Coveware’s Ransomware Attacks Report for Q4 2020

☁️🔍 Free Cloud Misconfiguration Scanners You’ll Wish You Tried Earlier ☁️🔍

Cloud misconfigurations remain the #1 cause of breaches in 2025 – and the worst part is, most could have been avoided with the right tools. Here are some free scanners that every CISO should have in their arsenal:

1️⃣ ScoutSuite – Multi-cloud security auditing tool by NCC Group.
🔗 https://github.com/nccgroup/ScoutSuite

2️⃣ Prowler – AWS, Azure, and GCP security best practices scanner.
🔗 https://github.com/prowler-cloud/prowler

3️⃣ CloudSploit by Aqua – Continuous configuration monitoring for major cloud providers.
🔗 https://github.com/aquasecurity/cloudsploit

4️⃣ Checkov – Policy-as-code scanner for IaC (Terraform, Kubernetes, CloudFormation).
🔗 https://github.com/bridgecrewio/checkov

5️⃣ Cloud Custodian – Rules engine for governance and compliance enforcement.
🔗 https://github.com/cloud-custodian/cloud-custodian

⚡These tools highlight risky IAM roles, exposed buckets, insecure defaults, and weak policies – the same gaps attackers exploit.

At AUMINT.io, we look at the other side of the coin – simulating how attackers exploit the human misconfigurations through phishing, vishing, and social engineering. Because even a perfectly hardened cloud is vulnerable if an employee gives access away.

🔗 Curious how exposed your human layer really is? Book a free demo

#CloudSecurity #CISO #CyberSecurity #ThreatIntelligence #AUMINT

🚨 PipeMagic Malware Threatens Critical Industrial Systems

💡 PipeMagic targets pipeline management systems, manipulating valves, monitoring operations, and hiding in plain sight.

⚠️ What makes it dangerous? It combines technological exploits with human errors, bypassing traditional IT defenses to compromise industrial operations.

📊 Most organizations focus on IT security while leaving operational technology exposed. Attackers know OT networks are the true leverage points.

🔍 Employee actions are just as critical – executing one malicious command can give attackers full operational control.

🔥 Mitigation requires a dual approach: strengthen OT defenses and train employees to spot sophisticated attacks through recurring, realistic simulations.

👥 AUMINT Trident provides these simulations, tracking vulnerabilities and turning employees into active defenders before attacks succeed.

📅 Protect both your workforce and industrial systems now – book a session here: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro
.

#CISO #IndustrialSecurity #CyberSecurity #OperationalTechnology #FraudPrevention #HumanFactor #RiskManagement #CriticalInfrastructure

🕵️‍♂️ 5 Free Zero-Day Trackers Every CISO Needs Handy 🕵️‍♂️

Zero-days remain one of the biggest blind spots for security teams. Staying ahead means knowing where to track active vulnerabilities before they hit mainstream feeds. Here are 5 free resources every CISO should keep in their toolkit:

1️⃣ CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog – Actively exploited vulnerabilities updated continuously.
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

2️⃣ MITRE CVE Database – The definitive catalog of vulnerabilities, including emerging zero-days.
https://cve.mitre.org/

3️⃣ Google Project Zero – Research group uncovering and publishing zero-day findings.
https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/

4️⃣ ZDI (Zero Day Initiative) – Public advisories on discovered and responsibly disclosed zero-days.
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/published/

5️⃣ Exploit Database (OffSec) – Community-driven database tracking zero-day exploits and proof-of-concepts.
https://www.exploit-db.com/

⚡ These trackers won’t stop attacks alone, but they give CISOs the visibility to patch fast, prioritize risks, and brief leadership with confidence.

At AUMINT.io, we go a step further – simulating how attackers exploit the human factor with phishing, vishing, and deepfake social engineering before a zero-day even gets weaponized.

🔗 Want to see how your employees would react under a zero-day-themed phishing test? Book a demo

#ZeroDay #CISO #CyberSecurity #VulnerabilityManagement #AUMINT

🚨 Humans Are Still the #1 Cybersecurity Risk

📊 Over 80% of organizations now rank social engineering as their greatest threat.

💡 Here’s the twist: it is not just about phishing emails anymore. Attackers are using deepfakes, urgent voice calls, and even video manipulation to outsmart people in ways firewalls cannot stop.

😱 The shock is not in the tools they use – it is in how easily human behavior is exploited. One click, one reply, one rushed decision can unlock the doors no hacker could force open.

🔍 The data tells us most training programs are outdated. Annual awareness sessions fail because attackers test every single day. The result – mid-market firms are losing millions while attackers refine their playbook.

