Latest Department of State news

US govt sanctions Iranians linked to government cyberattacks

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned four Iranian nationals for their involvement in cyberattacks against the U.S. government, defense contractors, and private companies.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- April 23, 2024
- 02:40 PM
- 1
US imposes visa bans on 13 spyware makers and their families

The Department of State has started imposing visa restrictions on mercenary spyware makers and peddlers, prohibiting their entry into the United States, as announced earlier in February.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- April 23, 2024
- 11:38 AM
- 0
Microsoft still unsure how hackers stole MSA key in 2023 Exchange attack

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) has released a scathing report on how Microsoft handled its 2023 Exchange Online attack, warning that the company needs to do better at securing data and be more truthful about how threat actors stole an Azure signing key.
- Ionut Ilascu
- April 03, 2024
- 08:21 PM
- 0
US State Department investigates alleged theft of government data

The U.S. Department of State is investigating claims of a cyber incident after a threat actor leaked documents allegedly stolen from a government contractor.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- April 03, 2024
- 02:55 PM
- 1
US offers $15 million bounty for info on LockBit ransomware gang

The U.S. State Department is now also offering rewards of up to $15 million to anyone who can provide information about LockBit ransomware gang members and their associates.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- February 21, 2024
- 11:22 AM
- 0
US offers up to $15 million for tips on ALPHV ransomware gang

The U.S. State Department is offering rewards of up to $10 million for information that could lead to the identification or location of ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware gang leaders.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- February 15, 2024
- 01:57 PM
- 0
US offers $10 million for tips on Hive ransomware leadership

The U.S. State Department offers rewards of up to $10 million for information that could help locate, identify, or arrest members of the Hive ransomware gang.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- February 08, 2024
- 12:59 PM
- 0
US announces visa ban on those linked to commercial spyware

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced today a new visa restriction policy that will enable the Department of State to ban those linked to commercial spyware from entering the United States.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- February 05, 2024
- 03:26 PM
- 6
Microsoft breach led to theft of 60,000 US State Dept emails

Chinese hackers stole tens of thousands of emails from U.S. State Department accounts after breaching Microsoft's cloud-based Exchange email platform in May.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- September 28, 2023
- 04:45 PM
- 8
US govt offers $10 million bounty for info on Clop ransomware

The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program announced up to a $10 million bounty yesterday for information linking the Clop ransomware attacks to a foreign government.
- Lawrence Abrams
- June 17, 2023
- 04:06 PM
- 2
US offers $10M bounty for Hive ransomware links to foreign governments

The U.S. Department of State today offered up to $10 million for information that could help link the Hive ransomware group (or other threat actors) with foreign governments.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- January 26, 2023
- 03:41 PM
- 0
US govt will pay you $10 million for info on Conti ransomware members

The U.S. State Department announced a $10 million reward today for information on five high-ranking Conti ransomware members, including showing the face of one of the members for the first time.
- Lawrence Abrams
- August 11, 2022
- 05:46 PM
- 0
U.S. doubles reward for tips on North Korean-backed hackers

The U.S. State Department has increased rewards paid to anyone providing information on any North Korean-sponsored threat groups' members to $10 million.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- July 26, 2022
- 11:06 AM
- 1
US offers $15 million reward for info on Conti ransomware gang

The US Department of State is offering up to $15 million for information that helps identify and locate leadership and co-conspirators of the infamous Conti ransomware gang.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- May 07, 2022
- 07:00 AM
- 0
US offers $10 million reward for tips on Russian Sandworm hackers

The U.S. is offering up to $10 million to identify or locate six Russian GRU hackers who are part of the notorious Sandworm hacking group.
- Lawrence Abrams
- April 26, 2022
- 05:20 PM
- 0
US counterintelligence shares tips to block spyware attacks

The US National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and the Department of State have jointly published guidance on defending against attacks using commercial surveillance tools.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- January 07, 2022
- 11:22 AM
- 1
US State Dept employees’ phones hacked using NSO spyware

Apple has warned US Department of State employees that their iPhones have been hacked by unknown attackers using an iOS exploit dubbed ForcedEntry to deploy Pegasus spyware developed by Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group.
- Sergiu Gatlan
- December 03, 2021
- 12:55 PM
- 0
U.S. offers $10 million reward for leaders of REvil ransomware

The U.S. is offering up to $10 million for identifying or locating leaders in the REvil (Sodinokibi) ransomware operation, including $5 million leading to the arrest of affiliates.
- Lawrence Abrams
- November 08, 2021
- 07:11 PM
- 2
US targets DarkSide ransomware and its rebrands with $10 million reward

The US government is targeting the DarkSide ransomware and its rebrands with up to a $10,000,000 reward for information leading to the identification or arrest of members of the operation.
- Lawrence Abrams
- November 04, 2021
- 05:00 PM
- 2