To prevent ransomware attacks, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has urged organizations to implement stronger cybersecurity measures such as requiring employees to use strong, unique passwords for each account and enabling multi-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it is supported. It also advised businesses to ensure regular system backups.
The NCC-CSIRT issued a warning in its August 12, 2022 advisory after Yanluowang threat actors gained access to Cisco’s network using an employee’s stolen credentials after hijacking the employee’s personal Google account, which contained credentials synced from their browser.
Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents a user or organization from accessing files on their computer until they pay the attackers.
Cisco reported the security incident on its corporate network but said it did not identify any impact on its business although the threat actors had published a list of files from this security incident on the dark web on August 10.
NCC-CSIRT estimated potential damage from the incident to be critical while predicting that successful exploitation of the ransomware will result in ransomware deployment to compromise computer systems, sensitive products and customers’ data theft and exposure, as well as huge financial loss to organizations by incurring significant indirect costs and could also mar their reputations.
The team said, “The first step to preventing ransomware attacks is to ensure that employees are using strong, unique passwords for every account and enabling multi-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it’s supported.”
It further disclosed that “In response to the attack, Cisco has immediately implemented a company-wide password reset. Users of Cisco products should ensure a successful password reset.
“As a precaution, the company has also created two Clam AntiVirus signatures (Win.Exploit.Kolobko-9950675-0 and Win.Backdoor.Kolobko-9950676-0) to disinfect any potentially compromised assets. Clam AntiVirus Signatures (or ClamAV) is a multi-platform antimalware toolkit that can detect a wide range of malware and viruses.
“User education is critical in thwarting this type of attack or any similar attacks, including ensuring that employees are aware of the legitimate channels through which support personnel will contact users so that employees can identify fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information. “Organizations should ensure regular systems backup,” the advisory urged.
The Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large. The CSIRT also work collaboratively with the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risk incidents by preparing, protecting and securing Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, and problems or related events.
