According to cybersecurity firms, Scattered Spider, a prolific hacking group, targets the transportation sector and airlines.
Executives from Palo Alto Networks’ security research division, Unit 42, and Google’s cybersecurity unit, Mandiant, have reported that they have observed cyberattacks targeting the aviation industry similar to Scattered Spider.
Scattered Spider is a group of hackers, primarily teenagers and young adults, who are financially motivated to steal and extort sensitive data from corporate networks.
The hackers are mainly English-speaking. The hackers are also recognized for their deception strategies, which frequently involve social engineering, phishing, and, on occasion, threats of violence against corporate help desks and call centers to gain access to their networks.
At least two airlines have reported intrusions this month, prompting the warning.
Hawaiian Airlines announced late Thursday that it was securing its systems after a cyberattack. WestJet, the second-largest airline in Canada, disclosed a cyberattack on June 13 that continues to be unresolved. The WestJet incident has been associated with Scattered Spider in media reports.
This new surge of Scattered Spider attacks occurred shortly after the cybercriminal gang targeted the insurance industry and the retail sector in the United Kingdom. In the past, hackers have gained access to technology titans, casinos, and hotel chains.
