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Cyber Villains Involved in MGM, Caesars Casino Hacks Shift Focus Towards UK Businesses

Cybercriminals implicated in the 2023 breaches of MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment have shifted their focus towards British firms.

Cybercriminals implicated in the 2023 data breaches at MGM Resorts International and Caesars...
Cybercriminals implicated in the 2023 data breaches at MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment have expanded their attacks, now focusing on British businesses.

Cyber Villains Involved in MGM, Caesars Casino Hacks Shift Focus Towards UK Businesses

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An infamous hacking group, responsible for the chaos at MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment back in 2023, is now setting its sights on American companies. This cybercriminal collective, known as ALPHV/BlackCat, has recently wreaked havoc on UK retail giants such as Marks & Spencer and the Co-Op Group, forcing establishments like Marks & Spencer to halt online purchases.

John Qultquist, the Chief Analyst for Google's Threat Intelligence Group, told NBC News that major US retailers are already in this group's crosshairs. Disturbingly similar to the mayhem witnessed at US casinos in late 2023, these attacks cause keycard malfunctions, leading to operational chaos. For instance, MGM Resorts had to shut down parts of their Las Vegas casinos, including the iconic Bellagio and Mandalay Bay. Guests at Caesars Entertainment, though, were saved from a similar fate when the company chose to pay off the hackers to preserve its operations.

The National Retail Federation concedes the gravity of the threat posed by such cybercriminal groups. Vice President of Retail Technology and Cybersecurity, Christian Beckner, spoke to NBC News, stating that U.S.-based retailers are well aware of the threats and have been fortifying their defenses against these groups' methods over the last couple of years.

ALPHV/BlackCat, which has an English-speaking faction known as Scattered Spider, was also connected to ransomware attacks on the financial sector and a major cloud data platform client, AT&T. Arrests of group members have been made in the U.S. and Europe, yet they remain a persistent and active threat.

In essence, this hacking group has targeted more than just casinos and cloud/telecom companies in the U.S. Their reach extends to multiple sectors, including retail, financial services, and major cloud platform customers, making them a menacing force within the US business landscape. Beyond the known names, numerous other American retailers may have been targeted by this group, but their identities have yet to be publicly disclosed.

  1. Amidst the growing threat, it's alarming to consider that cybercriminal group ALPHV/BlackCat, infamous for causing chaos at Las Vegas casinos, is now likely to target technology infrastructure in the casino-and-gambling industry and beyond, including casino-games.
  2. As the cybersecurity landscape broadens, General News outlets are reporting that ALPHV/BlackCat's disturbing methods, such as ransomware attacks on the financial sector and major cloud data platform clients like AT&T, could potentially pose a serious Crime-and-Justice concern for American companies.
  3. The increased focus on cybersecurity within the US business landscape is evident, as the National Retail Federation, with a vice president dedicated to Retail Technology and Cybersecurity, is actively preparing for potential threats from notorious hacking groups like ALPHV/BlackCat, extending their reach from gambling establishments in Las-Vegas to various sectors, including retail and financial services.

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