• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
AskCyber Home » News » cyber security » What is Fancy Bear?

What is Fancy Bear?

2018-08-21 by Michelle Dvorak

What is Fancy Bear?

Fancy Bear is a hacking group thought by many to be of Russian origin. Fancy Bear also goes by the names APT28, Pawn Storm, Sofacy Group, Sednit and STRONTIUM. Fancy Bear is frequently reported as being linked to the Russian government although there is no solid evidence of that claim.

Tech giant, Microsoft, runs its own Digital Crimes Unit (DCU.) The DCU operates the Defending Democracy Program which was announced in April 2018. Microsoft’s DCU obtained a court order that allowed them to take control of six website domains. This is the twelfth time in the past two years that Microsoft has used a court order to take over internet domains. DCU has also closed another 84 fake websites that are associated with Fancy Bear.

Some believe that Fancy Bear hacked the 2016 Democratic National Committee and that the Russian government was calling the shots.

Hackers use spoof websites that look similar or identical to authentic websites to fool website visitors. The goal is to misinform, collect data or launch cyber attacks such as social engineering attacks from the fake websites. Emails collected from a malicious website can be used in phishing scams and spear phishing attacks. The spoof websites can be very convincing.

The malicious domain names include “senate.group,” and “adfs-senate.email.” One other domain name looked like the official thinktank Hudson Institute website, a conservative think tank and another spoofed the International Republican Institute. The board of which includes six serving senators, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and General H.R. McMaster.

image:Microsoft

There is no evidence that the seized domains were used in any cyber attacks.

The announcement of the seized hacker domains was coupled with the introduction of Microsoft’s new product called Microsoft AccountGuard. Coincidently, AccountGuard, is an application provided free of charge all political candidates and campaign offices at the federal, state and local level. It also goes to political think tanks and political organizations “we now believe are under attack.” All users must be using Office 365.

According the Microsoft, AccountGuard provides

  1. Threat notification across accounts
  2. Security guidance and ongoing education
  3. Early adopter opportunities such as product updates

Filed Under: cyber security Tagged With: APT28

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version