Security experts from Google have discovered a new spyware in 24 Play Store apps that, combined, have more than 472,000 downloads. Researchers have stated that this spyware also has the capabilities of normal malware and appears to have infected certain apps in Google Play with more than 100,000 installations. Cybercriminals are deploying this spyware through the advertisement framework in those compromised apps.

There’s a new shapeshifting strain of Android malware in the mix. It replaces legitimate apps with compromised ones and is imaginatively named Agent Smith after the iconic villain in The Matrix. Yet another malware attack targeting Android—so what’s the big deal? Agent Smith is similar to other malware campaigns such as Gooligan, HummingBad, and CopyCat with respect to the destruction it can cause via fraudulent ads.

Five worthy reads is a regular column on five noteworthy items we’ve discovered while researching trending and timeless topics. This week, we discuss the growing concern about ransomware-as-a-service among organisations across the globe.

In a hyper-connected world, the threat landscape is undoubtedly evolving. Ensuring the security of your enterprise networks on a daily basis is essential to protect your business, no matter how big (or small) it is. According to SophosLabs’ 2019 threat report, one dangerous ransomware called SamSam cost companies $6.5 million ($10K to $50K per ransom).

Malware / Virus checks from Uptime.com checks your site against two major malware databases. Malware is any type of unwanted or malicious code. Malware includes viruses, which are malware designed to replicate and spread, as well as spyware, adware, trojans and more. A Malware / Virus check uses the Google Safe Browsing List and the Yandex Safe Browsing List to determine if your site has malware.

It’s official. Ransomware isn’t just one of the most common types of malware, it is the most prevalent malware used in cyberattacks according to the 2018 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR). This report found that of the data breaches involving malware in 2017, 39 percent made use of ransomware, which was twice the amount used the previous year.

Recently, there has been a string of attacks affecting some ransomware victims who pay their ransom in an attempt to regain access to their encrypted data. These ransom payments are being intercepted by a third party, ironcally turning the ransomware attackers into the second victim. As a result, the original ransomware victims are victimized a second time, as they won’t get their data back since the ransomware attackers never receive the ransom money.

In recent years, revelations of security holes in widely used IT hardware and software have put IT pros on edge. A few times a year, a huge cybersecurity announcement introduces chaos into the IT world, forcing network and systems administrators to scramble to secure their environments and deal with the fallout.