Kaspersky shares cyberthreat data with INTERPOL in operation to disrupt transnational cybercrime

Kaspersky has contributed to the fight against transnational cybercrime by taking part in operation Synergia, involving INTERPOL and its Gateway project partners — an initiative promoting collective efforts of national law enforcement and private sector organizations in combating ever-evolving cyberthreats. The operation – spanning more than 50 INTERPOL member states – focused on the disruption of malicious infrastructure involved in phishing, malware, and ransomware attacks.

During the three-month operation (September-November 2023), INTERPOL coordinated cyber intelligence exchanges between law enforcement agencies from member states and private partners, resulting in the production of more than 60 Cyber Activity Reports. Kaspersky supported the operation by sharing data on malicious infrastructure identified worldwide, including globally-sourced threat data from Kaspersky Threat Intelligence, which is continuously updated by the company’s world-class experts.

Some 1,300 suspicious servers relating to various cybercrimes have been identified as part of the joint effort. As a result, investigators were able to take actions on 70% of those malicious servers and also apprehend suspected perpetrators across multiple states.

Operation Synergia highlights:

• Authorities detained 31 individuals and identified an additional 70 suspects
• Most of the C2 servers taken down were in Europe, where 26 people were arrested
• Hong Kong and Singapore Police took down 153 and 86 servers, respectively
• South Sudan and Zimbabwe reported the most takedowns on the African continent, arresting four suspects
• Bolivia mobilized a range of public authorities to identify malware and resulting vulnerabilities
• Kuwait worked closely with internet service providers to identify victims, conduct field investigations, and also offer technical guidance to mitigate impacts 

Bernardo Pillot, Assistant Director to INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate, said: “The results of this operation, achieved through the collective efforts of multiple countries and partners, show our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the digital space. By dismantling the infrastructure behind phishing, banking malware, and ransomware attacks, we are one step closer to protecting our digital ecosystems and a safer, more secure online experience for all.”

“Kaspersky has been an active contributor to INTERPOL’s operations, which have proved themselves as an effective instrument for taking down cross-border cyber offences,” comments Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice-President of Public Affairs at Kaspersky. “While Kaspersky has data, knowledge and technologies to track a wide range of cybercrime operations worldwide, international law enforcement agencies like INTERPOL possess legal authority and resources to further investigate and prosecute cybercriminals. Promoting a more comprehensive and holistic response to crime, our partnership strengthens overall security efforts and enables timely reactions and proactive measures to safeguard individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.”

About Kaspersky

Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies and we help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com. 

Why millennials should know colon cancer symptoms

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — More younger adults are being diagnosed with colon cancer — also known as colorectal cancer — and at more advanced stages of the disease, says the American Cancer Society. It’s a trend experts have seen over the last decade.

Colon cancer symptoms usually don’t appear in early stages of the disease and when they do, they are often at an advanced stage. Dr. Johanna Chan, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, says it’s important to recognize colon cancer symptoms and to seek medical attention if you experience them.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society recommend patients of average risk start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45.

“Colon cancer is an incredibly common cancer, routinely one of the top five causes of cancer annually. And really anyone is at risk, at any age,” says Dr. Chan.

She says that age is more often under 55.

“We are seeing younger patients present with colon cancer. And unfortunately, they also tend to present at a more advanced stage,” says Dr. Chan.

Ongoing stomach discomfort and unexplained weight loss can be colon cancer symptoms.

“In fact, a lot of the warning symptoms such as rectal bleeding, anemia, change in bowel habits, these are very common symptoms that happen across all ranges of age groups,” Dr. Chan says.

Most young healthy patients with rectal bleeding won’t have colon cancer.

“It’s still on the possible list of diagnoses. And it’s really important that young patients seek care for any of these symptoms that occur,” says Dr. Chan.

Many of the colon cancer symptoms may be symptoms of other health issues so it recommended to talk with your health care team to find out the cause of the problem.

Factors that may increase your risk of colon cancer include:

• Family history
• Bowel disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Environmental exposures like smoking or heavy alcohol use

Dr. Chan says certain specific factors such as family history may require a more individualized approach for colorectal cancer screening. She encourages patients to talk to their health care team to make sure they are individualizing recommendations for them.

For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Center blog.

Network International obtains payment licence from Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to expand merchant acquiring business in KSA

• SAMA licence expands commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term, collaborative partnerships with merchants across industries
• Network International is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Financial Sector Development Program and accelerating digital payments
• The new licence provides a compelling opportunity for Network International to play an integral role in transforming the payments landscape in KSA

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 01, 2024: Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has announced that it has obtained a Major Payment Institution (Major PI) licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that will strengthen the acquirer’s foothold in the Kingdom.

The procurement of the licence is a milestone that aligns with Network’s strategic objectives that include expanding capabilities to offer a comprehensive suite of payment acceptance solutions within the KSA market which is the largest market in the region. The licence also enables Network to empower the expansion of their regional clients by offering an extensive range of payment solutions in this key business hub.

Network is positioned favourably to foster a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term collaborative partnerships with merchants, businesses including SMEs, payment networks, banks and Fintechs across diverse sectors. Aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 priority on travel, tourism, and entertainment, Network sees the immense potential in enabling new payment pathways as the country embarks on a transformative journey to become a major global hub for advanced technologies and attract talent and business by creating the right environment for investment with a differentiated lifestyle. Tourism and residential mega development projects such as The Red Sea and Amaala as well as futuristic urban developments like NEOM are promising arenas for deployment of innovative payment solutions by Network.

Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash, Managing Director – KSA, Network International, said: “We express our deep gratitude to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for their trust in providing Network International the opportunity to significantly contribute towards expanding the payments landscape in the Kingdom. Network’s robust acquiring solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of every business, from high-volume retailers to individual entrepreneurs and SMEs. Government support further helps to foster an environment that is conducive to innovation in the financial services sector. We are proud to obtain this licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and excited to provide merchants and businesses with the solutions and expertise they need to thrive in the evolving digital landscape of Saudi Arabia.”

Network is leveraging its vast expertise to contribute to accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation initiatives through several ambitious goals by 2030 via boosting innovation, reducing cash reliance by increasing digital transactions, and contributing to economic diversification and developing local talent.

Building on its significant regional experience, Network International will foster strategic financial inclusion objectives within Saudi Arabia by providing secure, robust payment solutions to merchants and businesses of all sizes.

About Network International

Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have over 2,000 digital payments experts based in our markets serving over 200 financial institutions and over 150,000+ merchants.