Congress Blocks Google and Yahoo Mail Amid Ransomware Fears

Congress has temporarily blocked members of the U.S. House of Representatives from accessing Yahoo Post and Google services. The decision was taken past the Business firm'southward Technology Service Desk to prevent lawmakers and their staff being targeted past the ransomware attacks.

Business firm blocks Google-hosted apps and Yahoo Mail service amongst ransomware fears

In an e-mail sent to the staff members (attached at the end of this post), the engineering science desk-bound notified most an increment in malware attacks sent through 3rd-party email services such as Yahoo Post and Google App Engine.Reutershas reported the move to blacklist Yahoo Mail and software applications hosted on a Google deject service was taken "due to fears of ransomware infiltration."

The two restrictions, which have hampered some internal communications in the lower bedroom, have both been implemented within the by two weeks and are still in place. The episodes are not believed to exist related, the sources said.

Devices connected to the House'southward internet via wifi or ethernet cables have been barred from accessing appspot.com, the domain where Google hosts custom-built apps, after the FBI notified Congress of a potential security vulnerability, the sources said.

We have seen an increment in ransomware attacks, and manifestly lawmakers aren't safe from these either. These attacks trick users into opening malicious files that encrypt the contents of a user'due south estimator or mobile device. Locking users out of their own devices, hackers and then demand for a ransom to be paid in order to get back the control of their devices. Earlier this calendar week, an anonymous congressional staffer toldGizmodothat "at to the lowest degree one of the ransomware attacks was successful." The staffer had to reformat their reckoner to use it after the Business firm It remotely shut it downwards inside twenty minutes of the set on.

Email services like Gmail and Yahoo Mail accept tried to filter out phishing scams that spread ransomware to victims. Still, it'due south nonetheless possible for some scams to slip through these filters. Google has said that the company is investigating reports of the brake and would work to resolve whatsoever issues. In a statement, Yahoo said, "We take the security of our users very seriously, and nosotros're collaborating closely with Firm Information technology staff to ensure that they have the right solutions in place to all-time protect their accounts.

From: Technology Service Desk-bound
Sent: Saturday, April thirty, 2022 11:53 AM
To: All House Staff
Subject: Increase in Ransomware at The House
Importance: High

In the past 48 hours, the House Data Security Office has seen an increase of attacks on the Business firm Network using third party, web-based post applications such as YahooMail, Gmail, etc. The attacks are focused on putting "ransomware" on users' computers. When a user clicks on the link in the attack e-mail, the malware encrypts all files on that reckoner, including shared files, making them unusable until a "ransom" is paid. The recent attacks have focused on using .js files attached as zip files to e-mail that appear to come from known senders. The chief focus appears to exist through YahooMail at this time.

The House Data Security Office is taking a number of steps to accost this specific attack. As role of that effort, we volition be blocking admission to YahooMail on the House Network until further discover. Nosotros are making every effort to put other mitigating protections in place and so that nosotros tin restore full access as soon as possible.

Delight exercise your part to help united states of america address this recent set on and protect the Firm Network going forrad by following proper cyber practices at all times. Phishing eastward-mails can look very legitimate and appear to come from known senders. Be very careful nigh clicking on attachments or links in e-mails, particularly when you lot are using not-Business firm e-mail systems.

If you have any questions, please contact the CAO Applied science Service Desk-bound (REDACTED) at REDACTED or REDACTED.

- Yahoo's Ad Network Hacked to Spread Ransomware and Malware to Millions of Computers

Source: https://wccftech.com/house-blocks-access-google-services/

Posted by: lewislovence.blogspot.com

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