social media platforms rise, users are urged to exercise caution and verify information before engaging with any token promotions.
OpenSea users are facing increased risks after over 7 million email addresses were exposed in a data breach dating back to 2022. The breach occurred when an employee of Customer.io, OpenSea’s email delivery partner, mishandled user data, sharing email addresses with an unauthorised third party. This data includes the emails of major figures in the crypto world, raising concerns about potential phishing attacks and scams.
Blockchain security expert 23pds highlighted the growing threat, warning that the leaked information had been circulated multiple times before becoming public. OpenSea had previously alerted users about phishing risks following the breach, advising them to be cautious with email links and attachments.
Phishing scams targeting OpenSea users have been a persistent issue, with attackers using fake websites and fraudulent email campaigns to exploit vulnerabilities. One such scam in January 2024 promised exclusive access to an NFT event, only to direct victims to a malicious site designed to steal funds and wallet information.
Experts continue to advise users to stay vigilant, verify email sources, enable two-factor authentication, and never share sensitive wallet details to protect themselves from ongoing phishing threats.
Education technology provider PowerSchool has suffered a major data breach, exposing the personal information of millions of students and teachers. Hackers gained access to its systems by exploiting stolen credentials, using a tool within the company’s PowerSource support portal to export sensitive data.
The stolen records include names, addresses, and potentially more sensitive details such as Social Security numbers and medical information in the US and Canada. PowerSchool, which manages academic records for over 60 million K-12 students, assured customers that not all users were affected. However, the breach has left schools scrambling to assess the damage.
PowerSchool insists the hack wasn’t due to a flaw in its software but was a result of unauthorised access using legitimate credentials. The company has engaged cybersecurity experts to investigate and taken steps to improve security, including deactivating compromised accounts and strengthening password controls.
Critics argue that PowerSchool was slow to inform customers, potentially putting students, parents, and educators at greater risk of identity theft. While PowerSchool is offering affected users credit monitoring and identity protection services, the incident has sparked calls for stricter regulations on data security in the education sector.
President Joe Biden is preparing to introduce a new executive order aimed at strengthening cybersecurity standards for federal agencies and contractors. The proposed measures address growing threats from Chinese-linked cyber operations and criminal cyberattacks, which have targeted critical infrastructure, government emails, and major telecom firms. Under the draft order, contractors must adhere to stricter secure software development practices and provide documentation to be verified by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The order highlights vulnerabilities exposed by recent cyber incidents, including the May 2023 breach of US government email accounts, attributed to Chinese hackers. New guidelines will also focus on securing access tokens and cryptographic keys, which were exploited during the attack. Contractors whose security practices fail to meet standards may face legal consequences, with referrals to the attorney general for further action.
While experts like Tom Kellermann of Contrast Security support the initiative, some criticise the timeline as insufficient given the immediate threats posed by adversaries like China and Russia. Brandon Wales of SentinelOne views the order as a continuation of efforts across the past two administrations, emphasising the need to enhance existing cybersecurity frameworks while addressing a broad range of threats.
The order underscores Biden’s commitment to cybersecurity as a pressing national security issue. It comes amid escalating concerns about foreign cyber operations and aims to solidify protections for critical US systems before the transition to new leadership.
Authorities in Thailand have confiscated 996 Bitcoin mining rigs in Chon Buri province, accusing operators of illegally tapping into the power grid. The raid, conducted on 8 January in the Phanat Nikhom district, targeted JIT Co., a digital asset trading firm that allegedly tampered with power meters to avoid electricity charges. Losses to local providers are estimated in the hundreds of millions of baht.
Despite solar panels being present on the site, investigators revealed they were not connected to the equipment, which relies on immense computing power to mine Bitcoin. Thai officials highlighted the heavy energy demands of mining, which can cost hundreds of thousands of baht per Bitcoin, compared to the typical household electricity bill of 750 baht.
The case underscores the growing global challenge of managing crypto mining’s resource demands. Thai regulators reiterated the need to safeguard public utilities as they continue investigating the scheme and identifying additional parties involved.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has condemned Meta’s decision to discontinue its fact-checking program in the United States, calling it a grave issue. Speaking in Brasília on Thursday, Lula emphasised the need for accountability in digital communication, equating its responsibilities to those of traditional media. He announced plans to meet with government officials to discuss the matter.
Meta’s recent decision has prompted Brazilian prosecutors to seek clarification on whether the changes will affect the country. The company has been given 30 days to respond as part of an ongoing investigation into how social media platforms address misinformation and online violence in Brazil.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court, known for his strict oversight of tech companies, reiterated that social media firms must adhere to Brazilian laws to continue operating in the country. Last year, he temporarily suspended X (formerly Twitter) over non-compliance with local regulations.
Meta has so far declined to comment on the matter in Brazil, fueling concerns over its commitment to tackling misinformation globally. The outcome of Brazil’s inquiry could have broader implications for how tech firms balance local laws with global policy changes.
Business email compromise (BEC) scams are on the rise, targeting companies through highly deceptive tactics. These scams involve cybercriminals hacking into legitimate email accounts and tricking victims into transferring large sums of money. Recently, a small business narrowly avoided a major financial loss when a scammer posed as its owner, sending fraudulent wiring instructions to the company’s bank. Quick action by the business owner and a vigilant banker prevented the funds from being transferred.
Experts warn that BEC scams rely less on technical vulnerabilities and more on exploiting trust between businesses and their partners. Hackers often gain access through phishing attacks, installing malicious software, or guessing weak passwords. Once inside an email account, they may create hidden rules to intercept or forward messages, concealing their activities until it’s too late.
To counter these threats, cybersecurity professionals recommend measures such as enabling two-factor authentication, regularly updating passwords, and monitoring email account activity for unusual changes. Businesses are also advised to verify financial transactions using secondary methods, such as phone calls, to confirm the legitimacy of requests.
With global losses from BEC scams amounting to billions, the stakes are high. By taking proactive steps to enhance security, businesses can protect themselves from falling victim to these sophisticated schemes.
Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, is facing a criminal trial in the US, currently anticipated for early 2026. Prosecutors are dealing with six terabytes of data, encrypted devices, and the need to translate messages from Korean to English, creating significant delays in evidence gathering. District Judge Paul Engelmayer described the extended schedule as unprecedented in his 15 years on the bench.
Kwon denies the nine charges against him, which include securities fraud and money laundering conspiracies related to the $60 billion collapse of the Terra/Luna ecosystem in 2022. The incident impacted over 1 million investors. In a separate civil fraud lawsuit, a New York jury ordered Terraform Labs to cease operations and pay $4.5 billion in fines.
A hacker claims to have breached US location tracking company Gravy Analytics, leaking around 1.4 gigabytes of data. The allegation, shared on a Russian-language cybercriminal forum, included screenshots suggesting a data theft. Verification attempts were complicated as Gravy’s website remained offline and the company did not respond to messages.
Cybersecurity experts reviewing the leaked data found the breach credible. Marley Smith from RedSense and John Hammond from Huntress both confirmed the data appeared legitimate, though the hacker’s identity remains unclear.
Gravy was previously involved in a crackdown by President Biden’s administration targeting data brokers collecting sensitive location data without proper consent. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled with Gravy and Mobilewalla in December over allegations of deceptive data practices.
The FTC expressed concerns that such data could be misused for stalking, blackmail, and espionage but declined to comment on the breach. FTC Chair Lina Khan recently warned that targeted advertising practices leave sensitive data highly vulnerable.