🔥 What works instead? Recurring simulations that mirror real-world social engineering attacks, combined with dashboards that show CISOs and boards exactly where their human vulnerabilities are hiding.

👥 In 2025, the true security perimeter is people – and it is under constant siege.

📅 Want to see how to transform employees into a resilient defense system? Book your session here: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro
.

#CISO #CyberSecurity #FraudPrevention #BoardDirectors #RiskManagement #HumanFactor #AwarenessTraining #CyberResilience

🗺 7 Free Threat Maps CISOs Should Bookmark Today 🗺

Seeing cyber attacks unfold in real time changes how you think about defense. Threat maps give CISOs a powerful visual overview of attack activity worldwide – helping teams stay alert, informed, and prepared. Best part? These tools are free.

Here are 7 threat maps worth bookmarking:

1️⃣ Kaspersky Cyberthreat Real-Time Map – Global visualization of malware and phishing.
https://cybermap.kaspersky.com/

2️⃣ FireEye (Trellix) Threat Map – Tracks malicious traffic across regions.
https://threatmap.trellix.com/

3️⃣ Check Point Threat Map – Attack origins and targets updated live.
https://threatmap.checkpoint.com/

4️⃣ Fortinet Threat Map – High-volume global attack telemetry.
https://threatmap.fortiguard.com/

5️⃣ DDoS Attack Map by NETSCOUT – Real-time global DDoS tracking.
https://www.netscout.com/ddos-attack-map

6️⃣ Bitdefender Threat Map – Malware, phishing, and spam attack data.
https://threatmap.bitdefender.com/

7️⃣ Threatbutt Map (satirical yet insightful) – A different take on visualizing attacks.
https://threatbutt.com/map/

🌍 These maps won’t replace intel platforms, but they’re powerful for awareness, briefings, and stakeholder communication.

At AUMINT.io, we help CISOs go beyond watching attacks – by simulating how attackers target employees directly with phishing, vishing, and deepfake tactics.

🔗 Curious how your org would look on a threat map of human factor attacks? Let’s build one together: Book a demo

#ThreatIntelligence #CISO #CyberSecurity #IncidentResponse #AUMINT

⚠️ AI Attacks Are Targeting Manufacturing Now

AI-driven cyberattacks are rapidly disrupting manufacturing operations.

Attackers exploit vulnerabilities across robotics, IoT, ERP, and supply chain systems, causing downtime and financial losses.

Traditional defenses are no longer enough against these adaptive, fast-moving threats.

AUMINT.io helps manufacturers stay ahead with simulations, real-time monitoring, and actionable insights to identify vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.

Preparation is the difference between continuity and costly disruption.

Protect your operations today: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro

#CyberSecurity #ManufacturingSecurity #AIThreats #IndustrialCyberSecurity #CISO #AUMINT #OperationalResilience

🚀 CISOs: Best Free Tools for Vulnerability Scanning 🚀

Vulnerability scanning is essential to uncover weaknesses before attackers do. You don’t need expensive software to get started — there are robust free tools that every CISO should know.

Here’s a curated list of top free vulnerability scanning tools:

1️⃣ Nmap – Network discovery and security auditing tool.
https://nmap.org/

2️⃣ OpenVAS (Greenbone Vulnerability Manager) – Full-featured vulnerability scanning and management platform.
https://www.greenbone.net/en/community-edition/

3️⃣ Nikto2 – Web server scanner that identifies outdated software and dangerous files.
https://github.com/sullo/nikto

4️⃣ Trivy – Vulnerability scanner for containers, Kubernetes, and cloud-native apps.
https://aquasecurity.github.io/trivy/

5️⃣ OWASP ZAP – Open-source web application security scanner.
https://www.zaproxy.org/

6️⃣ Lynis – Security auditing tool for Unix/Linux systems.
https://cisofy.com/lynis/

7️⃣ Clair – Static analysis for vulnerabilities in Docker and OCI images.
https://github.com/quay/clair

8️⃣ Wapiti – Web application vulnerability scanner for automated testing.
http://wapiti.sourceforge.net/

9️⃣ Vuls – Agentless vulnerability scanner for Linux and FreeBSD systems.
https://vuls.io/

🔟 Metasploit Community Edition – Penetration testing framework with vulnerability scanning capabilities.
https://www.metasploit.com/

Integrating these tools helps CISOs identify risks, prioritize remediation, and strengthen organizational security posture.

Want to see how human risk can compound vulnerabilities? 🧠 AUMINT.io simulates social engineering attacks to uncover employee behaviors that attackers exploit.

