Cybercriminals getting as good as nation state spies – report

The European energy sector is being targeted by advanced threat actors seeking proprietary information to advance the capabilities of domestic companies, according to FireEye Mandiant. The latest annual report by FireEye's incident response arm further warns that cyber threat groups are also targeting European industrial …

[Anonymous Coward]

Presumably the targeting of the energy sector is to find out just how much power a company can expect in the future and how reliable that power will be.

The targeting of the energy distribution network is to see if, when push comes to shove, they can keep power to at least some part of industry.

The reasons for this is the over reliance on renewable energy to the detriment of base load supplies.

[Anonymous Coward]

Or simply kill a large segment of the power network and only offer to restore it on payment of a huge ransom.

[Anonymous Coward]

Presumably the targeting of the energy sector is to find out just how much power a company can expect in the future and how reliable that power will be.

As an energy company insider, I can assure you that the biggest secret my company has is that it has no secrets worth stealing - no clever business model, no credible strategy, no IP or technology.

I suppose the foreign hackers might be studying us as a "how not to..." case study.

[Peter 26]

Ransomware

But does this take into account the increase in ransomware which must be lowering the time to realise you have been attacked as it announces itself to you as part of its strategy? Also doesn't ransomware predominantly attack Western Europe?

[Your alien overlord - fear me]

I would have thought most private gangs are comprised of ex-state players who've decided that with their skill set, it's time to make real money rather than a civil servant grade salary. Plus, the state can always use them if they don't want an obvious paper trail to their nefarious crimes !!!

[Eclectic Man]

"The TTP Project"

Ahem:

"Financial attackers have improved their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) to the point where they have become difficult to detect and, challenging to investigate and remediate."

So THAT is Dilbert's TTP project. I always wondered.

http://dilbert.com/strip/1994-05-18

(I'll get my coat.)

[Anonymous Coward]

As expected

I wouldn't expect skilled criminal hackers to give up unlimited looting opportunities to go work for government. Too much risk of prosecution, witch hunt atmosphere, bureaucratic bullshit, and middling salaries. Logical conclusion: state hackers are relative amateurs with weak incentives. Leaks confirm this.

[tr1ck5t3r]

Re: As expected

Dont believe the hype, the clue is in the name Ministry of Defence, in other words they have got good at making out its someone else, it is afterall why they do things in secret, and yes I do see the talktalk tv box info changing before my eyes, just like I see the red and left brake lights coming on at different intervals which indicates the side the power runs go do on an car, just like its possible to load malware into an car's engine management system which only exists in memory until you pull the mains.

You dont seriously believe the "free press" is nothing more than an illusion for a country's military to go round spying in other parts of the world? You only see a fraction of the data journalists document on your news programs, its also why stories get leaked about celebs & others misdemeanours, reputation damage is mostly effective.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: As expected

The skilled lot get caught and are then propositioned with the choice of prison, is Govt work.

The only incentive is freedom, we all know working for any govt is pretty shitty, if you have the skills you wouldn't do it by choice.

[John Smith 19]

Yay for free market econmics

Just incentivize those economic work units and see them perform.

Actually if you're talking financial data and power networks I'd wonder if other countries operate a power spot and futures trading market like the UK does.

Those who've seen Casino Royale (Daniel Craig version) will know some of the opportunities for making money if rather than predict the future, you actually know what's going to happen.

I'm sure various scenarios will suggest themselves to readers.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Yay for free market econmics

...some of the opportunities for making money if rather than predict the future, you actually know what's going to happen.

This type of fraud appears to be entirely legal if you have a banking licence.

Using HFT, you can skim the market time and again, but the manipulation to create the price differentials is never large enough to show up on the regulators' seismometers, which scan for huge and stupid types of market manipulation.

Or you just use the traditional banking moneymaker, of bullying your customers to buy unsuitable products, hoping you won't get caught.