Reports from cybersecurity agencies and news articles

Global IT Outage Exploited by Scammers Following CrowdStrike Update, Remcos RAT Malware Spread

Jul 20, 2024, 03:48 PM

A global IT outage caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has led to widespread business and travel disruptions. Malicious actors are exploiting the situation by creating phishing scams, fake websites, and unofficial code, posing as tech support to deceive victims. Cybersecurity agencies, including the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Australia's cyber intelligence agency, have issued warnings about these scams. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz has urged individuals and businesses to verify the authenticity of any support they receive. The outage has affected various sectors, including media, retailers, banks, and airlines, prompting officials like Australia's Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil to advise the public to be cautious of scams and phishing attempts. Additionally, threat actors are distributing Remcos RAT malware to Latin American customers disguised as a hotfix.