📅 Book a free intro call: Schedule here

💾 Save this post and start scanning smarter today!

#CISO #VulnerabilityManagement #CyberSecurity #ThreatDetection #AUMINT

Ransomware attacks are intensifying at an alarming rate, with average ransom payments doubling in just a single quarter. This surge signals a dangerous trend – cybercriminals are becoming increasingly bold and sophisticated, targeting organizations that fail to proactively secure their systems.

The stakes are higher than ever. Businesses are not only losing critical data but also facing massive financial liabilities and reputational damage. Paying ransoms fuels this vicious cycle, encouraging attackers to strike again, often with more aggressive demands.

Traditional cybersecurity defenses are no longer enough. Firewalls, antivirus solutions, and basic backups cannot fully shield organizations from modern ransomware tactics, which include advanced social engineering, double extortion, and AI-enhanced attacks.

AUMINT.io equips organizations with proactive monitoring, attack simulations, and actionable insights to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. By simulating real-world ransomware scenarios, security teams can pinpoint gaps in defenses, educate employees on risk behaviors, and implement measures that prevent attacks from succeeding.

The message is clear: ignoring the ransomware threat is no longer an option. Organizations that take decisive, informed action today can protect their assets, maintain business continuity, and deter attackers from targeting them in the first place.

Take action now and secure your organization’s future: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro🚨 Ransomware Costs Have Doubled This Quarter

Ransomware payments have surged, doubling in a single quarter.

Attackers are targeting unprepared organizations, leveraging advanced tactics and social engineering to extract huge sums.

The financial impact is devastating, but reputational damage and operational disruption can be even worse.

Traditional defenses like firewalls and antivirus software are no longer enough to stop modern ransomware threats.

AUMINT.io helps organizations stay ahead with proactive simulations, real-time monitoring, and actionable insights to prevent attacks before they happen.

Secure your systems and protect your business now: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro

#CyberSecurity #Ransomware #FraudPrevention #SocialEngineering #CISO #AUMINT #EnterpriseSecurity

📚 CISOs: Free Incident Response Guides Every Leader Should Download 📚

When an incident strikes, preparation is everything. A well-structured guide can mean the difference between chaos and a coordinated response.

Here’s a list of essential free incident response guides every CISO should have in their toolkit:

1️⃣ SANS Incident Handler’s Handbook – Classic, actionable guidance used worldwide.
https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/incident/incident-handlers-handbook-33901

2️⃣ NIST SP 800-61r2 – Comprehensive Computer Security Incident Handling Guide.
https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-61/rev-2/final

3️⃣ CERT Resilience Management Model (CERT-RMM) – Focus on resilience through repeatable IR processes.
https://resources.sei.cmu.edu/library/asset-view.cfm?assetid=508839

4️⃣ MITRE ATT&CK Playbooks – Align responses to attacker tactics and techniques.
https://attack.mitre.org/resources/playbooks/

5️⃣ CISA Incident Response Playbook – Structured approach recommended by the US government.
https://www.cisa.gov/publication/cisa-incident-response-playbook

6️⃣ FIRST CSIRT Services Framework – Best practices for coordination, analysis, and communication.
https://www.first.org/standards/framework

7️⃣ ENISA Good Practice Guide for Incident Management – EU-focused guidance for managing incidents effectively.
https://www.enisa.europa.eu/publications/guidelines-incident-management

Using these guides allows CISOs to train teams, standardize processes, and respond faster to contain threats.

Want to go beyond technical response and measure human risk? 🧠 AUMINT.io simulates social engineering attacks to provide actionable insights into employee vulnerabilities.

📅 Book a free intro call today: Schedule here

💾 Save this post and keep these guides at your fingertips!

#CISO #IncidentResponse #CyberSecurity #SOC #AUMINT

⚠️ Legal Language Could Trick Your AI Systems

Generative AI is under attack in ways most organizations aren’t prepared for.

Cybercriminals are exploiting AI’s understanding of legal phrasing to manipulate automated decisions, bypassing traditional security measures.

Deceptive instructions embedded in contracts, policies, or communications may seem legitimate to humans but can trigger unauthorized actions in AI systems.

The risks are clear: financial loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage are just a single clever instruction away.

AUMINT.io offers real-time monitoring and anomaly detection for AI workflows, giving enterprises the insight needed to prevent manipulation before damage occurs.

Stay ahead of AI-targeted attacks: https://calendly.com/aumint/aumint-intro

#CyberSecurity #AIThreats #FraudPrevention #SocialEngineering #CISO #AUMINT #EnterpriseSecurity