Apurva Venkat

Special Correspondent

Venkat is special correspondent for Information Security Media Group's global news desk. She has previously worked at IDG, Business Standard, Bangalore Mirror and The New Indian Express, where she reported on developments in technology, businesses, startups, fintech, e-commerce, cybersecurity, civic news and education.

Nation-State Hackers Greatest Threat to 5G Networks: Report

Apurva Venkat • October 11, 2019

Nation-state attackers from outside the European Union pose the greatest threat to the continent's upcoming 5G networks, according to a new security assessment, which sidesteps the issue of Chinese firm Huawei's role in building these networks.

Singapore Man Charged in Large-Scale Cryptomining Scheme

Apurva Venkat • October 11, 2019

A Singapore man allegedly ran a large-scale cryptocurrency mining scheme that involved using stolen identities to access Amazon and Google cloud computing resources, according to a 14-count U.S. Justice Department indictment.

UK Police Auction TalkTalk Hacker's Cryptocurrency Stash

Apurva Venkat • October 1, 2019

British police have auctioned off bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies seized from a U.K. teenager who participated in the hack of the London-based telecommunications firm TalkTalk in 2015. The auction netted $294,000, which will be used by law enforcement to help fund crime-fighting efforts.

Russia-Backed APT Groups Compete With Each Other: Report

Apurva Venkat • September 25, 2019

APT groups that are backed by the Russian government rarely share code with each other, fostering a competitive landscape, according to a new report. This shows that Russia is willing to push the limits of its sophisticated cyber capabilities, researchers conclude.

Kaspersky: Dual-Use Dtrack Malware Linked to ATM Thefts

Apurva Venkat • September 24, 2019

A newly discovered remote access Trojan called Dtrack has been targeting banks in India for well over a year, Kaspersky researchers say. The malware, which can steal data from ATMs and doubles as a cyberespionage tool, appears to be linked to North Korea's Lazarus Group.

Malindo Air Blames Data Leak on Third-Party Supplier

Apurva Venkat • September 23, 2019

Malindo Air in Malaysia is blaming a recent data breach that exposed the personal information of millions of passengers on two former employees of a third-party supplier to the airlines. Customers of a sister company, Thai Lion Air in Thailand, were also affected, according to Reuters.

Senators Urge FCC to Review Licenses for Chinese Telecoms

Apurva Venkat • September 18, 2019

U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider operating licenses granted to two Chinese telecommunications companies, citing concerns over national security and foreign espionage.

Researchers: Emotet Botnet Is Active Again

Apurva Venkat • September 17, 2019

Emotet, one of the most powerful malware-spreading botnets, is active again after a four-month absence, according to several security researchers who noticed a surge in activity primarily against U.S., U.K. and German targets starting on Monday.

Wikipedia Investigates DDoS Attack

Apurva Venkat • September 9, 2019

Online encyclopedia Wikipedia is investigating a DDoS attack that temporarily blocked access to several of its European and Middle Eastern sites over the weekend.

Kaspersky: Malware Found Hiding in Popular Android App

Apurva Venkat • September 3, 2019

Researchers at Kaspersky discovered malware hiding in advertising within a recent version of the popular CamScanner app for Android smartphones. Over the years, the app has been downloaded over 100 million times from the Google Play store.

Imperva Alerts Customers About 'Security Incident'

Apurva Venkat • August 28, 2019

Security firm Imperva is notifying some of its Cloud Web Application Firewall customers about a "security incident" that exposed certain data, CEO Chris Hylen reports in a blog post. What risks does the exposure create?

$1.1 Million in Cryptocurrency to Be Seized From Hacker

Apurva Venkat • August 26, 2019

U.K. authorities are attempting to seize more than $1.1 million in cryptocurrency from a notorious British hacker who carried out attacks that targeted more than 100 companies over a two-year period, according to the Metropolitan Police Service. The currency will be sold, with proceeds used to compensate victims.

VMware Acquiring Carbon Black to Boost Security Portfolio

Apurva Venkat • August 23, 2019

VMware is acquiring cloud security firm Carbon Black in a $2.1 billion cash deal to bolster the virtualization giant's security portfolio. It's also acquiring Pivotal, a company that focuses on helping its customers build applications in the cloud as well as through new technologies such as containers.

Use of Facial Recognition Stirs Controversy

Apurva Venkat • August 20, 2019

A developer's use of facial recognition technology to scan the faces of pedestrians in London has sparked concerns from residents, the mayor and Britain's privacy watchdog. Meanwhile, the use of the technology is raising privacy concerns worldwide and is even becoming an issue in the U.S. presidential race.

Members of Chinese Espionage Group Develop a 'Side Business'

Apurva Venkat • August 12, 2019

Some members of a hacking group with ties to China's government that's primarily known for its complex cyberespionage campaigns have developed a side business targeting the global gaming industry for financial gain, the security firm FireEye says.