Russian APT weaponized nearby Wi-Fi networks in DC, new macOS zero-days, DOJ v Chrome

November 22nd, 2024  |  1 hr 28 mins

apt research, cisa, nation-state, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 22: We discuss Volexity’s presentation on Russian APT operators hacking Wi-Fi networks in “nearest neighbor attacks,” the Chinese surveillance state and its impact on global security, the NSA's strange call for better data sharing on Salt Typhoon intrusions, and the failures of regulatory bodies to address cybersecurity risks.

We also cover two new Apple zero-days being exploited in the wild, the US Government’s demand that Google sell the Chrome browser, and the value of data in the context of AI.

Cast: Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek), Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh).

What happens to CISA now? Is deterrence in cyber possible?

November 15th, 2024  |  1 hr 53 mins

apt research, nation-state, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 21: We dig into an incredible government report on Iranian hacking group Emennet Pasargad and tradecraft during the Israel/Hamas war, why Predatory Sparrow could have been aimed at deterrence in cyber, and the significance of the FBI/CISA public confirmation of China-linked Salt Typhoon hacks.

Plus, discussion on hina’s cyber capabilities, the narrative around “pre-positioning” for a Taiwan conflict, the blending of cyber and kinetic operations, and the long tail of Chinese researchers reporting Microsoft Windows vulnerabilities. The future of CISA is a recurring theme throughout this episode with some speculation about what happens to the agency under the Trump administration.

Cast: Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek), Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh).

Mysterious rebooting iPhones, EDR vendors spying on hackers, Bitcoin 'meatspace' attacks

November 9th, 2024  |  1 hr 37 mins

apple, apt research, cisa, nation-state, palo alto, sophos, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 20: We revisit the ‘hack-back’ debate, the threshold for spying on adversaries, Palo Alto watching EDR bypass research to track threat actors, hot nuggets in Project Zero’s Clem Lecinge’s Hexacon talk, Apple’s new iOS update rebooting iPhones in law enforcement custody, the mysterious GoblinRAT backdoor, and physical ‘meatspace’ Bitcoin attacks and more details on North Korean cryptocurrency theft.

Cast: Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek), Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh).

The Sophos kernel implant, 'hack-back' implications, CIA malware in Venezuela

November 3rd, 2024  |  1 hr 54 mins

apt research, china, edr, nation-state, sophos, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 19: We explore Ivan Kwiatkowski’s essay on the limits of threat intelligence, Sophos using kernel implants to surveil Chinese hackers, the concept of ‘hack-back’ and legal implications, geopolitical layers of cyber espionage, CIA malware in Venezuela, Vatican/Mossad mentioned in high-profile Italy hacks, and Canada bracing for .gov attacks from India.

Cast: Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek), Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh).

Fortinet 0days, Appin hack-for-hire exposé, crypto heists, Russians booted from Linux kernel

October 25th, 2024  |  1 hr 26 mins

apt research, nation-state, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 18: This week’s show covers the White House's new Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) guidance, Reuters expose of Appin as a hack-for-hire mercenary company, Fortinet zero-day exploitation and missing CSRB investigations, major cryptocurrency heists, Apple opening Private Cloud Compute to public inspection, Russians removed from Linux kernel maintenance and China’s Antiy beefing with Sentinel One over APT reporting.

Cast: Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek), Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh).

ESET Israel wiper malware, China's Volt Typhoon response, Kaspersky sanctions and isolation

October 18th, 2024  |  1 hr 38 mins

apt research, nation-state, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 17: News of a wiper malware attack in Israel implicating ESET, threats from wartime hacktivists, China's strange response to Volt Typhoon attribution and Section 702 messaging, an IE zero-day discovery and web browser rot in South Korea, the ongoing isolation of Kaspersky due to sanctions, and the geopolitical influences affecting cybersecurity reporting.

Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh) and Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek).

Typhoons and Blizzards: Cyberespionage and national security on front burner

October 11th, 2024  |  1 hr 9 mins

apt29, ivanti, midnight blizzard, salt typhoon, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem Episode 16: We break down the new GCHQ advisory on the history and tactics of Russia’s APT29, the challenges of tracking and defending against these sophisticated espionage programs, the mysterious Salt Typhoon intrusions, the absence of technical indicators (IOCs), the risks of supply chain attacks. We also touch on the surge in zero-day discoveries, the nonstop flow of exploited Ivanti security bugs, and why the CSRB should investigate these network edge device and appliance vendors.

Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh) and Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek).

Ep11: Cyberwarfare takes an ominous turn

September 6th, 2024  |  1 hr 15 mins

china, cisa, doppelganger, gru, influence operations, north korea, russia, skills shortage, skripal, south korea, unit 29155, yara, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem - Episode 11: Russia's notorious GRU Unit 29155 (previously tied to assassinations, poisonings and coup attempts) now blamed for destructive cyberattacks for sabotage; FBI and DOJ take down 'Doppelganger' network spreading Russian propaganda; CISA's budget, staff, advisories and YARA rules; Influence Operations 2.0; prolific Chinese hackers and global bug-disclosure implications; North Korean hacking capabilities and 0day expertise.

Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh), Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek)

Ep10: Volt Typhoon zero-day, Russia's APT29 reusing spyware exploits, Pavel Durov's arrest

August 30th, 2024  |  1 hr 18 mins

apt research, nation-state, ransomware, volt typhoon, zero-day

Three Buddy Problem - Episode 10 -- Top stories this week: Volt Typhoon zero-day exploitation of Versa Director servers, Chinese APT building botnets with EOL routers, the gap in security solutions for network devices and appliances, Russia's APT29 (Midnight Blizzard) caught reusing exploits from NSO Group and Intellexa, Microsoft’s upcoming Windows endpoint security summit in response to the CrowdStrike incident, and the arrest of Telegram’s Pavel Durov in France. Plus, the NSA is launching a podcast.

Hosts: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh), Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek)

Ep9: The blurring lines between nation-state APTs and the ransomware epidemic

August 23rd, 2024  |  1 hr 6 mins

apt research, attribution, china, nation-state, ransomware, taiwan, xiaomi, zero-day

The 'Three Buddy Problem' Podcast Episode 9: On this episode, we look at the hacking scene in Taiwan, the sad state of visibility into big malware campaigns, the absence of APTs linked to the prolific MIVD Dutch intelligence agency, the blurring lines between big ransomware heists and nation-state actors caught using ransomware as a tool for sabotage and misattribution.

Plus, Chinese mobile OS vendor Xiaoimi caught disabling parts of its infrastructure -- including its global app store -- to thwart Pwn2Own contestants; and news of an addition to the LABScon 2024 keynote stage.

Hosts: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (SentinelLabs), Costin Raiu (Art of Noh), Ryan Naraine (SecurityWeek)