A Microgoof or a Google PR Opportunity?
July 19, 2021
It is difficult to determine if Google is on the money with its alleged discovery of Russian cyber criminals targeting big wheels via LinkedIn. True or not, it may be another security misstep for the Redmond giant. “Russian Hackers Disguised as LinkedIn Networkers Spreading Malware” asserts:
A new investigation by Google shows that some of the common LinkedIn spam can be quite dangerous. Hackers with possible connections to the Russian government sent fraudulent LinkedIn messages to various officials from European countries with links aimed to exploit vulnerabilities in Windows and iOS. It is not yet known how many LinkedIn users were targeted in this hacking campaign and how many of them were ultimately hacked. Google believes that the cybercriminal gang responsible for the hacking campaign is most likely backed by the Russian government.
If this article is on the money, the odds are getting longer that Sergey Brin will be able to ride a Russian rocket into space. The article includes the statement “backed by the Russian government.” That might toss those orbital dreams into the Caspian Sea, the lowest point in the country. Also, the tecnopolies may be squaring off for a public relations dust up. I mean how could the Chrome love birds spat over a minor security issue. LinkedIn is a Microsoft property, and I assume it is protected by all manner of Microsoft security software as well as systems purchased or licensed.
LinkedIn vulnerable. Some believe LinkedIn lost control of user data earlier this year. Forbes reported that data about 700 million LinkedIn uses was for sale on a hacking forum.
However, if one compares the LinkedIn assertion from the GOOG with the mostly verified PrintNightmare glitch, the Microgoof results from repeated efforts to patch the print spooler. By the way, this gem is in most Windows versions. Here’s a flow chart to guide your remediation efforts:
LinkedIn versus what seems to be an engineered in persistent invitation to bad actors to have a series of great days. No zero days needed it seems.
Pick your Microgoof. Personally I find the print spooler thing more enjoyable than people looking for work.
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2021
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