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U.S. and Microsoft seize dozens of domains tied to Russian hacking group
U.S. authorities have seized dozens of internet domains used by Russian intelligence agents and their proxies to steal valuable information from U.S. government computers and email accounts, the Department of Justice revealed Thursday.
In a warrant unsealed this week, the department accused the “Callisto Group,” a unit under Russia’s FSB security service, of orchestrating an “ongoing and sophisticated spear phishing campaign” aimed at gaining unauthorized access to the computers and email accounts of victims.
The warrant alleged that Russian-directed cybercriminals pilfered “valuable information and sensitive United States government intelligence.”
Targets included former U.S. intelligence employees, former and current Department of Defense personnel, Department of State employees, Department of Energy staff, U.S. military contractors and U.S.-based companies.
The Justice Department seized 41 internet domains and coordinated the takedowns with tech giant Microsoft, which seized an additional 66 unique domains operated by the same group.
Between January 2023 and August 2024, Microsoft observed the nation state cybercriminals target “over 30 civil society organizations — journalists, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) core to ensuring democracy can thrive — by deploying spear-phishing campaigns to exfiltrate sensitive information and interfere in their activities,” according to a blog post published by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit on Thursday.
According to Microsoft, the Callisto Group — which the company refers to by the alias “Star Blizzard” — has been actively launching cyberattacks since at least 2017. The group has recently targeted nonprofits, think tanks and officials who have “provid[ed] support to Ukraine and in NATO countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as in the Baltics, Nordics, and Eastern Europe.”
“They have been particularly aggressive in targeting former intelligence officials, Russian affairs experts, and Russian citizens residing in the U.S.,” Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit wrote.
The Justice Department said the perpetrators sought to “improve their criminal scheme” by making phishing emails appear more authentic and mining breached email accounts for more information. They reused the stolen credentials of their targets to gain access to victims’ other personal and corporate accounts, as well as government portals.
“The Russian government ran this scheme to steal Americans’ sensitive information, using seemingly legitimate email accounts to trick victims into revealing account credentials,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. “With the continued support of our private sector partners, we will be relentless in exposing Russian actors and cybercriminals and depriving them of the tools of their illicit trade.”
Last December, the U.S. charged Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatro, a member of the Callisto Group, with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, saying he was engaged in these spear-phishing attacks.
In its blog post on Thursday, Microsoft indicated that the domain seizures will enable its investigators to gain “valuable intelligence” about the Russian state actors, “which we can use to improve the security of our products, share with cross-sector partners to aid them in their own investigations and identify and assist victims with remediation efforts.” But the tech firm noted that it expects the cybercriminals to establish new infrastructure in the coming weeks and months.
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Hurricane Helene satellite images show major devastation in North Carolina as death toll continues to rise
A week after Hurricane Helene tore through the U.S. Southeast and devasated western North Carolina with heavy rains and severe flooding, satellite images are showing the extent of the damage.
Officials have previously said hundreds of roads in western North Carolina have been inaccessible because of the storm’s effects, hindering rescue efforts. Residents reported seeing water as high as the roofs of some homes.
At least 219 people have been confirmed dead, and officials say they expect the death toll to continue to rise as recovery efforts continue.
Satellite images show washed-out streets and buildings. One image shows mud and debris near Old Fort Elementary School in Old Fort, North Carolina.
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Old Fort is one of the hardest-hit areas, CBS affiliate WNCN-TV reported. Cars, homes and more were pushed along by strong floodwaters. Power, water and other essential services are still yet to be fully restored.
Another satellite image from the town shows empty space where homes once were, and downed trees and power lines.
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In the town of Spruce Pine, the local North Toe River overflowed, flooding the region that is also the source of quartz used in microchips, according to NPR.
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The town received over two feet of rain, according to the National Weather Service, and images show muddy roads, wrecked homes and more devastation.
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President Joe Biden viewed the damage and cleanup efforts in Florida and Georgia on Thursday, and said that the work to rebuild will cost “billions of dollars.” On Wednesday, he visited the Carolinas and surveyed damage by air.
Mr. Biden said then that the federal government will cover 100% of all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months, and will do the same for Florida and Georgia for the next 90 days.
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“In moments like this, it’s time to put politics aside,” the president said against the backdrop of a damaged Ray City, Georgia. “There are no Democrats or Republicans out here.”
A child in Canada has died from rabies after being exposed to a bat in their room, health officials said this week.
Dr. Malcolm Lock, the chief medical officer from Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit in Ontario, said Wednesday the child was exposed to the virus in their room from a bat.
“They woke up with a bat in their room,” Lock said, as quoted by Canadian media. “The parents looked, didn’t see any signs of a bite or scratches or saliva, and didn’t seek getting a rabies vaccine, so unfortunately, that child is now deceased.”
The child was hospitalized in early September, according to a statement by Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, confirming the first domestically acquired case of human rabies in the province since 1967.
“Brant County Health Unit has received laboratory confirmation of a human case of rabies in a resident of Brantford-Brant. The illness is suspected to have been acquired from direct contact with a bat in Ontario.” Dr. Moore said.
No other details, including the child’s age and gender, have been released.
“Due to reasons of personal health information and patient confidentiality, I cannot comment further on the case mentioned,” a spokesperson from Health Ontario told CBS News in an email.
How is rabies spread and what are the symptoms?
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that attacks the nervous system in humans and animals, causing brain and spinal cord inflammation. It is typically spread to humans through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal through scratching or biting.
Rabies is commonly found in bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks and some household pets. Without proper and prompt treatment after symptoms appear, rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal in both animals and humans, according to Haldimand and Norfolk Health Services, where the child was admitted. Bats pose a unique risk because their scratches can be hard to notice due to their small teeth, and bats cannot be vaccinated through provincial programs, health officials said.
If bitten by an animal suspected of carrying the virus, health officials advise washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes and immediately seeking medical attention.
According to the CDC, the incubation period of rabies may last from weeks to months, depending on the location of exposure, severity of exposure and age.
“The first symptoms of rabies, called prodrome, maybe like the flu, including weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for several days,” the CDC says.
In Canada, there have been 28 known cases of rabies in humans since reporting began in 1924, according to the federal government’s data. All the cases were fatal.
Just last week, a U.S. citizen died due to rabies exposure after being exposed to a bat in western Minnesota in July.
