Is it really the end of another month? Cyber security news Jan 2023 takes a look back at some of the top security-related stories from the past 4 weeks. We begin with a BBC article on schools in the UK being targeted by hackers. Then we move on to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has taken the internet by storm over the past few weeks and which has reportedly been used to create a new strand of malware. Finally, we turn to the NCSC in the UK, who recently issued warnings of imminent spear-phishing attacks.
Read our cyber security news round-up from December 2022.
UK Schools hit by cyber-attack
At the start of the month, the BBC ran this piece on confidential documents from 14 schools being leaked online. A hacking group called Vice Society targeted the schools, including Pates Grammar School in Gloucestershire. Between 2021 and 2022, they managed to seize documents including children’s SEN information, child passport scans, staff pay scales and contract details.
ChatGPT creates a new strand of polymorphic malware
This article from Info Security Magazine reveals that ChatGPT has been used to create new malware. The AI-powered chatbot from OpenAI was used by cyber security researchers at CyberArk. The researchers were able to generate functional code which could “easily evade security products”.
UK NCSC warns of spear-phishing attacks
Last week, The Hacker News revealed that the NCSC has warned of spear-phishing attacks from Russian and Iranian state-sponsored actors. The attacks will target specific sectors including academia, defence, government organizations and NGOs. The NCSC stated that think tanks, politicians, journalists and activists may also be targeted but that the general public will not be.
That is all for cyber security news Jan 2023; what did you think of our most recent selection? Have you been using ChatGPT over the past few weeks? Are you concerned about cyber-attacks? If so, then we would love to hear from you!